Hardcore Knives and tools for Wilderness Camping: Japanese SK85

Friday, 14 August 2020

Work Tuff Gear Mini Tayal Sneak Preview

Work Tuff Gear Mini Tayal Sneak Preview

Hunting and Skinning Knife

A full size grip with a short thin blade featuring a upswept tip and continuous curvature to the tip, makes this a "proper skinning knife" IMHO.

Clearly the knife shows an excellent "attention to detail" as shown by the mirror finish along the edge. Zero grind marks are evident to the discerning eye.

This probably comes as no surprise if one is already acquainted with Products made by Work Tuff Gear.

Mirror polish finish on a convex hand ground edge WOW, just look at that edge!

Spine thickness is just right for effortless use on medium game and presents minimal friction but at the same to more than adequate strength for the intended tasks at hand during gutting and skinning.

Blade is 4" long, trailing point, G10 scales and Japanese SK85 tool steel

My (test) model did not come with a belt clip however, this doesn't worry me as this sort of knife would be in my pack until I need it or rather I've actually bagged something. Besides that the actual model is supplied with a belt clip, Tek Lok style.

The WTG knives are now featuring a production date laser engraved upon the blade/s.

Stay tuned review coming soon.... date depends upon the success of hunting!

BCT

Tuesday, 2 July 2019

Work Tuff Gear Lanzeta in Japanese SK85 WOW

WORK TUFF GEAR LANZETA IN

Japanese SK85

Preview

BushCampingTools

Work Tuff Gear Lanzeta, at only 14 Oz for knife weight only! Pretty damn good for such a big field knife!

Work Tuff Gear Lanzeta in Japanese SK85 high carbon tool steel. Notice the "boar's head", this would make a good pig sticker!

WOW! Victor at Work Tuff Gear has done it again! This new release, the LANZETA modelled around a Filipino style knife but made with Japanese SK85 high carbon tool steel.

The blade shape is reminiscent of a "Bowie" style blade, with a large sweeping belly and a slightly recurved portion. The edge has been expertly ground to a deadly sharp convex edge. To be honest, I was afraid to touch it, or lest I cut myself just by looking at it! This is mark of some serious attention to detail and quality workmanship.

Tropical adventure here I come knife! The knife sports a Sabre grind with a convex edge.

Japanese made SK85 is also known as SK5 or 1085 high carbon tool steel and the "85" designates an average 0.85% carbon. This is a serious alloy to choose for cutting instruments. Japanese SK85 sits right in the middle of having good toughness along with high hardness for a tool steel. Known for being able to put a great edge on too!

The sheet thickness is 5mm and narrows down towards the spine to aid penetration moves. Finger/thumb gimping and this model has had the tang partially milled, so the Work Tuff Gear Lanzeta is not handle heavy for such a big knife.

Proven no slip grip pattern in the G10 scales. Scales are removable for cleaning/oiling the tang if immersed in sea water.

Well-made riveted kydex carry system also sports a generous drain hole (see top right hand side). I could use this thing as a paddle!

Being such a big blade, there is of course a finger choil to help with the finer tasks. The Lanzetta came with a short piece of quality reflective Paracord.

The Lanzeta has been hardened to HRC 56-58 and is dual tempered to achieve optimal toughness in this big knife.

Now just take a look at the scale below to really see the size of this beast.

Lanzeta Blade size 8.2" of which 7.9" is cutting surface and almost (0.196") 0.2" thick sheet.

The Work Tuff Gear Lanzeta will be definitely at home in the wilds! There is a choice of handle colors too, including a highly visible no losing fluorescent orange G10 scales, as in previous models reviewed by BushCampingTools.

Stick around because later this month we'll be testing this behemoth in the field.