HalfBreed Blades LIK-01P Gen-2 Large Infantry Knife K340
(at a glance, full field review coming)
Tactical yes. Of course with the history of such a knife design but let's see it working in the bush!
This is a modern version of the famous USMC clip point military knife.
Above image: One of many examples of a USMC type knife (Ontario Spec Plus Clip Point with a typical American sabre grind).
Needless to say the clip point knife is an extremely versatile design for outdoor applications. For example: I have taken my Ontario Spec Plus around the globe on adventures from: trekking, hiking, camping and fishing trips to the even more serious adventures of coastal camping on deserted beaches in Australia. I have to say this clip point has even been on a bowhunting trip, although of course this was only to test out whether it could be used for such. Many advocate this but in reality this sort of activity, whilst it can be done and I proved it to myself, a completely different knife is more suitable for hunting such as a typical smaller drop point or one with a bigger belly for skinning purposes. However, with all of the huge array of knives that I own, I decided to take a clip point with me on a several adventures on isolated coastal regions because the tip of such a knife is not only strong but also lends itself to easy work with fishing tasks.
I even did the unthinkable and loaned it to a friend to take it camping for 2 weeks. I generally as a rule do not lend out such tools.
As you may or may not know, I'm a big advocate of some knives which were intended primarily as military tools being used outside of this arena, specifically in outdoor applications.
One such a knife design is of course clip pointed blade.
The HalfBreed Blades LIK-01P Gen-2 Large Infantry Knife K340 certainly fits into this category for many reasons. Let's see how?
The Handle.
Whilst many military personnel may be wearing gloves at most times, not so for the civilian and that means that any knife intended for military applications if it is at all to make it's way into the civilian arena then it must possess a handle which is comfortable in the un gloved hand.
My experience with Halfbreed blades handles and specifically of the type seen with the HalfBreed Blades LIK 01P Gen-2 Large Infantry Knife K340, is extremely comfortable for long duration activities.
Why?
The G10 scalloped milled scales are super comfortable and anti slip even with wet hands. However what is even better is that the handle tapers towards the butt end. This type of narrowing is paramount for a serious ergonomic grip. When our hand closes, the inner circumferential distance between our small finger is smaller than that of the forefinger, so it makes sense that the handle towards the butt end should be slightly tapered* for such a knife.
Attention to details
All metal edges have been chamfered accordingly so that there are no acute edges to rub against during hard use.
Blade coating
The entire blade has been Teflon coated. My experience with their Teflon coating is that it is of very high quality and it extremely tough and even impact resistant.
The Blade
The LIK-01P Gen 2 is a 7" hollow ground military styled knife. Despite being 1/4' thick, the knife weighs only 351 grams ie 0.123 Oz. Hollow ground knives excel in cutting tasks when compared to full flat or sabre ground knives. Tip penetration here will be excellent as well due to the lateral profile of this knife.
Let me define here what I mean by "excel in cutting tasks" I mean that as a knife if moved through whatever material is it is cutting, then the hollow ground knife will move (each cutting stroke) the easiest due to the fact that there is less material width (as in steel) having to part the material as the edge cuts. This is a fact of physics, all things being equal. Conversely, hollow ground knives will not be the best for chopping tasks nor for ploughing through tree trunks under the force of repetitive baton strikes. Ever seen a hollow ground axe? No, of course you haven't because it would be useless.
Remember the history and end use of the original design of the clip point, a knife which could be light enough for combat and for cutting stuff. Hollow ground knives will cut large ropes (eg mooring lines etc) much better than thicker flat ground and or sabre ground blades of the same steel and hardness, under the same force, again, simply due to the fact that there is less material passing through a given object.
Hold on, I hear you say:
"But that must mean the hollow ground blade is weak, in fact weaker in all ways, for example laterally and when it comes to edge damage. as there is less steel present, no?"
Anyone who says this knows nothing of metallurgy, physics and engineering and takes their cues from the "library of social media" and the Dodgy Bros. Manufacturing Company literature!
Ok, maybe I'm being a bit harsh here. let me explain briefly as this is a whole topic itself.
"Weak" depends upon any given blades capacity to be able to "flex" without breaking, ie the amount of "plastic deformation" which can occur before failure. This in turn depends upon the heat treatment of the metal alloy in question. it depends upon grain structure (the fancy words for crystal structure of the steel- as seen under the scanning electron microscope). hence the metallurgist's quest for a super fine and homogenous grain structure, especially for alloys intended for cutting tools undergoing the most arduous physical assaults!
So what about strength? (for such a knife as seen above)
Look at that spine. Does it look weak to you? I doubt it, it's (I measured) 6.1mm across the spine at the ricasso, (the literature states 6.5mm). Of course the word "Strength" is subjective. Remembering knives are for cutting!
The Blade Coating
Very tough and wear resistant TEFLON material.
YES TEFLON! No need to freak out of the mentioning of the word TEFLON.
The Carry System
There is a Kydex scabbard which upon first insertion and removal seemed a little tight but on continued usage it worked out fine.
There is an option for PALS/Molle or a TekLok-like belt clip carry.
The Edge
Their factory edge is excellent , although I don't believe it is "polished' like stated in the literature, although the word "polished" is also subjective! When I hear or read the word "Polished" I think of "mirror' and this edge definitely does not have a mirror polished finish (eg Work Tuff Gear made knives come to mind immediately) . The bevel is however very good.
The durability of their heat treatment of the K340 is excellent. The last thing I want to do is to have to sharpen an edge because it has gone dull over a week or two week trip somewhere away from home.
The steel
Böhler K340 ISODUR is produced by ESR technology (Electro-slag Remelting) a process developed by Böhler. K340 ISODUR is listed a a "Premium" grade cold working tool steel by Böhler. The process involves a conventional air melt followed by a remelt.
K340 ISODUR 8% Chromium alloy possesses excellent toughness and wear resistance by producing the best possible clean and fine microstructure outside of powder metallurgical processes. These are qualities I have many years experience with, firstly using a Kizlyar Supreme (made in Russia) knife which I first tested some 7 years ago. To be honest I thought they were using a PM steel! That knife exhibited outstanding wear resistance when used against extremely abrasive materials in the Australian bush. In fact at the time it was heralded as a "D2 on steroids" and this was a statement that I can definitely agree with. ESR is the same process which is used to produce ballistic resistant steels.
Fast forward to over a year ago when I again encountered the products from the Australian company Halfbreed Blades (based in Melbourne Victoria), also many products made with Böhler K340 ISODUR and nothing has changed: Outstanding wear resistance as seen in extremely long edge wearing capacity and great toughness as what is often encountered during bushcraft/ survival activities (for example: edge dragging against wood or bark- a great test to determine if edge rolling is going to be a problem or not). Cutting against bone and fish scales etc. etc. The cutting of many non-homogeneous materials which are often "Dirty".
It's worthy to note the K340 ISODUR not only avoids oxidation inclusions and removes sulphur during the production process, it also lends itself as a great steel as far as manufacturing goes as processes like EDM is easily performed and increased capacity to be machined without problem. For the end user what this means is that many features a possible to produce in an outdoor knife without excessive end cost.
Anyway stick around for the coming field reviews, not really that much more to say here as this is tried and trusted knife design which has been around for a great many years.
Publicity shot from the movie: The Most Dangerous Game
Ok here is the field review you've been waiting for!
*This is a different scenario for larger knives, machetes and parangs etc.
