Anza

[IronMonkey]

What do you think of the anza knives?  I really like the weight and feel of them in the hand.  I know they can rust easier but dang are they sharp and cool looking.  Any opinions?  Dan

[Joel]

Dan,
I've never personally used an Anza knife, but started out making knives out of old files, and found they made(and still make) great knives.  Only problem I had with the Anza's is I thougt they were rather pricy.  There's a company called Sawmill Cutlery selling their file knives through Smokey Mountain Knifeworks catalogs that also look good, and are cheaper.  Assumming everyone is actually using genuine file steel (W-2) they should all work. W-2 is a straight hi carbon tool steel, but has a touch of tungsten in it, which impoves its grain and abrasive resistance.  Actually 1095 as also used by Nicholson for some of thier files also, but heck, we're actually gettin off the subject.  I still use one of the early file knives I made, for my small game knife.

[IronMonkey]

Which do you think would be the best all around Hunting/Camping knife?  I have the same catalog and I am torn between the Ark N Saw, the Razor Skinner and the Equalizer Game Knife.  I have large hands but they all look decent sized. Any help appreciated.  Dan

[Joel]

Sorry Dan, I pitched it for some reason, and can't remember which Sawmill blade is which.

[IronMonkey]

I went with the hunter version.  About 20 bucks shipped. Has the nicest looking handle.  Blade is less upswept than my old timer schrade skinning knife that I used to have.  If I don't like it, I will sell it at the range or on ebay and buy an Anza.  Will update when the knife gets here and my wife finishes beating the crap out of me for spending money.  Dan

[IronMonkey]

Got the knife and am happy with it.  Blade angles could be a little better.  The main v coming down is too steep? and the edge angles could be better.  But the balance and feel of the knife is great.  The sheath was a very pleasant surprise.  Well made and should hold up well.  The reason it is cheaper than the anza is labor.  Made in Pakistan not the US.  Oiled the blade for protection with MPro oil that I use for my guns.  Dan

[TimWieneke]

Heard alot of good about them.  Matter of fact, I just read a very good review on the Boddington knife.  The writer really liked it overall.  In general, Anza knives seem so straight forward in their design that I can't imagine an easier knife to manufacture.  A file ground to shape with the handles epoxied on - don't get much easier than that.  I've heard the epoxy holds just fine, but I have to admit I would find myself lookin' for the pins every now and then.  But that's just me...   :grin:  

On files in general, I can't imagine a better knife than 1 forged out of an old file (Well maybe 1 forged out of a leaf spring or a ball bearing  :-) ).  Actually I have a friend just outside of Boston that was able to get his hands on some Submarine armor that was leftover from a repair a friend was doing on a U.S. sub about 2 years ago.  He hasn't forged a knife from it yet, but I'm waiting with bated breath for what he makes out of that cool stuff.  :-)  Anyway - back to topic, I forged my first knife out of a file.  The heat treat leaves a little to be desired, but for a first knife I can't complain.  I love file knives and still forge knives out of files.  Matter of fact I just bought a 5 gallon bucket of files at an auction over the weekend (few REAL BIG rasps in there) which I'll have my hands full with probably over the next year.  Wooohooo!  :-)

Tim