Fällkniven F1

This is the Swedish air force aircrew survival knife. Its design is somewhat like a smallish hunting knife, much like a Loveless Dropped Hunter

Development of the Fällkniven model F1 started in 1987 as a result of a very tough, and extensive, specification from the Swedish air force, as it had to be useful for lots of different tasks, and suitable for the sub arctic Swedish climate. After several years of thorough development the air force placed an order for it in 1994, for first delivery in 1995.

As it's a survival knife, its design drivers have been both that it must be small and light to carry all the time, and that it must never fail when put to use, both for tasks which require a sharp and a strong knife. Handle and use one, and you will have no doubts it's one of, if not the, best knives in this class. It's certainly my favourite.

In July 2000 the US Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division, started testing of this knife, in December 2000 it and the S1, both with black teflon coating, were approved for use by USN and USMC aircrew use. 

    Weight:          145 g    
    Length, total:   210 mm  blade:   96 mm
    Blade thickness, max:  4.5 mm, 11 mm from tip: 2 mm
          width max:      26 mm
    Centre of mass:  1/4 the way from blade towards butt
    Steel: VG-10, HRC 59
You can have it with open and flap leather sheats, or a kydex sheath. The handle is rather slim.
You can choose between three different sheaths, all also available separately (I find it useful to have more than one per knife). This policy also goes for the other Fällkniven models.
Leather with flap: 88 g.
Leather dangler: 75 g.
Kydex: 75 g.

The aircrew sheath is symmetric, with tie-down holes at the bottom, made of plastic, and made to fit into the thigh pocket of the flight suit.

In 1995 the F1 was the first series production fixed blade knife made out of the ATS-34 steel. It was then made in Germany.
In 1998 production was moved to Japan, steel changed to VG-10 and the tang made slightly protroding. The blade profile was changed a little too, slightly wider and into a flatter grind. This made the knife a bit heavier, was 133 g before, but the balance point remainded in the same place.

More information: Fällkniven AB's own web site.

Document created in 1996, redone in 1998, last updated 2001 Feb 22, content checked 2002 Sep 06

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