In 1995, the Swedish government approved the Fallkniven F1 as the official pilot survival knife for the Royal Air Force. Like many military knives, a dedicated group of followers started collecting the knife and using it for recreational activities. Military use gave way to fandom, and soon the F1 rose to legendary status for its performance and capability.
The Fallkniven F1 Series
The F1 is considered one of the top modern survival knives coming straight from the factory with an exceptional convex edge. Now, over 30 years later, multiple variations are available to best suit the needs of a wide range of users. A side-by-side comparison of every single F1 could fill a book. However, this overview cherry-picks some of the greatest versions on the market today.
I recently acquired a limited-run Fallkniven F1 blank directly from the Swedish company and had it handled by my friend Russell Reece of Cohutta Knife. This knife replaced one I foolishly sold in my younger years, and is just as functional as it is stunning. That first F1 was first purchased over 20 years ago.
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Since then, my collection has grown. I’ve traveled to Sweden and spoken with Peter Hjortberger at the Fallkniven factory, and used the F1 as an instructor in multiple bushcraft and survival courses across the country. Likewise, I have regularly carried one in one form or another.
Suffice it to say, the Fallkniven F1 has been with me for over two decades. So, I can confidently speak to its capability in the field.
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Military History
As previously mentioned, the F1 was designed for Swedish Air Force crew members. The Swedish landscape has an incredible wilderness that is frozen for much of the year. The chosen knife had to be a capable tool, compact enough to carry easily yet strong enough to withstand the harsh temperatures and rigors of using it to construct shelters and build fires while awaiting rescue.
According to Peter Hjortberger, “The F1, S1, and A1 knife models were all developed for being used by the military elite soldiers, and that was the start. However, we found out very soon that these knives worked extremely well on the civil[ian] market and that was the good start of our own manufacturing.”
Of note, the predecessor to the F1 was a wooden-handled MORA knife with an added metal guard. With no disrespect to MORA, comparing the two is unfair. The Fallkniven is more robust and stronger in just about every way. When I traveled through Sweden in 2013, I photographed examples of the F1 and Mora on display at the Fallkniven store in Boden.
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F1 Variations
When it comes to variations of the F1, one classification can be the steel used. Some early production F1s featured ATS-34 steel, and then later versions were made from VG-10. Over the course of the past 30-plus years, other variations have been added, including laminated CoS steel, 3G powdered steel, and, most recently, Elmax and VG Wolf steel.
The VG-10 offerings set the bar high for performance. It is relatively easy to sharpen, corrosion-resistant, and has fairly good edge retention. On the far end of the spectrum, the Elmax used in the F1x is the toughest version of the legendary knife. It has superior edge retention and durability, but the tradeoff is that it is harder to sharpen.
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Luckily, Fallkniven makes some of the best pocket-sized sharpeners: the DC3 and DC4.
It’s easy to get wrapped around the proverbial axle when thinking about all the steel options. However, Peter H. reminded me of the edge geometry in one of our online exchanges.
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“People pay much attention to the alloy mix but seldom look very closely on the edge, and still it’s this part of the blade that decides how the knife will work.”
In the courses I teach, I’ve had multiple students comment on the way the Fallkniven F1 slices, works with a baton, and carves with ease. That isn’t just the steel. It’s the way the knives are ground, too.
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The original F1 knife features a Thermorun handle that is molded over a full tang. This handle is slim and works well in every weather condition as it is unaffected by changing temperatures and moisture. The Pro series was released in 2015 with thicker Laminated CoS blades, stainless steel guards, and newer sheaths. The highest level of F1 evolution is the F1x.
Carrying the Fallkniven F1 Series
Speaking of variations, the various types of sheaths should be recognized. For the standard version, a leather flap sheath or an open top quality leather dangler is one option. There is also a Zytel sheath that can be easily modified to carry a sharpening stone and a locking sheath that Fallkniven spent considerable time developing.
One of the lesser-known options is a military version designed for pocket carry inside a flight suit with a button attachment. All the sheaths are exceptionally well-crafted, and there is a version to suit the preferences of all users.
Bushcraft and Survival Use
It’s hard to find a better production bushcraft and survival knife than the Fallkniven F1. It comes ready to work right out of the box. The convex edge is sharp, the stock is strong, and the spine throws a spark from a ferro rod like no one’s business.
The F1 has been a staple in survival courses for years and for good reason. Much like the ubiquitous Swiss Army Knife and Bahco Laplander saw, the F1 completes the basic cutting tools trio.
The F1 can feather stick just as easily as it can baton. It is comfortable in every grip used, including the hammer, saber, foil, reverse, skinning, extended, and pinch grips, while cleaning game and building camp tools.
For a knife as compact as the F1, it can punch outside of its weight class, handling heavy-duty cutting tasks. At the same time, it has a fine edge that will slice like thinner stock knives. I find the original F1 works great in the wintertime with gloved hands, and my micarta-handled version is the most comfortable for prolonged use.
The F1 pro with laminated Cobalt steel (CoS) has been my wet-weather performer, and the F1X lives up to its name as an extreme version of the F1. The F1X is the one that gets the most use when I need a tool that can do just about anything. Strong is an understatement when it comes to describing the F1X.
Cordage cutting is no issue, and the knife is easily maintained in the field with strops after light use and with coarser diamond stones if serious edge work is needed. Also, the F1 can cleanly cut through saplings while preparing shooting lanes during hunting season.
A Wild Dinner with the Fallkniven F1
There’s no issue using the F1 for food prep, and it processes game meat well. As expected with a thicker spine, the knife will not slice as cleanly as a thinner kitchen knife. However, it will still get the task done respectfully for the stock it has. Then again, in the field, you aren’t worried as much about presentation as you are about the calories from what you eat in any form.
Future F1 Designs?
I own the original F1, the Pro Series, and the X series. I thought it would be safe to assume another version is in the pipeline, so I asked Peter H. I’ll paraphrase his reply.
They will continue evolving the knife, but nature is always going to be the same. I think there is something to be said about this idea of both continuity and change. I’ll continue collecting and using F1s, and the great appreciation I have for F1 knives will never change. They work just as great outdoors today as they did 20-plus years ago.
Whether the most modern iteration or the blade blank I recently had handled like the first one I had, I’ll always appreciate how they perform on my camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and bushcraft trips in the great outdoors.
Cutting to the Point
I own multiple F1s, and I have the luxury of selecting the right one for whatever I do. I also own other Fallkniven models, complementing the F1, including the smaller Scout and the largest one, the Modern Bowie. My fellow outdoorsmen and colleagues have all commented on how the company simply gets it right. Clearly, the knives that come out of the Fallkniven factory are made with the user in mind.
It’s apparent that the whole lineup is built for real use in real conditions. The legendary status of the blades is well deserved, and whichever knife you select will not fail you when you need it.
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