Now purple, I would get one for the wife since that is her favorite color. alk about getting brownie points!

The reason why it would be very much better than the Fallkniven F1 is that the F1 in typical scandinavian fashion has no guard because in severe cold temperatures where hands are numb and mitts are often worn the Scandinavians adopt knife skills which never involve a push cut...they always do a pull cut...so as to avoid slipping onto the blade. If you look at Scandinavian designs of knives...the further North you go the more the grip swells at the pommel and tapers to the blade.

In military use you need the ability to do a push cut/stabbing motion with an element of safety but in Artic use you don't want a metal guard because of "cold weld" risk to your skin...the Mudder handles are a perfect compromise...you have the benefit of a hidden tang none cold weld grip which can handle both push and pull cuts safely...and if the edge is brought back to the grip as close as possible the knife can be used for fine work as effectively as using a choked choil grip.

However if you were to move the grip forward then some of the tang would be removed so I doubt you would change the balance...but the S5LE balances right on the forefinger/end of the grip and is not blade heavy anyway...infact it is a very light knife with superb balance.

All of my Fallkniven F1s have small guards but the modified Scrapper 5 that you describe would be an excellent knife.

I don't believe I would want a white knife in arctic conditions. The orange contrasts just about everything.

BIG +1 to that. I really don't get why Bruce thinks the S5 is such a terribly balanced knife. I much prefer its balance to some of the tang-heavy small Busse knives I own.

"All of my Fallkniven F1s have small guards"

They do... but when using them in Mitts and inner gloves in -30 Deg C to chip through ice to set some night fishing lines...you would be suprised how bad the grip is...you definately need to use a lanyard which is a real fiddly thing to use in those temps with mitts...if you have a ski glove or a proper Artic Mitt try using one of your F1's after numbing your hand...then try using the S5...it is a LOT better with a much bigger grip...

I used an "issued" F1 in Sweden on a Joint Services Survival Course and found it "difficult" to say the least...and ALL the instructors ... including Lars Falt who ran the course and is quite famous over here for his TV "guest" episodes with Ray Mears.... had "personal" traditional Scandi knives with much wider wooden grips....which they acknowledged worked a lot better...



In civvi use yes...bright orange is better .... but not in a military role...

I guess it depends on your desired use. I don't consider the S5 an EDC. For me it is a little to big for that. For me it is a hiker or light camper. I actually like the S5LE being a bit blade heavy for those uses as it can do some light chopping (i.e., kindling, fuzz, etc).

Oh man, I so want an orange S5SE. That thing rocks!

RMD is tough to beat.. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Not a brilliant picture...but you get the idea....



Keeping the knife balanced and using my left hand for the camera accounts for the fuzzy quality...but my S5LE balances perfectly...

As much as I like the RMD and the Camp Tramp I think you're missing the Yard's best offering if you don't try a S5LE...maybe the Infi models were weighted differently...