FROG KNIFE WORKS, Knife Review By Cliff Jacobson

Every once in a long while, I stumble upon a company whose products are so superb that I want to share my rare find with the world.   FROG KNIFE WORKS is such a company.  Surprisingly they’re located in River Falls, WI, minutes from where I live.

I discovered them at the annual River Falls “Art on the Kinni” festival,* which takes place in early September here in River Falls.  I’ve seen a lot of knives at trade shows, but few have impressed me as much as these.  I gushed over the knives for minutes, marveling at prices that were way too low  I’ve spent much of my life canoeing remote wilderness rivers in northern Canada and Alaska, so I have deep-rooted experience in what makes a great bush knife.

Here’s my take:

·  A thin (no thicker than 1/8 inch (0.125”) at the spine) pointed blade, 3-5 inches long. Blades over 1/8 inch thick are too thick for typical camp chores. Yes, thick blades are useful for cutting through bone and airplane doors, but how well do they slice salami and pine? 

·  Flat-ground blades are best for slicing meat and vegetables, spreading peanut butter, filleting fish and general camp chores.  Beveled edge (saber ground) blades have an edge for splitting wood but are awkward for fine work. 

·  A double-taper grind (the blade is wedge ground from spine to edge AND from hilt to point).  Only the very best knives have this feature. 

·   Blade sharpened on one edge only. The flat spine can be used with a wooden baton to split kindling.

·  No serrations along the edge!  I don’t know a single camping expert who likes serrated blades.  Serrated blades excel at cutting rope and slicing Thanksgiving turkey! That’s all!

· Full tang construction for strength.

· A comfortable handle.

*There’s more in my book, CAMPING’S TOP SECRETS, Fifth Edition.

FROG KNIFE WORKS knives score A+ in all categories.  The workmanship rivals many knives that cost upwards of $200.

WHAT DRIVES UP THE COST OF CUSTOM KNIVES?

1.    The use of hard-to-work stainless alloys. 

2.    Meticulous mirror polishing of the blade and fittings. 

3.    Specialty handle scales—stag, mammoth ivory, rare wood etc. 

4.    A fitted thick leather sheath.

 Bottom line: you may pay more for pretty than function! 

FROG KNIFE WORKS blades are matt finished, which saves considerable time during manufacturing.  No, you won’t see your reflection in the steel, but you won’t see fingerprints from handling ether. The steel is 1084 carbon, a popular non-stainless steel that is easy to sharpen and has excellent edge retention.  I prefer carbon steel blades over stainless, largely because they are easier to sharpen and quickly take a wickedly sharp edge. A light coat of food-safe olive oil will deter rust. 

AND NOW, A CLOSE LOOK AT THE FROG WORKS KNIFE MY WIFE RECENTLY PURCHASED. 

·      Blade length: 4.0 inches, double-taper grind.

·      Blade length: 4.25 inches.

·      Blade width: 1.25 inches (a bit wide for my taste, but Susie loves it!), 

·      Blade thickness: 0.117 inches, or slightly less than 1/8 (0.125) inches.  This is ideal for a bush knife.  Edge geometry is excellent.  The knife came sharp enough to slice a tomato paper thin. A few minutes honing at home and it shaved the hair off my forearm! 

·      Handles are common hardwoods. This knife has lightly figured hickory scales.

·      Sheath: Sorry, no sheath.  A GOOD one would add 30+ dollars to the price.  But you can easily make your own in about two hours from plans in my book, CAMPING’S TOP SECRETS, A Lexicon of Modern Bushcraft, Fifth Edition. I made all the sheaths in the accompanying photo.

PRICE: Eighty (80) dollars!  It should cost much more!

FROG KNIFE WORKS offers many different knife styles, ranging from small, fixed blade knives to large kitchen slicer/choppers.  They do custom work and knife restorations.  Check out their Instagram photos on frogknife333.  More info: contact cutler/blacksmith Nathan Goree at nrgoree@gmail.com. 

FROG KNIFE WORKS knives offer exceptional value for the money.   I am thrilled to recommend them.

* The Kinni (Kinnikinnick River) is a beautiful, heavily wooded, trout stream that flows through River Falls. I’ve canoed it more than 100 times.

*My book CAMPING'S TOP SECRETS, 2022 revision, details practical camping tips and procedures that only the experts know.  If you know just a few of these tricks, you'll be a hero to your friends! 

*My teen book, JUSTIN CODY'S RACE TO SURVIVAL! mixes a fictional wilderness survival tale with practical outdoor tips everyone should know--a first for books of this type.  Adults love it too!  Now available as an audio book!

XXX