This yr’s moist climate has turned each my cucumber and tomato crops into wild and large mutations. I’ve additionally been processing a ton of wooden for campfires to maintain the mosquitos at bay and stretching the summer time nights out a bit longer.
All through all of this, I’ve had a singular knife hanging off my belt to get these jobs accomplished — the Scorching and Prepared Work Knife V1 from Dauntless Manufacturing. It’s a relatively compact full tang dandy with AEB-L metal and pure Micarta deal with scales. It’s the identical knife that nearly took off the tip of my finger after I was harvesting some jewelweed to care for a relentless poison ivy rash.
And that’s not a foul factor.
Briefly: Razor-sharp, dependable, and difficult as nails, the Scorching and Prepared Work Knife V1 from Dauntless Manufacturing and Matt Helm Knives makes arduous work straightforward. The three.3-inch sheepsfoot blade is made of fantastic AEB-L metal and weighs 5.1 ounces. For day-to-day use round the home, on the path, and even in my backyard, this knife proved to be a workhorse. I prefer it a lot that it’s develop into my on a regular basis carry (EDC) knife.
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OAL
7.5” -
Blade size
3.3” -
Blade metal
AEB-L -
Blade end
Tumbled -
Blade form
Sheepsfoot -
Grind
Flat -
Hardness
59-60 HRC -
Weight (knife solely)
5.1 oz. -
Weight (w/included sheath)
6.5 oz. -
Carry
Kydex belt sheath -
Value
$220
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AEB-L stainless-steel -
Total form, measurement, and weight -
Full, four-finger grip on a compact knife -
Micarta deal with scales
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Fingers bleed quite a bit and don’t cease bleeding -
The clip on the sheath can take some getting used to
Dauntless Scorching and Prepared Work Knife Evaluate
The Dauntless Scorching and Prepared Work Knife V1 is a manufacturing model of a knife initially created by Texas knifemaker Matt Helm. Produced from AEB-L stainless-steel and that includes pure Micarta deal with scales, the Scorching and Prepared V1 (just like the V2, V3, and V4) comes preconfigured.
It is a departure from different Dauntless knives, like The Hiker and The Harris. These blades will be custom-made with varied steels, deal with supplies, and sheaths.
Design & Options
The dimensions, form, and thickness of the Scorching and Prepared V1 all have an effect on how properly it suits into a wide range of palms and the way it performs. There’s ample choil on your index finger, jimping, and a downward ramp on the backbone on your thumb. This maintain configuration permits the person to place their hand naturally, minimizing fatigue.
Moreover, in flipping the knife round, your pinky will discover its means into the choil as your thumb commandeers the house on the butt of the knife, which additionally has jimping for an elevated grip.
The Dauntless Scorching and Prepared V1 additionally has strong {hardware}, detachable scales for an much more streamlined expertise, and a hidden lanyard gap. As chances are you’ll know, I’m an enormous fan of a well-executed lanyard. The one I’ve festooned the V1 with is one in all my favorites.
Dauntless despatched alongside two sheath choices for me to make use of with the knife. The primary is a low-profile Kydex sheath that covers solely the blade. The second is the usual black sheath that comes with the Dauntless Scorching and Prepared V1.
The model additionally despatched alongside a bigger, grey Kydex sheath. This sheath covers as much as the final 13⁄4” of the knife and permits it to take a seat decrease in your belt. I want this sheath as a result of it retains the knife from getting in the best way of the hip belt of my backpack.
That AEB-L Drip
AEB-L is a stainless-steel that first hit the market in 1961. Initially adopted by manufacturers like Gillette, it was a best choice for razor blades due to its stainless properties and toughness.
Over time, it grew to become extra well-liked in disposable razors as a result of it doesn’t maintain a shaving edge for a very long time, making razors that had to get replaced. Stellar advertising for a model like Gillette, which has made a fortune within the disposable razor market.
For knives, AEB-L grew to become a cult basic as a consequence of its unbelievable stainless properties and total toughness. Moreover, it’s very straightforward to resharpen or rehone. Since I acquired this knife, I’ve rehoned it twice, and it returns to its razor-edged manufacturing facility luster with little effort.
In a world stuffed with MagnaCut and S-steels, AEB-L shouldn’t be missed simply because it wants a bit touch-up right here and there. I’ve put this blade by hell all through this moist and muggy summer time. It continues to scrub up and maintain its personal.
‘Scorching and Prepared‘
The “Scorching and Prepared” a part of the Scorching and Prepared Work Knife refers to the truth that these 4 variations are preconfigured. They’re mounted at $220.
There are additionally customizable variations of the knife obtainable. These supply completely different steels, scales, and sheaths. These are simply referred to as the “Matt Helm Work Knife” and may attain costs upward of $300.
First Impression
With my background in engineering and knifemaking, sure knives come out at me for his or her design and supplies. However each occasionally, one reveals up on my radar primarily as a consequence of its craftsmanship.
I had reached out to the oldsters at Dauntless to check out The Hiker. It’s the model’s full-tang MagnaCut knife aimed on the outside crowd. Via the course of our conversations, the Scorching and Prepared Work Knife got here up. I like Micarta and have been on the lookout for a possibility to work with AEB-L metal. It’s an OG metal that’s revered within the knife-making world. So, in the long run, Dauntless despatched me each knives to make use of and abuse.
After greater than a month of utilizing them out within the wild, I can attest that they’re each constructed to final. Nonetheless, the Scorching and Prepared V1 has develop into one in all my two belt EDCs. (The opposite is the Fox Chilin.)
I prefer it a lot that I’d strap this knife to my jammies if I wasn’t a aspect sleeper. That mentioned, I’ve by no means reduce myself with a knife as a lot as I’ve with the V1. And like I’ve mentioned, that’s not a foul factor. AEB-L is unbelievable, particularly when thinned out on the sting and sharpened to an appropriate polish. I do know I can depend on it after I want it.
Within the Subject
For a few years, I solely wore a fixed-blade knife on my belt after I went mountaineering or tenting. I began to benefit from the ease of entry and the variety of extra demanding duties a fixed-blade knife might do over a folding knife. If a folding knife is a good activity knife, a fixed-blade knife could be a nice utility knife.
So, I began carrying one the entire time. With the Scorching and Prepared V1, I discovered a knife that was straightforward to hold, comfy to make use of, and simple to keep up. It’s additionally summer time, and I’m all the time exterior doing one thing.
I relied on the knife for far more than I initially meant to. It grew to become my camp knife for meals and wooden prep when tenting. I used it to pry up among the outdated wooden on my walkway on the home. I even used to slice up a bunch of apples for my youngsters out on the path throughout a balmy hike earlier than the Fourth of July.
It’s a well-rounded utility knife. It’s sufficiently small to stay typically hid out in public. And it’s overly efficient while you want it.
Blade Form & Deal with
Sheepsfoot-style blades are much less aggressive than the ever present Drop Level fashion, however I discover them to be simply as efficient. Sure, they lack the convenience of stabbing and piercing, however it may nonetheless be accomplished. Nonetheless, I don’t stab or pierce plenty of stuff. A blade form that may slice, reduce, chop, and shave is extra in step with what I would like. On the Scorching and Prepared V1, the Sheepsfoot design additionally helps with the general move and ergonomics of the knife.
I like Micarta as a result of it maintains a very good grip in any situation. With the entire warmth and humidity that we’ve had, this has confirmed to be crucial. I really feel like I’ve been moist because the finish of Could.
That is additionally the place the stainless properties of the AEB-L actually had an impression. Slicing cucumbers and tomatoes off their vines is a moist and gooey job. Moreover, the form of the knife made it straightforward to get in between all of the plant stalks within the backyard to slice off these veggies with out knicking or slicing the rest.
Rehoning
Rehoning, versus resharpening, is the method of refining the sting of a knife blade to revive its effectiveness. It’s much less a follow of eradicating supplies and extra of one in all sprucing the sting and eradicating impurities.
Although AEB-L isn’t recognized for holding a razor edge for a protracted time frame, I’ve but to want to resharpen it. I’ve rehoned it a few instances utilizing the refinement aspect of the Tumbler Rolling Knife Sharpener that I’ve additionally been reviewing. However even after digging, slicing, chopping, slicing, and prying with the Scorching and Prepared V1, the sting was nonetheless in nice form.
Dauntless Scorching and Prepared: Conclusion
The Scorching and Prepared Work Knife V1 is a very well-rounded knife that will go well with anybody’s each day bladed wants.
Out of all of the knives I’ve examined and reviewed, there are lower than a dozen that I exploit time and again after testing is over. The Scorching and Prepared V1 will stay by my aspect when I’m out and about, tenting, or simply tinkering across the yard and home. A month in, and I’m nonetheless within the honeymoon section.
There have been days the Scorching and Prepared V1 was in my palms for hours, getting soiled and gritty. The AEB-L actually confirmed up for every thing I wanted it to do. I’m blissful that there’s not a spot of rust or tarnish to indicate for it. I want it over MagnaCut proper now — and that’s partly as a consequence of how sharp it may get.
This blade is depraved efficient for getting you thru plenty of various things. However when you get in its means, it’ll take a bit out of you and carry on going.