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Kit | Knives and multi-tools
Best blades
Get tooled up with the Sporting Rifle
selection of knives and multi–tools
Leatherman Fuse
Gerber Freehand
I would consider this basic, no-frills model handy if you only want to
take a slimline, one-bladed tool when lamping. Built on a slimmer
chassis than Leatherman’s successful middle-of-the-range Blast, the
Fuse sports the time-proven sprung-lever locking blade system and
its slim handles have contoured Zytel inserts for a comfortable and
sure grip.
Opening reveals a pair of needle-nose pliers, regular plier heads,
wire and hard-wire cutters and a wire stripper, and a variety of tools
which can be extracted from the handles thanks to either thumb
nicks or nubs. These include small scissors, medium cross-head
screwdriver, bottle/can opener, a 2.75in clip-point knife, small and
broad flat-head screwdrivers, plus a lanyard attachment point other.
It also has a leather belt pouch.
It’s without doubt a bare-bones model, but that also means you
won’t be lugging around any unnecessary weight in the shape of
tools you only ever need once in a blue moon.
As soon as you slip the fist-filling Freehand out of the Ballistic
Nylon Sheath supplied, you know you’re holding a formidable field
tool! It’s more a ‘flick open’ than a butterfly because Gerber has
designed the pliers to be deployed with a one-handed opening
technique. All the tools are accessed externally, and the Freehand
isn’t overloaded with them. Gerber isn’t scrimping: it has simply
provided an ‘essential’ selection of heavy-duty stuff.
You get needle-nose pliers with heavy-duty wire cutters, an
industrial driver and 12 functions. The major tools on the edges of
the handles are opened by thumb ‘wedges’ for ease of one-hand
operation and they all lock in place by a new system, similar to
Gerber’s Saf.T.Lok but more substantial. It’s engineered in highquality stainless steel and all tools, especially the blades, have a
thicker profile for heavy-duty usage. Tools include large Fiskar’s
scissors, flat-head screwdriver, 3in saw blade, a specialised
industrial driver that can manhandle its way through most
anything, a 3in straight edge knife, Phillips head screwdriver and a
very useful pry bar (which reduces the risk of breaking a blade!).
Weight: 170 grams
Length closed: 100mm
Length open: 156mm
Contact: Whitby & Co
T: 01539 721032
W: www.whitbyandco.co.uk
SRP
5
9.9
£5
100
SPORTING RIFLE
Weight: 386 grams
Length closed: 137mm
Length open: 175mm
Contact: Gerber
T: 01506 406277
W: www.gerberuk.com
SRP
.99
09
1
£
Kit | Knives and multi-tools
Helle Eggen
Helle Harding
A robust knife in traditional Scandinavian design, the Helle Eggen
is a beautifully constructed blade with an elegant curly birch handle
that’s suited to medium and large hands (crafted to form a finger
guard). Its Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blade is more than durable
enough for a rifle shooter’s demands.
This Scandinavian blade is clearly a bit
special, and the slightly higher retail price
commanded is in line with the quality of
materials used. You won’t find any
moulded plastic handles here –
birch and leather are the standard,
with a sheath made of genuine
leather.
A lovely-looking knife with a handle made
from rosewood, leather and curly birch.
Supplied with a genuine leather sheath, the
biggest dilemma any Harding owner will face
is whether they can bring themselves
to actually use such a good-looking
blade in the field! You must – it handles
brilliantly. Comfortable for even large
hands, it holds an edge extremely well.
The laminated stainless blade is a tad
shiny, but you’ll be hard-pressed to
find knives that look this much like a
custom-made blade for less than £100.
So its price is unbelievable.
Overall length: 8.25in
Blade length: 4in
Weight: 260 grams
Handle material:
Curly birch
Contact: Whitby & Co
T: 01539 721032
W: www.whitbyandco.
co.uk
Overall length: 8.25in
Blade length: 4in
Weight: 240 grams
Handle material: Rosewood,
leather and curly birch
Contact: Whitby & Co
T: 01539 721032
W: www.whitbyandco.co.uk
SRP
5
9.9
£6
Jack Pyke Poacher
A chunky, tri-bladed folding knife, the aptlynamed Poacher features a fine-edge blade,
gutting knife and saw – everything a hunter
needs in the field at a good price, too.
Stylish and functional, its handle comes in
Realtree camo and the blades are strong
enough to cut through bone and other
tough materials found in the field.
Its tri-blade design can make it a
little uncomfortable in your hand after
prolonged use as the blade spines can dig
in to your fingers if too much pressure’s
exerted – but for general fieldwork, it’s
outstanding value for money.
Overall length: 7.7in
Blade length: (Blade) 3in; (saw)
2.5in; (gutting knife) 3in
Weight: 220 grams
Handle material: ABS
Contact: Jack Pyke
W: www.jackpyke.co.uk
SRP
5
£3
SRP
5
9.9
8
£
Wilderness Puukko
Crafted in the Finnish part
of Lapland using traditional
Scandinavian methods, this
is a stunning-yet-utile knife
for the fieldsman. Designed to
withstand punishing use, the
blade’s internal tang extends
all the way to the top of the
handle, ensuring stability even
after years of hard use. If you
want a knife that’s not only
functional but darn goodlooking, too, then this is a top
choice.
Overall length: 7.5in
Blade length: 3in
Weight: 185 grams
Handle material: Curly birch,
leather and reindeer antler
Contact: Casstrom,
T: 0844 880 7230
W: www.casstrom.co.uk
SRP
0
5.5
£3
SPORTING RIFLE
101