An Endearingly Robust Field Knife To Take On Poachers With
One of British author Lee Child’s coolest literary assets is his clipped, concise way of conveying fairly important thoughts. I’m guessing that the sentiment expressed above – in reference to putative evolutionary origins of that incurable Wanderlust inhabiting some of us – won’t be entirely alien to anyone who follows this site with any regularity. To these – the distinguished many –, nor should the following observation be: every person envious of howling wolves needs the right tool to deal with stuff out there.
My outlook regarding LionSteel’s fixed-blades is comparable to John Dillinger’s vis-à-vis most financial institutions of his era.
I’ve yet to see one I don’t like.
I’ve been lucky to test two of these to date; and if you want the terrible truth, their only significant drawback, to me – besides some sheath-related issues –, was that I found them (almost) too pretty to use.
Which is not a problem the M5 has. It’s beautiful in its own right, but more in a tool-like, rustic way that makes you itch to use it as much as you can, instead of wondering whether you should get that ivory-inlaid box for it.
In this respect, it’s more akin to my well-loved Fällkniven F1 than to some other LionSteel knives. (Your mileage may, of course, vary when it comes to similar distinctions.)
The M5 seems to have been designed as something of a crossover between LionSteel’s more delicate M4 and their bigger, tactical-oriented T5 model.
The resulting robust, mid-sized field knife bears distinctive features from both sides of its parentage, offering the full utility (and part of the portability) of the M4, but in the format of a compact field knife; like a downscaled T5. This reduced size enables it, for the really motivated, to be carried daily (at least by Hungarian-hillbilly standards).
Another bonus is its Cordura-sheath: while admittedly ugly, it’s a durable and versatile thing inspiring a ton more confidence than any leather sheath currently offered by LionSteel does. Its multiple carry options are similar to those offered by the T5’s sheath, but this one seems to be better-executed and altogether more functional, while less hard on clothing.
With one foot firmly set in the “use-your-shit” universe, the M5 is picking up dings and scratches with the gusto of a vacuum-cleaner, managing all the while to stay visually appealing. (My wife does that: after eighteen years of being in a relationship together, I still marvel at her tough-but-radiant beauty; whereas I’m reduced to going for the mountain-man look, without any incongruent aesthetic highlights.)
SPECIFICATIONS
| Overall Length: | 9.49”/ 241mm |
| Blade Length: | 4.53”/ 115mm |
| Blade Steel: | Sleipner |
| Blade Finish: | PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) / Stonewashed |
| Blade Thickness: | 0.18”/ 4.5mm |
| Blade Shape: | Spear point |
| Blade Grind: | Flat |
| Handle Material: | Micarta, G10 or Olive wood |
| Sheath: | Cordura or leather |
| Weight: | 3.81 oz (5.74 oz w/ sheath) |
| Designer: | Michele Pensato (Molletta) |
| Made in: | Italy |
Pros & Cons
| What I Liked | What I Didn’t Like |
| Versatile, durable sheath | Sheath-construction can result in fumbling & will be harder on the blade |
| Capable, functional design | Cordura doesn’t like underbrush |
| Sound ergonomics and balance | No left-hand sheath-option |
| Sleipner steel works well here |
THE BLADE
As stated, the blade is reminiscent in shape of both the M4 and the T5: it gives the knife a rugged but aesthetically pleasing look that works well with the canvas Micarta handle scales. Now that we’ve got due praise for looks out of the way, we can go on by stating that LionSteel did not disappoint here by giving visual effects precedence over functionality. Quite the reverse, in fact: with a knife like this that begs to be used, aesthetics are, quite rightly, pushed over to the back burner.
The high-flat grind of the black-coated, spear-point blade makes this knife more adept at slicing, whittling and carving than what you’d deduce from observing its 4.5 mm spine. The robust tip is slightly above the centerline, so theoretically the knife could work as a hunting-blade, and definitely can handle food-prep. Piercing and stabbing poses no problems, and this knife, while compact, is already inside the (lower) weight-class of choppers. The spine and handle are crowned along their entire length, but you could probably work a ferro-rod – which I’d personally hesitate to use on a coated blade – making use of the substantial sharpening choil.
Nice balance and ergonomics are a great appeal of LionSteel’s fixed blades, and the M5 is no exception. The thumb-ramp seen on the M4 is even more pronounced here, especially combined with the lines of the handle flowing into a cool-looking lower guard. At no point, while handling and using this knife, did I feel its lack of jimping to be detrimental to my ability to maintain a secure grip on it.
The Steel
Bohler-Uddeholm’s Sleipner steel, while being increasingly popular, is relatively new to me. Compared most often to D2, it’s said to be both easier to sharpen and more corrosion-resistant. It also holds a slightly better edge, if given the right sort of heat-treatment. Testing of this knife hasn’t caused me to take issue neither with any of those observations regarding its physical properties, nor with its resulting good reputation. A Hungarian knifemaker friend of mine says that he uses this material in his fixed-blade designs almost to the exclusion to any other – which, to me at least, is all the backing Sleipner needs. I’ve no idea how it compares to Niolox (another tool-steel that LionSteel uses), though: from what I read on the one and the other, the two don’t seem to differ that drastically; therefore, I’m a bit puzzled about why the company keeps using both.
THE HANDLE
The rustic-looking handle of the M5B CVG has played a significant role in my choice of this particular version. It’s made using two textured Micarta-scales fastened by screws to the handle of the knife. The hand-filling contours of the handle are complemented by a slight ribbing that gets more pronounced along the edges of said Micarta-slabs. This gives the user a secure grip in most positions.
The outlines of the handle stand slightly proud of the scales everywhere, but without causing any hot-spots. As opposed to the case of the T5’s handle, here the lanyard hole passes through the handle itself instead of the Micarta-slabs, allowing you to add a wrist attachment for chopping.
The Other Handle Material Options
LionSteel does a good job of offering handle material options on their more popular fixed blades. The M5 is no exception. While Micarta is certainly considered king according to everyone here at Nothing But Knives it is nice to have options. The M5 is currently available in Olive wood and G10 for anyone to is less excited about Micarta.
The Sheath
The Cordura-sheath was another factor when it came to choosing from the available versions of the M5: while less pleasing aesthetically than its leather counterparts, harder on the blade (particularly on coating), and (in this case) less comfortable to use, its superior durability and versatility (especially the carry-options offered) have, in the end, tipped my balance in its favor.
On the plus side, I was happy to see that LionSteel took the T5’s MOLLE-compatible leather-sheath and made it more durable by choosing heavily reinforced Cordura as material. Even with vertical carry in mind, you can adjust the height at which you prefer to the sheath to ride on your belt. A compartment for fire-steel or sharpening-stone is included.
It’s Not All Good
In the column of negatives, I’m forced to chalk up the fact that Cordura and underbrush don’t love each other on equal terms: on paper, you can count on the sheath for getting caught on all manner of thorns and branches out in the field. In practice, though, nothing of the sort has so far happened, and I don’t expect to encounter future problems on that score that the judicious use of a match, and a subsequent, thorough airing of the room, would be insufficient to remedy. (There are few things that stink worse than burnt Cordura, but by melting it you can keep loose threads from unraveling further.)
Another, bigger complaint is that taking out and re-sheathing the knife takes more fumbling than it would with a broken-in leather sheath. The actual sheath is reinforced here by using a durable plastic insert inside the Cordura-pouch designed to receive the blade. Which, while sensible, also makes putting the knife away at just the right angle less intuitive. To me, it’s still a two-handed operation. Nothing to lose sleep over, though. It’s a matter of preference, really: durability versus ease of use.
IN USE; CONCLUSIONS
The M5’s proven itself to be a nice complement to my Fällkniven F1: increasingly, they’ve been taking turns as my daily-carry fixed blade companions.
This knife is a great one-stop-shop blade, particularly well-suited to the way I’m trying to live. Be the kitchen or the woods the designated theatre of operations, it hasn’t let me down so far, and neither do I expect it to.
If feasible, I recommend that you give it a try.
