Woodlands can be fun, but they can also be menacing. You don't want to be caught unprepared. That's why outdoorsy people are always on the lookout, not just for hunting knives but also for survival knives. These robust cutting tools can withstand the stress of different woodland survival activities such as chopping wood, making fires, dressing games, and preparing meals.
If you want to survive and enjoy the fruits of hunting in the woodlands, you're going to want a full tang knife. There are a lot of full tang profiles you need to watch out for in a hunting knife. Learn about them below.
Kinds of Full-tang Hunting Knives
Most people imagine a one-piece blade and handle when they hear a knife has a full tang. But hidden behind the scales and the rivets of a knife handle are different kinds of full tang profiles. Here they are:
Skeletonized
You may see this type of tang on the surface in between the scales, but you'll notice a difference in weight when you hold it. Skeletonized tangs are lightweight because they have their inner portion cut out with metal bridges in between, making the tang look like a skeletal frame of the knife's handle.
Extended
The extended tang has its bottom sticking out of the handle scales. Usually, the bottom portion of the extended tang is where the lanyard hole is. The extended tang is ideal for heavy-duty work because the extension adds more weight to the handle. You'll normally see this on hunting or survival knives.
Encapsulated
The uninitiated commonly identify the encapsulated tang as a partial tang. You wouldn't see the metal on the surface of the handle, but you'll feel the weight when you hold it.
The purpose of the encapsulated tang is aesthetics and grip comfort. Some prefer having a handle that doesn't have the tang sandwiched between the scales, so the handle material encapsulates it instead. Encapsulated tangs also give artisans more control over how they would shape the handle material.
Hidden
Unlike the encapsulated tang, the hidden tang borders on becoming a partial tang. Technically, the tang still extends down the knife's handle, but the metal composition is as thin as that of the partial tang. Thus, this type is lightweight but not as resistant as the full tang.
Full
Lastly, the full tang is the unadulterated version among the types. You get the pure, solid package of blade and tang, and you will see the metal in between the scales of the handle. Normally, full tangs are three-riveted. Nothing beats the classic full tang for durability, balance, and style.
In Focus: The Schrade Frontier Full Tang Hunting Knife
This article is focused on the Schrade Frontier SCHF37 model. While other models under the same series have similar features and inclusions, we're choosing the SCHF37 because of the blade length. Have a good look at this model below.
Inclusion
The Schrade Frontier package comes with the following items when you purchase it:
| Qty |
Product |
Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schrade Frontier knife | The main item is a full tang
survival knife with an overall length of 12.4 inches (31.4 centimeters).
The hunting knife full tang blade measures 7 inches ( 17.8 centimeters), and the handle's length is a comfortable 5.4 inches (13.7 centimeters). The total weight of the knife is 14.5 ounces. |
| 1 | Polyester sheath | The sheath of polyester not only
accommodates the knife but also has a small front pocket where you can fit the
sharpening stone, the ferrocerium rod, and the striker.
At the back of the sheath is a belt loop to keep your sheath firmly placed on your waist. A safety loop goes around the handle so the knife is securely held down and wouldn't unsheath during rigorous movements. At the bottom of the sheath are two holes where a black lace is inserted. It ties around your thighs to keep the knife and the rest of the items from swinging. |
| 1 | Sharpening stone | A pocket-size sharpening stone is diamond coated. It has holes in it to repel any metal dustings caused by sharpening the knife. |
| 1 | Ferrocerium rod with striker | This combination is joined together with a black-tie to ensure you have one with the other. This tool is to make it easy for you to kindle a fire. |
Design
Extended Tang
Among all the full tang profiles mentioned above, the extended tang is the strongest. The blade's material overshoots at the bottom of the handle scale. This makes the bottom of the knife capable of other functions like smashing an object or punching a hole on thin wood.
Patterned Scale
The circular patterns on the handle scale give a simple aesthetic to the knife's handle. It makes the knife look like a styled combat knife. Yet, this circular pattern functions as an anti-slip surface, allowing you to keep your grip on the knife firmly even when the knife is wet.
Drop Tip Profile
The drop point profile is meant for chopping. A suitable point profile for the Schrade Frontier hunting knife is shaped up to be a heavy-duty beast that can dominate chopping up hard materials. On the other hand, if you want to do gentle tasks like food preparation, the drop point would be perfect for slicing, mincing, and chopping up meat, fruits, and vegetables.
Hollow Grind
The hollow blade profile makes the Schrade Frontier survival knife strong where it matters— on the spine area. In addition, the blade's cheek tapers on the way to the edge to give it the razor-sharp edge it needs to chop through thick items.
Double Bevel
As if the hollow grind isn't sharp enough, Schrade Frontier threw in another bevel on top of the other to make it double. Double the bevel means double the sharpness. The sharper the blade, the easier it is to cut through. Another function of the double bevel is to make slicing soft and small items the way you want it to. Schrade Frontier is going for the full spectrum of usage with the double bevel.
Jimping
The grooves at the tang and near the rear quillon give your palm and fingers more grip power. If you're working on some heavy slicing, like dressing or skinning a game, you're going to need to switch up your gripping style. The jimping at the tang gives you a good grip when rocking the knife.
Dual Rivets
The pins on the scale are kept to a steady two-rivet design— just enough to keep the handle scales firmly joined with the tang and save a bit of material. It's also a wise design choice because a three-rivet design is normally associated with kitchen knife designs. But the Schrade Frontier wants to show its way more by putting fewer things on the handle scale.
Coated Blade
The blade is powder-coated. This makes the color of the blade match the handle. It is quite an eye candy for those who have a taste for single-color designs. The all-black knife looks intimidating indeed. Apart from the aesthetic, the coated blade prevents corrosion and gives an extra level of protection for your blade.
Features
Thick Metal Material
This full tang knife is 6mm thick— it's practically a hatchet of the hunting knife world. We love how the thickness of the blade can withstand a lot of blunt force placed onto it. It just doesn't break. This allows the knife to apply the same amount of force on the object it's chopping up. You can rely that this knife will hold up on any material viable to be chopped.
Lanyard Holder
The extended tang not only allows for a strong knife. It also makes an additional feature possible— a lanyard holder. Punching a hole on the metal sticking out the Schrade Frontier knife makes it possible to tie a rope on the bottom of the blade. This is especially helpful when you need to pull the knife out with an external force or hang it out to dry.
Flexible Handle
The handle's contour is designed for both left-handers and right-handers. It is designed to fit the form of your palm so you can grip it tightly and comfortably. This is especially useful when you have to switch hands due to fatigue or when you have to change your grip style to better attack the material you're going to cut.
Thermoplastic Scale
The handle's scale is built with a flexible, rubber-like material called the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). This makes the handles of the Schrade Frontier survival knife feel soft to the palms and coarse enough to support a steady and ongoing use. It's also flame and chemical resistant.
Chokehold Choil
Another useful feature of the Schrade Frontier hunting knife is the oversized choil. This is designed for people who want a chokehold grip on the knife to make slicing tough materials like animal skin or leather precise and easy. The choil fits your index finger.
Highlights
- Immense chopping power. The Schrade Frontier SCHF30s series are all heavy-duty full tang, fixed blade knives that can substitute for an ax. If you're in the backcountry woodlands, you don't need to bring a hatchet to split firewood. This knife is the perfect substitute.
- The extended tang and the fixed blade feature of this knife are superior. We're a fan of full-tang knives, but an extended tang is a step up on the power scale. The weight is justifiable, considering you'll need something a bit heavy to help you chop hard materials like wood or cut tough hides.
Lowlights
- The coating may chip. After using the Schrade Frontier knife for a while, you'll start to notice that the black powder coating is chipping off. This ruins the aesthetic value of the knife. It also makes the knife prone to more damage because of exposure to elements. So be sure to take care of the powder-coated blade.
- The 1095 high-carbon steel is prone to rust. The pioneer SCHF30 series are all made of the same material. This would cause concern, especially if your preferred public hunting grounds are in the marsh or Riverlands. Continuous exposure to moisture may eventually break this knife.
A Bonafide Wood Breaker
The Schrade Frontier SCHF37 hunting knife has true grit and power when splitting wood of varying thickness and length. This knife's capability is a testament to the Schrade Frontier's design and technology. It's strong, it's tough, and it's thick. It can match your stamina on any firewood-making task you set out to do.
On the other hand, some may say the design is overkill. Extended tang, jimping, and an oversized choil give this away. But while it does overextend on some features, it lacks in some areas that matter. The corrosion-resistant steel needs work.
Despite the minor flaws of the Schrade Frontier, its benefits still outweigh the shortcomings. It's a good investment if you're an avid fan of the backcountry. This formidable survival knife will be a menace in the woodlands.
August 4, 2022
