American Survival Guide – October 2019

[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 25

‹ Below: Grapes were

cleanly sliced with

the Fox River EXT1.

‹ Above: The

EXT1 comes with a

high-quality leather

belt sheath, just

like every other

blade that comes

from the Bark River

shop.

like it will fit across the knife and snap into
place. Run the strap under a little warm wa-
ter, then stretch the strap and snap it closed
over the knife. Let it sit this way overnight and
you’re good to go.
Overall, the fit, finish, and comfort of the
knife in hand were all beyond reproach. But
holding a knife and actually using it are two
different things.

THROUGH THE PACES

I carried the EXT-1 as my primary fixed blade
knife for several excursions into the field. My

wife and I began taking weekly hikes in late 2016 and we’ve not stopped yet. I brought the EXT-1

along on some of our most recent jaunts and used it for some basic tasks like making feather

sticks and carving. The balance and overall comfort of the EXT-1 are just absolutely stellar. After

some use in the field to get used to the knife, it was time for formal testing.

One of my favorite tests is to slice grapes. This shows me not just how sharp the knife is but how

well the blade geometry works. Many knives will end up crushing rather than cutting the fruit. The

EXT-1 performed flawlessly from the first cut to the last. In fact, it was able to make slices thin

enough to read the blade’s Bark River logo through them.

I then grabbed a hank of sisal rope and proceeded to use push cuts. Rather than slicing or

rocking the blade to get through the rope, this is just, well, pushing the knife edge through the

material being cut. From the first cut to the last, the EXT-1 had no trouble at all. Sisal rope is a

very abrasive type of cordage and can dull an edge quickly. Not so with the CPM 3V steel com-

bined with the stellar heat treat Bark River uses on their blades. I worked my way up and down

Fox River EXT-1

Specifications

• Overall length: 8.65 inches


• Blade length: 4.1 inches


• Blade thickness: 0.157 inch


• Steel: CPM 3V hardened to 60 HRC


• Handle: Black canvas Micarta


• Leather belt sheath included


• Weight: 5.7 ounces
  MSRP: Starting at $299.95
  BarkRiverKnives.com