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A STOUT LITTLE R2 SCOUT THAT HAS A POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS
The Fallkniven R2 Scout would make a great knife for camping and general outdoor use. I only hope I can get over my reservations about its sheath so I can put this blade to good use.
SMALL KNIFE ADVANTAGES
I really like small, well-made fixed-blade knives. Because the blade doesn’t fold, they’re simple and strong with little that can go wrong with them. You can use them without fumbling with thumb studs or nail nicks.
The blade can’t fold on your fingers, and they have no lock mechanism to get clogged with gunk or debris. They’re easy to clean after messy chores such as field-dressing game or food prep. The full tang means the blade will never develop a wobble where it joins the handle as on a folder.
Because the R2 Scout’s blade is so thick, it seemed stubbier than it actually is. It measures 3.16 inches, a good size for an EDC blade.
A small fixed-blade knife gives you plenty of carry options. With the right sheath, you can carry it on your belt either vertically or horizontally. You can attach to the shoulder strap of your pack, tuck it in a boot, wear it around your neck, or simply tuck it into a pocket. For these reasons, I’ve been opting for a small-fixed blade for everyday carry more often lately.
THE R2 SCOUT
The Fallkniven R2 Scout is one of the sturdiest small fixed-blade knives you’ll find. This Swedish-made knife measures 7.12 inches in overall length, with a 3.14-inch drop-point, plain-edge blade of Elmax steel with a satin finish, and a convex grind. Perhaps the most impressive measurement is the blade thickness at 0.188 inch.
That’s extremely thick for a blade so short. It doesn’t have a long thin tip either, so you’re not likely to break it, even with moderate abuse.
“I think it would make a good companion on backpacking and camping trips, and for bushcraft duty when traveling with minimal gear.”
It’s sized for convenient carry, but it’s big enough to handle most knife tasks with ease. While the rubbery synthetic Thermorun handle over the full tang measures about 4 inches, the actual real estate available for your fingers is only about 3 3/8 inches, measured from behind the finger guard to the curve at the butt. I can get by with it, although I’d appreciate a slightly longer gripping surface.
Those with larger hands are likely to feel the same way. It’s not a fault of the knife; it merely comes down to your choice of tools. More handle usually means giving up some of the carry benefits of a smaller knife. Fallkniven offers many larger models if that’s the way you’d like to go.
In the author’s hand, the R2 Scout was just big enough to fit all four fingers. Those with larger hands might want to opt for one of Fallkniven’s bigger models.
The knife’s full tang extends from the end of the handle to provide for light pounding capability. It has a lanyard hole, too; I mostly use a lanyard when kayaking or canoeing.
Fallkniven lists the R2 Scout under hunting knives on its website. Certainly, with its grippy handle and overall compact size, the Scout would be a good choice for field-dressing game.
But I wouldn’t confine it to service in the fall months. I think it would make a good companion on backpacking and camping trips, and for bushcraft duty when traveling with minimal gear.
DISAPPOINTING SHEATH
My only gripe with the Fallkniven R2 Scout is not with the knife itself but with the sheath. The knife comes with a black Zytel sheath with a flexible nylon belt loop. The sheath also features a latch that’s intended to lock the knife securely in the sheath. On first using this feature, I found the latch very stiff. That stiff latch, together with the floppy belt loop, made it extremely difficult to get the knife out of the sheath with one hand.
That was only a temporary problem as, after using the latch just a few times, it broke entirely. The brittle plastic tab inside the sheath that locks the knife in place broke off, making the sheath worthless. I informed Fallkniven of the problem and they sent a replacement sheath right away. I’m just not sure I can trust a design that depends on a plastic tab to secure the knife.
On a knife that has a real-world retail price of around $200, I would expect a better quality sheath. Fallkniven indicates that its F1ez sheath listed on the company’s website is a fit for the R2 Scout, too. It’s also made of Zytel, but the knife secures with a friction fit, not a latch with delicate moving parts. So, I might try to see if there’s a dealer in the U.S. that carries it.
The R2 Scout has a blade thickness of 0.188 inch, very beefy for a small knife.
GOOD, STRONG BLADE
When I held the knife for the first time, I wondered if the checkered texturing on the sides of the synthetic, overmolded handle might be too sharp. But on using the knife, I found no problem with it whatsoever.
No matter how I gripped the knife, I experienced no hot spots or other irritation on my hands. The textured rubbery grip will be a plus when using the knife in wet environments or when handling messy tasks. It’ll be good in cold weather as well.
“The textured, rubbery grip will be a plus when using the knife in wet environments or when handling messy tasks.”
The R2 Scout came with a very sharp edge. Around the house, I performed my usual cutting tests on any materials I could sacrifice. What I found is that this knife, weighing 4.65 ounces, seems to cut like a much heavier blade.
Short blades also tend to be easy to control, and the R2 Scout was no exception. I tried holding it in a pinch grip far out on the blade, too, and this is another use where the thickness of the blade made control and comfort especially noteworthy.
The knife’s full tang extends beyond the overmolded handle and can be used for light pounding duties, such as processing tinder.
It Won’t Sit Idle
The Fallkniven R2 Scout is too good of a knife to sit unused in my safe. Ideally, for a knife of this size and type, I’d like a sheath that’s versatile enough to allow for either vertical or horizontal belt carry, while still being small enough for pocket carry. I’d want the sheath to cover the blade only, so that I can get ahold of the handle for quick access without needing to readjust my grip on the knife. For that, it’s likely I’ll need to seek the services of a custom sheath maker.
I really like this little knife. I’m not ready to give up on it yet, and I’m hoping you won’t either. The R2 Scout has too many good qualities to let an easily corrected sheath problem hold it back. I’m confident Fallkniven will correct this issue quickly.
The overmolded Thermorun handle is rubbery with finely checkered texturing, and it provided a very secure grip on the knife.
The sheath’s locking latch or, more accurately, the plastic tab inside the sheath that secures the knife when the latch is flipped, proved to be the weak spot in the design.
According to the Fallkniven website, R2 Scout should fit in the F1ez sheath. The author might seek one of those to replace the original sheath that came with the knife. Fallkniven photo.
FALLKNIVEN WORKS TO CORRECT SHEATH ISSUE
Just before this issue went to the printer, I received a response directly from Fallkniven founder Peter Hjortberger about the problem I had with the R2 Scout sheath.
He stated that they have sold more than 1,000 of this model since June 2021 and have had no problems reported to the company until recently. He said that he believes a small batch of defective sheaths might have been distributed in which the Zytel produced was too hard.
This resulted in a small number of reports from customers—about 10 to 15 worldwide—of broken sheaths. Those customers are being sent new sheaths without delay. The company has been working with its subcontractor to ensure those and any new sheaths shipped will meet quality standards.
He also stated that Fallkniven is considering a “luxury R2” in the future that will include a well-made leather sheath. That to me is a good, quick response from a good company.
SOURCE
Fallkniven
Fallkniven.se/en
A version of this article first appeared in the June/July 2022 print issue of Knives Illustrated.
