My father had one of the MOD knives issued to him in 1980 and used it all the time at our place in our woodland in Cornwall. I now have that knife and still use it frequently and it never fails. The military issue knives from Sheffield are basic, brutal and designed for a hard life. That clarity of purpose has a quality all of its own.
I endorse the use of a strap on the handle. Back in 86 I was cutting small branches off a tree that had fallen across the track to make it easier to cross over, it was raining. The knife (10" blade) slipped out of my hand on the downward stroke, slipped out of my hand and flew past my calf muscle I could feel it scrape my leg. I now put strips of nonslip tape around the handle, as well as the strap, this gives me a positive grip. have collected knives from all around the world, Spain, England, China, Germany etc. I use every one of them (15) on a roster base. I don't have them just for show. That was a fair and honest review of both knives. ATB Cheers from the mountains of NZ 😀😀
I found the MOD for sale & bought one about 3 years ago. It was around $75 USD. I already had a KaBar BK-7 sheath to replace the original leather one. It is a bigger version of my KaBar BK2 & I enjoy using both of them. I don't camp much but I use the MOD all winter long at my fireplace. I would never take a chance with an imitation of the real thing. I was a U.S. Marine 50 years ago so I have a fondness for KaBars & other large blades. I have a LOT of knives & there is just something about these unwieldy brutes that I can't do without.
Nice breakfast video! As a Yank, familiar with our 'Aircrew Survival Knife', I must admit your MOD knife looks like a much better choice for hard continuous use. In fact, the American knife looks almost dainty. 😎
I have the cheap one and used it hard for the last 3 years. Everything from splitting wood to digging firepits. Still going strong. I do have a custom leather sheath for it though, for exactly the reason you showed.
Yes, put a bit of wear in the blade, disguise the handle, get rid of that awful toy sheath, and you've got a knife that would be half good if you didn't know it's a knock-off. I bought one yesterday.
I bought my P.W.H. Knife around august 1974 on my first leave from Guards Depot basis training. Took it back and used it forever, it’s still in the original sheath.💂♂️🏴🇨🇦
@@jimbob465 I had that same puma. dad's jump knife in SEA (f-4 pilot)--like a young dumbass i learned knife throwing with it and beat it to hell. good memories though
Thank you for this review !!! I have wanted one of the original MOD knives, but haven't been able to find them in the US. THANK YOU, once again !!! Keep up the great work !!!
The MOD was never a ‘survival knife.’ It was a utility tool tossed in vehicle tool kits. BUT, it’s British and national pride makes a fairly decent silk purse out of a sows ear.
Actually it was originally made as a survival knife not just to toss in an engineers tool kit. They were used widely as a survival knife including in arctic survival training notice how the wooden scales on the early models are not flush with the steel tang. That was there for a reason to stop a soldiers hand sticking to the tang on the steel in cold weather conditions. The early ones made by wilkinson sword in the 1950s which I have were made for special forces & to put in RAF survival kits as a heavy duty knife. The reason why british soldiers didn't like using them was because they were too heavy to carry in the field compared to the martindale golok which was a more versatile tool but not as strong as the mod. They wasn't designed specifically to go in tool boxes but that's where most of them ended up because the soldier didn't like to carry them lol
@@lonewandererbushcraftwildc6822 I got a feeling that that knife culture is very similar to two different knives in the states. During the Vietnam war the Ka-bar knife was ditched and replaced with a heavier knife. Now what a lot of soldiers during this era would do is ditch that issued knife and replace it with the Buck 119. It was a lighter and I wouldn't say more durable but on par with the issued knife. It was made to skin deer, but came push sharp out of the package. It's tip could easily snap however that's not what that knife was made for. It's geometry keep in mind was made for skinning and processing deer. Therefore it was great for stabbing and slashing type tasks. The og Buck 119s had wooden handles. Nowadays the blade guard and pommel are made of high quality aluminum to cut weight. The knife weighs about 7lbs or about 3.18kgs. as you can see it's quite the light knife. It feels good in hand, and it will be replaced by Buck knives if it's broken and they can't repair it.
Pride comes before a fall and nationalism is a pillar of fascism. It always implies a made up superiority based on myth. Careful what you wish for... 🙄😭🤣
@lonewandererbushcraftwildc6822 I always laugh at that reason for the crappy handle design. No-one is going to be barehanded in the sort of temperatures that will stick flesh to metal. You can also still touch the brass rivets, so it doesn't stand as an excuse for a shit design I was issued mine in Belize and immediately fround down the handle to fit the tang and took the top guard off. It changed from a clanking great lump to a useful knife that I still have now, 30 years later (I had a bespoke sheath made, that cost almost twice what the knife would to buy haha)
So glad I saw this. I never noticed until I rewagched this. Video just now, but today I received my wood handle J Adams MOD knife from Sheffield knives, I love it, but was confused. I had ordered two in 2020 because I like the wood handle. I got them, and they were the wood handle, but the stamp was on the blade, not the handle. They had the usual powdery like coating on the blade. I got my new wood handle one today, and was super thrilled to see the mark on the handle, but then I looked at the blade, and the blades coating was this glassy smooth (gorgeous), almost blued looking coat. I was wondering if my order got messed up. I emailed them about why the change etc, looking forward to hearing the response. Love this knife, planned on keeping it anyways, but I’m curious as to the change and why. But after watching this, (again) it’s reassuring that this may just be the way they are going with it now. 👍 Do you have any insight on this?
I bought an original MOD in 1981 and have put it through absolute hell! I had a friend put a beautiful wood handle on I because I really hated the original handle! If I could only have one knife to survive with (other than my William Collins WCSK) it would definitely be the MOD! I used it as a throwing knife a chopper and a general purpose camp and field knife. It has never let me down. Fantastic survival tool! ATB Sam Adler from Vietnam
WCSK is one hell of a knife. If it were me, I'd put a linen micarta set of scales on that original MOD and call it good, just because the micarta won't rot. Now yours depending on the wood might last just as long, IDK
I have both, and with the Chinese copy I ground the top edge down about 5" from tip along the spine to give it a "Bowie / Kabar" look, both knives are brilliant for the price, and will outlast many "designer" survival knives costing many times more.
Hollow ground is a no-go for me for survival knives. I just don't think the edge is robust enough for how rough you may need to be with it. I agree with a hatchet and small saw as a better (imo) alternative to a big knife. One thing you can do with many small axes you can't as well with a big knife: hammer things.
@@mariaconcepcionrodriguezhe2850 Sometimes I bushcraft in the desert around Las Cruces NM and no, there is not an abundance of sticks and stones. So you know, open your mind before commenting snidely.
@@daveburklund2295 what are you going to hammer when there is no stick there. Just curious? have you tried Tomahawks with a hammer poll? they are very good tools.
The MOD Survival knife is underrated, Been using them since Norway exercises in the early/mid 80's, so many times I go to the woods minus a hatchet and the MOD knife does the same job. Glad you mentioned putting a loop on them to give that extra bit of safety and also more momentum in swinging when chopping trunks/rounds [same principle as with the long Sami knife which is bevelled out at the end to hold better when swinging].
I think you hit the nail on the head, there are now better solutions, mine has been replaced with various types of mora knife, more versatile for most cutting tasks around camp and a bahco saw and small axe. They are nice objects though. 🙂
Good vid 👍 I have an earlier example of the MOD. The Wilkinson, same design but with two screw rivets. I can remove the slabs and fix a wooden shaft. Can use as an axe or spear. It’s a beast. Really I prefer to carry a small blade and a light axe for the same weight. Cheers
For the £50 price difference you can buy a significant amount of 'other' kit. e.g, Poncho, cookset, water bottle. And still have an 'effective' knife. albeit a clone.
I'd rather pay a bit more for a British firm to keep employing British workers actually making stuff to British specs and standards. The "more stuff, more cheaper whatever the indirect cost" attitude is starting to bite the West on the arse, and usually works out more expensive for the user in the medium term.
Yeah tbh just do that if you are limited on budget I got an MT151 which is a clone of the Cold steel Trailmaster and it literally performs the same maybe little less edge retention but so easy to sharpen it really doesn't matter lol
My brother gave me a MOD knife twenty-five years ago. It has accompanied me on every camping and hunting trip ever since. It has never let me down. From my experience, only buy British made knives as their quality is exceptional.
I have one of the clone kombat uk knives. I use it for overlanding. For digging it’s not good. Stones wear the edge far to fast. Took me a while to get a new edge on being a thick knife. But I agree on everything else. I would also say the additional weight saving of the clone makes it an easier knife to swing more machete like. Nice channel I’ll be checking out more content
I used to have a genuine mod knife issued to me be we had to give them back when we left the service. They were a very good piece of kit. Rm comando s have a different one an fsk i believe.
Ex SG and in the 70s I had the MOD knife courtesy of a mate in RAF Crash n Bash. I found it a bit too heavy to use often and unfortunately it was stolen out of my kit about a year later. Nowadays I prefer a Kent pattern hundred year old Gilpin hatchet (eBay £3), a Mora Companion and a non locking folder. They are more useable or user friendly. As we know, generally, more than one tool works for us bushcraft wise 😉.
As said they are for cold weather environments, I still have mine as used in Norway for chopping Birch etc. They aren’t soft on the hands because in cold environments you’ll mainly be wearing gloves or mittens. However put the cheap one in in Minus 40 degrees Celsius and see if it doesn’t fracture and embed the blade in you or a companion in close proximity 🤔
This is all useful stuff. I purchased a clone of this knife for around £20 from a Mil Surplus Store some twelve years ago. The owner said he sold quite a few of them. The knife has seen some hard use and has held up outstandingly well. Just because something is cheap does not mean it is junk, some people stupidly abuse cheaper blades with the sole purpose of wrecking them. I have taken care of this knife which included getting a better sheath made and I know it will continue to serve me well.
Had one in the early 80's when it was issued to replace the much better Pussers Gollock. That thing was crap then and I expect it is just as crap now. The blisters it gave you when using it for chopping made any hand work the next day a feckin nightmare.
I'm thoroughly demoralised, having just bought the clone. I worked out it was Chinese before buying it and knew it wasn't going to be a love affair, but now it's worse than I thought. I'll die from shame slinking out of the woods with it strapped on. People walker their poodles will think I'm playing splatter gun and aficionados will grin through gritted teeth. And there's a guy who sells real refurbished gems at the market, if only I'd been patient. Thanks very much.
Just a heads up. I bought one, from that same source, great knife and great work on the mod. But there’s a lot of bull, or there was before. So I contacted the manufacturer (Adam’s) to check. Regardless of what you hear, this is what they replied, from a copy and paste. “The blade is made from 5.5mm 1080AISI carbon steel.”
Thank you for this. I hate when they just say "carbon steel". There are like a hundred types of "carbon steel". I like to know the exact version of "carbon steel".
Try binding the handle with electrical self amalgamating tape. I did my FS knife with it when I bought it 40 years ago and it’s still rock solid with a firm grip!!
I got mine in the 80s. I put a better edge on it, and it performed brilliantly for years. I've since gifted it. I use a Fiskars hand axe also bought in the 80s, when they were just one standard size. Tried them both side by side and decided on the Fiskars, backed up with a simple belt knife. Was nice to watch the old MOD in action though.
I’ve had bad experiences with the quality of Kombat gear, an NI Pack which didn’t last its first use - carrying my daughters’ gear for tag rugby on a Sunday morning (two water bottles, couple of hoodies and trainers), between the car and the pitch the shoulder straps started ripping away from the top of the main part of pack, also two Molle waterbottle pouches where the PALS webbing came loose and frayed the first time I fitted them to pack. I’m not going to get great from a manufacturer I can’t trust.
I have several J Adams blades and I like them very much. I only buy the bare blade as I like to make the handles and sheathes myself. They do a ten inch bowie which is a beast of a chopper. I bought my first J Adams bowie as a teen for eighteen shillings and sixpence. That was a long time ago and sadly it was stolen a long time ago as well.
I'd like to debunk this video buy saying that I've had this clone knife for more than 2 years now and It has seen some heavy use in the woods on almost every weekend and it still holds well. Also it is worth to mention that no real bushcrafter or camper goes into the woods with only a chopper, there is always a second blade which is used for more fine work. SO IN SHORT - the original is not worth the price. Get a clone version, modify the handle your liking and enjoy.
Yup used one back in the day but not sure I'd have a use for them now. I have the Mora blades - I don't have an axe as yet, can't think where I'd use one, maybe chopping wood, I have big bow saw from Simon a bloke in the woods, very useful. In fact I need to make a video on that. Good stuff Neil as per fella.
Interesting comparison!👍 I commend you on your self control. I can’t use a new knife without first touching up the edge, usually on my 2x72” belt machine and buffer (Grizzly G1015). 😉 I like big knives, but I agree that a tool made for chopping is much better at chopping than is a knife.
I always thought the mod supplied ones were a bit shit when I was issued them. A sharp golok was much more usable, except when smacking branches off in one hit in Norway.
For the vast majority of us, these are toys we keep in a draw. So we like to own the " original". I own several knives because they are iconic, not because they're useful. I have a maxamet Spyderco PM2, but I use a Spyderco inspired Ganzo G729 to actually cut stuff. I have a number of other supersteel knives that will only ever be truly tested come the apocalypse 😂
I have a lot of knives but the MOD is my choice in my emergency kit especially since I live in Canada and it's winter a good part of the year. So it's good for chopping through ice and Frozen stuff.
I've had my MOD knife since 89 (Belize for 13 months) Still going strong. Use it around the garden and field trips with my mates. Other goto is Kukri given to me by. Gurkha mate. The ultimate field knif
I came to the conclusion a long time ago, there is no substitute for a big chopper. When the Golok was issued everyone wanted the earlier 1940's JJB Machete, I've still got one somewhere, I'll have to dig it out. My go to now is the John Wiseman B model survival tool, in combination with a Casstrom Lars. The Lofty is a beast in the woods, it means I don't need to carry an axe at all, so nothing hanging off the outside of my pack. And still having a more "traditional" knife in the Lars for all those fine task that the Lofty would easily accomplish but are easier on the hands with a smaller knife.
ive used the mod type d knife for over 20 years , it takes a good edge and holds it well , the first thing i did was to put a decent edge on with a diamond stone and its still going strong , as you say the only down side i have found was the sheath
I went to etsy link....not selling...did a search...could not find any in the USA. I think the Sheffield site had them but that is the only place i could find.
I have some cheap knives that i have used and abused for years they still good. But you have to carefully pick every knife, cheep or otherwise. In this case I'd say two of the cheep ones. One to keep original in a camp pack, and one to play with and customize.
I got a £20 clone, used a PLCE sheath. Still going strong after 15 years and it had a few years of very hard use in wet weather. Just looked after it. It is what it is!
There is a store in Western Canada that is selling knives they're all black I was looking at and what yeah that's fake, but honestly it comes with a leather sheath or even a fake leather sheath
I bought one around 2004 for £50, it was one of my first knives so i thought it was great but the sheath was awful it was a heavy pig that was next to useless for cutting anything. I remember cutting it in half with a hack saw and throwing it in the scrap bin i was that done with it.
Well what I miss tension test for breaking, how long they stay sharp , how easy to sharpen , long abuse test , tip test, rust resistance... not meaningful enough to make a decision...But thank you for the review anyway .
Funny I was thinking about Knife's and then started thinking about you, and I go on UA-cam and find this video, Tod Cutler makes some nice looking bushcrafter knife, maybe give them a look
The wilkinson sword version is way more superior in every way although its very hard to find. The j.Adams is just a heavy thick steel too cumbersome to use daily in the field but with a modified edge will work slightly better. The 70 year old wilky i have has a better handle the steel is tapered lovely through the handle to save weight. & it is still thick in the spine but not as thick as a j.adams & taperes towards the tip. The grind on the wilky was a convex althiugh i modified mine to a semi sabre grind for ease of sharpening in the field. Mine is 70 years old & still beats most survival knives out there in both heavy duty tasks & delicate carving. Ill so a video on my wilky again soon
I've always wanted one of the MOD knives. I think that the price, compared to the modern survival knives out now is still a bargain. Give it a good sharpening and you're on your way to the outdoors. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻⚓⚓🇺🇲🇺🇲
I have one of these!!! I think my proof mark with arrow says 91. My handle scales are bakerlite though. The blade is proper gun blued too - not coated. The sheath COMPLETELY sucks however and needs to be replaced (same as the one you pictured - its criminal they never improved it). The knife is not secure and the blade can easily be exposed with the wrong gravity.
Just from glancing at the thing it doesn't really lend itself to being a knife. I'm all for being robust but like if you can't actually use it as a knife what's the point? Doesn't even look like it chops that well. Have you tried any of the bark river bigger blades? The crusader comes to mind in this scenario. Obviously a different price point for sure. Maybe becker bk9 would be a good budget contender? Just an observation. Keen viewer from Tasmania
Cheers Niel great vid as usual .... my main prob, as I have already got the MOD knife, is that I cant use it any where within the UK law now ,without either getting it either took off me or causing myself a lot of grief . Every where you go is classed as in a public area unless you manage to have a nice farmer / landowner who lets you on his land . locked blade, over 3 inch etc..... thanks
OK for a BUSHCRAFT knife, but as a SURVIVAL knife the combination of high-carbon steel and a leather sheath is a no-go IMHO. It needs constant attention and maintainance, so I prefer a stainless (MORA) blade in a Kydex sheath. To make life easier, I always take a saw with me, so I don't need a big chopper, my knife and saw combination weighs and costs less than the MOD.
The 'out of the box' MOD Survival Knife as issued was never the sharpest, that's because the troops that it was issued to were expected to sharpen the edge themselves.
Just bought myself one of these heavy duty knives. I wanted something made from Sheffield steel and boy, is it ever, nothing light duty about this one.
Not familiar with either knife, but I'll say this. If I expected to possibly be in a situation where my choice of tools might have an impact or my ability to survive extreme situations I think I'd spend the extra 50 and go forth with peace of mind. ;-) And as Dave Kelly mentions below, the price of the MOD is still a bargain compared to what some survival knives are selling for these days.
I think you've made a good point here Gary. If you live and practice your outdoor skills and Bushcraft here in the UK, when are you going to need a "Survival knife"? There's no where that is more that 2-3 hours walk from "civilisation", and that's in the proper wilds of The Highlands. Anywhere else and I'd suggest any half decent outdoors person can be home and dry, with a brew on, before you've chopped down enough trees to make a shelter! If you're injured surely you'd just ring 999 for help? There isn't anywhere on the UK mainland that it doesn't work, especially if you text it! I'm not being critical of people who buy them and use them, just a comment about the "survival" bit.
@@stetomlinson3146 Good point about the UK. I'm not from there, but have visited in the past. I'm in the USA and frequently visit, hike, fish and hunt some very remote locations in northern Maine. Cell signals there are pretty much non existent and I've been in patches of woods up there where if I got lost it could be days or even weeks before I make my way back to a road, paved or unpaved. When doing so, I always carry a pack with some basic gear in it, just in case I ever do find myself staying out in the woods there for a protracted period. I've been contemplating adding a PLB to my kit though, but even with that there are no guarantees I'll see anyone quickly as sometimes the weather there will dictate what rescue personnel can and can't do. I've been there in late October and got hit by a blizzard that dumped 30 inches of snow. In those conditions one best be ready to ride out the storm if lost or in trouble.
@@garywood702 That sounds fun! 😉😀 Like all things in Bushcraft Gary, it’s horses for courses, and having the skill set to use all this kit available. You sound well capable of looking after yourself. I’d love to give the terrain where you live a go. I think I’d be fine, but being without emergency contact would be a bit daunting! Stay safe.
@@stetomlinson3146absolutely for 90% of what you've said, but re: calling 999, there are plenty if areas with no - or very patchy - reception in the UK.
If someone was doing the odd bit of bush work then the cheaper one might do. But for a survival situation, where your life actually depends on it. Id pay the extra and get the proper knife.
I think Neil makes them himself. I'm going to order some stuff off of Amazon and try and make some myself. They look pretty easy. Mine may not look as good as Neil's though.
The " Pig " was a great utility tool and for the money a decent work horse utility tool option - not to everyone's taste but maybe get one soon before they're outawed
The very earliest MOD Survival Knives had a different grind, but for some reason it was changed, and changed for the worse. Personally I have never liked them and never understood why anyone would. A good few of my old soldiers did carry one, but still why when there were even then so many less hefty alternatives. If you need a crow bar then get a real one. And then there is your digging tool or pick. Modern then an entrenching tool. Bushcraft then get a Skrama for similar or possibly a tad less weight for a lot more utility. Or a Terava 120 sheath knife. Nice vid, and I understand why there is interest in them, but interest doesn't make them good. The MOD Survival Knife is one of my pet hate knives for they really aren't much good for anything.
Of the back of one of your axe videos I bought that cold steel tomahawk. After a short time of use the head has become loose and the little Allen key grub screw is now as far in as possible. Any suggestions?
I have an MOD knife, bought from the makers web site several years ago, when the price was much less. It's crude and unrefined but with a good resharpening very effective at many tasks, precisely the MOD's brief! I would however like that nice leather sheath, one problem, Modkit no longer exists on ETSY! Is there any other way to buy it or have they just closed down?
I've got the Chinese version, it's a simple carbon steel (1070 or so) but heat treated perfectly well - Ive got a Dartmoor knife too (remember those?) I couldn't imagine using either for years on end, they're very old school and bought for fun rather than use...... IMO There is no way a genuine MOD knife is worth £90 - it's basic steel, a basic handle, a basic sheath and a terrible grind. The same money gets you a Mora Robust, Husqvarna axe (made by Hults) and a Silky 180 folding saw.
👍Neil great review. I think the real question however, is in a true survival situation which one would you stake your life on 😉. I know which one I would choose. 😊.
My father had one of the MOD knives issued to him in 1980 and used it all the time at our place in our woodland in Cornwall. I now have that knife and still use it frequently and it never fails. The military issue knives from Sheffield are basic, brutal and designed for a hard life. That clarity of purpose has a quality all of its own.
Great unbiased review, rare these days.
I endorse the use of a strap on the handle. Back in 86 I was cutting small branches off a tree that had fallen across the track to make it easier to cross over, it was raining. The knife (10" blade) slipped out of my hand on the downward stroke, slipped out of my hand and flew past my calf muscle I could feel it scrape my leg. I now put strips of nonslip tape around the handle, as well as the strap, this gives me a positive grip. have collected knives from all around the world, Spain, England, China, Germany etc. I use every one of them (15) on a roster base. I don't have them just for show. That was a fair and honest review of both knives. ATB Cheers from the mountains of NZ 😀😀
I found the MOD for sale & bought one about 3 years ago. It was around $75 USD. I already had a KaBar BK-7 sheath to replace the original leather one. It is a bigger version of my KaBar BK2 & I enjoy using both of them. I don't camp much but I use the MOD all winter long at my fireplace. I would never take a chance with an imitation of the real thing. I was a U.S. Marine 50 years ago so I have a fondness for KaBars & other large blades. I have a LOT of knives & there is just something about these unwieldy brutes that I can't do without.
Nice breakfast video! As a Yank, familiar with our 'Aircrew Survival Knife', I must admit your MOD knife looks like a much better choice for hard continuous use. In fact, the American knife looks almost dainty. 😎
Its rather heavy.
I have the cheap one and used it hard for the last 3 years. Everything from splitting wood to digging firepits. Still going strong. I do have a custom leather sheath for it though, for exactly the reason you showed.
Yes, put a bit of wear in the blade, disguise the handle, get rid of that awful toy sheath, and you've got a knife that would be half good if you didn't know it's a knock-off. I bought one yesterday.
Looking back a few decades of owning big Bushcraft knives most of my woodwork has been done with a Victorinox farmer with its built in saw
My Puma White Hunter is a pretty good survival knife, carried it with me through two tours in Vietnam and still carry it to this day.
I bought my P.W.H. Knife around august 1974 on my first leave from Guards Depot basis training. Took it back and used it forever, it’s still in the original sheath.💂♂️🏴🇨🇦
It's a valuable collectable too
@@jimbob465 I had that same puma. dad's jump knife in SEA (f-4 pilot)--like a young dumbass i learned knife throwing with it and beat it to hell. good memories though
Thank you for this review !!!
I have wanted one of the original MOD knives, but haven't been able to find them in the US.
THANK YOU, once again !!!
Keep up the great work !!!
I couldn’t find them in Canada either, ended up on eBay uk, and online uk surplus stores to get mine.💂♂️🏴🇨🇦
The MOD was never a ‘survival knife.’ It was a utility tool tossed in vehicle tool kits. BUT, it’s British and national pride makes a fairly decent silk purse out of a sows ear.
Actually it was originally made as a survival knife not just to toss in an engineers tool kit.
They were used widely as a survival knife including in arctic survival training notice how the wooden scales on the early models are not flush with the steel tang.
That was there for a reason to stop a soldiers hand sticking to the tang on the steel in cold weather conditions.
The early ones made by wilkinson sword in the 1950s which I have were made for special forces & to put in RAF survival kits as a heavy duty knife.
The reason why british soldiers didn't like using them was because they were too heavy to carry in the field compared to the martindale golok which was a more versatile tool but not as strong as the mod.
They wasn't designed specifically to go in tool boxes but that's where most of them ended up because the soldier didn't like to carry them lol
The way you used them in the rain 🌧 I hope you cleaned an 🛢 oil them
@@lonewandererbushcraftwildc6822 I got a feeling that that knife culture is very similar to two different knives in the states. During the Vietnam war the Ka-bar knife was ditched and replaced with a heavier knife. Now what a lot of soldiers during this era would do is ditch that issued knife and replace it with the Buck 119. It was a lighter and I wouldn't say more durable but on par with the issued knife. It was made to skin deer, but came push sharp out of the package. It's tip could easily snap however that's not what that knife was made for. It's geometry keep in mind was made for skinning and processing deer. Therefore it was great for stabbing and slashing type tasks. The og Buck 119s had wooden handles. Nowadays the blade guard and pommel are made of high quality aluminum to cut weight. The knife weighs about 7lbs or about 3.18kgs. as you can see it's quite the light knife. It feels good in hand, and it will be replaced by Buck knives if it's broken and they can't repair it.
Pride comes before a fall and nationalism is a pillar of fascism. It always implies a made up superiority based on myth. Careful what you wish for... 🙄😭🤣
@lonewandererbushcraftwildc6822 I always laugh at that reason for the crappy handle design. No-one is going to be barehanded in the sort of temperatures that will stick flesh to metal. You can also still touch the brass rivets, so it doesn't stand as an excuse for a shit design
I was issued mine in Belize and immediately fround down the handle to fit the tang and took the top guard off. It changed from a clanking great lump to a useful knife that I still have now, 30 years later
(I had a bespoke sheath made, that cost almost twice what the knife would to buy haha)
Nice to see a genuine comparison rather than the usual. " It's made in China so it must be rubbish" type video 👍
Absolutely. I have a clone and have used and abused the hell out of it, and it's still going strong.
So glad I saw this. I never noticed until I rewagched this. Video just now, but today I received my wood handle J Adams MOD knife from Sheffield knives, I love it, but was confused. I had ordered two in 2020 because I like the wood handle. I got them, and they were the wood handle, but the stamp was on the blade, not the handle. They had the usual powdery like coating on the blade. I got my new wood handle one today, and was super thrilled to see the mark on the handle, but then I looked at the blade, and the blades coating was this glassy smooth (gorgeous), almost blued looking coat. I was wondering if my order got messed up. I emailed them about why the change etc, looking forward to hearing the response. Love this knife, planned on keeping it anyways, but I’m curious as to the change and why. But after watching this, (again) it’s reassuring that this may just be the way they are going with it now. 👍 Do you have any insight on this?
Thanks for getting wet to do this . I have a MOD Rogers stainless survival knife that works great for me unsharpened. Just liked and subscribed .
I think a folding saw (Bahco Laplander, for example) and a light machete (I cut down a Tramontina to 10") are better outdoor tools than a heavy knife.
Sem dúvida alguma!🇧🇷
I bought the mod 90 knife and had a friend grind it to a complete convex. It is so awesome now at all tasks I could want from it.
So you now have a Wilkinson type D survival knife, in effect.
I bought an original MOD in 1981 and have put it through absolute hell!
I had a friend put a beautiful wood handle on I because I really hated the original handle! If I could only have one knife to survive with (other than my William Collins WCSK) it would definitely be the MOD! I used it as a throwing knife a chopper and a general purpose camp and field knife. It has never let me down. Fantastic survival tool! ATB Sam Adler from Vietnam
WCSK is one hell of a knife. If it were me, I'd put a linen micarta set of scales on that original MOD and call it good, just because the micarta won't rot. Now yours depending on the wood might last just as long, IDK
How does a this compared to the US Army bayonet m9 for survival
@@musicforcamera??😊
@@cliffordbuttle4529 i want one
@@cliffordbuttle4529 i heard good things about it
I have both, and with the Chinese copy I ground the top edge down about 5" from tip along the spine to give it a "Bowie / Kabar" look, both knives are brilliant for the price, and will outlast many "designer" survival knives costing many times more.
Hollow ground is a no-go for me for survival knives. I just don't think the edge is robust enough for how rough you may need to be with it. I agree with a hatchet and small saw as a better (imo) alternative to a big knife. One thing you can do with many small axes you can't as well with a big knife: hammer things.
I agree except in cases like the cold steel srk. Mildly hollow ground, but designed that way for the best of all worlds
Ooh a hammer. You better have one on you bcus its not like sticks and stones can be had in the forest
@@mariaconcepcionrodriguezhe2850 Sometimes I bushcraft in the desert around Las Cruces NM and no, there is not an abundance of sticks and stones. So you know, open your mind before commenting snidely.
@@daveburklund2295 what are you going to hammer when there is no stick there. Just curious? have you tried Tomahawks with a hammer poll? they are very good tools.
@@bushcraft_in_the_north Stakes. Stakes I bring with me. Lol. Yes, I own a Cold Steel Trail Hawk with a hammer poll.
The MOD Survival knife is underrated, Been using them since Norway exercises in the early/mid 80's, so many times I go to the woods minus a hatchet and the MOD knife does the same job. Glad you mentioned putting a loop on them to give that extra bit of safety and also more momentum in swinging when chopping trunks/rounds [same principle as with the long Sami knife which is bevelled out at the end to hold better when swinging].
AMF(L) Bulford.
@@kernowman2768 Yes, then Tidworth. Teach bushcraft now so use the knife almost daily.
I was issued one for my course, then we hand them back! Perfect Army logic! Wild camping, I now use a jungle Golok and a Mora,
I think you hit the nail on the head, there are now better solutions, mine has been replaced with various types of mora knife, more versatile for most cutting tasks around camp and a bahco saw and small axe. They are nice objects though. 🙂
very nice. People like silky saws but it's all hype, and the bahco cuts dry wood better anyway, definitely better as a camp saw.
Good vid 👍
I have an earlier example of the MOD. The Wilkinson, same design but with two screw rivets. I can remove the slabs and fix a wooden shaft. Can use as an axe or spear.
It’s a beast.
Really I prefer to carry a small blade and a light axe for the same weight.
Cheers
you should make a vid
For the £50 price difference you can buy a significant amount of 'other' kit. e.g, Poncho, cookset, water bottle. And still have an 'effective' knife. albeit a clone.
I'd rather pay a bit more for a British firm to keep employing British workers actually making stuff to British specs and standards. The "more stuff, more cheaper whatever the indirect cost" attitude is starting to bite the West on the arse, and usually works out more expensive for the user in the medium term.
Yeah tbh just do that if you are limited on budget I got an MT151 which is a clone of the Cold steel Trailmaster and it literally performs the same maybe little less edge retention but so easy to sharpen it really doesn't matter lol
@@lordsummerisle87Yeah since Brexit worked out so well for you guys 😅
@@Michael-en7of what has Brexit got to do with reluctance to buy Chinese tat?
@@lordsummerisle87Unfortunately the avoidance of Chinese tat is an impossible task, just take stock of what you're house is full of😂
My brother gave me a MOD knife twenty-five years ago. It has accompanied me on every camping and hunting trip ever since. It has never let me down. From my experience, only buy British made knives as their quality is exceptional.
I have one of the clone kombat uk knives. I use it for overlanding. For digging it’s not good. Stones wear the edge far to fast. Took me a while to get a new edge on being a thick knife. But I agree on everything else. I would also say the additional weight saving of the clone makes it an easier knife to swing more machete like. Nice channel I’ll be checking out more content
Always liked the looks of this knife.
I like simple. I like tough.
Some day I’m sure I’ll get one.
I used to have a genuine mod knife issued to me be we had to give them back when we left the service. They were a very good piece of kit. Rm comando s have a different one an fsk i believe.
I prefer my genuine Martindale golok to this. Together with my Fällkniven A1 I'm happy to have all I need.
Ex SG and in the 70s I had the MOD knife courtesy of a mate in RAF Crash n Bash. I found it a bit too heavy to use often and unfortunately it was stolen out of my kit about a year later. Nowadays I prefer a Kent pattern hundred year old Gilpin hatchet (eBay £3), a Mora Companion and a non locking folder. They are more useable or user friendly. As we know, generally, more than one tool works for us bushcraft wise 😉.
As said they are for cold weather environments, I still have mine as used in Norway for chopping Birch etc. They aren’t soft on the hands because in cold environments you’ll mainly be wearing gloves or mittens. However put the cheap one in in Minus 40 degrees Celsius and see if it doesn’t fracture and embed the blade in you or a companion in close proximity 🤔
This is all useful stuff. I purchased a clone of this knife for around £20 from a Mil Surplus Store some twelve years ago. The owner said he sold quite a few of them. The knife has seen some hard use and has held up outstandingly well. Just because something is cheap does not mean it is junk, some people stupidly abuse cheaper blades with the sole purpose of wrecking them. I have taken care of this knife which included getting a better sheath made and I know it will continue to serve me well.
Had one in the early 80's when it was issued to replace the much better Pussers Gollock. That thing was crap then and I expect it is just as crap now. The blisters it gave you when using it for chopping made any hand work the next day a feckin nightmare.
Fair comment....I traded mine for an estwing hatchet
I'm thoroughly demoralised, having just bought the clone. I worked out it was Chinese before buying it and knew it wasn't going to be a love affair, but now it's worse than I thought. I'll die from shame slinking out of the woods with it strapped on. People walker their poodles will think I'm playing splatter gun and aficionados will grin through gritted teeth. And there's a guy who sells real refurbished gems at the market, if only I'd been patient. Thanks very much.
i have the clone, the sheath that came with mine has 2 of those things that are to hold it in place which seems to do the trick
Thanks for sharing. I think this is the best survival knife on the market. For the money
Just a heads up. I bought one, from that same source, great knife and great work on the mod. But there’s a lot of bull, or there was before. So I contacted the manufacturer (Adam’s) to check. Regardless of what you hear, this is what they replied, from a copy and paste.
“The blade is made from 5.5mm 1080AISI carbon steel.”
Thank you for this. I hate when they just say "carbon steel". There are like a hundred types of "carbon steel". I like to know the exact version of "carbon steel".
Try binding the handle with electrical self amalgamating tape. I did my FS knife with it when I bought it 40 years ago and it’s still rock solid with a firm grip!!
I got mine in the 80s. I put a better edge on it, and it performed brilliantly for years. I've since gifted it. I use a Fiskars hand axe also bought in the 80s, when they were just one standard size. Tried them both side by side and decided on the Fiskars, backed up with a simple belt knife. Was nice to watch the old MOD in action though.
I’ve had bad experiences with the quality of Kombat gear, an NI Pack which didn’t last its first use - carrying my daughters’ gear for tag rugby on a Sunday morning (two water bottles, couple of hoodies and trainers), between the car and the pitch the shoulder straps started ripping away from the top of the main part of pack, also two Molle waterbottle pouches where the PALS webbing came loose and frayed the first time I fitted them to pack. I’m not going to get great from a manufacturer I can’t trust.
I have several J Adams blades and I like them very much. I only buy the bare blade as I like to make the handles and sheathes myself. They do a ten inch bowie which is a beast of a chopper. I bought my first J Adams bowie as a teen for eighteen shillings and sixpence. That was a long time ago and sadly it was stolen a long time ago as well.
What are the UK laws for carrying a knife of that size?
It is illegal to have any knife that the blade locks and any knife with a blade over 3 inches is illegal. Yeah what a downer eh
So yeah both knives in the video are totally illegal to have/use/carry in Britain basically
love mine marked with crows foot, I will buy always the legit one!
I'd like to debunk this video buy saying that I've had this clone knife for more than 2 years now and It has seen some heavy use in the woods on almost every weekend and it still holds well. Also it is worth to mention that no real bushcrafter or camper goes into the woods with only a chopper, there is always a second blade which is used for more fine work. SO IN SHORT - the original is not worth the price. Get a clone version, modify the handle your liking and enjoy.
Great video, under the rain... I have one original and used many years, its a beast¡¡¡... i used the MOD and one Mora and Glock, normaly...
Yup used one back in the day but not sure I'd have a use for them now. I have the Mora blades - I don't have an axe as yet, can't think where I'd use one, maybe chopping wood, I have big bow saw from Simon a bloke in the woods, very useful. In fact I need to make a video on that. Good stuff Neil as per fella.
Interesting comparison!👍 I commend you on your self control. I can’t use a new knife without first touching up the edge, usually on my 2x72” belt machine and buffer (Grizzly G1015). 😉 I like big knives, but I agree that a tool made for chopping is much better at chopping than is a knife.
I always thought the mod supplied ones were a bit shit when I was issued them.
A sharp golok was much more usable, except when smacking branches off in one hit in Norway.
For the vast majority of us, these are toys we keep in a draw. So we like to own the " original". I own several knives because they are iconic, not because they're useful. I have a maxamet Spyderco PM2, but I use a Spyderco inspired Ganzo G729 to actually cut stuff. I have a number of other supersteel knives that will only ever be truly tested come the apocalypse 😂
I have a lot of knives but the MOD is my choice in my emergency kit especially since I live in Canada and it's winter a good part of the year. So it's good for chopping through ice and Frozen stuff.
I've had my MOD knife since 89 (Belize for 13 months) Still going strong. Use it around the garden and field trips with my mates. Other goto is Kukri given to me by. Gurkha mate.
The ultimate field knif
I came to the conclusion a long time ago, there is no substitute for a big chopper. When the Golok was issued everyone wanted the earlier 1940's JJB Machete, I've still got one somewhere, I'll have to dig it out.
My go to now is the John Wiseman B model survival tool, in combination with a Casstrom Lars. The Lofty is a beast in the woods, it means I don't need to carry an axe at all, so nothing hanging off the outside of my pack. And still having a more "traditional" knife in the Lars for all those fine task that the Lofty would easily accomplish but are easier on the hands with a smaller knife.
Is there anyone who makes a Nylon or Kydex sheath with molle that holds the blade I'm properly?
Great video thanks for the comparison I love the mod knife 🔪 😀
Hi could you drop a link to both please
Never saw that knife issued in British Army?, could have come out after I left in 82. I have 2 of them💂♂️🏴🇨🇦
ive used the mod type d knife for over 20 years , it takes a good edge and holds it well , the first thing i did was to put a decent edge on with a diamond stone and its still going strong , as you say the only down side i have found was the sheath
I put a convexed on my Chinese knife which lnproved preformenced . Also it is made of stainless steel , no rust . Thank you . Cheers
I went to etsy link....not selling...did a search...could not find any in the USA. I think the Sheffield site had them but that is the only place i could find.
I have some cheap knives that i have used and abused for years they still good. But you have to carefully pick every knife, cheep or otherwise. In this case I'd say two of the cheep ones. One to keep original in a camp pack, and one to play with and customize.
I got a £20 clone, used a PLCE sheath. Still going strong after 15 years and it had a few years of very hard use in wet weather. Just looked after it. It is what it is!
When I checked at 21:50 on 24 April 2023 Modkit is not longer selling on Etsy.
I would like to have seen you chopping some mild steel wire or nails to see what the edge retention is like. That is a real test of quality steel.
It’s actually listed as a utility tool on the nsn stock code
There is a store in Western Canada that is selling knives they're all black I was looking at and what yeah that's fake, but honestly it comes with a leather sheath or even a fake leather sheath
Thanks for the video.. greetings from Alaska..
I bought one around 2004 for £50, it was one of my first knives so i thought it was great but the sheath was awful it was a heavy pig that was next to useless for cutting anything. I remember cutting it in half with a hack saw and throwing it in the scrap bin i was that done with it.
That is the knife I have been looking for all this time. Where can I get one? I Must get one of these!
Well what I miss tension test for breaking, how long they stay sharp , how easy to sharpen , long abuse test , tip test, rust resistance...
not meaningful enough to make a decision...But thank you for the review anyway .
Funny I was thinking about Knife's and then started thinking about you, and I go on UA-cam and find this video, Tod Cutler makes some nice looking bushcrafter knife, maybe give them a look
The link in the description is missing.
I paid £35 for mine many moons ago, superb knives, I would definitely recommend them.
Anyone got a link to clone
how could you make the blade shiny? And remove all the black? What is the black?
The wilkinson sword version is way more superior in every way although its very hard to find.
The j.Adams is just a heavy thick steel too cumbersome to use daily in the field but with a modified edge will work slightly better.
The 70 year old wilky i have has a better handle the steel is tapered lovely through the handle to save weight.
& it is still thick in the spine but not as thick as a j.adams & taperes towards the tip.
The grind on the wilky was a convex althiugh i modified mine to a semi sabre grind for ease of sharpening in the field.
Mine is 70 years old & still beats most survival knives out there in both heavy duty tasks & delicate carving.
Ill so a video on my wilky again soon
I've always wanted one of the MOD knives. I think that the price, compared to the modern survival knives out now is still a bargain. Give it a good sharpening and you're on your way to the outdoors. Thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻⚓⚓🇺🇲🇺🇲
Good morning from Syracuse NY USA brother and thank you for sharing this information about this knife
I have one of these!!! I think my proof mark with arrow says 91. My handle scales are bakerlite though. The blade is proper gun blued too - not coated. The sheath COMPLETELY sucks however and needs to be replaced (same as the one you pictured - its criminal they never improved it). The knife is not secure and the blade can easily be exposed with the wrong gravity.
Well you could've shown if they held up in inclement weather ! As always a great vid.
Ah, polar bear fighting knife!
It’s a piece of steel right enough.
Just from glancing at the thing it doesn't really lend itself to being a knife. I'm all for being robust but like if you can't actually use it as a knife what's the point? Doesn't even look like it chops that well. Have you tried any of the bark river bigger blades? The crusader comes to mind in this scenario. Obviously a different price point for sure. Maybe becker bk9 would be a good budget contender? Just an observation.
Keen viewer from Tasmania
Basicly a sharpened crowbar. Good!
I've never seen that stove before. How can I make one?
It is your primary entrenching tool . Everything else is just a convenience.
Cheers Niel great vid as usual .... my main prob, as I have already got the MOD knife, is that I cant use it any where within the UK law now ,without either getting it either took off me or causing myself a lot of grief . Every where you go is classed as in a public area unless you manage to have a nice farmer / landowner who lets you on his land . locked blade, over 3 inch etc..... thanks
OK for a BUSHCRAFT knife, but as a SURVIVAL knife the combination of high-carbon steel and a leather sheath is a no-go IMHO. It needs constant attention and maintainance, so I prefer a stainless (MORA) blade in a Kydex sheath. To make life easier, I always take a saw with me, so I don't need a big chopper, my knife and saw combination weighs and costs less than the MOD.
The 'out of the box' MOD Survival Knife as issued was never the sharpest, that's because the troops that it was issued to were expected to sharpen the edge themselves.
Still have my old “Wilkie”
Just bought myself one of these heavy duty knives. I wanted something made from Sheffield steel and boy, is it ever, nothing light duty about this one.
Not familiar with either knife, but I'll say this. If I expected to possibly be in a situation where my choice of tools might have an impact or my ability to survive extreme situations I think I'd spend the extra 50 and go forth with peace of mind. ;-) And as Dave Kelly mentions below, the price of the MOD is still a bargain compared to what some survival knives are selling for these days.
I think you've made a good point here Gary. If you live and practice your outdoor skills and Bushcraft here in the UK, when are you going to need a "Survival knife"? There's no where that is more that 2-3 hours walk from "civilisation", and that's in the proper wilds of The Highlands. Anywhere else and I'd suggest any half decent outdoors person can be home and dry, with a brew on, before you've chopped down enough trees to make a shelter! If you're injured surely you'd just ring 999 for help? There isn't anywhere on the UK mainland that it doesn't work, especially if you text it! I'm not being critical of people who buy them and use them, just a comment about the "survival" bit.
@@stetomlinson3146 Good point about the UK. I'm not from there, but have visited in the past. I'm in the USA and frequently visit, hike, fish and hunt some very remote locations in northern Maine. Cell signals there are pretty much non existent and I've been in patches of woods up there where if I got lost it could be days or even weeks before I make my way back to a road, paved or unpaved. When doing so, I always carry a pack with some basic gear in it, just in case I ever do find myself staying out in the woods there for a protracted period. I've been contemplating adding a PLB to my kit though, but even with that there are no guarantees I'll see anyone quickly as sometimes the weather there will dictate what rescue personnel can and can't do. I've been there in late October and got hit by a blizzard that dumped 30 inches of snow. In those conditions one best be ready to ride out the storm if lost or in trouble.
@@garywood702 That sounds fun! 😉😀 Like all things in Bushcraft Gary, it’s horses for courses, and having the skill set to use all this kit available. You sound well capable of looking after yourself. I’d love to give the terrain where you live a go. I think I’d be fine, but being without emergency contact would be a bit daunting! Stay safe.
@@stetomlinson3146absolutely for 90% of what you've said, but re: calling 999, there are plenty if areas with no - or very patchy - reception in the UK.
I've have been using my "clone" for years with no problems and have found up to the job. Maybe I've been lucky.
How do they fair at opening tin cans?
If someone was doing the odd bit of bush work then the cheaper one might do. But for a survival situation, where your life actually depends on it. Id pay the extra and get the proper knife.
Did a jungle survival course.... locally made panga ground from car spring beat wilkie knife all ends up
Good review Neil. What alcohol stove is that?
I think Neil makes them himself. I'm going to order some stuff off of Amazon and try and make some myself. They look pretty easy. Mine may not look as good as Neil's though.
I’m surprised at the outcome… Have fun stay safe.
The " Pig " was a great utility tool and for the money a decent work horse utility tool option - not to everyone's taste but maybe get one soon before they're outawed
The very earliest MOD Survival Knives had a different grind, but for some reason it was changed, and changed for the worse.
Personally I have never liked them and never understood why anyone would. A good few of my old soldiers did carry one, but still why when there were even then so many less hefty alternatives. If you need a crow bar then get a real one. And then there is your digging tool or pick. Modern then an entrenching tool.
Bushcraft then get a Skrama for similar or possibly a tad less weight for a lot more utility. Or a Terava 120 sheath knife.
Nice vid, and I understand why there is interest in them, but interest doesn't make them good. The MOD Survival Knife is one of my pet hate knives for they really aren't much good for anything.
Of the back of one of your axe videos I bought that cold steel tomahawk. After a short time of use the head has become loose and the little Allen key grub screw is now as far in as possible. Any suggestions?
Throw that maggot screw away! Tomahawks are friction fit. Therefore the handle is thicker at top. If it becomes lose stump it head down to the ground.
Yep, loose the screw, hawks work the same as a pick axe, just give it a couple of taps on a firm surface if it gets loose.
@@greencraft4783 because it had the screw is the reason I didn’t do that. Thanks.
Undo the allen screw push the handle 1/2 way out turn it 180 deg. put it back on , this time drive it on first then use the screw .
I have an MOD knife, bought from the makers web site several years ago, when the price was much less. It's crude and unrefined but with a good resharpening very effective at many tasks, precisely the MOD's brief!
I would however like that nice leather sheath, one problem, Modkit no longer exists on ETSY!
Is there any other way to buy it or have they just closed down?
I've got the Chinese version, it's a simple carbon steel (1070 or so) but heat treated perfectly well - Ive got a Dartmoor knife too (remember those?) I couldn't imagine using either for years on end, they're very old school and bought for fun rather than use......
IMO There is no way a genuine MOD knife is worth £90 - it's basic steel, a basic handle, a basic sheath and a terrible grind.
The same money gets you a Mora Robust, Husqvarna axe (made by Hults) and a Silky 180 folding saw.
What was that fungus at the start on that tree
A cramp ball
👍Neil great review. I think the real question however, is in a true survival situation which one would you stake your life on 😉. I know which one I would choose. 😊.