Fox Combat Knife

This is not the usual sort of knife I would look at, but as the Editor said – “it came through the door and it needs testing and you’re in the frame!” OK no problems! Made by FOX Cutlery in Italy the Leonida Combat Survival is all you might expect from something with that name. It’s doubtless aimed more at the military as the hanger/mounting plate for the scabbard is finished off in the Italian services latest digi-type camo pattern.

BIG

It’s big without being mad with a length of 12.5” and a 7” blade. The drab/sand polymer handle show a full guard and offers a decent grip with scallops and jimping. It looks like it has been moulded directly to the tang, though there’s an Allan-headed screw at the pommel that doubtless applies tension. Missing in my opinion is a lanyard hole!

The blade is stainless but with a black, anti-corrosion coating. The style is a drop point with a D-shaped edge that offers 1/3 scalloped and 2/3rds plain. Along the side are fullers and there’s diagonally opposed saw teeth on the spine, which extend for half of the length. A final item is a rectangular cut-out for the wire cutting facility. Measuring 5mm wide and 35mm deep this is a tough and rigid piece of steel.

SCABBARD

I say scabbard as what the Leonida sits in is no sporting sheath. Made of the same material as the handle (and colour) it’s a big lump of polymer, made even bigger by the belt mounting system. This consists of a rigid, ballistic nylon hanger that it’s held to it by twin, wrap-around Velcro straps. Retention is by a strap/press stud around the handle, plus the blade is retained by a light friction device inside too. There’s an integral, 2”, sewn belt loop along with a long press stud strap at the rear, doubtless offering other areas to attach to. The favourite doubtless, tip-up on the left shoulder strap of your webbing, as is the fashion…

Integral to the design is an inset carbide sharpening plate, which is at the front so you don’t have to remove the scabbard to access it. On the tip is the hinge point, stop lug and shearing surface for the wire cutter. All you do is drop the rectangular cut-out in the blade over the T-shaped lug (pivot) place the wire in the guide and use the two like a set of scissors to shear it. Finally at the very tip is a leg tie.

This is hardly a deer knife but even though large will fill that role well enough. Over all a bit over the top but for stuff like camping and perhaps bushcraft chores it’s big, strong and well suited. That is of course if you are happy to be carrying it!