Casstrom No.10 Swedish Forest Knife

Casstrom has been producing knives since 2006 and has established itself as a high-quality brand in Sweden and other countries worldwide. Having worked in his father’s knife business, the founder, David Backstrom, decided to fulfil his ambition of designing and building his own knife and the No.10 Swedish Forest Knife was born.

The No.10

This is a full-tang tool designed for the harshest of environments. At 8½” long overall, with a 4” blade, it is a good medium-sized knife ideal for many outdoor tasks. The test version has a stabilised curly birch handle, from sustainable forestry, and the ergonomic shape and subtle curves make it extremely comfortable to grip and ideal for prolonged use.

The wood is stabilised by vacuum injecting acrylics, making it durable and resistant to moisture and dirt. Although there is no separate guard, your forefinger naturally finds its way to a generous finger groove, which prevents your hand from slipping forward, and the belly of the handle deepens and widens to fit your hand perfectly. The fit between the scales and the metalwork is faultlessly smooth.

The blade is premium Sandvic 14C28N recycled stainless steel, which undergoes a cryogenic hardening treatment to enhance its performance and durability, with a hardness of 59-60 on the Rockwell C Scale. The finish is outstanding, with no marks from production or sharpening, and the full flat grind makes for an extremely effective cutting tool, ideal for gralloching, skinning, and slicing, plus edge retention is extremely good.

The knife cuts very cleanly without drag and even after extended use, there was no sign of the edge wearing or needing sharpening. The cryogenic treatment improves the characteristics of the steel and helps produce an edge that can stand up to a lot of use. The handle is comfortable, and you can use the knife for fine work, like jointing a chicken or filleting a fish, with great accuracy and control. This would actually make a great general-purpose kitchen knife.

Accessories

The high-quality sheath is made from vegetable-tanned European leather and features a drainage hole and a belt loop. It holds the knife by friction, tight and secure.

As an optional extra, Casstrom makes a clever device called a dangler, which allows you to wear and carry your knife more comfortably. It attaches to your belt via a leather loop and to the sheath with a large D-ring. As a result, the knife then sits lower, and always vertical whether you are sitting or standing. It also allows you to remove the knife easily when you are somewhere where it is unlawful to carry it, and quickly reattach it when you get to somewhere appropriate.

Conclusion

A word of caution, this knife is delivered very sharp, sharper than any previously tested. That said, it is an exceptional knife, very well made with well-chosen materials and designed to be used for prolonged periods in demanding environments.