Grayman Knives
Mega Pounder Bowie 7.5 and Satu Folder
By Tom Brown III
As someone who uses knives on a daily basis for outdoor use, be it while teaching a student how to build a bow drill kit from a branch or carve a rolling snare, I need to know the knife I am using is of the utmost quality and durability. Throughout my career both teaching people how to survive in the woods and putting myself out into the wilds to practice the art of survival on my own, I literally stake my life on the tools I carry or make from things I gather from the landscape.
Throughout the years I have owned many knives. Too many to count in fact. I have blades from major manufacturers and custom knife makers. There have been many shapes, many sizes, and more types of steel than you can count on all of your fingers and toes. I’ve had crappy quality knives work wonders and high dollar custom knives break while severing a branch as thick as my thumb.
About 8 years ago at a friend’s house, also a fellow knife junkie, I picked up a copy of Blade magazine. The feature article of that issue was Grayman Knives. When I flipped to the article the first thing that caught my eye was the aesthetic of the blades. I believe today that knife makers both big and small spend way to much time in boardrooms and focus groups trying to design “pretty” blades that will catch the eye of knife fanatics. When you look at a Grayman knife, you can tell it is a knife designed by someone who has used knives in life or death situations. The blades look good and yet their looks are a visual representation of their functionality. They are not made to just be pretty and you can tell that from a simple glance, they will get the job done.
As soon as I finished the article and read not only about the blades but also about Mike and Sue who run the company, I ordered one. I chose the Mega Pounder 7.5 because I was looking for something in the medium-large size range at the time. I happened to be away in California teaching a class then and could not wait to return to New Jersey where my new blade would be waiting in the mailbox. When I returned home from that trip the first thing I did was rush to my PO box to get the package. Excitement on the scene was akin to Ralphie waiting for his Little Orphan Annie Decoder Ring to come in the mail from the movie “A Christmas Story”. When I tore open the package and got to the blade it more the met my expectations. It wasn’t just big, it wasn’t just sharp, it was well-balanced and came with an awesome sheath! This was well over five years ago and since then I have engaged the knife in many challenges; chopping down trees, digging holes, making traps, prying open doors, butchering animals and carving any number of different tools. In short, I have beat the living hell out if it. That blade goes with me anytime I am in the woods. If I am out hunting or teaching a group of students the Mega Pounder is too. Beware it is a larger knife but it is so well-balanced it can be used for carving tasks such as building a figure-four deadfall trap, something one would normally reserve for a much smaller blade.
I really love the edge Mike creates on his blades. It is a wide grind and is easy to sharpen with any sharpening system. I have even used pieces of porcelain from broken toilets and river stones to sharpen it. He doesn’t put a dainty edge on that you can barely see with a magnifying glass. I feel this is proof again of someone who has used knives and knows their shortcomings in life and death situations. In short, I would stake my life on that blade. If I could only take one of the knives from my collection, it would be this one. Anyone from my classes could tell you I have praised this knife and people I know who use a Grayman also love their knives.
Mike and I have kept in touch throughout the years and I have been excited to watch his company grow. I remember thinking all those years ago, shortly after receiving my Mega Pounder that I really wish he would start making a folding knife. Low and behold, out came the “Satu”! As someone who has owned the finest of tactical folding knives, I can personally tell you that I have never seen a tougher, more durable folder. Since receiving this blade a few months back I have punished it and not only has it held up but still looks brand new. In fact I would venture to say that it is nearly as strong as any fixed blade out there. It is composed of S30-v steel, titanium, and g-10. It is one sexy knife! I love the Satu folder for its’ size. When I am not teaching, I am passionate about being out on the saltwater flats chasing tarpon and snook. My Satu is knife of choice on these outings and the only maintenance I perform after a day in the saltwater is a quick rinse in the sink. It is large enough to chop down sizable saplings for any number of projects but just as with the Mega Pounder it is balanced perfectly for performing more delicate carving tasks. Most people would think I am crazy for saying this, but I would be comfortable carrying only my Satu folder into the woods for an extended outing. Long-standing wisdom holds that fixed-blades are the only knife to carry for extend periods and this is sound advice. The main concern with a folding knife is failure of the locking mechanism. Enough time using the Satu and a good study of the lock have persuaded me of it’s durability and reliability. If I had a folder for a long-term experience it would be this one. I couldn’t even guess the amount of force one would need to put on it to cause failure.
In closing, if you are looking for knives you can depend on to be reliable day-in and day-out, Grayman is solid and I have chosen to make them the official knife of my school. They make many more knives besides the two I have the honor of owning and undoubtedly you will find one for you. Thank you, Mike and Sue for your dedication to making quality tools in the age of throw-away culture! http://www.graymanknives.com