The Fallkniven U2 is a minimalist folding knife that is known for its simple design. With its sleek profile, plain black handle, and a gleaming laminated blade, it is a no-nonsense knife. It is lightweight and pocket-friendly with minimalist aesthetic, perfect for everyday (EDC) tasks. Whether you want o open packages or handle household chores, the U2 gets the job done efficiently.
Fallkniven U2 Lockback Review
The most interesting thing about Fallkniven U2 is that it is world’s first folding knife with a laminate powder steel blade – the Super Gold Powder Steel (SGPS). It is very costly, challenging to work with, and requires advanced technology with experienced knife makers. The reason for using this steel is its outstanding edge retention, which does not compare to other steel blades.
The slim handle consists of strong Grilon composite material that makes the knife lightweight, durable, comfortable, and easy to carry. With blade grooves on either side, the knife is completely symmetrical and configured for both right and left-handed action.
Fallkniven U2 Lockback |
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Summary of Fallkniven U2 Lockback Specifications:
First Impressions and Unboxing of Fallkniven U2
The Fallkniven U2 is a pretty small knife, so it came in a compact box, delivered by the official dealer of Fallkniven Knives.
The knife itself cam wrapped in a plastic sleeve, with a very nice finishing.
The blade had a very sharp factory edge right out of the box with a fine satin finish. However, it does catch fingerprints pretty quickly, which you have to clean off every now and then. The Vg10 inside and the powder steel laminate attracts these marks easily. But that was not a deal breaker for us. However, it can be for some users who say that the finishing was not done all the way through.
The blade did not look as scalpel thin to the naked eye. We could see that the blade stock thickness ran up from the spine, thinning along the drop point edge. It was a half tang blade from one side with a smooth lockback action and fine dual cuts towards the tip making it easy to slide the blade right out. If you stick the edge of your finger into the bends, you can manage a single-handed opening action with it.
We checked the edge of U2 right there after unboxing it by cutting through the plastic packaging it came in, and it did a wonderful job. It slid right through plastic like it would through paper. The packaging had double layers, and the U2 slid through them effortlessly. It fell through the plastic like a knife through softened butter. But the plastic bits did start to get stuck on to the blade after elongated action.
It also worked just as well on shaving the hair off of the skin of the arm.
The Blade of Fallkniven U2
The blade is the most important component of the U2. The SGPS laminate (Super Gold Powder Steel), also known as SG2 is a high-end Japanese powder steel that is also very expensive. You can also see it etched onto the spine side of the blade. The SG2 or SGPS is a high carbon content and high alloy stainless steel. Powder metallurgy improves the alloy significantly.
The blade stock thickness of 0.098” is extremely thin, making it razor-sharp. It is only 2.52”, with a cutting edge of 2.25” with a full flat drop point edge. It has no thumb studs or opening holes, except for cutting holes on each side. That does not make the knife one-handed opening. It is because it is not outdoor survival or hunting knife. You can use this blade when you really need a scalpel-edge knife for very sharp and precise cutting tasks. It has a very sharp cutting edge and edge retention, making it ideal for kitchen purposes. The thin blade crafted from the SGPS can be sharpened to 16 degree angle, resulting in an impressively sharp knife. However, it comes razor sharp right out of the box.
The outer layer of the steel is VG10, which is Japanese steel, and very similar to 154CM and ATS-34 with more chromium for enhanced corrosion resistance. It also contains vanadium, making it tougher than these two steels. You will find VG10 in many Spyderco knives, an American cutlery company. It is also relatively hard to get and extremely sharp with reasonable toughness. The VG10 reinforces the SGPS laminate.
SGPS (SG2) along with the VG10 steel exemplifies the marriage of advanced powder metallurgy technology with the artistry of knife craftsmanship. While it comes with a premium price tag, it offers unparalleled quality and durability, making it a coveted choice for knife enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
The Handle of Fallkniven U2
The handle of Fallkniven U2 is made from an impact resistant material, a fiberglass reinforced nylon, which is a polyamide. It is strong and stiff, resistant to abrasion, does not conduct electricity, and can withstand all conceivable chemicals and solvents. This material is used in some folding knives where low weight is combined with good function.
The Grilon and Zytel are both kinds of nylon resins used on the U2 knife. They both have different properties and applications, but serve similar purposes in different contexts. Fallkniven uses this material on its knife handles, combining the strengths of the two materials. The Zytel is used in engineering plastics, automotive components, electrical connectors, and other industrial applications. The Grilon provides hardness and impact resistance. Together, these materials make the handle very ergonomically friendly, where it is both smooth and comfortable to hold. The light texturing on the handle helps with super durable hold.
The 3.38” handle length may feel small, but that is where the lanyard hole comes. You can attach any lanyard to the knife to increase the handle’s length. And the fact that this knife does not come with a pocket clip, we added a sheath to it for a comfortable carry.
The blade sits perfectly between the scales and is straight when taken out.
Although the knife does not come with a sheath, you can purchase it separately. It is also a good thing that U2 is a foldable knife, because it can cut through the leather. Since it is not a fixed-blade knife, it is better to enclose it inside the sheath after closing it.
Lockup of Fallkniven U2
Since the U2 does not necessarily have a deployment, it lacks a one-handed opening. However, it is pretty easy to take the blade out given the cuts on the dual sides of the blade that protrude outside the handle when closed. The action is pretty smooth. You can simply slide the blade right out and ready for use. Similarly, you can apply a bit of pressure on the spine hold it in the pivot position, and then slide it all the way back into the scales into the closing position.
The U2 employs a solid lockback mechanism to secure the blade in place. The absence of glass breakers and seatbelt cutters further reinforces its straightforward design. It is also known as a gentlemen’s knife because of this capability. The lock release button is placed way back towards the backside of the upper spine for safety. It also does not have a stop pin or jimping along the spine, but that is because it is mainly built for its super cutting edge capability. You can simple place your index finger along the spine to use the factory edge to cut anything from leather to food materials and perform EDC tasks.
The lockback release button’s placement is quite natural. It is usually where your thumb or index finger would go when you want to close or open the knife. It is in perfect synchronization with the handle profile and geometry. So we can say that the lockback on U2 is very well done.
Field Test of Fallkniven U2
We started the field test off by cutting a bi piece of cardboard. We sliced it all the way through in thin strips, and the action was buttery smooth! It did not even require much effort. The cutting edge was too sharp, as expected. The factory edge was beyond impressive. It did not create any bumps during the cutting. We cut almost 100 feet of cardboard without the edge giving way.
After that, we cleaned the edge up a little to ensure there are no cardboard bits stuck in the blade and proceeded to the next piece of test.
As mentioned earlier, the factory edge or the cutting edge on this knife is scalpel shape, enough to trim the hair off of your skin. So that is what we did. We shaved the hair right off the middle of the arm, and it did a fine job in one swift motion. We covered 150 feet this time, and it did not fail at any point.
Next, we tried chopping a wire cord by placing it on a surface on top of a sheet of paper. But alas, the edge was gone. It had gone completely blunt. We had to stab on to the cord again and again to cut it, even though it was very thin. At this point, it is going to need sharpening. So the super edge retention was not so super after all. In fact, it was much less than the S30V on Spyderco Paramilitary 2. We had compared its performance with the PM2. Initially, the U2 worked better and showed finer edge retention, but then went completely blunt after completing two tasks of 100 feet and 150 feet respectively.
However, we still like the knife and held the edge pretty well. However, it is good for its price and still a good slicer.
550 feet of cardboard cutting, 18” long slices, and approximately 370 pieces were done successfully.
So we would consider it a win.
Pros & Cons of Fallkniven U2
PRO’s
Con’s
Comparisons
Fallkniven U2 vs Spyderco Dragonfly 2
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 also comes with a lockback and VG10 steel blade, which compares a lot with Fallkniven U2. We even tested the factory edge retention of the two knives. Even though U2 showed exceptional results at first, it became blunt after completing two long tasks. We covered cutting 100 feet of cardboard and 150 feet of hair trimming with both the knives. We performed the same tasks with Dragonfly 2, and its edge retention lasted longer.
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 Prices |
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The U2’s laminate blade gives it more toughness over the simple VG10 on Dragonfly 2. The Dragonfly 2 had some chipping issues after using it for quite some time. But the Dragonfly 2 is easier to carry because it has a pocket clip and a thumb-hole, allowing one-handed opening, which the U2 lacks. And so the Dragonfly 2 also costs more than the Fallkniven U2.
The Dragonfly 2 has contoured edges with a fine bend for knuckles, which the U2 does not. Their blade geometry is also different, but good nevertheless. You can probably use the Dragonfly 2 for your everyday tasks, while the U2 is more suited to carrying out actions that require its exceptional edge. However, it may need sharpening after carrying out two long tasks.
Fallkniven U2 vs Fallkniven U4
The Fallkniven U2 and U4 are very similar knives. The major difference is that of size. The U2 is a much smaller knife than U4.
The overall length of U4 is 6”. The closed length is 3.5”, but the blade length is more or less the same, and so is the blade thickness and cutting edge.
Both the knives compose of the SGPS laminate over VG10, which means both the blades are hard with extremely good edge. Their handle material is also the same.
So the major difference between the two knives is that of size. If you want a bigger knife with the same functions as the U2, the U4 is the next best alternative.
Conclusion – Fallkniven U2
We found Fallkniven U2 review to be pretty positive. The one thing that makes this knife stand out is its extremely good edge retention. However, it does get blunt after committing two long tasks, and the pieces of whatever material you were cutting are likely to get stuck. It also attracts fingerprints very easily. So you may need to sharpen and maintain it for regular use.
However, reviewers do suggest that the U2 is to be used for very specific tasks because of its scalpel-like blade and cutting edge. So if you really need precise cuts with minimal effort, the U2 is your go-to knife. It does not have a pocket clip, but you can get a leather sheath for it separately. Make sure that you close the knife before enclosing it inside the sheath, since it can cut through leather as well.
The lockback works really well, and is able to hold a pivot position. It is not configured for single-handed opening, but you may try sticking the edge of your finger into the bends on either sides of the blade. But this knife does not come with a deployment mechanism. The lockback release button is well-placed for easy and convenient lockup action.
The handle material composed of resin is extremely smooth, comfortable, durable, and textured. Your hand will not slip through it and will provide a comfortable hold.
You can get the knife in just $80.04 instead of the regular $139.95, which is a pretty good deal because it utilizes expensive materials.
