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The northern part of Sweden is famous for its rich hunting tradition, and Fällkniven Knives first rose to popularity in this environment. Their original fixed-blade F1 knife, still in production, was a game-changer in survival and hunting blades. As the company celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, it hasn’t forgotten what led to its success. For founder and owner Peter Hjortberger, good survival or hunting knives need a few key things: a good design, a safe sheath, exceptional steel, a protruding tang, and a convex grind.
Perhaps even more importantly, Fällkniven wants to deliver on quality. In fact, for Hjortberger, it’s the only thing that matters, even over profit. It may not be the usual thing one hears from a knife company. However, there is no denying their success over the last 40 years. This is how Fällkniven turned a small family business into one of the most respected knife brands in the world.
About Fällkniven
Peter Hjortberger has always been interested in hunting, fishing, and nature. This is not surprising given Sweden’s rich hunting culture, which is not all that different from North America. Red, fallow, and roe deer are common game animals, as are waterfowl and pheasants. However, moose are the most popular pursuits.
Like North America, Sweden had plenty of hunting magazines covering those pursuits. They also enlightened readers to what hunters in the States were doing. In the early 1980s, Hjortberger read about what U.S. knifemakers were producing. Intrigued by what he saw, he started his company, in March 1984. The company began by selling knives made by other manufacturers. However, it quickly pivoted to developing its own designs.
“A few years later, my company received an inquiry from the Swedish Defense Administration about a better survival knife for the Swedish Air Forces, and after many tests, I delivered the first batch of several thousand pieces of the F1 Pilot Survival Knife for the Swedish Armed Forces in August 1995,” Hjortberger said.
This eventually also led the company to start selling to civilians, and when the F1 hit the consumer market in 1996, it was an instant hit. This was mainly because most outdoor enthusiasts still used surplus combat knives from World War II. These blades had aggressive serrations and other features unsuited for survival or hunting. The F1 was something new and refreshing.
“The F1 Pilot Survival Knife came as a surprise on the market. No one had expected such a knife,” Hjortberger said. “At that time, folding knives were so popular that several [U.S.] knife manufacturers had no sheath knife in production.”
Despite their products being much costlier than other survival knives at the time, Fällkniven sold nearly 20,000 in the first year alone. This was also around the time the company became known globally. Fällkniven was an early adopter of the Internet, and its first site went online in 1998.
Today, the company has partners in Japan and is primarily known for its fixed-blade knives and folders. However, it is looking for new companies to collaborate on new designs, particularly its kitchen and chef’s knives lineup. However, it needs to fit the company’s philosophy. The best Fallkniven knife still goes through rigorous testing before it's released for consumption.
“If we cannot provide world-class quality, we won’t enter that cooperation – I repeat: We are not in the market for making money,” Hjortberger said.
Subsequently, he says the company's focus on quality has helped it grow. They recently expanded operations by building a new 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. In creating it, they heavily emphasized sustainability, covering the roof with solar panels. Additionally, they are supplementing power further via geothermal energy and advanced HVAC systems.
Design and Construction
Hjortberger designs all the company's products. It’s a slow process; he churns over the design in his head for months before drawings take shape. All Fällkniven knives begin as pencil drawings before being put into a computer and a 3D CAD program. This eventually led to the first handmade prototypes. He says they emphasize safety, comfort, and quality throughout the design process.
Fällkniven’s offerings utilize a high-end laminate or powder steel. The company has also updated its designs and steel over the years. For instance, when the F1 was introduced, it utilized ATS34 steel and a simple, flat ground grind. Today, the knife utilizes VG7, Elmax, or 3G. Around 2000, Hjortberger decided the edge needed an upgrade. The inspiration came from hunting experiences many years earlier, where his flat grind knife’s edge kept breaking.
“When I sharpened the knife by hand in the woods, using a traditional sedimented stone, I noticed that the edge became more stable and was still as useful as before – no edge marks, no edge loss, no edge roll,” he said.
This eventually led to the F1 getting a convex grind sometime around 2000. It’s now the standard for Fällkniven’s knives.
“The real reason why I add a convex edge to all fixed-blade knives is that it is the strongest/sharpest cutting solution available, and together with a high-end steel, you receive a sharp, strong, reliable concept that outcompetes all other edge designs in hunting and survival situations,” Hjortberger said.
Fällkniven also produces its sheaths in-house. Instead of Kydex, it makes sheaths of leather, and a composite nylon material called Zytel. The Zytel sheaths are injected, molded in Sweden, and assembled at their facilities. Consider that just another part of Fällkniven’s dedication to quality.
“We spent eight years to form a philosophy about the F1 knife, and that is the reason why it still, after almost thirty years in the international market, is a market leader,” Hjortberger said.
Notable Knives
The three most popular knives for Fällkniven are also their oldest models, the F1, S1, and A1. Part of the company’s philosophy on these knives is that they are simple and to the point, no gimmicks or other bells and whistles. It’s an old-school mentality that’s also refreshing at a time when other companies are getting gimmicky. That dedication to simplicity and practicality has earned them a dedicated legion of fans worldwide.
The F1 is a no-frills fixed blade initially designed for the Swedish Armed Forces. However, the same traits that make it versatile for combat and survival also make it a perfect hunting knife. The drop-point blade is under 4 inches, which is ideal for skinning and field dressing most big game animals. That length makes it easy to use on smaller animals without becoming unwieldy. At the same time, the convex edge and protruding tang add some extra strength to the design. Hjortberger said the idea behind the protruding tang is to protect the handle if the user ever needs to strike the knife on the end. Speaking of handles, Fällkniven offers either a Thermorun or Micarta handle with this knife.
The A1 shares a similar drop-point profile to the F1 but is a much longer knife with a more pronounced crossbar. Its blade measures just over 6.5 inches. They offer a few variants using different steel types, including VG10w and CoS. The A1xb features a black Tungsten Carbide coating for more protection.
Thanks to its size and full tang, this knife's specialty is chopping and wood splitting via the baton method. The A1 also has a protruding tang design. Fällkniven gave this knife a convex grind that lends itself well to feather sticking and notch cutting. It’s a complete bushcraft machine. This knife also has a Thermorun handle. However, they also offer a variant with a Kraton handle and satin finish laminated steel.
Finally, there is the S1 line, which, thanks to a 5.1-inch blade, is between the F1 and A1 in size. This puts it in a sweet spot for moderate bushcraft applications and field dressing of game animals. These knives feature the same steel types and Thermorun handles as the F1 and the A1. However, Fällkniven offers a slightly more affordable laminated VG7 steel with a satin finish. These knives also have a convex grind for strength and versatility.
Conclusion
A classic knife design seamlessly crosses cultural barriers and never truly goes out of style. The F1, A1, and S1 are proof of that. Hunters, fishermen, and campers will find a lot to love about Fällkniven’s offerings. It’s easy to root for a knifemaker who stays on the forefront of technology but keeps the classics in production. We appreciate any company trying to keep production in-house as much as possible. With 40 years now under the company’s belt and production ramping up on other styles of knife, the future looks bright for Fällkniven.
