Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
- curlyhairedboy
- Member
- Posts: 2621
- Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2016 11:01 am
- Location: Southern New England
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
I think I used a butter knife to loosen mine :D
EDC Rotation: PITS, Damasteel Urban, Shaman, Ikuchi, Amalgam, CruCarta Shaman, Sage 5 LW, Serrated Caribbean Sheepsfoot CQI, XHP Shaman, M4/Micarta Shaman, 15v Shaman
Fixed Blades: Proficient, Magnacut Mule
Special and Sentimental: Southard, Squarehead LW, Ouroboros, Calendar Para 3 LW, 40th Anniversary Native, Ti Native, Calendar Watu, Tanto PM2
Would like to own again: CQI Caribbean Sheepsfoot PE, Watu
Wishlist: Magnacut, Shaman Sprints!
Fixed Blades: Proficient, Magnacut Mule
Special and Sentimental: Southard, Squarehead LW, Ouroboros, Calendar Para 3 LW, 40th Anniversary Native, Ti Native, Calendar Watu, Tanto PM2
Would like to own again: CQI Caribbean Sheepsfoot PE, Watu
Wishlist: Magnacut, Shaman Sprints!
-
- Member
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Fri May 31, 2019 5:00 pm
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Thanks for the tips guys. I was worried about pulling pieces off the liner and making it more difficult to remove without making any progress. I’ll try sticking a wedge in to break the bond.
Chris, thanks for the lanyard link. I’ll give that a shot as well.
Chris, thanks for the lanyard link. I’ll give that a shot as well.
- Cambertree
- Member
- Posts: 1640
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 6:48 am
- Location: Victoria, Australia
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Is the Proficient sheath made so it could be used for lefty carry as well?
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Yes it is ambidextrous.Cambertree wrote: ↑Thu Nov 05, 2020 7:50 pmIs the Proficient sheath made so it could be used for lefty carry as well?
Current Spydercos in EDC rotation: Dragonfly 2 ZDP-189, Dragonfly 2 Toku2, Vrango, Matrix 2 G10 Black, Native 5 Fluted Carbon, Canis, Native 5 Salt, Enuff Sheepfoot, Lil' Temperance 3, Proficient, Caribbean Sheepsfoot, Shaman Zwear micarta, Shaman Black/Black Spyderedge, DLT tan Yojimbo 2
- Cambertree
- Member
- Posts: 1640
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 6:48 am
- Location: Victoria, Australia
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Excellent, thanks for that and for the review. :)GaryArt1 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 05, 2020 8:26 pmYes it is ambidextrous.Cambertree wrote: ↑Thu Nov 05, 2020 7:50 pmIs the Proficient sheath made so it could be used for lefty carry as well?
I’d be interested to hear more of your thoughts on this knife, if you get a chance to use it out in your yard a bit. :)
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
So I wanted to update on the sheath. I have followed Chris's advice above on soaking the sheath and letting it dry with the knife inside. I have to say the sheath is SO much better. It formed around the knife and now seems to have a natural stop at the height you want it to be. It is not the perfect sheath for the knife but now I am happy with it. I may still consider a Boltaron sheath in the future but I like the leather one now. The only advice I would give is after you wax the knife and wrap it in plastic wrap, is go very light on wrap on the handle. This it the part that form fits the best. I was probably being too cautious with the knife and the wrap was slightly too thick on the handle and the sheath is slightly looser than I would have preferred.C_Claycomb wrote: ↑Sun Nov 01, 2020 4:14 pmI PMed this to GaryArt, then thought it might be useful here.
I designed the sheath for deep carry of the BushcraftUK knife, its meant to go down a long way, and is based on the very widely used bushcraft knife pouch sheaths. Usually with veg-tan leather, these sheaths start out tight but loosen up with use. This sheath was meant to allow rigging with cord for various carry positions, some of which cannot rely so much on gravity to hold the knife.
Something that can help the sheath is thoroughly soaking it in hand hot water (takes a few minutes since the coating is pretty water resistant) and then leaving it to dry with the knife pushed down to where you want it. I protect the knife Renaissance wax then wrap with cling-film and tap, up the blade and handle. I have it down with 1.5 - 1.75" of handle sticking out. I also use the lanyard hole to mount a short fob/lanyard with a stopper knot that helps with withdrawal. The only other thing I use the lanyard hole for is blowing through when getting embers back to flames, a nice trick but not a great sacrifice. My Proficient lanyard is reflective orange paracord so I can find it easily day or night.
All the best
Chris
On the knife, I haven't got a chance to use it in hard work but i did some yard work with it. I have to say it cuts great and has zero hot spots. Still one of the most comfortable knives I own. I can highly recommend the knife and especially being it is discontinued I would grab one up.
Current Spydercos in EDC rotation: Dragonfly 2 ZDP-189, Dragonfly 2 Toku2, Vrango, Matrix 2 G10 Black, Native 5 Fluted Carbon, Canis, Native 5 Salt, Enuff Sheepfoot, Lil' Temperance 3, Proficient, Caribbean Sheepsfoot, Shaman Zwear micarta, Shaman Black/Black Spyderedge, DLT tan Yojimbo 2
- bearfacedkiller
- Member
- Posts: 11419
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:22 pm
- Location: hiding in the woods...
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
I have rarely bought a knife and liked the sheath. It is what it is. I have a lot to say on this particular issue but no real solutions. The sheath seems like an afterthought with most knives. This one at least looks like it had some thought put into it.
Bushcraft sheaths are typically deep carry pouch style sheaths. This is a reasonable example of that. The knife can be harder to draw but it makes losing your knife harder as well. There is a heavy Scandinavian influence in bushcraft as well and their sheaths traditionally seem to have been deep pouch style leather sheaths.
Having grommets gives it some of the versatility of a kydex sheath as you can lash it to a pack or set up some horizontal belt carry. I don’t do that so it doesn’t add much value for me.
It is very ambidextrous which I do value. I sometimes carry a handgun in the woods and sometimes I don’t. When I do carry one I will move the knife to my left side.
Overall I like this sheath more than most.
Bushcraft sheaths are typically deep carry pouch style sheaths. This is a reasonable example of that. The knife can be harder to draw but it makes losing your knife harder as well. There is a heavy Scandinavian influence in bushcraft as well and their sheaths traditionally seem to have been deep pouch style leather sheaths.
Having grommets gives it some of the versatility of a kydex sheath as you can lash it to a pack or set up some horizontal belt carry. I don’t do that so it doesn’t add much value for me.
It is very ambidextrous which I do value. I sometimes carry a handgun in the woods and sometimes I don’t. When I do carry one I will move the knife to my left side.
Overall I like this sheath more than most.
-Darby
sal wrote:Knife afi's are pretty far out, steel junky's more so, but "edge junky's" are just nuts. :p
SpyderEdgeForever wrote: Also, do you think a kangaroo would eat a bowl of spagetti with sauce if someone offered it to them?
- bearfacedkiller
- Member
- Posts: 11419
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:22 pm
- Location: hiding in the woods...
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
I cannot imagine just how many consecutive bad decisions I would have to make in the woods to end up needing to use my knife scales as tinder. Yikes!
Thankfully I live in the land of paper birch which might just be the greatest natural tinder on earth.
Thankfully I live in the land of paper birch which might just be the greatest natural tinder on earth.
-Darby
sal wrote:Knife afi's are pretty far out, steel junky's more so, but "edge junky's" are just nuts. :p
SpyderEdgeForever wrote: Also, do you think a kangaroo would eat a bowl of spagetti with sauce if someone offered it to them?
- bearfacedkiller
- Member
- Posts: 11419
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:22 pm
- Location: hiding in the woods...
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
This thread unfortunately didn’t work out as I had hoped. Oh well. I did just snag a second Proficient for a decent price. Time to put my original one to some honest use.
I am not all that interested in a smaller version or a budget version. If anything I would be more interested in a 5” version with the same handle.
I am not all that interested in a smaller version or a budget version. If anything I would be more interested in a 5” version with the same handle.
-Darby
sal wrote:Knife afi's are pretty far out, steel junky's more so, but "edge junky's" are just nuts. :p
SpyderEdgeForever wrote: Also, do you think a kangaroo would eat a bowl of spagetti with sauce if someone offered it to them?
-
- Member
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:56 pm
- Location: Knoxville, TN (LaFollette)
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
I’ve gone back and forth on this iteration of the proficient and I just can’t bring myself to drop the coin for S90V and carbon fiber on a beefy fixed blade. I could probably swallow the S90V, though I’d prefer something tougher with a willingness to sacrifice corrosion resistance or edge retention, but carbon fiber just doesn’t seem right. Sal’s opinion carries enough weight that I’ll probably continue debating this purchase until it’s out of stock but dang I’d love some micarta and a bit more toughness. Thanks for trying Bear! I was in for two.
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
If you just had one item, you knife, and that item had the ability to get you fire and be a tool to do almost everything you needed to survive is quite something. I am jealous of your access to paper birch. Will trade fat wood for paper birch :D
bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:09 pmI cannot imagine just how many consecutive bad decisions I would have to make in the woods to end up needing to use my knife scales as tinder. Yikes!
Thankfully I live in the land of paper birch which might just be the greatest natural tinder on earth.
Mule Team Army 001
MNOSD 008
Stable Mules; Z-Max, Z-Wear, Magna Cut, SRS13, Rex 76, Rex T15.
MNOSD 008
Stable Mules; Z-Max, Z-Wear, Magna Cut, SRS13, Rex 76, Rex T15.
- bearfacedkiller
- Member
- Posts: 11419
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:22 pm
- Location: hiding in the woods...
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
More options is always better.Fireman wrote: ↑Sun Nov 08, 2020 2:49 pmIf you just had one item, you knife, and that item had the ability to get you fire and be a tool to do almost everything you needed to survive is quite something. I am jealous of your access to paper birch. Will trade fat wood for paper birch :D
bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:09 pmI cannot imagine just how many consecutive bad decisions I would have to make in the woods to end up needing to use my knife scales as tinder. Yikes!
Thankfully I live in the land of paper birch which might just be the greatest natural tinder on earth.
Fatwood doesn’t really exist here. We have a lot of white pine which is very sappy but doesn’t seem to produce fatwood. I wish we did.
You are pretty much always within 100 yards of a birch tree around here. I burn a lot of it for heat and usually have 3-4 five gallon buckets full of bark in the wood shed that I pick up after splitting. I cut and split 6 cords this year and very little of it was paper birch. Lots of yellow birch in the pile this year.
If you really want some birch bark I’ll pack a small flat rate box full and send it your way. :)
-Darby
sal wrote:Knife afi's are pretty far out, steel junky's more so, but "edge junky's" are just nuts. :p
SpyderEdgeForever wrote: Also, do you think a kangaroo would eat a bowl of spagetti with sauce if someone offered it to them?
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Hi Darby,
I'm sorry it didn't work out as I'd hoped. The difference was somewhere n the neighborhood of 10% which was far more than was hoping for. I'm still part of the discussion.
sal
I'm sorry it didn't work out as I'd hoped. The difference was somewhere n the neighborhood of 10% which was far more than was hoping for. I'm still part of the discussion.
sal
- bearfacedkiller
- Member
- Posts: 11419
- Joined: Sat Jan 04, 2014 1:22 pm
- Location: hiding in the woods...
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Sal, no need to apologize. You are too good to us and you are always listening. I am just grateful we are able to have these discussions. :)
I am fully aware that premium fixed blades are a tough market. A Crucarta Proficient would obviously be a great knife but if it doesn’t make business sense then we must move on.
I am fully aware that premium fixed blades are a tough market. A Crucarta Proficient would obviously be a great knife but if it doesn’t make business sense then we must move on.
-Darby
sal wrote:Knife afi's are pretty far out, steel junky's more so, but "edge junky's" are just nuts. :p
SpyderEdgeForever wrote: Also, do you think a kangaroo would eat a bowl of spagetti with sauce if someone offered it to them?
-
- Member
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:56 pm
- Location: Knoxville, TN (LaFollette)
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
If we’re moving on
What are the chances of a sprint run South Fork? Cruwear, 4V, K390 or REX45 perhaps...Orange G10 maybe??
(Please forgive me if you’ve already seen this request in another thread.)
What are the chances of a sprint run South Fork? Cruwear, 4V, K390 or REX45 perhaps...Orange G10 maybe??
(Please forgive me if you’ve already seen this request in another thread.)
-
- Member
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Fri May 31, 2019 5:00 pm
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Kind of off topic, but thanks Sal and others for the tips on removing the plastic sheath liner. Definitely feels better without and seats more securely.
I also sent an email to sheathpro asking after a boltaron sheath and I haven’t heard back. Is that still potentially a thing?
Thanks again!
I also sent an email to sheathpro asking after a boltaron sheath and I haven’t heard back. Is that still potentially a thing?
Thanks again!
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
I’ll be more than excited to get that package for my bushcraft/primitive skills sessions with the kids.
bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 4:43 pmMore options is always better.Fireman wrote: ↑Sun Nov 08, 2020 2:49 pmIf you just had one item, you knife, and that item had the ability to get you fire and be a tool to do almost everything you needed to survive is quite something. I am jealous of your access to paper birch. Will trade fat wood for paper birch :D
bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑Sun Nov 08, 2020 12:09 pmI cannot imagine just how many consecutive bad decisions I would have to make in the woods to end up needing to use my knife scales as tinder. Yikes!
Thankfully I live in the land of paper birch which might just be the greatest natural tinder on earth.
Fatwood doesn’t really exist here. We have a lot of white pine which is very sappy but doesn’t seem to produce fatwood. I wish we did.
You are pretty much always within 100 yards of a birch tree around here. I burn a lot of it for heat and usually have 3-4 five gallon buckets full of bark in the wood shed that I pick up after splitting. I cut and split 6 cords this year and very little of it was paper birch. Lots of yellow birch in the pile this year.
If you really want some birch bark I’ll pack a small flat rate box full and send it your way. :)
Mule Team Army 001
MNOSD 008
Stable Mules; Z-Max, Z-Wear, Magna Cut, SRS13, Rex 76, Rex T15.
MNOSD 008
Stable Mules; Z-Max, Z-Wear, Magna Cut, SRS13, Rex 76, Rex T15.
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Hi TheDraskien,Theldraskien wrote: ↑Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:45 pmKind of off topic, but thanks Sal and others for the tips on removing the plastic sheath liner. Definitely feels better without and seats more securely.
I also sent an email to sheathpro asking after a boltaron sheath and I haven’t heard back. Is that still potentially a thing?
Thanks again!
She's been busy. I'll send her a tickler.
sal
- Cambertree
- Member
- Posts: 1640
- Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2014 6:48 am
- Location: Victoria, Australia
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Thanks for the further comments. I have one on the way. :)GaryArt1 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 07, 2020 12:28 pmOn the knife, I haven't got a chance to use it in hard work but i did some yard work with it. I have to say it cuts great and has zero hot spots. Still one of the most comfortable knives I own. I can highly recommend the knife and especially being it is discontinued I would grab one up.
Re: Cruwear micarta Bushcraft/Proficient
Thanks to this thread I received mine earlier this week and wow what a handle. I would be interested in the boltaron as well.