TRC’s best “all round” knife
The Polheim is one of the best knives in my experience for all round use. I have both versions. The Magnacut and the RWL 34. Analysis of the steels has the Magnacut score higher but in day to day use there is no discernible difference. The fit and finish are at a custom level and so is the heat treatment and sharpening. Both my Polheims scored 75g on a BESS test out of the box. This is remarkable. As sharp as a straight razor! The heat treatment is superb as the edge retention lasts for a long time. The geometry of the edge is 17 degrees each side for both versions. An excellent choice for balancing cutting performance with rolling resistance and the knife can baton wood with no edge issues. The knife is tough, light and comfortable. Ideally sized. The leather sheath is again at a custom level but is tight when first used. I dyed mine to match the colour of the micarta handle and added a leather hangman’s knot small lanyard (similar to the idea of the factory supplied one on the Magnacut version). This assists considerably with drawing the knife whilst the sheath beds in. The friction fit sheath needs to be tight when new otherwise it will not retain the knife securely over time. I have over 100+ knives in my collection and my two Polheims are certainly my most used TRC’s and in the top 10 for my daily users. I do a lot of shooting and carry a knife every day which needs to be able to process meat/gralloching/ breasting out birds and process wood for log burners or chimineas and open bricks of cartridges and boxes of clays. Preparing fires is a good test and so is a gralloch. The knife needs to be not too big, not too small and sturdy. It needs to fit in jacket pockets. Putting a knife back into a sheath which is razor sharp is best done off your belt. I have caught the lining on too many jackets! It is also better to be discreet in today’s age when meeting so many walkers/ bird watchers/city folk who are not comfortable seeing knives (although a rifle or shotgun is worse). The Polheim excels here. Particularly the Magnacut version which can quickly clip to a pocket if needed when using it. The leather sheath though fits in a pocket just as well. It is very “useable” as a fixed blade. You don’t need to sharpen it like a Mora or an Opinel but it is expensive and you won’t want to lose it! If the price is steep - the Fallkniven H1z or F1 in elmax offer better value and I have used them just as effectively. The Polheim is much easier to sharpen though as it is not a convex grind. There is a bit of a technique to doing those. If you are willing to pay once for quality and have no regrets- this is an excellent choice.
