33290288 mercworx equator ian the ultimate warrior tactical knives 2007

8/8/2019 33290288 Mercworx Equator Ian the Ultimate Warrior Tactical Knives 2007

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www.tacticalknives.com

JULY 2007

2-Inch Hideaways: Sneaky-Big Life SaversSTREET

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HE CUTTING EDGE OF SURVIVALHE CUTTING EDGE OF SURVIVAL

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Display Until May 28, 2007

$6.95 $8.95 CAN

NO MISSION TOO TOUGH

MERCWORX EQUATORIAN

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qqq

TACTICAL KNIVES 11

Even in this age of high-tech, special-

purpose gear, a large, sturdy knife is still

the one indispensable tool. The Merc-

worx Equatorian is a massive fighting

knife that looks somewhat like a cross

between a Bowie knife and a Roman

short sword. The symmetrical spear point and

slightly wasp-waisted blade are reminiscent of

the gladius Hispaniensis, a Punic War-era sword

believed to be derived from Spanish designs.

The double-edged blade is 8.5 inches long.

The primary cutting edge is about 8 inches,

while the top edge is sharpened for 4 inches

from the tip. The blade width is 1.85 inches

across the widest sharpened portion (measured

about 3.5 inches from the tip), and 2.5 inches just

forward of the hilt. Factory specs give a width of

2.75 inches, but I can only get this by measuring

diagonally from tip to tip across the integral

guard. The overall length is 13.75 inches. Blade

thickness is a full 0.25 inch. There is about 1.5

inches of full-width spine forward of the thumb

stop which could be used for batoning (split-

ting wood by striking the back of the blade with

a wooden billet), if required. The dual primary

hollow grinds terminate in a slightly convex

edge bevel of about 23 degrees. All grind lines

are very clean and well matched.

ppB Y E D S I E M O N

New for 2007 are

Mercworxs upscale

Damascus bladed and

Mammoth ivory handled

collector versions of their

most popular models.


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12 TACTICAL KNIVES

The blade is made of S30V stainless steel,

cryogenically treated and hardened to RC

58. S30V stainless is an extremely tough

martensitic stainless steel developed by

Crucible Steel specifically for cutlery appli-

cations. It provides an excellent balance

between toughness and wear resistance

and corrosion resistance, and has become a

favorite of many custom knifemakers.

More Blade Details

The blade has considerable land (the

flat area between the edge grinds) that

adds lateral strength for pounding or

prying. The uncoated blade is finished with

a satin polish that helps to resist corrosion,

but that can be easily touched up with a

3M Light Duty Scotch Brite 6448 pad if

stained or scratched. The hilt end of the

blade features an integral guard that flares

to form a serrated thumb stop. A small

choil on the opposite side raises the grind

line and makes the blade easier to sharpen.

The knife balances just forward of the hilt

and feels lighter in the hand than its 19.9-

ounce weight would suggest (28.5 ounces

with sheath).

My test piece had the innovative Chili

Pepper handle. At first, I admit to being a

bit put off by the unconventional shape, but

beauty is as beauty does. The handle consists

The smooth, ergonometric

handle fits the hand well,

giving just enough texture to

allow a secure grip without

irritation or hot spots.

The Equatorian served as well as

a light ax in cutting firewood.


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TACTICAL KNIVES 13

of olive green micarta scales fastened to the

full-width tang with a strong, silicon-based

adhesive. The silicon adhesive is more flex-

ible than epoxy and resists cracking brought

on by sudden temperature changes. Flared

metal tubes in the three transverse holes

in the handle serve as a backup. The Chili

Pepper shape features subdued finger

grooves with a pronounced swell that rests,

in my hand, between the gap in the secondand third fingers. This swell gives you more

purchase to prevent the hilt from twisting in

the hand.

Another handle feature I particularly

like is the tapered and curved pommel,

somewhat similar in concept to the tradi-

tional Spanish navaja-style folding knife.

The pommel fits perfectly in the heel of the

hand, aligning the blade with the forearm,

and providing support for thrusting. It also

allows comfortable capping by the thumb

in a reverse ice pick grip.

The micarta scales are smooth and will

not eat up your hand during prolonged use,

but have a slightly tacky feel that aids in

retention when your hands are sweaty or

wet with other fluids. There are no hot spots

to abrade or irritate the hand. In all, this is

an exceptionally comfortable and secure

handle. Mercworx notes that the handle,

like a good pair of leather shoes, will darken

and develop a patina over time. The knife

comes with a black nylon sheath of excel-

lent quality with a retaining snap and sharp-

ener pouch. The sheath is double-stitched,and multiple hook and loop fasteners and

a tie-down cord are provided to allow for

various carry options.

Well Supported EdgeThe blade easily shaves arm hair, but it is

not razor sharp, nor should it be. Thinner,

more acute edges are excellent for dedicated

cutting implements, but a heavy-duty blade

requires a robust, well supported edge that

will stand up to chopping, digging, prying,

or other abusive tasks.

There being a local shortage of killer-

ninjas to slice n dice, I took the Equato-

rian with me on a backpacking trip into the

West Virginia uplands. The first night found

us hunkered down in a vicious and unex-

pected storm. With gusting winds blasting

sleet sideways over the barren slopes,

shelter was imperative. We finally tunneled

into a dense grove of red pine, where the

Equatorian allowed me to quickly hack

away dead lower limbs and clear spaces to

get our tents up out of the wind. Even with

cold, wet hands, the ergonometric handlemade chopping a breeze, and the heavy

blade sailed through 1- to 2-inch-diameter

limbs with a few strokes. Maybe I could have

eventually cleared the campsite with the

saw on my Swiss Army Knife, but Im glad I

didnt have to try!

Over the next three wild and wonderful

(and mostly wet) days, the Equatorian was

used for chopping and splitting dead-

wood, digging cat holes for wilder-

ness sanitation, and crafting impromptu

walking sticks, pot holders, tent pegs, and

the like. The robust pumpkin seed grindmakes for an extremely well-supported

edge, and rigorous whacking on what-

ever dead wood I could find produced no

edge damage. To test the point strength,

I buried the tip into hardwood a quarter

inch or so and then snapped it out side-

ways. The tip easily pried the wood up anddid not bend or break. After a dozen or

so trials, I gave up trying to break it. The

large, integral hilt prevents the hand from

running over the blade.

While not designed for use as a shovel,

the broad flat blade is an efficient digger,

and cat holes were easily made. The flat

of the blade is also useful for pounding,

and large rocks can be easily pried out of

the ground to clear a sleeping space. The

knife spent long hours in a wet sheath, and

received no maintenance besides an occa-

sional wipe-down.

Scotch Brite PolishBack home, a careful inspection revealed

no rust or staining. As recommended by

Mercworx, a quick polish with a Scotch

Brite pad removed a few minor abrasions

that the blade had acquired and restored

the brushed finish. As much as I believe intaking care of your equipment, there may

come a time when your equipment has to

The broad blade works perfectly as an

impromptu shovel, and cat holes for

wilderness sanitation were easily dug.

qqFor many tasks, there is no substitute fora BFK (Big Fearsome Knife), and thisis an exceptionally good one.

The massive, double-edged spear point

blade and weight-forward design make the

Equatorian an excellent chopper.

A large blade such as the Equatorian

and a Swiss Army Knife cover about allof your backcountry needs.


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14 TACTICAL KNIVES

take care of you. Its nice to know that the

Equatorian can stand up to the elements

with a minimum of maintenance. If you

are concerned with reflection during low-

light operations, simply spray paint the

blade. This is a working knife designed with

end-users in mind, not a drawer queen

or collectible. The edges came through

unscathed with no chipping, blow-outs, or

other failure. A brief touchup with a Gerberdiamond knife sharpener restored the edge

to proper sharpness.

The Equatorian and its smaller brother

blades, the Sniper (7.5-inch blade) and

Vorax (6.0-inch blade), are definitely

weighted towards the combat end of the

spectrum. The double-edged blade creates

more penetration and tissue damage in

the thrust and allows for back cuts with the

reverse edge. This same feature reduces the

general utility somewhatfor example,

by making it more difficult to clean and

process game animals or split wood by

battoning the back of the blade. However,

any large military knife design has to

balance fighting and utility characteristics.

You pay your money, etc.

The Equatorian is first and foremost a

military fighting instrument. That it can

also be a useful bush knife, machete, emer-

gency shovel, light ax, pry bar, hammer,

etc., is an added plus. The recurved blade

and convex secondary grind make it

somewhat more difficult to sharpen in the

field, but add usable cutting surface andedge strength.

In the tradition of the fabled Bowie knife,

big knives like the Equatorian have always

had a reputation as formidable fighting

tools. The heavy blade can actually cleave, as

well as cut or pierce, and the broad, double-

edged point would do massive damage in

the thrust. While the Equatorian is primarily

designed as a fighting implement, it also

serves as a more than adequate survival

tool. Simplicity, practicality, and ruggedness

are never sacrificed simply to stand out in

an increasingly crowded field. For many

tasks, there is no substitute for a BFK (Big

Fearsome Knife), and this is an exceptionally

good one.

The recommended retail price of the

Equatorian Chili in S30V is $500.00. The stan-

dard-handle version is $25.00 less. TK

MERCWORX

(908) 619-1013

E-mail: [email protected]

www.mercworx.com

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33290288 mercworx equator ian the ultimate warrior tactical knives 2007

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