PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
52 Year old male
6' 0'' (183 cm) in height
163 lbs (74 kg) in weight
Email address: rick (at) BackpackGearTest (dot) org
Personal Hiking Page: http://www.imrisk.com
Trail name: Risk
I live in Dayton, Ohio

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
Over the last several years, I have become an ultralight camper with a three-season base pack weight of about 17 lb (8 kg) and skin out weight of 25 lb (11 kg). I have completed many section hikes on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in all four seasons, with a total mileage of about 1100 miles (1770 km). I am a gearhead, a hammock camper, and I make much of my own equipment.


PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Spyderco
Year Manufactured: 2004
Manufacturer's Link: http://spyderco.com
MSRP: US$39.95
Listed Weight: 2.8 oz (79 g)
Measured Weight: 2.8 oz (79 g)
Listed length overall: 7-7/8 in (200 mm)
Listed blade length: 3-1/8 in (79 mm)
Measured length A-C: 7-5/8 in (194 mm)
Measured length A-B: 4-5/8 in (117 mm)
Measured length B-C: 3 in (76 mm)
Listed blade thickness 5/32 in (4 mm)
Measured blade thickness: 5/32 in (4 mm)

REVIEW
The Vagabond knife (Model #FB12P) is a fixed blade knife with a plain drop blade.  Its blade has considerable heft due to its thickness. The knife feels well balanced in my hand with blade guard folded into the handle.  The balance point is approximately 1 in (25 mm) left of point B in the diagram above.

The material of the handle is plastic material (FRN) which has a pleasing amount of surface friction, enhanced by a comfortable pattern molded into the sides of the handle. The butt end of the handle (near A) has a 1/4 in (6mm) lanyard hole.

The integral blade guard pivots on a rivet near B and folds into the handle.  Once the blade guard is folded, the handle is comfortable in my palm. There are two small tabs on the blade guard under my index finger on the handle which can be used to open the blade guard with one hand if necessary.  It is very easy for me to stow the blade guard one handed.  

The blade guard securely protects the blade (and my leg) when it is open, covering the edge of the blade.  In the short amount of time I have carried the knife, I have been comfortable carrying the knife in my pants pocket.  The blade cover has not accidentally begun to swing away from the blade's edge and allowed any of the material of my pants pocket to be cut.

The blade is hollow-ground and arrived from the factory very sharp (shaving sharp).  The base of the blade is stamped "Spyderco AUS6" on one side and "Seki City - Japan" on the other side.

As I evaluate the knife over the next four months, I will be interested in the following:
- How long does an edge last?
- How easy is it to put a new edge on the knife?
- Is the handle comfortable when I work on a small project such as carving a walking stick?
- Is the blade strong enough to use as a froe when splitting small wood for kindling on wet days?
- Does the blade cover adequately protect my pocket when the knife is stored there?
- How easy is it to keep the knife clean with daily cooking chores?

What I like so far:
- Very lightweight knife for its size
- Easy to stow the blade guard with one hand
- Blade Guard protects my pocket
- Balance of the knife is very good
- Came from the factory sharper than any knife I have ever received

ANTICIPATED FIELD CONDITIONS FOR THE TEST PERIOD
For the Field reporting period, I plan to use the knife for at least one overnight trip in September to Hot Springs, North Carolina.  In October I plan to walk a long section hike in Pennsylvania along the AT. In addition, I will be using the knife daily in preparing food at home and will be carrying the knife for a number of day trips.   I will be using the Vagabond in cold, wet, and dry conditions. For the Long Term reporting period, I plan to use the knife in freezing conditions and in the coldest temperatures that Ohio will offer this winter.  Altitudes will range from river valleys to mountain tops.