Flexcut has built it reputation on its quality American-made woodcarving tools, but their new Hawthorne Collection Knives are more than capable of going toe to toe with established names in the hunting and bushcraft communities. We have 3 of the Flexcut Hawthorne knives to give away, starting with the Drifter. We also have an Explorer and a Nomad to give away in a later drawing.
Remember: To win this knife you must be registered for a free KnifeMagazine.com account and leave a comment on our official 100 Knives in 100 days Contest Thread.
The fourth knife in the Hawthorne Series, the Seeker, was reviewed by Staff Corespondent Steven J. Masello in the February 2019 print issue of Knife Magazine.
“The newly released line of bushcraft knives offers top-quality, razor sharp, full tang knives for the most demanding camper, hunter, and outdoorsman. The Hawthorne Collection (the attractive name, “Hawthorne,” is simply derived from the Erie, Pennsylvania, Flexcut Company street address where they have been manufacturing cutting tools for a full quarter century) offers four distinct model designs with varying blade shapes, handle designs, grinds, sheaths, and handle materials: the Explorer, the Drifter, the Nomad, and the Seeker. Briefly, and I cite “highlights” from the website, the “Explorer is a “slim profile scandi-grind blade drawn to a very fine tip [looks dagger-like], perfect for detailed craft tasks and field carving…,” the Drifter is “a classic clip-point hunting knife…the coke bottle contour on the handle and jimping on the spine [make it] the perfect hip knife for an avid hunter or angler…,” the Nomad is “one handful. A beefy flat-ground chopper [for]…heavy tasks like processing firewood, to delicate kitchen work….” The Seeker, which I have, is described at greater length, below. (All model names evoke an appropriately “outdoorsy” association.) There is an extraordinarily generous range of options to suit any outdoorsman’s needs and preferences”.
KnifeMagazine.com Premium Online Members can read Steven’s entire review here…
Flexcut Heads to the Bush: The New Hawthorne Knife Collection
If you are not yet a Premium Online Member, Click Here to get the complete KnifeMagazine.com experience.
Now onto…
The Drifter:
Flexcut describes the Drifter as:
“A classic clip-point hunting knife with loads to offer. The coke-bottle contour on the handle and jimping on the spine give this knife an unmatched security in hand for when it matters most. Field dressing fish & game is a pleasure with this razor sharp and easy to maintain 1095 blade. The perfect hip knife for an avid hunter or angler looking for a reliable tool to get the job done.”
The orange liners on the laminated wood scales might not be everyone’s cup of tea, maybe you would prefer the stabilized purpleheart option, or perhaps full G10 is more your speed. I hope you like the orange liners, because that is the one we are giving away.
The fit and finish of the above handle is quite exceptional. Laminate handles of disparate materials can sometimes feel hinky, but not in the case of the Flexcut Drifter.
The Ergonomics are rock solid too. The jimping on the thumb position is a bit aggressive, and may cause some folks a hot spot in extended hard use, but the relatively large handle comfortably fills my mid-sized paw.
The Drifter comes with a quality stitched leather sheath. The molded opening provides positive retention to the unit. Each knife in the Hawthorne Series comes with an attractive wooden display box as well.
I could not find an outside review of the Drifter, apart from Steven’s, so we will have to leave it at that.
I would like to thank Flexcut for providing us with the knives for our giveaway. This is far and away the most expensive production knife we have given away thus far (MSRP $279), and with 3 knives donated to the contest, it is an extraordinarily generous contribution.