In 2017, Fällkniven launched the F1 / 3G model with burgundy or black micarta, truly a very special edition. For the first time, it features a detailed and distinctive laser engraving of the JAS 39 Griffin NG (Next Generation), along with the traditional oval logo that has been Fällkniven's hallmark for over twenty years. The handle medallion in nickel silver is covered with a thick layer of approximately 30 mi of 24k gold. The guard, tubular rivet, and handle rivets are made of alpaca silver. The knife comes with a fully black leather sheath in a wooden box with clean and elegant lines. Although it is a limited edition, it is still in production. The reason it is considered a limited edition is its low production capacity, as it is entirely handmade. The blade is made of 3G powder steel, a vanadium and molybdenum steel that provides an excellent edge. Of course, the blade maintains the characteristic convex edge, something that only this manufacturer is capable of offering. Although the knife is mainly sold as a collector's item, its functionality is equal or superior: all our knives are designed to be fully operational, and that truly applies to the current F1 / 3Gmm and F1 / 3Gbm.

The first designs of the best-selling F1 were introduced in 1987, that is, 30 years ago. FMV / Aerospace commissioned Fällkniven to develop a new survival knife for Swedish military pilots, a truly exciting project. They began by developing numerous knives in a certain size range. The first premise was that the knife had to fit in the leg pocket of the pilots’ uniforms. But it also had to be strong, retain a sharp edge, have an ergonomic and comfortable shape, and be usable with wet or frozen hands. Additionally, it had to be capable of splitting wood, used for field medical procedures, and provide utility in battle, to name a few desirable properties. An impossible task? They tested a large number of knives in the field, both fixed-blade and folding knives, from most of the well-known and reputable manufacturers in the USA, Europe, and Japan. Surprisingly, none were up to the challenge! The main issue was the Swedish winter, which set the limits of what was possible. Regarding folding knives, they found them too weak and unreliable, especially when there was snow, ice, or dirt in the locking mechanism. Fixed-blade knives had cooling metal details in the handle that caused blisters or were designed in such a way that they did not provide a sufficiently secure grip. Given this, they decided to outline how a survival knife for pilots should be, which was a real challenge.

The knife had to be lightweight because if it were too heavy, it would tear the fabric of the leg pocket if the pilot were forced to eject from a crashing aircraft, enduring immense G-forces. Finally, the knife took shape and, interestingly, it closely resembled a hunting knife. But at Fällkniven, always keeping hunting in mind, they realized that this design allowed for unique functionality in this area, even if the hands were bloody, sweaty, or the fingers were cold or wet. To increase edge retention, they used a high-alloy corrosion-resistant steel from Hitachi Metal Corp. in Japan, a steel that Boeing's plant used for rotor blades in their massive aircraft engines. As usual, such ideas emerged from knife makers in the USA, where especially the now-deceased Robert W. Loveless, the greatest knife maker of all time, was the one who drove the development of finer steel knives.

Fällkniven’s founder had the pleasure of speaking with him in 1997. Among other things, Loveless mentioned that he had seen an F1 knife and liked what he saw. I asked him where he got his inspiration for designing his knives, and to my surprise, he said it came from Scandinavia! The answer astonished me, but he said he had always liked the simple and clean lines of Scandinavian knives and that had been the guiding star of his production. Bob Loveless passed away in September 2010, at the age of 81, but his design will live on for a long time: he is considered the one who introduced the “Drop Point” knife design, a design that hunters greatly appreciate.

In August 1995, Fällkniven AB was able to deliver several thousand knives to the Swedish Air Force. During the following year, the knife was introduced to the civilian market and led to viral success. As a result, the sale of other brands was discontinued, and they focused on designing, developing, manufacturing, and selling only their own knives. The F1 Pilot Survival Knife was the first production fixed-blade knife in the world equipped with special steel blades. Over the years, the F1 has been updated in terms of technical content, but the original design still remains.