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THE CUTTING EDGE OF SURVIVAL JULY 2007

MERCWORX EQUATORIAN Field Tested

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mercworx 10-14 10 2/19/07 10:31:08 PM
 qqqq
pp
qq BY ED SIEMON
E
ven 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,
qq
while the top edge is sharpened for 4 inches
from the tip. The blade width is 1.85 inches
mercworx 10-14 11
New for 2007 are
Mercworx’s upscale
Damascus bladed and
Mammoth ivory handled
collector versions of their
most popular models.
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.
TACTICAL KNIVES 11
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 The blade is made of S30V stainless steel,
cryogenically treated and hardened to RC The smooth, ergonometric
58. S30V stainless is an extremely tough handle fits the hand well,
martensitic stainless steel developed by giving just enough texture to
allow a secure grip without
Crucible Steel specifically for cutlery appli-
irritation or “hot spots.”
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 The Equatorian served as well as
Pepper” handle. At first, I admit to being a a light ax in cutting firewood.
bit put off by the unconventional shape, but
beauty is as beauty does. The handle consists

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 of olive green micarta scales fastened to the The broad blade works perfectly as an
full-width tang with a strong, silicon-based impromptu shovel, and “cat holes” for
adhesive. The silicon adhesive is more flex- wilderness sanitation were easily dug.
ible than epoxy and resists cracking brought
on by sudden temperature changes. Flared
metal tubes in the three transverse holes ever dead wood I could find produced no
in the handle serve as a backup. The Chili edge damage. To test the point strength,
Pepper shape features subdued finger I buried the tip into hardwood a quarter
grooves with a pronounced swell that rests, inch or so and then snapped it out side-
in my hand, between the gap in the second ways. The tip easily pried the wood up and
and third fingers. This swell gives you more did not bend or break. After a dozen or
purchase to prevent the hilt from twisting in so trials, I gave up trying to break it. The
the hand. large, integral hilt prevents the hand from
Another handle feature I particularly running over the blade.
like is the tapered and curved pommel, While not designed for use as a shovel,
somewhat similar in concept to the tradi- the broad flat blade is an efficient digger,
tional Spanish navaja-style folding knife. and cat holes were easily made. The flat
The pommel fits perfectly in the heel of the of the blade is also useful for pounding,
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”
q
“ q and large rocks can be easily pried out of
the ground to clear a sleeping space. The

For many tasks, there is no substitute for

a ‘BFK’ (Big Fearsome Knife), and this
is an exceptionally good one.
”
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 Edge

The 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 handle
made chopping a breeze, and the heavy
blade sailed through 1- to 2-inch-diameter
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 all
of your backcountry needs.
limbs with a few strokes. Maybe I could have
eventually cleared the campsite with the
saw on my Swiss Army Knife, but I’m glad I
didn’t 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” grind
makes for an extremely well-supported
edge, and rigorous whacking on what-
knife spent long hours in a wet sheath, and
received no maintenance besides an occa-
sional wipe-down.
Scotch Brite Polish
Back 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 in
taking care of your equipment, there may
come a time when your equipment has to
TACTICAL KNIVES 13

mercworx 10-14 13 2/19/07 9:14:33 PM

 take care of you. It’s 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 Gerber
diamond 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 somewhat—for 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 and
edge 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

FOR MORE INFORMATION

MERCWORX
(908) 619-1013
E-mail: info@mercworx.com
www.mercworx.com

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