he popularity of neck knives has
increased over the past decade.
TMany observers, however, have
opined that such blades lack any utility.
My team and I recently reviewed three
neckers with the focus on exactly that—
everyday utility.
After doing initial examinations to
see how sharp the knives were from
the factory, we put them to the test by
accompanying a friend who owns a
security alarm company and working
with him to install alarms. Our initial
sharpness test was to slice ripe tomatoes
and grapes. Forget about cutting paper
as a sharpness test. My daughter-in-law’s
$1.95 paring knife will cut paper. It will
not cut a wafer-thin slice from a grape
or a ripe tomato without squishing the
fruit. Each of the review neck knives
passed the wafer-slice test. Th at done,
we hung them around our necks and
headed out to job sites.
During a typical work day the tasks
we performed included cutting zip
ties and cord, slicing duct tape, cutting
through and trimming wall board, and
sharpening pencils. Pencil sharpening
(page 22) might seem frivolous for a
knife review, but sharpening pencils on
a job site with whatever knife is at hand
is a common occurrence. Many knives
have blunt bevels and will not sharpen a
pencil properly. Many are simply too dull. The three test knives, from top: Camillus Heater, Boker Magnum Challenger and CRKT Owlet.
Each of the test knives sharpened pencils
easily, slicing off thin curls of wood with
good control. In fact, none of the daily
BOKER MAGNUM
CHALLENGER
BLADE LENGTH: 2.125”
BLADE STEEL: 440A stainless
ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 56 HRC
BLADE WIDTH: .875”
BLADE THICKNESS: .1”
BLADE STYLE: Cleaver
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BLADE FINISH: Black
WEIGHT: 1.3 ozs.
OVERALL LENGTH: 4.75”
SHEATH: Black Kydex w/neck chain
Magnum
Boker
passed
Challenger
The
the
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China The Boker Magnum Challenger passed the no-squish testno-squish test
by wafer
by wafer-slicing a tomato nice and thin.
-slicing a tomato nice and thin.
MSRP: $29.95
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 51
EDC NECKERS |
CRKT OWLET
BLADE LENGTH: 2.18”
BLADE WIDTH: 1”
BLADE THICKNESS: .146”
BLADE STEEL: 8Cr13MoV stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BLADE FINISH: Black stonewash
HANDLE: 8Cr13MoV stainless
WEIGHT: 1.7 ozs.
OVERALL LENGTH: 4.5”
KNIFE TO KNOW: Built-in bottle opener
SHEATH: Glass-reinforced nylon
featuring a nylon neck cord w/slider
for emergency release
MSRP: $34.99
work-a-day tasks seriously challenged
any of the three knives.
Designed by RMJ T actical, the CRKT Owlet
Designed by RMJ Tactical, the CRKT Owlet
sharpened pencils easily, slicing off thinoff thin
sharpened pencils easily , slicing LONG, THIN & HANDSOME
curls of wood with good control.
curls of wood with good control.
The Boker Magnum Challenger has
the longest cutting edge of the test trio
and performed all cutting tasks easily.
Though the handle is a tad thin, it is
reasonably comfortable. Th e Challenger
is a handsome little knife and has the
CAMILLUS HEATER
BLADE LENGTH: 1.75”
BLADE STEEL: 440 stainless
ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 54 HRC
BLADE FINISH: Carbonitride-Titanium ®
bonding
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BLADE PATTERN: Spear
BLADE FINGER HOLE: 7/8” in
diameter
HANDLE: 440 stainless w/camo
paracord loop
KNIFE TO KNOW: Built-in bottle opener
OVERALL LENGTH: 4.5”
SHEATH: Molded synthetic w/clip
The
The author stated that cutting thin slices of grapes is a better test of and beaded chain
of
grapes
thin
slices
is
test
of
a
better
stated
author
cutting
that
sharpness than cutting paper, and the Carbonitride-Titanium -coated
sharpness than cutting paper , and the Carbonitride-T itanium ® ® -coated COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China
blade of the Camillus Heater accepted the challenge with no problem.
blade of the Camillus Heater accepted the challenge with no problem.
MSRP: $20.98
52 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
5,000-YEAR-OLD EDC
eyond work-a-day use, tiny fi xed
Bblades such as neck knives can be
used for bushcraft tasks. Otzi the Iceman,
a 5,000-year-old mummy discovered in
the Alps in 1991, made his entire outfi t,
clothing, bow, backpack frame, etc., with
a knife that had a 2.5-inch fl int blade.
I don’t have Otzi’s skills, but for some
years I have worn a 2-inch-blade neck
knife via a dog-tag chain. With it, while
demonstrating such skills for students,
I’ve made field-expedient bows, arrows,
atlatls and spears. I’ve split bone for
needles and fishhooks, cut scrap skins
into usable thongs and split various plant
stems to make cord. I’ve also used the little
blade to make fish traps from discarded
plastic water bottles and to dress fi sh and
small game for cooking. Most of the time
I don’t even notice it’s there under my
shirt—until I need it. I have other knives,
but it’s a comfort to always have that little
sliver of steel.
Yes, neck knives work.—by James
Morgan Ayres
appearance of having been scaled down
from a larger model.
The cleaver-style blade did not
penetrate as well as the other two review
knives’ pointed patterns. As a result, we
usually turned to one of the other blades
to punch through wallboard. We found
that the Challenger’s relatively long
edge paid off when trimming wallboard
or reaming out a hole for cables. The
The CRKT Owlet excelled atat
The CRKT Owlet excelled
penetrating wallboard.
penetrating wallboard.
D A VID E LLIS
DAVID ELLIS
Abs Mastersmith - Purveyor - 760-945-7177
[email protected] - www.exquisiteknives.com
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 53
EDC NECKERS |
sheath was secure and hangs from a side only. The unsharpened edge is,
dog-tag-like chain. nonetheless, fairly sharp. When pressing
down on the false edge with my thumb
DIMINUTIVE DAGGER to cut through wallboard, it was quite
The Camillus Heater is an interesting, uncomfortable. Even so, I like the design
eye-catching little blade in that it looks and found that the diminutive dagger-
like a tiny dagger. A black fi nish adds like blade performed well. If you need a
to the visual appeal. However, listed as small dagger, it would be relatively easy
a spear-point pattern in the Camillus to sharpen the other edge.
specs, the blade is sharpened on one Even with only one edge sharpened,
Zip ties fell quickly to the
Zip ties fell quickly to the
of
relatively long edge of the
relatively
the
long
edge
Boker Magnum Challenger. .
Boker Magnum Challenger
the dagger profile proved good at
penetration. Its full 1.75 inches punched
through drywall with ease. Th e fi nger
hole provided a secure grip for cutting
or thrusting. The bottle opener is
unobtrusive and worked well, which
was appreciated by all. In addition to the
neck chain, similar to a dog-tag chain,
the sheath has a clip, a feature we liked
very much in that it provided more carry
options.
MINI CHEF’S KNIFE?
The CRKT Owlet is nicely proportioned
with a comfortable handle, bottle
opener, good point and adequate
working edge. The stonewash finish is
very attractive. Clearly designed as a
neck knife, it was my team’s favorite,
4857 South Orange Blossom Trail 407-855-8075 though by a small margin.
Orlando, Florida 32839 The point penetrated wallboard with
NEW 80 ANNIVERSARY CATALOG – PRICE $2.00 scant effort and the edge was sharp
TH
INTL. MAILING – CATALOG US $6.00 http://www.randallknives.com
With the sheath pulling double duty
W ith the sheath pulling double duty
Camillus
as a handle, the Camillus HeaterHeater
a
as
the
handle,
opened bottles comfortably .
opened bottles comfortably.
54 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
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HAWKINS KNIFE MAKING SUPPLIES
such
jobs
as
Delicate jobs such as tape cutting
cutting
tape
Delicate
of
edge
showcased
showcased the sharp edge of thethe
sharp
the
Boker Magnum Challenger..
Boker Magnum Challenger 110 BUCKEYE RD., FAYETTEVILLE, GA 30214
PHONE 770-964-1023
enough to easily cut double-thick zip
ties, and, thanks to the well-designed Contact us for your
handle, did so comfortably. Th e dropped
edge, sort of like a mini-chef’s knife, Knifemaking Supplies and Equipment!
helped when working on a flat or nearly
flat surface—for example, when cutting www.HawkinsKnifeMakin Supplies.com
through cable secured to a wall.
Send $2.00 for Complete Listing • ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
The sheath comes with a nylon cord
and a slider designed to release the cord
if it snags on something, thereby avoiding
an injury. Our example released two out
of three times. I prefer a dog-tag chain or AMERICAN BLADESMITH SOCIETY
a thin buckskin cord designed to break
before it can cause injury. In Cooperation With
Texarkana College
VIABLE ALTERNATIVES
We took turns using the test knives during 2500 N. Robison Road
two work days. We agreed that they are
viable alternatives to folders and perhaps Texarkana, Texas
handier. They are superior to razor-blade
utility knives because they’re stronger 2020 Spring Bladesmithing Schedule
and have good, usable points. In fact,
the knives’ points and edges withstood
twisting in drywall and some fairly rough CLASS DATE INSTRUCTOR
treatment without damage.
Intro to Bladesmithing January 6-17 Potier & Williams
Editor’s note: Be sure to follow all pertinent Intro to Bladesmithing February 17-28 Tomberlin & Williams
laws in your area concerning concealed Damascus March 2-6 Marks
knife carry.
Handles & Guards March 9-13 Williams
For the contact information for the knives Intro to Bladesmithing April 13-24 Crowell & Cook
in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
page 64. Spring Hammer-In April 18-19 Williams, Director*
Bladesmithing Lab June 25-27 Williams
For the latest knives, knife news, trends
and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s For more class or registraƟon informaƟon, contact Madeleine Russell at 903-
popular Instagram page @blade_ 823-3014. ABS Contact: Mike Williams, 580-420-3051 or hfor e@ ine-
magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter. net.com. *To register online for hammer-in: www.americanbladesmith.com
(click store).
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 55
SHOW CALENDAR | BY BLADE STAFF
®
Note: Events with an asterisk (*) have knives and knife accessories as the main/sole focus. Events with two asterisks (**) are
knifemaking seminars or symposiums, cutting competitions, auctions or other knife-related events.
JANUARY MARCH 21 LITTLE ROCK, AR Arkansas com, Facebook: MasonDixonKnifeClub.*
Custom Knife Show, Statehouse Convention
JAN. 18-19 KINGMAN, AZ Pioneer Coun- Center. For more information call 870-279-7329 APRIL 25-26 MISSOULA, MT Montana Knifemak-
er’s Association 25th Annual Custom Knife Show &
try Events Gun & Knife, Coins and Collect- or visit arknife.com.*
Sale, Grizzly Harley-Davidson. Call Nancy 406-728-
ibles Show, Mohave County Fairgrounds. Visit MARCH 27-28 DALTON, GA Dalton Geor- 2861 or Rick 406-721-6903.*
pioneercountryevents.com.
gia Knife Roadshow, Northwest Georgia Trade
JAN. 21-24 LAS VEGAS, NV The 42nd Shooting, and Convention Center. Contact J Bruce Voyles MAY
Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, Sands Auctioneers and Appraisers, attn.: Bruce Voyles
Expo and Convention Center. For the trade only. 423-238-6753 [email protected], MAY 1-2 GREER, SC Palmetto Cutlery Club Show,
Visit https://www.lasvegashowto.com/shot-show-las- jbrucevoyles.com.* Greer Recreation Center. Contact Randy Wooten
vegas for more information. 864-915-0788 [email protected], palmettocut-
MARCH 27-28 GODFREY, IL Bunker Hill leryclub.org.*
JAN. 24-25 LAS VEGAS, NV Las Vegas Custom Knife Club Show, Alton-Wood River Sports-
Knife Show, Palace Station Hotel & Casino. For more men’s Club. Contact Tim Bryant 618-531-0011 MAY 2 BOISE, ID Nordic Knives Invitational
information visit fiftyfiftyproductions.net/las-vegas- [email protected].* Custom Knife Show, Grove Hotel. For more infor-
custom-knife-show-info.* mation call Dave Harvey at 208-202-2913 or visit
MARCH 27-28 HAMPTONVILLE, NC Tar Heel nordicknives.com/pages/nordic-knives-invitational-
JAN. 25-26 ST. LOUIS, MO Gateway Area Knife Cutlery Club Show, Yadkin VFW Building. Visit knife-show.*
Club, Carpenters Hall. Contact Steve Markus Tar-Heel-Cutlery-Club on Facebook.*
314-795-4262 [email protected], gakc.org.* MAY 2-3 GROTON, CT The 39th Annual NCCA
MARCH 27-29 JANESVILLE, WI Badger Knife Extravaganza Knife Show, Mystic Marriott. Contact
JAN. 31-FEB. 2 LAKELAND, FL The 42nd Larry Clifford 401-742-6779 [email protected].*
Annual Gator Cutlery Club Custom, Modern Club Knife Show, Holiday Inn Express. Contact
& Antique Knife Show, RP Funding Center Bob Schrap 414-479-9765 badgerknifeclub@aol. MAY 16-17 MASSILLON, OH Western Reserve
(formerly Lakeland Center). Contact Dan Piergal- com, badgerknifeclub.com.* Cutlery Show, Knights of Columbus. Contact Mike
lini 813-754-3908 or 813-967-1471 coolnifedad@ MARCH 30-APRIL 1 HARRISONBURG, VA Lancia 330-388-5410 [email protected].*
wildblue.net, gatorcutlery.com.* Shenandoah Valley Knife Show 2020, Rocking- MAY 18 CHICAGO Damasteel Chef Invitational
ham County Fairgrounds. Visit https://www.expo- Chicago 2020, Town Cutler Store. For more informa-
FEBRUARY hour.com/shenandoah-valley-knife-show.* tion call +46 293 306 00, e-mail [email protected],
or visit damasteel.se/damasteel-chef-invitational/,
FEB. 2 SIDNEY, NY Sidney Gun & Knife Show, Elks Instagram: @damasteelab, Hashtags: #DCI2020,
Lodge. Contact Sandy Ackerman 607-748-1010 or APRIL
visit midstatearmscollectors.com. APRIL 3-4 FORT WORTH, TX International Facebook: Damasteel Chef Invitational.*
FEB. 8-9 VENICE, FL Venice Gun & Knife Show, Custom Cutlery Exposition 2020 (ICCE), Stockyard JUNE
Venice Community Center, hosted by Florida Gun Station, Stampede Room, Hyatt Place Hotel. For
Expo. Contact Florida Gun Expo 305-922-3677 flori- more information contact ICCE, Dept. BL2, POB JUNE 5-7 ATLANTA, GA The 39th Annual
[email protected], floridagunexpo.com. 1461, Addison, TX 75001 972-839-1609 info@icce- BLADE Show, Cobb Galleria Centre, I-285 & US
show.com, icceshow.com.* 41, one exit off I-75 across from the Cumber-
FEB. 15 NASHVILLE, TN Tactical Knife Invita- land Mall, adjacent to the Renaissance Waverly
tional, The Cannery Ballroom. For more informa- APRIL 3-5 MCCALLA, AL The 32nd Annual Hotel. World’s largest show of handmade, factory
tion call 417-866-6688 or visit fiftyfiftyproductions. Batson Bladesmithing Symposium & Knife and antique knives. A combined total of nearly
net/tactical-knife-invitational.* Show, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State 1,000 exhibitor tables and booths. Join the world’s
Park. For more information contact Jim Batson
FEB. 22 BREA, CA California Knifemakers Associa- greatest national and international knifemakers,
[email protected].* **
tion Custom Knife Show, Brea Community Center. cutlery manufacturers, collectors, collections and
Visit Calknives.org, [email protected], Instagram: APRIL 4-5 TULSA, OK Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms knife lovers. Site of the BLADE Magazine 2020
@calknives and Facebook: calknives.* Show, Tulsa Fairgrounds. Contact mail@tulsaarms- Knife Of-The-Year® Awards for factory knives, the
show.com, 918-492-0401 [email protected], BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© induc-
FEB. 22-23 LEWISBURG, PA The 32nd Annual
tulsaarmsshow.com. tions and much more. Host to BLADE University,
Keystone Blade Association Knife Show, Country the annual ABS meeting and more. Seminars
Cupboard Inn. Contact Arthur Fryling, Dept. APRIL 18 HONOLULU, HI Hawaii Custom Knife include the BLADE Show World Championship
BL2, 248 Central Rd., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 & Tactical Show. Contact James Seto 808-398-0208 Cutting Competitions, how to use, how to make,
570-204-1544.* [email protected]. youth clubs, etc. Contact BLADE®, c/o Alicia
APRIL 18-19 TEXARKANA, TX American Blade- Newton [email protected].* **
MARCH smith Society Spring Hammer-In, Texarkana
College. Contact ABS master smith Mike Williams JULY
MARCH 6-7 TROY, OH Spirit of the Blade 580-420-3051 [email protected].**
Custom Knife Show, Miami Co. Fairgrounds JULY 25-26 WASHINGTON, MO The 4th Annual
Duke Lund Guard Building. Contact maplewood- APRIL 18-19 EUGENE, OR The 43rd Annual AIK Summer Knife Show, Elks Lodge. Call 618-656-
[email protected].* Oregon Knife Collectors Association Show, 9868 or email [email protected].*
Exhibit Hall, Lane Events Center and Fair-
MARCH 6-9 NURNBERG, GERMANY The IWA grounds. Contact Dennis Ellingsen 541-484-5564 JULY 27-AUG. 7 CLYDE, NC American Bladesmith
OutdoorClassics 2020, Exhibition Centre. For the
[email protected].* Society’s Intro To Bladesmithing Class, Haywood
trade only. Visit https://www.iwa.info/en. College. Contact ABS Coordinator Ken Hall
APRIL 18-19 EASTON, PA Lehigh Valley Knife
MARCH 16-27 CLYDE, NC American Bladesmith Show, Charles Chrin Community Center. Contact 828-400-7815 [email protected].**
Society’s Intro To Bladesmithing Class, Haywood Bill Goodman 484-241-6176 goodknives@good-
College. Contact ABS Coordinator Ken Hall AUGUST
mancpa.com.*
828-400-7815 [email protected].**
APRIL 24-25 WILLIAMSPORT, MD Mason- AUG. 14-15 LEXINGTON, KY Central Kentucky
MARCH 19-22 CLYDE, NC American Bladesmith Dixon Knife Club 2-Day Knife Show, NEW Knife Club 2020 Knife Show, Clarion Hotel Conven-
Society’s Smoky Mountain Hammer-In, Haywood LOCATION Williamsport Red Men Club. tion Center. Contact Kathy Litton 502-863-1840
College. Contact ABS Coordinator Ken Hall [email protected].*
Contact Bill Crilley 717-404-8766 crill9@hotmail.
828-400-7815 [email protected].**
56 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
2019 Knife Collaboration of the Year Winner!
An exceptional backwoods (or EDC) companion
AUG. 18-20 DENVER, CO Professional Knife-
makers Association’s Denver Custom Knife Show, LARS FÄLT LOCK BACK
Crowne Plaza Denver. Visit https://www.expohour. KS17004 - MSRP: $190
com/denver-custom-knife-show BÖHLER N690 STEEL
SCANDI GROUND
AUG. 22-23 BELLEVILLE, IL Gun & Knife Show,
Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Expo Center. Call CURLY BIRCH SCALES
618-495-2572 or visit https://bcfairgrounds.net/ 7”OVERALL
event/gun-knife-show-4/. 4 1/8”CLOSED
3”BLADE
AUG. 29 SAN FRANCISCO Damasteel Chef 4”HANDLE
Invitational San Francisco 2020, San Francisco JUST 4 OZ
Cooking School. For more information call +46
293 306 00, e-mail [email protected], or visit
damasteel.se/damasteel-chef-invitational/, Insta- Visit our website for more details http://casiberia.com/ - Or call us at (800) 635-9366 - Dealer inquiries welcome
gram: @damasteelab, Hashtags: #DCI2020, Face-
book: Damasteel Chef Invitational.*
SEPTEMBER
SEPT. 3-5 LAS VEGAS, NV The 12th Annual
Gathering of the Usual Suspect Network, Trad-
ers’ Cove, Planet Hollywood. For more informa-
tion contact The USN Gathering, Inc., Dept. BL2,
14216 SW 136th St., Miami, FL 33186 305-255-
9176 ext. 215 [email protected],
usngathering.com.*
OCTOBER
OCT. 2-4 PORTLAND, OR The 3rd Annual
BLADE Show West, Oregon Convention Center.
The latest in custom and factory knives, awards
for same, 2nd Annual Chef’s Knife Cutting Cham-
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information visit bladeshowwest.com and/or
contact bladeshow.com.* **
OCT. 24-25 GARDEN GROVE, CA California
Custom Knife Show, Embassy Suites-Anaheim CHAD NICHOLS DAMASCUS
South. Contact info@californiacustomknifeshow.
com 888-473-2661 californiacustomknifeshow.com.*
NOVEMBER High carbon, high contrast Damascus
Stainless Damascus
NOV. 14-15 TULSA, OK Wanenmacher’s Tulsa
Arms Show, Tulsa Fairgrounds. Contact mail@ Mosaic Damascus
tulsaarmsshow.com, 918-492-0401 mail@tulsaa-
rmsshow.com, tulsaarmsshow.com. Mokume
NOV. 20-21 JERSEY CITY, NJ New York Custom Large quantities and wholesale
Knife Show, The Westin Jersey City Newport, pricing available
Newport Ballroom. For more information visit
fiftyfiftyproductions.net.*
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FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 57
LOCKBACK EDCS | BYDEXTEREWINGBLADE FIELDEDITOR
®
IMAGES BY MARTY STANFIELD, MARTY STANFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY
CUT
WITH
FOR KNIVES YOU CAN RELY ON,
CARRY ONE OF THE LATEST LOCKBACKS
EDC lockbacks, from left: Cold Steel
EDC lockbacks, from left: Cold Steel
Case
Ranger
Lite,
Cheetah,
V
Bush Ranger Lite, Case Cheetah, V
Bush
Nives Rocky and SOG Salute Mini.
Nives Rocky and SOG Salute Mini.
58 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
ockbacks are some of the old-
est locking-blade folders extant.
LBefore the linerlock, the AXIS™
Lock, the Compression Lock®, the fra-
melock and more, there were lockbacks.
Operating off a lever principle, the
lockback has a spring bias that places
a tooth in the end of the bar into a
corresponding notch in the tang,
which in turn prevents the blade from
inadvertently folding closed. Th e release
or lockbar is situated at the rear of the
handle, though some lockbacks have the
release in the middle* for ease of one-
hand closing. Lockbacks appear more
in the outdoor, hunting and EDC folder
genres and rarely in today’s tactical
models. They cost less to manufacture
than most other locks as well.
FEATURE CREATURE
SOG’s Salute line of lockbacks exhibits
several hallmarks of modern tactical
folders: one-hand opening, pocket-clip
carry, a textured black G-10 handle and
a bead-blasted blade finish. Th e new
Salute Mini shrinks the Salute down
to a nice EDC size while retaining the
features that make SOG tactical folders
The wharncliffe blade of the V Nives Rocky excels at scoring famous. The 3-inch clip-point blade
materials such as linoleum. The defi ned point cuts with authority is 8Cr13MoV stainless steel and holds
and the straight edge is easy to sharpen.
an edge well while remaining easy to
sharpen in the fi eld. The clip point’s
defined blade tip makes it good for
scoring and penetrating.
A notable feature is the ambidextrous
thumb stud that sits inside an oblong
slot in the blade. The setup enables
you to position the stud to personalize
the opening action to your taste. Th e
stud has a slot you can loosen/tighten
with a flathead screwdriver. You can
position the stud anywhere within the
slot and torque it down, personalizing
the opening action of the knife to your
liking. I know of the feature on no other
knife of the type.
The heavy-duty handle has two
stainless steel liners with a textured
black G-10 handle. The SOG logo is
machined into both sides. Scallops
cut into various areas of the liners
The thumb stud of the SOG Mini Salute has a slot promote a nonslip grip. A deep-carry
that loosens and/or tightens with a small fl athead clip sports the SOG logo. I’d like to see
screwdriver. You can position the stud anywhere a more plain-looking clip used as the
in the slot and torque it down, personalizing the
opening action of the knife to your liking. cutouts that form the SOG logo may
compromise the clip’s durability.
Another Salute Mini feature—it’s on
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 59
LOCKBACK EDCS |
the Salute, too—I would like to see more
manufacturers execute is the gimping
on the lockbar release. This ensures a
secure purchase when unlocking and
works very well even while wearing
work gloves. The blade opens with
either hand easily.
While the Mini’s 4-inch-closed size
makes it a breeze to carry on a daily
basis, the size can be a drawback for
extended use. I would prefer a bit more
handle to boost comfort. However, for
occasional use, the Mini is pretty much
all you need. The MSRP is $32.95 in the
bead-blasted blade and $35.95 in black.
“A NOTABLE FEATURE IS
THE AMBIDEXTROUS
THUMB STUDS THAT SIT
INSIDE AN OBLONG SLOT
IN THE BLADE.”
—THE AUTHOR
Seatbelts are no match for the Cold Steel
Bush Ranger Lite.
LITE up YOUR KNIFE
Cold Steel’s Bush Ranger Lite offers
the same great blade shape and handle
ergonomics of the company’s higher-
end Bush Ranger folder, but is more
budget friendly. The Bush Ranger is
a rough-use folding hunter based on
the company’s long discontinued Bush
Ranger fixed blade, and features CPM
S35VN stainless steel and brown G-10
scales. MSRP: $224.99. The Bush Ranger
Lite offers the same rugged design but
8Cr13MoV stainless steel and molded
glass-reinforced nylon (GRN) scales.
MSRP: $49.95.
There are other differences between
the two folders, including blade-
opening methods—a thumb disc for the
Bush Ranger and dual thumb studs for
the Lite, and Cold Steel’s proprietary
Tri-Ad Lock for the former and a
standard rocker-bar lockback for the
latter. There’s also a sliding safety switch
on the Lite, which remains a contender
New, for the Case Cheetah at least, is the for a heavy-duty folding hunter—and is
handle material of “black and white fi ber,”
which is somewhat akin to carbon fi ber. the knife tested herein. The wide clip-
point blade is thick enough to withstand
hard use and ground to a thin cutting
60 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
edge with plenty of bite. The large dual
thumb studs allow sure purchase with
either hand for smooth opening action.
The studs are also large enough to be
manipulated while wearing gloves.
The OD green handle feels rigid
and solid. A stippled surface texture
provides a secure, nonslip grip without
being overly aggressive. The Lite carries
blade tip up and the pocket clip is
ambidextrous. Rounded contours make
the handle user friendly, reducing hot
spots and promoting comfort over
extended use.
Th e blade opens and locks with a
crisp, assuring thwack. As a result you’ll
probably never need the safety, though
it’s nice to have just in case. Th e 3.5-
inch blade offers a good balance of edge
retention and sharpening ease.
With its various curves, the handle
feels as if it were made for your hand.
Flat grinds make the wharncliffe blade of the
Big, rounded and contoured—which
V Nives Rocky an excellent slicer, penetrating
is one reason why it feels so good—it and cleaving through a variety of materials.
consumes a lot of room in a pocket.
Hence, you might want to consider an
aftermarket belt sheath. For enhanced
control, I also might suggest to Cold
Steel a run of gimping on the blade
spine where your thumb or index finger
falls to place more pressure. KNIFE AND GUN FINISHING SUPPLIES
The Lite easily handled all that I
asked of it. From cutting food to hoses Order Line Customer Service
to webbing straps, it is a great worker 1-800-972-1192 928-537-8877
and a hard-use lockback that holds up
Stabilizing – - Our Specialty since 1990
with the best of them.
NICE KITTY B Blades Guards Handles Solder Books Adhesives
One of the latest iterations of the
Case Cheetah swing-guard lockback
How To Grinders Belts DC Etching Buffers
offers the convenience of a lock-blade
DVD’s Motors Machines
folder and the look of a traditional
pocketknife. While the Cheetah itself
Buffs Horn Ivory Bone Flitz Scribes
is not new, its appearance in the handle
material in question is. The knife is in Screws Taps Drills Sheaths Pommels Rivets
the company’s Black and White Fiber
Series, which features handles of a Stabilized Knife Hermes Steel & 416 1080
composite weave material somewhat Wood Cases Abrasives Blades Stainless Steel
akin to carbon fiber. According to
Case, the material is used in automotive CM 154 440C 1095 D2 Pure
applications where a strength-to-
Powdered Nickel
weight ratio is desired. Its large fi ber
Steel
strands are in black-and-white pattern
variations, which form a lightweight
yet firm handle material suitable for
pocketknives. 1972 Forest Ave www.knifeandgun.com
The swing-guard lockback has been Lakeside AZ 85929 [email protected]
around a long time. One reason the
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 61
LOCKBACK EDCS |
pattern is so revered is its timeless old-
school lines. Two metal quillons riveted
to the blade tang pivot to form a cross
guard when the knife is opened. Th e
guard is small but effective at preventing
your hand from slipping onto the blade.
As you close the blade, the guard pivots
and returns to its resting state, tucked
in out of the way so as not to snag on
anything.
With a 3-inch blade and 4-inch
closed length, the knife is a bit big to
carry in the bottom of a pocket and
would thus benefit from the addition
of a pocket clip. Blade steel is Case’s
Tru-Sharp stainless (420 HC) in a
Gimping on the lockbar release of the SOG Salute mirror polish, and the blade is ground
Mini ensures secure purchase when unlocking, and thin for sharpening ease. Th e lockback
works very well even while wearing work gloves.
mechanism engages with a crisp click.
The bolsters are polished nickel silver.
The handle has a diamond-shaped
shield with the company logo. Case
makes a belt sheath that will fi t the
Cheetah. MSRP: $93.99.
“ONE REASON THE PATTERN
IS SO REVERED IS ITS TIME-
LESS OLD-SCHOOL LINES.”
—THE AUTHOR
The wide clip-point blade of the Cold Steel Bush
Ranger Lite is thick enough to withstand hard use and
ground to a thin cutting edge with plenty of bite.
KNOCKOUT KNIFE
The Rocky is one of V Nives’ best
users. It is your typical working
lockback with a lightweight handle
of FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon),
ambidextrous one-hand opening and
pocket clip. The 3-inch wharncliffe
blade is D2 for the tool steel’s enhanced
performance characteristics and
toughness. A PVD coating provides
corrosion resistance and reduces
glare. The wharncliffe’s straight edge
makes it easy to sharpen, and the point
pierces and scores well. If you don’t like
wharncliffes, V Nives has you covered
with the Rocky 2—same handle design
but with a modified clip-point blade.
MSRP for either version: $59.95.
The Case Cheetah is built for work but elegant The ergonomic handle has two curves
enough for everyday carry. Opening mail, that seem to adhere to your palm. The
packages or cutting cardboard—it’s up to the task. surface has extra deep, wide grooves
in a random pattern that sheds water,
62 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
If you don’t like wharncliffes, V Nives has
e
you covered with the Rocky 2—same handle
design but with a modified clip-point blade.
The pocket clip is wider than normal to
withstand springing out of shape, and a
rippled pattern assists in retrieving the knife
e
by providing a non-slip surface to grab onto.
dirt and mud, and accommodates your *Editor’s note: Lockbacks with the lock
hand wet or dry. The result is a tough in the middle are also called front locks.
handle that withstands daily beating Knifemakers W.T. Fuller and Harvey
and is user friendly and non-slip. McBurnette made such knives circa
The ambidextrous pocket clip carries 1980, if not before. Meanwhile, BLADE
blade tip up. It is wider than normal to Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame®
withstand springing out of shape, and a member Sal Glesser mentioned seeing
rippled pattern assists in retrieving the a “mid-lockback” made by Boker that
knife by providing a non-slip surface to dated to 1905.
grab onto.
The blade deploys simply with either For more on the lockbacks in the story,
hand, even with work gloves. Th e see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 64.
wharncliff e’s flat grinds make the blade
an excellent slicer, penetrating and For the latest knives, knife news, trends
cleaving through a variety of materials. and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
Cardboard, webbing straps, even wire popular Instagram page @blade_
stripping—the effi cient blade geometry magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
handles it all.
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 63
WHERE TO GET ’EM |
14 CUTS ABOVE P. 12 Harbor City, CA 90710 310-539-5633 www.
Jens Anso, Dept. BL2, GL. Skanderborgvej emersonknives.com, [email protected];
116, Sporup, DENMARK 8472, Phone: 45 Spyderco, attn: J. Laituri, Dept. BL2, 820 Spy-
86968826, [email protected]; Web: www. derco Way, Golden, CO 80403 800-525-7770
ansoknives.com; Arizona Custom Knives, spyderco.com, [email protected]
attn.: A. McMichael, Dept. BL2, 150 Hilden
Rd., Ste. 315, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 904- WOODCARVERS P. 44
826-4178 arizonacustomknives.com; CAS Casstrom, c/o CAS Iberia, attn: B. Pogue, Dept.
Brothers, attn.: Claudio Sobral, Dept. BL2, BL2, 650 Industrial Blvd., Sale Creek, TN 37373-
Malabia 1364, Villa Ballester, CP1655, Argen- 9797 423.332.4700 [email protected],
tina [email protected], casknives.com; www.casiberia.com; Condor Tool & Knife, attn:
John Denton, c/o Bad Bob’s Knives, Dept. R. Jones, Dept. BL2, 7557 West Sand Lake Rd.
BL2, 703 Hiawassee Est. Dr., Hiawassee, GA #106, Orlando, FL 32819 407-458-9396 fax 407-
30546 706-781-8479 jwdenton@windstream. 458-9397 [email protected], condortk.com; Flexcut,
net, boblovelessknives.com; Dave Ellis, c/o attn.: M. Bain, Dept. BL2, 8105 Hawthorne Dr.,
Exquisiteknives.com, Dept. BL2, 770 Syca- Erie, PA 16509 800-524-9077 mbain@fl excut.
more Ave., Ste. 122, Box 451, Vista, CA 92083 com, fl excut.com; Smoky Mountain Knife
760-945-7177 [email protected]; Works, attn: T. Pipes, Dept. BL2, POB 4430,
www.exquisiteknives.com; Kevin Foster (see Sevierville, TN 37864 800-327-5871 or 865-
Sako Rouchanian); Alex Gev, Dept. BL2, blvd. 453-5871 www.smkw.com
“Osvobogdenie” 44, Kazanlak, 6100, Bulgaria
+359 887 429 652 or +359 889 313 627 info@ NECK KNIVES P. 50
ISSU alexgev-artmasater.com, alexgev-artmaster. Boker USA, attn: N. Nevins, Dept. BL2, 1550
com; Jonas Iglesias, Dept. BL2, 3783 Stuart
Balsam St., Lakewood, CO 80215 800-992-6537
On Most Newsstands St., Apopka, FL 32703 305-764-7907 igle- fax 303-462-0668 www.bokerusa.com; Camil-
[email protected]; Philippe Jourget, Dept.
lus, Dept. BL2, 55 Walls Dr. Suite 201, Fairfi eld,
By February 25 BL2, 252 Impasse de la Foire du Boi, Saint CT 06824 800-835-2263 camillusknives.com;
Jean-Soleymieux, 42560, France philippe-
CRKT, attn: M. May, Dept. BL2, 18348 SW 126th
[email protected]; Carlos Lopez, c/o Knife Place, Tualatin, OR 97062 800-891-3100 info@
Treasures, 10097 Cleary Blvd. Ste. #113, Ft. crkt.com, www.crkt.com
Lauderdale, FL 33324 954-520-1287 clopez@
knifetreasures.com; Sam Lurquin, Dept. BL2, LOCKBACKS P. 58
Hameau Du Bois, Hoyaux 10, 7133 Buvrinnes Case, attn: F. Feightner, Dept. BL2, 50 Owens
Belgique, Binches, BELGIUM, Phone: 0032- Way, Bradford, PA 16701 800-523-6350 CR@
• HOW TO BUY CUSTOM 478-349-051, [email protected]; Web: caseknives.com, www.wrcase.com; Cold
www.samuel-lurquin.com; Chad Nell, Dept.
KNIVES PART I BL2, 2424 E. 2070 S, St. George, UT 84790, Steel, attn.: Mike Barroca, Dept. BL2, 6060
Nicolle St., Ventura, CA 93003 800-255-4716
Phone: 435-229-6442, chad@nellknives. 805-642-9727 [email protected], www.
com; nellknives.com; Enrique Pena, Dept. coldsteel.com; SOG Specialty Knives & Tools,
• FISH HARPOONS/SPEARS BL2, 10504 New River Dr., Laredo, TX 78045 attn: Matt Crawford, Dept. BL2, 6521 212th St.
956-771-7749 [email protected]; Steve SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036-7411 425.771.6230
Randall, Dept. BL2, 3438 Oak Ridge Cir., [email protected], www.sogknives.
• SHARP GAME SHEARS Lincolnton, NC 28092, Phone: 704-472-4957, com; V Nives, attn.: M. Vellekamp, Dept. BL2,
[email protected]; Web: www.ksrblades.
9918 162nd St., Ct. E., Ste. 4, Puyallup, WA
com; Les Robertson, c/o Robertson’s Custom 98375 303-263-2468 https://vnives.com, info@
• FORGED SUB-HILTS Cutlery, [email protected], www. vnives.com [email protected]
robertsoncustomcutlery.com; Sako Roucha-
nian, c/o Recon 1, Dept. BL2, 17200 Ventura CARABINER CARRY P. 78
• CUSTOM COFFIN Blvd. Ste. #107, Encino, CA 91316 888-473- DPx Gear, attn: Lisa Pelton, Dept. BL2, 1041
2661 recon1.com, @recon1; Steel Addiction
Market St #619., San Diego, CA 92101 619-780-
HANDLES Custom Knives, Dept. BL2, attn: Dave Stark, 2600 888-233-3924 fax 619-780-2605 info@
2058 N. Mills Ave. #449, Claremont, CA 91711 dpxgear.com, dpxgear.com; Kershaw, c/o Kai
909-731-3903 www.SteelAddictionKnives. USA Ltd., attn: I. Forrest, Dept. BL2, 18600 SW
• BANK-VAULT com, [email protected]; Javier Vogt, Teton Ave., Tualatin, OR 97062 800-325-2891
Dept. BL2, 409 N 2915, Villa Elisa, Buenos
[email protected], www.kershawknives.com;
KNIFE LOCKS Aires 1894 Argentina [email protected] Lansky, attn: D. DiLorenzo, Dept. BL2, POB
50830, Henderson, NV 89016 716-877-7511
CHARITY KNIFE EFFORTS P. 36 fax 716-877-6955 www.lansky.com; Spyderco,
• CUSTOM EURO Benchmade USA, attn.: Matt Glass, Dept. BL2, attn: J. Laituri, Dept. BL2, 820 Spyderco Way,
PERIOD PIECES 300 Beavercreek Rd., Oregon City, OR 97045 Golden, CO 80403 800-525-7770 spyderco.
503.655.6004 or 800-800-7427 www.bench-
com, [email protected]
made.com, [email protected]; Buck Knives,
attn: S. Young, Dept. BL2, 660 S. Lochsa St., For the latest knives, knife news, trends and
Post Falls, ID 83854 800-326-2825 syoung@ more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular
buckknives.com, www.buckknives.com; Lucas Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on
Burnley, brnly.com, Facebook: burnleyknives, Facebook and Twitter.
Instagram: brnly_brand/; Emerson Knives, Inc.,
attn: E. Emerson, Dept. BL2, 1234 West 254th,
64 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
MARKETPLACE
For Advertising Information contact: Lori McDaniel, Advertising Sales
[email protected] | 715.498.3768
Advertising Deadlines: !PRIL issue – *ANUARY 2
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FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 65
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rgest selection in the orld of [email protected] JerzeeDevil
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ternet. Let us help you find t Wax/Polish, Dennis Blaine [email protected]
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w.bladeconnection.co www.faneemacutlery.com [email protected]
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evor@blade .com [email protected] [email protected]
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www.latama.com www.plazacutlery.com www.smokymountainknifeworks.com
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Spring Steel-Oil-Newsletter Randall, Reeve, Medford & others Sooner State Knives
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www.leescutlery.com [email protected]
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TO LIST YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE CONTACT:
LORI MCDANIEL:715-498-3768 • [email protected]
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
A H Q
A.G. Russell ...................................... 8 Halfbreed Blades Australia Pty Ltd. . 2 QSP Knife ......................................... 5
Admiral Steel/Terry Summers ........32 Hawkins Knifemaking Supplies ......55 R
American Bladesmith Society ........55 J Randall Made Knives .....................54
B Jantz Supply ...............................9, 33 Recon 1 ...........................................63
Blade Magazine ........................29, 39 K S
BladeGallery-Takefu Steel USA.....25 Kayne Custom Hardware dba Black- Sandrin Knives ................................21
Blue Ridge Knives ............................ 5 smith’s Depot ................................47 Smoky Mountain Knife Works .......... 7
Boker USA ................................14, 47 Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies .....61 Spartan Blades ...............................57
Buckeye Engraving-Steel Stamps .54 Knives Plus .....................................55 Spyderco, Inc ..................................32
C Krudo Knives ..................................65 T
CAS Iberia .......................................57 M TFS Knives .....................................65
Chris Reeve Knives ........................18 Masecraft Supply Co ......................42 TOPS Knives ..................................19
D MGE Wholesale ..............................17 Tormach, LLC .................................27
Damascus, Nichols .........................57 N Tru-Grit ............................................57
Dave Ellis/Exquisiteknives.com .....53 NC Tool Company ..........................24 True North Knives ...........................43
Davidson, Edmund .........................65 Niagara Specialty Metals.................. 8 V
Denton, John-Vintage Loveless .....65 Nordic Knives ..................................15 VZ Grips ..........................................35
Dozier Knives ..................................53 O W
E On Point Knives ..............................24 We Knife Co., Ltd ............................. 3
Evenheat Kiln, Inc. ..........................54 Ontario Knife Company ..................84 White, Gordon .................................65
F P
Fallkniven ........................................43 Pohl Force GmbH ...........................28
Fenixlight Limited ............................26 Pro Tech Knives .............................15
Flexcut .............................................83 PVK.COM .......................................11
Don’t Miss The Next The advertisers’ index is provided as a reader service. Occasional last-minute changes may result in ads
appearing on pages other than those listed here.The publisher assumes no liability for omissions or errors.
Lori McDaniel
Advertising Sales Issue Date Ad Deadline
715-498-3768 April 2020 January 29, 2020
Magazine
ORDER YOUR ADVERTISING TODAY! [email protected] May 2020 February 26, 2020
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 67
WHAT’S NEW | BY BLADE STAFF
®
KNIFE NAME: The Alzheimer’s Fight MODEL NAME: Adaha Knife
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed-blade fighter KNIFE TYPE: EDC folder
BLADE LENGTH: 9” BLADE LENGTH: 3.43”
BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel w/haamon BLADE STEEL: 420 stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Harpoon BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
HANDLE: Stabilized bog oak and big lea af
maple, ivory G-10 liners and spacers, b brass BLADE GRIND: Hollow
pins and mosaic center pin w/maker’s logo BLADE THUMB STUDS: Ambidextrous
OVERALL LENGTH: 14” HANDLE: Textured wood w/integral single
KNIFE TO KNOW: Knife was made for t the guard, pocket clip and lanyard hole
Greater East Ohio Alzheimer’s Associa ation LOCK: Linerlock
2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s; the maker CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5”
auctioned it on Instagram and Facebook MSRP: $28.99
and raised over $2,000, which went directly COMPANY: Smith’s Consumer Products Inc.,
attn: C. Shaw or R. Dukes, Dept. BL2
to the Alzheimer’s Association attn: C Shaw or R Dukes Dept BL2, 747
R 71913-
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR R Mid-America Blvd., Hot Springs, AR
KNIFE: $950 8414 501-321-2244 or 800-22 1-4156
MAKER: Jesse Miller, Jesse Miller Made e sales@smithsproduc ts.com,
s.com
Custom Works, Dept. BL2, 1784 County y smithsproducts
Rd. 144, Sugarcreek, OH 44681
330-260-1060 jessemillermade@
gmail.com, Instagram/Facebook: @
jessemillermade/Jesse Miller Made
Custom Works (SharpByCoop image)
KNIFE MODEL NO.: 4062RD
KNIFE TYPE: Folding Hunter
KNIFE MODEL: Bird & Trout DESIGNER: Bob Dozier
Keyhole Hunter BLADE LENGTH: 3”
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE STEEL: AUS 8A stainless
BLADE LENGTH: 4” ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 56-58 HRC C
BLADE STEEL: 1084 carbon BLADE THICKNESS: .11”
HANDLE: Gaboon ebony BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BOLSTER: 316 stainless steel BLADE WIDTH: .875”
OVERALL LENGTH: 8.5” HANDLE: Red Zytel w/reversible
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR KNIF FE AS pocket clip and a hole for a lanyard
SHOWN: $850 LOCK: Lockback
KNIFE TO KNOW: The maker is a an apprentice WEIGHT: 2.4 ozs.
smith in the American Bladesmi ith Society CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25”
CONTACT: Andrew Geaslin, Grumpy Crow Forge, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan
Dept. BL2, 10 Swiss Ln., Wolcott, CT 06716 MSRP: $32.08
203-910-3915 grumpycrowforge@protonmail. COMPANY: KA-BAR, attn: J.
@
com, Instagram: @grumpycrowforge Bradley, Dept. BL2, 200 Homer
(SharpByCoop image) St., Olean, NY 14760 800.282.0130 fax
716-790-7188 www.ka-bar.com, info@
ka-bar.com
68 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
KNIFE MODEL: A1x
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade
KNIFE PATTERN: Figh hter BLADE LENGTH: 6.34”
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed bla ade BLADE MATERIAL: Laminated CoS sta ainless
BLADE STEEL: Mosaic c damascus steel
BLADE PATTERN: Clip ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 60 HRC
HANDLE: Ancient walr rus ivory in a BLADE THICKNESS: .28”
dropped design w/“S” guard BLADE FINISH: Satin
FITTINGS: Gun blued HANDLE: Thermorun synthetic over full-tang
KNIFE TO KNOW: Inlay ys and maker’s construction w/integral single guard; hole
mark in 24k gold in the butt for a lanyard
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A WEIGHT: 14.14 ozs.
SIMILAR KNIFE AND SHEATH: OVERALL LENGTH: 11.18”
Contact maker for info ormation SHEATH: Locking
MAKER: Kyle Royer, Dept. BL2, MSRP: $472.95
9021 State Hwy. M, Clever, COMPANY: Fallkniven, attn: E.
MO 65631 417-247-557 72 Hjortberger, Dept. BL2, Granatvagen
royerknifeworks@liv ve.com, 8, S-961 23 Boden, Sweden VAT #
kyleroyerknives.com (Caleb SE556494-8684-01, P +46 (0) 921
Royer image) 544 22 [email protected], www.
fallkniven.com
KNIFE NAME: Anthropos
KNIFE TYPE: Folder
DESIGNER: Elijah Isham
BLADE LENGTH: 3.25”
BLADE MATERIAL: Chinese damascus s
ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-61 HRC
BLADE GRIND: Flat
BLADE THICKNESS: .12”
MODEL L NAME: Helix HANDLE: G-10 w/carbon fiber overlay,
KNIFE TYPE: Dress locking folder reversible stainless steel clip and G-10
BLADE E LENGTH: 3.25” backspacer
BLADE E STEEL: AEB-L stainless HANDLE THICKNESS: .47”
HANDLE FRAME: Titanium LOCK: Linerlock
E FRAME T
HANDLE MATERIAL: Marble carbon fiber LINERS: Stainless
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25” PIVOT BALL BEARINGS: Stainless stee el
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: WEIGHT: 3.28 ozs.
Contact maker for information CLOSED LENGTH: 4.15”
MAKER: Jeremy Krammes, Dept. BL2, 138 W. MSRP: $115
Penn St., Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 570- COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China
617-5753 [email protected], jkknives.com, COMPANY: We Knife, attn.: Angel or Joe, Dept.
Instagram/Facebook: jeremykrammes_knives/ BL2, Yangdong, Yangjiang, Guangdong, 529500,
Jeremy Krammes (SharpByCoop image) China 86 662 6624678 weknife.com, sales@
weknife.com
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 69
WHAT’S NEW |
KNIFE NAME: Duke 1988 Bird & Trout Knife KNIFE NAME: Tactical Kukri
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade
BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE LENGTH: 10.5”
BLADE STEEL: 440C stainless BLADE STEEL: 80CrV2 carbon
BLADE FINISH: Mirror polished ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 58-60 HRC
BLADE THICKNESS: 1/8” (tapered) BLADE THICKNESS: .25”
BLADE FILEWORK: In the vine style b by the BLADE FINISH: Sniper Grey Cerakote ™
maker HANDLE: 3D-machined G-10 by VZ Grips
HANDLE: Stabilized California buckeye w/ OVERALL LENGTH: 15.5”
fancy flower pins and leather thong, a and WEIGHT: 24 ozs.
whitetail antler button SHEATH: Friction-fit Kydex w/low-ride straps
BOLSTER: Jeweled 304 stainless steel w w/ MSRP: $495
finger groove; dovetailed to the handle COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
OVERALL LENGTH: 7” COMPANY: RMJ Tactical, Dept. BL2, attn:
SHEATH: Hand-fitted 6-to-7 oz. full Ryan Johnson, 3100 N. Hawthorne St.,
grain leather, pig suede lined, all by Chattanooga, TN 37406 866-779-6922 423-
the maker 756-4300 [email protected], www.
KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is named rmjtactical.com
j
after the maker’s father (“Duke”)
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A
SIMILAR KNIFE AND SHEATH: $395
MAKER: T.W. “Tim” Churchman, Dept. BL2, 475
Saddle Horn Dr., Bandera, TX 78003 210-240-
0317 [email protected]
(Caleb Royer image)
KNIFE MODEL: Mountain Ti Gold, Small
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade KNIFE TYPE: EDC folder
BLADE LENGTH: 10.5” BLADE LENGTH: 3”
BLADE PATTERN: Recurve clip point BLADE STEEL: 440A stainless
HANDLE: Water buffalo horn w/fine silver pin and ROCKWELL FINISH: 56-58 HRC C
textured bird’s-beak butt BLADE FINISH: Gold coating
GUARD: “S” style in wrought iron w/melted gold BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
accents HANDLE: 420JI stainless steel; h hole in
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: the butt for a lanyard
Contact maker for information POCKET CLIP: Yes
MAKER: Robert Burns, Dept. BL2, 104 W. LOCK: Framelock
6th St., Carver, MN 55315 412-477-4677 MSRP: $24.99
[email protected], COMPANY: Browning, attn: R. N Nielsen, Dept.
[email protected],
wildernessironworks. BL2, One Browning Place, Mor rgan, UT
org, Instagram: @ 84050 801-876-2711 fax 801-876 6-3331
wildernessironworks.org www.browning.com, craigwilson@
(Caleb Royer image) browning.com
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular
Instagram page at @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
70 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
SPEC SHEET | BY MSG KIM BREED 5 SPECIAL FORCES (RETIRED)
TH
ALL IMAGES BY THE AUTHOR UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
BATTLE OF THE
BLADE SHAPES
TWO KNIVES TAKE THE SIDEWINDER SKINNING TEST AND MORE
The Lucy by Stand To Blade includes
g
generous areas on the handle bottom
and above the ricasso to accept an
a
index finger and thumb, respectively,
KNIFE NAME: Lucy in a staa . . KNIFE NAME: Outdoor Master
s
s
ta
n
a
a
Stand To Blade Co. MAKER: Victorinox
NI tility fixed blad KNIFE TYPE: Utility fixed blade
BLADE LE GTH: 4.25” BLADE LENGTH: 4”
BLAD M RIAL 5160 carbon steel BLADE STEEL: Inox stainless
BLADE GRIND t BLADE GRIND: Scandi
HANDL Black willow and resin HANDLE: Micarta ®
OVERALL ENGTH 9” WEIGHT: 7.76 ozs.
SH A H ydex OVERALL LENGTH: 8 7/8”
MSRP $270 SHEATH: Kydex w/Tek-Lok attachment and
fire starter in sleeve
MSRP: $250
The Outdoor Master is the first-ever fi xed-
blade Swiss Army Knife from Victorinox.
he Lucy and the Outdoor Master:
No, it’s not a matchup of an old-
Tschool TV comedy queen and a
kung-fu-movie funnyman. Instead, it’s
a comparison of two using knives, the
former by Stand To Blade Co. and the
latter the first-ever fixed-blade Swiss
Army knife by Victorinox. Both knives
can accomplish a wide variety of tasks,
from EDC to outdoor camp use. I used
them for a few basic chores. Like I al-
ways say, no matter what size, thickness
or grind, a knife has to cut.
There was too much moisture in
The Lucy crunched to 76 cuts on the sisal rope the air for paper slicing, so I went
before the edge started to slide. straight to the single-walled cardboard.
The Lucy sliced quickly and straight
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 71
SPEC SHEET |
The Outdoor Master blazed to 190 crunching cuts
but had a very small nick in the edge—most likely
from too high of a Rockwell hardness.
for several cuts. The handle was Master bit deep but suffered another
comfortable, though the 90-degree small nick in the edge. The Lucy
thumb rest was sharp on my thumb. Th e chopped deep too but with no edge
Outdoor Master sliced the material very damage.
aggressively. The cardboard twisted
because of the blade’s Scandi grind. SIDEWINDER STYLE
Plastic board was next on the docket. It was hunting season and since I was
The Outdoor Master cut great with lucky enough to have harvested a
smaller cracking of the board. Th e whitetail deer, I could use both knives
Lucy cut the same but produced larger in a real field scenario. With my trusty
cracking. The 90-degree angle on the dog, Bella, supervising, the skinning
finger notch was uncomfortably sharp began.
on my finger. (Note to self: My plastic The Lucy penetrated the deer skin
board might be getting old.) easy and was controllable. Th e Outdoor
Jumping to the sisal rope for a Master was very sharp but I had to
sharpness/edge-retention test, the raise the edge up to get the cut started.
Lucy was up first. I crunched to 76 cuts I skin sidewinder style with my thumb
before the edge started to slide. Th e on the middle of the blade to rotate it
sharp finger notch again was an issue, sideways. Care had to be taken with the
as well as the heavier edge geometry. Outdoor Master as it sliced through the
The Outdoor Master blazed to 190 hide quickly. I lost my grip three times.
crunching cuts but had a very small Some handle texturing would improve
nick in the edge—most likely from too the Outdoor Master’s grip. The Outdoor Master carries in a Kydex
high of a Rockwell hardness. The Lucy worked great. Th e thicker sheath with a Tek-Lok attachment and
includes a fi re starter with lanyard.
Next was the 2x4 chop. The Outdoor blade was more controllable and the
The Outdoor Master bit deep into the 2x4 but suffered a small nick in the edge. The Lucy chopped deep too but with no edge damage.
72 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
As Bella (left) supervised, the Lucy was controllable and penetrated the deer skin easily.
The Outdoor Master was very sharp, though the author had to raise the edge up to get the
cut started.
handle shape performed very well. texture to the Outdoor Master’s handle.
Softening the thumb ramp and finger
notch would improve usability. Both REPORT
knives excelled in removing the Each knife worked for a wide range of
quarters from the deer. uses. Which one you prefer may well
depend on your taste in blade shapes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I would soften the edges on the Lucy’s Both makers warrant their knives
thumb rest and finger notch, and add against defects as long as the knives are
The Lucy rides in a tan Kydex sheath.
not abused. For more information on the
Lucy visit standtobladecompany.com or
Instagram @standtobladecompany. For
more on the Outdoor Master contact
Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc., Dept. BL2,
7 Victoria Dr., Monroe, CT 06468 203-
929-6391 swissarmy.com.
For the latest knives, knife news,
trends and more visit blademag.com,
BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @
blade_magazine, and on Facebook and
Twitter.
The Outdoor Master cut the plastic board great with smaller cracking of the board. The Lucy
cut the same but produced larger cracking.
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 73
MILESTONES | BYMIKEHASKEWBLADE FIELDEDITOR
®
IMAGES COURTESY OF GERI ELLIOTT
A WILLEY
50 YEARS!
W illey Knives truly is a family affair . Store
Willey Knives truly is a family affair. Store
employees, from left: Faith and Grace
Faith
and
WILLEY KNIVES MOM-AND-POP RETAIL CUTLERY employees, from left: daughters); Grace
Elliott’
(Geri
Bryce
s
Elliott (Geri Elliott’s daughters); Bryce
Elliott
(Matt Willey’s son) and Sylvia Willey;
(Matt W illey’ s son) and Sylvia W illey;
STORE CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY Geri Elliott; Gerald and Matt W illey; Drew
Geri Elliott; Gerald and Matt Willey; Drew
Beyer; Doug Gould;
Beyer; Doug Gould; Donna Kay Heberling;Donna Kay Heberling;
and Donald Pearson.
and Donald Pearson.
74 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
with Gerald’s wife, Sylvia, daughter Geri “In 1970, I opened up my business in
and son Matt each contributing to the a room attached to my garage,” Gerald
operation. remembered. He was still working his day
Of course, it started with Gerald and job at the Air Force base. “My wife and I
his interest in knives that stretches back were living in a trailer at the time, and we
to his earliest memory. had handmade knives and retail knives.
“I grew up on a farm,” he remembered, I opened the store three nights a week
“and my father and grandfather always and on Saturdays,” he stated. “The first
carried pocketknives. I have liked knives company that I started selling in 1970 was
since I was 3 years old. There was a Victorinox. In 1973, I added Buck Knives
shop on the farm that had a grinder, and W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery, and it just
work bench, drill press and forge. They grew from there.”
butchered their own hogs every year, and
I could go up to the grinder and sharpen BASEMENT BLADES
the butchering knives, go to an oil stone Through the years, that growth has been
and then a leather strop, and the knives steady and sustained. In 1975 the Willeys
would be sharp enough to shave your built a house, and Gerald designed the
arm. I could do this when I was 10 years basement to serve as a new store.
old. It was a gift from God.” “That has been the home of Willey
Gerald also tried his hand at making Knives to this day,” he said. “We are in
Gerald Willey has liked knives since he was
3—so much so that he also makes them. knives, using old saw blades and standing a very rural area outside a small town—
The one he’s holding he made last year. In at his grandfather’s side while learning typically sitting in a soybean field, except
front of him, from left: the fi rst two knives how to use the forge by the time he was when they plant wheat for the winter.
he made between the ages of 32 and 35, 16. He made fixed blades out of old truck It has taken years, but we have built a
the third one he built at age 16, and the
last two he made when he was 10. leaf springs. good business where we are, and we
“I would have had a knife store four would rather be here than paying rent
years before I did, but Vietnam delayed somewhere else.”
here was never any doubt: Gerald it,” he laughed. “I was a cook in the Navy After building a home and investing
Willey was always going into the during Vietnam, and I really enjoyed in the future, Gerald and his family have
Tknife business. Aft er decades of cooking, too. I got out in 1969 but I didn’t spent the past half-century building
hard work and unwavering commitment, have enough money to start my business.” relationships throughout the knife
that business—Willey Knives of Green- Undeterred, Gerald got a civil service industry. Among these are several
wood, Delaware—celebrates its 50 an- job at nearby Dover Air Force Base, doing friends who remember working with the
th
niversary this year. essentially the same thing he did in the retailer for years. In fact, Columbia River
One of the premier retail cutlery Navy. He made hunting knives, and many Knife & Tool’s Rod Bremer appreciates
establishments in the United States, Willey of his customers mentioned that their the strong ties CRKT and the retailer
Knives grew from humble beginnings wives could use a good kitchen knife. have developed.
to rank among the most successful That kind of dialog turned the spark “I’ve known Gerald for more than
independent mom-and-pop cutlery into a flame. Still, there were plenty of 30 years—initially with Kershaw back
stores of its kind. It is a family business, challenges in the early days. in the late 1980s and subsequently for
Gerald mans the store today and in 1978 (right). If it cuts or
sharpens, Willey Knives has it. The store also has a full-time
sharpening service and about 90 restaurants as clients.
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 75
MILESTONES |
about knives, friendly, knowledgeable key to longevity and success in a
and happy to share all they know with retail environment that has changed
anyone without hesitation. This starts so dramatically in recent memory.
with Gerald, right down through The advent of the Internet, shop-at-
his grandchildren. I can completely home options and discount online
understand how his business stands the “warehouses” have challenged the
test of time and generations.” mom-and-pop shop tremendously.
Nonetheless, Willey Knives consistently
MOM, POP and KIDS shows that personal, hands-on service—
The family connection at Willey Knives before, during and after the sale—wins
has enriched the success of the retailer as the day. Once customers experience the
well, providing long-term commitment personal touch, the impersonal process
and opportunities for family time, even pales by comparison.
when business is brisk and there is work “We do have a website,” Gerald
to be done. pointed out, “but that is not a very big
“My whole family is involved in the part of our business. We concentrate on
Willey Knives has hosted an annual fall open
house since the early 2000’s. business,” Gerald noted with pride. “My getting more customers into our store.
wife,Sylvia,helpswithaccountsreceivable Our niche is ‘show and tell.’ We want to
more than 25 years with Columbia River and payable. My son and daughter are help the customer find the right knife
Knife & Tool,” Rod began. “Gerald is just also in the business. My daughter, Geri, for their needs. Buying off the Internet
the plain nicest gentleman you’ll meet has helped me since she was 5 years old, can be convenient at times, but it is also
in this industry, always polite and very and she is now 46! After she graduated nice to be able to walk into a store and
respectful during conversations he has, from college, she worked elsewhere for handle the knives you are interested in,
and with great product insight. Gerald about five or six years—until she decided and also know that someone is able to
might be soft-spoken, which translates to make this her full-time job. Even when talk to you about the different steels
into you having to really listen, especially she worked elsewhere, she still helped and mechanisms.”
on a noisy trade show floor, but you learn me a couple of nights a week and on
quickly that he needs to be listened to and Saturdays. She now manages the store, OPEN SECRET
heard. He has so much knowledge about does most of the purchasing and delivers The open secret to success at Willey
the industry and its products that you’d to most of our restaurants. Knives is simple.
be crazy not to spend as much time with “My son, Matt, has worked here since “[Providing] service and treating
him as he can give you!” he was young. He is now 35. He also customers how I would like to be
Joyce Laituri of Spyderco has a long- worked for another company for about treated,” Gerald explained. “We also
standing connection to the Willey family five years before coming back to the have a sharpening service and service
as well. family business. He now runs the shop’s approximately 90 restaurants. Besides
“I met Gerald and his family at the sharpening service, helps in the store those customers who walk into the
BLADE Show years and years ago,” she when needed and does some purchasing store for sharpening, other customers
remembered. “They amazed me then— and delivering.” mail in knives to be sharpened. Our
and still do. They are truly passionate The family aspect of Willey Knives is a sharpening service is busy enough
BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame member Chuck Buck (left) Blacksmithing is another attraction of the annual fall open house.
®
attended about six of the Willey Knives fall open houses, signing That’s the Willeys’ house in the background. The retail store is in
knives and making friends at them all. the basement.
76 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
resonate with him, setting a standard for been in business for 50 years,” she said.
50TH-ANNIVERSARY the second and third generations of the “Time has gone by so quickly, and we
WILLEY GREAT EVENTS Willey family. have seen changes in the knife industry. I
“Dad would get off from work at the feel blessed that through all the changes,
th
n recognition of the 50 anniversary Air Force base, and we would be open we have still been successful. Several of
Iof Willey Knives, observances are in at night from 7 to 9. He would still be the companies we are with we have been
the making. working after that. It is what he loves to with my entire life, and they are more
The company has two standing do, and mom was always supportive and than just vendors to us. They are like part
annual events: one celebrating Case helped him with it. We have great parents of our family. I always look forward to
knives in June and a fall open house. who have always guided us about how to the SHOT Show and BLADE Show—not
th
Case is making a limited-edition 50 - do business with people and treat people. just to see what’s new, but also to catch up
anniversary knife for the happening in I couldn’t ask for a better job with a better with the people.”
the spring, while Buck Knives will be family. My sister and I are proud and
contributing a 50 -anniversary knife for excited to keep this going, and we hope to PRINCIPLES INTACT
th
the autumn gathering. pass it along to our kids as well. The winning combination of family
“I am trying to plan a number of “Our company verse is Hebrews 4:12: commitment, excellent service and an
special things for our 50 anniversary ‘For the word of God is alive and active. unsurpassed buying experience have
th
in 2020,” Geri Elliott explained. “Besides Sharper than any double-edged sword, directed Willey Knives to its leading
our two events and the limited-edition it penetrates even to dividing soul and position among cutlery retailers across the
knives, I am planning on doing some spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the country. With these principles intact, there
giveaways in the store and on Facebook thoughts and attitudes of the heart,’” Matt are surely more milestones yet to come.
and Instagram. Matt and I talked with pointed out. “We, as a family, live by that
some of our companies at the SHOT verse, and that is why we are at a ‘Willey For more information contact Willey
Show in January, and we might be doing Great 50 Years’ in 2020!” Knives, attn.: G. Willey, Dept. BL2,
some other limited-edition knives besides Along with a large selection of cutlery, 14210 Sugar Hill Rd., Greenwood, DE
Buck and Case. In fact, we have already customers of Willey Knives find plenty of 19950 302-349-4070 sales@willeyknives.
been talking with David Yellowhorse ancillary items to choose from, including com, willeyknives.com, Facebook: @
about doing something, too.” Yellowhorse scissors, kitchen gadgets, knife blocks, willeyknives, Instagram: willeysharp. Store
has visited the store at least once in the cutting boards, sharpening stones and hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
past.—by Mike Haskew supplies, and flashlights. HDPE (high- EST and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST.
density polyethylene) cutting boards
are custom cut for restaurants and retail For the latest knives, knife news, trends
that we aren’t taking on any more shoppers. and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
commercial accounts.” Geri agrees that times have changed popular Instagram page @blade_magazine,
Matt remembers his father grinding for cutlery retailers, but she appreciates and on Facebook and Twitter.
blades in the basement shop years the staying power of the family business.
ago, and the impression continues to “It’s hard for me to believe we have
Since the fall open house regularly attracts 300 to 400 patrons, for Customers enjoy a fall open house inside the renovated chicken house.
the overfl ow the Willeys renovated an old chicken house on the farm
behind the store. It’s outfi tted with fi ve showcases full of knives,
tables and chairs, and free food for the patrons.
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 77
CARABINER CARRY | BY PAT COVERT
CARABINER KNIVES OFFER A
SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT OPTION
TO POCKET CLIP CARRY
The DPx Gear HEAT Hiker’s handle doubles as a carabiner and clips to a
belt loop. The Kydex sheath snicks tightly into place over the blade, offering
excellent protection.
78 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
A
growing favorite of the outdoor
crowd, carabiner knives and multi-
tools have carved out a niche in the
cutlery market. While not for concealed-
carry types, they are for those who like a
readily accessible knife or tool and who
make no bones about showing it off.
Spyderco might well have invented the
genre with its Snap-It series in 1993. The
most recent update of the Snap-It series
is the Snap-It Salt. The front-lock folder
features Spyderco’s H-1, an extremely
corrosion-resistant nitrogen steel, in a 2.96-
inch, fully serrated drop-point blade. The
bright-yellow FRN (fiberglass-reinforced
nylon) handle has black Kraton inserts.
Closed length: 5 inches. The star of the
show is the fixed shackle, which features a
spring-loaded wire gate for attachment to
carabiners, loops and D-rings.
The first thing you notice when opening
the Snap-It Salt is that the carabiner ends
Carabiner knives and multi-tool, from left: the Lansky Roadie Multi-Tool, Kershaw Reverb XL,
up behind the blade in the Spydie hole area. Spyderco Snap-It Salt and DPx Gear HEAT Hiker.
It’s an unusual layout but the carabiner
loop covers the ricasso—not the cutting through the spring gate. outdoors—typical of DPx’s fixed-blade
edge of the blade. The fully serrated blade line. It can easily be clipped to a belt loop.
is a slicer, not a carver, which is typical of LITTLE WORKHORSE The Kydex sheath is snug and snicks tightly
toothy edges. And slice it does. The blade The sole fixed-blade entry in the test group into place over the blade, offering excellent
whipped through seatbelt webbing and 3/8- is the DPx Gear HEAT Hiker. It is 6.25 protection. DPx provides a cord if you
inch climbing rope with ease. inches overall, with 2.5 inches a deeply prefer neck carry.
The Snap-It carabiner clips to a belt loop ground drop-point blade. The 3.75-inch I tested the blade on hardwood by
or snaps onto a small dangler that’s mated handle is skeletonized to help make the pointing stakes, shaving bark and making
to a larger carabiner. A 5/16-inch-diameter carabiner portion of the knife. The steel is V-notches, as well as slicing strips of
carabiner I had nearby would not clear the CPM S30V stainless. A wide-mouthed wire harness leather. CPM S30V is excellent
spring gate and needed to be screwed open spring gate is on the handle’s lower belly. steel—the reason many manufacturers
and threaded through the loop. This isn’t Attachment points for mounting the knife use it on their top-shelf knives. The
a big problem, but you’ll need a smaller- on a shaft are located on the base and near blade is limited in size and gloves are
diameter carabiner if you want to snap it the choil. recommended for hard use, as with all
The HEAT Hiker is geared for the knives sans scales. Nonetheless, for chores
KERSHAW REVERB XL
BLADE LENGTH: 3”
BLADE STEEL: 8Cr13MoV stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Upswept
CARRY: Carabiner or pocket clip
tip-up
HANDLE MATERIAL: Carbon fiber
and G10/ stainless steel
SPECIAL FEATURES: Framelock;
groove opener
WEIGHT: 2.31 ozs.
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25”
MSRP: $49.49
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China The Kershaw Reverb XL dress tactical/EDC is sleek and handsome. The upswept 3-inch blade
of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel did an excellent job of dicing up a chicken breast.
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 79
CARABINER CARRY |
Spyderco might well have invented the
carabiner knife genre with its Snap-It series
in 1993. The most recent update of the
Snap-It series is the Snap-It Salt.
The Lansky Roadie Multi-Tool worked
SPYDERCO SNAP-IT SALT well clipped to a keychain. The author
attached the Roadie to a key ring—
not the keys—to keep the keys from
BLADE LENGTH: 2.96” binding while in a pocket.
BLADE MATERIAL: H-1 nitrogen steel
BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
EDGE: Fully serrated base and has a wire spring gate. LANSKY ROADIE
A linerlock folder, the Reverb XL would
CARRY: Carabiner be right at home in an urban setting. Like MULTI-TOOL
HANDLE MATERIAL: Yellow FRN w/ the rest of the review knives, it can be
black Kraton inserts attached to a belt loop. However, Kershaw TOOL LENGTHS: .5”
LOCK: Front lock provides the option of a pocket clip, too. CARRY: Carabiner
WEIGHT: 2.5 ozs. The company also offers a scaled-down HANDLE MATERIAL: Black-coated
version of the knife.
CLOSED LENGTH: 5” I tested the sleek Reverb XL blade by stainless steel
MSRP: $140 performing meal prep on a fat leftover SPECIAL FEATURES: Carbide knife
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: Japan chicken breast. The blade had a nice factory sharpener, flat head and Phillips
edge and worked well slicing the breast screwdrivers, variable hex wrench,
crosswise and then dicing back the other bottle opener, box cutter, pry tool, ruler
suited to its size, the HEAT Hiker is a little way. In no time I had the meat prepared. and line cutter
workhorse. The Reverb XL’s impressive good looks did OVERALL LENGTH: 3.4”
it all in style.
URBAN DRESS UTILITY MSRP: $7.99
The next entry makes no bones about its KEYCHAIN MULTI-TOOL COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China
mission: It is a dress tactical. The Kershaw As its name implies, the Lansky Roadie
Reverb XL sports an upswept 3-inch blade Multi-Tool is designed for a multitude
of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel in a gray satin-/ of tasks. At 3.5 inches overall, it has a surface. The tail end of the multi-tool has
PVD finish. A slick opening groove follows carbide sharpener and incorporates a carabiner with a wire spring gate.
the lines of the blade in stylish fashion. The seven other tools: flathead and Phillips In researching the Roadie, I found it is
4.25-inch front slab is matte-blue-coated screwdrivers, a bottle opener, variable sometimes billed as a “keychain multi-tool.”
stainless steel with a carbon-fiber inlay. The hex wrench, pry tool, ruler and line As a result, my first thoughts were it would
back slab has the same gray PVD finish as cutter. The sharpener’s V-groove carbide tear up my pants and take out chunks of leg
the blade, along with a blade-tip-up pocket plates are approximately .25 inch deep meat if I carried it in a pocket. I was wrong.
clip. The carabiner is located on the rear and designed to be held upright on a flat Attaching it to a keychain that already held
80 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
DPX GEAR HEAT HIKER
BLADE LENGTH: 2.5”
BLADE STEEL: CPM S30V stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
CARRY: Carabiner or Kydex neck
sheath
HANDLE MATERIAL: Skeletonized
stainless steel
SPECIAL FEATURES: Bottle opener/
nut driver
WEIGHT: 2.15 ozs.
OVERALL LENGTH: 6.25”
MSRP: $125
The author put the DPx HEAT Hiker to work carving and shaving hardwood and slicing off
strips of harness leather. The knife is a little workhorse, though gloves are recommended for COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: USA
tough tasks due to the lack of scales.
a bunch of spare keys, I bravely toted it
around for a week and received nary a poke
nor a stab. Granted, I wear cargo shorts and
they are loose fitting, so if you’re leery, clip
the Roadie to a belt loop.
I tested the Roadie’s various tools and
they worked very well. However, tools this
small are made for small tasks, so don’t plan
on rebuilding a lawnmower with them. The
sharpener did a very nice job of restoring
The Lansky Roadie’s diminutive sharpener did
an excellent job of retouching the edge on the an edge on both a GEC Bull Buster folder
1095 carbon steel blade of a GEC Bull Buster. with 1095 carbon steel and the slightly
The carbide blades work on harder stainless dulled edge of the test DPx Gear HEAT
steels such as CPM S30V as well.
Hiker’s CPM S30V stainless blade. The tiny
sharpener is for touch-ups and, when used
that way, works quite nicely.
FUNCTION or FLASH
The carabiner is located on the rear
The carabiner is located on the rear All the carabiner models served their
base
Kershaw
of
base of the Kershaw Reverb XL and has purposes well. If I had any druthers, it would
and
the
Reverb
has
XL
spring
a wire spring gate. The folder also sportssports
a
The
folder
gate.
also
wire
a pocket clip as a carry option.
a pocket clip as a carry option. be for the manufacturers to design and
incorporate a spring gate that would clip to
a larger, 5/16-inch-diameter carabiner. That
said, there are workarounds for this, such
as using a dangler. Meanwhile, whether
for function or flash, carabiner knives are a
cool way to go.
For more on the carabiner knives and multi-
tool in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
page 64.
None of the knives could accommodate a For the latest knives, knife news, trends
According to the author, the Spyderco Snap- 5/16-inch-diameter carabiner through the and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
It Salt’s fully serrated H1 nitrogen steel spring gate. However, there are options. The popular Instagram page @blade_magazine,
blade is wicked sharp. It whipped through larger carabiner can be opened and threaded and on Facebook and Twitter.
3/8-inch synthetic rope and seat belt through the carabiner loop. Alternatively, a
webbing—typical of Spyderco’s reputation small dangler-style carabiner can be attached
for delivering extremely sharp blades. to the knife and then clipped to the larger unit.
FEBRUARY 2020 blademag.com 81
COOL CUSTOM | BY BLADE STAFF
®
KNIFE IMAGE BY CALEB ROYER
ENS
E
S
O
ON
-
E
L
A
F
K
N
I
COMMOON SENSE KNIFE LAWW
PAVES TTHE WAY FOR MATT
T
L
L
GASKILL’S WORLD WAR I
SPEC ECK
M
CUSTOMM REPRO
MODEL NAME: Trench Knife
MAKER: Matt Gaskill
BLADE LENGTH: 5.5”
/
BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon steel w/hamon
BLADE GRIND: Dagger
HANDLE MATERIAL: Rubberized carbon fiber
PI
NS
E
DL
ra
ss
:
B
NE
LINERS AND HANDLE PINS: Brass
RS
LI
H
AN
A
ND
t
i
h
d
f
t
j
t
ometi ngs must come together just right for good
t
th
things to happen. Such is the case with Matt Gaskill’s custom KNIFE TO KNOW: Spikes on knuckle guard and skull
SWorld War I trench knife reproduction. crusher on butt are hardened
A friend of Matt’s had been after him to make a trench knife and, OVERALL LENGTH: 11”
since the enactment of HB 1935 in Texas in 2017, it is legal for an MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $650
adult to carry any knife legal to possess anywhere in the state as long g
as the blade is not over 5.5 inches.* At 5.5 inches, the blade of Ma att’sts
knife is not over the maximum length limit. Not only is the trench knife the
“I drew up my own version of the knife and revised it with my fi rst model of the type he’s ever
friend a little,” Matt said. “The traditional trench knife had a lot t oof made, it also represents the fi rst
brass and we didn’t want to go with that.” However, to commemor te time Matt Gaskill (inset) has
applied a dagger grind to a blade.
the original, Matt made the liners and pins of brass instead. He has been making knives for
The stock-removal blade is 1095 carbon steel with a hamon and four-and-a-half years.
the handle is the new rubberized carbon fiber, in this insta ce
supplied by A.J. Composites. There’s a spike on each knuckle oof
the guard and a skull-crusher butt. The entire build of the knife e is
chronicled on Matt’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/
channel/UCgMivppcIv2eg3OJJVxp8WQ.
*There are some exceptions to the new law. For more on them visit
https://kniferights.org/knife-rights-texas-hb-1935-bottom-line/.
For more information contact Matt Gaskill on Instagram and d or
Facebook at gaskillknives, or visit his website at gaskillknives.com.
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit bladem gg.
com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and oon
Facebook and Twitter.
82 BLADE FEBRUARY 2020
Blade Carving Knives In The W
lexcut knives are precision made for maximum performance. Their high-
Fcarbon steel blades have durable points, hold an edge extremely well and
easily maintained by simple stropping. Each knife is expertly hand-sharpened
and tested before shipping, so it’s ready to use right out of the package.
Comfortable, curved ash handles allow for long periods of carving without ha
ĨĂƟŐƵĞ͘ ǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ŬŶŝǀĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůůLJ Žƌ ŝŶ ƐĞƚƐ͕ ƚŽ ŚĂŶĚůĞ
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