Indholdsfortegnelse for March/April 2018 i Knives Illustrated

Too much of a good thing is still too much. In recent years, there has been a heavy marketing push towards “tactical” gear with everything from socks to toothbrushes. It has gone a long way towards muddying the waters of solid gear. When it comes to tactical gear it is important to base your decision on features that would give you the advantage for your given situation. For something to truly be tactical, it should be purpose built and only include features that serve specific functions essential to the users needs in a given scenario. As with gear, there are true tactical knives. But to know the difference we must first look at the root of the word “tactical.” For the sake of this article we will be using the…

As I sit and ponder what an American hero looks like, Michael “Rod” Rodriguez makes a stronghold in the forefront of my mind. A retired Green Beret, Rod has served on nine deployments, beginning in Somalia with 10th Mountain Division and finishing in Afghanistan with 7th Special Forces. Upon redeployment, Rod was assigned as a sniper instructor at the Special Forces Sniper Course (Range 37) and was one of the only two Americans to attend and graduate the Irish Army Ranger Wing Sniper Course, which he did as a distinguished graduate. After 21 years of continuous service, Rod was medically retired for multiple TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries) and PTS (Post-Traumatic Stress) with three months of hospitalization. It was during his time at National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed…

It’s not necessarily a change of heart, but definitely a change in perspective. When I was younger I loved big, burly tactical folders. As I get older, I find that while I still like those big blades, I don’t really find myself carrying them. I tend to actually use and carry lighter blades that carry flat in the pocket, don’t drag my pants down and can be accessed quickly. With that said, I still like something in the 3 to 4-inch blade range, that’s sturdy and can be used as a defensive tool in a pinch. Something very much like the new Lancer from Böker, in fact. “THE LANCER USES A 3-INCH SPEAR-POINT BLADE WITH A HIGH GRIND AND UNSHARPENED SWEDGE.” The Lancer The Lancer uses a 3-inch spear-point blade…

Sometimes you need to call in the strike. A “mission,” military or otherwise, is a multifaceted operation containing endless possibilities for myriad tasks. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word “mission” as “a: a specific task with which a person or a group is charged b: a definite military, naval, or aerospace task c: a preestablished and often self-imposed objective or purpose.” In practical application, that means a job that needs to get done and requires the right tools. Missions that require effective tools for face-to-face contact also necessitate tools that stand up to day-to-day use as well. In the military, a missile strike is probably the most potent tool available for the direst scenarios. It is with these extreme circumstances in mind that TOPS created the Missile Strike. “ THE BLADE…

“ IN MY 25 YEARS OF MILITARY EXPERIENCE AS AN INFANTRYMAN, I HAVE CARRIED MY KNIVES IN VARIOUS PLACES... ” On a dark early morning in Iraq, a platoon of infantrymen from the US Army is about to clear a building of ISIS terrorists that have been held up inside for weeks. These ISIS fighters are battle hardened, desperate, and ready to die for their cause. A rifle squad prepares to breech the entry point and head in. They move in and clear the first room with no issues, and the point man, a young sergeant, takes the lead and moves into an adjacent smaller room. The room is filled with smoke from the breech, but he makes out a shadowy figure moving inside, weapon in hand. He raises his…

Tenacity, perseverance, stubbornness and a long list of synonyms can be used to describe what it takes to succeed in the world of legislative and litigation advocacy. Knife Rights has it all in spades. Knife Rights recently scored another milestone in its long-running battle against New York City's persecution of knife owners. The critical Oral Argument before the United States Court of Appeals, for the Second Circuit in Knife Rights' federal civil rights lawsuit against NYC and District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., was finally held on January 18. This came after New York Governor Cuomo again vetoed Knife Rights' Gravity Knife Law Reform Bill in November—once again effectively giving the finger to New York's legislature that overwhelmingly passed the bill by a vote of 128-1 in the Assembly and 61-in…

I would like to take a second to introduce our latest column, “Personal Defense”, in which world renowned edged weapon expert and instructor, Michael Janich, will be sharing his knowledge of the tools needed to survive a knife attack, use a knife in a self-defense situation against other weapons or be successful in an aggressive knife engagement. – JS A knife can be an extremely potent personal-defense weapon, particularly when it is used with skilled tactics backed by sound logic and training. Unfortunately, the topic of knife fighting is clouded with myths, misconceptions, and straight-up misinformat ion. If you carry a knife with even the remote possibility of using it as a defensive weapon, you need to have a clear understanding of what you’re trying to achieve. Shedding…

Is it a tomahawk? Is it a crash axe? Is it an ultralight? Yes. The first time I met Jake Hoback I knew that he was a true innovator and that I could expect a goldmine of quality products to feature. Stepping into 2018, I have not been disappointed in the slightest. With that said, I decided there was no better way to start the year than to feature an exciting new collaboration between Jake Hoback Knives and PROOF Research. In Jake’s own words (taken from his website), the PROOF of Life Axe came about by taking a “1/3rd tomahawk, 1/3rd crash axe, and a 1/3rd ultralight and mix[ing] them together with a pinch of hate and a few drops of blood…” Now that is how you get someone’s attention.…

It was my constant companion. Whether I worked on the farm, at the local gas station or the Kansas oil fields, I used this knife for many tasks – including cutting cord, cleaning game, cutting hose, cleaning sparkplugs or even light-duty prying. The year was 1968. That was when I bought my first quality lock-back knife, which I trusted to do the work of a fixed-blade knife. This gem was the Buck 110 folding lock-back knife. Introduced in 1964, collectors called this the Three Pin model. The Buck 110 changed the face of the knife industry forever. After its introduction, the popularity of carrying a folding knife in a sheath on your belt skyrocketed. It seemed every working man had one on his belt. As a result, every other knife…

01 Sierra Madre Research STRATOS STARTER COMBO I was recently watching “Shark Tank” when a product caught my eye. As a hammock camper—who has hung in the Amazon Jungle of Colombia and the woods of Michigan and Colorado—it should come as no surprise that the Stratos Hammock Shelter really got my attention. I have used a lot of different hammock tents/shelters, but this one really has a lot of features that get it right—especially the gear storage below. Now we’re thinking. Features Stratos Hammock Shelter (fly and shield) Pares Hammock + 2 carabiners Set of EZSlings Specs Stratos Shield Fabric: Mesh: 15D Noseeum | Gear Stash: 40D Ripstop nylon Max Hammock Length: 12 feet Protected Length: 13 feet Protected Width: 4 feet Weight (No Stakes): 1 pound 2 ounces Stakes…

“I COULD ACTUALLY FEEL THE POWER OF THIS BLADE AS I GRIPPED IT. I FELT LIKE I WAS SERIOUSLY TRANSFORMING INTO BATMAN …” This is a knife Batman would want. When it comes to a tactical utility knife that you would need for all kinds of tasks—such as an emergency, self-defense, around the cave or even fighting crime—sometimes you could use a hero by your side. A super hero. And that’s where the newest tactical utility knife by BucknBear (BnB) comes in. The Batman Knife is ready for action, and I put it to the test to see just what kind of “super powers” it possesses. First Impressions: Wham! I first saw the Batman knife at an event earlier this year. Once Atif Shibbir, CEO of BucknBear Knives, saw…

“Bushcraft.” When you hear that word, where does your mind travel? Does your imagination take you to the UK, where Ray Mears and the legendary Woodlore School reside? Maybe it wanders to Scandinavia, home of the ubiquitous Mora, or off to Australia where noted bushcraft instructor Richard Graves can be found. “Bushcraft” is not an American term, and until recent history, it wasn’t widely adopted by many stateside outdoorspeople. We can thank cable television and the internet for finally making it sink in over here. One would think the best bushcraft knives, naturally, must come from overseas from the land of bushcraft. Well, we want to dispel this idea with an American-made bushcraft combo sure to give any foreign steel some serious competition. The Bushcraft Classic from Russell Reece and…

“GIVE THEM NOTHING, BUT TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING.” – KING LEONIDAS, 300 Although this is just a movie quote, delivered for dramatic impact, it would be hard to believe that it does not fall in line with the mentality of the Spartans. Feared around the world for their ruthless efficiency in battle, the Spartans held strictly to the belief that it is better to come home on your shield than without it. It was a warrior culture to the highest degree. Whenever I get the opportunity to handle a new offering from Spartan Blades I feel that same sense of ruthless efficiency and perfection that the Spartan culture adhered to so long ago. Its latest offering, the Kranos folder, has not altered my feelings on this in the slightest. When…