Indholdsfortegnelse for July - August 2017 i Knives Illustrated

“IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE DEFINITION OF AN EDC KNIFE SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY SIMPLE DEMOGRAPHICS AND/OR OCCUPATION.” We often look to the definitions others place on a given subject to determine what we feel is acceptable practice. It’s human nature. It seems that no matter how much we try to be individuals, we still find ourselves falling into a category. The same goes for knives. There are tactical knives, bush-craft knives, EDC knives, and so on. However, what really makes a knife an EDC knife? It seems as though the definition of an EDC knife should be determined by simple demographics and/or occupation. If you were to go to a deeply rural and wooded town, you would probably find a lot of people carrying bushcraft- or hunting-style knives on…

“BRIAN WAS A RESEARCHER BY NATURE AND VIA HIS ACADEMIC PURSUITS, SO HE STUDIED ETHNOGRAPHIC BLADES IN PLACES SUCH AS MALAYSIA, INDONESIA, LAOS AND, OF COURSE, THAILAND.” Brian Biegler is a Texas man who has amassed considerable experience and knowledge about Southeast Asia. For much of 10 years, Brian traveled and lived there. When I interviewed Brian at his shop in Dallas, Texas, I found him to be soft-spoken and highly intelligent. He told me he has always loved martial arts and the feel of a good knife. He explained that he had been making his own knives for the better part of 15 years. That experience led to the design of the Covert Custom Knife. Student Turned Teacher As Brian advanced to the top of his martial arts training,…

“ THE 3.5-INCH BLADE IS A BEAUTIFUL DAMAST STAINLESS STEEL, CREATED FROM 115 LAYERS OF RWL-34 AND PMC-27, COMING TOGETHER TO FORM THE ELEGANT ‘ODIN’S EYE’ DAMASCUS PATTERN.” Although the details may be a little fuzzy from the years that separate then and now, I remember my first Swiss Army Knife. I was young and it was the thing that told me that I had arrived. I was now responsible enough to be trusted with my own knife. I remember being intrigued by all the different tools and feeling like I could now fix the world. Having grown up a little, I now see the Swiss Army Knife for what it really is, one of the most useful tools in my pocket for urban or wilderness use, and I never…

“ BENCHMADE’S TEST LAB IS THE PROVING GROUND …” Over the course of three decades, Benchmade has produced an abundance of sport cutlery … with an extensive portfolio of products that includes balisongs, fixed blades, rescue hooks and folders. However, Bench-made is often known for its automatic opening knives. Currently with one of the largest offerings of automatics among domestic manufacturers, Benchmade began producing autos in the early 1990s. Since then, the Oregon-based company has created some of the industry’s fastest and most reliable autos, featuring various mechanisms, including push-button, AXIS auto, ambidextrous push-button, dual-action AXIS and double-action out-the-front. In 2017, Benchmade bolstered its automatic lineup with four new models, as well as an anniversary edition of the popular Infidel OTF (out-the-front). In this article, we’ll explore what it takes…

Beginning in August, it will be legal for Colorado residents to carry automatic and gravity knives for the first time in many years. In March, Knife Rights reported that Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed the bill repealing the state’s absolute switchblade and gravity knife ban. Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter credits sponsors Republican Senator Owen Hill and Democratic Representative Steve Lebsock for their effective leadership in moving this bipartisan bill thorough the legislature with overwhelming votes in both houses. Of course, the on-the-ground lobbying by Knife Rights’ very effective Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, also deserves its share of credit. Something noteworthy about Knife Rights’ legislative efforts is how they almost always gain bipartisan support and backing from organizations that may surprise you. In this case, the bill was…

Knives play an important role in any survival situation. The type of knife to put by your side depends on what your survival style is, what you believe you will need to meet that intent and what you are most comfortable using. As you know, there are many options out there, and the primary uses vary. As a retired Army combat vet of 25 years and a survivalist, I have grasped many different types of knives, blades, axes and tomahawks over the years, and I possess a huge collection of them. I also happen to be a multiple-tool-for-the-job kind of guy, and I always want backup options. Usually. My thinking on this changed drastically after being thrust into an extreme 21-day survival challenge in which I could only select one…

“… THE WHISPER USES THE MORE GENTLY CURVED TRADITIONAL TIP PROFILE THAT IS TIME-PROVEN FOR ITS STRENGTH AND PENETRATING POWER. ” American design. Japanese influence. Russian manufacturing. Blend these three cultures, and the result is one amazing EDC knife. Everyday carry knives get used for a myriad of mundane daily tasks, including opening boxes, cutting twine, and slicing up apples or your sandwich for lunch. They don’t have to be sexy to be functional. But then again, we live in the golden age of personal cutlery with more choices available to us than ever, so there’s also no reason they can’t be sexy and still be extremely practical at the same time … such as the Kizlyar Supreme Whisper from CAS Iberia. The Whisper Kizlyar Supreme has established itself as…

“GETTING ONE’S FIRST PUUKKO IS CONSIDERED, IN FINLAND, THE SYMBOL OF COMING OF AGE FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS AND IS A GREAT HONOR.” In the vein of honor and tradition, the puukko has deep roots in Finnish culture. In Nordic countries, the puukko is an “everyday” knife that is used for everything from hunting, fishing, and garden work to opening boxes in warehouses. Getting one’s first puukko is considered, in Finland, the symbol of coming of age for both boys and girls and is a great honor. Men’s and women’s puukkos do not significantly differ from one another. The main differences are that women’s puukkos, which are often shorter, have decorated sheaths and are better suited for working with food. Both boy and girl scouts consider the puukko their…

“… AT LEAST I GET TO TELL THE STORY OF THIS AMAZING KNIFE AND THE WORK RANDY IS DOING FOR OUR VETERANS—EASING THEIR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS THROUGH HIS XTREME COUTURE G.I. FOUNDATION. ” Ten minutes. A lot can happen in 10 minutes. You can organize your sock drawer, read a good article, cook a pack of ramen noodles, or miss out on a chance to meet UFC Hall of Fame member Randy “The Natural” Couture. I have to admit, that l st one stung a bit. During my rounds at the 2017 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, I headed over to the Emerson Knives booth to take a look at their new products. I was shown the Freedom Defender Flipper CQC-7, done in collaboration with Randy Couture and…

It’s like an endless sea. Have you noticed? In the last few years, “tactical” folders are flooding the knife market. As a result, it doesn’t seem there's much taking place with the tried-and-true gentleman’s knife. It’s always a relief to see a simple, sleek design that you can put in the pocket of your blazer and carry during the day, open your letters with, and even use to cut your steak that evening. Sometimes referred to as “traditional,” or even as a “dress knife,” this category still has its place bumbling around in modern pockets. These blades don’t necessarily have to look like grandad’s three-blade Stockman that he kept in his tackle box all those years, but they are definitively simple, stylish, and downright functional. We’ve tracked down some of…

+ SPECS RJ MARTIN Model: Q-36 Dress Tactical Flipper Folder Overall Length: 8.875 inches Blade Length: 4 inches Blade Material: Chad Nichols stainless Damascus Bolster: Chad Nichols stainless Damascus Frame: 6Al4V Ti with C/F backspacers and ceramic bearings Handle Material: Premium Amber stag Website: RJMartinKnives.com + SPECS PAUL LUSK Model: Gentleman’s Liner Lock Overall Length: 6.75 inches Blade Length: 2.75 inches Blade Material: Damasteel Bolster: Damasteel Handle Material: Mammoth ivory Website: PaulLuskKnives.com + SPECS BOB OHLEMANN Model: Freelancer XL Recurve Overall Length: 8 inches Blade Length: 3.5 inches Blade Material: CPM154 Bolster: Zirconium Handle Material: Vintage Westinghouse ivory Micarta Website: RangerMadeKnives.com “WHEN DECIDING ON YOUR EDC, CONSIDER THE TASKS YOU PERFORM THE MOST AND SELECT A KNIFE THAT IS GOING TO FULFILL THOSE NEEDS THE BEST.” +…

“AN EARLY BLOOMER, RYU FOUND HIS PASSION FOR BLACKSMITHING AT THE TENDER AGE OF EIGHT YEARS...” Go into most any blacksmith shop and you will find a host of modern tools designed to make life easier on the smitty. But not every shop works that way. As I watched season one of “Forged in Fire,” I found myself immediately rooting for Ryu Lim, a simple blacksmith with an old-school approach to amazing designs. When he won his episode that season, I wasn’t surprised in the least. Although, I will say that I was impressed with what he managed with such simple tools and processes. A true master of his form. 01 Humble Beginnings An early bloomer, Ryu found his passion for blacksmithing at the tender age of eight years old…