Indholdsfortegnelse for September/October 2022 i Knives Illustrated

“I BELIEVE FRY HAS ACCOMPLISHED THIS GOLDILOCKS JUST-RIGHT BALANCE OF ART AND PERFORMANCE VERY NICELY IN THIS DESIGN.” L ots of knifemakers are turning out great custom and small-batch knives of their own designs. Purchasing one is the best way to get exactly the knife you want. However, the buyer can encounter two potential obstacles. The first hurdle is price. Individual knifemakers typically put in lots of time and talent into each piece they sell. The prices are usually very much in line with that effort, but that might make particular models out of reach financially for many buyers. The second hurdle, availability, is affected by consumer demand and a maker’s limitations on how many pieces can be completed. Some makers’ knives are so highly sought after that getting…

SPECIAL SECTION BUSHCRAFT When I heard Les Stroud had a new project and some new blades to go along with it, I was interested. I’ve used and reviewed Les’s other collaborations over the years and was looking forward to seeing the latest designs. When I found out that he was doing this set of tools with L.T. Wright Knives, I was even more excited. I’ve known those guys for years and have always been impressed with their work. The new knives revolve around Les Stroud and Chef Paul Rogalski’s new television show Wild Harvest. Wild Harvest is described as a “foraging and culinary journey through the wilds of North America.” It follows Les finding wild edibles and bringing them back to Paul who turns them into amazing meals. Wild…

Pick up most bushcraft books and you’ll likely find a very common blade shape in the section on edged tools. It seems like one of the most prevalent knives advocated for is a spearpoint blade. This is due largely to the work of the renowned British bushcrafter/naturalist Ray Mears. Now, pick up a hunting book and you’ll most likely find the hunting knife suggested is a drop-point blade with a hollow or flat grind. Every so often, a knife comes along that defies convention and blends concepts from two different circles into something really impressive. I found the Ben Orford Trapper at the center of the bushcraft and hunting Venn diagram and had to give it a go. I wanted to see if one knife could handle both bushcraft tasks…

Have you ever been shopping for a car (back in the days when cars were affordable) and you find the exact car that you want, but in the wrong color? In that scenario you have two choices: take it or leave it. You’re not likely to change the color of a brand new car, although you can occasionally wait for your color of choice to come into the dealership. Those of us who like knives don’t have to live with “take it or leave it” when it comes to handle material, thanks to a unique group of crafters and manufacturers who specialize in knife handle replacement. “SOME KNIVES ARE SO POPULAR AND WIDESPREAD THAT IT’S PROFITABLE FOR THIRD-PARTY MAKERS TO OFFER HANDLE SCALES.” MADE THAT WAY Some knives are manufactured…

GEAR UP 1. CRKT Chogan Hatchet The Chogan Hatchet is another design by Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical. According to CRKT, it’s based on a classic rifleman’s tomahawk hatchet from 1804. I actually thought it looked like a carpenter’s hatchet, which is fine, too, because the company makes great camp tools. The head is made from forged 1055 carbon steel with a 3.16-inch edge blade on one side and a hammerhead on the other. The head is affixed to a glass-reinforced nylon handle that should resist weather and breakage. It’s the perfect size for hammering tent stakes, splitting kindling, or other camp chores. At under $50, it’s an affordable piece of kit, too. < SPECS: CRKT Chogan Hatchet • Blade Length: 3.16 inches • Blade Edge: Plain • Blade Steel:…

As part of its 90th anniversary, Helle of Norway has introduced three new Scandinavian folding knives that honor the brand’s outdoor heritage and age-old Nordic tradition. These new models take many standard features of Helle’s fixed-blade knives and integrate them in compact, lightweight, and durable folders for everyday carry. Helle’s folding knives each features a drop-point blade with a true Scandinavian grind that distinguishes a Scandinavian knife from all the rest. This creates an acute angle in the blade for a razor-sharp edge that is easy to sharpen and maintain. Beautifully handcrafted wooden handles ensure each knife has its own one-of-a-kind look. The locking mechanism and stainless steel liners ensure a strong and dependable folder. NIPA The medium-sized Nipa features a 3.70-inch handle and deploys a small but mighty 2.71-inch…

SPECIAL SECTION BUSHCRAFT “…IF YOU NEED SOME FINESSE TO MAKE WHAT YOU NEED, THIS KNIFE CAN HANDLE IT…IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES.” GRAB IT AND GO. That’s a feature I like in my outdoor gear. It’s not because I’m expecting to have to evacuate my home on a moment’s notice. I’m fortunate to live in an area where natural and human-made threats are very limited. But I’m not a person who often plans his activities well in advance. If I decide on an impulse to go on a hike or do an overnight in the woods, I don’t want to spend half the day going over a mental checklist and gathering the gear I need. For that reason I keep several outdoor kits ready—or nearly ready—to go.…

“I KNEW THIS KNIFE WAS A SOLID DESIGN, I HAD TUNED MY PREFERENCES FOR SPECIFICATIONS, AND DEMAND FOR MY HANDMADE VERSIONS WAS GREATER THAN MY ABILITY TO SUPPLY.” Many knifemakers go through a stage where they think, “It would be great if I could get someone else to manufacture my best design.” I came to that conclusion myself toward the end of 2021 and partnered with White River Knife & Tool out of Fremont, Michigan, to make a batch of my Utility Hunter knives. Looking back, I had plenty of questions and not many available answers, so I figured I’d share the story. “What does it take to have a knife manufactured? How long does it take? What kind of tools do they use? How does the process work for…

SPECIAL SECTION BUSHCRAFT When you have the proper tools and have learned the necessary skills, you can carve with confidence in any backwoods setting. Whether you’re making a frog gigging spear to catch your dinner in a survival situation or making a stool for lounging around the campfire, your job will be much easier with the proper blades and techniques to get the job done. In this special section we look at some of the top knives for these tasks and show you how to make best use of them.…

I was barely a teenager the first time I saw “First Blood,” my dad having brought the VHS home from a rental store. Like so many people at the time, I was immediately drawn to Rambo’s knife. It had dramatic lines and came complete with survival gear stored in the hollow handle. I’d never seen anything like it before. Shortly after seeing that movie, I learned it was Jimmy Lile who had designed and produced the Rambo knife. That took a little research, given that this was years before the internet would become commonplace. It took even more time and effort to track down a telephone number for him, but I managed that as well. (Sadly, I chickened out when calling him, something I regret to this day.) While hollow-handle…