Innehållsförteckning för November 2018 från Knives Illustrated

“TODAY, AS WE CARRY ON THE TRADITION OF HUNTING, IT IS LESS ABOUT SPORT AND MORE ABOUT PAYING HOMAGE TO OUR HERITAGE.” It was a way of life once. As I write this I am traveling across this great country of ours to visit family in my home state of Colorado. As my wife and I drive across the now-tamed landscape that is these United States, I am reminded of our founding fathers, who forged the path for so many to come after them. The harsher the terrain, the more I realize that we come from very stout folk. For them, hunting was not a sport but an absolute necessity. Although they did have covered wagons and could bring food along for the trip, it was a very limited supply…

Carrying any weapon for personal defense is a balancing act between combative function and user convenience. If you’re ever forced to use it when confronted by an attacker, bigger is generally better. However, when it comes to carry, smaller and lighter usually makes it easier to conceal, so you’re more likely to always have it nearby and ready to use. One style of knife that tackles this problem in a unique way is the neck knife. Neck knives are basically small fixed-blade knives with sheaths that allow them to be worn around the neck like military dog tags and are easily accessible when or if an attack occurs. CHOOSING THE CORRECT KNIFE In addition to blades that are shorter than average, most neck knives also have less-than-ideal edge geometry. Avoid…

I remember as a kid being handed my very first folding Buck hunting knife by my father. It was a right of passage in my family. Receiving this coveted knife meant you were coming of age and would now be able to join the other men on their hunting trips. However, it meant a lot more to me than that. I was handed something that became my best buddy as I roamed through the wild. I used it not only for hunting, but also for fishing, camping, whittling—just about everything. I even remember my mother yelling out the backdoor several times, “EJ, don’t you do that!” She often caught me trying to cut down the clothesline for extra rope. It was then that my love affair with knives began. Think…

Hunting, even for seasoned professionals, is not easy, and scoring game is not a given. Add to this the problems of not having the correct or functioning gear, and things get much worse. At least you can eliminate the latter with some helpful new items hitting the market. All of these amazing new products work singularly or as a team to give you an edge when immersed in the outdoors. 01 Cordova 125 XL Cooler This cooler is big, bad and in control of whatever you need to keep cold and secure. Its roomy interior space allows you to store everything from kid’s party juice boxes to freshly killed game after a long day’s hunt. Trilock quad-core rubber gaskets create an extra tight seal, while its eco-friendly foam provides the…

“… THE COURT HAD NO IDEA THAT THEIR DECISION COULD ADVERSELY IMPACT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LAW-ABIDING NEW YORKERS.” The issue: New York City’s policy of treating any locking-blade folding knife that can be “wrist flicked” to open as a prohibited gravity knife. Knife Rights has filed its petition for a rehearing by the full court, known as “en banc,” after a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled in favor of New York City and District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.in Knife Rights’ long-running federal civil rights case. THE TRUE PROBLEM In a 45-page decision, the court failed to focus on the essential constitutional problem with the law, that being, the total inability for anyone to clearly determine if a knife they wish…

The harsh and rugged backwoods of Sweden is no playground and is definitely not for the timid or weak. It takes a tough outdoorsperson to face it and an equally tough knife to help overcome it. That’s where the Vildmark comes into play. “THE VILDMARK BLENDS SWEDISH BUSHCRAFT TRADITION WITH MODERN AMERICAN CRAFTSMANSHIP.” Sweden, for many people, is the land of bushcraft, and if you have ever spent time there, deep in the wilderness, you know there is something special about that environment. Bushcraft is more than a hobby in Sweden, it’s a lifestyle. That’s why a great number of people carry bushcraft knives daily while traversing the remote regions of the country. A good bushcraft knife connects outdoorspeople to the land, and when a person experiences the outdoors with…

James Helm is a man many will recognize from the “Forged in Fire” television show on The History Channel. This episode winner is no stranger to creating hardcore, practical knives that both take and dish-out extreme punishment, and the Primal-Tactical War Fighter is no different. Custom created specifically for this review, the War Fighter’s unique design and its underlying, unstoppable power is put through some intense and grueling testing, with eye-opening results. It’s a Wrap, Japanese Style Upon first sight, the War Fighter has a very impressive, expertly wrapped handle. The wrap is clean and tight, and the knotted area by the choil serves as a finger guard that includes an extra swell for more control when the user chokes up on the handle. The handle is paracord over a…

If you are a fan of CRKT, then you are familiar with Liong Mah designs—whether you realized it or not—such as the G.S.D., Eat’N Tool, Mah-Chete and more. With a penchant for the practical but a flare for style, Liong Mah designs knives that users and collectors are equally grateful for. For his 15th anniversary designing amazing knives, Liong has pulled out all the stops to present his latest collaboration with Reate Knives, the XV Folder. I had the chance to speak with Liong at the 2018 Blade Show, and it was clear that he is an innovator, with knives that look as good as they are useful. I have had the opportunity to carry the XV Folder for a while now and have found that it lives up to…

Thank Instagram. Even if you aren’t a fan of social media, you might want to at least consider Instagram if you want to keep up with your favorite knife manufacturers and custom makers. It’s a great way to see what’s new in, literally, a snapshot. It’s also where my story starts. I was checking my daily feed when I saw a new picture posted by Dogwood Custom Knives. It featured the company’s latest design, the Hound’s Tooth, and Dan Eastland instantly had me at puukko. I’ve been a fan of puukkos and Scandinavian knives in general since my college backpacking days. While I was never an ultralight minimalist, I did try to shave weight where I could but was never willing to sacrifice a fixed-blade knife in my kit. I…

On my flight home from this past Blade Show, I took the opportunity to catch some needed sleep. While I was dozing, something irritated my arm that felt suspiciously like a bug. As I woke and swatted at it, I realized it was the shirt of the gentleman sitting next to me, whose arm I had just accidentally hit. After apologizing, we struck up a conversation and I discovered that I was chatting with Mike Malosh of Malosh Handmade Knives. He was very nice, and once I got home I decided to take a look at his knives. It didn’t take long to realize that he would be perfect for this issue, due to great work and his focus on hunting knives. 01 Down the Rabbit Hole For a long…

Mykel Hawke is a literal jack of all trades, and he shows no signs of stopping. Mykel, who is extremely dedicated to his country, enlisted in the military in 1982 and served for 12 years, retiring from the U.S. Special Forces as Captain. From there he continued to stay active protecting and helping our country as a reservist and National Guard member. He’s held top level security clearance and has been in and around numerous conflicts as both soldier and contractor. During quieter civilian times, Mykel didn’t rest. He’s authored numerous books, including Hawke’s Green Beret Survival Manual and Hawke’s Special Forces Handbook, and helped to design tactical knives and other self-defense tools to assist in evening the odds when danger comes knocking at your door. He is an accomplished…

Let’s face it, knives have been around for a long time, and there are only so many blade and handle styles out there. The key is to find the right combination that works best for you, and sometimes the only way to do that is to design it yourself. Such was the case with David Andersen’s Canteen Knife, which ended up launching a new business and a complete line of knives. The Canteen is a blade that came about through purpose and trial and error. The final product was a truly capable tool, one that not only suited the needs of the designer, but also numerous others who experienced the quality and power of this incredibly designed outdoorsperson’s tool. CREATIVE CONSTRUCTION The knife is 11 inches overall with the length…

Size and weight matter, and for a foot soldier in the infantry, excessive ounces can equal pounds of misery. I personally debated this very thing when I was a soldier. I carried a bowie knife for years, but as modern warfare changed, so did the gear. We were getting better protective gear and more of it, which also meant carrying more weight. When it comes to a good blade for both tactical situations and survival, you really need to consider several characteristics. I wish I’d had the option of the Rover knife from Wilson Tactical back when I was faced with this choice. It’s critical when scrambling across a battlefield or surviving out in the woods that you choose a knife that you can rely on to possibly save your…

To the layman, a knife is a knife, but for those knowledgeable about the intricacies of a knife’s design, this isn’t the case. Knives serve specific purposes and don’t function as well when taken out of their comfort zones. Luckily for those who stalk in the wild, these custom blades are designed to accompany you on the hunt; where game needs to be broken down quickly, skins removed and portions of meat reduced for easy carry and storage. These specialized creations become, not only a handy, reliable tool, but a trusted companion when man meets beast. KI SPECS JOHN BARTLOW Model: Elk Hunter Blade Material: CPM 154 Blade Length: 3 3/8 inches Overall Length: 8 inches Bolster Material: 303 stainless steel Handle Material: Big horn sheep Contact: 2JBartlow@Gmail.com SPECS…