Knives Illustrated December 2018

“WHEN I THINK OF EDC KNIVES, I LIKE TO CONSIDER THE TYPES OF FUNCTIONS THEY MIGHT NEED TO PERFORM.” I carry what I need. When I think of EDC in general, I try to consider the essentials of everyday life and the possibilities that can arise in any given situation. When I am putting together my personal, small EDC day pack, I try to ensure that I have the essentials—water, fire, shelter and essential tools—covered. When I think of EDC knives, I like to consider the types of functions they might need to perform. However, I may be one of those who goes a little overboard sometimes. In fact, I have heard my brother say that I look like Mad Max going into Bartertown, pulling out item after item. But…

01 Amok Equipment Draumr 3.0 Camping Hammock I have found that hammock camping is the most comfortable I have ever been in the woods or jungle, but sometimes it can feel a little cramped and it is hard to lie on my side or stomach. The new Draumr 3.0 Camping Hammock by Amok Equipment has a unique design with all of the comforts of a hammock combined with the lie-flat comfort of a bed. Its sleep pad sleeve allows you to add an extra layer of comfort for three-season camping. The side adjustment straps allow you to convert it to a chair while lounging around camp. DETAILS Sleep flat on your side, back and stomach Chair mode: Adjustment straps to turn the hammock upright like a chair Integrated bug net…

Knife Rights reports that Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) has introduced S.3264, the Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2018 (KOPA), including repeal of the Federal Switchblade Act. This is a companion to their House KOPA bill, H.R.84, introduced last year. As originally conceived and authored by Knife Rights in 2010 and first introduced in 2013, these revised KOPA bills would remove certain restrictions on interstate trade in switchblade (automatic) knives that are legal to one degree or another in 44 states, while also protecting the right of knife owners to travel throughout the U.S. without fear of prosecution under the patchwork of myriad state and local knife laws. Sen. Wicker said, “I am pleased to introduce the Knife Owners’ Protection Act. This legislation would provide law-abiding knife owners the appropriate protection…

Information on knife laws in the U.S., including those of a number of cities, can be found on Knife Rights’ LegalBlade app at: LegalBlade.org. However, because there are thousands of local knife regulations, it is impossible to list them all. In most cases, if you want to know local knife restrictions and bans, you will need to dig them out yourself. Ritter said, “In our experience, law enforcement personnel are generally not a reliable source for accurate information on knife laws. You would want to inquire at the office of the District Attorney or equivalent, for the jurisdiction. Ask them to provide the actual language of the prohibition or restriction. Or, look online.”…

Doug Ritter noted that Knife Rights has passed its signature Knife Law Preemption statute in only 10 states. That nullifies any local knife regulations more restrictive than state law. Knife Rights passed the nation’s first Knife Law Preemption bill in Arizona in 2010 and has since passed preemption bills in Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin. In these states, once you know the state law from the Knife Rights’ LegalBlade app, you know the law throughout that state. Without preemption, municipalities or jurisdictions in the state may have knife laws or regulations more restrictive than state law, creating a patchwork of laws that can trap the unwary knife owner. Ritter suggests that you check online for the municipal or county criminal codes for that specific…

“MY KNIFE STYLE IS BASICALLY AN EXTENSION OF MY PERSONALITY; WHICH IS, I TRY TO SMASH EVERY SINGLE THING IN FRONT OF ME, AND THE BLADE THAT I CARRY IS REMINISCENT OF THAT.” – BILL GOLDBERG It just keeps getting better. If you have been following my series on the “Forged in Fire” judges over this past year, it will be obvious that I am loving the knife-related air time happening over at History Channel. So, last year when “Forged in Fire: Knife or Death” was announced, I was almost beside myself with anticipation. A knife show, where the contestants are actually getting out onto a course and showing the world what knife sports are all about? That sounded like my kind of show. Add to that the fact that…