Innehållsförteckning för September 2016 från Knives Illustrated

Once you’ve placed your trust in something for so long and it’s proved faithful, it’s hard to let it go. Every year, I bring my Wicked Edge sharpening system with me to deer camp and work on everyone’s knives, and it’s very cool to see the variety of knives that show up each year; all different knives for all the different personalities, physiques and methods of processing deer. There is one, however — an old Schrade that’s brought by one of the older gentlemen in camp — that has been on the hunt for more years than some of the hunters in camp have been alive. A knife as seasoned as its owner himself, with an edge that has been sharpened so many times that its original form is worn…

I like to travel light, but I always find room in my pack for a small knife sharpener that features ceramic rods or a fine stone that is great for touch-ups without removing too much steel from the blade. Two of my favorites are the Victorinox Dual Knife Sharpener and the GATCO Triceps Ceramic Serration and Knife Sharpener. The Victorinox model is about the size of a ballpoint pen. Take the top off and there are two ceramic discs positioned so all you have to do is draw the sharpener across your blade. Take off the bottom cover and there’s an oval stone rod. Use the wider edges of the stone to sharpen plain edges or the narrow edges for serrations. Grooves in the stone allow for sharpening hooks. Its…

WE LIVE IN A GOLDEN AGE OF CUTLERY. With a myriad of options available, limited only by our imaginations and budgets, the latter is probably what impacts most of us. I often have folks ask me for suggestions for quality, affordable folding knives for everyday carry (EDC). Affordable is a relative term, but I generally categorize EDC knives as sub-$50 pieces. If you’re a knife enthusiast that may not seem like much, but I bet if you talk to your non-knife buddies, you’ll find that that’s about as much as most of them are willing to spend. So I always like keeping an eye out for different options in that range. I have a few stand-by recommendations for liner locks and lockbacks, but not much in the way of frame…

In typical small town America, tucked away in the green Arbuckle Hills in south central Oklahoma, Ken Jantz works and dreams. His dreams started to take focus in 1966 when he opened Jantz Gun Service as a Master Gunsmith, making custom parts for firearm manufactures. Being a hunter and avid fisherman, Ken knew the value of a good knife. As a gifted craftsman, Ken liked to make his own hunting knives and believed there were many other like-minded sportsmen who would like to do the same. Having started small, Ken taught shop in the local high school and did custom machine work for the oil companies to supplement his income, until the bust in 1983. In order to feed a growing family, Ken took his business on the road and…

For some, owning and operating their own boutique digital and design agency would be the fulfillment of the American dream, but not so with Marc Weinstock of Prick Blades in Chicago, Illinois. Being forced, day in and day out, to look at his designs but never touch them was enough to make him strive for more. He wanted to be a part of making a product that would last the ages — one that he could hold in his hands with pride and accomplishment. 1 Humble Beginnings Being the owner of his own design company, Marc was able to convert his conference room by day into a makeshift knifemaking studio by night. This only fueled his passion and he sold the business and built a proper knifemaking shop. 2 The…

Knife Rights Chairman, Doug Ritter said, “We were glad we could protect the knives of NRA Members attending the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum, just as we protect the rights of all knife owners in America.” Ritter reported that they checked 2,600 knives as well as a host of other metal items, with not a single knife lost in the process. Ritter added that “while I felt bad for the 14,000 folks who had to stand in line to go through security, every one of them passed by our booth and banner and were introduced to Knife Rights. It was a great opportunity for our efforts to forge a sharper future.” Doug explained, “with the able assistance of Leaders and Scouts from the Lincoln Heritage Council, Boy Scouts of America, each knife…

“… IT IS PURPOSE-BUILT AS A TRUE FIELD SKINNER THAT CAN GET THE JOB DONE …” I am not a winter person, far from it. I would take blue skies and 80s every day for the rest of my life, if I could. However, every year I do find myself longing for a short burst of winter in November. That time of the year is when we all get together at deer camp and swap big stories and even bigger lies. Each year, everyone asks me what new knife I have, and this year I am looking forward to introducing the TOPS Knives’ Quick Skin to camp. I am sure it will receive a very warm welcome. Not every year is a boon for our camp, but it is…

What do you get when you smash a meat cleaver and an ulu together with space age materials and the experience of a crusty old Alaskan guide? The Benchmade Nestucca Cleaver. Benchmade has recently unveiled the HUNT series of knives specifically designed to meet the needs of hunters, fishermen, and guides that go that extra mile in pursuit of game. The new Benchmade Nestucca Cleaver is one in that collection and it stands out among any blade in its class. If you are an outdoorsman, hunter or fisherman, I think this new twist on an old blade deserves some serious consideration. Initial Impression At first look, I have to say that I was a little unexcited to see the Nestucca hit the shelves. Not for any particular reason, it just…

Born of necessity, hunting has been a part of civilization since man started walking the earth. An integral part of hunting has always been the hunting knife, in all its various shapes and sizes. For some, their knife is just a tool that simply gets the job done, but for others, there’s no reason it can’t look good doing its job. In this pictorial we have selected some hunting knives that combine form with function to add a little more style to a timeless tradition. With hunting season right around the corner, it’s not too late to win the Best Knife contest at deer camp. SPECIFICATIONS TK STEINGASS KNIFE STYLE: Fixed Hunter MODEL NAME: Persistent Hunter BLADE LENGTH: 4.5 inches OVERALL LENGTH: 8.75 inches BLADE MATERIAL: W-2 BOLSTER MATERIAL: 416…

LET’S BE FRANK. When it comes to hunting knives, it’s rather hard to come up with anything revolutionary; particularly something that works well and doesn’t compromise the basic design. Since man knapped out that first piece of flint to process game untold years ago, there hasn’t been a lot of innovation. If you look at most hunting knives, both past and present, you typically see something with a 3 to 4-inch blade, a bit of a belly to it, a good sharp point and some sort of handle. There have been some variations over the years that have incorporated other features into the blades, like saws and gut hooks, but frequently these are compromises that impact the handling and performance of the knife in one form or another, or simply…

“UPON INSPECTION OF THE FLAGRANT FORERUNNER, YOU WILL FIND A FULL TANG KNIFE, BUILT OF 1095HC STEEL, WITH A 0.1875-INCH BLADE” I can admit when I’m wrong. When David Rhoden walked into my office nearly 3 months ago with his contribution to the knife world, I must say I was less than impressed. I thought, at the time, that I was looking at a last-ditch effort in a line of possible EDC fixed blades and that at best, it was a mediocre offering. Over time, I thought about the fixed blades that I use for EDC, and I continued to compare David’s Flagrant ForeRunner to them. I became more intrigued, and it wasn’t long before I knew I had to get one. If you have not heard of David Rhoden,…

Survival often requires a number of things, like smarts, training, tools and a bit of luck. Smarts you’re born with, training is a lifelong journey, and luck, well … that can just come out of thin air. Tools, on the other hand, can be something you choose and if you’re prepared, you’ve chosen your tools to the best of your ability. To survive you can rely on one tool, but often it helps to pick multiple tools that complement each other. Buck Knives has put together a trio of tools in their Compadre series that can work together to help you overcome a number of adversities. I recently had the opportunity to take them out for some testing and found that I was quite impressed with the results. “HANDLE DESIGN…

If you ask 100 people what heat treating is all about, you will very likely get 100 different answers. Everyone involved with cutlery — makers and collectors alike — know blades have to be heat treated after grinding or shaping if they are going to hold an edge, but everyone has a different idea of what it means. Until now. Having spent 50 years in the industry, 40 of which have been involved with custom and factory knives, I have gained some solid experience in the field of heat treating and will use the following story to share the basics with you. The purpose of this story is to help with a greater understanding of the process and the importance of a properly heat treated knife. Basic Understanding The basic…