Innehållsförteckning för March/April 2019 från Knives Illustrated

Carrying a folding knife for personal defense is a calculated compromise. While clearly more convenient and typically more legally permissible than a fixed-blade—because it folds—it is undeniably slower to get into action when you need it most. Practically all folding knives suitable for defensive use have features that allow them to be opened with one hand. These include traditional blade holes, thumb studs—and disks—for manual thumb openings and flippers for index-finger-style deployment. Although all of these work well, they require a specific grip on the knife and a fair amount of fine motor skill. And while devices such as Emerson Openers and assisted-opening mechanisms can simplify the deployment process, they are not available on many folders—let alone the matching training knives necessary for real defensive skill development. During more than…

Referred to as a true stainless steel, CPM S30V was developed by Dick Barber of Crucible Industries with the help of Chris Reeve. It is known for its excellent corrosion resistance. Due to the use of vanadium carbides, CPM S30V has a very refined grain that helps improve the sharpness and toughness of knives using this steel. Although it can be more difficult to heat treat, knife makers like using CPM S30V because it is easier to grind than other powder steels. Considered a premium-grade knife steel, CPM S30V tends to increase the cost of custom and production knives, placing any knife that uses this steel into the higher-end category of knives. Before an upgrade by Crucible to CPM S35VN, it had been hailed by some of the best knife…

If a blade is the heart of a knife, then its heat treat is its soul. You can have the best steel there is, but without proper heat treat, it’s not going to perform as it should. On the other hand, you can also use modest steel and, with an excellent heat treat, make it perform way better than the base specifications tell you it should. Buck has made a name for itself with knives using humble 420HC stainless. It’s not exactly a material that steel snobs rave about, yet Buck has been using it for decades. If you ask most users—folks who buy a Buck because of its reputation as a quality, American-made tool—they’re usually quite happy with how it performs. What they know is that Buck knives are…

Helle Fabrikker is situated in Holmedal, a small village by a Norwegian fjord. Here, both nature and a love of the outdoors are part of everyday life. This has been the home of Helle Knives since brothers Sigmund and Steinar Helle started their business in 1932. This love of outdoor life, combined with the Scandinavian sense of quality and elegant functionality, define Helle knives. Helle knives are not to be confused with “factory-made” knives that are usually produced in big volumes on automated, high-production machinery. At Helle, each knife is essentially hand crafted by experienced and dedicated cutlers. Each blade is individually ground by hand to achieve a shaving-sharp edge. Knife handles of carefully selected Arctic curly birch and "aged wood" are precisely shaped and finished to a hand-rubbed patina.…

01 Exotac ripSPOOL One of my personal pet peeves is getting into the field ... only to have a piece of equipment fail or take damage. For this reason, I always have some sort of repair kit with me on backpacking trips, but it usually consists of a small baggy of stuff and a small pencil with duct tape wrapped around it. In other words, it is a bit sloppy—functional, but sloppy. Not long ago, Exotac worked with Battle Box to produce the ripSPOOL field repair kit that solves the issue of a messy kit. Recently, Exotac has been making the ripSPOOL under its own line, made a few modifications and alterations to it, and re-released it. This is a must-have piece of kit for anybody who spends any amount…

The national spotlight has shined on Melissa Miller over recent years, but underneath her hardcore survival persona lies a fun-loving, nature-infused country girl from Fenton, Michigan. During her very early years, Melissa didn’t follow the same path as most young girls. Instead of playing dolls or dress-up, Melissa preferred catching frogs and snakes. At 4 years old, she learned how to fish, and her family’s dock became her “second home.” Her love of nature expanded from there. She studied biology in college, ending her time with a valuable education degree. During her years there, she had the chance to study tree and plant identification, various natural sciences and Native American history and culture—all subjects that would be useful throughout her everyday life. Melissa became a park naturalist in Michigan, where…

While there are many different types of locks for different types of knives, there are a few that are more commonly seen on EDC-type folders—especially when it comes to folders that would be considered for self-defense. Below are a few of the more typical styles of locks used commonly in EDC folders. Lockback: The lockback style of lock consists of a spring-tensioned rocker arm with a notch (or hook) on the underside, at the blade. The blade also has a notch that is meant to catch the rocker’s notch. When the blade is opened, the notch on the rocker catches the notch on the blade, locking it into place until the rear portion of the rocker is depressed. This causes the notch of the rocker to lift out of the…

The Kris is a blade designed for battle. Although it is best known for its wavy blade, straight blades are far more common. It is indigenous to Southeast Asia, and each region has its own style and design. There is no such thing as “one size fits all.” The double edge of the Moro Kris lends itself to be an exceptional thrusting weapon, but its size also makes it a fully capable chopping blade. Research conducted by Tuhon Rafael shows that the average length of the southern Philippines’ Kris was around 28 inches, although some were as short as 21 inches and others as long as 36 inches. With lengths such as these, the Kris would fall somewhere between a long knife and a short sword.…

Akin to maintaining your knife by sharpening it, you can maintain your sheath with some basic preventative care. Both leather and synthetic sheaths can show a worn-down look, which affects the overall beauty of the sheath; more importantly, it affects the sheath’s performance. Here are some basic tips to keep your sheath in top form: Visual Inspection. Don't assume your sheath is free of flaws. Always inspect your gear before and after use. Look for tears, cracks or foreign substances on your sheath, as well as pulls in threads or missing rivets. The first step in correcting your sheath's problems is recognizing that there is one. Cleaning. Both synthetic and leather sheaths should be kept free of dirt and debris. Dirt can work its way into fibers and slowly degrade…

Rival I Blade Material: 420HC Blade Length: 2.75 inches Closed Length: 3.5 inches Blade Thickness: .12 inch Blade Finish: Satin Handle Material: Black injection-molded nylon Weight: 1.4 ounces MSRP: $26 Rival II Blade Material: 420HC Blade Length: 3.125 inches Closed Length: 4.25 inches Blade Thickness: .12 inch Blade Finish: Satin Handle Material: Black injection-molded nylon Weight: 2.1 ounces MSRP: $32 Rival III Blade Material: 420HC Blade Length: 3.625 inches Closed Length: 4.75 inches Blade Thickness: .12 inch Blade Finish: Satin Handle Material: Black injection-molded nylon Weight: 3.0 ounces MSRP: $37 Rival SS Blade Material: 420HC Blade Length: 1.875 inches Closed Length: 2.875 inches Blade Thickness: .12 inch Blade Finish: Satin Handle Material: Black injection-molded nylon Weight: 0.8 ounce MSRP: $22.50…

Most Helle blades are made of triple-laminated stainless steel. The center portion consists of high-carbon stainless steel that is hardened to 58-59 HRC. This is the harder part of the blade that holds the edge. The outside layers are tough, 18/8 stainless. This makes a blade that can be sharpened to a very fine razor edge yet is not brittle. It is also easier to re-sharpen, because much of the steel being removed is softer than it would be otherwise. Non-laminated blades are used where the thickness would be inappropriate—fillet blades, for example. Most Helle blades also have the distinctive Scandinavian grind. This is a wide, flat bevel that runs to the edge. There is no secondary bevel as on other knives. This results in an exceptionally keen edge that…

If multi-tools are your thing, SOG has you covered in the sub-$50 range with its handy and compact Powerlitre Multitool. The Powerlitre is sized for everyday carry, at slightly more than 3 inches closed and an inch wide. It weighs in at 4.6 ounces, which isn’t bad for an all-stainless steel unit with 17 separate tools. The Powerlitre packs the following in its compact form factor: awl, blade (straight edge), bottle opener, can opener, compound leverage corkscrew, flat screwdriver (small), gripper, hex bit driver (1/4 inch), jewelry driver, line cutter, needle-nose pliers, Phillips screwdriver, protractor, ruler, scissors, wire cutter (hard) and wire cutter (soft). The variety of wire cutters and needle-nose pliers, along with the array of screwdriver sizes, is perfect for things you’re likely to run into in your…

Melissa has reached a milestone in her knife-centric career—creating her very own knife from start to finish and to her exact specifications. Working directly with the Maine Knife Company (MaineKnifeCompany.com), Melissa has created her very own signature knife, the Backwoods, based on all the positive features she has loved in the plethora of bushcraft knives she has tested over the years. This knife, still in the production stage, will feature a slight drop point and Scandinavian grind and will be composed of 1095 steel and all-natural wood handles. The best part is that a portion of the knife’s sales will go toward a nonprofit organization called Amazon Watch. This group advocates for many indigenous people in the region who are losing their homes to those profiting off the Amazon region.…

Mark McCoun is the designer and builder of the DP5, the knife we had an opportunity to test. His knives are no-nonsense types of weapons that hold up to some extreme abuse. There aren’t overtly fancy lines or designs in most of his blades—not because he doesn’t make fancy knives, but because the most elegant and effective blade is often the simplest. Each knife seems to echo a heritage of many other designs that were made and used in the past. A cursory glance will reveal that Mark’s focus on military use plays a large role in his designs. But a closer look makes it clear that the flair is in the subtleties. Dylan McCoun has devoted much of his time to the tomahawks, but he also produces some amazing…

You can’t speak about the Sayoc Pintado Kris without mentioning Pamana Tuhon Chris Sayoc Sr. Pamana Tuhon Sayoc was the man who started the discipline known as “Sayoc Kali” and whose interest in his own Filipino heritage made this blade possible. Sayoc Kali encompasses the best elements of many different forms of the martial arts, concentrating on the Filipino style of fighting and the proper use of weapons—mainly bladed weapons. At a young age, Chris Sayoc trained with many masters in the Filipino fighting style known as “Dugo ng Bansa” (or “Blood of the Nation”), which refers to the belief that “the arts of the Philippines belong to all the people of the Philippines.” In 1982, Pamana Tuhon Sayoc created the Sayoc fighting system that incorporates the Pintado concepts of…

Proper planning begets good tactics. A tactical operation can come down to the quality of your tools, and a good custom knife can give you the peace of mind that your edged tool will not fail you when you need it most. Your edged weapon selection should be able to stand up to any and every obstacle it comes up against—and come out the other side, looking for more. Your knife could be your life; don’t trust it to anything less than the best. SPECS AARON RADELOW Model: Cry Havoc Blade Material: CPM S35VN Cutting Edge Length: 4.25 inches Overall Length: 11.5 inches Bolster Material: Titanium Handle Material: Gabon ebony w/.125-inch titanium pins Website: RadelowBlades.com MIKE WALTON/MATT GREGORY Model: Fixed Fighter Blade Material: Crucible CPM-S60V Blade Length: 4 inches…

CRKT/Ruger LCK Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV stainless steel Blade Length: 3.325 inches Closed Length: 4.183 inches Overall Length: 7.5 inches Handle Material: Glass-reinforced nylon Weight: 2.66 ounces Locking Mechanism: Locking liner MSRP: $39.99 Gerber Flatiron Blade Material: 7Cr17MoV Stainless Steel Blade Length: 3.8 inches Closed Length: 4.875 inches Handle Material: Anodized aluminum or G-10 Weight: 5.41 ounces Locking Mechanism: Frame lock MSRP: $37 KA-BAR Mark 98 Folder Blade Material: 5Cr15 stainless steel Blade Length: 3.5 inches Closed Length: 4.625 inches Overall Length: 8.188 inches Handle Material: Multi-color G-10 Weight: 5.12 ounces Locking Mechanism: Locking liner MSRP: $24.21 Kershaw Atmos Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV stainless steel Blade Length: 3 inches Closed Length: 4 inches Overall Length: 6.9 inches Handle Material: G-10 and carbon fiber Weight: 1.9 ounces Locking Mechanism: Locking liner MSRP: $52.49…