Innehållsförteckning för July - August 2020 från Knives Illustrated

They are American heroes. Combined, these two retired members of the Special Forces have more than four decades of military service and dedication to the United States of America. To be sure, their skills, military education and experience are among the elite. In the following story, you will find out how Curtis V. Iovito and Mark Carey combined forces and used the philosophies they mastered in the military to build one of the knife industry’s strongest brands—Spartan Blades. In the interview, Mark made it abundantly clear that they are patriotic and driven toward perfection. Whether serving our country or their customers, these two men are also humble, talented, focused, dedicated and committed. That’s why they are American heroes, and that’s why Spartan Blades has been in business for 12 years.…

If someone says, “fighting knife,” at least in the US, there’s a good chance that the classic KA-BAR Marine combat knife pops into your head. That doesn’t mean there isn’t room to innovate a trusty classic. The KA-BAR has ridden on the hips of countless servicemen for nearly 80 years. It still soldiers on to this day. Olean, New York-based KA-BAR Knives continues to update its designs and materials, giving end users at the tip of the spear even more options to use what suits them best. The latest example of that is the KA-BAR 1266 Modified Tanto. “THE EXTRA LENGTH AND FINE POINT OF THE MODIFIED TANTO ... MAKE IT A FINE COMBAT KNIFE ... SUITABLE TO SERVE ON FOR DECADES TO COME. ” ‘Modified Tanto’ So what is…

Is Benchmade’s Black Class worth the price? To answer this question, this “Blue Class” guy is going to take a close look at the new release from the company’s Black Class, which is intended for tactical users and first responders: the Benchmade Presidio II CF Elite. To say Benchmade is a staple of the folding pocketknife market is an understatement among understatements. Everyone—from general users to enthusiasts to collectors to law enforcement and military—knows what a Benchmade is. Three Classes Benchmade has split its catalog into three “classes.” The Blue Class features the knives that we’ve all grown to know and love such as the 940, the Griptilian and, more recently, the Bugout. The Gold Class is made up of upscale versions of other models. The Black Class is tactical.…

“PERHAPS YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT THEFT—OR, VERY POSSIBLY, YOU DON’T WANT YOUR SPOUSE TO SEE THEM.” We’ve all been there … You spread out all of your knives to take a look at them and realize, “This has gotten out of hand.” Just having them lay around on your desk, workbench, or toolbox isn’t going to cut it anymore. Maybe you’ve moved up into some more expensive folders and want them stored in a safer way. Perhaps you’re worried about theft. Or, very possibly, you don’t want your spouse to see them. Here are some options to keep your folding knife collection more protected more secure, and out of the sight of prying eyes. Spyderco Spyderpac You can find several knife roll/ soft cases on the market, but my personal favorite…

1. Black Rifle Coffee Company Complete Mission Fuel Kit The military’s vehicles may run on diesel, but its troops run on coffee. While chow hall coffee may do the job, let’s just say it isn’t always the most palatable substance out there. Enter Black Rifle Coffee Company, a company founded by veterans who make gourmet, small batch roasted blends. You’ll want to drink their coffee because it tastes great, not just because you need it to survive that oh-dark-30 wakeup. If you’re new to Black Rifle, then the Complete Mission Fuel Kit is a great place to start because it gives you four blends to sample (see right). Personally, I go straight to Beyond Black because that’s how I roll. You can get the Kit ground or as whole beans.…

When it comes to fighting knives, the dagger enjoys an elite status that few other blade styles can match. Historically, daggers have always been revered as incredibly potent weapons, whether they really deserved that reputation or not. For modern self-defense, however, historical reputation isn’t good enough. For self-defense, we need real performance. To that end, let’s take a look at what really constitutes a good dagger and how to take advantage of those attributes with proper skills and tactics. For the purposes of this article, I’m defining a dagger as a true double-edged knife capable of serious cutting performance with either edge. Based on that definition, single-edged knives with false edges—sharpened partial edges on the spine of the blade—also technically qualify. Single-edged knives with swedges (unsharpened back bevels), spikes, or…

Heroes. For years, mine were the professional athletes who ran faster, threw harder, and jumped higher. They scored more touchdowns, hit more home runs, and scored more baskets than anyone else. And they did this inning after inning, game after game, season after season. Pretending to be them, I played sports outside until it was so dark I could not see my hands in front of my face. I absolutely idolized them. But that was then. My new heroes also wear uniforms. They are also athletic, driven, mentally tough, and consistent. Regardless of the “game,” they also bring it every time. But their rules are different. In their “games,” there are no standings and no real personal statistics. Instead, they play a game of life-and-death … for you and me.…

“COLONEL REX APPLEGATE WAS A LEGENDARY AMERICAN AND PATRIOT WHO LITERALLY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR MODERN MILITARY AND TACTICAL CLOSE-COMBAT TRAINING.” Colonel Rex Applegate is a name that should be familiar to any serious student of close combat and military history. Born in Oregon on June 21, 1914, his family roots extend all the way back to the American Revolution and the early pioneers of the Oregon Trail. At an early age, he learned to shoot and hunt from his uncle, Gus Peret, a renowned professional hunter and exhibition shooter for Remington-Peters. Applegate’s Military History In 1940, Applegate graduated from the University of Oregon, where he participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, and entered the Army as a reserve officer in the Military Police. He later competed…

A tactical fixed blade doesn’t need to have a bland or utilitarian appearance. It can also be a hand-crafted, beautiful object of pure art. Jim Cooper of SharpByCoop curated this collection of stunning photos for us to illustrate that fact. Information on how to contact the makers is included in the specs box on each page. + SPECS TYLER L. TURNER Model: Turner Knife & Tool Freedom Fighter Blade Length: 5 inches Blade Material: PSF 27 w/ KG 2400 Flat Black Coating Handle Material: OD Green Canvas Micarta Made in: Hopkins, Missouri Contact: On Facebook at Turner Knife & Tool or Instagram @turnerknifetool + SPECS TIMOTHY STEINGASS Model: Steingass Custom Knives Silver Bear Blade Length: 8.5 inches Overall Length: 13.5 inches Blade Material: CPM-154 Bolster Material: 416 SS Made in:…

While some legislators and/or governors of some states continue to oppose repealing their irrational knife restrictions, even our most restrictive states are better (in most regards) than much of the rest of the Western world. Knife Rights Founder and Chairman Doug Ritter explained, “I keep an eye on what’s happening in other countries with their knife restrictions, if for no other reason than to use them as object lessons when we go talk to legislators. The fact is, while Knife Rights is moving us towards an ever sharper future here in the U.S., in many countries, the last decade has seen them moving backwards, and nowhere else are they getting rid of restrictions.” Ritter noted that he’s often approached by knife enthusiasts and manufacturers elsewhere in the world, hoping he’ll…

“I ASK YOU TO ... CONSIDER THE MANY REAL USES AN EXTREMELY STRONG, SHARP, LARGE, LIGHT FOLDING KNIFE HAS, BESIDES AS AN INSTRUMENT OF MAYHEM.” You’ve seen Cold Steel’s marketing approach. And if you’re like most, you probably take exception to the company’s unapologetic manufacturing and marketing of knives as weapon—but I’m not like most guys. Some bristle at seeing a pig carcass run through by an Italian broad sword. Not me. Some cringe at the site of Lynn Thompson hacking at a side of beef with a Bowie. Not this guy. Now you know who you’re dealing with. I’m a Cold Steel fan and proud of it. Cold Steel got its hooks in me as an impressionable teen in the mid-1980s, when tales of its legendary Master Tanto made…

Is a folder all a soldier really needs? Yes, some may say. But despite folder advancements, this perspective is short-sighted. A fixed blade is in every way superior to a folder for the tasks that a soldier needs a knife to perform. Historically, fighting men throughout the ages have relied upon fixed blades (swords, bayonets, daggers, and dirks) as primary and secondary weapons of war. While folding knives have existed for centuries, they were seldom seen as suitable for the battlefield. They were relegated to agricultural and plebeian uses. More recently, military leaders and troops alike have wrongly believed that a folder is all a soldier really needs. Folder proponents point to steady improvements in the reliability of firearms and ammunition, as well as major advancements in folding knife materials,…

Until now, SOG Specialty Knives Inc. has focused on the more budget-oriented segment of the market, and that’s what’s made SOG a staple in sporting goods and outdoor stores all over the world. It’s been quite some time since the company has ventured into the world of higher-end folders. That’s all changing now. SOG’s very first focus was fixed blades. In 1986, founder Spencer Frazer launched his own line of tactically oriented fixed blades. His inspiration? The knives Special Forces used in Vietnam. Since then, the company has evolved into one of the country’s largest knife companies. It makes everything from fixed blades and folders to multitools, keychain knives, and everything in between. SOG’s most recent foray into the world of more enthusiast-oriented knives that would take on the likes…