Innehållsförteckning för November 2020 från Knives Illustrated

“WHEN YOU PICK UP AN ESEE KNIFE, YOU KNOW IT’S A TOOL THAT’S BEEN DESIGNED BY PEOPLE WHO’VE ACTUALLY USED THE TOOLS." The folks at ESEE Knives know a thing or two about what works in the field. They should, because they use their knives while teaching, doing search and rescue work, hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, and shooting. When you pick up an ESEE knife, you know it’s a tool that’s been designed by people who’ve actually used the tools and field-tested them before they’re offered for sale to the rest of us. In the case of the new Xancudo, it’s had a double dose of that testing process, as the design first came to fruition as the Zancudo folder before being transformed into the current fixed-blade version. Meet the…

In the current knife world, where fall-shut action, super steels, and thin behind the edge are considered prerequisites to EDC folding knife superiority, Emerson Knives delivers a slow and steady rebuttal. An Emerson knife has action that must be broken in, a blade of the same old 154CM, a black G10 liner lock handle, and an often stout behind the chisel edge blade. Some knife connoisseurs shudder at such a coarse assemblage of materials, but this tried-and-true recipe, along with the company’s quiet defiance of design trends, is what gives Emerson knives their raw charm and brutish strength, making them much sought after by both elite military operators and weekend warriors alike. The story of the man behind the knife is one of the American dream: A person from humble…

“SPORTING A FULL TANG AND A UNIQUE HANDLE ... THE HAWK IS AN ALL-AROUND VALUABLE PIECE OF OUTDOOR GEAR. ” There are hatchets and then there is the Ucon Hawk Hatchet. This superbly constructed chopping tool designed by Leo Espinoza at Tops Knives is a masterpiece of both functionality and a display piece of absolute beauty. Sporting a full tang and a unique handle that provides a sturdy grip for both powerful chops as well as more precision cuts and shaving, the Hawk is an all-around valuable piece of outdoor gear. But looks are one thing and positive results in the field are another. So, how would this new addition into the world of handheld choppers stand up to the rigors of hardcore use in the backwoods? The answers follow…

“THE MINI GUNNY ... IS LIGHTWEIGHT AND EASY TO CARRY ... IT IS SMALL ENOUGH TO NOT FREAK OUT COWORKERS, TOO, WHICH IS A NICE PLUS. ” It would be difficult to find a knife company that is more American than Bark River Knives. The shop is tucked away in Escanaba, which is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There, the company employs more than 40 hardworking men and women who assemble, sharpen, polish, and package tens of thousands of knives a year. Its most popular knife is the Bravo 1, which was designed specifically for the United States Marine Corps Force Recon. When they requested a scaled down version, Bark River came out with the Gunny, which is the exact same knife, just a bit smaller. The Mini Gunny is, as…

1. County Comm Titanium Pocket Strong Box If you carry small, loose items with you, it can be hard to keep them secure and accessible. Medication is especially vulnerable to being crushed. I’ve used small zip-close bags before, but they don’t really offer any protection to their contents. The smaller metal tins work well, but even those can easily crush under foot. County Comm has a history of making slick titanium tools and gadgets, and the company has brought that experience to bear with its new Titanium Pocket Strong Box. This little box weighs only 1.7 ounces but is machined from a billet of titanium and is about as indestructible as you can get for something this size. It uses a sliding lid that secures with a spring plunger…

“A THIN-BEVELED BLADE COMPLEMENTED BY A COMFORTABLE HANDLE WILL DO MORE WORK IN A CAMP ALL DAY LONG THAN A THICK-BEVELED KNIFE MEANT ONLY FOR HEAVY WORK.” I was first introduced to Dan Eastland of Dogwood Custom Knives while roaming the aisles of a popular outdoor trade show in Atlanta, Georgia. Dan Eastland has qualifications that would make most hardened outdoorsmen look like greenhorns. From his firefighting background to his engineering, woodworking, landscaping and military experience, he knows what works. He is a guy who uses the tools he makes, which is a huge plus in my book. Upon visiting his booth, I was also struck by the simple, effective-looking designs and the stellar leatherwork sheathes made by Matt Gilenwater. Each of Dan's knives fit snugly into the sheath and…

It seems to me there are more and more designers and companies in the production knife market every day that are producing more and more models. Combined with social media and direct sales, allowing companies to drop their latest and greatest without waiting for big shows, it seems easier than ever to bring new models to market and everybody’s always launching something new. As a result, it feels like every time I open social media or check my email, somebody is announcing a brand-new model. Now, don’t get me wrong, options are great, and in a perfect world, each one would offer something unique and different. In a perfect world, this incredible abundance would mean every knife lover would find their perfect knife out there somewhere (and if not, well,…

“THE BENEFITS OF FULL TANG? THAT’S AN EASY ONE: SUPER STRONG CONSTRUCTION AND AN INCREDIBLY LONG LIFE FOR YOUR KNIFE.” Tang is an odd-sounding word mentioned throughout the knife community. For those new to the wide-spanning blade-filled world, you may be perplexed as to what it is, what it’s referring to, and most importantly, how does it affect your blade choice and use? The term, tang, refers to the bottom portion of the blade that will either fit partially into the handle, actually run the length of the handle, or just barely be inserted into the handle. When discussing the tang of a knife, these three options offer both pros and cons, as well as a combination of each, depending upon your intended use, the environment you’re using your blade,…

“I THINK I MAY HAVE FOUND (A HINDERER) THAT COULD BE JUST A BIT BETTER FOR THE MAJORITY OF USERS OUT THERE.” Hinderer Knives is an iconic company in the world of folding knives. Rick Hinderer began making art knives in the mid 1980s. After becoming a firefighter/EMT, he began applying what he learned on the job. He moved away from making art knives and began applying his real-word usage needs to his products. He also moved from more traditional knifemaking methods to modern CNC techniques. It didn’t take long for his designs to take hold in the knife world. Today, Hinderer is known for producing tough, well-thought-out and attractive designs that have built a rabid fanbase all around the globe. The icon among icons of the Hinderer lineup has…

If you’re in the market for a custom automatic knife that’s made in America, take a look at Pro-Tech Knives. Highly respected and known for its line of well-made knives, the family-owned company builds models in all price points—from well below $200 to those into the five-digit range. And the best part is that they’re made at the Pro-Tech facility in Artesia, California. “ … THE FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY BUILDS MODELS IN ALL PRICE POINTS—FROM WELL BELOW $200 TO THOSE INTO THE FIVE-DIGIT RANGE.” The company’s craftspeople use premium raw materials, like carbon fiber or wood inlays, rose gold blades, or even special materials like precious metals and jewels, billets of hand-forged Damascus, and sheets of steel and titanium. But they don’t stop there. They use the most current manufacturing processes,…