Innehållsförteckning för March/April 2023 från Knives Illustrated

“See, you did it all by yourself.” We’ve said that many times to our kids to voice our pride and boost their confidence as they’ve reached milestones in their growth, whether it was the first time they tied their shoes or rode a bike without us racing along holding on to the back of the seat. As adults, part of the allure of knives, I think, is that they are tools that give us the ability to handle little jobs that, in turn, give us the confidence to tackle life’s bigger challenges. Whether it’s something as simple as opening a package or cutting a string, knives provide us with a certain satisfaction in knowing that we’re capable and handy, that we can accomplish useful things all by ourselves. In this…

“THE BIT WAS VERY SHARP FROM THE BEGINNING AND THAT WAS A WELCOME FEATURE THAT YOU DON’T FIND ON INFERIOR AXES AND HATCHETS.” New, up-and-coming companies in the edged-tool industry tend to get lots of attention as if they have somehow reinvented the cutting edge. But what about the companies that turn out quality products based on more traditional designs and have done so consistently well over many years? Hults Bruk is one of those companies that keeps providing top products that perform year after year with little fanfare. How long have the people there been doing it? This Swedish axe company has been in business since 1697. How’s that for longevity? I figured they must be doing something right, so I decided to find out for myself. On looking…

Several years ago at a knife trade show, I saw a table full of rustic knives and one very large Parang. A sign there read PB&J Handmade Knives, which were made in the USA. I thought it was an interesting name; I always liked peanut butter and jelly as a kid. PB&J comprises three guys: brothers Phillip and Barry Jones, and Jake Kirks. The P stands for Phillip, the B stands for Barry, and the J stands for Jake—all coming together to make up PB&J Handmade Knives. “IF YOU AREN’T USING YOUR OWN KNIVES, HOW CAN YOU EXPECT YOUR CLIENTS TO?” — BARRY JONES “THE HANDLE WAS COMFORTABLE, AND THE BLADE WAS BEYOND SHARP.” THE PB&J WAY These guys like cooking just about as much as I do. Be it…

Food prep can get messy. That’s especially true when I’m handling the kitchen chores. Normally, fixed blades are the right choice for such work. And, normally, it pays to invest in the best kitchen knives you can afford. Otherwise, over time you’ll end up with a drawer full of dull, bent and broken knives that cost in total what you could have paid for a half dozen quality knives that could last a lifetime. AFFORDABLE FOLDERS The exception for me is in a camp kitchen where very little is normal because that’s where I’m the chief cook and bottle washer. Lately, I’ve been trying out the three folding knives from the Ontario Knife Company (OKC) that comprise the company’s Camp Plus series. The series includes a chef’s knife, a santoku…

1. Boker Plus Shovel M1874 I know knives, axes, and even machetes are probably sexier tools, but a good shovel is an invaluable tool around camp or tucked away in your truck or Jeep. Whether digging catholes, drainage trenches or fire pits, or clearing your campsite, it’ll do jobs that your other tools can’t— while still doing a lot of the chopping and cutting that they can. I’ve tried all sorts of folding shovels, and have a good bit of time spent with a military tri-fold entrenching tool, but I always come back to a fixed-handle shovel. The old military styles with the wooden handle are my preference, as the straight handles also let you use the shovel edges like an axe or machete to chop roots and branches, clear…

T wo legends in the outdoors industry, Robert Young Pelton and William W. Harsey, came together to create a knife to honor a hero, Army Special Forces and CIA paramilitary legend Billy Waugh. Robert once asked Billy, “Which knives did you use [during your service], and what did you wish you had?” The answer was an Army-issued, stainless steel folding pocketknife called the DEMO. Thus, it seemed only fitting that the Pelton-Harsey knife collaboration would feature a knife by the same name. RYP DESIGN RYP Design is a newer venture for which Robert Young Pelton partners up with designers and legends to create products that are unique, ranging from books to graphic novels, and knives to survival designs. Robert recruited another Special Forces legend, William W. Harsey, to honor a…

When people think about an outdoor cooking system, they may picture a tripod with a pot hanging from it. A tripod setup may very well be one of the oldest cooking rigs, as depicted in every period-piece movie, TV show, book, or diagram in manuals. “CAST IRON AND FRYING PANS, IN GENERAL, ARE HEAVY AND BULKY. STONES ARE, TOO, BUT THEY ARE MOTHER NATURE’S FRYING PANS AND ARE ALREADY THERE.” COOK SYSTEMS For me, the highlight of any camping trip, day camp trip, or wilderness adventure is making a fire and devising different cooking methods. Besides a tripod, which is versatile for hanging a pot or used to create a smoker, there are countless other tried-and-true cooking methods. A hot dog or chunk of meat impaled on a stick over…

“WHETHER YOU’RE PROCESSING GAME OR CUTTING CORDAGE IN THE GARAGE, IT’LL HANDLE THE JOB WITH EASE WITHOUT BEING A BOAT ANCHOR ON YOUR HIP ALL DAY LONG.” There’s something to be said for a small fixed-blade knife. For most people, it’ll see far more use than a larger knife, given the ease of carry if nothing else. I mean, if we’re being honest, there’s little need for a Crocodile Dundee Bowie knife when it comes to breaking down boxes or cutting up sausage and fruit for lunch, right? The Comanche from Smith & Sons Knives fills the EDC role quite nicely. Whether you’re processing game or cutting cordage in the garage, it’ll handle the job with ease without being a boat anchor on your hip all day long. WHAT’S IN…

Have you ever spotted a knife, say in a catalog or on a website, and you just can’t get it out of your head? Maybe it’s the blade profile that catches your eye. Or the handle is shaped just right and seems perfect for your hand. Whatever it is, that knife is never far from your mind. That’s what happened to me the first time I came across the Sparrow. I stumbled upon it while searching for something else and knew in an instant I had to get my hands on one. However, as is all too often the case when it comes to being a knife collector, my wants at the time exceeded the size of my wallet. So, I had to bide my time for a bit until…

Playing in the great outdoors can generate a terrific hunger, whether you’re hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing or hiking. You probably won’t be able to take a drawer full of blades with you for your camp kitchen, so you’ll probably keep portability in mind when selecting your knives. And because the menu can change from steaks on the grill to the catch of the day, to the traditional hot dogs and beans, you’ll want the few knives you bring to be as versatile as possible.…

I suspect we’ve all been there: You’re out to eat and you order a nice steak, only to have to saw through it with the crappy knife-shaped object that the restaurant provides. Your options are to persevere and continue to mangle your delectable entrée, or resort to your EDC knife, which you know will do a better job. Honestly, I’m all for the latter and have done so on many an occasion, including at SHOT Show dinners in Las Vegas at some pretty high-end steak joints. With that said, depending on how scary your EDC knife is, you risk horrifying your date, the wait staff and the folks around you. To maintain domestic tranquility, and minimize law enforcement involvement during dinner, there has to be a better option. Luckily there…

Knives both fascinate and frighten me. Aside from all the amazing functions they can perform, edged tools are quite deadly. To put it bluntly, blades can ventilate, lacerate, eviscerate, and decapitate. And those are some pretty big reasons why I have spent the past 25 years continuously studying personal protection and (particularly in the last seven years) edged-weapon defense. AMBUSH TACTICS Movies, TV shows, and pop culture have given us a false sense of reality when it comes to bladed attacks. They’re often portrayed as duels, with the hero facing off against a villain who twirls his knife before launching into a beautifully choreographed action scene. The truth is the vast majority of knifing victims don’t even realize they’re being stabbed; they think they’re being punched. “THE TRUTH IS THE…