Innehållsförteckning för September/October 2023 från Knives Illustrated

When you think of the Czech Republic (or its shorter name, Czechia, as of 2016), you may think of beer, or maybe bohemian glass—if you know much about the small European country at all. It may not be as well-known to us across the pond as its larger neighbors, Germany and Poland, but fans of some of the guns coming out of there from CZ or ˇCeská Zbrojovka may be familiar with high-quality Czech craftsmanship and design. If you already trust Czech craftsmanship, you will be happy to know that a newer knife company on the block, ANV Knives, is putting out some svelte, tactically inspired knives made with high-end materials. When I learned of the company, I just had to “Czech” it out—and got my hands on the A100…

SPECIAL SECTION HUNTING KNIVES “THIS IS AN EXCELLENT KNIFE. IT COMES SUPERBLY SHARP FROM THE FACTORY, AND THIS STEEL WILL HOLD AN EDGE.” Hunting big country, such as one of our country’s national forests or designated wilderness areas, can be a grand adventure. But it can require more in terms of physical exertion. So, when covering miles over difficult terrain, you want to keep the weight of what you’re carrying as light as possible. Yet, you still need quality gear that won’t let you down should your enjoyable hunt become a desperate survival ordeal. The Benchmade Raghorn is a fixed blade that can handle big game processing in the field, and it won’t contribute much to the weight of your pack. BIG GAME When you’re hunting whitetail deer…

SPECIAL SECTION HUNTING KNIVES “IT DOES EVERYTHING IT NEEDS TO AS A HUNTING KNIFE…AND DOES SO IN A PACKAGE WITH MINIMAL WEIGHT AND BULK.” When you’re hunting in the backcountry, you need gear that’s going to work and that doesn’t bog you down. There’s no place for tools that don’t perform, especially when you’re carrying all your gear on your back. Hogue recognized this and cut loose Jim and Scott Bruhns, two of its in-house engineers, on crafting a knife that would give peak performance with minimal weight and bulk. The result was the Extrak fixed blade, and it’s impressive. EXTRAK BY THE NUMBERS The Hogue Extrak is made from a single piece of CPM M4 tool steel treated with a cryogenic heat treat resulting in a high…

“THE LONGER, THINNER BLADE OF THE ENUFF 2 AND ITS FLAT GRIND MAKE THIS KNIFE A GREAT SLICER.” In the last couple of years, I’ve committed to carrying a small fixed blade as one of my everyday carry knives. Sometimes a strong fixed blade handles the job with less effort. And when it comes to deploying a knife quickly under stress, I’m faster and more sure-handed with a fixed blade. One of my go-to fixed blades has been the Spyderco Enuff. I can get a full, secure grip on the handle as I thumb it out of its sheath. The stubby blade is efficient at about any task I’m likely to face other than heavy-duty chores when I’d normally choose a machete, hatchet, or saw anyway. While I’ve always found…

1. Outdoor Element Contour Feather Knife When I hit the woods, whether for a day hike or a longer trip, my minimum safety gear consists of a signaling device, a way to make fire, and a cutting tool. Generally this means a whistle, a ferro rod, and a knife. Multifunction gear can combine these three features, but sometimes with mixed results as to durability or functionality. Luckily the folks at Outdoor Element know what they’re doing and got it right with their Feather Knife. The Feather Knife is a neck-knife-sized package with a 2-inch VG-10 blade, a 115dB whistle integrated into the handle, and a hex-shaped ferro rod on the secure-lock sheath. There’s also a ceramic knife sharpener on the sheath to keep your edge tuned. < SPECS: Outdoor Element…

When is a knife a better defensive weapon than a gun? Generally speaking, NEVER. However, outside of a gunfight, a knife is no slouch. As long as human flesh can be cut, knives will remain viable weapons. (NOBODY wants to get stabbed.) Because knives are easy to carry and conceal, you can have one on you and available for emergencies in circumstances where you might not have a gun. Family owned and operated Templar Knife in Waxahachie, Texas, has created what I believe to be the ideal, high-concealment, quick-deploying, defensive knife as part of its new Excalibur line. OTF AUTO Templar’s Excalibur knives are all automatic opening, featuring an out-the-front (OTF) blade deployment mechanism and the company’s patented screwless construction that is the first of its kind. This is not…

SPECIAL SECTION HUNTING KNIVES “THE 4.5-INCH CLIP-POINT BLADE FALLS INSIDE THE UPPER RANGE OF BLADE LENGTHS I PREFER IN AN ALL-AROUND KNIFE.” I’m certain I’ve field-dressed more deer with Buck knives than any other make. On some of those deer I used a Buck 110 Folding Hunter, the first hunting knife I ever owned. It was a gift from my brother. On other deer, I have used one or another of Buck’s fine fixed blades. Buck recently added the 117 Brahma to its lineup of fixed-blade hunting knives. Because I’ve used several of other models extensively, not just for hunting, I was anxious to test this new one. THE SERIES In addition to field care of game, I’ve butchered many deer myself, hoisting them with a pulley system…

“IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A KNIFE THAT COMBINES FUNCTIONALITY, DURABILITY, AND AESTHETICS, YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT KNIVES BY NUGE.” The man behind Knives by Nuge is among the new generation of up-and-coming knifemakers. His blades are crafted from high-grade stainless steel and high carbon steel for a sharp edge that can handle daily use and still perform when needed. Not only that, but his designs feature ergonomic handles for comfort, and non-slip grips for safe usage. If you are looking for a knife that combines functionality, durability, and aesthetics, you should check out Knives by Nuge. These knives are made by a passionate maker who has been using the same coffee mug for eight years. That shows his commitment to quality and simplicity. He designs his knives with a…

“THE MUDBUG IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A KNIFE THAT’S BEEN SCALED BACK TO JUST THE ESSENTIALS…IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND NOTHING YOU DON’T.” Many of my favorite knife companies are family-owned and operated, including Buck Knives, White River Knives, Bark River Knives, and Vehement Knives. Smith & Sons has definitely earned a spot on that list. I’ll admit that I’m a little new to the game when it comes to Smith & Sons. I was just introduced to the company last year, but I’m getting up to speed rapidly. It’s composed of great people making outstanding knives at fair prices. I think we can all agree those are qualities we like to see. This time around, we’re checking out two of its products. One is a traditional lockback…

“DAN DOES CUSTOM AND SEMI-CUSTOM KNIVES AS WELL AS OCCASIONALLY WORKING WITH OTHER COMPANIES TO PRODUCE WHAT IS CALLED A MID-TECH RUN.” There’s something about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that attracts knifemakers. Honestly, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find many other areas of the country that have as many well-established knifemakers per capita. It is here where you’ll find shops like Bark River Knives, Vehement Knives, and Ghostown Custom Knives. Dan Tope is another one of those U.P. makers. His shop, D. Tope Knives, is in Rapid River, Michigan, a small unincorporated community at the northern end of Little Bay de Noc. Over the last six or seven years, he’s been making quite a name for himself as a standout in the knife world. HOW HE GOT HERE “I was…

Sometimes we tend to think of hunting knives as specialized tools designed to do one thing well: field-dress game animals. While they should perform that task well, they must be able to handle other jobs too, especially when you’re traveling light in the backcountry and you’re limited to carrying just one knife. In this special section, we’ve highlighted a select few fixed-blade models that we think fill that role very well.…

SPECIAL SECTION HUNTING KNIVES On the west side of Michigan, just shy of 50 miles north of Grand Rapids, lies the city of Fremont. Fairly small as cities go, with a population just over 4,500, its most famous claim to fame is probably being The Baby Food Capital of the World, given that Gerber Products is based here. However, if you explore the town a bit, you’ll find one of the best knife companies in the United States tucked away in an industrial park on the west side. Sure, that’s a matter of opinion, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who will disagree. White River Knife & Tool, or known as just White River Knives, is a small, family-run company. The Cammengas are known throughout the knife…

“THE SHEEP CREEK HAS…A BLADE LENGTH OF 3.75 INCHES…THIS MAKES IT PERFECT FOR EVERYDAY CARRY (EDC) AND CAMPING.” When it comes to an all-around knife for woods chores, would you consider either a Wharncliffe blade or a classic hunting knife pattern? Recently, I took fine examples of each, namely the TOPS Sheep Creek and Woodcraft, and compared their performance. SHEEP CREEK I stumbled upon an intriguing knife at the 2021 Blade Show called the Sheep Creek (nicknamed the Dilly Dilly), an excellent knife design by Dylan Waters, one of TOPS’ employees. It piqued my interest because it won the fifth employee design contest. Every year since 2017, TOPS has been inviting its employees to participate in a knife design contest. Anyone who works at TOPS can submit a sketch of…