Pat Covert, Author at BLADE Magazine

Tony Bose: The Legend’s Effect On Pocketknife Designs

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March 17, 2025

Tony Bose: The Legend’s Effect On Pocketknife Designs

How the iconic custom maker transformed pocketknives and the knife industry.

The story of the knife is one of evolution, with thousands upon thousands of steps along the way. When you boil it down, however, it’s really just the passing of knowledge gained from one individual to the next. One who earned an immortal slot in that incredibly long span of time is BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Tony “Old Dog” Bose.

Born of humble beginnings, Tony suffered the loss of an eye at an early age—a setback for anyone, though especially a craftsman—and grew up in Indiana far from any cutlery center. Nonetheless, what he did have was a job repairing knives, and that was all the springboard he needed to launch him into becoming a highly revered custom knifemaker.

Tony produced his first custom knife in 1975 and by 1990 was going full steam—this while the Gulf War was inspiring the modern tactical knife movement. But he had his own plans and continued to gain popularity with the traditional slipjoint crowd, a popularity that surged throughout his knifemaking career. He had a huge impact in his day, not only for the sheer quality of his work and innovative styling, but for his lasting contributions to both the custom and factory knife industries.

Tony Bose As Mentor

Another of Tony’s slipjoint standards is the Lanny’s Clip. “In 1989 I met a good ol’ boy named Lanny Shell,” Tony wrote. “He asked me to make him a knife between 3¾ and 4 inches closed for heavy work with a clip blade in it. I didn’t know what to call it, so I called it Lanny’s Clip.” (Caleb Royer image)

One way to judge a master craftsman is by the people he taught.

“I first met Tony at the Guild Show in Florida,” notes Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bill Ruple, a knife legend in his own right. “I had just begun making knives and when I saw what he had on his table I was blown away! Before that I was making folders and a few fixed-blade knives. After seeing his work I focused on multi-blades. As time went on, we became great friends. One of my biggest regrets was not taking time to go and visit him. He invited me many times.

“Any time I had a problem, Tony was there to talk me through it. I’d always pick what I considered to be my best knife and have him critique it at the BLADE Show. He set the standard for all of us multi-blade makers. Reese [Tony’s eldest son] is continuing to set that standard today. I was just one of many who benefited from Tony’s generosity to share his knowledge.”

ABS master smith Harvey Dean, who makes top-notch slipjoints in addition to his award-winning fixed blades, has fond memories of Tony’s mentoring and friendship.

“I met him around 1993 at the New York Custom Knife Show,” Harvey recounts. “He had quite a few slipjoints for sale, and if I recall they did not last long [before they sold out]. I remember most of the people that bought them had memories of carrying his type of knives many years ago. Tony brought them back into popularity.

“Tony’s influence, I think, was his approach to making slipjoints. His grinds, swedges and the function of the knife were all spot on. His handle material was always exceptional. For me, Tony’s generosity in sharing his knowledge was the most important thing. I could call Tony anytime for help and he always helped me out. I still have, I think, three patterns Tony made for me, mailed them to me, and would not take any payment for them.”

Tony did the same for Ruple and ABS master smith Steve Dunn. “Tony sent me many patterns over the years and never charged me a penny,” related Dunn, who passed away last year. “He will go down in the books as the best slipjoint maker ever.”

At a BLADE Show circa 2010, Ruple told Tony his favorite knife ever was the Bose saddlehorn trapper.

“After the show I received a package from Tony,” Bill writes. “Inside were two different-sized saddlehorn trapper patterns. He had hand ground them! That’s the kind of guy Tony was. He was a kind, generous gentleman, always willing to share his vast knowledge of knives.”

One look at Tony’s knives at a Knifemakers’ Guild Show and Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bill Ruple started focusing on making multi-blades. The rest is history, including Bill’s five-blade sowbelly. (SharpByCoop knife image; image of Ruple by Chris Wellhausen)

One of Tony’s greatest achievements, in his own words, was teaching his son Reese to make folding knives. Tony commented on mentoring him in about as strong a statement as it gets.

“I have helped a lot of guys figure out how to make pocketknives,” he noted, “but Reese is the only one I have taught.” Today, Tony’s son is considered one of the world’s best slipjoint makers.

Reese has fond memories of his father.

“When I’m asked about Tony, a few things come to mind: generosity, influence and impact,” Reese says. “Tony’s generosity with his time and knowledge were truly something special. I can’t even begin to count the number of phone calls we had over the years. I do remember one of our first conversations when Tony told me, ‘Boy, you are gonna have to learn swedge work.’ He was always ready to give advice about knifemaking and even the day-to-day of running a knife business.

“Many makers went in and out of his doors with no money ever exchanging hands. It was this time spent sharing advice, knife patterns, and even loaning out vintage knives that illustrated the influence Tony will continue to have in the knifemaking world.”

Tony Bose & Case Knives

The knife collaborations Tony did with W.R. Case & Sons increased the awareness of and interest in the company to much higher levels, even during times when the cutlery world was consumed with tactical fare. His was also a constant presence at assorted Case collector events for knife enthusiasts of all ages, giving seminars, meeting and greeting all in attendance, etc.

His contributions were such that on July 14, 2023, he became the first person in over 20 years to be honored with a Wall-Of-Fame induction ceremony at the W.R. Case & Sons facility in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The induction included a plaque of Tony installed on the Wall Of Fame in the Zippo/Case Museum. Tony’s son Reese, Bill Ruple and others were on hand for the event.

Fred Feightner, Case director of marketing communications, remembers the early years in 1999 when Case hired Tony as a designer to elevate the company’s folding knives to a greater level of quality and relevance.

One of Tony’s greatest achievements, in his own words, was teaching his son Reese to make slipjoints. “I have helped a lot of guys figure out how to make pocketknives,” Tony noted, “but Reese is the only one I have taught.” From the looks of his son’s five-blade congress pattern, Tony taught Reese well. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)

“My first one-on-one interactions with Tony came nearly 20 years ago as a result of an assignment I was given by Tom Arrowsmith, our company president at the time,” Fred recalls. “I had only been with the company a couple of years, so I was pretty new to the knife industry with very little exposure to the world of custom knives. The assignment was to produce an eight-to-10-minute video about Tony to support the introduction of the swayback pattern, our latest online edition of our Case-Bose series.

“Naturally, I was excited to be traveling to meet this famous knifemaker. So, with stars in my eyes, off I went to Tony’s shop in Indiana. The address I was given took me to Tony’s house. Once there, I was surprised to learn this superstar was making his impeccable knives from inside his attached garage. Tony came out to meet me and took me inside, showed me around the shop a bit, and introduced me to his son Reese, who was situated in a far corner. Then Tony offered me a cup of ‘cowboy coffee,’ which turned out to be coffee boiled in a camp pot and kept warm over a hot plate that was within easy reach from his desk all day.

“Over the next two days I would be treated to the most in-depth knifemaking tutorial series one could only imagine,” Feightner exclaims. “Being an eyewitness to the painstaking care that Tony took in preparing even a single knife for one of his customers was truly awe inspiring. I still recall watching him hunched in his shop chair, sanding down knife parts by hand for hours until they fit to perform perfectly when assembled. He was such a patient teacher! It was never a problem for him to answer questions while he was working away. That visit really provided me with the foundation I needed to do my job better as a Case marketing communicator.”

Tony collaborated on knives with Case for two decades, including this Eureka jack in abalone and 154CM stainless steel in 2017. (Case image)

Tony’s collaborations with Case worked like magic. His upscale Case XX limited editions, delivered in signed brown leather zipper pouches, are some of the finest pocketknives ever produced by the company—or any company for that matter—and his Bose-branded boxed knives are highly collectible.

His signature Lanny’s Clip, designed for a friend, has become legend among both custom folder makers and Case collectors alike. Tony passed away in 2020, only one year after being inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame, but his imprint on the cutlery industry will last as long as his knives walk and talk—which will be a long, long time.

More Pocketknife Info:

5 Pocketknife Breakthroughs That Changed The Class Of Knife
What Makes A Great Pocketknife? The Pros Weigh In
What Makes The Perfect Pocketknife?
How To Close A Pocketknife

Leap Of Faith Knifemakers: From Home Shop To Factory

Knifemaking

Pat Covert

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February 13, 2025

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Leap Of Faith Knifemakers: From Home Shop To Factory

How two U.S. knifemakers successfully transitioned from home shop to factory.

Ever wonder why some custom knifemakers decide to take the leap from the rarified air of being a sole artisan to the crowded arena of factory fare? Sometimes the answer is easy. For instance, in 1999, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Chris Reeve switched his custom shop over to a micro-manufacturing outfit in Boise, Idaho, simply because he couldn’t supply enough of his popular Sebenzas to a thirsty knife-buying public. That one move catapulted Chris Reeve Knives (page 26) into a successful American manufacturer of folders and fixed blades.

We thought the practice of switching from shop-to-factory, and the reasoning behind such a move, to be an interesting one, so we sought out a couple of like-minded makers from two different genres to bring you an inside look at such a move.

Long Road Of American Knife Manufacturing

Daniel Winkler never planned on producing factory knives, but when a government contract to aid the troops fighting in the Middle East came along, his love of country won out. He had, however, made a name for himself long before that. Winkler built his first knife in high school shop class and still has it among the knives he has archived. In the ensuing years he began gaining popularity among members of the black-powder and knifemaking communities. In the late 1980s he teamed up with partner Karen Shook, whose sheaths greatly complement his custom period knives to this day. In 1992 he forged blades for the hit movie The Last of the Mohicans starring Daniel Day-Lewis, which enhanced Winkler’s popularity even more.

Daniel Winkler went from a one-man knifemaking shop he used from 1992-2006 in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, to the 35,000-square-foot facility he and partner Karen Shook operate in Blowing Rock today.

Simply stated, Daniel Winkler is more than a knifemaker, he’s an institution. But it was a long road with a lot of steps along the way. “My first shop was in the hall of my house. I would clamp knives to the stairs and file them to shape,” he recalls. “I graduated to a garage and bought a 1-by-42-inch belt sander. My first forge was made from a truck wheel and a vacuum cleaner. I used charcoal and a piece of railroad rail for an anvil. I still have that anvil, too.” Winkler says his biggest challenge during those early days was “a lack of time, as I had to work a full-time job—and mostly a lack of practical knowledge.” As his popularity grew so did his equipment and capabilities as a master forger, but that would bring change as well.

“I never really wanted to make factory knives,” Winkler opines. “Back in the mid-2000s I was contacted by members of a Special Operations group. They were not happy with the edged equipment they were getting and asked if I would help them get better designed and higher functioning equipment. Initially, I was going to help with the design and development and contract another manufacturer to make the tools. What I found was other people wanted to do things their way and not adapt their manufacturing methods to how I wanted operations done.

“Karen and I discussed the situation and decided whether we were going to be involved with making edged equipment that could very realistically mean life or death based on the performance of the equipment. We decided that no compromise was worth accepting, so we started our own limited production company. We called it Winkler Knives II since we were still making our hand-forged pieces. We successfully made the requested equipment, and [Winkler Knives II] started growing by word of mouth in the military community. As we grew in professional circles, the public with an interest in Tier-1-level military uses found us. Our involvement was verified in a book written by a Navy SEAL and the Sunday edition of The New York Times. Business took a big leap after that.”

Making The Leap Into Knife Manufacturing

Sparks fly on the grinding line in Winkler’s Blowing Rock, North Carolina, facility. The company employs one part-time and 28 full-time employees.

“My first shop was my one-man forging/grinding shop. I hired two part-time staff to assist in handling it. It was a very tight space,” Daniel notes. “From here I added additional grinders and rented a small space in a warehouse. I did the steel grinding and heat treating while Karen worked on finishing. The first models were two Combat/Breaching Hatchets—one for Naval Special Warfare and another for Army Special Operations. That was in 2004-2005.”

Today Winkler Knives has exploded in size to a 35,000-square-foot facility with one part-time and 28 full-time employees. Daniel credits buying a water jet to cut production costs, hiring the right people, and creating an environment for lasting and satisfying jobs.

“I have a rule we adhere to,” he observes. “Any changes we make must make the product better in performance and/or quality, and make the operation safer for our employees.” It is a dictate that continues to make Winkler Knives a mainstay in the business of all that cuts.

Paying Dues

In 2019 McNees Knives went from a 400-square-foot shop to today’s 3,500-square-foot factory. Among the hot sellers for McNees are the MAC2 integral-lock folders.

United States Marine Corps veteran and devoted outdoorsman Jonathan McNees of Vernon, Alabama, has always been a knife fan, and when he got drawn into the world of custom knifemaking on the internet he was hooked for good. “I started making knives in 2008 after discovering online forums where people were discussing making knives in their personal garages and the like. Before that,” he remembers, “I really had no idea people were doing that—not at that level, at least.” Finding some brands he’d never seen before, like Strider Knives, led him to locating the forums, he added.

“My first shop was a 400-square-foot pole barn in my backyard that started with an extension cord run from the house to power it,” McNees reveals. “I cobbled together my first 2-by-72 grinder using some ‘no weld’ grinder plans I picked up. It was the epitome of a ‘Frankengrinder’—a bench grinder for a motor and a plastic lawnmower wheel as a drive wheel, but it got the job done. I ground hundreds of knives on it before I bought a real grinder. The most difficult thing in the early days, aside from learning the hand-to-eye coordination on the technical stuff, was getting my name out there and building a reputation. I had to be aware of my place in the food chain and pay my dues.

“My breakthrough moment to switch to factory knives came from looking at my work from a business perspective. I always tried to work fast but no matter how fast I got, the business was never going to scale with me building customs by myself. I realized I not only wanted to be a craftsman but I also wanted to build a business. I went to production in 2019. I realized I couldn’t make the kind of impact in the industry I wanted to by just flying solo doing customs. I was probably putting out between 200-to-300 knives a year as a custom knifemaker.

The McNees Knives Ridge Runner won the BLADE Magazine 2024 Fixed Blade Knife Of The Year® Award at last year’s BLADE Show. The 3.7-inch blade is CPM 3V carbon steel and the handle is G-10. MSRP: $312. (Jocelyn Frasier image)

“The first step into production was using U.S. OEM shops to do all the machining and grinding work,” he continues. “I hired two people—one primarily ran our laser, which we did non-knife projects with to help with cash flow, and the other I taught to do all the hand fitting and assembly. I helped where needed on the production but mostly continued to make customs during this phase.” All this continued to be done in the 400-square-foot shop.

“One big step forward came in 2021 when we moved and built a 3,500-square-foot shop and bought our first CNC mill,” Jonathan states. “Since then, we’re up to seven full-time employees plus myself, and my wife has come to work full time in the business for a total of nine. Our bread and butter is our framelock tactical folders, but we also have a good start on a fixed-blade line with three new models added this year.

“We should finish with 3,000-to-4,000 knives produced this year, but our biggest recent accomplishment is a great increase in production numbers thanks to getting a lot of processes dialed in and getting a really solid team in place,” he observes. “We have a new folder coming out next year that is based off one of my most popular custom designs, so we’re really excited about that. We plan to continue to scale and grow as much as we can. We love this industry and want to provide a positive influence.”

Parts for a McNees Knives folder are removed from the plate used to surface grind them, a far cry from the days when they were done by hand.

Daniel and Jonathan are two custom knifemakers who made the leap to factory production for two different yet legitimate reasons, but both share the common commitment of making knives. They reflect the American dream in action and have done themselves proud.

More On Knifemaking:

D.I.Y. POWER HAMMER: DO YOU REALLY NEED ONE?
STAINLESS DAMASCUS: CHALLENGES IN FORGING
STROPPING: WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT’S ACCOMPLISHED
DIY ENGRAVING VISE OR BLOCK

Best Daggers: Top Options That Get To The Point [Tested]

Pat Covert

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December 30, 2024

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Best Daggers: Top Options That Get To The Point [Tested]

Modern takes on a Stone Age standard come in a spectrum of styles.

Daggers have been a favorite go-to blade of humans for many millennia. Before the advent of metals, symmetrical blade styles such as daggers and spear points, as well as projectile points, were the earliest formal cutting edges of Stone Age peoples. It was only natural these forms carried over into the Bronze Age and, indeed, through to today.

The knife with the decidedly pointed tip and double edge* played a prominent role in both World Wars and continues to be a prime choice of many operatives. Some prefer one for self-protection in the home or as an EDC, and many cutlery enthusiasts collect them for sheer sentimental value. As an everyday working knife there are better-focused blade options, but in a pinch the dagger can perform basic functions. Where it shines, however, is when used for stabbing and slicing. Let’s look at several factory options and put them through their paces.

KA-BAR Ek Commando Presentation Knife

The Ek performed equally well in quick pull-throughs on the pork tenderloin and in piercing/splitting the apple.

KA-BAR Ek Commando Presentation Knife Specs
Blade length: 6.625”
Blade steel: 440C stainless
Handle material: Walnut
Weight: 8.8 ozs.
Overall length: 12.625”
Sheath: Brown leather belt model
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $351.64

Pros

Historic Design
High-Quality Materials
Secure Grip

Cons

Weight Toward Tip
Expensive

The Ek Commando Presentation Knife is a high-grade commemorative in KA-BAR’s historic John Ek Knife Co. series. It features a double-ground, slightly waisted spear point blade in a mirror finish. The blade has a long, flat ricasso etched with the Ek Commando Knife Co. shield logo plus KA-BAR Olean, NY above the guard. The handle is lacquered walnut and the guard and lugs are brass with copper-washed accents.

Fox Knives Tactical Elementum Dagger

The Fox Tactical Elementum Dagger’s serrations provide an added level of utility. The knife dispatched 2-inch-wide seatbelt webbing with gusto. The dagger blade may not be as effective as other, more utilitarian styles but it can still cut well when needed.

Elementum Dagger Specs
Blade length: 3.94”
Blade steel: Bohler N690 stainless
Handle material: Black polypropylene and Thermorubber (PP and TPE)
Weight: 3.53 ozs.
Overall length: 8.11”
Special feature: One side plain, one side serrated
Sheath: Kydex w/dual MOLLE mounts
Country of origin: Italy
MSRP: $123.40 at press-time exchange rate

Pros

Durable Finish
Ergonomic Handle
Compact

Cons

Niche Utility

Italian knife manufacturer Fox Knives originally designed the Tactical Elementum Dagger for flight crews of French combat helicopters. The knife boasts hidden-tang construction and a short blade in a matte black Idroglider finish. The two blade grinds meet in the middle at a small ricasso marked with the Fox logo, company location and blade steel. The handle has a ribbed double-guard at the top and six beefy diagonal ribs on the lower half terminating with a lanyard hole in the base.

Spartan-George Raider

The author tested the Spartan-George’s slim, trim blade for slice ability on pork tenderloin. Using quick, single pull-through strokes he cut off medallions of the tenderloin with ease.

Spartan-George Raider Specs
Designer: Les George
Blade length: 7”
Blade material: SK5 carbon steel
Handle material: Black thermoplastic
Weight: 7.1 ozs.
Overall length: 12”
Knife to know: Tribute to U.S. Marine Corps Raider stiletto of World War II
Sheath: Black injection molded
Country of origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $150

Pros

Great Edge
Comfortable Handle
Durable Finish

Cons

Narrow Blade

Knifemaker/United States Marine Corps veteran Les George designed the Spartan-George Raider as a tribute to the U.S. Marine Corps Raider stiletto of World War II. The sleek dagger sports a double-ground, black-powder-coated blade. The opposing blade grinds meet in the middle, leaving a small ricasso at the base upon which a small Spartan and George logo are tastefully imprinted. The handle incorporates a double guard and a large ovate checkered section on each side of the grip for enhanced purchase. The sheath includes a 1.5-inch-wide black nylon hanger.

SOG Pentagon FX Covert

The SOG nailed one of the functions daggers do best—stabbing.

Pentagon FX Covert Specs
Blade length: 3.41”
Blade steel: Crucible Cryo S35VN stainless
Handle material: G-10, flat dark earth
Weight: 3.9 ozs.
Overall length: 7.52”
Special feature: Customizable grip
Sheath: GRN (Glass Reinforced Nylon) thermoplastic, SOG Universal Mount
Country of origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $189.95

Pros

Removable Scales
Full-Tang Construction
Enhanced Grip

Cons

Specialized Design

The FX makeover of the SOG Pentagon is both innovative in its cosmetics and versatility. The blade is black titanium nitride coated. The grinds meet in the middle and there is a section above the short ricasso grooved two-thirds of the way up. The name of the knife is finely imprinted on the top front grind and the steel type and country of origin on the back. The blade and full-tang handle are fully exposed around the perimeter of the scales with gimping below the guard and on the base. The scales can be removed by a single lug on the base, allowing them to be swapped out, or the skeletonized steel frame can be used without them.

Testing The Daggers

I tested the Ek and Spartan-George Raider for stabbing prowess by plunging them down through the core of fresh apples. The Ek took no prisoners, not only piercing through top to bottom but laying the fruit out in two neatly cleaved halves. The Spartan-George provided similar results, penetrating the apple but not quite splitting it in half due to the narrower blade width and thinner blade steel—though wicked nonetheless.

Pork tenderloin was the slicing medium. Using rapid, single strokes, I took the Spartan-George to task. The dagger is extremely sharp on both edges, so I took turns on each side of the blade doing pull-throughs on the hapless tenderloin. The knife sliced off perfect pork medallions at will, passing the slice test with flying colors.

The SOG Pentagon FX Covert (bottom) and Fox Tactical Elementum (top) proved useful when cutting paracord and rappelling rope. The shorter blades are very much in the scale to what many knife users are accustomed. The author indicated the test group’s two smaller daggers are easier to use than the larger ones “when getting down to the nitty gritty” is required.

After cooking the tenderloin, I tested the Ek in similar fashion and got similar results. The waisted blade profile shifts with more weight toward the tip and gives it excellent grab similar to a recurve. Like the Raider, the Ek performed quick pull-throughs with ease.

What the two smaller test knives, the Fox and the SOG, lack in size they make up for in ease of concealment. Both have EDC potential for a high degree of self-protection with a modicum of utility.

I tested the Fox’s serrated edge slicing standard 2-inch nylon seatbelt webbing and achieved excellent results. Likewise, the plain edges on both knives handled paracord in one pull stroke, and 3/8-inch rappelling rope laid flat on a wood surface in two strokes. Both daggers passed the pork tenderloin stab test with aplomb. Because they’re smaller, it’s easier to do detail and utility work with blades in their size range than with blades twice their length.

Dagger Sheaths

The Spartan-George Raider sheath (top) is more durable and versatile, while the Ek Commando’s commemorative leather sheath captures the period as it was intended.

The Fox has a MOLLE-compatible sheath with two simple DOTS gates that can be modified with a myriad of readily available aftermarket attachments. The SOG uses a proprietary setup—the SOG Universal Mounting System—developed for a group of the company’s fixed blades. Both of the smaller daggers can double as boot knives as well.

The sheaths of the Fox (left) and SOG (right) are radically different. The Fox has a simple MOLLE sheath with two simple DOTS gates, enabling you to modify it with a variety of attachments. The SOG uses a proprietary setup—the SOG Universal Mounting System.

The Raider’s black injection-molded unit is durable and versatile, while the Ek captures the period as it was intended. The Raider sheath lends itself to converting to a concealed inside-the-jacket shoulder rig as well.

Going Large Or Small

Daggers come in many shapes and sizes but all are primarily geared for self-defense, with any utility abilities a bonus. The first question you need to answer is whether a large or small dagger suits you best. Large daggers like the Ek and Spartan-George excel at sheer combat because they reach out and touch someone, aka an assailant, more easily. If ease of carry, especially concealed, is a top priority, both the SOG and Fox will serve you well. Choices abound in the world of the dagger.

*Despite recent advances in pro-knife legislation, check your local and state ordinances for laws concerning knives with double-edged blades. The same goes for concealed-carry knives.

Flipper Knives: Top Fast-Deployment Blades

Uncategorized

Pat Covert

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December 4, 2024

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Flipper Knives: Top Fast-Deployment Blades

Ponder three markedly diverse examples of the quickest manual flippers.

When BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Kit Carson’s CRKT M16 design hit the shelves in 1999, it was a crapshoot in a rapidly growing field of modern tactical folders. To say the least, the M16 caught on like gangbusters and, well, here we are a quarter century later featuring the genre in BLADE®. Kit is no longer with us but his legacy is cemented in cutlery history as the popularizer of the modern-day flipper folder.

Bladerunners Systems (BRS) Khopesh

Not the fastest blade in the test stable due to its sheer weight, the Khopesh makes up for it by tackling larger chores such as lopping off quarter-inch slices of 2-inch-diameter summer sausage.

Bladerunners Systems Khopesh Specs
Blade length: 4”
Blade steel: Bohler M390 stainless
Blade pattern: Drop point
Pivot: Ball bearing
Handle material: Titanium, black G-10
Carry: Pocket clip
Weight: 6 ozs.
Closed length: 5”
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $196.95

Pros

Versatile Utility
Smooth Deployment
Ergonomic and Secure Grip

Cons

Heavy Weight
Slower Blade Deployment

At 9 inches open and 6.07 ounces, the Bladerunners Systems (BRS) Khopesh is the big bad wolf of the test bunch. The large stonewashed blade rolls out with ease thanks to a smooth ball bearing pivot. The flipper is the main mode of transportation for the blade, though it is pinch-able via three diagonal blade grooves to assist. The handle has V-shaped, bead-blasted titanium bolsters with silky rails housing a linerlock. A machined, reversible titanium pocket clip completes the package.

The Khopesh is a handful of knife. The flipper tab is easily accessed and plenty big for the fingertip to do its thing. The wide handle offers excellent grip for the remaining fingers and thumb. Even the inner pad of the palm offers support to purchase when flipping.

The Khopesh is over twice the heft of the two lightest review folders and, considering the weight, I didn’t expect the blade to fly out of the handle when using the flipper. However, I was delightfully surprised at how well the pivot added to the speed of deployment. With a bit of practice you can get quite proficient at it, and its size works to its advantage as the large handle aids in getting a good grip. The BRS entry won’t set any speed records for blade rollout but it’s fast enough for most applications.

A knife as large as the Khopesh also offers more utility advantages than a smaller one. The flipper folder is game for a lot of uses, whether cutting rope or preparing a meal on the go. I tested the blade on a chub of summer sausage and lopped off quarter-inch slices like a walk in the park.

Zero Tolerance 0990

The 0990 is small but don’t tell its 3.25-inch blade. It made quick work of slicing through paracord and 3/8-inch rappelling rope. Check out the clean, surgical cuts. That’s some mighty fine slicing!

Zero Tolerance 0990 Specs
Blade length: 3.25”
Blade steel: CPM 20CV stainless
Blade pattern: Drop point
Handle material: Carbon fiber, steel overlay
Carry: Pocket clip
Weight: 2.9 ozs.
Closed length: 4.4”
Special feature: Floating Bridge skeletonized frame
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $330

Pros

Eye-Catching Design
Smooth and Fast Deployment
High-Quality Blade Material

Cons

Small Flipper Tab
Grip Comfort

Zero Tolerance pushes the design envelope with the 0990, a spinoff of its limited edition 0999. The 0990 is highly skeletonized to the point that even the blade stop—aka a floating bridge—is exposed. The 4.4-inch handle features a steel frame with black carbon fiber onlays. The blade secures open via a linerlock hidden by the carbon fiber on the front frame rail. The tip-up pocket clip can be reversed to the front. The blade operates on a KVT ball bearing pivot and can be flipper-activated or pinched open by its oblong cutout.

ZT flipper tab — The ZT has a small tab that once fired flips the blade out in the blink of an eye. Practice makes perfect when using a flipper folder with a small tab or slim handle.

The 0990 is the most distinctive member of the test trio both design- and flipper-wise. When the blade is closed the flipper tab extends out under the floating bridge. When flipped, the blade tang revolves and snicks into place on the bridge, holding the blade rigid. It’s what blades normally do—you just get to see it happen. The flipper tab is small, so it helps to practice flipping it to become totally familiar with its location and action. Practice makes perfect. Once activated, the KVT ball-bearing does a great job of flinging the blade out post haste, and the whole system is tight as a drum.

The ZT flipper folder is a mid-sized EDC capable of small-to-medium tasks—from opening mail and packages, preparing snacks, even cutting paracord and 3/8-inch rappelling rope—and in a pinch will offer a welcome level of protection. I tested the blade on some rope and paracord and the CPM 20CV blade cut extremely well. Plus, the 0990 will definitely wow your friends on work breaks.

CobraTec Ghost

CobraTec Ghost Frame Lock Specs
Blade length: 3.75”
Blade steel: Damascus
Blade pattern: Modified wharncliffe
Pivot: Ball bearing
Handle material: Titanium
Carry: Pocket clip
Weight: 2.4 ozs.
Closed length: 5”
Special feature: Glass breaker
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $199.99

Pros

Stylish Design
Lightweight and Compact
Surprising Versatility

Cons

Grip Challenges

CobraTec’s streamlined Ghost flipper folder has all the style and grace of a stiletto on steroids, eschewing a symmetrical dagger blade for a wicked modified wharncliffe with linerlock. The knife adds to its mystique with a damascus blade and skeletonized handle etched in a pattern complementing the blade steel. That’s a lot to digest but, all in all, it works. The blade engages exclusively by the flipper tab—even the latter is skeletonized—and swings out effortlessly on a ball-bearing pivot. Out back is a bead-blasted, tip-up pocket clip and there’s a lanyard hole and glass breaker in the butt.

Thanks in no small part to its ultra-slim profile and light weight, the knife is a speed demon. With little drag on its ball-bearing pivot, the blade literally flies out when flipped. I found the flipper tab easily accessible and the exposed framelock makes it easy to reload. The slim profile makes it harder to grip than a wider model but, as with any knife, practice and familiarity makes perfect. You can’t knock its looks, either. There’s something about damascus that just warms the soul.

The Ghost has one of the slimmer framelocks you’ll see

Most knives this slender typically excel at jobs like self-defense and melon testing. That said, the tip extends the blade’s slicing ability beyond the standard symmetrical stiletto. I tested the blade by taking off strips of suede and was surprised at how well it performed for such a narrow pattern. I also gauged its penetrating prowess on a cantaloupe and it easily sank to the integral guard with every stab. The Ghost is not a working knife per se but its utility may surprise you.

Knife Steel Trends: What To Look Forward To In 2025

Pat Covert

-

November 11, 2024

1

Knife Steel Trends: What To Look Forward To In 2025

Knife industry pros give their takes on what the hot knife steels will be in the year ahead.

Every cutlery buyer faces a dizzying array of steel choices when it comes to buying that next knife, an array that represents the proverbial “double-edged sword.” While it’s nice to have choices, it can also be hard to keep up with so many options. Fortunately, industry professionals are available to help sort out which stainless and carbon varieties are either catching fire or cooling off.

Hot Steels for 2025

CPM Magnacut: Folders and fixed blades
CPM S30V: Hunting knives, tactical folders, custom knives
CPM S35VN: Tactical folders, custom knives, factory outdoor knives
CPM 154: Hunting knives, EDC knives, custom knives
CPM 20CV: EDC knives, custom knives, knives requiring heightened wear and corrosion resistance
CPM S90V: Knives requiring heightened wear and corrosion resistance
CPM Cruwear: Bushcraft knives and tactical fixed blades
CPM 3V: Bushcraft knives, survival knives, hard-use knives, tactical fixed blades
CPM 4V: Competition cutters, hard-use knives
M390: EDC knives, custom knives
1095: Factory outdoor knives

*The steels are listed in no particular order by the knife patterns/types for which they are favored most by users and makers, according to the story’s sources.

MagnaCut Reigns Supreme

Last year when BLADE took the temperature of steel suppliers, the clear-cut champion of blade materials was Crucible Industries’ CPM MagnaCut stainless. The creation of steel guru Larrin Thomas, MagnaCut remains on top and will stay there for the foreseeable future. Bob Shabala, president of Niagara Specialty Metals, praised the high-performance blade material last year and still does today.

CRKT MagnaCut blade knife — CPM MagnaCut stainless ruled among knife steels in 2024 and will continue to hold sway in 2025. A representative example is the new CRKT Q, a folder in titanium and carbon fiber designed by Richard Rogers. Country of origin: Italy. MSRP: $225.

“We have sold about 320 tons of CPM MagnaCut since its introduction in 2020. It is our biggest selling cutlery grade right now and I don’t expect that to change anytime soon,” Bob said, adding the qualifier, “This is from Niagara Specialty Metals’ limited perspective. I’m sure other mills are working on new grades which I’m not privy to.”

One reason MagnaCut is so popular is it embraces all cutlery genres with ease.

“CPM MagnaCut remains in high demand across various knife patterns,” Bob observed. “Some customers currently using MagnaCut for fixed blades are expanding into folding knives and have expressed plans to continue using the steel for their new designs, reflecting its versatility and ongoing popularity.”

Scott Devanna, vice president of technology and a metallurgist for SB Specialty Metals, tends to concur.

“I’m not sure there will be a new ‘super steel’ introduced in 2025. The introduction of new steels seems to have a three-to-four-year cycle, and with the recent intro of CPM MagnaCut such new introductions may be a few years off. We sell a lot of MagnaCut,” he stated. “I’ve learned over the years that new is very often the primary driver when new grades are introduced. This is what happened with CPM S30V, CPM 20CV and its European equivalent M390, and a few other grades.”

It should be noted that MagnaCut technically is going into its fifth year of existence. As you can see, it takes a while for a steel to work its way into the manufacturing pipeline and be given a thumbs up or thumbs down by the end user.

Specialty Grade Steels

Meanwhile, other specialty grade steels aren’t being ignored. In fact, many knife consumers prefer other steels that suit their needs better, both of the stainless and carbon varieties.

David Fleming Cowboy Knife — CPM 154 stainless will continue to be a steel of choice for custom hunting knives, here on the Cowboy Knife by David Fleming in a handle of sheep horn from a Rocky Mountain bighorn. Overall length: 7 inches.

“CPM S30V, one of the original cutlery-grade steels, continues to be one of our best-selling products,” Shabala noted. “Despite its age*, S30V maintains a strong position in the market, demonstrating its enduring reliability and widespread appeal among knifemakers.

Devanna agrees.

“CPM S30V is still a favorite for hunting knives, as well as CPM 154,” he noted. “For everyday carry folders, M390, CPM 20CV and CPM 154 are still used quite a bit as well.”

Scott said CPM S30V and S35VN remain strong for tactical folders.

Custom knifemakers aren’t as easily swayed by trends and tend to go with steels they are comfortable using, are time-proven to them personally, or geared to their particular customer base. While many are on the MagnaCut train, they tend to be more diverse in their choices.

“Other steels popular among custom knifemakers are M390, CPM 20CV, CPM 154, and to a lesser extent CPM S30V and CPM S35VN,” Devanna stated. “I have heard that CTS-XHP will be re-introduced, and this grade developed quite a following when it was readily available—especially for kitchen knives and high-end folders.”

Added Shabala, “CPM 154 is always popular with the custom makers.”

Carbon Steel

THE CARBON EQUATION
The outdoor crowd—bushcrafters, survivalists and open-air tactical users—has to be pleased with the attention they’ve been getting from the industry. These users’ requirements are different and they prefer a subset of steels all their own.

While major outdoor knife manufacturers like TOPS and ESEE still sell the bulk of their knives in 1095, they have been gradually offering their customers more steel diversity, including stainless versions such as S35VN. The TOPS Shadow Hunter has a 4.5-inch blade of 1095 carbon steel in a tungsten Cerakote®. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $250.

“CPM 3V and 4V are favored for hard-use knives due to the steels’ toughness, while CPM S90V and 20CV are popular among users who prioritize wear and corrosion resistance,” Shabala observed. “CPM 3V and CPM 4V are carbon steels that continue to sell well in specific areas. 3V is in high demand for bushcraft knives and 4V is being used by the current national champion in BladeSports International cutting competitions, Ben Propst. His wife Sue Ann is now using it and in 2024 they both won cutting events in Kokomo and the Smoky Mountain Knife Works fall festival.”

“I think CPM 3V and CPM Cruwear—mostly for bushcraft/survival knives as well as tactical fixed blades—are gaining popularity in the market,” Devanna opined. “CPM 3V has proven itself over the years and continues to be a popular grade. CTS PD#1 was in this category but availability of this grade is a problem.”

While major outdoor knife manufacturers like TOPS and ESEE still sell the bulk of their knives in 1095 carbon steel, they have been slowly offering their customers more diversity in their lines, including such stainless versions as S35VN.

Overall Take

As Shabala and Devanna noted, MagnaCut will be the top dog among steels in 2025, but it’s certainly not the only hound in the kennel.

Scorpion 6 Knives — Shane Magnussen uses the CPM S90V supplied by New Jersey Steel Baron on his model BBV2 folder. Closed length: 4.54 inches. (SharpByCoop image)

The cutlery industry is so diverse in the competition among manufacturers, custom makers, genres of knives and budget categories, there’s room for many different stainless and carbon steels. While what’s in the works remains unknown to most, you can bet there are teams of metallurgists working on the next great knife steel as these words are written.

As a knife enthusiast and cutlery buyer your choices are bountiful in all categories—from EDC to outdoor, fixed blade to folder—and affordable to expensive. Some users buy one knife to last for years while others rotate their carry or require cutting fare for specific purposes.

The good news is your knife and steel options have never been better!

*Editor’s note: The first-ever steel both designed and made specifically for knife blades, CPM S30V has been used for knives since 2001.

More On Knife Steel:

Best Steak Knives: These Are A Cut Above The Rest

Buyer's Guides

Pat Covert

-

September 30, 2024

1

Best Steak Knives: These Are A Cut Above The Rest

Don’t trust your prime cut to anything less!

Cooking a great filet mignon, ribeye or any good cut of meat is an art, so shouldn’t eating it be the same? Most of you have had a good cut of meat fall victim to a dull knife, sliding around on the plate like an ice skater on a rink, scattering peas and mashed potatoes to the wind. As blade-loving folk you know the benefits of a good cutter, so in BLADE®’s special kitchen knife issue let’s consider some of the more refined offerings in steak knives.

Best Steak Knives Specs Comparison

Knife	Blade Length (inches)	Blade Steel	Blade Pattern	Handle Material	Weight (ounces)	Overall Length	Carry	Country Of Origin	MSRP
Bradford Orwell Steak Knife	4.2	AEB-L Stainless	Clip Point	Tan Micarta®	3	8.5	Kydex Sleeve	USA	$128 ($168 with sheath)
Emerson Folding Steak Knife	3.9	154CM Stainless	Clip point	Tan/black layered Richlite	4.56	5	Blade-tip-up pocket clip	USA	$335
Sharps Bros. Meanstreak Grill & Steak Knife	5	S35VN Stainless	Clip point	Titanium	6	9.25	Black thermoplastic blade cover	USA	$110

Bradford USA Orwell Steak Knife

Bradford USA Orwell cutting steak — The author stated the Bradford USA Orwell handles and cuts like a steak knife should, adding “The level of construction and finish is very high throughout, and the Uddeholm AEB-L stainless steel blade is many cuts above that of the average steak knife.” Note the Micarta® handle with a nice palm swell for an enhanced grip and handling.

The Orwell Steak Knife from Bradford USA may look like a Webster Dictionary depiction of what a carnivore cutter should be, but there’s more than meets the eye in this upscale slicer.

The Orwell is a spinoff of the company’s Gatsby design with more handle options geared toward the tactical user and outdoorsman. The full, flat-ground, gently clipped blade has a stonewashed finish (a high polish is also optional). Handle scales on the test sample are tan Micarta®—black, camo and OD green are also available. The test Orwell was delivered with an optional black Kydex sheath.

Of the three review knives, the Orwell more closely resembles what most consider the norm among steak knives in size and configuration. Where it differs from the norm is in sheer quality of both materials and fit and finish.

For your inspection: an inexpensive, run-of-the-mill steak knife and the Bradford. Note the pleasing line and flow of the Bradford compared to lack of same in the other knife. If you’re going to spend good money on an expensive cut of meat, why not spend money on a knife you’ll enjoy eating it with?

I cooked up a black Angus ribeye steak for the occasion and took the Orwell to task. The AEB-L stainless steel blade glided through the steak effortlessly, you might say, “Like an Uddeholm steel should.” This was also aided by the fact that Orwell was the thinnest test blade.

Bradford did a superb job on the handle scales with just the right amount of palm swell for gripping, along with a high degree of finishing for overall comfort. I really had no “druthers” with the Orwell at all, and the Kydex sheath is worth the price of admission both as a protective cover in the drawer or for field use.

Orwell Steak Knife Specs
Blade length: 4.2”
Blade steel: AEB-L stainless
Blade pattern: Clip point
Handle material: Tan Micarta®
Weight: 3 ozs.
Overall length: 8.5”
Carry: Kydex sleeve, easily converted to belt
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $128 ($168 w/sheath)

Orwell Deals

Ernest Emerson Folding Steak Knife

Emerson Knives Folding Steak Knife cutting steak — The author used the Emerson Knives Folding Steak Knife to cut strips of steak for fajitas. The knife is not as svelte as its two test counterparts but if you eat out frequently the portability is well worth the price of admission.

Leave it to Ernest Emerson to produce a steak knife folder. That’s his job, that’s what he does!

The blade of the Emerson Folding Steak Knife boasts an almost imperceptible clip point with a flat grind and rolls out via an ambidextrous thumb disc. The blade secures via a linerlock inside the open titanium frame. The brown layered handle slabs give the knife a rustic look, though you can go with black G-10 if you’ve got a tactical slant. An ample 2.3-inch pocket clip occupies the frame’s back side.

I devoted a portion of the ribeye to taking off approximately 1/8-inch slices for steak fajitas with the Emerson. The 154CM stainless steel blade did an admirable job of slicing, though it is slightly clumsier due to the bulk of the handle compared to, well, a fixed-blade steak knife. That’s the price you pay for portability.

Emerson steak knife closed with carrying case — If you eat out a lot and are out and about doing so, the Emerson may just be your best friend. You’ll never have to experience Sliding Steak Syndrome at a restaurant again!

Despite its size, the handle is comfortable and the Richlite scales are attractive. When you’re finished dining simply wipe the knife down with your cotton restaurant napkin, park the folder in your pocket, and go your merry way.

Folding Steak Knife Specs
Blade length: 3.9”
Blade steel: 154CM stainless
Blade pattern: Clip point
Handle material: Tan/black layered Richlite
Carry: Blade-tip-up pocket clip
Weight: 4.56 ozs.
Closed length: 5”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $334.82

Folding Steak Knife Deals

Sharps Bros. Meanstreak Grill & Steak Knife

The Sharps Bros. Meanstreak Grill & Steak knife is futuristic in style and loaded with upscale features. For starters, the full-tang steak knife boasts a clip-point blade of CPM S35VN stainless steel with a long, angled, flat grind that looks ready to launch.

With its longer blade the Meanstreak is meant not just for cutting meat but handling other chores such as flipping steak. I tested the blade on a hefty pound-and-a-half, 5-inch-across chunk of ham and it whipped through it like it was an afterthought—and the ribeye experienced the same results.

Blade thickness varies on the review group, from thickest on the larger Sharps Bros. (middle) to the thinnest on the Bradford (right). After testing all three steak knives, the author opined that the blade thickness was not much of a factor since all three knives had much better than average blade steel, properly heat treated and professionally edged.

The longest of the blades reviewed, the Meanstreak proved the superior cutter of the pack. Realistically, the extra half inch of blade length isn’t necessary, and some may think it’s too much knife, so it’s a trade-off.

Personally, I didn’t find it burdensome.

The titanium handle is not as comfortable as Micarta grips and the Meanstreak is twice the weight of the Bradford, but it’s easier to clean. These are all preferences you need to weigh when choosing your ideal steak knife.

Meanstreak Grill & Steak Knife Specs
Blade length: 5”
Blade steel: S35VN stainless
Blade pattern: Clip point
Handle material: Titanium
Weight: 6 ozs.
Overall length: 9.25”
Carry: Black thermoplastic blade cover
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $109.95

Meanstreak Grill & Steak Knife

Final Cut

Handles of the three steak knives. — Sharps Bros. opts for an angular titanium handle that matches its futuristic styling. The Emerson is the rare folding steaker replete with linerlock and pocket clip for easy toting. Bradford carries on a more traditional approach with all the traits of a refined custom.

If you’ve been using standard house fare, the three test steak knives should be a vast improvement. All three blade steels are heat-treated and honed to a high degree by professionals who know their steels and how to get the most from them. The biggest difference between the three knives is how you plan to use them.

The Bradford excels where run-of-the-mill steak knives fail. Bradford USA has used Uddeholm AEB-L stainless steel with success for over 10 years, and like every Bradford knife I’ve tested, the fit and finish is superb. This steak knife will spoil you.

The Emerson offers you the portability a fixed blade doesn’t, and that’s important to those who eat out a lot, both at restaurants or in the wild. The company also offers a fixed-blade version of the same knife.

All three test knives go with variations on the flat grind. Emerson uses a “V” flat grind halfway up the blade with a stonewashed flat area. Sharps Bros cements the futuristic styling with a flat grind that takes off like a rocket from choil to tip, and Bradford returns to earth with a full flat grind from spine to edge.

With its longer blade, the Sharp Bros. expands its usefulness beyond the dinner table in areas like meal prep and grilling. The Crucible blade steel is the most advanced blade option I tested, not to mention the titanium scales. If you prefer a knife that goes beyond the dinner plate, the Meanstreak will go there.

Three very different knives, three very different options—choose your slice!

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Hatchets: Hackers That Pack A Punch

Buyer's Guides

Pat Covert

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September 23, 2024

0

Four hot hatchets pack more punch for their size than most.

There’s a good reason hatchets have always been a staple of camp tools. They pack more punch for their size than just about anything else you can put in your hand. Sure, an axe can outperform its smaller sibling but can be both size and weight prohibitive on many outings. Saws are lighter but their blades can break, leaving you empty-handed without a hatchet in the wings.

CAS Iberia APOC Hundr

The CAS Iberia APOC Hundr gets its name from the Old Norse word meaning hound in reference to man’s best friend. It is a bearded-style hatchet with a main handle and head of quarter-inch-thick 9260 carbon steel. Quarter-inch-thick smooth black G-10 scales bring the handle’s overall thickness to three quarters of an inch. The sheath is a black thermoplastic unit that slides open-backed over the hatchet head and is secured by two nylon straps that snap into place.

CAS Iberia/APOC Hundr Hatchet
Blade material: 9260 carbon steel
Cutting edge: 3.75”
Head length: 4.65”
Head @ thickest: .235”
Handle material: G-10 composite
Design feature: Bearded style
Weight: 1 lb., 7 ozs.
Overall length: 12”
Carry: Black synthetic sheath, MOLLE compatible, snap on
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $89

SOG Camp Axe

The SOG Camp Axe is the most modern looking entry and second bearded-style hatchet of the test bunch. Its 5-inch-long head is the longest of the review pieces, too. The head is attached by four Phillips-head screws to a black, ovate GRN (glass-reinforced nylon) handle, and an aluminum collar adds strength. The poll is a healthy .6 inch thick and the main handle is ribbed for added purchase. A minimalist blade cover has a strap that wraps around the back side of the hatchet head and, in a clever touch, hooks horizontally over the SOG logo on the opposite side.

SOG Camp Axe Specs
Blade steel: 2Cr13 stainless
Cutting edge: 3.1”
Head length: 5”
Head @ thickest: .6”
Blade coating: Bright finish w/dark recess
Handle material: GRN (glass-reinforced nylon)
Design feature: Added poll thickness
Weight: 16.1 ozs.
Overall length: 11.5”
Carry: Molded nylon sheath
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $68.69

Schrade Bedrock Axe

Dubbed the Bedrock Axe, Schrade’s entry has the test group’s largest poll, measuring 1.75 by .75 inch. Six-and-a-half inches of the handle is a grippy, black, hard rubber overmold. It is the heftiest of the review hatchets at 1 pound, 8.6 ounces. The black polyester sheath has a fabric-fastener flap at the rear.

Schrade Bedrock Axe
Blade steel: 3Cr13MoV stainless
Cutting edge: 3.5”
Head length: 4.7”
Head @ thickest: .79”
Blade coating: Satin/black oxide
Handle material: Black overmold
Design feature: Thick poll
Weight: 1 lb., 8.6 ozs.
Overall length: 11.75”
Carry: Black polyester/fabric-fastener sheath
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $39.99

Winkler Knives Highland Hatchet

The Winkler Knives Highland Hatchet has all the period visual trappings of Daniel Winkler’s full-blown custom work, though is made via the stock removal method only instead of mostly being forged. While it may be the smallest hatchet of the test bunch, it has the heart of a ram. The maple handle tapers gently toward the base and a lanyard hole. A heat-formed black Kydex sheath with two black nylon drop loops slips over the hatchet head and secures by a heavy-duty elastic rod that wraps around the sheath.

Winkler Knives Highland Hatchet
Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon steel
Cutting edge: 2.55”
Head length: 4.8”
Head @ thickest: .3”
Blade finish: Black Caswell
Handle material: Maple
Sharp stuff: Period design
Weight: 1 lb., 5 ozs.
Overall length: 11”
Carry: Kydex sheath, nylon straps
MSRP: $550
Country of origin: USA

Testing Hatchets

The thicker the poll the easier it is to perform functions like hammering tent pegs. It also adds more weight behind the swing of the hatchet when chopping. The test group offers a selection of poll thicknesses and heights.

I started by checking out the hatchets’ bite with swinging overhand chops on a 14-inch-wide-by-12-inch-deep crosscut slice of seasoned oak. I took each hatchet and buried the upper blade into the cross-grain of the stump, and they all stood up on their own. From there I worked the edge at alternate angles with each hatchet to get an idea of its bite. None of the candidates gave any resistance and all averaged cuts of ¾-to-1-inch deep. I repeated the alternate cuts on a length of 2-inch-diameter green oak tree limb and got similar results with all the subjects.

I tested the hatchets on specific tasks such as pointing stakes, shaving bark and baton work, and the exercises brought out the differences in their dimensions and configurations. For instance, the two bearded hatchets—the SOG and CAS Iberia/APOC—excelled at shaving bark. The ability to grip them behind the blade to direct them simply makes shaving with precision much easier. The Schrade Bedrock, with its large, thin blade, edged out its brethren in pointing stakes.

CAS Iberia/APOC and SOG — The CAS Iberia/APOC (top) and SOG are the bearded type. The longer drop on the bottom front edge allows you to grip the handle and use it to shave or carve wood with precision.

The hatchets with thicker polls, the SOG and Schrade, did better at hammering tent stakes due to their ease of target acquisition and scope of impact. The Winkler Highland Hatchet excelled at baton work, its wedge shape and streamlined profile ideal for the task. The individual advantages along with the size of the hatchet can be priorities in choosing the right one for your needs. Keep in mind, however, just because I called out certain models as excelling at specific tasks, such as pointing stakes, doesn’t mean the others won’t serve you to some degree.

Hatchet Carry

four different takes on hatchet sheathing — The review hatchets offer four different takes on sheathing, from the minimalist SOG at bottom right to the top shelf Winkler Kydex version (second from right).

The sheaths range from the premium one provided with the Winkler Knives Highland Hatchet to the minimalist one accompanying the avante garde SOG Camp Axe. In my days of extended trips in the wild I preferred to pack-carry a hatchet, but some may like it on the belt, and the SOG can accommodate you there. Hatchets are typically made to take abuse but are relatively easy to sharpen, either with a bench stone around the shop or a portable sharpener in the field or on the trail.

Final Cut

Options abound in the hatchet world and those on a budget should have no trouble finding competent fare in the category. The Winkler may seem pricey but once you try it you’ll appreciate its rock solid construction and extraordinary fit and finish. You’ll never be caught saying, “They don’t make ’em like that anymore.” The best news is there is enough diversity in the category that you can choose a hatchet to fit both your needs and budget, and that’s always a good thing.

More Axes, Hatchets And Tomahawks:

Bearded Axe: Best Bashers From Here To Valhalla
Best Tomahawks: Our Top Hawks For Backwoods To Battlefields
Wicked Breacher: Ben Seward’s SWAT Axe
Awesome Axes for Chopping Wood Like a True Lumberjack

Arizona Custom Knives	$95
Bradford USA	$129

Emerson Knives	$335
BladeHQ	$325

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Knife industry pros give their takes on what the hot knife steels will be in the year ahead.

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MagnaCut Reigns Supreme

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Don’t trust your prime cut to anything less!

Best Steak Knives Specs Comparison

Bradford USA Orwell Steak Knife

Orwell Deals

Ernest Emerson Folding Steak Knife

Folding Steak Knife Deals

Sharps Bros. Meanstreak Grill & Steak Knife

Meanstreak Grill & Steak Knife

Final Cut

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Four hot hatchets pack more punch for their size than most.

CAS Iberia APOC Hundr

SOG Camp Axe

Schrade Bedrock Axe

Winkler Knives Highland Hatchet

Testing Hatchets

Hatchet Carry

Final Cut

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