Here are BLADE Magazine’s Featured Knives of the Week. Browse through these articles to find the best knives available from both custom knifemakers and factory knives.
The Boker Gnome Is A Fun Little Fixed Blade That’s An Excellent Neck Knife And Can Serve You Well As An EDC.
Sometimes bigger isn’t necessarily better. The new Boker Gnome fixed blade is a little gem that can be your trusty sidekick in the home and elsewhere.
It starts with a 2.2-inch wharncliffe blade of D2 tool steel. The knife comes in two different handle types. The one featured above is made from olivewood, and there is a slightly more expensive green Micarta® version. The big lanyard hole at the butt of the handle comes in handy if you want to lash the Gnome to your pack or hang it around your neck. Everything is kept safe thanks to the included leather belt sheath.
Even though it’s small, the handle is rounded in such a way that the knife is easy to grip. It weighs just 1.6 ounces so is light and simple to use. So many neck knives trade quality for convenience. The Boker Gnome is high quality as it is convenient.
A December 2014 feature article by staff writer Phil Perry online and in the Lincoln Times-News of Lincolnton, N.C., mentions BLADE® Magazine and KNIVES 2015. A knifemaking feature on ABS journeyman smith and commercial pilot Steve Randall, it starts:
Often, when a craftsman pursues the road to independence through a business venture, they are inspired by a lifetime of collecting or being exposed directly to the craft. That wasn’t necessarily the case for Lincoln County’s Steve Randall, who has made an international name for himself crafting custom hand-forged knives from his workshop on the eastern end of the county.
“As an avid survivalist, I have used knives all my life,” he said. “I never collected them or thought a whole lot about it. Once I was bitten with the bug I have been obsessed with it ever since.”
Things changed in 2009 when Randall started “KSR Blades” and built an extension onto his garage to house the vast amount of forging equipment needed to facilitate his burning passion to produce high-quality hand-forged knives.
“I made my first sale on eBay and I was pretty excited,” Randall said. The ABS journeyman smith doesn’t sell his product on auction sites these days. Having been featured in national magazines like “Knives Illustrated,” “BLADE® Magazine” and four of his creations featured in “KNIVES 2015,” Randall has a one-year backlog on special orders and also ships to Germany, Sweden, Australia and Canada.
An EDC That Does It All, The Outdoor Edge FieldLite Is An Excellent And Affordable Option That Stands Out From The Pack.
What’s better than a strong, easy-to-use EDC that shines in numerous situations? A knife that does all that and clocks in under $30. Say hello to your new best friend: The FieldLife from Outdoor Edge.
With the DNA of a robust hunting knife flowing through it, the FieldLite stands out in a crowded EDC market thanks to its steel as well as its light and durable handle. The handle is a mix of glass and nylon with rubberized inserts embedded to enhance grip. Coupled with
Outdoor Edge FieldLite
a thumb stud on one side, this knife is fun to hold and fun to open. It also has a clip so it can easily slide onto a belt or purse strap.
The 3.3-inch blade is made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. A budget steel that swings above its weight with a Rockwell Hardness of 62, the knife holds an edge well and resists wear and corrosion thank to its high percentage of Chromium.
At just 7.5 inches in total length, and weighing in at only 2.6 ounces, the FieldLite is absolutely worth a look if you are interested in a fairly-priced knife that can handle day-to-day tasks as well as more intense work while out hunting.
With an MSRP of $29.95, the FieldLite can be purchased online or at numerous sporting good retailers.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.
When Brown Is Down You Need A Trustworthy Blade. These Skinning Knives Have The Chops To Make Quick Work Of A Dirty Job.
You can have the fanciest camo and the best rifle money can buy, but if your skinning knife is dull and beat up it’s not going to amount to much after the moment of truth.
A good skinning knife is a key component of any hunter’s kit and unlike its name suggests, most are used for more than simply caping your kill. Generally speaking, the best skinners are typically do-all hunters–as quick through a deer’s pelvic bone as it is removing hide.
True enough, there are some specialty blades out there (we hit a few of those) and if they fit into your system then they’re the perfect addition. But no matter what style knife you choose, all skinners will share the same basic asset–the ability to maintain an edge, for obvious reasons.
Why Sharpness Matters
Picture this, you put an elk down right as the sun dips below the horizon. Your breath is visible as you set to dress it and already thick flakes are falling from the sky. Do you want a knife you’ll sharpen every third cut?
In these circumstances, expediency demands a sharp blade. But so does safety. As most likely know–but always bears repeating–there’s a greater chance of cutting yourself with a dull knife than with a sharp one. Given you’ll make awkward cuts a challenging angles when dressing game, main times under the dim glow of a headlamp, it’s a good idea to have a tool that won’t endanger you. Unless you like the trill of working on your tourniquet skills miles from a medical facility.
Styles Of Skinning Knives
Given it has its own moniker, there are dedicated skinning knives in this world. Generally speaking, most makers outfit them with an accentuated belly and a fine edge, allowing the blade to work naturally with the user’s cutting motion. Additionally, the tip is positioned out of the way or is less prominent, ensuring you don’t end up with a nasty mistake, such as a gut puncture.
All that said, any knife is potentially a skinner if it’s sharp and you know how to use it. However, in most cases, hunters will find a few general aspects most good skinning knives share in common:
Highly Controllable: Cleaning and skinning require controlled cuts, lest you butcher the meat or perforate the cape. Controllable can mean different things to different people, but in many cases, it equates to a smaller blade with a skinner.
Fine Blade: Yeah, a serrate blade might aid in getting through bone, but it will make a mess of meat and connective tissue.
Easy Maintenance: Cleaning and skinning is a dirty, wet and sticky job–it’s not for a knife that must be handled with kid gloves.
Stays Sharp: As pointed out previously this is a safety and time aspect because you want to get back to camp ASAP with all your digits and all your blood.
Bear & Son Cutlery 7.25-Inch Stag Delrin Upswept Skinner
Bear & Son Cutlery 7.25-Inch Stag Delrin Upswept Skinner
Our list starts with an offset fixed blade from Bear & Son Cutlery. The Stag Delrin is a tough, sweeping steel that is wider near the bolster before tapering toward the tip. This allows for the bulk of the skinning to happen by the ample belly, and the offset Stag Delrin handle provides an easy way to nimbly move the knife.
The 3.13-inch blade is made from 440 stainless with a hollow grind. The leather sheath keeps the knife protected. And the whole outfit is just 3.3 ounces, making it a lightweight option. The only downside for some, it’s a bit longer than many might require.
MSRP: $50.99
Gerber Gator Clip Point
Gerber Gator Clip Point
The Gerber Gator looks mean, feels tough, and is strong enough to help you process your hunt with ease. The 420 HC stainless steel blade features a deep clip point that is excellent for doing fine knifework to get the last bit of skin off of the carcass.
The blade is connected to a glass-filled nylon handle with a Gator Grip overmold that provides excellent grip even when bloody or wet. The lockback mechanism will keep the blade secure when in use, and the ballistic nylon sheath is just as tough and rugged as the knife itself.
When it comes to skinning knives the Gator is among the best and will serve you well for years.
MSRP: $62
Havalon Piranta-Z
Havalon Piranta-Z
The Piranta-Z from Havalon stands out from the rest of our list because of its changeable blades. It comes with a dozen 60A steel blades that easily clip into the sleek black polymer handle. The knife opens thanks to ambidextrous thumb stubs, handy for those times you only have one free hand.
All of the additional blades are a huge advantage compared to some other knives. Accidentally clip a blade? Replace it with a new one in seconds. A blade goes dull midway through dressing? Remove it and change it in a snap.
Maintenance is a breeze too. The back of the knife opens for easy cleaning, and the removable holster clip allows you to keep the knife secure while on a hunt. The one issue here is that if you have to cut any bone you’ll need another tool.
MSRP: $54.99
Argali Serac
Argali Serac
Argali thought of almost everything with the Serac. At just 2.1 ounces it is insanely light, and the skeletonized handle allows for easy movement and adjustments when butchering a kill. The blade is made from S35VN stainless steel that holds an excellent edge and is durable enough to get into the guts and bones of a carcass.
This American-made blade is an excellent skinner but is just as good as an all-around hunting knife that can process an entire animal. The G10 scales provide an excellent grip that’s easy to maintain even when wet. The included Kydex sheath is just as robust as the knife itself.
MSRP: $209.99
Ka-Bar Becker Companion
Ka-Bar Becker Companion
Our list rounds out with a knife designed by legendary maker Ethan Becker. The Ka-Bar Becker Companion is a heavyweight in the world of skinning knives. It’s so tough it can handle splitting kindling for the fire as well as skinning a 10-point.
The fixed blade is made from 1095 Cro-Van steel married to an Ultramid handle. Unlike many of the other knives on our list that come in weighing just a few ounces, the Becker Companion is 10.5 inches long and weighs one pound. The trade-off is that it’s beefier than the other knives and is able to cut through sturdier material, but it may not be the best for finite skinning and knife work.
Regardless, this all-around hunting knife is more than capable of skinning your next kill and even butchering it so you can sear it over the campfire before the sun goes down.
You can take that headline literally. Kershaw Knives has become a premier sponsor of the Professional Rough Stock (PRS) series. Most folks are aware that professional bull riding is among the fastest growing sports in the United States, yet some rodeo fans can’t get enough, and are looking for even more excitement. That’s where the Professional Rough Stock (PRS) Series comes in.
In addition to bull riding, Professional Rough Stock incorporates bareback and saddle bronc riding—yes, you read that right, BAREBACK and saddle BRONC riding. The combination of events gives rodeo lovers more variety and more heart-pounding thrills.
Kershaw Knives, a brand of Kai USA Ltd., has recently signed on as a major sponsor of the 2013-2014 PRS season. Founded by Pete Kershaw in 1974, Kershaw Knives was born on the Officer Ranch in eastern Oregon and boasts a proud cowboy tradition.
“Sponsoring Professional Rough Stock is a natural for Kershaw,” said Thomas Welk, Director of Sales and Marketing, Sporting for Kai USA. “Every rider, every cowboy and cowgirl, and every PRS fan needs a good knife; they need a Kershaw.”
The Kershaw Kowbells (left), are ready for the next PRS event.
At each PRS event, a group of lucky PRS attendees will find themselves sitting in the “Kershaw Korner.” Everyone sitting in the randomly selected Kershaw Korner will receive either a Kershaw Kowbell or Kershaw BamBam Sticks to help them cheer on their favorite riders. Kershaw will also be giving away logo t-shirts and several Kershaw Zing SS knives at each event.
Presence like this at nationwide PRS events, along with television coverage, social media promotions, and more made the PRS sponsorship attractive to Kershaw. “The athleticism of these rough stock cowboys is outstanding,” said Welk. “We’re proud to help bring the excitement of Professional Rough Stock to rodeo fans and families all across the nation.”
Televised PRS events begin airing on RFD-TV on Friday, May 3rd at 10:00 p.m. EST time, with replays on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. eastern.
This New Sharpener From Spyderco May Revolutionize Portable Knife Sharpeners Thanks To A State-Of-The-Art Superabrasive.
Coming soon from Spyderco is the Webfoot Sharpener. Small and compact, the Webfoot may turn the knife sharpening world on its head thanks to its construction.
The sharpener is made from a single piece of carbon steel coated in Cubic Boron Nitride which is a state-of-the-art superabrasive second in hardness to only diamond. The CBN coating can sharpen without oil, water, electricity, or any clamps or stabilizing devices. And it can all easily fit in your pocket.
Place the Webfoot on a flat surface and rock it side-to-side to align the outer edges for a perfect 40-degree angle, ideal for utility knives. When it’s on its side, the sharpener gives a perfect 12.5-degree edge, perfect for shears and scissors of all types.
Yes it’s small, but the Webfoot contains 15 square inches of surface coated in abrasive, giving you multiple angles to sharpen whatever blade needs a once over, including those with a serrated edge. The included suede pouch acts both as a handy carrying case and a non-slip work surface when needed.
MSRP: $85.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.
Congratulations to Michael Vagnino for winning the 2014 Wooden Sword award, given out to one custom knifemaker each year on page 7 of the KNIVES annual book. The yearly prize (no trophy, just recognition via top placement and imagery in the book) is awarded to a knifemaker for his or her work that stands out from the thousands of images that pour in annually for consideration.
As noted in the book where his innovative knives are pictured:
“Michael Vagnino has busied himself most recently with “Convertible Lock-Back Push Daggers.” Yes, that’s correct, he’s fashioning handmade knives that convert from a lock-back fixed-blade position to a locked push dagger and back again. The models shown here sport 3.875-inch blades, one in CPM-154 stainless steel and the other Wootz steel, the former combined with an antique tortoise shell handle, and the latter in black-lip mother-of-pearl. The maker engraved the 416 stainless steel bolsters, and since the push daggers covert to fixed blades, Paul Long sheaths were necessary as fashionable carry options.
For all he has brought to the knifemaking table the past few years, his innovation, talent, all-around good vibes, and for these particularly striking examples of his work, the Knives 2014 Wooden Sword Award goes to Michael Vagnino. Congratulations, Michael, and keep up the good work.”
A December 2014 
