Best Custom Knives and Factory Knives

Oknife Beagle Review: Does This Folder Pass Muster?

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)

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February 8, 2023

Oknife Beagle Review: Does This Folder Pass Muster?

High-Quality Folder Or Cheap Piece Of Metal? The Beagle From Oknife Gets Put Through Its Paces To Figure It Out.

The Beagle linerlock folder from Oknife feels good in the hand and rides quite well in a pants pocket. Action is very smooth with a positive lockup. When you close the knife, the detent ball grabs the harpoon-pattern blade securely. Balance is excellent. As for cutting performance, let’s see.

Edge Test

OKNIFE BEAGLE cutting bone — The Beagle whacked 22 times into the bone before breaking it. Afterward, the author detected a very small nick in the edge. Not bad at all!

First up: a check of the factory edge with a slice of 20-pound bond copy paper. Via a pull cut, the Beagle sliced very clean with no snagging. Cuts were controllable and smooth.

Double-walled cardboard provided the next test medium. The blade cut neat and fluidly with a minimum of grab by the cardboard. The Beagle worked better using a push rather than a pull cut. I felt no snagging in the process. Control was a tad wobbly as more pressure was needed to part the thick cardboard.

Heavy-Duty Cutting With The Oknife Beagle

OKNIFE BEAGLE skiving leather — The folder made very fine slices and emitted a nice crunching sound during the skiving. The author used the blade belly mostly to keep the leather together instead of in a pile of pieces.

Plastic board was next. The Beagle cut effortlessly with hardly any wobble. The folder was controllable during the test with only a few zigs in the plastic board. I exerted medium pressure with a push cut.

I used quick, short push cuts in a strip of 8-ounce leather. The Beagle made extremely fine slices and emitted a nice crunching sound. It was very manageable during the skiving. I skived with the belly of the blade mostly to keep the leather together instead of in a pile of pieces.

Beagle Takes On Wood And Sisal Rope

OKNIFE BEAGLE cutting rope — Working on 3/8-inch sisal rope for the final medium, the edge made it to 98 clean crunching cuts. The author suffered no hotspots or pinches of his hand during all 98 cuts.

Grabbing some pine leftover from my fencing, I commenced to whittle. The 154CM stainless steel blade made some very nice curly-cues. It was controllable for the thin curly-cues and for the deeper bites, too.

The handle felt good in my hand with no pinch spots during the heavier cuts. The Beagle finished four fire sticks with no issues. Whittling with it was a pleasure.

Next, the edge made it to 98 clean crunching cuts in 3/8-inch sisal rope. After that, the edge slowed down and crunching was not achieved throughout the full cut. My hand suffered no hotspots or pinches during all 98 cuts. The Beagle exhibits outstanding handle contouring.

Oknife Beagle Vs Bone

OKNIFE BEAGLE wood curly-qs — The 154CM stainless steel blade was manageable for the thin curly-cues and the deeper bites, too

For a possible destructive test, I clamped a piece of cow bone in the vise and slammed the edge into it repeatedly. The Beagle whacked 22 times into the bone before breaking it. I detected a very small nick by running a fingernail along the edge. Not bad at all!

Recommendations

I know that for production purposes the liners extend past the handle material. I prefer them to be flush. (Editor’s note: The action is very smooth and fast upon closing—so fast, in fact, take care when closing the blade one-handed that the edge does not nick the skin just below your thumbnail.)

Final Assessment Of The Oknife Beagle

The Beagle is a nice mid-size linerlock with a great handle and excellent edge retention. I would put this one in my pocket for daily carry anytime.

Oknife Beagle Knife Specs

BLADE LENGTH: 3.25 inches
BLADE STEEL: 154CM stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Harpoon
HANDLE: G-10
LOCK: Linerlock
LINERS: Stainless steel
WEIGHT: 3.25 ounces
CLOSED LENGTH: 4 ⅜ inches
EXTRAS: Includes a pouch w/fabric closure that contains a collector coin in a small pocket
MSRP: $79.95

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Enter The Knife I Carry Feature… Win A Free Knife

Featured Knives

BLADE Staff

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September 26, 2023

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Enter The Knife I Carry Feature… Win A Free Knife

Here’s your shot to show off your prized carry knife to the world!

What’s better than carrying a knife? Showing the world exactly what knife you carry. Now, this little act of gratification might earn you—what else—a new knife.

Show us your carry knife—be it slip joint, fixed-blade, or whatever—for our The Knife I Carry feature in BLADE® Magazine. The monthly feature focuses on knife enthusiasts who carry knives but who do not have the wherewithal to make their own. We’re looking for the folks who comb through the knifemakers, knife companies and knife retailers to find the gem they always have at hand. You know, your everyday, average knife nut.

Here’s the best part, if you enter a picture of your knife and a short writeup and we publish it, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free knife! Brag up your present blade and possibly add a new one to the collection, what could be better? Just follow the instructions below to potentially become part of the “World’s No. 1 Knife Publication” and be entered to win a free knife.

Don’t be shy, show us the knife you carry!

How To Submit Your Blade For The Knife I Carry Feature:

Compose a short write-up about the knife you carry, with a little history or an anecdote about it.
Include a photograph—at least 600 KB but no larger than 2 MB—of you holding your knife.
Send both to [email protected] and include your physical address (this is for the knife drawing and will not be published).

Selected submissions will be published in an upcoming “The Knife I Carry.” If selected for publication, we will enter your name in a drawing to win a free knife, which will take place on November 15, 2023.

The Knife I Carry Examples

“My name is John Schwanke. My daughter, Eden, got me this knife for Father’s Day 2018. There are no identifying marks as to who made it, but on the slab scale it reads, ‘Best Dad Ever.’ The damascus blade is beautiful and I cherish and carry it every day. It walks and talks, is a flipper folder and of the highest quality you can imagine.”
John and Eden Schwanke,
Danbury, Connecticut

“My tour of duty in Vietnam was from April 4, 1967, to April 4, 1968. My constant companion was my Camillus ‘k-bar.’ I left the country at the end of the 1968 Tet Offensive and brought my knife home with me. It continued to serve me well for several more years. It meant so much to me and had become like a trusted friend. It was always there to do whatever job was asked of it. One day I got to thinking, what if I lose it or break it after all this time? So, I reluctantly retired my knife, scabbard and stone. It now has a front-row seat in my showcase of mementos. It has a date stamped on the buttcap: 1-1967. Money can’t buy it. I know this is supposed to be about a knife I carry now and not an old relic, but I just had to tell you about my ‘old friend.’ I did carry it many, many years. I’m 76 years old.”
Danny L. Scott,
Tiptonville, Tennessee

“My EDC has a blade of .220-inch-thick Spectrumwear steel and was hand made in California. I designed the knife ground up. Originally, I wanted a chopper. However, I wanted it to also have a dagger tip profile. Matt Freeman did an amazing job and had my knife done in under two weeks. He is the first maker I worked with who would email me pictures of the knife’s progress without me asking. He jokingly said it was the hardest blade to grind out, reason being it has four edges. He laid out the knife almost like a Roman gladius. I then angled the main edge to make it longer and then shortened the top edge. After that, Matt worked out the size and handle. The knife is just over 8 inches with a handmade leather sheath. We decided an old finish would look nice, so he Parkerized it, then gun blued it to protect against rust.”
Caleb Hoskins,
a letter via e-mail

“The knife I carry into the woods each fall is my beloved Case fixed blade. She’s showing her age and has been passed down for three generations. Dad inherited her from my grandfather and then when Dad passed away in 1996 she was handed to me. Though I can’t tell exactly how old she is, I know she is well over 55 because that’s my age. For all I know the knife may be close to 100. She has been well used and processed more wild game over the years than I can count. She’s a true testament to Case quality and reliability. So many wonderful memories come to mind each time I draw this knife.”
Stacey Roberts,
Bridgewater, Vermont

Cool Customs: Denis Tyrell’s Ice Blue Bowie

BLADE Staff

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March 14, 2023

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Denis Tyrell’s Ice Blue Bowie Showcases The Journeyman Smith’s Skills At Forging A Blade And Stylizing A Knife

Denis Tyrell’s Ice Blue Bowie is one cool sub-hilt fixed blade—so cool, in fact, that it recently won The Bowie Knife Challenge shown on 18 different YouTube channels.

The 14-inch bowie features a near-full-flat-ground blade of Tyrell’s Snowflake mosaic damascus, a stabilized wood handle and hot-blued fittings of a twisted damascus. The bowie is in a takedown construction with the pommel nut securing the handle and guard to the knife.

Tyrell, who helped organize the challenge along with a friend, won the first challenge this past June too, which consisted of competing gyutos shown across 10 different YouTube channels. Each winner was determined by a vote of viewers watching the makers.

You can search “Tyrell Knifeworks” on YouTube to watch the past challenges and see the knifemakers in action. You can watch Tyrell make the Ice Blue Bowie in all its glory below.

Tyrell Knifeworks

Tyrell is a journeyman smith who moved to California in 2001 from his native Canada. He specializes in custom damascus knives. From his shop in Livermore, a moderate-sized city on the Eastern edge of San Francisco Bay, Tyrell runs a series of forging courses.

His courses range from introductory classes in how to forge or how to make your first damascus pattern all the way up to more intense fare. He teaches specific classes on mosaic and feather damascus as well as, one of his most popular courses, a course teaching folks how to make copper-layered damascus.

For more information, go to YouTube, enter “Tyrell Knifeworks”, and look for the challenge of your choice.You can watch Denis make the Ice Blue Bowie in the video below.

Ice Blue Bowie Knife Specs
Knife: Ice Blue Bowie
Blade length: 8 inches
Blade material: Snowflake damascus
Handle: Stabilized wood
Fittings: Twisted damascus
Steels: 1095 and 15N20 (both the blade and fittings)
Overall length: 14 inches
Maker’s list price for a similar piece: $2,000

Read More

Rothman Knives Gentleman’s Trapper Review

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)

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June 19, 2023

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Rothman Knives Gentleman’s Trapper Review

Don’t let its throwback good looks fool you, Rothman’s Gentleman’s Trapper has serious EDC chops.

The original EDC knife is a pocketknife. It used to be a right of passage when you were allowed to have a hand-me-down knife in your front pocket. I received mine at the ripe old age of 5. I used it to sharpen pencils and crayons and for whittling.

After a few years and a few cuts on my fingers, I progressed to skinning and cleaning fish. The knife never left my front pocket. I carried it to school for daily uses. It also made quite a few trips in the washing machine and dryer. My mom would have a fit every time she heard it thumping in the dryer. Of course, the laws have changed now and the younger generation has found other things to entertain themselves. For me, my old pocketknife is retired.

Mike Rothman’s Gentleman’s Trapper would make a great pocket filler. It walks and talks perfectly. But how well does it cut? Let’s see.

Gentleman’s Trapper Sharpness Test

Twenty-pound bond copy paper provided the first test. The slip joint sliced it cleanly and effortlessly. The edge is very fine, so control was easy. It’s a nasty-sharp knife for sure—I could hear the blade slicing aggressively.

Light Duty Cutting With The Gentleman’s Trapper

Cutting cardboard — After dispatching single-walled cardboard with the Rothman knife, the author only had to use a tad more pressure on the push cut to zip through double-walled cardboard.

On to single-walled cardboard. The Gentleman’s Trapper made short work of it. In fact, it was very addictive slicing the cardboard. The blade made smooth, straight cuts with no deflection of the material. Very sharp indeed!

Next I found a piece of double-walled cardboard to try. I only had to use a tad more pressure on the push cut to zip through it. I could hear every cut again. The knife is a very forceful cardboard cutter.

Gentleman’s Trapper skins leather — The thin blade made skiving leather simple, producing super thin slices repeatedly.

It was time for the leather slice and skiving. The trapper zipped through the leather quickly, so I had to use my knuckles as a stop to keep the piece together so it wouldn’t turn into a pile of pieces. The thin blade made skiving simple, producing super thin slices repeatedly. The stag handle worked perfectly providing a positive grip cutting the leather.

Heavy-Duty Cutting Duty

Whittling was up next. The thin blade produced some of the finest curly-cues I’ve seen. I changed the angle of cut for a deeper bite. I could see and feel the blade flex as deeper bites ensued. It was a very weird sensation, to say the least. I just moved the contact surface closer to the bolsters.

Gentleman’s Trapper whittling — In the whittling test, the author changed the angle of cut for a deeper bite. He could see and feel the edge flex as deeper bites ensued.

Half-inch sisal rope beckoned. I was looking forward to this one. Dang, this trapper performs—273 crunching cuts and the edge was barely sliding! It was easy to cut with and the handle was comfortable with a tight grip. The insides of the liners are a bit sharp but there were no hot spots. Wow!

I returned to the 20-pound bond paper to see if the edge was affected by all the testing. Nope—same clean slices in the material, a sign of great heat treatment.

Knife tested vs antlers — The author whacked the blade 30 times into the antler with no edge damage at all. The edge would still pull hair and the knife was as tight as when the author started, still walking and talking.

I was compelled to do a warranty-breaking test just to see how tough the Gentleman’s Trapper is. Where was the deer antler? I whacked the blade 30 times into the antler expecting to see some minor edge damage. There was no damage at all! The edge would still pull hair and the knife was as tight as when I started, still walking and talking.

Overall Impression Of Rothman’s Work

I was impressed with the performance of the blade considering how thin it is. Excellent workmanship!

Does Anything Need To Change?

Soften the exposed inside edges of the liners. That’s all, folks!

Gentleman’s Trapper Specs:
Knife Type: Slip joint/pocketknife
Maker: Mike Rothman
Blade Length: 3”
Blade Steel: Damasteel damascus in an Ægir pattern
Blade Grind: Hollow
Blade Pattern: Clip point
Blade Thickness: Tapers on the spine from 1/8” above the ricasso to .039” at the tip; the edge is even thinner than the latter
Handle: Sambar stag w/shield of same material as the blade
Handle at the Thickest: .5”
Liners: Fileworked of 410 stainless steel
Bolsters: 416 stainless steel
Backspring: CPM 154 stainless steel
Weight: 3.5 ozs.
Closed Length: 4”
Knife to know: There is a seamless fit of blade to backspring in the open position
Extras: Comes in black zippered pouch w/Rothman’s company name over shape of the state of New York
Maker’s price: $750

MILF-02 Review: A Beefy, Heavy-Duty Folder

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)

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March 20, 2023

0

MILF-02 Review: A Beefy, Heavy-Duty Folder

The Hardcore Hardware MILF-02 Is A Heavy-Duty Folder That’s Designed For Any Challenge Users Can Throw At It.

The MILF-02 folder from Hardcore Hardware is made for hardcore users. It’s big and beefy all the way around, has a dimple-textured handle and frame for an excellent non-slip grip, and a classic drop-point-blade shape.

The hollow grind extends halfway up the blade. Blade steel is CPM S30V stainless with a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating. It offers a classic black color on a framelock design with a flipper tab on the blade. It’s built heavy duty but it still has to cut.

Testing The MILF-02

MILF cutting cardboard — The first inch of the cuts of the double-walled cardboard went well until the author had to use more pressure to push the cardboard over the thickness of the blade where the hollow grind stops. Once he got used to that, it was easy to overcome the twisting.

Right off the bat, the MILF sliced 20-pound-bond copy paper smoothly. The knife’s weight made the push cuts very easy. There were no snags or hang ups and it was simple to control the width of the slices.

Next: double-walled cardboard. The first inch of the cuts went well, then I had to use more pressure to push the cardboard over the thickness of the blade where the hollow grind stops. Once I got used to hitting this spot, it was easy to overcome the twisting. There were no edge hang ups at all.

I grabbed some 8-ounce leather for some skiving. The MILF was aggressive on every cut and emitted a crunching sound each time. Control was excellent in making fine slices and the handle filled my hand.

Cutting The Hard Stuff

MILF cutting a 2x4 — The author gave the 2×4 chunk 20 hard chops and the MILF bit deep on every whack. The edges of each chop were smooth.

It was time for some whittling. The folder seemed to want to bite deep into the wood. I started off with a fine curly-cue and by the end of the cut the edge was well into the wood. The MILF didn’t hesitate at all on the deeper cuts; it just kept curling the wood. It is a heavy cutter for sure.

I put a 2×4 chunk in my vise and gave the wood 20 hard chops. The MILF bit deep on every whack. The edges of each chop were smooth. Lockup was still at 100 percent. The knife is a great chopper with the bigger handle and all, but the inside edges of the handle need softening. They’re a tad on the sharp side

I took the same 2×4 and used the folder to split it into smaller pieces. All it took was a light tap from a dead blow hammer and the wood split with a pop. The thicker blade worked great for this phase of the testing. Lockup was still at 100 percent.

Half-inch sisal rope was next on the slicing block. The MILF crunched through 200 clean cuts very quickly, showing no signs of slowing down. I stopped cutting to save on rope. Edge holding was excellent and the heat treatment was great.

To take the testing further, I grabbed a deer antler for some more whacking. I gave the antler 20 hard wallops and the blade edge suffered no rolling or chipping. I did manage to remove a very thin wire edge on the blade. However, the main edge was still very sharp.

I returned to the paper slice to recheck the edge. I noticed a few hang ups and found more of the wire edge still intact. Two strops on some leather and the edge was back to original sharpness. Excellent job on the heat treat!

Final Thoughts

I would soften the inside edges of the handle for a smoother grip. Beyond that, the MILF is a heavy-duty using folder that holds a great edge. It’s too big for my tastes but a cutter it is.

MILF-02 Knife Specs

Blade Length: 3.54 inches
Blade Steel: CPM S30V stainless
Rockwell Hardness: 59-60 HRC
Blade Grind: Hollow
Blade Thickness: .59 inches
Blade Width: 1.18 inches
Blade Finish: PVD coated
Blade Pattern: Harpoon/drop point
Blade Opener: Flipper
Handle Frame: 420J stainless steel and G-10
Lock: Framelock
Weight: 7.34 ounces
Closed Length: 4.72 inches
Country of origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $178.73 (rate of exchange at press time)

Read More

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First Look: True Knives Swift Edge

Featured Knives

BLADE Staff

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June 11, 2022

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TRUE Knives Swift Edge Is A Flexible Folder That Allows You To Change Blades To Meet Your Needs.

What’s better than a good folding knife? How about a good folding knife with three blade options. The newest folder from TRUE Knives can do just that and a whole lot more. The Swift Edge can handle numerous cutting situations thanks to coming with a tanto blade, two drop points, and a sawing blade that can all be changed in seconds.

Utilizing a two-step release system for safety and simplicity, you can change blades quickly. The tanto and drop points come in a black oxide finish and are made of 5Cr13 steel. The saw blade is made from 65Mn steel and is coated in titanium nitride to aide in wear resistance.

The Swift Edge features a two-step release system that you can use to change between the knife's three styles of blade. — The Swift Edge features a two-step release system that you can use to change between the knife’s three styles of blades.

All of the blades are 3.5 inches in length, and the knife is 8.5 inches when fully open. Coming in at roughly 6.5 ounces, the Swift Edge is heavier than many other folders, but the added mass helps while cutting especially with the saw.

The handle is made from durable reinforced G10 laminate which can hold up to heavy use with ease. The knife also comes with a pocket clip that you can put on either side of the knife.

With an MSRP of $49.99, the Swift Edge comes with all four blades as well as a carrying case for the knife.

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.

First Look: Condor Buccaneer Sword

Mike Ableson

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September 24, 2022

0

Sometimes You Want A Blade That’s Fun And Exciting Even If It Isn’t An EDC. The Buccaneer Sword From Condor Is All About Having A Good Time.

There’s a pretty good chance you’re not a pirate in the Caribbean or off the Barbary Coast. Even if you’re just a lifelong resident of a landlocked place like Kansas City or Nashville, you’ll absolutely love the new Buccaneer Sword from Condor Tool & Knife.

The massive blade is 15.5 inches in length and is made from 1075 high-carbon steel with a convex. It weighs a shade under 30 ounces so it’s a burly, heavy knife that can be used for bushcraft or for making a big show of slicing large cuts of meats. If you’re a performer, using this sword to prepare steaks for your family at the next barbecue will be remembered for years.

It all stays solid in your hand thanks to the leather-wrapped hardwood handle that is as strong as the blade and stays true while you wield this mighty sword. The included leather sheath will keep the sword safe when stored away.

The Buccaneer Sword is so much fun. If you want a showstopper, and stay on top of maintaining the high-carbon blade, you’ll have yourself a thrilling conversation piece for years to come.

MSRP: $174.70

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Featured Knives

High-Quality Folder Or Cheap Piece Of Metal? The Beagle From Oknife Gets Put Through Its Paces To Figure It Out.

Edge Test

Heavy-Duty Cutting With The Oknife Beagle

Beagle Takes On Wood And Sisal Rope

Oknife Beagle Vs Bone

Recommendations

Final Assessment Of The Oknife Beagle

Oknife Beagle Knife Specs

Here’s your shot to show off your prized carry knife to the world!

The Knife I Carry Examples

Read More On BLADE Magazine And Show:

Denis Tyrell’s Ice Blue Bowie Showcases The Journeyman Smith’s Skills At Forging A Blade And Stylizing A Knife

Tyrell Knifeworks

Don’t let its throwback good looks fool you, Rothman’s Gentleman’s Trapper has serious EDC chops.

Gentleman’s Trapper Sharpness Test

Light Duty Cutting With The Gentleman’s Trapper

Heavy-Duty Cutting Duty

Overall Impression Of Rothman’s Work

Does Anything Need To Change?

Read More Knife Reviews:

The Hardcore Hardware MILF-02 Is A Heavy-Duty Folder That’s Designed For Any Challenge Users Can Throw At It.

Testing The MILF-02

Cutting The Hard Stuff

Final Thoughts

MILF-02 Knife Specs

TRUE Knives Swift Edge Is A Flexible Folder That Allows You To Change Blades To Meet Your Needs.

Sometimes You Want A Blade That’s Fun And Exciting Even If It Isn’t An EDC. The Buccaneer Sword From Condor Is All About Having A Good Time.

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