Honestly, it’s not difficult to choose the “Editor’s Favorites from the Knives 2013 Book,” not because there are only a couple dozen great knives in the publication, but instead they’re all incredible (at least to this humble editor), so how could one go wrong? Such is the case with a sea-worthy locking-liner folder from the hands and genius of Scott Sawby and his favorite engraver, wife Marian.
Golden Engraving Highlights Favorite Folder
Knives For Mother’s Day
When I think about my mom today, or reflect on growing up and remembering Mom back then, knives weren’t a big part of her or my culture. But the food, oh, the food! That I remember, and Mom always had plenty of kitchen knives from which to choose. What I really remember is her hands, red from hot dishwater, or dry from work and wear, and there was a certain cutlery set she and Dad saved for and eventually bought. I think Mom still uses those knives today.
As far as kitchen knives go, I asked some industry professionals which of the knives in their respective company lines would make nice gifts for Mom on Mother’s day, and here’s what a few of them had to say:
“It just looks cool. On first impression, you just have to pick it up. The compact size of the Boker Sanyougo offers the function of the popular Santoku design in a very compact size. The handle material options—G-10, canvas Micarta® and white Micarta—make it a functional piece for rugged use or a touch of elegance. If Mom cooks a lot, it’s certainly something she would use and most likely does not have.”
—Dan Weidner, Boker USA
“The $9 price tag on the Victorinox Paring Knife With Sheath is amazing for the quality. The lifetime warranty alone is worth more than that. Also, the peace of mind knowing that you are investing in a Swiss-made quality knife that will remain razor sharp well past when your kids are off to college is a benefit for any parent. The red color is also a market trend.”
—Rob Sterner, Swiss Army Knives
“If mom makes homemade noodles or pasta, or has been itching to try it, the Kai USA Shun Blue Menkiri [the “Blue” refers to the blade steel, not the color] is the tool for her. The overall design of the knife is one few people in the U.S. have used, and Shun is happy to be able to offer a piece perfected in the noodle-loving culture of Japan for making noodles and other fresh pasta. The clean, precise feeling as it cuts through noodle dough is a real pleasure.” —Steve Grutbo, Kai USA
“Very few of the products I write about do I actually use in my daily life after the review. But the handle of the W.R. Case & Sons 9″ Slicing Knife is sturdy and classy, and the blade always cuts whatever I want with precision and ease. All of Case’s knives in the Household Cutlery Set are superior. Rarely do I have to resharpen it, but when I do, the sharpening steel is intelligently included as part of the set.”
—Peachy Deegan, founder and editor-in-chief of www.whomyouknow.com
Well, Mom, and all moms, here’s to you. Happy Mother’s Day. You all deserve it. And if interested in similar knives for mom, or more choices, be sure to visit www.shopblade.com/kitchen-knives or www.shopblade.com. And get Mom a gift she’ll use, appreciate, and one that will last her for the rest of her days.
The Navaja: A Spanish Gem
The Navaja Is A Sleek, Svelte Folder Originating From Spain Hundreds Of Years Ago. Today It Remains Popular In Both The Real And Digital Worlds.
The Navaja is one of the most interesting knives in the world. Its history can be pinpointed to the Andalusia region of southern Spain, and its growth and evolution since its creation more than 400 years ago has been well-documented.
The History Of The Navaja
The first Navajas that resembled the modern version came to be in the 1600s. The name is derived from the Latin word “novacula” which means razor, and you can see the resemblance to a straight razor in its construction with the long, thin blade that folds away neatly into the handle.
The knife became popular during a period when, unless you were a nobleman, there were many restrictions on swords and other blades. This meant that the Navaja developed as a peasant’s knife and was used for all sorts of utility tasks. One thing that made using it a bit difficult was the fact that it didn’t lock when opened. Later Navajas would have locking mechanisms, but the first versions didn’t. Most notably the Navaja made a distinctive cracking/popping sound as the blade was opened, differentiating it from other knives.
Thanks to the steel innovations that allowed the knife to lock, the Navaja spread its wings and made its way out of Spain and to nearby countries like France. As the knife continued to evolve it was banned by rulers, then became a popular tool for rich and poor alike, and was used as a versatile combat knife. In fact, it became the knife of choice among muggers who would rob people in alleyways and other dark urban areas. Victims knew they were about to be robbed when they heard the unmistakable popping sound the Navaja made when a mugger opened it.
Roughly a century ago, the Navaja began to fall out of favor with knife lovers. However, it continues to endure thanks to a handful of makers crafting their versions, and, in an extremely modern twist, it has become a popular knife to use for players of the video game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Kings County Tools Navaja-Style Knife
A great modern representation of the Navaja is seen in this folder from Kings County Tools.
The blade is not just razor sharp but also razor thin. At three inches in length and just .25 inch wide, the stainless steel knife is excellent at precise, detailed tasks. The brass and steel handle is both handsome and provides an excellent grip while cutting.
Not quite a razor and not quite a penknife, this Navaja shows what the knife can be and how different it is from other folders on the market.
MSRP: $34.75
Castillo Knives Navaja
A different interpretation of the Navaja comes from Spain-based Castillo Knives. Their Navaja is similar to contemporary lockback knives in many ways and is an all-rounder in every sense of the term.
The blade is made from Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel and the handle comes in a variety of materials, from two types of Micarta® to four types of wood. Every version looks great, and the 3-inch straight-back blade has a small bit of deep jimping on the spine to aid in grip and force when cutting. Every knife comes with a leather pocket sheath and a 240-grit bonded ceramic sharpening stone.
All told, this 6.5-inch piece is a well-made gem.
MSRP: $109 (Micarta versions), $119 (wood versions)
Read More
- Daggers: Immortal Icons
- Seven Excellent Drop Point Knives
- The Best Wharncliffe Options
Best Buck Knife: What Are The Company’s All-Time Classics
Buck Knives is among the most historic manufacturers in the county. We attempt to pick the best knives it has ever created.
The famous 110 Folding Hunter was introduced to the market in 1964. This was a significant point for Buck Knives, and a significant point for the knife industry as a whole.
Buck did not start in spirit in 1964, it began much earlier at the turn of the century, and was the culmination of over half a century of Hoyt Buck’s knifemaking experience. Several generations of the Buck family worked to build the company, and the result was nothing short of extraordinary. Buck Knives are one of the most recognizable brands in the country, and they have a well-earned reputation for quality. It is currently in its fourth generation of family ownership, an amazing feat in today’s fast-paced corporate environment.
Buck knives are exceptionally well-made and will hold up for a lifetime if properly maintained. The knives also carry one of the best warranties in the industry which guarantees their products against any defects for life. This whole segment has nothing from him about how Hoyt formally started and built the company.
History Of Buck Knives
While it was not technically a company, Hoyt buck began making knives around 1900 and developed a way to temper steel that he deemed to be superior to what was being done at the time. It may seem a bit uppity of an apprentice blacksmith to take on something that had not been done in all of the history of man’s knife-making, but Hoyt Buck was not to be deterred.
Sure enough, his methods became well-known and he made knives one at a time for decades afterward. His knives had superior edge retention as a result of his tempering process and to this day Buck knives are well-known for their ability to hold an edge.
While the seeds of Buck Knives were planted thanks to Hoyt and his skill on the anvil, the company’s journey is so much more than that. Hoyt had six children, and his oldest son Al would eventually play a key role in the company’s growth.
By 1941 Hoyt and his wife were now living in Idaho, and he was a church pastor. However, the attack on Pearl Harbor roused his patriotism. As a way to help the war effort, he opened a small blacksmith shop in the basement of his church and began making knives once again. His knives became extremely popular on the military bases on the Pacific Coast and soldiers would come from all over to get one of his blades.
By the time the war ended in 1945 Hoyt and his wife Daisy decided to move south to San Diego and live near Al. In 1946 Hoyt opened his first manufacturing plant, really just a small lean-to attached to Al’s house, with his son. It was then that Buck Knives was officially born.
Al took over the company when his father passed, and today the company remains in the family as CJ Buck is the fourth-generation CEO and Chairman of Buck Knives.
Hoyt’s Tempering Process
Hoyt Buck was 13 years old and an apprentice blacksmith in 1902. According to the company’s own history, Hoyt was dissatisfied with the edge hardness on common farming implements. Farmers seemed to be bringing in their tools far more often than he liked to see and thought of some solutions to make the edges stronger and able to hold their sharpness longer. He began experimenting with these tools and eventually figured out a quenching method to achieve his desired result.
Essentially, the secret Buck discovered was quenching the entire blade when it was all precisely the same temperature. Not an easy task, especially in the day and age he came up with the process. However, overcoming the technological challenges reaped impressive benefits. The uniformity of the tempering process ensured the metal had no soft spots–weakness that could eventually lead to damage. Furthermore, the even tempering–when applied to knives–resulted in blades that were extremely hard and were capable of retaining an edge.
How To Date A Buck Knife
Unlike many knives across the industry, Buck knives are marked in certain ways to identify them based on the year they were made. The original Buck knives from 1961 to 1967 or simply stamped with ‘BUCK’.
From 1967 to 1972, the knives featured the mark ‘BUCK, USA’. The 1972 to 1986 period had the knives labeled with ‘BUCK 110, USA’ with additional model information. From 1986 onwards, each year of manufacture has a unique symbol that is added to the blade. You can very quickly and easily identify this and match it to the model year on the Buck website.
Buck knife collectors tend to have some of their own methods for identifying early knives. While it comes down to a degree of pseudoscience, there is demand for Buck knives that retain their original packaging, and even original receipts that can prove the age of the knife. Typically, the older the knife, the more it is worth.
Vintage Buck knives do not tend to sell for all that much by comparison to other knives, but there is a healthy following all across the country. Most people do not sell their Buck knives at all, and they are passed down generationally.
Best Buck Knives
Whether it’s a contemporary knife or a classic, these 10 knives from Buck continue to be top sellers and beloved by knife aficionados around the world.
110 FOLDING HUNTER KNIFE
This is the one that started it all. The 110 Folding Hunter needs no introduction here. It is one of the most storied and respected knives in American history. What is remarkable is that the price is relatively low, even for Buck’s lineup. The price of this knife sets it apart because it is well-known for its durability and sharpness. At under $70, you can easily buy this knife without breaking the bank.
MSRP: $65
124 FRONTIERSMAN KNIFE
This knife harkens back to the old days in appearance but is all modern in terms of execution. The Frontiersmen knife is just about the perfect size if you prefer to carry a fixed blade. The design of the knife is completely functional and you should be able to accomplish just about anything you need to accomplish out in the woods or around the farm.
MSRP: $185
055 ‘THE 55’ KNIFE
The 55 gets its name for being half the size of the famous 110. It is a popular and common pocket knife that is just as strong as its big brother. While it lacks many of the features of modern assisted-open knives or other types of more complicated designs, it makes up for it by being exceptionally durable and easy to use. Much like the larger 110, this is a knife that you will keep for life and pass down to your kids.
MSRP: $70
120 GENERAL KNIFE
There are very few knives that are as recognizable as the 120 General Knife. This Buck design is a classic, reminiscent of the military Ka-Bar. It is a bigger knife than what most people use for their everyday chores. The General Knife will be a companion for hunting, skinning, and preparing wood near the campfire.
MSRP: $130
103 SKINNER PRO KNIFE
Back in the old days, a skinning knife was part of a larger set that you would take into the field. This knife profile saw its heyday during the decimation of the buffalo herds. Buck has an excellent skinning knife in the form of the 103 Skinner Pro. It is a fine tool and is exceptionally attractive in appearance. If you like to have separate tools for your various hunting chores, you would do yourself well to equip this knife alongside the larger 120 General Knife.
MSRP: $170
102 BUCK WOODSMAN KNIFE
For many young men, the Woodsman was the first serious knife they ever received. This is a classic design and is among the most popular and well-recognized American fixed-blade knives ever made. It is not the largest knife Buck has made, but this medium-sized Bowie profile blade has seen more use than most knife models could ever hope to achieve.
This is an excellent knife for the aspiring outdoorsman. It can be used in just about any setting that requires medium lifting. It is a bit too thin to be used for wood splitting but can be used easily for making kindling by scraping. It is also an excellent small game knife and can be used for all sorts of camp chores. If you think about the knife that you would have in the Scouts, this would likely be as close to that knife as you can get.
MSRP: $75
BUCK ZIPPER KNIFE
The Buck Zipper knife is arguably one of the most popular gut hook knives in the country, and it is fair to say that it is in more deer hunters’ hands than it’s not. As far as traditional designs go, the Zipper knife is not just well-made, it is also a symbol of the trade for many hunters that take to the field every fall. Gut hook knives do have other utility, they can be used in fishing settings for cutting line and for gutting as well. For a general-use hunting knife, you really can’t go wrong here.
MSRP: $129.99
863 SELKIRK KNIFE w. FIRE STARTER
Bushcraft knives are all the rage these days. There are a plethora of TV shows dedicated to the topic, and it seems that every knife company out there is making something that fits the bill. The Selkirk knife is a nicely priced addition to the Buckline. The knife is well equipped and comes with a durable micarta handle and a sheath-mounted fire steel. The kit you get is able to function right out of the box. You can pretty easily get started with practicing right in your yard. MSRP $80
The knife does have a couple of downsides, though, from a Bushcraft perspective, it is relatively thin. A blade really needs to have some meat to it to be able to make it through the tanning for kindling You’ll never really get much life out of a thin blade if you snap it off in use. Even though Buck has a good warranty, you should take care to not treat a thin blade like this as a dedicated tool for splitting. The knife can, however, be used for making tinder out of smaller pieces of wood, and it should have no problem getting them to light.
MSRP: $80
841 SPRINT PRO KNIFE BURLAP MICARTA
Another modern design, the Sprint Pro is a sleek looking folder that also has some classic lines. The knife is available in a couple of forms, most interesting is the burlap micarta model. Burlap micarta is made through an interesting process that suspends fabric in a resin base material. The result is a unique, very durable, and highly functional grip material that looks as good as it performs. This is a flipper-style knife and can be operated easily with one hand. The locking mechanism is a standard liner lock. Overall, it is a well-reviewed and well-designed knife that, while not the most visually striking, will give years of use.
MSRP: $155
417 BUDGIE KNIFE
The Budgie is a very compact EDC knife that can go just about anywhere. The tiny design is minimalistic yet functional. It is a frame-like design that is available in a couple of colors, most notably natural green G10. This is a new design that does not necessarily have much in common cosmetically with the classic Buck lineup. That said, it is just about all the knife the average person needs for their daily life, and it can be kept on the person quite easily. While it is a bit more costly than the average mini pocket knife, the Budgie is backed by the same warranty extended to all Buck products and is going to last you for quite some time performing light and medium-duty tasks.
MSRP: $100
Read More
- First Look: Buck 842 Sprint Ops Pro
- First Look: Buck 149 Hookset Breaker
- First Look: Buck 263 HiLine
BIG Blades: 4 Monster Choppers for the Bush
BY JAMES MORGAN AYRES
Wherever folks live close to the earth, they use big knives
Little knives are convenient to carry but, if you have a lot of work to do, big knives are it. I’ve lived and worked with indigenous peoples in Latin America and Southeast Asia and found that wherever folks live close to the earth, they use big knives—machetes, parangs, goloks, bolos and the like. They use them for everything from rough work such as cutting poles and opening coconuts, to dressing out pigs and game, to delicate work such as slicing mangoes.
The advantage of the big blade was illustrated to me one day when I was working alongside a villager who, with his bolo and its 14-inch blade, cut wood for a fire, bamboo poles for a cooking rack, lopped off a banana leaf on which he filleted two large fish and sliced them thin as a sushi chef—all in the time it took me to bring down a few stalks of bamboo with my hair-shaving-sharp Randall Model 1.
We reviewed the test knives with that standard in mind. We chopped and split wood and sliced meat and tomatoes. We also, just because, cut hanging rubber hose and slashed through water-filled plastic bottles.
LONG, TALL & HANDSOME: Boker Arbolito El Gigante
The Boker Arbolito El Gigante is a handsome classic bowie with a stonewashed blade, comfortable handle and nice leather sheath. Balance is excellent, all very much in the bowie tradition. Construction is top quality; so is performance. It cleaved 2-inch pine saplings with one stroke. The quarter-inch-thick spine was brought down to a well-supported edge fine enough to slice tomatoes, and slice meat thin enough to see light through the slices. We slashed rubber hose and the water bottles with ease.
Like all well-designed and crafted bowies, this is a versatile all-around knife.
BOKER ARBOLITO EL GIGANTE
Blade Length: 9.25”
Blade Steel: Bohler N695 stainless
Blade Thickness: .24”
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Stonewash
Handle Thickness: .94”
Handle Material: Green Micarta®
Weight: 15.75 ozs.|
Overall Length: 14.75”
Sheath: Leather
Country of Origin: Argentina
MSRP: $229
SEMPER FI! The KA-BAR Gunny
The KA-BAR Gunny is a hybrid design that resembles a bolo. I suspect R. Lee Ermey, the unforgettable Gunny who serves as the knife’s namesake, spent some time in jungles because this combination chopper/slicer’s performance is on par with village-forged bolos I’ve used in Southeast Asia, and that’s a high compliment. Its forward weight and terrific blade design promote efficient chopping.
We cut through 3-to-4-inch-thick saplings with two strokes. We took down a tree with a 6-inch-thick truck just because we could. After the chopping the blade was still sharp enough for camp kitchen work. The belly, good balance and fine edge combined to make slicing meat and vegetables a pleasure. Slashing hanging rubber hose and the water bottle were a piece of cake. The comfortable handle lends itself both to heavy chopping and fine meat cutting, which is unusual.
The Gunny is an excellent all-around bush knife. The sheath has a pocket for a sharpening stone, which was not included with the review model.
KA-BAR GUNNY
Designer: R. Lee “Gunny” Ermey
Blade Length: 9.75”
Blade Material: 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel
Blade Width: 2”
Blade Thickness: .2”
Blade Grind: Flat
Handle Width: 1.5”
Handle Thickness: .94”
Handle Material: Wood
Weight: 15.29 ozs.
Overall Length: 15.5”
Sheath: Leather
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $292
RAZOR SHARP: Medford Knife & Tool Bonfire
The Medford Knife & Tool Bonfire came from the maker absolutely razor sharp! The blade design is interesting in that we do not often see a contemporary styled drop point and hollow grind on such a big blade. I don’t know the Rockwell, but the steel is hard and tough. It was just as razor sharp after we put it through its paces as when we started.
The fine edge made for a very good slicer and slasher and lopped off thin branches with one cut. The hollow grind tended to bind when chopping wood, though that’s to be expected—hollow grinds aren’t chopping designs. It’s better to think of this knife as a well-designed and crafted big knife rather than a bush tool such as a panga or kukri. It sliced rubber hose with a snap of the wrist and slashed through water bottles with more consistency than the other review blades and cut meat just fine. You probably could dress out a bear with it.
Use it as a big knife on soft materials and you won’t be disappointed. It comes with a well-fitted Kydex sheath.
The Medford Knife & Tool Bonfire slashed through water-filled plastic bottles with more consistency than the other review blades.
MEDFORD KNIFE & TOOL BONFIRE
Blade Length: 8.25”
Blade Material: CPM 3V carbon steel
Blade Thickness: .24”
Blade Grind: Hollow
Handle Thickness: .64”
Handle Material: G-10
Weight: 19.16 ozs.
Overall Length: 13”
Sheath: Nylon
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $450
CHEF’S CHOPPER: The TOPS Bestia
The TOPS Bestia is just a beast. A kukri-styled 13-inch blade and hefty weight make it the blade of choice for serious chopping or zombie cleaving. We hacked though a 3-inch sapling with one stroke, and used it to clear a stand of saplings and brush. The handle remained comfortable during an hour or so of work. Heavy as a small hatchet, it is more versatile and safer in use, especially in thick brush. During many survival classes, I’ve seen more injuries from hatchets than from big blades with their longer cutting edges.
Given its heft, blade design and chopping ability, the Bestia is surprisingly usable in the camp kitchen. We found it could slice meat quite well, allowing for adjustments in maneuverability due to its blade length.
TOPS KNIVES BESTIA
Designer: Leo Espinoza
Blade Length: 13”
Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel
Rockwell Hardness: 56-58 HRC
Blade Width: 2.25”
Blade Thickness: .25”
Blade Grind: Flat
Handle Width: 2.125”
Handle Thickness: .97”
Handle Material: Green Micarta®
Frame/Liner: Micarta
Weight: 1 lb., 13.18 ozs.
Overall Length: 19.5”
Sheath: Kydex
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $300
VERSATILE BUSH TOOLS
If you haven’t spent much time with a big blade, try one. Work with it for a while. Direct close attention to your work and you’ll find a good big blade to be a terrific, versatile bush tool.
Military Knives
It’s nice to do something you know is right, and even better when the intentions are pure, and that’s exactly what BLADE® did four years ago with its December 2010 issue. Since then, every December issue, including the upcoming December 2013 BLADE, has been and will continue to be devoted entirely to our fighting men and women in the military.
It was an idea hatched four years ago in an editorial meeting. The staff had two questions: What could BLADE do that no other knife magazine does?; and How can we honor soldiers fighting for our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Here are a couple of our first December military issues.
I was and am extremely proud of the fact that we’re able to set aside a single issue each year and devote it to the military. It’s the very definition of freedom. The December issue will hit newsstands and subscribers’ doorsteps on September 10th, 2013. Please look for it and help us support our troops. I can’t think of anything more honorable than that.
Utility Knives: A Worker’s Best Friend
Utility Knives Are The Great All-Rounder For The Home. These Small Blades Are Popular With Contractors And Homeowners Alike To Solve All Sorts Of Problems.
Yes, there is a kitchen knife called a utility knife, but if use the phrase “utility knife” in conversation it’s almost a certainty that you’re talking about the diminutive yet mighty knives that are ubiquitous on job sites and in homes around the country. Even if you call it a box cutter, the person you’re talking to will absolutely know what you mean.
Also called a Stanley knife, because of the company that helped to pioneer them, utility knives are compact blades meant to breeze through the small and mundane tasks that can slow down your flow.
Cutting through some rope? Utility knife. Need to score a piece of glass? Utility knife? Looking for the best tool to quickly open a box? The utility knife has your back there.
Whether folding, fixed-blade, or even retractable, these are five of the best, most dynamic utility knives on the market today.
Milwaukee Fastback Flip Utility Knife
First on our list is this bright red folder from Milwaukee. Traditionally, folding utility knives have needed two hands just to open, but Milwaukee engineered a deployment system that not only drastically cuts down on time but is also a ton of fun to use.
By pressing the button on the handle you’re able to quickly flick the blade out and into a locked position. Sticking with the convenience theme, you can store a second blade in the handle and can change blades without tools.
The fact that there is also a built-in gut hook and wire stripper that cuts up to 10 gauge is just ridiculous on top of all the other tech in the knife. The ergonomic handle in the famous Milwaukee red sits well in the hand. This knife really does do it all.
MSRP: $15.59
Workpro Retractable Utility Knife
Retractable utility knives allow you to slide the blade in and out of a fixed handle. This model from Workpro is an excellent example of that with the added bonus of having a huge amount of storage.
The multi-color handle is made from a zinc alloy and rubberized, ergonomic grip. The knife features a four-stage deployment system so you can use just the tip of the blade for finite tasks or send out the whole thing to slice through something beefier.
Inside the handle there’s enough room to store five blades so you’ll never be without a fresh razor to switch to at a moment’s notice.
MSRP: $9.99
Gerber EAB Lite
This tight little folder from Gerber is great for your pocket or your purse. When folded, it can tuck away easily thanks to a beefy pocket clip, and when deployed it secures via a liner lock to provide a sturdy hold and cutting edge.
The stainless steel body looks good and will serve you well when in use. At just 2.5 ounces it’s incredibly lightweight and easy to maneuver. The only knock on this knife is that there is no built-in storage compartment like the knives above. Even without the storage, this is a great utility knife to have with you for daily use. You could even make this your EDC.
MSRP: $18
Stanley 6 In Swivel-Lock Fixed Blade
From the company which innovated the utility knife, this multi-dimensional tool from Stanley is robust enough to be a handy companion on a job site. The contoured handle sits well in the handle and won’t slip even when sweaty on a hot day.
The handle swivels open to hold multiple replacement blades and is compatible with most Stanley replacement blades so you won’t need to stress about finding the right ones. It also comes with three replacement blades in the package to get you off on the right foot.
For a knife this inexpensive, it swings well above its weight. Whether a professional contractor or just a home DIYer, this knife would be perfect for you.
MSRP: $7.99
Olfa LA-X
Our list wraps up with the longest blade of the bunch from Olfa. This retractable knife has a massive, by the standard of a utility knife, 3.25-inch blade which is great for long cuts and can be retracted for more precise slices. The blade is also scored so the top section can be broken off to reveal a sharper tip section.
The handle is made from reinforced fiberglass with an ergonomic rubberized grip which gives you a secure hold of the knife when in use.
The blade does have a few drawbacks at expense of the longer blade. The locking mechanism is a little wiggly and not as robust as some of the other knives on this list, and the flathead screwdriver tip at the end of the handle isn’t as strong as you might want it to be.
The LA-X is great for less intense cutting tasks, especially those when more extra blade length is needed.
MSRP: $12.50
Read More
- Gravity Knives: What You Need To Know
- Best Skinning Knives: When You Dress The Kill
- Best Survival Knife: These 10 Blades Could Save Your Skin
Must Read Articles
Knifemaking 101 – Read This Before You Make a Knife
by Wayne Goddard
My experience has taught me that there's nothing like digging in and getting started. I've often said the hardest part of the...
