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.
In addition to being a fine example of a modern folder, the Mako Folder from MacGray & Co. is made in the U.S. from domestic materials.
Specs
Company: MacGray & Co.
Knife: Mako Folder
Designer: MacGray & Co.
Length: 8 1/2 inches
Blade: CPM 154, saber grind, modified drop point design
Lock: Titanium Liner Lock
Handle: Black Micarta Handle
Ambidextrous thumbscrew
Stainless steel variable clip
An All-American Knife
The MacGray & Co. Mako Folder knife is made in San Marcos, California, with quality materials from small American suppliers. The frame is milled from Grade 5 titanium for an excellent combination of strength, weight reduction and corrosion resistance.
The Mako sports a tried and true locking liner, which is self-adjusting to wear and prevents the blade from closing on the user’s hand as it grasps durable Micarta or G-10 handles.
The Steel: Two Great Choices
The blade is ground from your choice of two steels.
D2 is a high carbon, high chromium steel that offers excellent resistance to wear and abrasion, holding an edge very well. It is often referred to as “semi-stainless” due to its high resistance to corrosion.
The other option, CPM-154 stainless steel, is created in a process that produces a uniform distribution of the carbides. This provides material consistency, greater resistance to breakage and toughness. It’s an excellent stainless steel with high wear resistance.
The Blade: Strong and Sturdy
The satin-finished blade has a sabre grind for additional strength and sturdiness. MacGray & Co. harden, cryo-quench and temper blades in house.
No Detail Left Untouched
The Mako sports a stainless steel, .25-inch pivot with a bronze pivot bushing. It features a stainless steel pocket clip, hardware and ambidextrous thumb screw.
A Lifetime Guarantee
Each MacGray & Co. knife is made by three guys who love what they do. It’s no surprise that they stand behind their work with a lifetime guarantee and are committed to giving the highest level of service to knife enthusiasts.
A sushi knife that developed a taste for Texas brisket.
You might say Daniel O’Connor’s Black Widow leads a double life. It started as a sushi knife but when one of Daniel’s Texas pals said it looked like it would make a great brisket knife, O’Connor went with the flow, telling his friend, “It’s about whatever you want it to be.”
Based on a kiritsuke yanagi-ba sushi knife, Black Widow features a damascus of 150 layers of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels. Daniel forged the steels in a square and then forged them flat, perpendicular to the original stack. This resulted in the edges of the layers showing up in more or less straight lines, what Japanese swordsmiths call masame hada.
The accompanying image of the knife’s butt shows how the layers distorted when forged on edge. Daniel indicated he will use the pattern in the future.
Black Widow Specs Blade length: 12” Blade grind: A double urashi—double bevel w/a slight hollow on each side Handle: Bocote burl w/red fiber liners Bolster: Bog oak Overall length: 17” Sheath: Irish yew and bog oak Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,500
Friedly/Rudolph collaboration is an homage to American Indian culture
Based on the famous sculpture by James Earle Fraser, The End of The Trail by Dennis Friedly memorializes the struggles for survival of the American Indian and the Plains bison. Gil Rudolph did the copious amount of 24k-gold inlay and raised gold engraving in assorted American Indian motifs. (SharpByCoop knife image)
The End of The Trail by Dennis Friedly is a theme piece dealing with the separate battles that American Indians and the Plains bison fought for survival in 19th-century America.
The famous sculpture of the same name by James Earle Fraser is reproduced in 24k gold inlay engraving by Gil Rudolph on one bolster and an American bison on the other. The look and even of the texture of the distinctive ancient bark ivory slabs resemble that of a bison. Meanwhile, Rudolph’s spectacular 24k-gold and raised gold work engravings are configured to represent various symbols of American Indian culture, including all over the guard, pommel and spines of the handle and blade.
SPEC CHECK
Knife: The End of The Trail
Maker: Dennis Friedly
Blade length: 8.5”
Blade steel: Robert Eggerling damascus
Handle material: Ancient bark ivory
Engraving: 24k gold in inlay and raised gold work, all by Gil Rudolph
Construction: Take down
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $14,500
For more information contact Dennis Friedly, Dept. BL9, 12 Cottontail Ln. E, Cody, WY 82414 307-527-6811 [email protected], friedlyknives.com.
These EDC Fixed Blade Knife Options All Have Their Positives As Everyday Companions.
Fixed blades are common in the woods though far less so on the streets—politics has largely seen to that. Folders are in the pockets of many these days and are somehow considered “less dangerous” than fixed blades.
I cannot for the life of me understand this as there is little if any practical difference in terms of capability, with the exception of fixed blades in theory allowing for a longer blade.
There is this idea that a fixed blade is more lethal. Sure, a longer blade allows for greater reach and penetration, but it’s also harder to use in close confines—and substantially more difficult to deploy.
EDC Fixed Blade Knife Pros And Cons
The argument against the carry of larger fixed blades is certainly political, not practical. It could be considered in the same vein as the political arguments surrounding guns, most of which are dedicated to regulating what amounts to cosmetic features. If it looks scary, the thinking goes, you can convince people it is more dangerous.
The interesting part is that the small EDC fixed blade knife options in this article are, for the most part, around the same size as box cutters. The thing is, when we see EDC, we often think about how the item is meant to be on your person, at the ready for utility jobs and even self-protection if need be. The latter is more the case with guns, where there are no power settings, only a fully lethal one.
In my stories on guns, I have often talked about how accessory-laden modern self-defense arms can be, but at the end of the day you’re not going to open your FedEx deliveries with a gun. Self-defense is a major purpose of firearms, whereas your EDC knife should be a jack-of-all-trades and capable of handling all your daily cutting tasks.
In the process of preparing this article, I had the pleasure of moving into a new house. As such I got to put the test blades through their paces, cutting everything from tape and cardboard to zip ties—and even dinner when I couldn’t find my silverware. In place of my carving knife I used the White River M1 Caper to serve chicken dinner.
The point is, these are supposed to be knives that benefit from fixed-blade construction, able to handle tasks that might damage a folder.
Best EDC Fixed Blade Knife Options
Fixed EDC Fixed Blade Knife Specs Comparision
Model
Overall Length
Blade Length
Blade Thickness
Weight
Blade Material
Handle Material
MSRP
Boker Pocket Knife
6.93 inches
3.39 inches
0.15 inches
3.74 ounces
440C
G10
$105
White River Knife & Tool’s Model 1 Caper
7 inches
3 inches
.130 inch
3.2 ounces
CPM S35VN or CPM Magnacut
Micarta
$120
Citadel Vannak V
5.75 inches
2.38 inches
.72 inch
2.9 ounces
DNH7
Palisander Wood
$175
Gerber Dibs
5.96 inches
2.5 inches
.12 inch
2.22 ounces
440A
440A
$36
Kizlyar Supreme Hammy
6 inches
2.13 inches
.13 inch
3.6 ounces
AUS-8, Niolox, Sleipner, K340, PGK
walnut, G10 or carbon
$117
Boker BFF
6.92 inches
2.76 inches
.10 inch
2.29 ounces
ABE-L
Walnut
$259
Spartan Blades Field Grade Enyo
6.25 inches
2.69 inches
.19 inch
2.816 ounces
AUS-8A
AUS-8A
$88
Boker Pocket Knife
Boker has quite the little devil with the Pocket Knife. The name, of course, implies that it is to be carried in the pocket, and it comes with a sheath that works very well in this role. It’s the longest blade in the group but has the smallest handle.
The handle size is deceptive; it is very minimalist in the pocket and the sheath sits low, thus making the knife appear to have a much smaller blade. It carries well and is lightweight—two things I like. However, in use, it becomes a bit more of a challenge.
I do get that the Pocket Knife, designed by veteran knifemaker and police officer Mickey Yurco, has a self-defense vibe. The EDC fixed blade knife’s long, narrow tip is an obvious thruster, though the overall texture of the full piece is very slick. The handle shape forces the hand into a slightly uncomfortable angle. Sheathing the knife is also difficult if clipped deep in a pocket.
As a regular-use knife, I have seen better. That said, in a self-defense role, this would be the best of the bunch. If the blade is in your hand in the reverse grip, it feels solid and firm. The tang cutout between the choil and the handle is perfect for pinky finger placement in the reverse grip, and the knife is an effective stabber and slasher in tight spaces.
This is an excellent blade to pair with grappling techniques and for dealing with heavy clothing. All said, I like what Boker did here. It is a knife that goes in your pocket, but I don’t think it is well suited for the role of a traditional pocketknife.
White River Knife & Tool’s Model 1 Caper was the best performer of the reviewed EDC fixed blade knife bunch. I have come to expect great knives from White River, not just ergonomically but also in terms of the quality of steel the company uses. The blades are heat treated very well, are not brittle, and stay extremely sharp even in heavy use.
The first thing I noticed about this knife is the grip, which is not only minimal but very comfortable. I can tell White River spends a great deal of time on the small things, such as the tang cutout having a very nice rounded interior edge that feels great on the finger and never digs into it. The grip material and shape feel terrific in the hand. The only downside is the Micarta® handle gets dirty fast and can stain.
The sheath is very well constructed and allows for positive sheathing with an audible click when the knife is seated. The sheath is meant for belt carry and is not a clip style like the others in the test, and fits most standard belts. The sheath surprised me a bit; it was the easiest to use of the bunch.
As far as utility for a carry knife, this one is probably the most versatile of the group. It is extremely sharp and has an aggressive, fine tip. It is so sharp it can pass through just about any normal material easily. I used it to cut heavy packaging straps and minutes later to prepare dinner. This is the definition of an all-purpose knife.
Made in Cambodia by Citadel, the Vannak V is an excellent EDC fixed blade knife. Overall, I really like this little guy. It doesn’t claim to be anything other than a daily use, small-task cutter. It’s great for opening mail and packages, light food prep, and small craft work. It is very pleasant to use and has an exceptional appearance.
Despite it being a great performer, I don’t have a tremendous amount to say about the Vannak V. It is devoid of gimmicks and is just a very tiny knife that does no more than its size allows. I like the wood grip and that the knife is made by hand by people who obviously care about what they’re doing.
The fit and finish are great. I have no complaints about grip texture or the depth of the tang cutout as the knife can’t really be used in the reverse grip—it’s just too small. The sheath is leather, minimalist, and completely functional.
Vannak V Specs Overall Length: 5.75 inches Blade Length: 2.38 inches Blade Thickness: .72 inch Weight: 2.9 ounces Blade Material: DNH7 Handle Material: Palisander Wood MSRP: $175
Gerber Dibs
The Gerber Dibs is a one-piece, skeletonized-handle knife common among small examples of the genre. The 440A stainless steel blade is 2.5 inches and has a modified clip point. A flat grind gives the edge plenty of bite for tough cutting chores.
The ergonomic handle has a large finger recess that doubles as an integral guard. When you grab the handle, it expands a bit to fill your grip. In addition to reducing overall weight, the skeletonized holes accommodate a paracord wrap to further augment purchase.
An all-encompassing black PVD coating provides a low-profile appearance and enhanced corrosion resistance. Overall length is just shy of 6 inches, making the Dibs a great compact knife for general use or food prep.
Out of the box the edge was excellent, ready to work and featuring plenty of bite. It dispatched cardboard with minimal fuss. The edge quality along with the dropped blade design help promote overall knife security, using either a choke grip for precise maneuvers or resting a thumb on the blade spine to add more control or pressure for the cut.
With skeletonized fixed blades, it is important to have a more complex handle design with varying features to help you retain your grip in the absence of scales. Despite having no scales, the Dibs is quite comfortable to grip. Skeletonized fixed blades are not meant for long periods of continuous use and are for convenience of carry instead. Bottom line, the knife is a pleasure to use.
The sheath is sewn-and-riveted leather dyed yellow. At first it appears too big—which it probably is—for such a small knife, but sheathed the Dibs is advertised as totable inside the pocket as well, which explains the large design.
If you have cargo pants with larger front pockets, it carries very well there. A button-snap strap secures the knife and a large loop accommodates most belt sizes. The sheath’s edges are rough and not finished too well. Then again, Gerber targets affordability and as much bang for the buck as possible with the Dibs, so corners apparently were cut.
The Kizlyar Supreme Hammy is an incredibly ergonomic knife. The leaf-shaped blade is 2.1 inches long and sports a full flat grind for slicing power. Blade steel is Niolox stainless. The highly ergonomic handle is loaded with curves that feel molded for your hand. Orange G-10 scales provide a pop of color and a solid grip. The handle is expertly chamfered and contoured in the right places, further enhancing user comfort.
At first glance the Hammy appears cute—but don’t let looks fool you, as it’s designed and built for work. It’s a fixed blade the size of a small open folder. The blade is .11 inches thick at its thickest point and sports a distal taper to the tip. Jimping on the blade spine and thumb rest offer non-slip purchase for your thumb or index finger.
When you grip the handle and your thumb rests naturally on the blade spine, you feel how comfortable the Hammy is. You can also sense the knife is highly controllable, instilling user confidence. The jimping could be a little better. It could be more defined/aggressive to offer a better bite into your thumb.
The leather sheath has a button-snap retention strap. There are also two smaller belt loops attached to the main belt loop. These are provided to carry the Hammy horizontally, as it is set up for traditional vertical carry like most straight knives.
While the sheath itself is well made and includes a whimsical artwork stamping of a hamster (the same illustration appears as an etching on the blade’s right-hand side), it doesn’t have the snuggest fit around the knife. Even with the retention strap buttoned it is possible to still wiggle the Hammy out. This is not so critical if you carry the Hammy vertically, but it is a concern if you carry it horizontally. A properly fitted sheath at this price point is a must.
The Boker BFF fixed blade designed by Lucas Burnley is ultra-compact for discreet, comfortable carry. Its design cues are taken from the barlow pocketknife, a general go-to cutting tool for centuries. The 2.7-inch blade is AEB-L stainless steel in a clip-point shape that is very utility friendly. The blade has an acid-wash finish to hide scratches.
At 6 inches overall, the compact fixed blade almost disappears on your side. The handle comes in a choice of walnut or a more practical green canvas Micarta®. The Micarta is contoured nicely, making the handle rest in your hand snugly. The brass rivets and thong tube provide a nice visual contrast. The knife’s beauty lies in its simplicity of design and execution. It proves that no bells and whistles are needed for a cutter to be highly functional.
The sheath is a nicely made leather pouch style with a slight symmetrical taper toward the bottom. The iconic Boker tree logo is stamped into the leather. A sturdy steel pocket clip enables the BFF sheath to attach to or be removed from your belt quickly—no muss, no fuss.
With such a lightweight knife, a big belt loop would be overkill. The knife fits the sheath like a glove, with no rattling or wiggling. The sheath compresses down on the handle to hold it securely inside. When the knife is sheathed, the handle sticks up about an inch, plenty for you to grab onto. It also has a hole for a lanyard.
The Field Grade Enyo is a staple of the Spartan Blades line. It boasts an easily concealed blade designed for either utility or backup personal protection. It shares the same dimensions as its higher-priced sibling in CPM S45VN stainless steel, the Enyo, with the exception that the blade steel is AUS-8 stainless.
The modified clip point blade is 2.68 inches and the knife is 6.25 inches overall. The skeletonized one-piece design simplifies the knife and makes it easy to carry. The handle accommodates two different hand holds, which aids in increasing the knife’s versatility.
Several areas of jimping assist in getting a good non-slip grip. A black epoxy coating throughout provides a low-profile appearance. A paracord lanyard includes a polished Spartan helmet bead, which is pretty neat.
In action the Field Grade Enyo is all business. Don’t mistake it for a small, cute knife. It has attitude and packs a punch! The blade tip is reinforced a bit due to the false edge and penetrates fairly well. Thanks to the way the blade profile tapers, the tip cuts easily. The flat grind and superb edge quality out of the box enable the knife to handle business immediately.
The handle’s various curves seat your hand snug and solidly. The two-thumb rest provides the option of choking up further on the blade for a more reliable grip and improved control. It’s amazing such a small, compact fixed blade can feel so trustworthy in the hand.
When you tackle larger cutting chores, you can choke up on the handle to stabilize the knife and feel in charge at all times. The lack of handle scales means the knife is the bare minimum in bulk.
Those who say they do not like skeletonized knives might want to reconsider with the Field Grade Enyo. You’ll find yourself using it more and more. AUS-8 is well known in the industry for being a good, mid-grade steel, balancing edge holding and economy. It certainly doesn’t disappoint here. It is an excellent choice of steel for a knife of its price point.
The sheath is form-fitting molded plastic riveted for strength. One of the best things about the sheath is how well it locks the knife inside. There is a ramped, notched thumb button on the opening end that when pushed up releases a lock so the knife can exit the sheath. When sheathing the knife you will hear a tiny click indicating the lock has engaged. No amount of tugging on the handle or violent shaking of the sheath upside down can cause the knife to fall out.
This is very well done and a feature not commonly seen, not only on knives of this price class but more expensive ones, too. Included is a belt loop for IWB (inside waistband) carry, as well as a length of paracord for neck carry. The two carry choices promote both discreteness and ease of access.
This skinning knife is ready for hard work. It’s made in the USA with USA materials. (Ridgeline photo)
The Skinner from Ridgeline Knife Works was designed with a big skinning belly in the 3-inch blade (think back to the old Dexter skinners), without sacrificing the ability to cut tendons and gut.
The G10 handle provides comfort regardless of the way the knife is held, and jimping adds additional finger grip. With a skeletonized full tang and no heavy bolsters or pommel, the weight is about 5 ounces — just enough to feel good in your hand.
Whether you choose the traditional route with D2 or opt for the advanced S35-VN stainless steel, you can count on a knife that will keep its edge through the job, and the next.
Even better, the knife is made in the USA from USA materials.
“I started this company because I saw a distinct lack of knives that were actually designed for what we do as hunters,” said Zack Waddle, Ridgeline owner. “As an engineer I believe that there should be a knife available to outdoors enthusiasts that has every detail engineered to make tasks faster, more comfortable, and well, more fun.”
The offset handle may just save your skin during meal prep
Most will agree that offset handles on kitchen knives look just a bit funky, but have you ever pondered why the unusual “stepped design” is what it is? Actually, there’s a method to the madness and it’s really quite simple. It’s to save your knuckles from getting banged up while slicing. Little has been written about this unusual handle, so we thought it would be both fun and informative to give a handful of o set-handle kitchen knives a spin around the cutting board.
It should be noted that such cutters often are referred to as bread* or sandwich knives which, when you think about it, makes sense, since loaves of bread typically have largish,at bottoms that require getting the digits down low when cutting. Plus, like the majority of bread knives, most are serrated.
What’s an offset worth? In this case a half inch. At top is a Boker chef’s knife the author has used for years. The drop from handle to blade edge is .75 inch. On the Boker Black Damascus Bread Knife at bottom, the drop is 1.25 inches.
The test knives have full serrations and, interestingly, there is a slight bow to the blades as well.The slight curve enables you to rock the blade back and forth on all cutting to make sure the cut is complete, a trait common to most cleavers as well. Serrations are a double-edged sword, so to speak, in that they make it easy to saw through most media.The other edge of the sword is that they can be a nightmare to sharpen, a feat some prefer to job out to the factory or professionals. However, serrations work particularly well at food prep for many breads, meats and vegetables, which is why so many kitchen knives of all types have them. Note that the featured models are hidden-tang knives—all the better to keep unwanted fluids out of the nooks and crannies found on their full-tang counterparts.
KITCHEN CUTTERS
The Boker blade is all business as there is no effort to etch the damascus, though the pattern is faintly visible.
The Boker Black Damascus Bread Knife is the high-priced spread, pun intended. It is a large bread knife but is extremely lightweight due to its very thin blade. The blunt-tipped pattern has full serrations, each approximately .25 inch long. According to a Boker spokesperson, the blade’s core is VG-10 stainless. The damascus pattern is forged of various stainless steels by Japan’s Takefu Special Steel, Ltd. The blade is all business as there is no effort to etch the damascus, though the pattern is faintly visible. The ovate handle is topped with a stainless steel bolster.
The Spyderco Blunt-Tip Z-Cut is the smallest of the test slicers. Billed as a “go-to knife for all food preparation chores,” its blade has fine .125-inch serrations along the edge. The CTS BD1N stainless blade steel is made by Carpenter Technology, a leader in the industry, and is considered much better than common culinary alloys. The handle is yellow polypropylene, a common synthetic found on many kitchen knives because it is dense and repels water. The Blunt-Tip Z-Cut is super lightweight.
The Blunt-Tip Z Cut is a smaller, handier version of the other two test knives.
The Victorinox 9-inch Offset Sandwich Knife is the largest and heaviest of the test bunch, edging out its Boker counterpart by a half inch and a half ounce. Victorinox has always been hush-hush about its proprietary steels but does indicate that the blade is stainless steel with a carbon content of .5 percent^. e blade has .25-inch serrations and the ample handle is a black synthetic. After its acclaimed Swiss Army knives, Victorinox is well known for the Forschner brand kitchen knives, which it has owned controlling stock in since 1981.
The Victorinox 9-inch O set Sandwich Knife is the largest and heaviest of the test bunch, edging out its Boker counterpart by a half inch and a half ounce.
TASTY TESTING
I tested the two large o set knives sideby-side as their specs were so similar, starting with a 4×7-inch loaf of Publix Tuscan Boule bread. Unlike run-of-the-mill white bread, Tuscan Boule has a very tough rind. Using the knives in sawing strokes, I took off quarter- to half-inch slices. Both knives performed admirably, giving me any grief only on the at base of the loaf due to its full 7-inch rind. Once I got used to rocking the blade on the final cut, this, too, made for quick business. My biggest takeaway, however, was that offset handles do indeed work! In fact, I didn’t come anywhere close to busting a knuckle. My knuckles tapped the cutting board top a few times, but nowhere near as badly had I been using a handle without the offset. Both the Boker and Victorinox were comfortable in the hand, with the latter having an edge due to its fat, curvaceous—not to mention slightly longer—handle, though you’d be fine with either knife.
The Boker Black Damascus Bread Knife takes off nice, clean slices of Tuscan Boule bread. The bread has a tough rind but the serrated blade made quick work of it.
Next I took the knives outside the Bread Zone, testing them on other foodstuffs such as corned beef and Cajun sausage. Both knives sliced extremely well. Indeed, you could make an entire sandwich using these knives—but would you want to? By doing so you’d dull your serrations faster, even if minutely. It may be better to stick to bread and let your other kitchen knives share the cutting chores.
The author took the Victorinox 9-inch Sandwich Knife out of the “Bread Zone” and used it to cut neat slices of corned beef. You may or may not wish to use your bread knife in this manner, but the option is there.
The Spyderco Blunt-Tip Z-Cut is a smaller, handier version of the two bigger models, mainly because you need not drag out a large cutting board to use it. It’s not going to slice its way through a large loaf like the Tuscan Boule, but it will whip its way through a smaller sub-style sandwich or your standard white bread lunch quickie. I also gave it a spin slicing tomatoes, portobello mushrooms and a 3-inch chub of summer sausage. The knife performed very well and is limited only by its size. The Blunt-Tip Z-Cut’s blade is scary sharp—not surprising since serrations have been in Spyderco’s wheelhouse for quite a while. Where’s also a plain-edge version of the knife available—the Pointed Z-Cut. These two make for good companion knives and the plain-edge version will cut down your use of the serrated one.
The Z-Cut proved to be a little powerhouse, taking slices off a chub of summer sausage with aplomb. The CTS BD1N stainless steel takes a sharp serrated factory edge—a Spyderco specialty.
The Spyderco Blunt-Tip Z-Cut is billed as a versatile knife for all sorts of food prep. The author sliced up some tomato and worked on a portobello mushroom cap. Note the precise slices.
CHOICES ABOUND
All of the test knives were wicked sharp. You might ask yourself, if the two large bread knives cut equally well, why pay such a higher price for the Boker? For the same reason some carry affordable Kershaw folders as their EDC and others spend much more on a Chris Reeve: choices abound in the culinary world, just as they do in the EDC realm.
*Editor’s note: Standard bread knives have conventional, straight handles.
^Medium carbon steel has a carbon content of approximately .3 to .59 percent. High carbon steel has a carbon content of approximately .6 to .99 percent.
Sarge Knives TK Retro has throwback looks, but modern performance.
The TK Retro from Sarge Knives reminds me of my first fixed blade.
The blade was pitted and the leather handle was cracking. Still, the knife field dressed many squirrel, rabbit and game birds throughout my childhood. It was an excellent camper’s or outdoorsman’s knife.
As for the TK Retro, like my first fixed blade, the stacked-leather handle still gives my hand a warm feel. It has a 440C stainless steel blade to make its good looks last even longer. However, how does it cut?
TK Retro Sharpness Test
Using the knife’s weight, the author employed push cuts in the stationery. There were no “bad starts,” just smooth slicing.
The first test medium was 20-pound bond copy paper. The TK Retro started slicing and made nice, clean cuts in the stationery. Using the knife’s weight, I employed push cuts. There were no “bad starts,” just smooth slicing.
TK Retro Light-Duty Cuting
The blade audibly crunched the leather with each skive and made it easy to control the width of slices.
The TK Retro bit deep and smooth [into drywall], with minimal bending of the cut pieces. I could feel the cardboard’s layers with each cut. Edge performance was nice and aggressive. The handle provides a very secure grip.
Leather skiving followed. The blade audibly crunched the leather with each cut and made it easy to control the width of slices.
Heavy-Duty Cutting With Sarge’s Fixed Blade
Firesticks
Melissa did a great job whittling a fuzz stick with the TK Retro over her painted bench.
While camping, I was splitting firewood for the weekend. My wife, Melissa, wanted to start the fire so I showed her how to make fire sticks. She took to whittling very quickly and did four of the sticks to aid in her fire starting. She used the TK Retro to make some very nice curlicues. Before I knew it she had a beautiful fire going—excellent job on her part! I was surprised to see her whittling over her bench that she had painted. She seemed to feel very confident using the little fixed blade.
Splitting Wood
I had some dry hackberry wood to split for kindling. A dead blow hammer and the TK Retro made short work of the task. I didn’t see or feel any edge/knife damage while batonning the edge through the wood. The guard acted like a guide for my hold hand, keeping the wood away from my knuckles. The leather handle absorbed the vibrations perfectly.
Vs Rope
The fixed blade made 82 crunching cuts in the half-inch sisal rope before the edge started to slide.
On the half-inch sisal rope, the TK Retro crunched its way to 82 clean cuts before the edge started to slide. I did find that the guard had a sharp edge that needed softening a bit. It would create a hot spot on your hand after a while. It was an easy fix with some sandpaper.
Chopping Antlers
After 20 hard whacks on the antler the edge showed nary a chip, a sign of outstanding heat treating.
The last test for the edge consisted of a series of chops into a whitetail deer antler. After 20 hard whacks, I expected to see some minor edge chipping but there was none. The edge was as sharp as when I started. Sarge Knives nailed the heat treating.
Changes
The guard and buttcap need to be softened a tad. They will bite you after a period of hard use.
Final Cut
The TK Retro is a very nice medium-use knife great for game or camping.
