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.
GiantMouse Releases New Set Of Sleek, Robust Folding Knives–the ACE Corta line–Made From Austrian Steel.
Stylish. Tough. Strong.
Those are just a few words to describe the newest folding knives released by GiantMouse. The ACE Corta Knife comes in three different styles and is as good as it gets when it comes to an EDC folder.
The showpiece is the blade, made of Böhler M390 stainless steel from Austria. Known as one of the ultra-premium stainless steel, martensitic steel is renowned for its and ease of sharpening. Essentially, it’ll take and keep an edge.
At 3.1 inches in length with a flat saber grind, the ACE Corta is a flipper inspired by GiantMouse’s limited-run GM6 knife.
The Natural Canvas version of the ACE Corta
The ACE Corta comes in three styles: a green-canvas-colored Micarta handle and a stonewashed finish on the blade, a natural-canvas-color Micarta handle with a satin finished blade and a black PVD finish blade itself with a black G10 laminate handle.
All three knives have an overall length of 7.3 inches, a handle length of 4.18 inches, and come in between 3.8-4 ounces in weight.
The knives open quickly and smoothly thanks to the ball-bearing pivot. They all have a wire clip so it can slide easily onto a belt, purse, or pocket. And each version of the knife has an MSRP of $195.
Given the engineering that has gone into the ACE Contra, the price should prove a value to most.
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.
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.
There’s something irresistible about pressing the button of folding automatic knife and having the blade spring out with a resounding “THWACK!” as it locks open.
Types Of Automatic Knives
Automatic knives or autos come in two basic styles: the traditional side—or radial—openers and out the fronts (OTFs). There’s a great selection of both in today’s factory market. The majority center around the tactical trend in which the spring-powered opening action enjoys viability in high-stress situations where you need instantaneous blade deployment with little effort in action and thinking.
Side-Opening Auto Knives
Pro-Tech TR-3 1X Operator
When it comes to tactical automatic knives, Pro-Tech is a leader in the field. Its designs are highly refined and manufactured with the utmost attention to detail. The Tactical Response folder series is a company best-seller, the TR-3 being one of the most sought-after designs. Eight inches open, it is a great working knife featuring an ergonomic handle of T6-6061 aluminum paired with a drop-point blade of 154CM stainless steel. While the company manufactures different variations of the TR-3, the most eye-catching is the TR-3 X1 Operator Series model.
Something you will notice first is the knife is sterile—in other words, there are no markings denoting brand, blade steel or country of origin. It is all black, including the clip and hardware. Topping it off, the lock button is inlaid with a tiny vial of tritium, allowing the button to “light up” in total darkness. The handle has ProTech’s fish-scale machining pattern to aid in grip retention and cool looks. The clip is mounted toward the handle butt to carry the closed folder blade tip up and as low in a pocket as possible.
All black and stealthy, the Pro Tech TR-3 X1 Operator Series folder gets the job done with little fuss and effort.
The TR-3 is how you properly execute an all-black-finished knife. The modified drop-point blade tackles a variety of tasks with ease. American-made 154CM is an industry standard for heavy-use knives, holds a decent edge, and is not as difficult to resharpen as CPM high-performance steels. The handle shape is very appealing with its two large finger recesses to help index your grip, and the slightly tapered profile rests in your hand comfortably with no hot spots. Blade action is very snappy. Pro-Tech officials like strong springs in their automatic knives, so have a firm hold on the handle before you deploy the blade. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP): $320. The knife is made in Pro Tech’s Placentia, California, factory.
Boker Plus Karakurt
Danish knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes is one of the hottest knife designers going, and Boker Plus has tapped him for several designs, the Karakurt auto being one of them. Starting with a modified clip-point blade a hair over 3 inches, the material of choice is 154CM stainless steel. The flat grind allows the edge to be thin and exert a great bite, much like the knife’s namesake. (Karakurt is the Eurasian equivalent of the black widow spider.) The handle is T6-6061 aluminum. A large finger recess permits easy indexing of your grip, and the handle curves accommodate the rest of your fingers nicely for a nonslip purchase. A deep-carry pocket clip totes the closed Karakurt blade tip up and low in the pocket for maximum concealment.
Action-wise, the knife is very quick. Press the firing button and the blade opens instantaneously. The overall design isn’t really tactical, though it does share some tactical traits. The Karakurt is designed more for everyday carry, and is excellent at opening mail, packages, breaking down cardboard boxes, stripping electrical wire, cutting corrugated plastic, etc. It carries very well, the slim profile allowing it to blend right into the pocket and have a lightweight footprint. It carries just as easily in casual dress as formal. The blade is available in a stonewash finish or black PVD coat. With an MSRP of $199.99, the Karakurt is priced very competitively to other knives of its class. It is made in the USA by Hogue Knives.
The flat grind of the Boker Plus Karakurt blade helps give it a nice bite. The Karakurt is made in the USA for Boker by Hogue Knives.
OTF Auto Knives
OTFs fall under one of two categories. One is single-action, where the blade deploys automatically and you must pull out the charging bar to retract it. A double-action OTF has automatic deployment and retraction of the blade, all by respectively pushing and pulling a slide button on the handle spine. The latter is the most popular, as most every OTF manufacturer makes one.
Heretic Knives Hydra
The Heretic Knives Hydra is a single-action OTF. It offers a choice of 3.6-inch drop-point or tanto pattern blades in CPM S35VN stainless steel. Handles are aluminum alloy machined with traction notches in strategic locations. The pocket clip is a distinctive “H”-shaped fold-over deep carry design and uses four screws as opposed to the standard two. It is anchored to the handle ultra-securely.
The firing button incorporates an unusual safety. It’s a teardrop-shaped cover that pivots downward to allow button access. When released, it covers the firing button to prevent accidental blade deployment. Very ingenious! The bad thing about single-action OTFs is that retracting it requires using both hands: one to hold the handle and press the firing button to unlock the blade, the other to pull back on the charging bar until the blade is fully retracted and locked closed. (Pull a paracord lanyard tied to the charging bar or grab the end of the bar and pull.) The Hydra is well made, and the ergonomic handle is comfortable and offers multiple-grip positioning.
Most OTFs have a boxy profile and maybe two grip positions at most, depending on the size. Admittedly, I am not a fan of the humongous clip but it does a great job at holding the knife to the pocket, and is a deep carry design that positions the Hydra low in the pocket.
The Hydra also has a safety (inset) by the fi ring button to guard against inadvertent opening of the blade.
When you fire the blade, it hits hard! Out of the box the blade was plenty sharp and the hollow-ground tanto offered great slicing ability. Heretic provides the knife in multiple handle colors and two blade finishes—we received the black-coated blade with a nice handle anodized blue (MSRP: $435).
Single-action OTFs are probably better suited for occasional use since the two-handed blade retraction can get cumbersome, especially if you have the use of only one hand at a time. Double-action OTF’s are what you need for more frequent use. However, if you collect OTF automatic knives, you need a single action in your collection. In this case, the Hydra is a perfect choice to fill the slot.
Microtech Scarab II
Easily the largest OTF in the Microtech line, the double-action Scarab II is a nice handful. The base steel of choice for the 3.9-inch drop-point blade is M390 stainless, though Microtech also uses other high-end steels depending on what’s on hand in quantity. The 5.25-inch handle is T6-6061 aluminum for lightweight and strength. Inlays of textured rubber tape are integrated to enhance grip in most all conditions.
A hefty push moves the textured actuation button forward to deploy the blade and a backward pull retracts it. The robust push is also a safety feature to avoid inadvertent blade actuation. The action is very quick given the blade’s size and
thickness.
Microtech added three fullers—two in the standard style on the blade’s side, as well as one on the blade spine. They look pretty cool but don’t add to performance. A few mini fullers are close to the blade’s base, where they are partially visible when the blade is deployed.
Given the knife’s size, it works quite well, and blade deployment is very easy even if you’re wearing work gloves. If you wear gloves frequently, this is the OTF for you. The handle is blocky and therefore fits the hand well with or without
gloves.
The Microtech Scarab II is the latest auto Microtech manufactures and the largest of the test group. This formidable-sized OTF is ready to tackle the toughest cutting jobs you may have and does so with aplomb.
The Scarab II is adept at handling bigger cutting tasks, and has excellent slicing capabilities given the blade’s length. It could easily be used as a food prep knife, as it does great in the kitchen. The flat ground blade sails through a variety of media and is easy to resharpen. M390 holds an excellent edge and, unlike S30V, is relatively simple to resharpen. Carry is a snap thanks to the heavy-duty steel pocket clip. It’s secured to the handle butt with a special conical glass breaker screw that has an inlaid steel ball bearing for transmitting impact energy to the glass.
If you’re looking for an EDC-able Microtech OTF, the Scarab II may not be your choice due to its larger size. You’ll need to look at the company’s smaller Ultratech series instead. However, for tactical or extended-period hard use, the Scarab II fits the bill perfectly. The MSRP is $551, making it one of the most expensive production OTFs—but it’s worth it!
“This Built America,” a new multimedia platform from AOL exploring the companies and people reimagining American manufacturing, visited Jacksonville, Alabama, and profiled a knife factory that is a family beyond its owners—Bear & Son Cutlery.
This Built America. I think it was knives. “This Built America,” a new multimedia platform from AOL exploring the companies and people reimagining American manufacturing, visited Jacksonville, Alabama, and profiled a knife factory that is a family beyond its owners—Bear & Son Cutlery.
Ken Griffey’s Bear & Son Cutlery was officially founded in 1991 after Griffey was approached by Jacksonville town leaders to buy the closing W.R. Case Cutlery factory, Griffey’s then employer. Since then, the factory and its employees have been on an incredible journey demonstrating the value of family and community.
In this “This Built America” AOL episode, Griffey and his son Matt discuss the family that Bear & Son has created while dealing with tough decisions like selling the business, another potential closure and all that comes their way.
“I had a lot of mothers and fathers,” recalls Griffey on his youth in the Jacksonville factory. That type of attention and care comes through every Bear & Son product. It also can be seen in the 36-year relationship, in business and marriage, between Ken and Sandy Griffey.
For Bear & Son Cutlery, being part of “This Built America” is proof that Ken Griffey made the right decisions banking on Bear & Son, no matter the circumstance. “Being part of ‘This Built America’ was simply amazing,” explains Griffey. “We were very honored to be a part of this, and would like to thank everyone who helped make this happen.”
To view the full episode and more on the Bear & Son family, click here.
Bear & Son Cutlery joins a national movement in “This Built America” that is devoted to supporting American companies and American-made products. AOL is proud to support the effort along with sponsor Ford Trucks. Through the year, the editorial and video teams will explore 50 states in 50 weeks to bring 50 stories of the people who are bringing back manufacturing to America. The platform is produced in coordination with Man Made Content.
This New Fixed-Blade From CRKT Is Everything You Could Want In An EDC And More. Designed By Alan Folts, The Spear Point Is An Absolute Winner
The new CRKT Spear Point is an excellent fixed-blade knife. Designed by Florida-based maker Alan Folts, and part of the company’s Minimalist line, the Spear Point is compact, rugged, and can cut through almost anything.
The piece is just 5.2 inches long and weighs a light 2.1 ounces. An included thermoplastic sheath keeps the stonewashed 8Cr13MoV blade safe and secure in transit. The high-carbon stainless steel retains its edge well, making this a great knife to bring with you camping or keeping it in your shop. It can get into tight places that larger knives, both folders and fixed blades, simply won’t be able to.
And it looks great thanks to the resin-infused fiber handle that has a rich, dark green color. The handle also has three finger notches built into the handle for easy, secure grip.
The CRKT Spear Point continues a long line of successful knives from one of America’s top factory makers. At an excellent price point, the Spear Point is, without question, worth the investment.
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
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
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
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
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
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
