THE AWARD-WINNING FACTORY KNIFE COMPANY UNDERGOES A BRAND REFRESH IN 2020
The year was 1986. The Soviet Union hosted its first Goodwill Games. Halley’s Comet was visible from Earth for the first time in 76 years. Up to 6.5 million people participated in a charity event called Hands Across America. Phantom of the Opera premiered in London’s West End. And SOG Specialty Knives—aka SOG—made its debut.
The first SOG-brand knife was a reproduction of the original SOG Bowie in tribute to the Studies and Observations Group* of Vietnam War fame. Eventually, the SOG Specialty Knives line grew to include knives mass produced with attention to detail and quality. Today, the company has grown into an innovative, major player whose products are among the leading choices of Navy SEALs and other military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, tradesmen and everyday knife users the world over. Folders, fixed blades, flashlights, multi-tools and gear— SOG has you covered.
Over the years, it’s only natural that a knife company keeps growing in size and product offerings, constantly evolving itself and its knives. SOG has kept moving forward, and 2020 marks a significant milestone in the company’s evolution: a prominent revamp of sales and marketing strategies, a refresh of existing models and an engineering of new ones to further meet the demands of those who serve and keep us safe, as well as the needs of everyday knife consumers.
With its slender form factor, XR lock, carbon fiber handle and CTS XHP stainless blade, the Ultra XR defines classy high tech. The super-slim folder carries well and also doubles as a money clip. The gold-titanium-nitride coating adds a bit of bling. The blade also is available in a more subdued black-titanium-nitride coat.
The architect for the brand refresh is Jonathan Wegner, company brand vice president. “We’ve taken the best things from the last three decades, and doubled down on the things that we feel are most relevant to our end users today and into the future,” he explains, “and are focused on delivering solutions that are authentic to the brand.”
Why the transformation? According to Wegner, consumers reported that the company’s more recent focus and quality were not there. Many stated their idea of SOG was from an era that is now past, when the company brought some innovative ideas to market and was driven to produce the best knives and tools for tactical and other consumers. “So, by first studying and observing ourselves, we were able to determine that a significant change was needed,” Wegner notes. “Most of this led to our reposition and future focus.”
The Flash AT is designed for daily carry with a drop-point blade of D2 tool steel and a handle of molded glass-reinforced nylon in multiple color options.
SOG founder and president Spencer Frazer was the primary driving force behind the company and many of its product designs, from its inception until a couple of years ago when Joe McSwiney was hired to lead the outfit.
Spencer Frazer, SOG founder
Instead of the old SOG mark, the company refresh will include blades marked STUDIES AND OBSERVATIONS GROUP.
“Spencer was involved throughout the brand refresh process, and a lot of what we have done with the brand hearkens back to his original vision,” Wegner states. “Therefore, it was vital that he was involved throughout every aspect of it.” Even back then, Frazer was seriously considering stepping down from overseeing daily operations and returning to his passion of developing innovative products. “So, once the brand refresh and new products strategy were in place,” Wegner says, “he felt comfortable stepping back.”
SOG has been Spencer’s baby since day one, so stepping back at any time or putting just anyone in charge isn’t what he wanted. “SOG’s future is pushing into an even greater extension of the original intent when it was founded,” Spencer notes. “I cannot be prouder of what the company has grown into.”
RELENTLESS by DESIGN
The new company slogan is “Relentless by Design.” This encompasses SOG’s past while embracing the future. Being a major player in the tactical market for many years has pushed the company to continuously innovate and bring new models to market. Starting this fall, SOG will double down on the pushing and debut some intriguing models.
With Frazer retired and the right people in place, the company is poised to embark on a fresh, new and exciting chapter where its knives and other products will be more focused and specifically aimed at three target groups: Professional, Outdoor and Daily. More on them later. Meanwhile, by the time the new vision was in place, many of SOG’s lower-end knives and other products already had been discontinued. “We felt those items didn’t truly represent the types of items we want to be [offering],” Wegner says.
SOG has gone to some stylish pocket clips this year, model examples from top: the Ultra XR and its extra-wide/long clip (it doubles as a money clip), Flash AT, Terminus XR and Pentagon XR.
Along with this, Walmart, which previously sold some of the now- discontinued, lower-end SOG items, was removed as a retailer. Most everyone else who had sold SOG knives will remain, including many knife-specific retailers on the Internet and elsewhere.
Beginning in the fall, the first phase of the brand refresh will officially go live, and, as of press time, some of the new knives already had been released. All of the new product classes are designed to function at peak levels, engineered with intent and built with the best materials for each specific price point.
As part of the new SOG’s knives fall into the three aforementioned categories: Professional (law enforcement, EMT, fire and military); Outdoor (hunters, hikers, campers, fishermen, etc.); and Daily (trades, office workers, warehouse workers and such). All three incorporate what the SOG brain trust calls a visual brand language. This means each category incorporates a specific geometric shape that is a motif for the designs that populate it.
For example, the knives in the Professional category have trapezoidal design elements. Outdoor employs a circular design motif. Finally, Daily employs triangular design elements. The purpose of the visual brand language is so you can readily identify each knife’s purpose.
In addition to the visual brand language, SOG is using new “naming conventions” as well. The standardized approach allows you to easily identify the primary technologies the knives use. For example, XR denotes the knife uses SOG’s XR lock (SEAL XR), AT denotes Assisted Technology (Flash AT), and FX indicates the knife is a fixed blade (SEAL FX). There are a few other designations but these are the most commonly used.
With the assisted- opening AT-XR lock, the Flash AT combines rapid deployment with lock security. Pulling back on the ambidextrous release disengages the lock. Note the lock safety on the handle spine. The red dot indicates the blade is ready to open.
Also new is a color-coded accent stripe on the packaging. Yellow is for Daily, light blue for Professional and gray for Outdoor. Topping it off is new packaging in which you can actually see the product inside and read about its key highlights on the partial flap of the box. The packaging is bold, forward looking and helps usher in the new SOG era.
The blade mark also has changed. The previous SOG logo is now STUDIES AND OBSERVATIONS GROUP—a nod to the past while looking to the future.
FALL KNIFE DEBUTS
First up for the new fall line is the SOG- TAC XR, a Professional class tactical folder using the XR lock, a 3.5-inch drop-point blade of D2 tool steel, flipper opening and a textured G-10 handle. The ergonomic handle integrates a guard, dual nested steel liners, and a deep-carry pocket clip. Handle colors come in black or OD green. Another Professional class piece is the Pentagon XR. Building on the legacy of the Pentagon series of folders and fixed blades, it takes the dagger-ish styling and adds the XR lock, textured G-10 handle, dual nested steel liners, flipper opening and a 3.5-inch spearpoint blade of CTS XHP stainless steel. Handle colors are black, FDE and OD green. The Vision XR flipper folder brings some aggressiveness to the Professional series, with bold styling and a 3.5-inch double- ground tanto blade of CTS XHP, and a textured black G-10 handle with dual nested liners.
The revamped Pentagon XR tactical folder has multiple choices of G-10 handle colors, and a fullered spear- point blade of CTS XHP stainless steel. The knife features flipper-tab and ambidextrous thumb-stud opening options.
In the Daily category is the Ultra XR, an ultra-thin, ultra-lightweight gentleman’s folder with a linerless carbon fiber handle and a 3-inch clip-point blade of CPM S35VN stainless. An extra-large, fold-over pocket clip doubles as a money clip. The blade is available in gold titanium nitride or black coating options. Another Daily category entry, the Flash AT features a 3.5- inch drop-point blade in D2 powered by SOG’s Assisted Opening Technology. The molded Zytel handle is available in a choice of red, cyan, yellow and black. The new folders use pivot bearings for ultra- smooth blade action.
SOG long has been a viable player in the production knife market and the new refresh elevates the company even further. Expect more good things to come.
THREE FACTORY AXES TAKE THE CHOP, LIMB, TRIM, SHAVE AND STRIP TEST
BY JAMES MORGAN AYRES
We got snowed in one New Year’s in a rented cabin in the mountains. When I expressed concern about relying on electric heat in a remote cabin, the rental agent assured me that the electricity never went out. In any event, she said, “There was plenty of firewood for the fireplace and an axe. You’re an experienced outdoorsman. I’m sure you can cope.”
Of course, the electricity went out. I found about a cord of unsplit logs, each log 6-to-8 inches in diameter and 3 feet long. No split wood. No kindling. No axe. I batonned my ever-present Randall Model 1 around the edges of the logs to make kindling, and split enough wood to keep the fire going until the electricity came back on. Three days. I coped but every time I went to the wood pile, I wished I had an axe. Any of the axes in this field review would have been welcome.
Almost anything will chop softwood such as pine. For a proper challenge, we spent a day clearing madrone and oak at a friend’s property. Oak is a hardwood. Madrone is more fibrous and even tougher. We also split seasoned oak logs for our friend’s fireplace.
HIKING HACKER: The Fox Trekking Axe
The Fox Trekking Axe is a terrific chopper for the backpacker, hunter or woods wanderer. Reminiscent of a medieval design, it’s light enough to keep in a rucksack and very well made.
The thin blade came sharp enough to cut paper and kept its edge during a day’s work. Its good edge geometry and balance, comfortable and ergonomic handle—well, really, its overall efficient configuration, which I suspect was inspired by an old, well-proven design—enabled painless hours of chopping, limbing and trimming. The long edge worked well for stripping and shaving bark to make bare poles. I have no doubt that the Trekking Axe would serve to quickly erect a shelter against an incoming mountain snowstorm, or dress out and break down an elk carcass. With its long, almost knife-like edge, it could also skin out the elk.
The author opined that the Fox Trekking Axe would serve to dress out and break down an elk carcass, and, with its long, almost knife-like edge, it could also skin out the elk.
The author wrote that the Fox Trekking Axe is a well-designed, well- made tool he wouldn’t hesitate taking to the deep woods.
The thin blade, so efficient at taking down saplings and other work, tended to bind when chopped into the center of the seasoned oak logs. That’s a matter of geometry—the blade is not wedge shaped and won’t serve as a splitting maul, which is outside of its design envelope. A change in method overcame that limitation. By working around the edges and splitting off sections an inch or 3 thick, we were able to reduce logs to kindling.
Overall it’s a well-designed, well-made tool that I wouldn’t hesitate to take to the deep woods.
Good edge geometry and balance and a comfortable, ergonomic handle enabled painless hours of chopping, limbing and trimming with the Fox Trekking Axe. Here it chops the Ma- drone sapling with aplomb.
SPECS: FOX TREKKING AXE
CUTTING EDGE: 5.625” BLADE STEEL: 12C27 Swedish stainless HEAD WIDTH: 4.7” HEAD THICKNESS: .22” HEAD FINISH: Satin HANDLE MATERIAL: Sassafras (wood) WEIGHT: 13.8 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 13.8” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy MSRP: $104.95
THAT’S AN AXE: Cold Steel Trail Boss
Photo from KnifeCenter.com
I hefted the Cold Steel Trail Boss, chopped through a 3-inch madrone sapling with one swing and paraphrased Crocodile Dundee’s line: “That’s an axe.”
About the size of a traditional cruiser axe, the Trail Boss has a smooth, comfortable haft/handle in-between axe and tomahawk length. The long edge came sharp and stayed sharp. The head has good wedge-shaped geometry that made splitting the seasoned oak logs a breeze. Unlike a splitting axe, it was not too thick for general work. One whack to the center of the log and there were two split sections on the ground. It’s not a splitting maul or splitting axe but almost as efficient. While it has enough heft to split oak, it’s also light enough and balanced so that downing saplings could be done with full control and no danger of cutting through and swinging too far.
According to the author, the head’s well-designed geometry, the smooth, comfortable handle and overall good balance enabled the Cold Steel Trail Boss to perform almost as well as a full-sized axe.
Using the Cold Steel Trail Boss, the author chopped through a 3-inch madrone sapling with one swing. Paraphrasing the famed Crocodile Dundee line, he quipped, “That’s an axe.”
When limbing, it was easy to control for precise cuts, even when limbing with one hand. The haft is not as long as that of a full-sized axe, nor is the head as heavy. However, the head’s well-designed geometry, the smooth, comfortable handle and overall good balance enabled it to perform almost as well as one.
Thisisagood,all-aroundchopping tool—actually, an excellent all-around chopping tool.
SPECS: COLD STEEL TRAIL BOSS
CUTTING EDGE: 4.5” BLADE MATERIAL: 1055 spring steel HEAD WIDTH: 6.5” FINISH: Black HANDLE MATERIAL: Hickory WEIGHT: 2 lbs., 9.5 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 27” SHEATH: Not Included COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan MSRP: $49.99
FRANKISHLY SPEAKING: CRKT Cimbri
Photo from CRKTknives.com
The CRKT Cimbri is an interesting design that, in my opinion, needs a bit of work to fulfill its potential. Modeled on a classic Frankish axe, with a nicely shaped head and a long handle, it is well balanced.
With a nicely shaped head and a long handle, the CRKT Cimbri is well balanced for such tasks as splitting oak logs.
Unfortunately, the edge wasn’t sharp out of the box and we test all knives, axes, tomahawks, swords, etc., as they come, so there’s a level playing field for all. The lack of a truly sharp edge required more force to chop through the saplings and impeded its penetration when splitting. Also, the thick coating on the carbon steel head caused it to drag in a cut. Even more unfortunate, and for some reason I do not understand, the haft is squared rather than oval or round. The acute edges of the haft/ handle not only were uncomfortable, they dug into our hands, producing blisters—in one instance breaking the skin of one of our testers’ palms.
The author stated he would round off the edges of the CRKT Cimbri’s squared-off haft.
Tuning up the edge would be a simple job, a matter of 20 or 30 minutes with a good stone. Reprofiling the haft wouldn’t be difficult, but I cannot understand why anyone would put a squared handle on an axe. Historical authenticity, perhaps?
SPECS: CRKT CIMBRI
BLADE LENGTH: 4.09” BLADE MATERIAL: 1055 spring steel HEAD THICKNESS: 1.26” FINISH: Manganese phosphate coating HANDLE MATERIAL: Tennessee hickory WEIGHT: 2 lbs., .8 oz. OVERALL LENGTH: 25.75” DESIGNER: Elmer Roush COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan MSRP: $69.99
AUTHOR’S CHOICES
Which of the three would I choose if I were again snowed in and had only a stack of logs to burn? If I hiked in, the Trekking Axe would be my choice, no question. I’m too old to hump anything heavier in a rucksack filled with camping gear, food and ammunition. If I arrived by car or truck, the Trail Boss would be it. If I had only the Cimbri, I would use my belt knife as a draw knife to take off the corners of the handle and smooth it. That done, 20 minutes with a sharpening stone and I’d head for the wood pile.
It’s challenging to know which knife sharpeners are junk and which are worth the money. To help, BLADE staff and contributors assembled this list. These are the knife sharpeners that those “in the know” use, but they won’t break the bank.
How BLADE Chose These Knife Sharpeners
BLADE received no compensation for the items that appear on this list. BLADE does not benefit financially from affiliate programs on any of the links. These picks are based on experience, knife sharpener reviews from the magazine, and what’s hot in the marketplace. There are more excellent options beyond this list.
Remember: a sharpener can’t help you if it never leaves the drawer! Buy a knife sharpener you’ll enjoy using.
Top Pick: Electric/Manual Combo Knife Sharpener
Work Sharp Combo Knife Sharpener
PROS
For all types of knives
Simple to use for beginners, but yields advanced results
Offers electric sharpening (removing metal) and manual honing (straightening metal) in one unit
Easy maintenance with compressed air
CONS
Produces metal dust (store it away from food)
Only offers 25-degree angle for edges
The Work Sharp Combo Sharpener is designed for those who want simplicity along with the results that abrasive belt sharpening offers. One speed, one belt, one angle—everything is fixed. (DMS Captures image)
Winner: 2016 BLADE Magazine Accessory of the Year!
Featuring a flexible abrasive belt, the motorized Work Sharp Combo Sharpener (WSCS) from Work Sharp is simple and effective. It uses long lasting abrasive-belt-sharpening technology and puts a convex edge on any blade.
It has one sharpening angle, one motor speed and one grit of belt only. Simply plug it in and turn it on. Configured in a nice, compact form, the built-in angle guides eliminate the guesswork of holding a consistent 25-degree angle.
Pull the blade through each slot to sharpen both sides. After achieving a sharp edge using the belt, switch to the tapered ceramic rod to further hone the edge to hair-popping sharpness. Rest the blade flat against the yellow pads and move it from tang to tip in one sweeping motion using light pressure.
The McGowan DiamondStone electric sharpener is a singlestage unit with counter-rotating abrasive wheels that produce a keen edge quickly on any blade, though it does so especially well with kitchen knives.
PROS
Quick and easy to use
Works especially well on kitchen knives
Chrome finish doesn’t look out of place on the countertop
Design keeps metal dust to a minimum
Less noisy than other models
CONS
Boxy design may not be visually appealing to everyone
Housed in a combination metal/plastic housing, the DiamondStone is available in brushed chrome or black. The brushed chrome blends in nicely on a kitchen countertop with other kitchen appliances.
Out of the box, the sharpener looks well built with top-notch fit and finish. It is quite boxy in appearance, with a pronounced slot running down the middle. Inside the slot sits multiple diamond-infused ceramic wheels that interlock and rotate counterclockwise in relation to each other in order to sharpen both sides of the edge simultaneously. The unit runs smoothly with minimal noise.
Place the blade in the slot starting with the tang end and pull straight toward you, using a minimal amount of pressure on the wheels and drawing back at a moderate pace to allow the ceramic wheels to do the work. As you approach the blade tip, lift the handle slightly so you can sharpen the blade’s belly evenly as well. Once you reach the tip, lift the knife out of the slot and repeat. Usually, a few strokes through the DiamondStone yield a very sharp edge.
This is an ideal type of sharpener for novices because there’s only one motion involved—pulling the blade through the machine.
The best pull-through, manual knife sharpeners feature a secure grip, a sturdy design, and solid construction for durability. A $20 investment ought to last you several years. (AccuSharp image)
PROS
Rubber grip for secure sharpening
Sharpening and honing options
Heavy duty design
Compatible with most plain-edge knives
Could not be simpler to use
CONS
Sharpener/honer may become loose after years of use (as with most manual pull-through knife sharpeners
Lacks the “cool factor” of more advanced knife sharpeners
Yes, there are plenty of pull-through, manual knife sharpeners out there. Some of them even resemble the design of the AccuSharp Pull-Through Knife Sharpener. So why did this one make the list?
To put it simply, this is a well-built manual knife sharpener with a sturdy design. That’s really all you need to worry about, because the sharpening technique will be the same. Draw the blade through the sharpening or the honing V with gentle pressure. Let the tool do the work. So long as you can safely move the blade through the V, this manual sharpener will tackle any type of knife (except for serrations).
This is a knife sharpener to keep in the kitchen drawer, the work bench in the garage, at the cabin, or even in a backpack.
See Also: Just about any other manual, pull-through knife sharpener. Look for solid grips, a sturdy design, and solid construction. It’s OK to pay a few dollars extra for durability’s sake.
Knife Honing Rod Tips
What’s the difference between honing and sharpening knives?
Honing rods refresh an edge, but they do not sharpen. That’s an important distinction. Honing is something that’s done regularly to tune up a blade, such as before preparing a meal, or immediately after sharpening. That’s because honing straightensthe existing edge. Sharpening removes metal from the edge, which is why it shouldn’t be done as often as honing.
Confusing this entire category is how some honing rods are called sharpening rods, and vice versa. The key is to look at the material.
Three Types of Honing Rods
Generally speaking, there are three types of honing rods: steel, ceramic and diamond. While each has different characteristics, there are some things to watch for:
A secure, ergonomic grip
A sturdy guard that protects your hand
A ring on the handle for slipping a pinky through in case you drop it
The rod should be longer than the blade of the knife/knives you intend to sharpen
There’s no need to overspend on steel honing rods. This 12-inch rod from Utopia Kitchen goes for $15.99.
Steel honing rods are the most common type, and the least expensive. Because they’re made from metal that’s softer than what’s typically found on knives, they’re excellent honing tools. Don’t pay more than $20 for one.
The Idahone Fine Ceramic Sharpening Rod sells for $34.99 at most retailers.
Ceramic honing rods are a bit more aggressive than steel versions. They’ll remove some steel in the process of honing. Isn’t that technically sharpening? Yes! However, if you’re someone who doesn’t sharpen as often as you should, a ceramic honing rod is a way to delay the inevitable. Expect to pay between $30 to $40 for the best value.
The 12-inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod has an MSRP of $39.68.
Diamond honing rods remove the most amount of steel during the honing process, which is why they’re basically sharpeners. If you go down the diamond rod route, pick up a steel or ceramic honing rod, too. On the plus side, diamond rods will last a lifetime. Pay $35 to $45 for a nice ROI.
Portable Keychain Knife Sharpener
CRKT Knife Maintenance Tool (KMT)
The CRKT Knife Maintenance Tool is an excellent portable knife sharpener. (CRKT image)
PROS
Compatible with most folding knives
Tungsten manual sharpener on one side
Ceramic honing edge on the other
Attaches to keychain
Bonus: T6 & T8 Torx screwdrivers
CONS
Too small for larger fixed blade knives
Maybe you prefer a different screwdriver?
Winner: 2018 BLADE Magazine Accessory of the Year!
The KMT weighs in at only 2.2 ounces. It sports a glass reinforced nylon handle. (CRKT image)
Too many keychain knife sharpeners are garbage. They fall apart, don’t get the job done, or are challenging to hold safely. The CRKT KMT, however, is an exception.
Place the KMT horizontally on a surface, then pull a blade through the tungsten carbide sharpener or the ceramic honing edge. Use gentle pressure, because the classic V will automatically bite into the edge’s preset angle.
The T6 and T8 screwdrivers may seem like filler for a keychain knife sharpener, but they actually offer a nice grip while working the blade.
An MSRP of $29.99 may seem high for a keychain knife sharpener, but consider the abuse you put your keys through on a daily basis, and it’s worth the price.
Here’s how to sharpen serrated knives. (Bear & Son photo)
PROS
Tapered diamond rod makes sharpening knife serrations a breeze
Built-in carbide sharpener tunes up plain edges, too
Bonus: Magnesium fire starting rod
Compact design: Both rods fit inside the body
Rugged body keeps components safe
CONS
Best used in tandem with a separate, dedicated sharpener for plain (non-serrated) edges
May not want to pay extra for the fire starting rod
A view of the Scepter 2.0 fully assembled, with both rods inside the body. (Bear & Son photo)The two rods screw apart and back into the knife sharpener’s body. This is a serrated knife sharpener that should last you a lifetime. (Bear & Son photo)
The GATCO Scepter 2.0 leans toward the survival category, but don’t let that turn you away from it. This is an overbuilt tool that should take care of sharpening your knife serrations for the rest of your life. Diamonds are forever.
The tapered diamond rod easily sharpens all types and sizes of serrations on tactical, sporting and kitchen knives. Simply lock the rod into the groove of a serration and lightly run it toward the blade’s edge. The classic V of the tungsten carbide sharpener will handle plain edges, too.
But the real gem in this design is the way the components can all be screwed into the rugged, 6061-T6 aluminum carbide body for secure storage.
Do you really need the magnesium fire starting rod? Maybe, maybe not, but that’s just gravy.
“We invented the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker because, while similar to the [V-stick] sharpener, it solved many sharpening challenges/problems the [V-stick] couldn’t perform,” he says.
One of those problems is the V-stick model could not sharpen serrated blades. Enter the Sharpmaker’s triangular-shaped rods, which allow it to address both plain edges on the rods’ flats and serrations using the “points” of the triangle.
Once you set the sharpener up, start your blade from where the edge starts closest to the tang and run it down the hone, at the same time pulling the blade back toward you, ensuring the hone contacts the entire length of the cutting edge all the way to the tip. Hence, you’re doing two simultaneous motions—moving down the hone and pulling the blade back toward you. Do it all with light pressure.
Don’t think you can learn how to sharpen a ceramic knife? Think again. (Dexter Ewing image)
PROS
Handles ceramic or steel blades
Don’t need to mail ceramic knives in for sharpening
Works with most types of knives
Simple to use
CONS
Only offers a convex edge
Pricier than other sharpening options
As with all motorized Chef ’s Choice sharpeners, the 702 will handle steel kitchen knives. However, it also will put the same quality edge on any ceramic kitchen blade. Employing advanced diamond abrasive technology, the 702 features two sharpening slots that hold the knives at pre-set angles, optimized for the best edge on both ceramic and steel blades. Turn the motor on and, using a steady drawing motion, pull the blade through each slot.
The 702 applies a convex edge, or what the Chef ’s Choice literature calls a “gothic arch,” to either steel or ceramic blades. The resulting grind leaves behind more “body,” which gives the edge added strength and resists chipping, while still remaining very sharp. This translates into a longer lasting edge.
The DMD Double Sided Bench Stone features two grits on one stone. Coarse (400) and fine (1,000) grits address high-performance steel blades. The metal plate is double sided and lies on the base just so to provide sharpening convenience. (DMS Captures image)
DMD Double-Sided Bench Stone
PROS
As with all knife sharpening stones, total control over edge angle
Two sides offer two grits
You look like a pro
Sharpens knives and edged tools
CONS
May be too advanced for knife novices
Some prefer a larger stone
The DMD double-sided bench stone sports two different grits: a coarse 400 and fine 1,000. The base is molded ABS plastic and features wide, anti-skid rubber feet to keep the sharpener in place while working on a flat table, counter or bench. The sharpening surface sits in a cavity of the base. To change grits, flip the hone over and return it to the base.
A hex-like pattern on both sharpening surfaces removes the tiny metal particles so they won’t collect and clog the surfaces as you sharpen the blade.
Work with the DMD and discover the convenience of a double-sided diamond bench stone, a rarity among such stones. The coarse side easily and quickly re-establishes worn edges to sharp. After you establish the primary edge, flip the sharpening surface over to the fine side and fine-tune the blade.
Pro Tip: Try using a permanent marker to color in the entire cutting edge on both sides of the blade. As you sharpen, note where the ink is removed and where it remains on the cutting edge. By doing so you can adjust your angle accordingly to capture the entire cutting edge and, therefore, keep the angle consistent for a sharp blade.
The Cordless Knife & Tool Sharpener from Smith’s Products features easily adjustable angle guides that hold the knife at the proper set angle for a consistent edge. (DMS Captures image)
PROS
Take an electric knife sharpener anywhere
No need to replace batteries
Sharpens knives and tools
Interchangeable belts for different grits
Backer plates offer extra safety
CONS
Belts can wear out
“Grabby” belts can apply an uneven edge if you’re not careful
Battery life limits use time
The Cordless Knife & Tool Sharpener represents a new step for Smith’s Products. While the company has sold and continues to sell electric sharpeners, this is the first time it has offered a powered abrasive-belt unit. Moreover, Smith’s added an extra twist by making it cordless and rechargeable. A pivoting head enables the unit not only to sharpen knives, but other cutting and digging tools such as axes, hedge clippers, bypass pruners, shovels and more. It comes with three interchangeable belts in coarse (80), medium (220) and fine (600) grits.
The belts are simple to change and color-coded for easy recognition. In addition to the multiple grits of belts, an adjustable guide maintains a consistent angle throughout the sharpening process. Another cool feature consists of “backer plates” behind the flexible sharpening belts.
“The backer plates prevent the belt from wrapping around the tip of your blade when you pull it through the sharpening slot,” says Ricky Dukes, Smith’s vice president of marketing.
Pull the blade through the slots to easily achieve a very sharp cutting edge. An ergonomic, soft-grip molded handle makes holding the sharpener very comfortable as well as non-slip.
In order to operate the sharpener, depress the rocker switch with your finger. Release the switch and the motor shuts off. There is no trigger lock to enable the sharpener to run continuously. Hence, if you need to stop the unit to regain control, simply release the switch.
One of the unit’s advantages—being cordless and rechargeable—is also a downside. BLADE’s tester operated it non-stop for 8 minutes and 20 seconds before it ran out of charge with no warning. Around the 8-minute mark the motor slowed slightly and 20 seconds later it shut off . There was no gradual tapering off —it simply shut down.
You need a knife. Everyone needs a knife. You know those plastic zip ties that you can’t get the scissor blade under that are lashing down the new grill spatula? Yeah, those. You need a knife for that. You know how it aggravates your sense of order when you’re forced to tear into the plastic shrink-wrapped to your case of water bottles? A nice slit down the center keeps the bottles upright without any unsightly stretches or ragged openings. You know how you try to open impossible-to-open snack bags with your teeth, because who carries scissors, and the seem causes a vertical tear? Yeah, that. You need a knife for that. But what we all need right now are some star-spangled, flag-waving knives that cut great!
6 Selections From True North Knives’ Freedom Collection
We’ll start with six selections from the Freedom Collection assembled by True North Knives. Often these models are available with different options, and of course they’re made right here in the USA. Maker warranties cover defects, but not abuse, so remember, it’s a knife, not a hammer or a pry bar.
Brian Fellhoelter’s Freedom Frikkie has a 1 3/4-inch blade of stone-washed CPM 154 steel. The frame is stone-washed titanium. Overall length is 4 1/8-inch, overall weight, 1.27 ounces. Maker’s list price: $180. Contact: www.truenorthknives.com.Three-time recipient of the BLADE Show Knife of the Year Custom Best Folder, Brain Nadeau adds the Freedom Hurricane Flipper to True North Knives’ Freedom Collection. 9 1/8 inches overall, it has a 4-inch blade made of hand-rubbed CPM S35VN. The handle is titanium. Maker’s list price: $1250. Contact: True North Knives.Chris Reeve’s contribution to the True North Knives Freedom Collection is the Flag 21 version of the Sebenza 21. The 3-inch blade is made with CPM S35VN stainless steel in a tanto design. The polished titanium frame sports an anodized flag pattern. Makers list price: $425. Contact: True North Knives.Rich Hinderer’s XM-18 Flipper is another knife in the True North Knives’ Freedom Collection. The CPM 20CV blade is done in Hinderer’s Harpoon Spanto design and measures 3.5 inches. The frame is titanium and measures 8.25 inches. Maker’s list price: $650. Contact: True North Knives.True North Knives’ Freedom Collection includes Jake Hoback’s Freedom OSF (Open Source Folder). The 3.5-inch blade is made out of CPM S35VN stainless steel in a modified sheepfoot design. Overall length is 8.75 inches, overall weight, 6.4 ounces. Frame is titanium. Maker’s list price: $550. Contact: True North Knives.We round out the True North Knive’s Freedom Collection with Michael Zieba’s S1 Mini. The 2 5/8-inch blade is made with M390 super stainless steel. Overall it measures 6 inches and weights 2.288 ounces. The frame is titanium. Maker’s list price: $395. Contact: True North Knives.
21 Patriotic Cutters From Custom Makers Across The USA
These custom cutters may take longer to receive, but that’s because they’re all made one at a time in the shops of hard-grinding knifemakers who sometimes have day jobs. They’re worth the wait and will have you hitting every note of “The Star Spangled Banner” when you see how they cut.
The Warnaught by Eric Luther has a S35VN blade, full titanium frames, clip and backspacer, and ceramic detent and bearings. The custom Cerakote is by Warlock Custom. Maker’s list price: $700. Contact: [email protected] or join Eric Luther Knives on Facebook.Brent Chumbley of Triple Deuces Knives made this Regulator with a 3-inch blade made of Bohler N690 steel. The titantium framelock handle’s custom Cerakote job is by Chad Waldow. Overall length is 7 1/4 inches. Maker’s list price: $510. Contact Brent Chumbley on Facebook at Triple Deuces Knives and on Instagram at triple_deuces_knives.The Beaver Tooth by Matthew Nolan of Angry Beaver Knives, has a Scandi V-ground 3 1/2-inch blade made out of W2 steel and acid etched with a flag design. The handle is a Rob Carper Innovations patriot red pine cone in white and blue resin. Maker’s list price: $275 with Kydex sheath, $325 with leather. Contact: Matthew A. Nolan, [email protected], 518-791-2551 or on Facebook at Angry Beaver Knives.Cody Wheeler of Mill Creek Knives calls this his Steel Bridge Camp model. The steel is a Nicholson American file with CARVex “We the people” scales by VP5. The 3-inch blade has a flat grind. Maker’s list price: $225. Contact Cody Wheeler at [email protected], on Facebook at Mill Creek Knives and on Instgram @millcreek_knives.Spencer Aplin of STA Custom Knives made the 9-inch blade for this American Glory out of star feather-pattern steel from HHH Damascus and Knives. The fittings are nickel silver and the handle material is stabilized and double-dyed California buckeye burl. Maker’s list price: $2000. Contact Spencer Aplin at www.stacustomknives.com.The Driver Defense Toxin has a 3.5-inch tanto blade made out of S35VN. The knife is 7.5 inches overall with jigged and dyed blue bone scales with bone bolster and red G10 liner and spacer. Maker’s list price: $250. Contact Dustin Driver at Driver Defense on Facebook.This 13-inch chef knife by Jack Keith of Dunnottar Forge Knifeworks has an partially flat-ground 8-inch blade made out of CPM 154 that is finished with a hollow grind and satin finish. The handle is stacked maple and walnut veneer with a cast blue acrylic with white stars. Maker’s list price: $350. Contact Jack Keith at www.dunnottarforge.com.The Karma by Jase White at Kastaway Custom Living was inspired by a real-world self-defense situation. The knuckles are in the CPM S30V blade rather than the handle, which is made of 1095 carbon steel. Maker’s list price: $50. Contact: Jase White at 423-453-9793, [email protected] or message at Kastaway Custom Living on Facebook.Rich Richardson made this for a retired navy commander. The blade is a mix of Devin Thomas Damascus steel in basket weave pattern and steel from the battleship USS Texas. (Authentication was provided.) Overall length is 9 inches. Handle is stag with a mesquite spacer. Maker’s list price: $800. Contact Rich Richardson at [email protected] or message him on Facebook.Jason Karl Glover of Mammoth Creek Knives made this 5 1/2-inch cleaver with triple grinds out of 1095 steel. The handle is Kirinite Patriot scales. Overall length is 11 inches. Maker’s list price: $375. Contact Jason Karl Glover at [email protected], call 801-540-7023 or message him on Facebook at Mammoth Creek Knives.JD Edwards hand-forged and hammer-finished this pair of fighters in 1095 carbon steel. The knives are 16 inches overall with an 11-inch cutting edge. The handle is made of bubinga wood and fitted with brass pins. The knives were commissioned by a family member of two brothers who are combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Maker’s list price: $250 each. Contact: JD Edwards at [email protected] or message him on Facebook at JD Edwards.Bobby Toerck made this trailing-point skinner with a 4.5-inch 1095 carbon steel blade, polished to a mirror finish. The overall length is 9 1/2 inches. The scales are fashioned with Wavy American Flag by Robert Belcher of Mental Co. Maker’s list price: $350. Contact Bobby Toerck at 903-812-1173 or message him on Facebook at T4 Custom Knives.Tom, short for Thomas, Jefferson of No Surrender Holsters made this sheath with a slide-out beverage opener on the backside to accompany “Forged In Fire” winner James Huse’s BBQ knife below. Contact Tom Jefferson on Facebook at No Surrender Holsters.James Huse, “Forged In Fire” champion made this knife using patterned steel from Alabama Damascus Steel. The blade is 9.5 inches, 14.5 overall. The handle is made from Patriot Kirinite. Maker’s list price: $700. Contact James Huse on Facebook at Huse Knives.Adam Rose of The Bearded Blade made this 4-inch blade from 1075 steel for a veteran who recently returned from Afghanistan. The handle is made from We the People CARVex scales. Overall length is 9 inches. Maker’s list price: $150. Contact Adam at [email protected], on Facebook at The Bearded Blade or on Instagram @thebeardedblade.Clay Smith of Sinister Knives calls this model the Battle Bean. The everyday carry is a friction folder knife/ bottle opener, perfect as a BBQ buddy! The 2-inch hollow-ground blade is made with W2 steel. The hardware and pivot pin are stainless and the liner and backspacer are aluminum. The handle scales are by Voodoo Resins. Maker’s list price: $150. Contact: Clay Smith at Sinister Knives on Facebook @bud809 on Instagram or email him at [email protected].Dale White of White Made Knives in Sweetwater, Texas, made this 10-inch knife for a soldier. Both the staff sergeant and the knife did two tours in Iraq. The blade is hollow-ground made out of 440C steel. The handle is sand-blasted canvas Micarta. Maker’s list price: $350. Contact Dale White at [email protected] or on Facebook at White Made Knives.John Waltz of Edge7 Custom Knives made this everyday carry tanto out of CPM3V. The hollow-ground blade is 3 inches and the knife is 7 inches overall. The scales are from J Hue Customs. Maker’s list price: $275. Contact John Waltz through www.edge7customknives.com.Jr. Madan of Patriot Horde Knives calls this model DaCleava. The 4-inch blade is made out of 1095 steel with a flat grind. Overall length is 9 inches. The handle is fashioned with CARVex Wavy Flag scales, fitted with brass pins and lanyard tube. Maker’s list price: $250 with Kydex sheath. Contact Jr Maden or Patriot Horde Knives on Facebook.Denny Furey of Furey’s Urban Combat Knives Unlimited uses high carbon 1095 steel to make the Americana. The knife is 7.5 inches overall with a 3.25-inch blade with mild hamon. There is file work on the spine, and the bolster and pommels are 410 stainless steel. The handle is fashioned from Patriot Kirinite scales. Maker’s list price: $300 shipped with Kydex sheath with hardware and embossed makers mark. Contact Denny Fury at [email protected], 405-642-2198 or at Furey’s Urban Combat Knives – Unlimited on Facebook.Tim Lambkin of Chops Knives hand makes everything on The Patriot Folding Lockback. The overall length is 8 1/8 inches. The 3 1/4-inch blade is made with pattern-welded stainless steel by Chad Nichols. The handle scales are mammoth tooth with anodized titanium bolsters and pommels. Filework everywhere, inside and out, is done by Tim. Maker’s list price: $1950. Contact Tim Lambkin at [email protected] or on Facebook at Tim Lambkin (Chops Knives).Shane Barefoot of Barefoot Custom Knives offers the Competition Chopper model in 3/4 size. Overall length is 13 inches. The flat-ground blade is made with 52100 steel. The handle is made with blue-and-red-dyed maple burl. Barefoot Custom Knives big-vine filework is filled with red resin. Maker’s list price: $450. Contact Shane Barefoot at 864-444-7410 or visit www.barefootcustomknives.com.
What knives does the TSA allow on airplanes? Here’s the list. Keep in mind that checked luggage is still subject to search, so don’t pack anything you’d miss if you lost it.
That said, there are still other considerations even if you decide to bring knives in your luggage.
Put Inexpensive Knives in Your Checked Baggage
For vacationing knife enthusiasts, Plaza Cutlery’s Dan Delavan suggests a Spyderco, Kershaw or CRKT knife in the $30 to $70 range. An example of the latter is the CRKT Pilar with a 2.4-inch blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless and a closed length of 3.5 inches. MSRP: $39.99.
The kinds of people who walk into Dan and Pam Delavan’s Plaza Cutlery retail knife store in Costa Mesa, California, go for all kinds of knives, from classic folders to KA-BARs. But when they walk through Plaza Cutlery’s doors to buy a knife for vacation, most buy inexpensive models to slip into their checked baggage—inexpensive in case the knives get lost, stolen or confiscated.
“When they fly, that’s when the knife changes,” Delavan said.
He shows them budget models by Spyderco, CRKT and Kershaw, knives ranging from about $30 to $75. If customers are into Spyderco knives they might buy one from the Byrd line, folders from Spyderco with cost-friendly materials. If the customers like higher-end models, they might buy a Benchmade.
“It’s all relative to what you can afford,” Delavan said.
Plaza Cutlery is in South Coast Plaza, a mall that bills itself as “a luxury shopping experience”—a vacation destination in and of itself. Nearby Disneyland is an international draw. Hollywood and its attractions are close, too.
When Delavan heads to Disneyland with Pam and the grandchildren, he often carries the Victorinox Swiss Army Classic, which can slip on a keychain. He said it’s small enough that the park allows him to carry it. Of course, always research the knife laws of the areas you will be visiting. For most places in the USA, a small, non-locking knife should be OK, “but you’ve got to check” to be sure, Delavan noted.
What Knife is Legal Everywhere? Best Bet: Small, Non-Locking Knife that Opens with Two Hands
While there are no guarantees that a knife will be legal everywhere, your best bet is with a small, non-locking knife that opens with two hands. This Victorinox Money Clip is a great example.
Joe Tarbell’s retail store, JT’s Knife Shop, sits in a small building in Port Jervis, New York. The family-owned business began as an army surplus store near the Delaware River, which, during the summer, fills with kayakers and rafters.
“People ask me about knife laws quite often and it’s a pretty complicated subject,” he said. “Knife laws can be very vague and misunderstood. I have even had police tell me a lot of it is up to the discretion of the officer. I tell people to research the best they can and check out AKTI [American Knife & Tool Institute]. I can’t tell you how many people think that the law states that a blade can’t be larger than the palm of your hand, which is ridiculous.”
If a customer is traveling overseas, he suggests a small, non-locking knife such as a multi-tool or an Opinel.
What Happens If TSA Confiscates Your Knife?
You’ll likely have to buy it back, if you can find it. Start with GovDeals.com, where government-seized property is often sold.
Michael Burch employed Chad Nichols’ “Stripes” MokuTi for his integral folder. The blade is 1095 carbon steel with hamon and a nail nick. Burch said the Stripes MokuTi works well on larger knives. (photos courtesy of Michael Burch)
In the northern Mississippi town of Blue Springs, in a rural area between Tupelo and the Tennessee border, a company called Chad Nichols Damascus is forging steel that is taking knives to a new level. The company’s owner and namesake, Chad is an easygoing Southerner who created a damascus product called MokuTi that boasts a stunning combination of shapes and colors.
The name explains it perfectly. It is mokume that includes titanium laminates. MokuTi adds an exceptional visual boost to a knife, with swirled or mosaic tones of blue, gold, orange, silver and pink, depending on the composition of the materials used.
In his affable manner, Chad assured that Chad Nichols Damascus did not invent the colorful titanium laminate; the company just came up with a new way to achieve it—which, he noted, was not an easy task.
“We haven’t invented the wheel or anything,” Nichols said of MokuTi. “I don’t have to be the first one doing anything. I just want to be the last one doing it. We run this like a business, not an ego trip.”
Years in the Making
MokuTi is a great way to accent a knife with color. Neil Blackwood does it here for the handle inlay and clip of his Henchman flipper folder. The 4-inch blade is CPM S30V with a two-tone finish. His list price for a similar knife: $1,200. (photo courtesy of Neil Blackwood)
It would figure that something that looks as good as MokuTi would be difficult to produce. Nichols said it took several years to figure out.
“That’s not blowing it out of proportion,” he laughed. “I messed with it for a while, then I just put it away because I kept failing.”
He remembered getting tunnel vision trying to figure out why it was not working.
“You keep doing it and it’s insane,” he said, “because if it didn’t work the first three times and you didn’t do anything different, it’s not going to work the fourth time.”
Through trial and error he was finally able to figure out how to bond titanium with the other metals, but he is understandably tight-lipped about his proprietary secrets.
“I’m not going to tell you how we do it,” he admitted, “but there’s things we do that might seem minute to some people. However, we found those things to be critical.”
He explained a myriad of variables when bonding the layers in presses and rolling mills, including oxygen, heat and surface texture.
“Without getting into too much detail as far as bonding the layers, I’ll just say it’s tricky and it doesn’t always work,” Nichols allowed. “If I don’t make MokuTi for a month or two, I kind of count on the first two tries being crap.”
Peter Carey outfitted his Tension flipper folder with “Crosswalk” MokuTi bolsters and a blade and clip of Nichols’ “Whiplash” stainless damascus. The handle is lightning-strike carbon fiber. Carey’s list price for a similar model: $1,200. (photo courtesy of Peter Carey)
The experimental journey to fruition brought Nichols’ shop down some rocky roads.
“We recently made some MokuTi and threw zirconium in there,” he noted. “We love bonding titanium to other metals, but you just can’t do anything with [titanium and zirconium]. They just won’t bond because I guess the ductility is too different and the metals move at different rates during forging. It was a disaster, so we quit trying.”
It is all part of the ride, he said, and you cannot be scared to “just throw something in there” and see what happens.
Meteorology Matters
Another variable that affects producing MokuTi successfully is the atmosphere. While forging carbon damascus is fairly predictable, Nichols said forging MokuTi is much more complex.
“When you get into stainless and even Mokume, with the copper and brass with the nickel silver in it, and especially with the MokuTi, it gets complicated,” he continued. “What people don’t understand about forging, especially down where I live, is that with humidity of 100 percent is going to get hotter than if it’s 50 percent the next day.”
A Sixth Sense for MokuTi Damascus
Nichols searched for the words to explain his approach. Maybe it is a feeling, maybe it is a sixth sense, and maybe it is just exposure and experience.
“I hate saying this but you just get in tune with what’s going on. It’s like using the word ‘organic.’ I hate it when I have to use that word, but sometimes there’s no other word to describe it,” he lamented. “We made a new pattern a couple weeks ago called ‘Boomerang’ and some guy goes, ‘What’s it like?’ and, between groans, I said, ‘It’s very organic looking.’”
Put a Tie on that Knife
The MokuTi handle of Jon Graham’s GL Razel SS3 Bolsterlock is joined by a blade of Chad Nichols’ Iguana stainless damascus and Graham’s “Tailclip” pocket clip. Closed length: 5 inches. Graham’s list price for a similar piece: $1,400. (photo courtesy of Jon Graham)
“I’ve used MokuTi on a variety of styles,” said Michael Burch, Missouri knifemaker and owner of Burchtree Blades. “It’s like putting a tie on a knife—it just adds some class.”
Adding MokuTi as an accent is a common way to integrate the material into a knife without breaking the bank. Still, it is not cheap. The more of it the maker adds to the knife, the more it adds to the sale price.
“I charge twice as much for MokuTi bolsters as I would titanium bolsters due to the extra finishing time with polishing and heat coloring,” explained knifemaker Peter Carey. “I use MokuTi on all my folders because it’s strong and has an exotic look.”
Carey said he also uses it as an accent material on his knives, such as for bolsters, pocket clips, back spacers, thumb studs and pivot rings. He said accenting with MokuTi injects some color and flash without overwhelming the knife. A good example of employing MokuTi is as a pivot collar on a stonewashed framelock, Burch added.
The Mini Tank flipper by Allen Elishewitz has MokuTi bolsters and carbon fiber scales. The blade is Takefu Special Steel’s laminated stainless with a VG-10 core. (photo courtesy of Allen Elishewitz)
“It makes for great contrast and can really dress up a user folder,” he observed. “It’s costly but if customers saw what went into making it, it would seem cheap.”
“It appears that everyone likes the material and it usually ends up on my higher-end knives,” Carey said. “Some of my customers ask for it as full scales or for a framelock, so I use it that way also.”
As Carey noted, MokuTi comes from Nichols Damascus as a billet that must be worked to shape and then colored.
“[Chad] usually colors it so you can see the pattern, but that gets ground off when you work it,” Carey said, explaining that it is a surface color that does not go all the way though the material. “When you get it to final shape and finish, you have to heat color or anodize it to the colors you want.”
“The other cool thing about MokuTi is dealing with Chad,” he maintained. “He’s a great guy, a friend, hard working and you can’t beat his customer service.”
