Knife Collecting

Knife collecting is an extremely rewarding experience for knife enthusiasts. There truly is a knife for everyone. Many increase or hold their value throughout the years, making collecting knives something to pass on to the next generation of knife collectors.

A Knife for Sgt. Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor Recipient

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Editor’s Note: This is excerpted from a larger feature appearing in the special military December 2012 issue of BLADE, on newsstands now. BLADE thanks all past and present military service members and their families for their sacrifices.

by Mike Carter

In recognition of his military actions in Afghanistan on behalf of his fellow servicemen and his country that resulted in his receiving the Medal of Honor, U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer recently was presented with a custom knife made by Gene Baskett, a custom AR-15 rifle, and honorary membership in the Knifemakers’ Guild.

During a special ceremony this past December in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Baskett, formerly of Elizabethtown and now of Eastview, Kentucky, presented Sgt. Meyer with a Baskett knife, a custom fi ghter with a black Moly-Coated CPM-154 stainless blade and a black linen Micarta® handle. The knife is engraved “MOH, Sgt. Dakota Meyer, USMC” on the mark side and “8 September 2009, Kunar Province Afghanistan” on the flip side. The engraving is by Patrick Clark of Clark Jewelers, also of Elizabethtown. Richardson Gunsmithing did the Moly Coating.

About Sgt. Dakota Meyer

According to Dakota Meyer’s citation for the Medal of Honor, he was recognized for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the repeated risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a member of Marine Embedded Training Team 2-8, Regional Corps Advisory Command 3-7, in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on 8 September 2009.

“When the forward element of his combat team began to be hit by intense fire from roughly 50 Taliban insurgents dug in and concealed on the slopes above Ganjgal village, [then] Corporal Meyer mounted a gun-truck, enlisted a fellow Marine to drive, and raced to attack the ambushers and aid the trapped Marines and Afghan soldiers. During a six-hour firefight, Corporal Meyer single-handedly turned the tide of the battle, saved 36 Marines and soldiers and recovered the bodies of his fallen brothers.

“Four separate times he fought the kilometer up into the heart of a deadly U-shaped ambush. During the fight he killed at least eight Taliban, personally evacuated 12 friendly wounded, and provided cover for another 24 Marines and soldiers to escape likely death at the hands of a numerically superior and determined foe.

“On his first foray his lone vehicle drew machine gun, mortar, rocket grenade and small arms fire while he rescued five wounded soldiers. His second attack disrupted the enemy’s ambush and he evacuated four more wounded Marines. Switching to another gun-truck because his was too damaged, they again sped in for a third time, and as turret gunner he killed several Taliban attackers at point blank range and suppressed enemy fire so 24 Marines and soldiers could break out.

“Despite being wounded, he made a fourth attack with three others to search for missing team members. Nearly surrounded and under heavy fire, he dismounted the vehicle and searched house-to-house to recover the bodies of his fallen team members. By his extraordinary heroism, presence of mind amidst chaos and death, and unselfish devotion to his comrades in the face of great danger, Corporal Meyer refl cted great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

More About Commemorative Knives

Knives are a popular way to celebrate a person or event. Recognize those significant in your life by making your own blades. Start with the helpful instructions and photos in BLADE’s Guide to Making Knives, 2nd Edition. Family and friends will be honored by the personal touch your knives offer.

Click here to order BLADE’s Guide to Making Knives, 2nd Edition.

9/11: We Will Never Forget

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It was 11 years ago today—a sunny Tuesday morning, just as it is this morning in New York City—that scores of innocent Americans paid the ultimate price when the Twin Towers were attacked.

At some point today, take time to pause and reflect on those innocent lives lost and the lives today that continue to be affected and will be for decades to come. We salute the victims and their survivors, for they are the ones who shouldered the brunt of the burden, with the survivors continuing to do so today.

The knife above was made by Bob Dozier and scrimshawed by Sandra Brady. It rests atop a raw piece of cut steel from the South Tower and, below it, a piece of South Tower and 1095 carbon steel forged into ladder-pattern damascus by Daryl Meier. A portion of the latter material was used for the blade steel.

On one side is “We Remember 9-11-2011” commemorating the 10th anniversary, and the New York city skyline, including a shadow outline of the Twin Towers in place of the missing jet in a flyby jet formation, and a soldier saluting. On the flip side is a scene of firemen fighting the fires of the Twin Towers before they fell, an American flag, and the words, “Lest We Forget 9-11-2001.”

The knife was auctioned last year to benefit the 9/11 first responders’ families.

“There will never be enough to repay our debt for what [the first responders] paid,” Dozier said in a BLADE article last year.

8 All-Time Favorite Military Knives

To mark the special military issue of BLADE on newsstands now, here are my picks for four of the best military knives of all time. For the full list, be sure to pick up the December 2012 issue, or watch your mailbox if you’re a subscriber.

BLADE salutes all who serve, as well as the heroes who made a difference 11 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001.

U.S.N. Mark 2/U.S.M.C. Fighting-Utility Knife

Known by many simply as a “Ka-Bar” or, generically, “kabar,” it was made not only by Union Cutlery/KA-BAR but also, among others, Pal, Case, Camillus, Utica, Conetta and Robeson Shuredge during World War II.

To me, it is the quintessential military knife of all time. The iconic picture of it on the hip of the U.S. Marine on the black sands of Iwo Jima tells it all. It was there and so were the Marines. The only thing missing is Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison.

U.S. Mark I Trench Knife

There is an illustration on page 27 of Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member M.H. Cole’s U.S. Military Knives, Book IV that has all the trimmings: skull crusher, dagger blade and the four finger holes in the knuckle guard.

Though I cannot imagine having to insert four fingers into such a knife and using it—the possibility of breaking my fingers if the blade were somehow stuck into something and/or wrenched away awkwardly is too likely for my tastes—I love the knife’s looks. It reeks of Doughboys, Over There and Jimmy Cagney’s The Fighting 69th.

Randall Model #1-8 with Leather Handle

Though the leather reportedly did not hold up well later in the jungles of Vietnam, the stacked-leather-grip Randall Model #1-8 has some of the most beautiful lines of any knife ever made.

The thin, slightly dropped handle, double guard and narrow tang opening into a magnificently ground clip-point blade does it for me in aces.

Case V42

Classic Skull Crusher, cylindrical/swell-center handle, double guard, dagger blade and the clincher, the thumbprint indentation with grooved lines on the ricasso, alone would guarantee the V42 a place in my pantheon of military knives, but the fact it was tailor made for the First Special Service Force of World War II, the forerunner to today’s U.S. Special Forces, steps its already impressive bona fides up yet another notch.

Learn More About the History of Military Knives

There’s more military knife history in the pages of BLADE magazine. Now you can enjoy 35 years of back issues on your computer with this BLADE collection.

Click here to order this digital collection of back issues for just $50 (that’s half off!).

Knife Test: Tom Ploppert Slip Joint

I was waiting for Tom Ploppert’s custom slip joint like a kid on Christmas morning. To my surprise, there were two knives in the package when it arrived. Tom had sent me a new knife for evaluation and another that had been used hard for a few years. Both still walk and talk like they are supposed to, but the older knife has a smoother action. Yes, the handle is beat up a little and the blade has been resharpened a few times, but I could tell it is a high-quality knife. This is a good sign of excellent workmanship—I have had slip joints get sloppy after a few uses. Tom used premium stag pinned on to make the knife scream, “Use me!”

EDGE TESTS

I started off with a sheet of copy paper. I held the slip joint between my thumb and index finger and let the weight of the folder do the cutting. I just kept turning the paper around to a fresh side and sliced along its entire length until I had cut all four sides. The knife has a very good feel to it and fits my hand very well.

    Next up: cardboard boxes. After 30 minutes of cutting I had slivers of cardboard all over the garage floor.

    I had to change out my Kydex® foam for some new stuff as I had run a large batch of sheaths and the old foam was getting too compressed. After gluing on the newly cut foam, I sliced up the older pieces by simply resting the blade edge on the foam and making a pulling cut. The slip joint sliced as fast as I could maneuver my fingers out of the way.

WOOD/ROPE/LEATHER CUTS

I had some pine 1x1s cut—they make perfect whittling sticks. Tom’s “slippy” is excellent at control and the big stag handle is very comfortable. It did not take long to produce a pile of curly-cues.

    Half-inch sisal rope was next on the agenda. The knife still felt sharp but I gave it a few strops on my leather pad for good luck. It crunched through the rope like a champ until I hit 60 cuts. My index finger rode up on the blade and I found the spine to be very sharp, and the inside of the liners also were sharp. A few strokes with a fine emery board dulled the sharpness and I settled back into cutting. I noticed the edge starting to slide at 120 cuts. Not bad at all and no more hot spots. I grabbed some leather and skived around the edges. The slip joint worked great and would still shave hair.

TIP TEST

I used the tip of the blade to cut and pry the dried skin from an old deer rack that needed cleaning. I was careful of the fine tip as I did not want to pop it off if it got stuck in the rack.

    I gave the tip another workout, stabbing it into a 2×4 and twisting the tip out. The tip handled a dozen stabs and twists without breaking or any loosening of the folder’s action. As long as I had the 2×4 handy, I gave it a few chops. The blade bit deeper than I thought it would and the knife was comfortable while doing it.

IF IT WERE MY KNIFE …

… I would soften every place that is sharp except the edge of the blade. I use knives hard and sharp edges where they should not be might result in a hot spot. Just a few minutes with fine sandpaper and it’s all good.

FINAL GRADE

Tom’s slip joint performed excellently. His fit and finish are very clean. This is one very well made, good-looking work knife. Great job!—By MSG Kim Breed, BLADE® field editor

For more information contact Tom Ploppert, Dept. BLADEMAG, 1407 2nd Ave. S.W., Cullman, AL 35055 256-962-4251 tomploppert3bellsouth.net.

PLOPPERT SLIPPY SPECS

Knife: One-blade slip joint

Maker: Tom Ploppert

Blade Steel: CPM-154 stainless

Blade Length: 3”

Handle: Sambar stag

Pins: Stainless steel

Liners: 416 stainless

Backspring: CPM-154

Closed Length: 4 1/16”

Maker’s List Price: $750

For info on how to subscribe to BLADE®, click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss090712

 

Hottest Makers’ Hottest Knives

The latest installment of the hottest makers’ hottest knives employs the expertise of leading purveyors who buy custom knives and sell them, and each has been doing it for quite some time. They know what’s hot and what sells. If they didn’t, they would not be in business for so long—and BLADE® would not be asking them what they think are the hottest makers’ hottest knives. In alphabetical order, the purveyors are Larry Brahms of Bladeart.com; Daniel O’Malley of BladeGallery.com; Les Robertson of Robertson’s Custom Cutlery; Paul Shindler of Knife Legends; Dave Stark of Steel Addiction Knives; and Duane Weikum of EDC Knives.

    As with any dynamic category of well-made tools, the custom knife industry continues to evolve—and it must to keep pace with the demands of today’s sophisticated knife buyers. For instance, Stark indicated he deals with two categories that a number of leading makers are gravitating toward: tactical and dress tactical folders. “It’s a new slot for these guys Everybody’s doing both,” Stark said. “The dress tacticals come in Mokuti [a combination of mokume and titanium], mammoth ivory and damascus. Chad Nichols is the man in damascus now. He makes Mokuti and damascus in unique patterns, especially the Mokuti.”

    Robertson seems to agree, though he calls them “hybrid folders” instead of  “dress tacticals.”

    “Tactical folders and hybrid folders are the hottest knives on the market,” Robertson opined. “Hybrid folders start out with a tactical design and then, in lieu of standard blade steels, titanium bolsters and synthetic materials, upgrade the base design with damascus for blades and bolsters, and other materials such as Mokuti and supercollider material for bolsters and frames. Lastly, the handle material is upgraded to high-end natural materials.”

    O’Malley outlined several categories that are extremely hot: production/custom crossover makers (makers that are known both for their production knives and custom knives); art knives, that is, “carved artwork with an edge”; handmade hunting knives; gent’s knives with a tactical edge; and handmade kitchen knives. For Weikum, custom balisongs are gaining traction.

    “The balisong market is heating up in 2012. We have makers who have been making balisongs for years and now produce the best balisongs there are, including Charles Marlowe, Terry Guinn and Chris Olofson of 29 Knives,” he noted. “You also have young makers coming into the market and setting it on fire such as Jeremy Marsh, G.T. Cecchini, Todd Begg, Brad Southard and Sam Eddleman.”

     Robertson indicated specific knives in damascus also are in demand. “Another hot market sector is damascus hunters and damascus bowies—not just any damascus hunters or bowies, but those from the established makers featuring top-quality, natural handle materials,” he observed.

    Shindler said Italian and French makers continue to be red hot on the art-knife side of the ledger, including Charles Bennica, Jean-Pierre Sucheras, Antonio and Salvatore Fogarizzu, Salvatore Puddu, Emmanuel Esposito and Fabrizio Silvestrelli. “This goes along with the usual Art Knife Invitational suspects—Michael Walker, Jurgen Steinau and Wolfgang Loerchner,” he noted.

    “The current economic climate seems to have driven many collectors out of the $1,500-to-$5,000 price range, which is impacting just about nearly every high-quality knifemaker you can think of. The exceptions are the French and Italian makers who fall into this price segment,” Shindler said. “Long-time elite makers in this price range who are coming to shows with new ideas and patterns appear to be fairing much better than top-notch makers who bring the same patterns and models to shows they’ve been selling for the last 10 years. This will most likely change when there is once again an influx of new collectors who don’t already own those patterns—most likely after the economy is on the mend and everyday folks and collectors are back to work.

    “From what I hear, there is no shortage of collectors for knives in the under-$700 price category, and the same may be said of knives in the $7,000-$10,000 category. Collectors are actively buying knives in that price range if you have exactly the knife they are looking for at a very competitive price. I see no change in the over-$15,000-per-knife market, where the same collectors continue to actively buy the best and most-sought-after models of the most elite makers—in the rare instances when knives by those makers become available.

    “Hardly a day seems to pass without the appearance of new slip-joint and Loveless-tribute knifemakers into a market which is currently not growing overall,” Shindler continued. “As a result, more and more makers in these two categories are carving up the business into smaller and smaller pieces, making it tougher for even the best-known and most successful slip-joint and Loveless-tribute makers to do the business of even two or three years ago.”—By Steve Shackleford

 

 Hottest Makers’ Hottest Knives

Maker                                        Knife List                                        Price*

Jens Anso                                  Model 67                                        $675

Todd Begg                                  Bodega                                          $900+

Tashi Bharucha                          Deep Cover                                   $675

David Broadwell                         Carved art fighter                          $2,000+

Michael Burch                             Platypus                                       $1,000

Jim Burke                                    Crusader                                      $850

Lucas Burnley                             Kawaiken flipper                            $600

G.T. Cecchini                               Anything he makes                       $900+

Brian Fellhoelter                          FLG                                              $500

Jerry Fisk                                    Sendero                                        $2,000+

Les George                                 Rockeye                                       $475

DireWare                                     Solo                                             $500

Allen Elishewitz                           Gordian Knot                                $950

Rick Hinderer                              XM18                                           $400+

Flavio Ikoma                                Harrier                                         $2,000+

Korth                                            Carved Sentry                             $2,400+

Schuyler Lovestrand                    Sub-hilt fighter                             $1,000+

R.J. Martin                                   The Devastator                            $650+

Tom Mayo                                    Persian flipper                             $800

Charles Marlowe                          S1                                               $1,600+

Jeremy Marsh                               Vanquish                                    $1,200+

Scott McGhee                              Mamba                                        $700+

Gerry McGinnis                            Peligro                                         $675

Shawn McIntyre                           Damascus hunter                         $850

Jonathan McNees                        MCK1                                           $170

Fred Ott                                        Stag hamon hunter                       $585

Todd Rexford                                Epicenter                                     $1,000+

Phil Rose                                      Survival/military fixed blade          $475

Sniper Bladeworks                        DH                                                $575

Tim Steingass                               AK Hunter                                      $310

Mick Strider                                  Anything he makes                         $900+

Andre Van Heerden                      M27                                               $1,025

Nick Wheeler                                Fighter                                            $800+

Daniel Winkler                               WK II Belt Knife                             $350

Will Zermeno                                 LR2 Azrael                                    $325

*Prices will vary depending on whether knives are primary or secondary market, materials, configurations, etc., and are subject to change at a moment’s notice.

 

HERE’S THE POOP ON THE KNIFE BY STEEL ADDICTION CUSTOM KNIVES PICTURED AT TOP:

Maker: Lee Williams

Knife: Horizon

Pattern: Dress tactical

Action : Flipper

Blade steel: CPM-154 stainless

Blade length: 3.75”

Handle: Mokuti by Chad Nichols

Special Feature: Bee Line kick stop ensures the flipper tab “disappears” when the knife is open

Insider’s Info: “Lee Williams’ Mokuti piece, the Horizon flipper with the Bee Line kick stop, is about as hot as they come.”—Dave Stark, Steel Addiction Custom Knives

Maker’s List Price: $1,600

 

For info on how to subscribe to BLADE, click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss090512

Hunter’s Edge: Kutmaster Cutting Combo

Tackle any number of hunting knife chores with the Kutmaster Team Realtree Field Dress/Caping Combo .

    Outfitted in Team Realtree saw-cut camo handles and 420 stainless blade steel, the set includes a gut-hook skinner and caping knife.

    The full-tang-construction fixed blades are designed for work on both big and small game.

    Nylon belt sheaths complete the cool cutting combo.

    ShopBlade’s price: $29.99.

For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/kutmaster-team-realtree-field-dress-caping-combo-knives-y7731/?lid=blss090412

Knives Of The Living Dead

Zombies are everywhere you look—movies, TV and sneaking up behind you. Surviving the dreaded zombie apocalypse with creatures running amok eating brains sounds like a great night watching TV. While the knife industry is not immune from following trends, any knife useful in the coming zombie apocalypse also would work great in everyday and survival situations.

Haitian folklore described zombies as individuals drugged into a death-like state, without freewill and controlled by their voodoo masters. Modern zombies had their start with the 1968 cult classic, The Night of the Living Dead, directed by George Romero. The black-and-white horror flick has served as the model and inspiration for movies, literature and more than a few costumes. Forty plus years later, The Walking Deadtelevision series on AMC, inspired by the comic series of the same name, has become a smash hit.

The modern zombie is a dead body infected by an unknown disease that craves human flesh. Zombies seem to have an affinity for brains, though it is hard to imagine what primitive zombie thought process figured that out. It is hard to sit through modern zombie thrillers without jumping in your seat, or stifling a scream when the previously hidden zombie grabs the unsuspecting victim.

“DE-ANIMATING” ZOMBIES

So, what role would a blade have in a zombie apocalypse situation? The rule of thumb for these movies is you are on your own during the disaster and for some time after. Recent natural disasters have shown this to be true in real life as well.

The first thing that comes to mind is you need a gun. That’s fine, except current zombie lore teaches us gunfire attracts zombies—and you will run out of ammunition. As long as you have a knife in your hand, you are armed. Ergo, the first use of a blade is for defense. The politically correct term is “de-animating” the zombie, as you cannot kill what is already dead. Your goal is to make it stop moving, or more specifically, stop moving toward you. This seems to involve destroying or cutting off the zombie’s head. Try not to set the zombie on fire, as the idea of a 6-foot burning match stumbling through your hideout seems a bad idea.

The second need for a knife involves day-to-day survival. This would include preparing food (preferably the kind zombies do not like), preparing wood for fires, and providing shelter. As a serious knife enthusiast you might have a wide range of tools for the job. If not, the knife companies that have embraced the zombie movement have made your job easy.

THE ORIGINAL ZOMBIE KNIVES

KA-BAR has been in business for over 100 years. Its Zombie™ Knife line is hard to miss with its “toxic green” handles. While most knife enthusiasts associate KA-BAR with traditional military issue knives, the Zombie Knife lineup presents new knives for a 21stcentury sub-culture. Paul Tsujimoto, a KA-BAR senior engineer, reports that many zombie enthusiasts were already using knives such as the KA-BAR 1217 USMC fighting/utility knife. Taking that enthusiastic base and providing purpose-built zombie knives involved embracing some basic rules.

“We didn’t have to totally rethink our design philosophy,” Tsujimoto began. “Any knife can be a zombie knife but we prefer it to be a KA-BAR, as we are the original Zombie Knife. But some general guidelines would be: big, strong, simple, capable of multi-tasking, a true wilderness type of knife.”

As mentioned, the KA-BAR Zombie Knife lineup stands out because of the striking green-colored handled. “The Toxic Green handle was one of the ways to keep some distance from our more traditional lines,” Tsujimoto explained. “We wanted to keep it way over the top/tongue–in-cheek. But we added a set of black handles so if people wanted a more conservative look, that could be accomplished. It seems that toxic green is the new blaze orange.”

KA-BAR’s Zombie Knife lineup includes models such as the 5698 “Kharon” Tanto Folder and 3058 “MULE Folder,” both lockbacks, to larger chopping or slashing knives such as the 5701 “War Sword” and 5702 “Pestilence Chopper.” The 5704 Zombie “Chop Stick” would be at home in a campsite chopping wood as well as quelling any zombie uprising. The only model that seems out of place is the small, stealthy 5699BP Zombie “Acheron” Neck Knife. It is a great little knife with an all-black finish; it just lacks the eye-catching green handles.

The future seems bright for KA-BAR’s Zombie Knife lineup. Tsujimoto reports two new models coming that he cannot announce yet and a blunt-nose machete modeled after the World War II USAAF Machete. When asked about any special deals, he stated, “Buy now before they run out. There will be no deals when the apocalypse hits.” How can that not be excellent advice?

THE APOCALYPSE KIT

Gerber Gear, maker of Gerber Legendary Blades, manufactures knives, machetes, saws, axes, flashlights and other survival necessities. The company has introduced The Apocalypse Kit, which is an easily carried roll that opens to provide access to seven razor-sharp cutting tools: the Gator Machete, the Gator Machete Pro, the Camp Axe II, the LMF II Infantry military-style sheath knife, the medium-size DMF folder, the smaller Epic sheath knife, and the highly functional Bear Grylls Parang. This collection of tools made its TV debut on an episode of The Walking Dead. Finding the rolled-up tool cache in the back of a truck, as they did on the TV show, would make any survivor happy. It is hard to imagine needing anything else except for a silencer-equipped chainsaw.

Product placement allows companies to put their product in the movie or TV scene. Sometimes it does not make sense and seems out of place, but with Gerber’s Apocalypse Kit, the company has placed the product in a very logical situation (albeit a little too convenient) where the tools can be featured in use. Though the knives for the action shots have rubber blades, one can get a feel for how they might be used in the unlikely zombie attack. Gerber also had a zombie-themed display at the 2012 SHOT Show, where visitors were invited to pose with the blades from the kit next to a threatening zombie dummy (see picture above).

Gerber has taken on the growing trend toward survival preparedness in the same way it approached wilderness survival with its sponsorship of Bear Grylls (page 30, July 2011 BLADE www.blademag.com). “Gerber doesn’t have any plans to create zombie-specific knives yet,” Gerber’s Andrew Gritzbaugh said, adding, “the current collection of gear is up to the task today.” With an MSRP of $349, the Apocalypse Kit is a collective group survival bargain.

“5 GUYS IN A SHOP”

The folks at Zombie Tools in Missoula, Montana, have a very different approach to the zombie problem. If KA-BAR and Gerber represent the well-established corporate approach, the craftsmen at Zombie Tools represent the barbarians at the castle gate. With roots in the sword enthusiast community, this small company works hard to keep up with demand for its blades. Rather than mass production, the Zombie Tools sales literature proudly states, “Our blades are made with 100 percent American-made materials, and they are made by five guys in a shop in Montana.”

Using 5160 spring steel with aluminum handle slabs wrapped with leather, the blades are built for hard duty, though the makers admit not all of their swords see use. “Our customers seem to break into two camps: those that like our blades for the aesthetics and hang them on the wall, and those that take them out and use them,” the Zombie Tools literature maintains. “Brush clearing and campfire wood splitting seem to be the most common uses.” With a very well-designed website and YouTube videos showing their blades in action, the Zombie Tools crew takes an irreverent look at zombie hunting and the abilities of a well-designed handmade blade.

Examination of the Zombie Tools Vakra, which sports a kukri blade, quickly reveals the care and workmanship that goes into it. With a price of $249.95, the 19-inch-long Vakra has a significant presence when removed from the well-made Kydex® sheath. The quarter-inch thickness does cause the weight to hit 1.75 pounds, but the heavier weight is appropriate for the kukri-inspired design and the knife’s inherent chopping ability. Along with the Vakra, Zombie Tools also makes several swords, including katanas, as well as other zombie-capable slicers.

BRING ON THE APOCALYPSE!

At a recent knife show, dealers were asked, “Who is the typical zombie blade enthusiast?” Several agreed they are mostly, though not exclusively, males of all ages, and definitely viewers of zombie TV shows and movies. The knife companies entering the zombie arena of marketing did so only after significant research. The winners are knife consumers, who benefit from some seriously fun tools that also have a practical purpose.

Should the dreaded zombie apocalypse fail to materialize, you still have some great tools. If it does, game on—you are now prepared!—by David Jung


LEARN MORE ABOUT KNIVES OFF THE BEATEN PATH

The world of knives is constantly turning out new and different designs that push the envelope. Get an overhead view of this exciting scene with the Knives 2013 book. It’s full of beautiful photos, in-depth features and knifemaker listings.

Click here to order Knives 2013 at a great discount from ShopBlade.com.

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