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.
Our Knife Of The Day for Feb. 22 is John Bartlow’s utility hunter in a 4-inch blade of ATS-34 stainless steel and a handle of bark elephant ivory.
Winner of “Judge’s Choice, Hunting/Utility Knife” at last year’s Professional Knifemakers Association Show in Denver, the knife is 8 5/8 inches overall and boasts Bartlow’s trademark line cutter/choil where the edge of the blade begins.
For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. For subscription information click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscripti…?r+ssfb022212#BL1SU
Follow the Rambo knives through the first four movies with these photos. If you want to step back in time even further, download the June 1983 issue of BLADE.
Today’s American-made knives embody the latest in the state-of-the-art.
American knifemaking is alive, well and thriving. Certainly over the years the marketplace for cutlery has become more global, despite this native craftsmen and companies have held their ground and remained sharp as ever. Below is a good example. We’ve collected a throng of blades made in good ol’ U.S. of A. that showcase creative prowess of our countrymen.
Designer: Eric Glesser Blade length: 2.42” Blade steel: CTS BD1N stainless Blade grind: Full-flat Blade finish: Satin Scale material: FRN Lock: Back Lock Weight: 1.5 ozs. Closed length: 3.74” MSRP: $160 Knife to know: This folding knife takes the company’s Lil’ Native Back Lock platform and lightens it by 40 percent with fiberglass-reinforced-nylon scales. Available: March
TOPS Knives Wood Nymph
Knife type: EDC/bushcraft Designer: Bushcraft Kelso Blade length: 2.25” Blade material: 1095 carbon steel Rockwell hardness: 56-58 HRC Blade grind: TOPS’ modified Scandi Blade finish: Tumble Scale material: Tan/black G-10 Weight: 1.8 ozs. (3.2 ozs. w/sheath) Overall length: 5.75” Sheath type and material: Brown leather MSRP: $190 Knife to know: Thick for its size, the handle is well-rounded and longer than the blade for a solid grip. The blade shape is simple and classic. It’s sharp, pointy and a little thinner than most would expect from TOPS at 3/32-inch thick. A simple leather sheath makes this knife one of the easiest to carry. It’s a simple yet effective workingman’s tool. Available: NOW
Rick Hinderer Knive XM-18 3.5” Bowie Automatic Aluminum
Knife type: EDC Designer: Rick Hinderer Blade length: 3.5” Blade steel: CPM S45VN stainless Rockwell hardness: 60-62 HRC Blade pattern: Bowie Blade finish: Stonewash Liners: Patent pending titanium half liners Scale material: Two options: anodized blue aluminum w/inlay and Arctic Storm w/FCF inlay Frame material: Aluminum anodized blue Furniture material: Stainless steel black nitride hardware (add on) and matte black Holey Clip (add on) Lock: Button lock Pivot: Phosphor bronze washers Weight: 5.12 ozs. Closed length: 4.75” MSRP: $495 Knife to know: Featuring a lightweight yet durable aluminum handle with patent-pending titanium half liners, this knife offers enhanced strength and stability without compromising on weight. Designed with the EDC enthusiast in mind, it blends innovation, practicality and cutting performance, making it a trusted companion for any daily task or adventure. Available: 2025
Bear Forest Knives Stumpy
Blade length: 2 1/8” Blade steel: Nitro V stainless Blade thickness: 1/8” w/90-degree spine Grind: Full flat Finish: Raw matte Scale materials: Various Micarta®/wood/Bearcarta (check availability) Overall Length: 5 7/8” Sheath: Kydex® black (.08” thick) MSRP: $239.99 Knife to know: The Stumpy checks all the boxes; it defines what is needed in a small utility fixed-blade knife while in the shop or outdoors. At the same time, you aren’t giving up comfort. Available: NOW
Bradford USA Guardian 3.2
Knife type: Fixed-blade EDC Blade length: 3.5” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut High Hardness stainless Rockwell hardness: 63-64 HRC Blade grind: Sabre, false edge, full height flat Blade thickness: .14” Scale options: Micarta®, G-10 and carbon fiber Overall length: 7.125” Sheath: Horizontal leather MSRP: $229 Knife to know: Blade also available in a choice of ELMAX and M390 stainless steels Available: NOW
A.G. Russell Knives California Bowie Knife
Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member A.G. Russell Blade length: 8.5” Blade steel: 154CM stainless Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade finish: Satin Scale material: Premium India stag Furniture material: 410 stainless steel Weight: 10.6 ozs. Overall length: 13.25” Sheath type and material: Handmade of leather Special feature: Long California clip point blade MSRP: $595 Available: NOW
RMJ Tactical Gym Rat
Designer: Bryan Schellenger Knife type: Fixed-blade EDC Blade length: 2 3/8” Blade thickness: 1/8” Weight: 2.3 ozs. Blade steel: Nitro V stainless Rockwell hardness: 59-60 HRC Blade finish: Tungsten Cerakote® Scale material: Three G-10 options: black, dirty olive, hyena brown Handle fasteners: Torx Grade 5 titanium anodized a bronze color Barbell bead: Grade 5 titanium Overall length: 5 1/8” Sheath: Kydex w/ball chain & ambidextrous clip adapter suitable for pocket and outside the waistband carry Knife to know: Designer Bryan Schellenger wanted to come up with a small, light but effective blade that could be easily concealed with minimal clothing, and that idea was spawned at the gym; also carries as a necker MSRP: $185 Available: NOW
Tactile Knife Maraner 2
Knife type: EDC Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola Blade length: 2.985” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 63-64 HRC Blade pattern: Sheepsfoot Blade finish: Tumbled Liner material: Hardened stainless lock-bar insert Scale material: Titanium & G-10 Furniture material: Titanium backspacer Lock: Insert linerlock Pivot: Ceramic bearings Closed length: 4.175” Knife to know: Designed in 1987; first production variant MSRP: $399 Available: NOW
Hogue Knives Ballista II
Knife type: EDC automatic Designer: Scott Bruhns Blade length: 3.4” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 62-64 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade finish: Two-tone: stone tumbled and black PVD Scale material: Carbon fiber inserts Frame material: Matte black 6061-T6 anodized aluminum Pocket clip: Deep carry, right-hand carry Weight: 2 ozs. Closed length: 3.8” Special features: Titanium accents anodized blue MSRP: $239.95 Available: NOW
CRKT Twist Tighe Compact Automatic
Designer: Brian Tighe Knife type: EDC OTF automatic Blade length: 2.69” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Blade thickness: .09” Blade finish: Stonewash Scale material: Green carbon fiber Weight: 1.6 ozs. Closed length: 4.01” MSRP: $300 Available: NOW
Knife type: Tactical, EDC, survival Designers: Bill Harris, Stephen Schook and Utica team Blade lengths: 3 and 2.5” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 61-62 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade finish: Red powder coat Scale material: Black textured Micarta® Liner material: G-10 Overall lengths: 8 and 5.25” Sheath type and material: Critical Hit I ABS sheath w/built-in sharpener and fire striker and reversible belt clip and paracord; Critical Hit II ABS sheath w/belt clip and paracord MSRP: $170 Available: NOW
Veteran knifemaker Bill Herndon long has put a little bit of himself into each of the knives he builds, but his Bill’s Knee Knife takes the concept to new heights.
Also a contributor to BLADE® Magazine, Herndon, who goes by the acronym of OFAU (Old, Fat And Ugly), employed a part of his surgically removed knee bone as an escutcheon for the handle of his reproduction of an antique bowie knife.
“At the time of my first of four knee surgeries, I asked the surgeon to save the bone he removed from my left knee. After the two small pieces of bone were delivered and dried, I asked Ken McFall of Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies to stabilize the bone. He did so but under protest!” Herndon noted, doing his best to keep a straight knee, er, face. “Some eight years later, I decided to put that bone to use. The inlaid helm—my logo—in the ebony handle on this Samuel Bell bowie reproduction is the result. I have really put a part of myself in this knife!”
For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. For subscription information click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscripti…?r+ssfb032312#BL1SU.
Summer’s here and so are all the hot things there are to do during it—many of which call for one of the sharp knives in our “Knives Of Summer” feature.
Among the things that make summer so much fun is fishing, not to mention eating a nice grilled or fried fillet afterward. Before you cook your catch you have to fillet it, and the Big Eddy from CRKT is ideal for the job. The 420J2 stainless blade features Russ Kommer’s high hollow grind, which creates an air pocket to lift and “float” fillets off, while the flat taper ground side glides smoothly across the skin. Triple-Point Serrations help you cut through gristle, bones and fins. A Kraton grip offers a firm, safe hold on the knife.
For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?r+ssfb062512 for more information.
John H. Davis’ knives, from top: oosic/ivory bowie, twist damascus of 1084/15n20, copper guard, spacers and butt, 13 inches overall; India stag bowie, ladder-pattern damascus, copper guard, spacers and butt; India stag and buckeye burl drop point, 1084/A203E damascus, nickel-silver fittings; mammoth ivory boot dagger, 1084/15n20 damascus, nickel-silver fittings; and a mammoth tooth ivory and snakewood locking-liner folder, 1095/nickel damascus. Davis’ sheaths, from top: the first two are belt-loop pouch types in custom leather with python inlay; a pouch type in custom leather with cobra skin; and a belt-loop-and-snap pouch model in custom leather with snakeskin inlay. The maker’s list prices for similar outfits, from top (the prices include sheaths where applicable): $500, $400, $350, $350 and $350. (Point Seven photo)
John H. Davis offers nice knife-and-sheath combinations—and don’t forget the folder!
Some makers do not offer sheaths with their fixed blades. ABS apprentice smith John H. Davis is not among them.
His selection of damascus fixed blades includes handsome sheaths, including one in a cobra-skin inlay he said “a couple of guys do back flips over.” Other sheaths have python and snakeskin inlays. A computer field engineer by day, Davis also has a background in metal fabrication, which helps explain the copper he uses for guards on some of his models. “I’m one of the few who uses it for guards,” he noted. “I love working with it. It’s an underrated material.”
In terms of offering the total package of knife and sheath, underrated also would seem an appropriate way to describe Davis.
For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. For subscription information click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscripti…?r+ssfb022612#BL1SU
Our Knife Of The Day for Feb. 22 is John Bartlow’s utility hunter in a 4-inch blade of ATS-34 stainless steel and a handle of bark elephant ivory.
