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.

Urban Survival Knife Tools

What has happened in NYC post Sandy can happen to many. In such an instance, you need tools not only that can cut but also can work as pliers, screwdrivers, can openers and much more. Enter the multi-tool.

Gerber survival toolGerber Diesel Multi-Tool

Features pliers, wire cutter, wire crimper, partially serrated knife blade and more. Click here for more on the Gerber Diesel Multi-Tool.

 

Columbia River Knife & Tool Zilla-ToolCRKT Zilla-Tool

This Columbia River Knife & Tool item sports pliers, screwdriver w/hex bits, 3-inch flipper knife blade, can opener and more. Click here for a full breakdown on the CRKT Zilla-Tool.

 

Byrd Knives Meadowlark2 SpyderEdge Rescue KnifeByrd Knives Meadowlark2 SpyderEdge Rescue Knife

The key to the Meadowlark2 is that it lacks a tip. This helps minimize damage to whomever or whatever needs to be freed from binding materials. Click here for more specs on the Meadowlark2 SpyderEdge Rescue Knife.

Deibert’s Award-Winning Mid-Bowie

ABS journeyman smith Michael Deibert took home the George Peck Award for the best knife made by a journeyman smith applicant at this year’s BLADE Show.

“I forged this knife after a long look at many historical and modern bowies. After a few rough sketches I lit the forge, heated a hefty piece of 1095 and let the hammer fall. I tried to come up with something as original as possible, yet maintain the flavor of the bowie. Even though the bowie inspired this particular knife, it is a bit shorter, though I don’t consider it a ‘small knife.’ For this reason I call it the ‘Mid-Bowie.’”—Michael Deibert

Knife Name: Mid-Bowie

Maker: Michael Deibert

Award: George Peck Award for the best knife submitted by an ABS journeyman smith applicant

Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel

Blade Length: 8.5”

Handle: Stabilized spalted maple

Special Features: Guard and pin are both cold-blued mild steel; a slender clip extends the majority of the blade length

Overall Length: 13”

Maker’s List Price For a Similar Piece: $400

Click here for a full list of award recipients from the 2012 BLADE Show.

A Few Great Everyday Carry Knives

Best everyday carry knives

No. 1 for knife enthusiast Nick Morgan is the Chris Reeve Sebenza. “The tolerances are so much better on Chris Reeve knives than any other production knives, and you’ll find just about perfect fit and finish on every model. I love the blade and handle shapes, and the plain, simple looks are beautiful,” he said.

The Spyderco Sage2 is second on Morgan’s list. “I love the deep-carry wire clip—for my money the best clip in the industry,” he stated. “The profile of the titanium Sage2 is thinner than the carbon fiber Sage1, so using and carrying it is noticeably nicer.”

Morgan said the Benchmade 940 is a blast to play with due to the AXIS lock. “It’s super easy to open and close, and it’s fast!” he emphasized. “The reverse tanto blade shape is my favorite. For cutting, whittling and stabbing, it’s strong, sharp and great looking. It’s the best knife to sit in front of the TV and flip open/closed hundreds of times.”

Next on Morgan’s list is the DPx HEST 2.0, “a knife that can survive heavy-duty use day after day. I love the functional blade shape and, at 3.25 inches, it’s big enough for 99 percent of my cutting tasks while not being too big that it scares people when I use it in public. It locks up solidly like the Sebenza and I love the extra features—bottle opener, wire stripper and glass breaker/skull crusher, the latter which is really nicely executed. My favorite feature is the bayonet clip—it buries so deep in the pocket that nobody suspects I’ve got a knife on me.”

Last on Morgan’s list is what he terms the “best-bang-for-the-buck” knife: the Large Buck Vantage Pro. “It has a great blade and handle shape, I love the flipper, it has top quality blade steel [CPM S30V] and handle material, an excellent deep-carry bayonet clip, it’s USA made and has a nice, slim profile. Best of all,” he added, “it’s less than half the cost of every other knife on my list.”

For more EDC knives, check out this selection at ShopBlade.com.

Today’s Troop Knife Favorites

Before you can answer the question of what the most popular knives are among the U.S. military in Afghanistan, you must first answer such questions as: What are the knives used for? Which knives do the job and are the best buys for the money? Which knives are most available? There are other questions, but these are good starting points.

According to those interviewed, knives are used mostly for cutting boxes, tape, rope and 550 cord, small-gauge metal wire, prying things open, cutting the clothes of fellow soldiers to administer to wounds, and so on. “[I used a knife in combat] the last time I was deployed, but to cut open mortar ‘tootsie-roll’ cartridge carriers, not to disembowel the enemy,” one soldier observed. “The occasions where a knife is used to directly defend against or attack the enemy are notable in that they are the exception instead of the rule.”

“[Knives] are used literally every mission for combat-related tasks such as prepping vehicles, aircraft, fighting positions, flex cuffs, etc.,” one veteran said. Meanwhile, though it is not exactly a common occurrence, Curtis Iovito of Spartan Blades indicated knives are used in hand-to-hand combat more in Afghanistan than you might think.

Visit the Spartan Blades website to check out knives designed for military purposes.

Llannoite Proves Inspired Knife Handle Choice

Bill Keller custom knife

OK, take off the dirty shop apron, remove the safety glasses, and go to the workbench and pull out the notepad and pencil. Now, add Llannoite to the list of incredible knife handle materials available to honest, hardworking knifemakers across the land. While you’re at it, add the Bill Keller locking-liner folder to the list of “Editor’s Favorites from the Knives 2013 Book.”

Knifemaker Bill Keller not only saw the brown hues within the makeup of Llannoite, but the blue, as well, and brought it out nicely through the use of blue-anodized bolsters and liners. Each complements the Chris Marks “lizard-skin”-damascus blade, filework and inlaid blued-titanium thumb stud. (Johnny Stout photo)

4 Steps to Perfect Freehand Sharpening

 

 

1) Select a Sharpener

Invest in a good bench stone. You have the natural ones like the Arkansas stones and the manmade ones such as the Norton India stone. There are also the diamond-bonded stones that many companies produce.

2) Color the Edge

With a black ink permanent marker, color the entire cutting edge or primary bevel on both sides of the blade. The objective is to sharpen off the black ink. After you remove the ink from both sides of the blade, it will be sharp.

3) Adjust Accordingly

Take a few strokes on the stone and then examine the edge bevel. If you see ink toward the top of the bevel, decrease the angle of the blade to the stone. Conversely, if you see ink toward the bottom of the bevel, increase the angle to capture that part.

4) Remove the Ink

After you sharpen the ink from the cutting edge, you will have to remove any stray marker ink. A liquid-based adhesive and paint remover is ideal for the job. Place a few drops on a paper towel and very carefully wipe the cutting edge.

Going Forward

After you get the hang of it, skip the permanent marker step. Congratulations, you’re now a freehand sharpening pro!

 

Vacation Knives: Multi-Tool For Emergency Repairs

 

A hot multi-tool with a selection of sharp blades in plain and serrated edges, assorted tools such as a spring-loaded pliers, flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers, a saw, scissors, can-opener and more—what else would you need to fend off an emergency repair job while on the road? The Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool has it all, plus one-hand opening and the company’s Saf.T.Plus locking system—all for our nifty price of $34.99.

 

For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/gerber-suspension-multi-tool-y6989/?lid=blss081512

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