Sometimes A Simple Knife Is All You Need, And This New Folder From Gerber Looks Sharp And Is Sharp.
The new Affinity from Gerber is a straightforward, plain-edge folding EDC. That’s not a slight but a compliment. The piece comes in two colorways and both shine thanks to their construction and ease of use.
It starts with the aluminum version that has a 7CR blade and an easy-access frame lock. This allows the cutting edge to be exactly where you expect it and allows you to slice with confidence knowing the blade is secure.
The handle is highly-polished for a clean, modern look. The ergonomic design, along with the adjustable thumb stud, allows you to make the knife your own and have it feel perfect in your hand. The pocket clip allows for easy carry as it discretely tucks away.
Gerber Affinity – Copper
The other version is the copper. The copper features all the same features as the aluminum version with two key differences. The most obvious are the machined copper scales that give the blade a tough-looking exterior.
The other key difference is the in the blade; the copper has a blade made from D2 steel, which drives up the price although both are affordable folders.
Survival Knives Need To Be Versatile, Durable, And Strong. These 10 Blades Are Everything You Could Ask For When In A Sticky Situation
A survival knife is most often a heavy-duty fixed blade built to withstand hard use in multiple roles, generally in the wilderness. It must be able to whittle, carve, chop, slice, and maybe dig. It also holds down the regular duties of a knife and assists in all cutting chores. Additionally, if your back is up against a proverbial wall, it should have the chops to serve as a weapon.
Survival Knife Features
When looking for a quality survival knife there are four key things you need to look for: the quality of the steel, handle material, the robustness of the guard, and the caliber of the sheath.
Steel
As with all knives, it all starts with the blade steel. Carbon steel and stainless steel are both used with survival knives, both have their pros and cons.
Carbon steel requires a bit more diligence to maintain and keep from rusting but offers ease of in-field sharpening. Stainless steels are more resistant to the elements and, if you spend the money, the higher grades offer enhanced edge-holding capabilities.
Handle
Next, you want to look for a knife that has a comfortable handle. This is key, given you’ll use the knife for extended periods of time.
What you need to consider is:
How is the handle contoured?
Does it feel good in your hand?
Is it made of synthetic or natural handle materials?
Personally, I would stay away from leather because of its nature to soak up moisture. I would look to some sort of synthetic like G-10, micarta, or reinforced thermoplastic. These synthetic materials are dimensionally stable and are not affected by changes in temperature, humidity, and exposure to UV.
Guard
The guard keeps your hand in place by preventing any forward movement while the knife is in use. You might be able to wrap a finger around the guard to further choke up on the handle for extra control during cutting or whittling.
Given survival knives are tasked with a number of rough-and-tumble duties, it’s wise to consider an ample guard—at least for the sake of safety.
Sheaths
Not as sexy, sheaths are equally as important as the knife itself. Essentially, the accessory helps protect the knife when not in use, as well as provides a means of portability. Most attach to a belt or MOLLY field, in the case of a backpack.
Materials such as Kydex provide the best options. Why? The thermoplastic is light, form-fitted to the knife blade, and impervious to the elements. What more could you ask for?
You might also notice some sheaths are made of ballistic nylon with a hard plastic liner inside to prevent the knife from destroying the sheath. These are also a good alternative and are more cost-effective along with being fairly weather resistant.
Leather and other natural materials on the other hand, generally ware out quickly with active use. Worse yet, they retain moisture, which can be hell on a blade—especially a carbon-steel blade.
What To Avoid When Buying A Survival Knife
Yes, survival knives come with a host of features but there are some that are useless or worse. These three features aren’t worth the price.
Spine Serrations
Ugh … serrations on the blade spine. Admittedly, some like having serrations as a cutting option for certain materials. However, generally blade spine serrations offer limited use at best and are more of a hazard because of how close they are to your hand.
Honestly, if you need serrations, bring along a serrated folding knife like a Spyderco Delica or Endura. Problem solved.
Blade Holes
Alright, these serve no function at all, except they make the knife look cool. That might be alright for a collection novelty, but not a wise course when in the wilds.
Worst of all, the holes in the blade do nothing but weaken it. Stay away from them.
Odd Blade Designs
Like blade holes, they may look cool but rarely do they enhance the function of a survival knife. We’re striving for utility here, not unique looks.
Stick with the traditional blade styles—spear point, clip point, and drop point. These are proven and do the job perfectly.
10 Best Survival Knives
There are countless makers producing dozens of different survival knives. These 10 stand out from the pack for either their features, their toughness, or their price.
Mora Garberg
Mora is the king of value when it comes to inexpensive survival knives. Most come in at less than $50, but you are hardly compromising in quality.
I personally favor the Garberg, which has a 4.3-inch carbon-steel blade with a Scandi grind and a full tang through the handle.
The blade spine is at 90-degree, designed specifically for use with a ferrocerium fire starting rod. The dual-molded handle is made from weather-resistant polyamide. Its unique Multi-Mount sheath is included and fastens the Garberg to an ATV or snowmobile, as well as a belt.
It’s a tough too, so you are getting a lot of knife for your money. It’s made in Sweden and sold worldwide.
MSRP: $111.99
Cold Steel 49LCK-DTBK SRK Survival Rescue Knife
A long time classic of the Cold Steel product line, this knife is a proven, solid performer in the outdoors. Its 6-inch clip point blade is made of SK-5 carbon steel and attached to a textured desert tan Kray-Ex rubber-like handle that is textured for a great all-weather grip.
The blade has a black, epoxy-coat for low visibility and high weather resistance. And its single lower handle guard indexes to the grip.
The SRK is suitable as a hunting knife, survival knife, or even a fixed blade for military use. It’s a very handy design that excels at camp utility and food prep.
The stainless-steel blade provides ample resistance to the elements and holds an edge well. Its drop point design has plenty of belly for slicing and the partial run of serrations adds a bit more utility to the knife.
The handle material is rubber for an excellent non-slip grip. The large finger recess indexes your grip and allows for maximum user comfort. The butt cap of the handle is steel and can be used as a light-duty hammer when needed.
The hybrid nylon webbing and molded plastic sheath is durable and includes a fire starter and blade sharpener.
Superior handle ergonomics paired with a useful blade shape and partial serrations are what makes this one a winner.
MSRP: $62
Benchmade Anonimus 539GY
This is Benchmade‘s new high-end fixed blade, with some excellent features. First and foremost, high-end CPM CRUWEAR tool steel, which provides ultimate wear resistance and edge retention.
The flat ground, 5-inch long drop point blade offers plenty of belly for effective slicing and cutting. Notches on the blade spine provide a secure non-slip grip for your thumb or index finger, and the single, lower guard keeps your hand in place.
The Anonimus is secured by a molded Boltaron belt sheath very similar to Kydex. The G-10 handle sports machined-in texturing for a non-slip grip.
MSRP: $290
CRKT Catchall
Designed by custom knifemaker Russ Kommer, the Catchall by CRKT is on the heavy-duty side of things.
This broad chopper-style blade measures 5.5 inches in length and has a sheepsfoot-style blade. The blade is made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, which holds a decent edge and provides excellent corrosion resistance.
The ergonomic handle features finger grooves for a secure hold, and the handle material is rubberized glass-reinforced nylon. The Catchall might not be the type of knife for lighter cutting jobs but rather more intense tasks, such as chopping and baton work for splitting kindling for firewood.
The Catchall would be great paired with a lighter duty survival knife dedicated to finer chores. The sheath is a glass-reinforced nylon variation with ballistic nylon webbing belt loops. A single webbing strap with button snap holds the knife inside the sheath securely
MSRP: $79.99
Buck Knives 119 Special
This is one of Buck‘s signature fixed blades. Sporting a 6-inch-long Bowie-style clip point blade made from 420HC stainless steel, the 119 Special has found its home in the outdoors with hunters and outdoorsmen alike.
The handle is a black phenolic resin, which is durable and highly weather resistant. And the knife comes with a black leather sheath. The handle butt cap and double guard are made from aluminum. The 119 Special is capable of handling both camp utility chores like whittling and baton work. The piece is also balanced enough to handle food prep.
MSRP: $96
Condor Knife and Tool Pack Golok
The Pack Golok from Condor Tool And Knife is a devastatingly effective chopping tool, with its 11-inch long, convex-ground 1075 carbon-steel blade attached to a rounded walnut wood handle that adds tons of user comfort and control.
The upswept blade profile adds forward weight to the balance, which is key to the performance of this knife. It can take down saplings with ease and slay its way through weedy growth like a machete. It also handles baton work like a champ.
The Pack Golok is much more than just a machete and more useful than one, and it comes with a leather sheath and swivel belt loop for portability.
MSRP: $101
White River Knives’ Firecraft FC3.5 Pro
TheFirecraft FC3.5 Pro from White River Knives has a 3.5-inch-long spear point blade ground from high end CPM S35VN stainless steel. The handle is coarse-textured G-10 and comes in a choice of orange, black, or OD green.
Regardless of which handle color you choose, you are getting a no-nonsense fixed blade able to handle a wide variety of tasks at the campsite or out in the wilderness.
The notch in the blade spine allows for easy use with a ferrocerium fire starter rod. The wide blade can handle food prep chores and camp utility tasks. The finger ring allows you to dangle the knife from the pinky finger, keeping it close at hand, while retaining the ability to use your hand to grab or hold items.
The S35VN steel holds an edge well and is able to power through tough cutting. Each knife comes with a molded Kydex belt sheath.
MSRP: $160
RMJ Tactical Combat Africa
The RMJ Tactical Combat Africa is one serious piece of bladeware that can serve as a survival or military knife. It’s 7-inch-long blade is made from 80CRV2 tool steel. The .25-inch thick stock means this knife can withstand some serious use and some prying as well.
The clip point shape allows for optimal penetration, with some belly for slicing applications. The 3D machined G-10 handle has diagonal flutes, adding hand traction and channeling water away for a comfortable grip.
Furthermore, the lower hand guard and blade spine thumb ramp help to keep your hand safe from sliding forward. The knife is capable of chopping, prying, batoning, and slicing.
The knife is a bit on the steep side when it come to price. But in return you receive the superior engineering and craftsmanship for which RMJ Tactical is known.
MSRP: $395
TOPS Brakimo
The TOPS Brakimo was designed by noted survival expert Joe Flowers, who owns and runs Bushcraft Global, a renowned survival school.
Flowers designed this knife to be a backup to a machete or a main camp knife. The 5.25-inch drop point blade is made from 1095 carbon steel. It is wide and sports a Scandi grind for optimal edge geometry for camp tasks. As a bonus, the carbon steel is easy to sharpen in the field.
The knife is rather weighty for its size at 9.4 ounces. The sculpted handle is made from OD green canvas micarta for a comfortable and nonslip grip. The handle’s downward turn at the butt allows you to choke up at the end of the handle during chopping. Each Brakimo comes with a molded Kydex belt sheath with large metal clip for easy belt attachment.
As Knife Technology Evolves, So Do Handle Materials. Whether Natural Or Synthetic, These Materials Are Helping Knife Aficionados Get A Grip.
From time to time, a new handle material—either natural or synthetic—surfaces. These days, a quartet of emerging options is making an impact, and several custom knifemakers have produced some excellent results with them.
Fat Carbon
“I think the popularity of fat carbon stems from the striking looks of the bright colors contrasting with carbon fiber,” noted knifemaker K.C. Gray. He uses Lava fat carbon fiber for the handle of his Queen Anne’s Revenge dress flipper folder. Closed length: 5.5 inches.
Those who have been around knives any time at all have heard the term carbon, but it’s usually associated with blade steel or well-known carbon fiber handle materials. In this case, however, carbon fiber has put on a little heft! The material known as fat carbon has found its way onto knife handles, and K.C. Gray is putting it to work.
“Fat carbon is a synthetic carbon fiber composite material with alternating layers of carbon fiber and a color layer,” he explained. “When ground or machined the contours reveal the different layers. It comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns: blues, purples, reds, oranges, and greens. I keep quite a bit of it on hand. It’s very popular with most of my customers, and I’m also quite fond of the knives I make for general sale.”
Gray usually brings his fat carbon in directly from a favorite supply house, and the demand for the material is brisk.
“I think the popularity of fat carbon stems from the striking looks of the bright colors contrasting with carbon fiber. It’s also very durable and quite strong, which doesn’t hurt either. Fat carbon is remarkably easy to work with. It has wonderful stability and as such, it cuts, grinds, machines, and polishes easily. It’s wise to employ a respirator when grinding or machining it. Carbon fiber is a health hazard if inhaled.”
K.C. says the introduction of fat carbon doesn’t pump up the cost of a knife, and the results make a foray into the fat worthwhile.
“The material is surprisingly inexpensive compared to a lot of other materials that have similar visual impact,” he related. “Combined with its ease of working, it doesn’t add much to the overall cost. I think it can be used in a wide variety of styles, from tactical folders to kitchen knives. Fat carbon has a color and pattern for just about anything.”
Westinghouse Micarta
As Chris Sharp noted, Westinghouse paper Micarta is an antique material. It can be found in many colors—here in white on Sharp’s single-blade trapper.
Gray also has produced knives with another synthetic handle material, antique Westinghouse paper Micarta®, as has Chris Sharp.
“A lot of this material comes from the electrical industry, old electrical boxes and transformers,” Sharp observed. “It’s a mix of materials. It was normally made from cotton, cork, fiberglass, and linen fabric with some sort of resin holding it together.”
Gray says antique Westinghouse paper Micarta is an old material. “When most people say ‘Westinghouse,’ they are referring to the vintage ivory paper Micarta. Through aging, it has developed a yellowish tone on the outside. Once contoured, it reveals the contrast between the creamy white interior and more yellow outer layer. There are, however, a great many other Westinghouse Micartas—brown, black, blue, red, and rag can be found.”
Sharp finds his Westinghouse paper Micarta readily available at knife shows and from suppliers, but he is always on the lookout because it can be found in some unusual places. The trick is to know where and what to look for.
“It is an antique material” Chris reiterated. “It was designed by George Westinghouse around 1910 to be used as an electrical insulator. It can be found in a lot of colors, but the old stuff was dependent on who made it and what material was available at the time. At the moment, what I’m getting from the local electrical company is a transparent green and brown. I always have some on hand, but I’m always trying to pick some up at every knife show. Also, there’s always somebody dropping some variation of this material off at my shop.”
The Westinghouse paper Micarta fills the bill on toughness, durability, and ease of working. “It’s pretty easy to work with and can be used on any knife design,” Sharp concluded. “I love working with it. The older stuff is in short supply, which can cause the price of the knife to go up—and people sometimes take advantage which, in turn, causes ridiculous pricing.”
TeroTuf
Matt Gregory sometimes uses TeroTuf in the core of both the knife handle and the sheath, overlaying carbon fiber cloth and then applying multiple layers of resin before smoothing and polishing. An example is with his CFST Battle Tanto in CPM 3V carbon blade steel. Overall length: 14.5 inches.
Another synthetic handle material gaining traction is TeroTuf, a composite of polyester resin and fabric. It is a relative of canvas Micarta but may hold some better characteristics. It has no phenolics and, compared to G-10, contains no glass fibers. What’s more, some users may find TeroTuf is more shock absorbent than the others.
“I use TeroTuf because it’s light, tough, waterproof, and easy to cut and shape,” custom maker Matt Gregory commented. “For the most part, I make a core out of it for stick-tang knives and sleeve the core with carbon fiber or similar material. I’m what you would call a hobbyist maker, I guess, although I’m awfully serious about how I build things. I’ve been making knives for 17 years but only make a handful per year.
“I love TeroTuf because it’s really easy to work with and machine, but it’s tough as nails and impervious to darn near anything you throw at it. Because it’s relatively lightweight, it makes a great core material. Much of what I make is neo-Japanese/American-styled stuff, and TeroTuf makes a fantastic tsuka, or handle core. I prefer it to wood. Many of my friends and fellow knifemakers have used it to great effect and have been influential in my explorations of the material, including Dan Keffeler, Ben Tendick, Nathan Carothers, and James Helm, to name a few.”
Matt sometimes uses TeroTuf in the core of both the knife handle and the sheath, overlaying carbon fiber cloth and then applying multiple layers of resin before smoothing and polishing.
Ringed Gidgee
From a shop standpoint, ringed gidgee is similar to desert ironwood but probably a bit less gummy. James Fleming uses it for the handle of his Frontier Gentleman’s Hunter. The 5-inch blade is Takefu Shiro2 core san-mai bar stock with multiple 22-layer laminations of Suminagashi Takefu steel.
On the natural side, ringed gidgee, a product of Australia, is making the rounds. James Fleming imports his ringed gidgee from @thetimberjoint on Instagram.
“It’s a natural hardwood in the acacia family of trees,” he said, “the same as koa. Ringed gidgee is a chatoyant brown and caramel color, and it can have some blond sapwood as well, much like desert ironwood.”
Keeping plenty of ringed gidgee in stock, Fleming considers it one of his go-to handle materials. It is user-friendly in any knife design.
“But it’s still wood, so I wouldn’t suggest it being used around salt water on a regular basis,” he advised. “It makes a great handle for outdoor knives, chef’s knives, hunting knives, and even folders.
“I think its popularity comes from the fact that it has everything a knifemaker looks for in a handle material,” James continued. “It has beautiful color that has a ton of depth because of the chatoyant nature of the deep curls. It’s rated as the third hardest wood in the world, which makes it extremely durable. Once the wood has properly dried, it is ready to be used, and there is no need for stabilizing due to its being a very dense hardwood.”
From a shop standpoint, ringed gidgee is similar to desert ironwood but probably a bit less gummy. According to Fleming, it cuts and drills easily but can be a bit of a challenge on a belt grinder.
“I suggest having a belt grinder with a VFD [variable frequency drive] to slow it down, and using a fresh belt,” he observed. “It polishes up extremely well during hand sanding and needs nothing more than a bit of beeswax and buff for the finish.”
From a cost standpoint, James acknowledges that ringed gidgee is classified as an exotic material, and that alone causes the price of a knife with it for the handle to escalate. However, it doesn’t approach the expense associated with the highest end of the exotic spectrum, such as mammoth ivory.
For a bit of an uncommon look and a potential conversation starter, these handle materials make the most of the opportunity. Chances are more will be seen of these up-and-comers.
The Newest Edition to Benchmade’s Osborne Line, The Mini, Takes Cues From Norse Mythology And Even The Sea.
The Benchmade Osborne is one of the most popular lines of pocketknives out there today. The new Mini is Benchmade at its best. The design takes inspiration from Norse mythology and the Baltic Sea.
The blade is made from a new pattern of Damasteel called Ægir™ with a 58-60 HRC, and the reverse tanto is 2.92 inches long. The beefy fat carbon Arctic Storm handle features blue accents that are inspired by the waters of the Baltic and gold-plated floating back spacers to give the knife a real mean look to it.
The entire piece comes in at just 2.24 total ounces and is a visually-stunning entry to round out Benchmade’s 940 Osborne family of knives. This one is certainly pricey, and it’s worth it if you’re looking for a true one-of-a-kind EDC.
This Tiny New Multi-Tool From Kershaw May Not Have The Array Of Tools Like Others On The Market But Makes Up For It With A Fun, New Design.
When you think of a multi-tool it’s usually a beefy type of tool with pliers and blades and maybe wrenches and wire strippers on it. However, the new Recap from Kershaw breaks the mold by taking the multi-tool to its minimalist extreme.
The Recap is roughly the size of a housekey. Made of stainless steel, there are no folding elements to the tool, just the main body. At just .3 ounces it’s as light as you’d expect but features three tools.
The first, and most noticeable, is the bottle opener. The other tools come as a combination pry bar/flathead screwdriver. The minimalist steel construction means all of the tools are strong and robust with nothing superfluous in the way.
Yes, there is no blade, a staple of most multi-tools, but this would be excellent on a keychain. If you want some type of tool with you wherever you go, especially if you frequent places like sporting events or museums where you can have an EDC or traditional multi tool on your person.
New Gut Hook From Templar Knife Is Built To Be Used In The Field And Commercial Settings.
The new Reagan gut hook from Templar Knife is a new, exciting edition to the hunting knife market. From a maker known for auto and OTF knives comes this fixed blade that uses a unique construction to create the best possible knife.
The blade thickness decreases as it goes from heel to tip. This allows the knife to segment a sternum as well as skin a kill. Add in the gut hook and the Reagan allows for a smooth full-cavity evisceration.
The handle’s ergonomic design and finger grooves, combined with guards on the top and bottom give you a better, more comfortable grip. You’ll have more leverage with each cut thanks to the better thumb and hand placement on the handle.
The Reagan is 8.3 ounces with a 4.6-inch blade and will be launched to the general public in September.
After Decades In And Around The Knife Industry, The Author Reflects On His Five Favorite Knifemakers And What Makes Them So Memorable.
Over the past 38 years, I’ve met thousands of knifemakers with work ranging from newbie to legend. Being a newbie myself at first, I found myself gravitating to the newer makers, primarily because I could afford their knives and could get one without waiting years or decades.
Today I approach things differently and look for outstanding makers who share the following traits:
•Each is charismatic in his own way;
•Each gives of both his time and talent(s) to educate others, and;
•Each has a great sense of humor and is serious about his knives.
Here are my five favorite American makers who share the traits I look for most.
Walter Brend
The SF Dagger by Walter Brend features an 8-inch blade of D2 tool steel with a satin finish and Walter’s impeccable grind lines. Handle: black Micarta®. Guard: stainless steel. Special features: Full-tang construction, double edge, thong hole and a skullcrusher pommel. Overall length: 12.75 inches. (SharpByCoop knife image)
During my military service in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne, my unit went through processing for an overseas deployment. At the time I was carrying a Robert Parrish hollow-handle fighter with a serrated blade. It was suggested to me that I find a new knife that didn’t have serrations. That was the bad news. The good news is I had to buy a new knife, and the search began.
Scanning a magazine I saw a photo of three knives, all different lengths of the same model. I was immediately drawn to one of the knives, found the maker’s contact information and called him. On the other end of the line was Walter Brend and I ordered the knife: an 8-inch Model 2. In October 1985 I bought my first of hundreds of knives from Walter. In my opinion, his Model 2 is the finest tactical fixed blade in the world.
What draws my eye to the knife are the impeccable grinds. Perfect symmetry runs the length of the blade, including both the top and bottom grinds. The radiused guard and contoured handle are also trademarks of Walter’s work. These features may not be more evident anywhere than in his daggers. Clean, precise, sleek and lethal are words that all come to mind.
David Broadwell
According to the author, David Broadwell makes the world’s best sub-hilt fighters. An example is his Fuller Sub-Hilt Fighter in a 9-inch blade of Delbert Ely damascus. Handle: ancient ivory. Guard, sub-hilt and pommel: damascus. Overall length: 14 inches. (Image courtesy of Photography By NB Designs)
I was visiting family and friends near Chicago in 1988 and attended a small knife show. I had recently started buying guardless fighters, as the knives’ clean lines appealed to me. On the show table before me was a beautiful guardless fighter with an engraved bolster. The knife felt great in my hand and the price was more than reasonable. I bought the fixed blade from David Broadwell.
My favorite knife has always been and still is the sub-hilt fighter, and David excels at making one. Having written about him for several publications, I have always pointed out I think he makes the best sub-hilt fighter(s) in the world.
David is an artist in the true sense of the word. His eye for detail and beauty in steel is exceptional. He and I have collaborated on several designs over the years. He takes my basic two-dimensional linear drawing and brings it to three-dimensional life.
Diversification is one of David’s hallmarks. In the early 2000s I asked him to build knives that featured stone handles. Most were sub-hilt fighters and today remain some of my favorites.
When Bob Neal and I did our LDC Custom Knife series, David was the only maker to contribute both a folder and a fixed blade to it. Today he creates masterworks of art that would be at home in any museum in the world. While my design ideas were not always his favorites, David delivers knives that were everything I had hoped for—and more.
RJ Martin
RJ Martin has won awards for both best tactical folder multiple times and also best tactical fixed blade at past BLADE Shows. His Ghost Pepper Q36 cover knife sports a 4-inch blade of Chad Nichols damascus, a titanium frame and hand-rubbed zirconium bolsters. Scales and spacer material: black carbo quartz w/orange G-10 back-side inlays. (SharpByCoop knife image)
I was at The Knifemakers’ Guild Show in 1996 and, like everyone else, walked up and down the aisles looking for that one special knife or 12. I passed a maker who had Japanese-style tacticals on his table. I took two steps, did an about-face and walked back to the table. I was greeted by the big friendly smile many now know belongs to RJ Martin.
The guards, handles, sheaths and particularly the blades were the cleanest I had ever seen on a Japanese-style tactical. Trends change and I suggested to RJ that he should consider making a tactical folder. Within a month he sent me his first one, the Q30. I couldn’t believe it was his first folder. It easily rivaled most of the well-known tactical folder makers of the day. Then again, I should have expected this from a lead airframe engineer for Sikorsky helicopters such as RJ. He lives in the world of thousandths of an inch and milligrams.
From 2000 to 2010, RJ made 12 different limited designs for my Robertson’s Custom Cutlery Vanguard series. They featured hollow-handle fighters, a sub-hilt fighter, Japanese-style tacticals and, of course, folders. He is one of the few knifemakers in the world skilled enough to do it all with equal excellence. Quite notably, he has won the award for both best tactical folder a number of times and also best tactical fixed blade at past BLADE Shows.
Today his folders are among the most sought after in the world. Unlike so many of the tactical folders built over the past decade, his increased in price in the aftermarket. For those in pursuit of a level of perfection most of us cannot appreciate, RJ is that perfectionist.
George Herron
The author stated the knives George Herron made are design-driven, exactly what you would expect from a lifelong hunter and fisherman. The Herron Model #12 boasts a 6.5-inch blade of ATS-34 stainless steel with a mirror finish. (Impress By Design knife image)
I was attending the 1987 BLADE Show when a friend introduced me to BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member George Herron. With his pipe hanging from his lip, George said, “Lad, what is it you do for a living?” I said, “Mr. Herron, I’m in the Army.” He smiled and said, “I was in the Army, too. You see anything on the table you like?”
Had I known then what I know now, I would have bought every knife on the table. His knives were clean, lightweight, possessed exceptional handle ergonomics and were design-driven—all traits you would expect from a lifelong hunter and fisherman.
Years after meeting George and his wife, Miss Barbara, I attended the Southern Wildlife Expo in Charleston, South Carolina. This was long before the drawings and bid-up knives that have become common today. It wasn’t long before I noticed over 90 people waiting in line. I asked the person at the end of the queue if this was the line for admission to the show. He said, “No, this is the line to get a knife from Mr. Herron.” With that, I bought my show ticket and went to the table where Miss Barbara was standing.
There I was treated to an experience akin to watching children waiting to visit Santa Claus. They all had ordered their Herron knives long in advance of the Wildlife Expo. They approached the table, paid Miss Barbara and she handed their knife to George. It was then you would see young and old alike light up as if it were Christmas morning as they received the “toy” they had longed for—a Herron knife from George himself. I saw three generations of knife buyers—first-time knife buyers, hardcore Herron collectors, they were all there. It was truly a sight to behold.
Steve Randall
As the author noted, there is never any backward movement with the work of ABS master smith Steve Randall—his knives always continue to improve. Steve’s 7-Bar-Twist Sub-Hilt has a 10-inch blade of a seven-bar-twist damascus in 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels, and an ancient walrus ivory handle. Maker’s price at press time: $3,300. (Alison Randall knife image)
Before the 2015 BLADE Show, I was checking out custom knifemakers’ work on various social media platforms. I kept returning to one maker in particular, ABS journeyman smith Steve Randall.
While photos can be deceiving, I have a pretty good eye for knives. Looking at images of his knives, I could tell he too had a good eye and understood making knives well beyond the short time he had been making them. He combined all the dimensions and aspects of the knife to make it flow.
I bought my first knife from Steve at that 2015 BLADE Show. In 2016 he earned his ABS master smith stamp. In 2022 his knives continue to impress me. There is no backward movement with his work and his knives continue to improve.
One of Steve’s best attributes is that he is willing to learn and try new things. In my opinion, many ABS master smiths are reluctant to work outside their comfort zone. I have asked Steve to build knives for me and my clients that may have some aspects he had never done before. Steve and his work never disappoint.
I was fortunate to have worked with or still work with my five favorite American makers. They have taught me so much about the art of knifemaking, and those who are with us still do. (Mr. Herron passed away in 2007). Perhaps more importantly I consider each of them a friend.
