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Best Big Bushcraft Knives: Huge Backwoods Hackers [Tested]

Ed Sanow
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Best Big Bushcraft Knives: Huge Backwoods Hackers [Tested]

Part big knife/part small machete, 4 fixed blades do both well.

All-terrain has been used to describe the cross between a small machete and a large knife. It’s a tool that doubles as a machete for brush clearing, but, unlike a machete, can do fine cutting and, unlike even a large hunting knife, can build a shelter. It’s less than a kukri, bolo, parang or machete but more than “just” a big knife.

My team and I compared four such crossover hard-use knives, each with blades roughly 10 inches long. All use 1095, 1095 Cro-Van or 1075 carbon blade steels—in other words, alloys that are survival oriented and field-sharpening friendly. All have some standard knife features such as integral guards and bowie-type blades, and some standard machete traits like serviceable blade bellies and large handles. Some have simple, subdued features while others are more aggressive and exaggerated. All are compromises between a big hunting knife and a small machete.

To test the knives as objectively as possible, we did some common BladeSports International (BSI) trials, which have their origins with some of the American Bladesmith Society tests for journeyman and master smith ratings. Among other abilities, the knives of BSI contestants must cut through a 1-inch free-hanging rope and chop clean through a 2-by-4 board.

All test materials (hemp rope, 2-by-4s, 4-by-4 posts, paper tubes and water-filled plastic bottles) were consistent from knife to knife, and we made all feathersticks and tent pegs from the same branches. Yes, we treated backwoods knives like competition choppers to objectively find their real strengths and weaknesses.

The knives were tested right out of the box, with the factory edge and with only a 600-grit stone sharpening before all the stages were repeated to get the average results. All tests were done with bare hands—if there were hot spots during hard work or precise use, we wanted to find them. Four knife enthusiasts with different hand sizes did some of the evaluations.

ESEE Junglas

The author initially wondered if a choil would be needed for precise cutting, but got along surprisingly well without one making notched tent pegs and feathersticks with the ESEE Junglas.
The author initially wondered if a choil would be needed for precise cutting, but got along surprisingly well without one making notched tent pegs and feathersticks with the ESEE Junglas.

Junglas Specs
Designer: Jeff Randall
Blade Length: 10.4″
Blade Steel: 1095
Cutting Edge Length: 9.8″
Maximum Blade Width: 2.0″
Blade @ Thickest: 0.188″
Blade Pattern: Drop Point
Blade Grind: Full Flat
Blade Finish: Powder Coat
Handle Length: 6.1″
Handle Material: Micarta
Pommel: hammer
Lanyard Hole: one
Weight: 23.0 ozs.
Overall Length: 16.5″
Sheath Material: Kydex, MOLLE
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $309

Like most ESEE knives, the Junglas (pronounced “HOON-glas”) is based on the lessons learned from jungle operations, in this instance after ESEE co-owner Jeff Randall spent time with the Colombian Jungla Special Operations Forces. Thus the name of the Junglas, designed to have the strength and rigidity of a fixed blade and the cutting efficiency of a machete. 

The 1095 of the Junglas is the go-to steel for many military, survival, hunting, camping, tactical and bushcraft blades. Compared to all carbon, tool, high speed and stainless steels, 1095 is on the low end for edge retention but in the middle for toughness. What makes it a favorite choice for survival/bushcraft knives is its toughness and very high overall rating for ease of field sharpening with small, simple hand tools. As a carbon steel it has a very low rating for corrosion resistance, which is why nearly all 1095 blades, like with the Junglas, have a protective coating. 

During our tests, we found the Junglas to have excellent balance. The Micarta® scales have the right amount of texture, and their shape allowed full control and orientation of the blade and point. We initially wondered if a choil would be needed for precise cutting, but got along surprisingly well making notched tent pegs and feathersticks.

The Junglas has a Cordura®-backed sheath with snap retaining strap and full pommel cover. The sheath has an adjustable blade tension, which doubles as a knife lock. Like all ESEE knives, the Junglas is no-frills simple and totally functional. It performed extremely well in every test and in the subjective cutting impressions review. It really is a knife, ax and machete all in one.

TOPS Armageddon

The drop-point blade of the TOPS Armageddon has a slight bolo recurve, which signals what the big knife was really good at during testing. The back-to-back choil and finger cutouts provide options in cutting techniques. Don’t be put off by the relatively short distance from the finger cutout to the bird’s-beak pommel. Choke back for chopping and choke up for precision work.
The drop-point blade of the TOPS Armageddon has a slight bolo recurve, which signals what the big knife was really good at during testing. The back-to-back choil and finger cutouts provide options in cutting techniques. Don’t be put off by the relatively short distance from the finger cutout to the bird’s-beak pommel. Choke back for chopping and choke up for precision work.

Armageddon Specs
Designer: Trace Rinaldi
Blade Length: 10.6″
Blade Steel: 1095
Cutting Edge Length: 10.0″
Maximum Blade Width: 1.9″
Blade @ Thickest: 0.25″
Blade Pattern: Drop Point, Recurve
Blade Grind: Partial Flat
Blade Finish: Powder Coat
Handle Length: 5.9″
Handle Material: Micarta
Pommel: Hammer
Lanyard Hole: Two
Weight: 24.0 ozs.
Overall Length: 16.6″
Sheath Material: Ball. Nylon, MOLLE
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $350

All four review knives chopped, cut, batonned and carved nearly the same. Blade steel and edge geometry are very similar. The big differences are in the handles and the most distinctive grip belongs to the TOPS Armageddon. Consider Forged in Fire’s Doug Marcaida and his emphasis on the handle. You must be able to “feel” where the point and edge are, and the handle must not have hot spots. That said, the Armageddon grip gives some good handling options.

If you choke all the way back for chopping on this bushcraft knife, and your hand is large or larger, your little finger will be up against the bird’s-beak pommel, a definite hot spot. The obvious solution is to put your forefinger in the finger cutout. This makes the grip extremely secure when chopping, and there is plenty of room for the other three fingers. That is how we held the Armageddon during the 2-by-4 chop and 1-inch rope cut, when the big TOPS knife exhibited plenty of power.

In fine cutting, we used the choil cutout and spine gimping for precise blade control. With this grip, the finger cutout fit between the middle and ring fingers. If this grip is not completely comfortable, three minutes of radiusing and rounding with a Dremel® tool will customize the choil and finger cutouts and bird’s-beak pommel to your hand.

Blade steel is 1095. The Micarta scales are a clear solution for heavy use, offering the right amount of texture for bare hands under wet conditions. The exposed full tang can easily be hammered, and we found the twin lanyard holes helpful.

We selected or excluded knives for this roundup partially based on the sheaths. The Armageddon comes with a ballistic nylon model over a rigid plastic insert. It has two fabric-fastener handle straps and can be belt worn. The twin accessory pouches can hold a sharpening stone, fire kits, mini med kits, multi-tool and/or flashlight.

The tests showed just how effective the big TOPS knife can be. At a quarter-inch thick, it has the stoutest blade of the test bunch, which helped chop and baton. The flat grind kept the thick blade competitive during slicing tests. The choil/finger-cutout handle offers cutting technique options not found on any of the other test knives.

KA-BAR/Becker Knife & Tool BK9 Combat Bowie

The lightest knife of the test group, the KA-BAR/Becker BK9 Combat Bowie easily split the 4-by-4 posts with no handle shock or grip slip. 
The lightest knife of the test group, the KA-BAR/Becker BK9 Combat Bowie easily split the 4-by-4 posts with no handle shock or grip slip. 

BK9 Combat Bowie Specs
Designer: Ethan Becker
Blade Length: 9.3″
Blade Steel: 1095 Cro-Van
Cutting Edge Length: 9.3″
Maximum Blade Width: 1.9″
Blade @ Thickest: 0.188″
Blade Pattern: Clip Point
Blade Grind: Partial Flat
Blade Finish: Powder Coat
Handle Length: 5.5″
Handle Material: Ultramid® Nylon
Pommel: Hammer
Lanyard Hole: One
Weight: 16.8 ozs.
Overall Length: 14.8″
Sheath Material: Ball. Nylon, MOLLE
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $195

The KA-BAR/Becker Knife & Tool BK9 Combat Bowie is a large, low-profile bushcraft knife. During the tests, it did everything we expected a big bowie to do. It chopped, hacked and batonned with gusto, and cut, sliced and slashed quite well, especially considering it is by far the lightest and nearly the shortest of the review knives. 

Used by KA-BAR on assorted of the company’s knives, 1095 Cro-Van is essentially 1095 with the addition of several elements. Arguably, 1095 Cro-Van is an incremental improvement in edge retention and toughness over 1095. While the chemistry is there, we didn’t notice any big differences in testing. 

The knife has smooth, rounded nylon scales. We decided to use from-the-factory models in the testing, even if factory parts were available to improve performance. Indeed, high-texture Micarta scales are available from KA-BAR. Somewhat surprisingly, the smooth scales with palm swell proved perfectly acceptable during testing, even the hard chopping. Since one of the tests involved cutting water-filled plastic bottles, our hands got wet. However, there was no noticeable hand slipping and the handle was comfortable in hard use.

The BK9 comes with a ballistic nylon sheath over a rigid plastic insert, and one snap retention strap. If you order Micarta replacement scales from KA-BAR, consider getting the Becker Remora skeleton knife, which fits in the BK9’s sheath pouch. 

The lighter, shorter Becker excelled at smaller carving and whittling jobs. In close work, it did the precise cutting easily. We like the gimped thumb rise and used it for precision work. Overall, this is a very versatile bush blade. The big Becker punched way above its weight class in every test.

Condor Tool & Knife Plan A Bowie

Making a featherstick tests blade sharpness, edge geometry and edge retention. It also gauges whether the knife enables the user to choke up enough for precise work. The Condor Plan A passed muster on all fronts.
Making a featherstick tests blade sharpness, edge geometry and edge retention. It also gauges whether the knife enables the user to choke up enough for precise work. The Condor Plan A passed muster on all fronts.

Plan A Bowie Specs
Designer: Julio Diez
Blade Length: 9.0″
Blade Steel: 1075
Cutting Edge Length: 8.8″
Maximum Blade Width: 2.0″
Blade @ Thickest: 0.188″
Blade Pattern: Clip Point
Blade Grind: Partial Flat
Blade Finish: Polished
Handle Length: 6.5″
Handle Material: Micarta®
Pommel: Covered tang
Lanyard Hole: One
Weight: 18.0 ozs.
Overall Length: 14.5″
Sheath Material: Kydex®
Country of Origin: El Salvador
MSRP: $168

The Plan A Bowie from Condor Tool & Knife is very much a big bushcraft knife, complete with an upswept, false edge, clip-point blade. It has the shortest blade of the test knives and the shortest overall length. However, the blade’s partial flat grind and longest handle of the review models kept the weight up a bit. As a result, it held its own in heavy chopping, the difficult slicing and precise carving.

The 1075 blade steel is very similar to 1095. Each alloy has slight advantages. The 1095 is harder and known for better edge retention, while 1075 is known for enhanced toughness, making it ideal for chopping.

The knife sports sculpted palm-swell scales and a pronounced kukri-type pommel swell. We found the handle comfortable and secure during testing and the subjective evaluations. The kukri swell is sharp cornered but we didn’t find it to be a hot spot.

The Condor is the only review knife with the scales covering the full tang, and an exposed tang to hammer with is sometimes helpful in the field. There is a hole for a lanyard. The full sheath has a molded retention feature and a thick leather belt loop.

The knife handled like the big bowie that it is. It performed as confidently during chopping as during slicing. It took the hanging rope, water bottles and 2-by-4 in stride. There is something special about a big, aggressive bowie and the Plan A has that something.

Cross-Over Success

Each knife was able to cross over into virtually all areas of bushcraft. Perhaps a bit more chopping to make a tent peg than carving in some cases, but the end result was still a usable tent peg. Each passed such standards as slicing through the hanging 1-inch rope and chopping through a 2-by-4. Each is a little different from the other, a little better in some areas than others. Overall, however, they are more alike in performance than different in appearance.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

Hawaii Knife Ban Stopped In Its Tracks

BLADE Staff
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Hawaii Knife Ban Stopped In Its Tracks

Vagueness of bill could have potentially banned the carry of all but a few knives.

Hawaii Knife Ban bill SB 433, which would have banned all carry of most knives and all knives in many public places in Hawaii, has been stopped. The stoppage occurred because the bill failed to receive a hearing by the stated deadline.

According to Knife Rights, one of the worst aspects of the bill was its vagueness. The bill added “bladed weapons” to the state’s sweeping firearms bans, which would have been expanded in SB 433.

“As written, nobody, not a resident, not a police officer, not a prosecutor, could possibly look at the proposed statute and know for sure what a ‘bladed weapon’ is that is being banned,” KR reported. “This is fundamentally unconstitutional and leaves the law open for law enforcement and prosecutorial abuse. Terms that capture everyday tools carried daily by the public for perfectly lawful uses should be defined crisply and clearly to provide fair notice as required by longstanding law.”

The bill banned all undefined “bladed weapons” everywhere in Hawaii except for switchblades and butterfly knives.

“So,” KR noted, “a not at all unreasonable interpretation of [‘bladed weapons’] would have banned carry of a common pocketknife in Hawaii, except for [switchblades and butterfly knives]! Who decides whether it’s a ‘bladed weapon’? Certainly not the average resident or visitor.” 

In other examples, fillet knives used for recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing and hunting knives used for boar hunting—a popular means of reducing feral hog populations on the islands and a popular tourist business—could have been banned, as could a box cutter carried to work by a warehouse worker.

More On Auto Knives:

B. Goode H.U.T. 4 Review: All-Star Performance

Msg Kim Breed (ret.)
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B. Goode H.U.T. 4 Review: All-Star Performance

B. Goode H.U.T. 4 high steps its way through the author’s test drills

The H.U.T. 4 by Brian Goode of B. Goode Knives reminds me of my military days—it just needs the “2, 3” before the “4.” The acronym and number stand for Hunter, Utility, Trail, 4 inch. An all-around edged tool that can be used for multiple tasks, it’s the one knife you always grab for when cutting needs to be done. How well it cut I’ll let you know.

Light Duty Cutting

There was no difference between the first paper cut test and the last one. The H.U.T. 4 stayed sharp.
There was no difference between the first paper cut test and the last one. The H.U.T. 4 stayed sharp.

I began with a simple yet effective test—the paper slice. I grabbed the H.U.T. 4 with my thumb and index finger and slid the edge into the paper. It kept slicing for the entire blade length. I could hear each slice, so it’s very aggressive in the 20-pound bond paper. You really have to watch closely so you don’t skin a flap from your finger.

Single-walled cardboard was next. I used a push cut and the knife didn’t fail. I felt no resistance while cutting. The H.U.T. 4 zipped through quickly. The blade did get some wipe marks on the acid finish.

Medium Duty Cutting

The knife sliced the 8-ounce leather quite forcefully. Each time the edge hit leather, the author heard it slice.
The knife sliced the 8-ounce leather quite forcefully. Each time the edge hit leather, the author heard it slice.

Grabbing some scrap 8-ounce leather, I did some skiving and slicing. The knife sliced quite forcefully once more. Each time the edge hit the leather, you could hear it cut. This is a very cool test to do. Brian’s knife is light and fast, so you must be quick and get your fingers out of harm’s way.

Heavy Duty Cutting

The H.U.T. 4 was a whittling beast on a ¾-inch dowel rod, providing extremely smooth cuts with nice curlicues at the end. The handle is very comfortable with no hot spots. I went from fine cuts to deep cuts with a slight movement of my wrist. The knife is easy to control.

Using a chunk of wood railing as a baton, the author beat the H.U.T. 4 into another piece of railing. The wood split very fast and no shock carried up the author’s arm.
Using a chunk of wood railing as a baton, the author beat the H.U.T. 4 into another piece of railing. The wood split very fast and no shock carried up the author’s arm.

Even though the knife has only a 4-inch blade, it can handle larger trail chores like splitting wood. Using a chunk of wood railing as a baton, I beat the H.U.T. 4 into another piece of railing. The wood split very fast and no shock carried up my arm. I split both with the grain and across the grain with no difference. The edge was still perfect and I gave it some wood smears for character. It is a fun knife to use.

It was on to my favorite medium: sisal rope using push cuts. The H.U.T. 4 didn’t let me down. Two-hundred sweet crunching cuts happened very quickly. This is one smooth slicing, sharp knife. As fast as I could move the knife it was cutting. The handle is contoured for control and comfort.

In what could be construed as abuse, I gave the fixed blade 30 whacks into a deer antler. After scattering antler chips all over the workbench, the knife passed with flying colors—no damage and still very sharp. Excellent heat treat!

It was back to the 20-pound bond paper for the final cut. There was no difference between the first paper cut and the last one. The H.U.T. 4 stayed sharp.

Bottom Line

This is a great knife to have on you all the time—not too big, not too small and extremely sharp. Any changes? Maybe some thumb notches.

H.U.T. 4 Specs
Maker: Brian Goode, B. Goode Knives
Blade length: 4”
Blade material: 8670 carbon steel on the test knife; other steels available
Blade grind: Full flat
Blade @thickest: .125”
Blade finish: Acid dipped
Scales: Red and black canvas Micarta®
Handle pins: G-10
Weight: 4.5 ozs.
Overall length: 8.5”
Sheath: Leather pouch/belt model
Weight w/sheath: 6 ozs.
Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $350

More Knife Reviews:

Cool Custom: Jose Santiago-Cummings BBQ Knife

BLADE Staff
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Cool Custom: Jose Santiago-Cummings BBQ Knife

The Jose Santiago-Cummings BBQ Knife will rock your brisket.

Among Jose Santiago-Cummings’ growing ranks of customers are those he describes as “foodies,” and he built his second BBQ Knife expressly for them.

Not unlike a pirate boarding cutlass in appearance, the long, curved blade is designed for the rocking slices needed to cut meat and brisket. It’s similar to how a slicer is used as opposed to, for example, a nakiri for chop cuts.

Jose Santiago-Cummings
Jose Santiago-Cummings

Jose, 62, used a cylindrical drum-sander-like attachment on a Ram tool to carve the grooves in the long, upswept handle. Jimmy Floyd forged the clip-point blade of damascus clad in wrought iron.

BBQ Knife Specs
Maker: Jose Santiago-Cummings
Blade length: 8.5”
Blade steel: Damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels clad in wrought iron
Blade grind: Flat
Handle: Black and orange G-10 resin
Overall length: 13.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $450-$475

More Custom Knives:

New Knives March 2025

BLADE Staff
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New Knives March 2025

Today’s pocketknives come in assorted locks, no locks, blades, handles and more.

Eyes always peeled, we’re on the look out for the latest and the greatest. We think we’ve found a bevvy of them this March. So, with out further adieu, here’s our latest round of new knives.

Stanley Buzek Single-Blade Slipjoint

Stanley Buzek Single-Blade Slipjoint

Blade length: 3 3/8”
Blade steel: Feather damascus forged by ABS journeyman smith Mike Tyre
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade pattern: Clip point
Blade opener: Nail pull
Scales: Mammoth ivory
Liners/bolsters: 416 stainless in an integral construction
Engraving: Alice Carter, including 24k-gold inlay
Knife to know: Fileworked liners and acorn shield
Closed length: 4.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,800
Maker: Stanley Buzek, sbuzekknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Michael Zieba Nine Silver Kois

Michael Zieba Nine Silver Kois

Knife type: Side flipper
Blade length: 4.126”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 62-63 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @thickest: .159”
Pivot: Ceramic ball bearing washers
Handle & pocket clip: Titanium w/24k-gold koi, lotus and moth inlay
Weight: 5.07 ozs.
Closed length: 5.5”
Knife to know: Air pockets for weight reduction; ceramic detent; white brass skull spacer
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,300
Maker: Michael Zieba, (SharpByCoop image)

Curt Zimmerman Flipper Folder

Curt Zimmerman Flipper Folder

Blade length: 3”
Blade steel: Feather damascus
Blade grind: Flat
Blade pattern: Clip point
Lock: Linerlock
Scales: Ancient walrus ivory
Bolster: Stainless steel engraved by Alice Carter w/24k-gold inlay
Liners: Titanium; fileworked and anodized
Screws: 24k-gold plated
Closed length: 3 15/16”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,500
Maker: Curt Zimmerman (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Rothman Knives Backpocket

Rothman Knives Backpocket

Knife type: Dress slipjoint
Blade length: 3.25”
Blade steel: Feather damascus forged by Adam Deville
Blade grind: 14” hollow
Blade pattern: Clip point
Scales: Interior mammoth
Bullet shield: Dark mammoth
Frame: 416 stainless in an integral construction
Closed length: 4.75”
Knife to know: Fileworked liners and embellished backspring; Michael Rothman is a member of the Knifemakers’ Guild
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500
Maker: Rothman Knives, rothmanknives.com (SharpByCoop image)

Jeremy Marsh Mini Assassin

Jeremy Marsh Mini Assassin

Knife to know: A collaboration between Jeremy Marsh and Jonathan Quill
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: Damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels forged by Quill and finished by Marsh w/a dark, deep etch and “a great deal of hand finishing”
Scales: 10,000-year-old bog oak from Ireland w/a coarse-grained, oily look
Liners: Feature a distressed rock finish along the edges applied by Marsh and traditional vine filework applied by Quill Bolsters, thumbstuds and hardware: Zirconium toned lightly bronze and burnished for highlights
Embellishment: Quill engraved the bolsters and pocket clip in a Celtic/Norse theme
Closed length: 4.5”
Make’s price for a similar knife: $8,000
Maker: Jeremy Marsh (Mitchell Cohen image)

Maverik Knives Dress Slipjoint

Maverik Knives Dress Slipjoint

Blade length: 3”
Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless
Blade grind: High flat
Blade pattern: Clip point
Scales: Black paper Micarta®
Frame: Brass
Bolster: Straight twist damascus
Hardware: Titanium
Closed length: 4”
Knife to know: Maverik Murdock is an ABS apprentice smith
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $750
Maker: Maverik Knives, maverikknives.com (SharpByCoop image)

WE Knife High-Fin XL

WE Knife High-Fin XL

Designer: Gavko Knives
Blade length: 3.48”
Blade steel: Hakkapella damascus by Damasteel
Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade pattern: Reverse tanto
Pivot: Caged ceramic ball bearings
Handle: Satin-polished 6Al4V titanium in a diamond-pattern texture
Pocket clip: Crystallized gray 6Al4V titanium; blade tip up, right-handed
Lock: Framelock
Weight: 4.03 ozs.
Closed length: 4.67”
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $740
Company: WE Knife, weknife.com

David Kulis Spectre XL

David Kulis Spectre XL

Knife type: Dress tactical flipper folder
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: Dragonskin damascus forged by Bertie Rietveld
Blade grind: 8” hollow
Blade shape: Recurve
Handle: Purple/orange/green burl
Liners: Titanium
Knife to know: All titanium hardware anodized to match the Timascus pocket clip
Closed length: 5.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500
Maker: David Kulis (SharpByCoop image)

Takach Forge Dress Locking Folder

Takach Forge Dress Locking Folder

Blade length: 2 5/16”
Blade steel: Damascus
Blade grind: Flat
Blade pattern: Wharncliffe
Blade opener: Thumb stud
Scales: Carved pre-ban elephant ivory
Bolster: Damascus w/24k-gold inlay
Embellishment: Filework, micro-texturing, coloring, 24k-gold inlay
Liner material: 15N20 nickel-alloy steel
Lock: Linerlock
Closed length: 3.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,776
Maker: Takach Forge, takachforge.net (SharpByCoop image)

SOG Knives Escape 2.0 Hi Viz Orange

SOG Knives Escape 2.0 Hi Viz Orange

Knife type: Rescue folder
Blade length: 3.4”
Blade steel: AUS-8 stainless
Blade mechanism: Assisted opening
Handle: 6061 aluminum
Lock: Linerlock
Pocket clip: Low carry
Weight: 4.4 ozs.
Closed length: 4.6”
Knife to know: Belt cutter and glassbreaker in the butt; spare blade for the belt cutter stores in the handle
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $54.95
Company: SOG Knives, www.sogknives.com

Jerry Fisk Saddlehorn-Style Slipjoint

Jerry Fisk Saddlehorn-Style Slipjoint

Blade length: 3.33”
Blade material: Damascus
Blade pattern: Clip point
Blade opener: Nail pull
Scales: Wood from one of the last walnut trees planted by President George Washington
Bolster: Spring steel engraved by Jerry Fisk Maker’s price for a similar knife: $5,900 (includes a bottle of whiskey from George Washington’s Distillery)
Knife to know: In 1999, Jerry Fisk was named a National Living Treasure by the Museum of World Cultures at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Maker: Jerry Fisk (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Chris Richardson Lockback Folder

Chris Richardson Lockback Folder

Blade length: 3.25”
Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless
Blade grind: Flat
Blade pattern: Modified wharncliffe
Handle inlay: Mammoth ivory
Thumbstud inlay: Angelskin coral
Bolster: 416 stainless in an integral construction
Closed length: 4.75”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $850
Maker: Chris Richardson (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Check Out Knife Drops:

Catchy Names On Great Knives

Abe Elias
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Catchy Names On Great Knives

Recognition, catchiness and marketability are but three keys to knife names.

What’s in a name? A knife by any other name will still cut, hopefully. Many people don’t realize what hangs on a name. Is it good enough to be memorable, catchy as it were? A catchy name will make a knife more or less marketable.

If you’ve read my stories long enough, you’ve seen me comment on a knife’s name, especially if it is a long, drawn-out one. To me, it is important for the name to have a short form. For example, salespeople can’t sell a knife by word of mouth if they have to say the company name followed by Omega Kilroy Uber Cutter, Men In Black Forever Ever Sharp Cutting Commando, etc. When I was having knives licensed, the licensing companies would check to see if there were other knives on the market with the same name to avoid any copyright or other legal problems. They no doubt still do that.

I think now more than ever naming a knife would be even more difficult than designing one. After all, you can have numerous drop points but when you go to name your knife you don’t want it drowning in a sea of cutlery. With so many new knife companies out there, knife production is at an all-time high. How on earth do they make their knives stand out from the rest? One way is with the name. Following are some lighthearted ones.

RMJ Tactical Stabby Guy

The large finger loop in the handle butt of the Stabby Guy provides a great platform to support the knife in your hand and keep it from slipping during thrusting motions. The fuller helps maintain blade strength and reduces weight.
The large finger loop in the handle butt of the Stabby Guy provides a great platform to support the knife in your hand and keep it from slipping during thrusting motions. The fuller helps maintain blade strength and reduces weight.

Stabby Guy Specs
Overall Length: 7.25″
Handle length: 3.5″
Blade Length: 3.75″
Blade Steel: CPM 3V carbon
Handle material: Black G-10, Dirty Olive Hyena Brown
Sheath: Kydex
MSRP: $240
Country Of Origin: U.S.A.

RMJ Tactical chose a name short and sweet for its Stabby Guy. I prefer—no, actually love—names like this. If you find yourself wandering off into multi-syllable diatribes for a name, you’ve lost me. Not only is Stabby Guy brief, it’s to the point, pun totally intended. It is what it says it is. I would call it a self-defense blade. It is slender in design and has an American-style-tanto tip. It is built solid, with the body of the knife having no primary edge.

A fuller runs full length on one side of the blade. The fuller allows the knife to keep its strength and still not weigh a ton. After all, this knife technically is equivalent to a tactical sewing needle. Save the fancy moves for Hollywood and put the machine on surge with the Stabby Guy. It has a simple, ergonomic, basically straight handle. A finger loop at the butt serves to anchor your grip and substitutes for the lack of a guard. A guard stops your hand from slipping forward while thrusting with the knife; the finger loop serves the same purpose.

Though there’s not a lot of edge, the knife need not be dead weight all day while you’re waiting for a prison riot to break out. The small but sharp edge can do a ton of minor chores. However, don’t expect to carve a chess set with it. It has a Kydex sheath equipped with a belt loop. I carried mine in my back pocket and forgot it was there. It’s a cool concept of a knife with a name that doesn’t leave you guessing.

Condor Tool & Knife Rude Boy Machete

The overall profile of the Rude Boy shows the sweet spot of the blade is a few inches back from the tip. The farther out the sweet spot, the more force it has during a swing.
The overall profile of the Rude Boy shows the sweet spot of the blade is a few inches back from the tip. The farther out the sweet spot, the more force it has during a swing.

Stabby Guy Specs
Overall Length: 7.25″
Handle length: 3.5″
Blade Length: 3.75″
Blade Steel: CPM 3V carbon
Handle material: Black G-10, Dirty Olive Hyena Brown
Sheath: Kydex
MSRP: $240
Country Of Origin: U.S.A.

Condor Tool & Knife’s aptly named Rude Boy Machete is made for light vegetation like that in a rain forest. Some machetes, on the other hand, are geared toward North American vegetation, such as hardwood or softer trees.

People often view a machete as a survival or bushcraft tool. Actually, it is more of a hiking tool with such primary uses as clearing walking trails through the jungle. For these endeavors the knives are often not razor sharp like many in North America believe. Maintaining a high level of sharpness would be next to impossible in such conditions and at best too time consuming. For that reason, a powerful swing with a thin, dull machete works well in dispatching vegetation. The Rude Boy is not only thin but lightweight, making it possible to swing for long periods. The well-constructed leather sheath has a pivoting belt loop to help avoid hanging up easily on vegetation.

The only thing I take issue with is the blade profile. The blade’s lengthy defined tip leaves the belly swell farther back from the end. My preference would be to have the widest part of the blade farthest out to get the most out of the swing. Don’t get me wrong, the Rude Boy worked well, but a long day of swinging makes you want to optimize a blade’s performance. Then again, you do want some variety in appearance.

The best feature is the handle. In profile it is pretty much the American military style, though there are some excellent ergonomics added to the design. The plastic handle is overmolded to create a hidden tang. Instead of being blocky the contours are smoothed out for a comfortable grip you can use for long periods. I like the Rude Boy and I can see me beating the snot out of it once yardwork season arrives.

Toor Knives Jank Shank S

The sharp point and clean grind lines of the Jank Shank S make it easy to see how the author was able to use it to clean 50 muskrats with minimal effort.
The sharp point and clean grind lines of the Jank Shank S make it easy to see how the author was able to use it to clean 50 muskrats with minimal effort.

Jank Shank S Specs
Overall Length: 7″
Handle length: 3″
Blade Length: 4″
Blade Steel: CPM M4 carbon
Handle material: G-10
Sheath: Kydex
MSRP: $250
Country Of Origin: U.S.A.

Out of the creatively named test models, I probably gave the Jank Shank S from Toor Knives the longest going over. I used it as an EDC but the bigger workout was when I took it to my sportsman’s club. Many in the tactical crowd promote rings in the handle butt for changing positions during combat, but I like them for the advantage they give while cleaning game. That’s right, cleaning game.

When cleaning animals I often find I want to free my hands to work with the carcass. Instead of putting the knife down, I let it dangle from my pinky. I do what needs to be done and then just move the knife into my grip. There’s no fiddling around; it’s quick, simple and no searching for where I put it down.

My club has an annual muskrat dinner, and depending on ticket sales we clean up to 400 muskrats. I cleaned 50 of the varmints with the Jank Shank S, including splitting open the chest and neckbone. Not once did I sharpen it. When done I cleaned it off, gave it a touch up and bam!—it was crazy sharp again. The textured G-10 scales made it easy to grip despite my hands being covered in blood. It worked so well the muskrats didn’t even complain. I liked it so much you won’t hear me grumble about the blade’s fur-catcher choil. Oh, and did those muskrats ever look good with fries and a side of deluxe baked beans! The sheath fits well with no break-in, period. I will add an UltiClip to the sheath and it will be an instant EDC. The Jank Shank S will make it into my game kit any time. Muskrats beware!

Name-Gamers

A name can add to the appeal of a knife by being entertaining. It is also important to have a good name to make the design stand out and be memorable. In the end you don’t want the name associated with a piece of junk, so it is always best to put the most effort into a great design. Our three name-gamers fill that bill.

Catchy Cutlery Call Signs

  • Catchy Cutlery Call Signs
  • Altered Beast (V Nives)
  • American Lawman (Cold Steel)
  • Bot (CRKT)
  • Dreadeye (Tactile Knife Co.)
  • Juma Blue Snake (Fallkniven)
  • June Bug (Emerson Knives, Inc.)
  • Laid Back Jack (Jack Wolf Knives)
  • Little Bugger (TOPS Knives)
  • Monkey Thumper (Fox)
  • Separateur (Bastinelli)
  • Smooth Criminal (Medford)
  • Waning Moon Yataghan (APOC/CAS Iberia)
  • Warhead Auto (BRS)
  • Zilch Baltic Haze (Gerber)

Pocketknife Info:

Suprlativ Knives: How Three Makers Blend Artistry and Innovation

Erin C. Healy
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Suprlativ Knives: How Three Makers Blend Artistry and Innovation

A knifemaking trio with little to no ego keeps Suprlativ super.

If you’re going to carry a knife every day, then it should be functional and stylish, a joy to use and look at. Otherwise, what’s the point? That’s Enrique Peña’s design philosophy. In addition to owning Peña Knives, along with Jared Oeser and Javi Garcia he is one of three founding members of Suprlativ Knives. Suprlativ (pronounced like superlative) offers limited-edition folders in eye-catching designs, constructed with modern materials, artistic colorways and a machinist’s attention to mechanics—all at an affordable price.

How do three creatives run a knife company without conflict? Easy—no one’s ego is so tied to an idea that he can’t incorporate suggestions from the others. All three maintain their own companies, their homes for signature work, so when they come together to design for Suprlativ they can push boundaries. The diversification means there’s no stress when they work on collaborative projects.

Suprlativ’s 3 Musketeers, from left: Jared Oeser, Javi Garcia and Enrique Peña.
Suprlativ’s 3 Musketeers, from left: Jared Oeser, Javi Garcia and Enrique Peña.

As Garcia explained it, the mindset shifts to, “What can we make that would nurture the community?”

Enrique Peña

Peña is an associate of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel. For the uninitiated, the cartel is a group of knifemakers that got together to honor BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple, each making a knife in the Ruple style. Bill, in turn, began sharing his knowledge with them, inviting them to his shop and answering questions by phone and email. He has been making knives since 1988 and is a master at multiblade slipjoints.

He sat on the board of the Texas Knifemakers and Collectors Association, the predecessor of the Texas Knifemakers Guild. Other Cartel members—all serious about preserving traditional knifemaking—include Bruce Barnett; Tanner Couch; Tommy “Bubba” Crouch; Burt Flanagan; Jeff Hawkins; Tobin “Toby” Hill; Bobby House; Matt Humphries; Phil Jacob; Tom Ploppert; Tim Robertson; Kendall Schorsch; Tyler Turner; Trae Gaenzel; Roan West; Rusty Preston; and Luke Swenson.

A swayback look complemented by a modified sheepsfoot blade highlights the Tirant. Blade length and material: 3 inches and CPM M4 carbon steel. Blade opener: Front flipper. Blade grind: Flat. Pivot: Ceramic caged bearings and detent. Frame: 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium. Handle: Linen Micarta®. Weight: 3.4 ounces. Closed length: 4 3/8 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $298.
A swayback look complemented by a modified sheepsfoot blade highlights the Tirant. Blade length and material: 3 inches and CPM M4 carbon steel. Blade opener: Front flipper. Blade grind: Flat. Pivot: Ceramic caged bearings and detent. Frame: 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium. Handle: Linen Micarta®. Weight: 3.4 ounces. Closed length: 4 3/8 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $298.

In 2008, Peña was laid off from his job as a diesel mechanic and turned his knifemaking hobby into a full-time endeavor. He simply drove to Ruple’s house, knocked on the door and asked to learn knifemaking. Bill began mentoring Peña and credits him with being a quick learner. Ruple shared more than his craft; he guided Peña with business wisdom as well, which ensured the success of Peña Knives.

Peña’s X-Series offers the design and mechanical excellence of his custom knives in a more affordable production knife. Whether traditional or tactical, Peña’s fit and finish displays a respected exactitude. He maintains that clean, crisp, simple designs are harder to master because you can’t hide mistakes with bells and whistles. For example, to the experienced eye, grinder marks, or the lack of them, reveals something about the maker. Hand rubs take time. Peña, if you couldn’t tell, is a traditionalist.

Jared Oeser

Around three years after Peña took to knifemaking full time, Jared Oeser, owner of Oeser Knives, did the same. A building developer by trade and with little to do during the 2008 recession, he looked to his knifemaking hobby as a potential moneymaker. He said his wife can attest to the fact that his stress level plummeted during this time. Making knives provided an outlet for a creativity he had possessed since boyhood but couldn’t concentrate on as a profession except through designing houses.

Suprlativ’s 3 Musketeers, from left: Jared Oeser, Javi Garcia and Enrique Peña.
Suprlativ’s 3 Musketeers, from left: Jared Oeser, Javi Garcia and Enrique Peña.

He asked his friend, fellow Salt Lake City resident and longtime knifemaker Dave Lang, to help him make knives. Lang swapped knifemaking ideas with the likes of Bob Loveless, Buster and Julie Warenski (now Warenski-Erickson) and Earl Black (Loveless and Buster are Cutlery Hall of Famers). Oeser’s father always carried a knife and brought his son up hunting, fishing and camping, traditions that Oeser passes on to his children.

Oeser’s first knives were bushcrafters. He couldn’t find exactly what he wanted—a bushcrafting knife that was both functional and good looking—so he made one. He and Peña communicated now and again, exchanging ideas and figuring out problems together. Now, though Oeser’s custom knives normally sell for around $1,000, some can go for over $10,000. In other words, he found his creative outlet and realized that the knife-art market still exists.

Prior to Suprlativ, he held a three-year contract with Benchmade, designing its Tengu and Tengu tool, so his design abilities have received praise from both collectors and industry giants.

The fully serrated blade of the Piranha deploys via a Rare Earth Magnet Lock. Blade material: CPM M4 carbon steel. Pivot: Bronze washers. Frame: 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium. Handle: Brown canvas Micarta®. Weight: 2.1 ounces. Closed length: 3.76 inches. MSRP: $284.
The fully serrated blade of the Piranha deploys via a Rare Earth Magnet Lock. Blade material: CPM M4 carbon steel. Pivot: Bronze washers. Frame: 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium. Handle: Brown canvas Micarta®. Weight: 2.1 ounces. Closed length: 3.76 inches. MSRP: $284.

Though Peña lives in Laredo, Texas, and Oeser in Lehi just outside Salt Lake City, and Peña is a staunch traditionalist and Oeser blurs the lines between traditional mechanisms and modern frames and furniture, the two had a working relationship that grew into a friendship.

Javi Garcia

Enter Javi Garcia. Formerly of South Texas and now living in central Texas, Javi first was a Peña customer, then a potential hire, then a friend and mentee. The two socialized together with their families, compatible in their shared Mexican heritage. Even though Garcia’s design approach is decidedly modern, Peña could appreciate his style.

Javi knew that Enrique was a master of knife mechanics, taking Garcia’s ideas and showing how they could be brought to fruition. Garcia began to share ideas with Oeser, too. He found himself going between the two veteran makers and telling each how the other approached a design idea or challenge. During these exchanges, the idea developed that the three of them start a separate company. Peña credits Garcia with bringing the three together to form Suprlativ.

How Suprlative Operates

Javi Garcia’s last-minute decision to enter the Canibl Phantom Lock resulted in Suprlative taking home Best Custom Knife Collaboration at BLADE Show 2024. The 3 1/8-inch blade is hollow-ground CPM MagnaCut stainless steel. Closed length: 4 inches. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Javi Garcia’s last-minute decision to enter the Canibl Phantom Lock resulted in Suprlative taking home Best Custom Knife Collaboration at BLADE Show 2024. The 3 1/8-inch blade is hollow-ground CPM MagnaCut stainless steel. Closed length: 4 inches. (Jocelyn Frasier image)

The men knew they could bring knives to the market that got the job done expertly and looked really good doing it, knives of high quality, high tech and high precision. Garcia and Oeser are extremely creative, and Peña’s hands-on skillset is, well, superlative. Garcia says Peña is more creative than he thinks he is. And that’s the way it is with these three.

They are endlessly encouraging and positive with each other. In a situation where three chiefs and no Indians could seem problematic, Garcia explained that the collaboration works because they relate to each other with positivity, respect and warmth. They reserve their individual knifemaking styles for their independent work and let loose with ideas for Suprlativ.

Part of the contentedness and success is that Suprlativ designs come from all three knifemakers, including Peña. It’s an equal contribution of creativity. “The designs never start in the same place,” Garcia said. It’s fluid. Once the design is finalized, Peña initiates contact with what’s considered the fourth member of the group: Reate.

The home-page image for Suprlativ’s website, an exploded view of the Hella showcases one of its various inlay options—carbon fiber—and a 2.07-inch blade of flat-ground Böhler M390 Microclean stainless steel. Weight: 1.2 ounces. Frame: 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium. Closed length: 2.88 inches. Sheath: Premium vegetable leather. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $194.
The home-page image for Suprlativ’s website, an exploded view of the Hella showcases one of its various inlay options—carbon fiber—and a 2.07-inch blade of flat-ground Böhler M390 Microclean stainless steel. Weight: 1.2 ounces. Frame: 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium. Closed length: 2.88 inches. Sheath: Premium vegetable leather. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $194.

Peña already had a relationship with Reate Knives, the high-end Chinese original equipment manufacturing (OEM) operation that makes knives for other companies. Peña said that Reate offers the highest quality production and is also more costly, but not exorbitantly so. Plus, Reate officials never seem to say no, he noted. For its part, Reate considers any deviation from the norm as a way to learn how to incorporate new production procedures. The company reportedly considers Suprlativ’s vision to be unique.

Steel choices depend on what Reate can get in stock, but M390 and CPM 154 stainless and CPM M4 carbon steels all have been used in prior releases. The most recent order will be in CPM MagnaCut. Handle materials include a mixture of titanium, carbon fibers and Micarta® with shield inlays—a nod to tradition—and come in an artistic array of color patterns. Each run is different, never just a colorway change. Peña, Oeser and Garcia determined early not to chase steel or frame material fads since it can take upward of a year to receive an order.

At the last minute during BLADE Show 2024, Garcia decided to enter the Suprlativ Canibl Phantom Lock in the custom knife competition. Once the three determined the design, Oeser cut the parts, did the precision grinding, fit the locks—every type of lock is on the table at Suprlativ—did the surface grinding and ensured the knife was functional.

The Cruzador slipjoint has a 3.224-inch semi-serrated/nail-nick-fullered blade of flat-ground CPM M4 carbon steel and a 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium frame. It also comes in a plain edge. Blade pattern: Clip point. Handle material: Jungle Wear Fatcarbon® ($274 (top) and brown canvas Micarta® (bottom). Weight: 3.3 ounces. Closed length: 4.25 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRPs: $274 each.
The Cruzador slipjoint has a 3.224-inch semi-serrated/nail-nick-fullered blade of flat-ground CPM M4 carbon steel and a 6Al-4V Grade 5 titanium frame. It also comes in a plain edge. Blade pattern: Clip point. Handle material: Jungle Wear Fatcarbon® ($274 (top) and brown canvas Micarta® (bottom). Weight: 3.3 ounces. Closed length: 4.25 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRPs: $274 each.

Garcia did the blade grinding; he’s the youngest and is humble enough to take on the difficult and time-consuming part of the job, which is just one more example of the goodwill dynamic between the three. Then the knife went to Peña for hand-rub finishing, shield inlay and blade edging. It was an equally shared labor of love.

The effort paid off. The Canibl Phantom Lock won Best Knife Collaboration. The men each expressed surprise, excitement and a sense of validation that what they set out to accomplish resonated within the community. Their collaboration, peaceable interactions and professionalism obviously generated increased creativity for them, loyalty from customers and now well-deserved notice and approval from knifemaking standard-bearers.

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