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Best Custom Hunting Knives: Is There A Consensus?

Mike Haskew
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Best Custom Hunting Knives: Is There A Consensus?

Top knife observers decipher the best custom huntering knives ever made.

It’s an ongoing discussion, or maybe a debate, slightly contentious but always cordial. When the question is pondered regarding who made the best custom hunting knives ever, a few names quickly come to mind.

Of course, there is no right or wrong answer. It’s a matter of interpretation, fit and finish, design, form and function, and the feel of the knife in the hand when it’s time to get down to the business of skinning and dressing game. Each respected and well-traveled knifemaker and observer consulted below can tell the stories that back up his top few. But in the end there is no doubt. Each of these revered custom makers and/or bladesmiths has got game. It’s proven in their work.

Bruce Voyles’ Take

BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member and knife auctioneer Bruce Voyles accompanied his fellow Cutlery Hall of Famer, the legendary George Herron, on a few hunting trips and experienced his work in the field.

George Herron' Model 6 and Model 3 skinners
Among the top hunting knives BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member George Herron made are the Model 6 (top) and the Model 3 skinner, aka Little Dude (bottom). The Model 6 sports a 4-inch blade and 9-inch overall length. Blade and overall lengths for the Little Dude: 2.75 and 6.75 inches. Respective blade steel, handle material and construction on each knife are ATS-34 stainless, curly maple and tapered tang. (Jay Mealing knife image)

“George was a fantastic hunter,” Bruce remembered. “When a group of us would go with him, we might kill three deer in a four-day morning and afternoon hunt, but he could get eight if he wanted to.”

Bruce tells the story of an Outdoor Writers Association hunt Herron organized after an invitation from a South Carolina country gentleman that George had helped change a tire. It seems the man owned a large tract of land, and in return for Herron’s kindness he was allowed to hunt deer on the property.

“When we got to that plantation, every guide there was carrying a George Herron knife,” Bruce commented. “The thing about George’s knives is that when you held one and used it, you were using a knife made by a man who had been there. He made tremendous skinning knives, and the balance and feel in the hand are unsurpassed. The balance, shape of the handle, and minor nuances of the tilt of the blade, its thinness, and the tapered tang set Herron knives apart.”

Bill Moran’s engraved gentleman’s hunter
According to BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bruce Voyles, the knives of Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bill Moran feel like an extension of your hand. Mr. Moran’s engraved gentleman’s hunter in damascus and with one of his iconic moon logo sheaths is representative of Bruce’s sentiment. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)

According to Voyles, the knives of Herron, Jerry Fisk and Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bill Moran feel like an extension of the hand. Herron also made knives that were affordable for a hunter to purchase. Since he put many knives in the hunters’ hands because of a reasonable price point, the praise of his work in the shop spread far and wide. Today, there are several quality custom knifemakers contending for recognition, and they include Ralph Smith, Larry Page and Wayne Hendrix to name just a trio, Bruce says.

“Wayne was one of the guys who trained in George’s shop, and while we were hunting he had his own shop set up on the grounds making knives to sell directly to hunters,” he noted. “He was a guide in South Carolina and approaches making hunting knives the same way George did. He’s the closest to George’s knives now.”

Jim Sornberger’s Take

Cutlery Hall-of-Fame knifemaker Jim Sornberger remembers the days years ago when names such as Harry Morseth and Cutlery Hall-of-Famers Bo Randall and Rudy Ruana were synonymous with excellence in hunting knife craftsmanship. He also mentions the fine work of Corbet Sigman and other contemporaries of the 1960s and ’70s.

A.G. Russell made Herry Morseth designed Model 1
“The first new model A.G. Russell made when he acquired Morseth Knives from Harry Morseth was the Model 1, also known as the Ozark Hunter,” Tom Krein noted. “It is a drop-point camp and hunting knife with a 3.5-inch blade, hidden tang, nice guard, and thin-shaped Micarta® handle that make the knife extremely light.” This version sports a stacked leather and fiber spacer handle with a stag butt. (Nordic Knives image)

“It goes back to when I was a kid and my uncle had a gun store in Redding, California,” Jim said. “Those names were famous, and I met Harry Morseth in the ’50s. His Cascade Skinner was my favorite hunting knife for many years with a great handle shape in leather or stag for a good grip and a guard, which is really important in a good hunting knife because you’ve got to hang onto an animal or fish if you’re working and you can’t afford to have the knife slip in your hand. The blades were laminated Brusletto steel from Norway, and the knives came with a safety sheath. Mine was copper-lined leather in the shape of the knife, and later models had a fiber material liner inside.”

Sornberger also mentions Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Gil Hibben, Ruffin Johnson and Clay Gault as makers of outstanding hunting knives. However, trying to identify custom makers that are in that rarefied air with the masters these days requires some reflection. “It’s tough because a lot of guys follow trends nowadays and they find it’s cheaper and faster to make a knife without a guard,” he opined. “Randy Lee has been around a long time and still makes a lot of good using knives. Dave Pitt in Redding, California, does as well, and that’s hunting country. Randy has a stubby little hunter with a 3.25-inch blade and nice guard, and that’s plenty of knife for most hunting applications.”

Tom Krein’s Take

Veteran knifemaker Tom Krein is upfront with his thoughts on the best maker of hunting knives.

“I actually worked for Bob Dozier and A.G. Russell from the mid-1990s to 2001, and honestly this is a tough one. We all use hunting knives differently in the field and for different things, but I would put Bob Dozier forward. He grew up hunting in the bayous and providing for his family, [and] he has a lot of experience making knives. He is an exceptional craftsman, and in the 1980s I feel one of the pioneers in the style of distilling everything down to make hunting knives easier to make and get them in everybody’s hands.”

Jerry Fisk’s Sendero hunter
Award-winning bladesmith Jerry Fisk’s Sendero hunter served as Tom Krein’s inspiration to make knives. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven image)

Krein likes the reasonable price point of a Dozier hunting knife and the attributes that characterize the maker’s outstanding work: a full tang, thinly ground blade, Micarta® handle, and often a Kydex sheath system for safety. “Dozier’s knives check all my boxes,” he related. “The Dozier Personal with a 2-inch blade works great on game, and an investment of $300 will get you a fine Dozier knife.”

Tom also has seen the Morseth line continue with A.G Russell and has tremendous respect for the maker’s legacy. “The first new model A.G. made when he acquired Morseth Knives from Harry was the Model 1, also known as the Ozark Hunter,” Krein noted. “It is a drop-point camp and hunting knife with a 3.5-inch blade, hidden tang, nice guard, and thin-shaped Micarta® handle that make the knife extremely light.”

Tom tips his hat to custom knifemaker Brian Goode, whose hunters and skinners are gaining notice, while he also acknowledges the great work of Jerry Fisk, whose Sendero served as Krein’s own inspiration to begin making knives. And then there’s the geometry and thinness of the blade in ABS master smith James Rodebaugh’s hunting knives that Krein calls “beautiful work.”

James Rodebaugh’s Take

Speaking of Rodebaugh, his thoughts on the best maker of hunting knives include George Herron, whose work he describes as “superb,” and two more greats, D. E. Henry and Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Jimmy Lile. “The first knife I ever owned was a Lile hunter, and he made one heck of a hunting knife,” James remarked. “That knife was my primary hunter before I even started making knives, and it did all I ever asked of it.”

Adam’s clip-point hunter
ABS master smith James Rodebaugh is high on the work of Missouri-based maker Jason Coy and ABS master smiths Jason Knight and Adam DesRosiers. Adam’s clip-point hunter in damascus and stag is a stunner. (SharpByCoop image)

According to Rodebaugh, edge geometry is critical in a hunting knife, along with the design and profile of the handle and proper Rockwell hardness. Each of these characteristics is essential, and the Lile knife was “about as perfect as I’ve ever held, and I’ve dressed well north of 300 animals, not counting small game.”

Rodebaugh’s own knives are reflections of his hunting experience. He has been lauded for the field performance of his Raised Swedge Hunter, which some refer to as a harpoon point, that was actually inspired by a Marble’s hunter design. He has been making the Outfitter hunting knife for about 15 years, forging the blades in batches of five with O1 tool steel hardened to a Rockwell of 60-61 HRC, and a Micarta handle with a palm swell for added comfort.

James has been impressed recently with the work of Missouri-based maker Jason Coy and ABS master smiths Adam DesRosiers and Jason Knight. “Jason saw my raised swedge years ago and asked to use it, and I said ‘absolutely!’ Nobody has probably designed a ‘new’ blade in the last 1,000 years or so. Adam has worked with it as well, and now everybody in the country produces that design feature.”

Of Course, Bob Loveless

The names of custom makers past and present conjure images of their outstanding hunting knives. But no story on the topic would be complete without mention of Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bob Loveless. While some have said Loveless was a fine maker, some have also said his fit and finish were reasonably good—not great. Nonetheless, the thing about Loveless was his eye for design.

Randy Lee drop point hunting knife
According to BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Jim Sornberger, Randy Lee has been around a long time and still makes a lot of good using knives. An example is his drop point with an amber-spacer look reminiscent of the My Knife by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member D’ Holder, a pretty fair maker of hunting knives in his own right. (SharpByCoop image)

“Loveless went to design school,” Voyles explained. “He made a knife with eye appeal. It was different, and a lot of people don’t understand why, but it was the natural French curve. It was the design. People say Loveless made the perfect hunting knife because of the drop point, and to me it doesn’t work as good as one of George Herron’s knives.”

Sornberger knew Loveless well. “Bob was a good friend and signed for me to get into the Guild,” Jim began. “I think Bob found a universal handle shape that he used on all his knives, and it was a combination of a good kitchen knife and all with a guard except for a couple of models he made later on. All fit well in the hand. Bob got a lot of publicity. He could sell snow to Eskimos.”

Krein sees the Loveless drop point as iconic. “But there is a difference with the variance in game animals from squirrels to rabbits to deer, elk and moose. So best at what? I personally think the Loveless drop point is a fine design, but I wouldn’t take it into the woods,” he observed. “It’s just bigger than I like, and I like hidden tangs for hunting knives.”

Rodebaugh reminds that Loveless is a giant among custom knifemakers, and his hunters are noteworthy to say the least. “I met Bob many years ago and didn’t live far from him in California,” James recalled. “He made a good knife, and the drop point had a lot of impact on the industry, but contemporary with Bob were guys like Herron that produced excellent knives. Loveless made a solid working knife and took that to great heights through pretty good marketing, along with his popularizing of ATS-34 stainless blade steel.”

All hunters have a favorite knife, a trusted companion in the field that is handy, dependable, and built for the jobs encountered. While discussing the topic of just who might be the best custom maker of hunting knives is a never-ending exercise, suffice it to say that hunters are fortunate to find such steadfast companion tools when they are needed most.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

Custom Hunting Knives: Hunting For The Best Value

Les Robertson
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Custom Hunting Knives: Hunting For The Best Value

Understand how and why custom hunting knives cost what they do.

When I attend shows, one of my main goals is to talk with knifemakers and check the prices of various custom knives. One of the best shows to do that is the BLADE Show. This past June my goal in the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta was to talk with 50 custom makers to get their takes on trends, material prices, overall demand, etc., regarding the knives they make and sell.

Luke Dellmyer custom hunting knife.
Luke Dellmyer custom hunting knife.

The custom knife that dominates the fixed-blade market is the hunter. This is due primarily to the fact that there seems to be an endless variety of hunting knives that can be made, and they usually have a lower price point than many other custom knives. Unlike other customs, hunting knives are often bought for use. Consequently, they are frequently tested by many users, from the casual outdoorsman to the professional hunting guide. The firearm may dispatch the game, but the knife provides the meat and potentially the trophy the taxidermist creates.

Over the years, thousands of articles have been written on and about hunting knives, including a few by this writer. In this article, I want to discuss not types or designs but pricing on knives in the hunter category.

Custom Hunting Knives Cost

Wess Barnhill ladder-pattern damascus hunter.
Wess Barnhill ladder-pattern damascus hunter.

Several factors go into the cost of building or making anything. Most makers need a place to make the knives, usually a garage or a shop. Next comes the equipment, which varies from maker to maker. Belts for grinding, polishing and putting an edge on the blade can be one of the more costly items a maker utilizes. Electricity, propane or wood provide the energy to work the materials that become the knife. No matter how the knife is built, these are typical costs shared by most makers. The costs vary depending on the prices of the materials to make the knife. Steel, guard/bolster material, handle material and leather if a sheath is required all impact the finished knife’s price, as will the maker’s skill at using these materials.

Custom Hunting Knives Blade Steel

Dan Lewis' dmascus and copper san-mai hunters, both striking outdoor options.
Dan Lewis’ dmascus and copper san-mai hunters, both striking outdoor options.

The majority of makers use either stainless or carbon steel. Each offers advantages and disadvantages. Because of the diversity of steel, hunters can select a knife with the steel that best suits their needs.

Some hunters prefer patterned damascus steel, such as the ladder pattern of the damascus hunter by ABS master smith Russ Andrews (see accompanying image). Some hunters indicate the damascus blade’s distal tapering and differential heat treatment give the knife a better edge-holding capability. Others prefer steel of a san-mai construction as in the knife of ABS journeyman smith Dan Lewis. By forge welding more malleable steel onto either side of a harder steel, san-mai provides the blade with more structural integrity without sacrificing its ability to hold an edge.

As you can imagine, creating these steels takes additional time and is an added expense. The steels can add anywhere from $150 to $400 to the knife’s cost.

Custom Hunting Knives Handle

Russ Andrews amber stag hunter is a looker.
Russ Andrews amber stag hunter is a looker.

The handle material varies from natural to such synthetic(s) as G-10, carbon fiber and Micarta®. Natural handle materials are even more diverse, including ivory, antler/horn, wood, mother-of-pearl and bone. The advantage of synthetics is they are not subject to the effects of weather and temperature and so do not shrink and/or expand. Also, Micarta and G-10 are less expensive than some natural handle materials.

Natural handle materials can give your knife a unique look, making it stand out from other knives. Ivory, predominantly mammoth or ancient walrus ivory, is among the most distinctive and expensive handle materials used on hunting knives. Mammoth ivory comes in the form of scales and can cost anywhere from $100 to $250. Ancient walrus ivory costs are largely determined by the color(s) and condition. Prices generally range from $200 to $400.

Antlers and horns of all types have been used as knife handles from the onset of knives being built. The most commonly used antler on custom hunting knives is Sambar stag. In addition to its classic look, the natural lands* and grooves of the antler will contour to your hand, giving you a better grip when using the knife. Stag’s demand and lack of supply over the past 15 years have driven the price up considerably. You can expect to add $125 to $175 to the cost of the knife for an excellent piece of stag.

Mike Malosh's hunters are outfitted with either an elk and black Micarta or stacked leather washers.
Mike Malosh’s hunters are outfitted with either an elk and black Micarta or stacked leather washers.

Watching the price of stag increase encouraged me to look at other members of the deer family. One such member is the elk. It has many of the same characteristics as the stag antler, such as the natural lands, grooves and coloring. However, the price is considerably less than stag—around $50. The Elk Hunter (see accompanying image) by Mike Malosh gives you an idea of what an elk antler looks like on a custom hunting knife.

Wood is also a favorite handle material for both makers and collectors. Talk about diversity—wood offers just about any color you could want. Now, with the wood stabilization process commonplace, you eliminate most of the adverse effects of weather on the natural handle material. The price point for wood ranges from $5 to $50 to $75 for scales or a block of desert ironwood or koa. The damascus hunter by ABS journeyman smith Wess Barnhill features a beautiful set of desert ironwood scales. Its range of colors helps ironwood find its way to many knife handles.

Walnut is a hardwood favored by makers such as ABS journeyman smith Luke Dellmyer. It is a very stable, attractive wood that costs $30 a block. Another natural handle material I like, but you don’t see much, is stacked leather washers, as on the Mike Malosh Bear Hunter. One advantage I found with stacked leather is that, over time, the handle material will conform to your hand, providing you with a custom grip. You can expect stacked leather to add about $30 to the knife’s cost.

What Makes A True Value

As a professional custom knife purveyor, I offer prices based on my conversations with suppliers and makers and the materials I have bought over the years. As you know, everything gets more expensive, so prices may vary. The makers’ ability to combine the materials to create functional and aesthetically pleasing knives comes from years of honing their skills in their shops. Once you understand material pricing and can differentiate the skill levels of the different makers, you will realize that this is where the true value lies.

*Like on the inside of the barrel of a firearm, lands are the raised part of the antler and the grooves are the recessed part.

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2024 BLADE Show West Preview: The West’s Largest Knife Show

BLADE Staff
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2024 BLADE Show West Preview: The West’s Largest Knife Show

Ready to rock in the Rocky Mountains!

A larger show hall, more exhibitors, some of the world’s best makers and knives, entertaining seminars, awards and other sharp stuff beckon you to attend BLADE Show West Oct. 4-5 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A move to the Salt Palace’s exhibit hall No. 4 adds 15,000 square feet to this year’s show, and along with the added space come 30 more exhibitors to join the hundreds of knifemakers, bladesmiths, knife companies, knife suppliers and other knife professionals at the third annual rendition of the BLADE Show West held in Utah.

Blade Show West Tickets

Among the top custom makers set to exhibit is an unbridled posse of South Texas Slipjoint Cartel members that includes BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple, award-winning makers Luke Swenson, Enrique Pena and Tim Robertson and others. An all-star list of ABS bladesmiths features Bill Burke, Shane Taylor, Steven Koster, Seth Lopez, Shayne Carter and Trevor Morgan, to name a few. Other top award-winning makers include Johnny Stout, Princeton Wong, Mick Strider, Duane Dwyer, Evan Nicolaides, Mike Tyre, Jared Oeser and Brian Nadeau. There are many more.

2024 BLADE Show West Classes And Demos

Let The Pro Critique Your Knife

While the full seminar slate had not been set at press time, the popular Let the Pros Critique Your Knife session was set to return, with some of the leading custom maker show exhibitors expected to examine and critique knives made by assorted show attendees. As usual, it will be a limited-seating event and attendees can bring one knife only.

Luke Swenson inspects a patron’s knife at last year’s show.
Select show attendees will have their knives examined by the world’s best custom makers in the popular “Let The Pros Critique Your Knife” seminar. Luke Swenson (right) inspects a patron’s knife at last year’s show. The makers participating in this year’s seminar were being assembled at press time. See the free BLADE Show West program at the show for more info.

Basecamp Essentials

Basecamp Essentials by Survival University will be a 30-to-45 minute demonstration designed to introduce essentials of wilderness living. “We will demo how to create various camp comforts such as benches, chairs, and other useful camp tools, using materials found in the natural environment,” a company spokesperson wrote. “This demo goes beyond the basics of survival, focusing on enhancing comfort and fostering a sense of community in the wilderness.”

West Coast Flipping Championships

Also set to return is the West Coast Flipping Championships hosted by Squid Industries. It will be the fifth annual version of the championships, with head-to-head/live balisong flipping matchups in an elimination/bracket-style competition. Awards and prizes will go to the top finishers. For the complete seminar schedule, see the free BLADE Show Program distributed at the show.

2024 BLADE Show West Awards

The show’s best custom and factory knives will be determined by a panel of judges assembled by the BLADE Show West staff. This year’s custom knife categories: Best in Show; Best Hunter; Best Kitchen Knife; Best Damascus; Best Slip Joint; Best Fixed Blade; Best Folder; Best M.A.C.K. (Machine Assisted Custom Knife); and Best of the Rest.

Winner of Best Fighter at BLADE Show 2024, bladesmith Seth Lopez
Winner of Best Fighter at BLADE Show 2024, bladesmith Seth Lopez will showcase his curvaceous creations. His recurve fighter boasts a compound-ground blade of a damascus of 1080 carbon and 15N20 carbon steels. Handle: desert ironwood burl. Overall length: 8.75 inches. (SharpByCoop image)

On the factory side, the award categories are Best American Made, Best Imported, Best EDC, Best Fixed Blade, Best Folder and Best in Show.

For the times and locations for the judging, signs and schedules will be prominently placed in and around the show hall. Also, see the free BLADE Show West Program distributed at the show for updates.

The winners will be announced and presented their awards in a special ceremony the Friday night of the show. See the free BLADE Show West Program for the time and venue.

2024 BLADE Show West Hidden Gems

The factory knife section is always a beehive of activity at BLADE Show West, and this year’s rendition promises more of the same. Leading exhibiting knife companies include CRKT; Emerson Knives, Inc.; Fox Knives; GiantMouse; Heretic; Hogue; Lionsteel; Pro-Tech; SOG; Spyderco; Squid Industries; McNees Knives; Suprlativ Knives; Tactile Knife Co.; TOPS Knives; WE Knife; White River Knife & Tool; and others. For the complete exhibitor list, visit bladeshowwest.com.

CRKT Blade Show West knife booth
CRKT will host custom knifemaker/designer Richard Rogers and his wife Sally to answer questions about Richard’s latest CRKT designs. CRKT’s Doug Flagg (center) talks knives with Cutlery Shoppe’s Jeff Loffer (right) and two patrons at BLADE Show West 2023.

One of the hidden gems of the factory section is you never know who might show up, including custom makers who engage in collaborations with select companies. For example, the CRKT booth will feature award-winning custom knifemaker Richard Rogers, along with his wife Sally, to answer questions about Richard’s latest CRKT designs. Other CRKT maker/designers exhibiting at the show will be Eric Ochs, TJ Schwarz and Princeton Wong. Ochs will exhibit under Ochs Worx, Wong under Prince Customs and Schwarz under Schwarz Knives.

Danish knifemaker Jens Anso, along with fellow Danish maker Jesper Voxnaes the design team behind most if not all of GiantMouse knives, will be stationed at the GiantMouse booth. Knife designer Tony Sentmanat will be based at the WE Knives booth. WE maker/collaborators Ben Petersen and Zac Whitmore also will attend the show and may appear at the company’s booth at times.

While TOPS Knives won’t have any custom knifemaker designers on hand, it will have headman/head knife designer Leo Espinoza in attendance, as always. Case will continue showcasing its first Bill Ruple collaboration, and Bill will have a table at the show, too, so chances are he will make an appearance at the Case booth as well. There no doubt will be other company booths serving as the destination of custom makers/designers, custom makers in general, and more.

More On BLADE Show West:

Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 Review [Hands On]

Dexter Ewing
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Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 Review [Hands On]

Has Work Sharp improved on its legendary tool?

The Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite has been the standard for powered abrasive belt sharpening for about a decade. And it’s more than earned its place in knife enthusiasts’ sharpening stations. Yet, Onion and Work Sharp were just getting warmed up.

Unveiled at the beginning of 2024, the Ken Onion Elite Mk2 (KOE Mk2) aims to outdo the original in about every way. But does it?

That’s what I aimed to find out when I pulled out a bevy of knives and put the unit through its paces. Is the sharpener more user-friendly? Does it offer more functionality? Can it unseat the legendary Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite?

Let’s find out.

Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 Grinding Attachment

Ken Onion WorkSharp MK.2 with grinding head

Work Sharp didn’t veer away from the basic functionality of the Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite in the Mk2. For example, blade grinding attachment still uses the same 1”x18” belts as the original and pretty much functions the same.

Onion and the company, however, have enhanced the operation of the attachment in several ways.

The angle adjustments on the grinding attachment now can be made on the fly and without de-tensioning the belt or even turning the unit off. This is done through a round nob under the plate controls, which raises and lowers the idler wheel. A built-in angle indicator allows you to dial in the exact edge.

The aforementioned idler wheel is also new to the system and can be set for three edge types: conventional V, low-angle convex, and high-angle convex. A major plus, this is achieved without tools or even de-tensioning the belt—though, the power must be off.

Ken Onion WorkSharp MK.2 grinder adjustment

Work sharp has included a belt guard on the new model, gone are the days of the original’s open face. The guard has a port hole that you can place the hub fastener into (so you won’t lose it!) whenever you convert this unit to the standard three-pulley cassette.

Finally, the Mk2 has an adjustable height reference plate on the platen end of the grinding attachment. Quite simply, this allows for finer adjustments at the platen end.

Overall the build, of the new BGA is more substantial than the original, as there is now more weight to it.

Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 Sharpening Head

Ken Onion WorkSharp MK.2 Sharpening Head

If you prefer to use the standard three-pulley cassette instead of the Blade Grinding Attachment, you can physically swap out the two easily. The power head attaches to either using a simple twist lock connection at the motor housing at the drive shaft.

A nice aspect of the cassette is it includes a scissor guide in addition to a knife guide, which is set at a 65-degree angle. For knives, you use the pull-through method, resting the blade on one of the leather-lined blade rests and pulling the blade through along the belt.

Selecting your edge angle is as easy as turning a dial, similar to the blade grinding attachment. Rotate the knob to the desired edge angle and both blade rests will move in or out simultaneously.

There’s also an included blade rest with plastic rollers that allow you to steady the blade as you pull it through. If you wish to not use these, they simply rotate out of the way and lock into the stowed position.

However, with the cassette, there is no option to adjust for different edge types (standard V, low convex, or high convex). You just get a regular convex edge only, but still razor sharp.

Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 Power Head

As for the power head end of things, there are several improvements here. You’ll notice the larger motor housing and inside is a more powerful motor with electronic torque management. The motor senses the load placed on the belt and compensates for it, making this sharpener almost impossible to bog down in use.

The pushbutton speed control with LED light scale shows you at a glance how fast the belt is running. And slowing down or speeding up the belt is as easy as pushing a button.

The Mk2 has a constant on setting—you just squeeze the power trigger and press a button to lock in the setting. Shutting it off is a matter of hitting the stop button or squeezing the power trigger.

The body of the Mk2 has a cast metal overlay that adds rigidity as well as boosts the rough and tumble looks of the tool. Furthermore, the metal overlay makes the unit quieter and dampens vibrations.

Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 Testing

Putting the Ken Onion Elite Mk2 to use is a pleasure. However, I’d say, that to step up to a tool of this nature you need to know your manual sharpening skills inside and out—especially when using the grinding attachment. If you don’t know what you’re doing you risk damaging blades or simply spinning your wheels with a sub-par sharpening. Given the guides, the cassette is more forgiving.

I have ten solid years of experience with the original Ken Onion Elite and know the limits of the machine. With this being said, the functionality of the Mk2 is identical to the original and the improvements mentioned make it more user-friendly, improving the overall experience.

Ken Onion WorkSharp MK.2 sharpening with grinding head

I also found the Mk2 is easier to set up and dial in, as well as change angles instantly with the machine powered on. The ability to dial in the edge type (standard V, low convex, and high convex) allows you to tailor the edge format to your specific task for the knife.

Personally, I prefer the high convex, which allows you to cut the edge angle back 2-3 degrees more for enhanced edge sharpness. At the same time, it still retains enough “meat” in the center for lateral strength.

Final Cut

As it goes, the Work Sharp Ken Onion Elite Mk2 doesn’t come cheap with an MSRP of $300. It’s a bit steep for a sharpener. But when you look at what you get, it’s easy to see why it’s still valuable.

While this was primarily designed as a sharpening machine, it’s also a miniature variable speed belt sander that will work on metal, PVC, plastic, and wood. In turn, you receive two machines in one, plus it can handle knives and scissors as well as assist you with projects in your garage or shop. How can you beat that?

Honestly, if you want to take your sharpening game to the next level and beyond, invest in the Ken Onion Elite Mk2 from Work Sharp.

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Hunting Knife Sets: Hands-On And Tested

Reuben Bolieu
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Hunting Knife Sets: Hands-On And Tested

The latest hunting knife combos will exalt your outdoor experience.

When choosing a hunting set of cutting tools, consider the quality of the tools and how they complement each other. Before you do that, though, be sure the set is properly outfitted.

A good set should include a gut hook, knife, saw and small hatchet for field dressing and processing game. Each tool serves a specific purpose:

  • Gut hook: makes opening the animal’s abdomen easier,
  • Sharp knife: essential for skinning and butchering
  • Saw: helps cut through bone or branches
  • Small hatchet: helps split bone or cut wood.

Consider durability and ease of use, as well as how the tools can be packed for transport.

Gut Hook Knives

A gut hook hunting knife serves multiple purposes in the field. Its primary function is to assist in the field dressing process by opening the animal’s abdomen with minimal damage to the internal organs. The hook feature helps prevent puncturing the organs while skinning and reduces the risk of cutting into the stomach or intestines. A gut hook can be used for cutting through tough connective tissues, tendons and cartilage, too. Its precision and specialized design make it an essential tool for hunters, allowing for efficient and safe processing of game in the field. It also works great for hooking under a bail and lifting hot pots and other items off a camp stove, etc.

Caping Knives

A caping knife in a hunting set serves various purposes, making it an essential tool for hunters. Its precision and maneuverability render it ideal for delicate tasks such as skinning around trophy areas, making intricate cuts, and separating hide from the meat. Also known as a caper, it is great for creating shoulder mounts or European mounts of game animals, preserving the hide for taxidermy purposes. The fine point and sharp blade allow for detailed, careful work without damaging the hide or underlying tissue. A caper is a versatile tool that adds value to any hunting tool set, especially for hunters looking to preserve trophies.

Boker Arbolito Guides Combo

Boker 2.25-inch drop point and Diamond Blade Knives Pinnacle
The Boker 2.25-inch drop point and Diamond Blade Knives Pinnacle II are both classic caper/utility tools featuring handsome stag scales.

The Boker Arbolito Manufactory in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is known for crafting high-quality knives using premium materials, with an emphasis on hunting and outdoor models featuring handles of wood and stag. These traditional knives are designed to cater to a variety of needs and tasks, whether for professional use, sports, everyday carry or collectors with a keen interest.

A notable offering is the Arbolito Guides Combo set in satin blades and stag handles. It includes a 4.25-inch gut hook skinning blade and a 2.25-inch drop point hunter. The gut hook prevents accidental punctures during skinning and is designed with a large forward finger choil for enhanced control. The little drop point is suitable for small, detailed cutting tasks, providing precision cuts. It is an excellent utility blade for cutting cord, fishing line and packaging, and it can act as a small skinner. Both knives sport stag handles for a secure grip and a rustic appearance.

The set includes a brown leather piggyback belt sheath for easy carry. The gut hook pouch boasts a solid snap to ensure retention. The small drop point comes with a simple drop-in friction-fit pouch, which is easy to access and is held on the main sheath via a rivet. This set presents function and style for processing your next trophy animal or other outdoor tasks.

Arbolito Guides Combo Set Specs
Blade Lengths: Gut hook skinner 4.25”, drop point 2.25”
Blade Steel: Bohler N695 stainless
Blade Grinds: Skinner hollow, drop point flat
Blades @ Thickest: .125”
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: White/brown stag
Overall Lengths: Skinner 8.6”, drop point 4.8”
Sheath: Leather piggyback
Country of Origin: Argentina
MSRP: $291 at press-time exchange rate

Knives of Alaska Caribou Combo

KOA Caribou Combo work well together
The two knives of the KOA Caribou Combo work well together. The skinner has a deep belly for slicing and enough weight to be a light cleaver. The Cub Bear is a tremendous caper that pulls triple duty as a fine carver and paring knife.

The Knives of Alaska Caribou Combo offers a slimmer alternative to the company’s Light Hunter Combo. The Caribou Combo features the same gut hook skinner design as the Light Hunter Combo but with a thinner blade for a sharper, longer-lasting cutting edge. The Caribou is ideal for those seeking a complete field dressing kit for whitetail deer and other medium-sized game.

The Caribou Combo includes two knives—a gut hook skinner and Cub Bear—in a side-by-side sheath. The skinner is a full-tang knife 7.5 inches overall. It has a .1-inch-thick D2 tool steel blade and a 4.25-inch cutting edge. It features thumb notches and a large-capacity gut hook.

The Cub Bear is a fine-detail-work knife of D2 with a blade 3/32 inch thick at the thickest. Both models feature black SureGrip handles with large, lined lanyard holes. For hunting deer, sheep and mountain goats, the Caribou Combo is an excellent choice.

The two knives work perfectly together. The skinner has a deep belly for slicing and enough weight to be a light cleaver. Besides the obvious skinning qualities and gut hook that opens the abdomen safely, it’s an excellent butcher knife. Using it to slice and chop up meat chunks for a rustic, slow-cooked meal was a breeze. The Cub Bear, meanwhile, is a tremendous caper that pulls triple duty as a fine carver and paring knife.

In my humble opinion, of the test group this set was by far the best buy for the money.

Caribou Combo Specs
Blade Lengths: Gut hook skinner 3.5”, Cub Bear 2.75”
Blade Material: D2 tool steel
Blade Grind: Saber
Blades @ Thickest: Skinner .1”, Cub Bear .09”
Blade Finish: Bead blast
Handle Material: Black SureGrip
Overall Lengths: Skinner 7.5”, Cub Bear 6.75”
Sheath: Brown leather double pouch
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $189.99

Diamond Blade Knives Summit Combo

Summit has a long skinning radius, making it proficient at swiftly and effectively breaking down game. A scalpel-like knife, the Pinnacle II is ideal for caping and initial incisions
The Summit has a long skinning radius, making it proficient at swiftly and effectively breaking down game. A scalpel-like knife, the Pinnacle II is ideal for caping and initial incisions, boasting finger gimping and cutouts for optimal leverage.

The Summit Combo from Diamond Blade Knives is a pro hunter’s set meticulously crafted with the benefit of decades of hunting and field dressing expertise. It includes the Summit drop point and the Pinnacle II, both highly efficient field tools.

The Summit has a long skinning radius, making it the perfect tool for swiftly and effectively breaking down game. A scalpel-like knife, the Pinnacle II is ideal for caping and initial incisions, sporting finger gimping and cutouts for optimal leverage.

Designed for professional hunters, this versatile kit provides reliable and efficient tools for most aspects of field dressing. The set includes an American-made dual leather sheath with a Kydex insert for secure retention and easy access while preventing damage to the knives.

The substantial Summit proved ideal for effortlessly carving meat for a hearty stew or canning. The large handle gave ample space for various grips or when wearing gloves. The Pinnacle II did an excellent job on small detailed work, especially slicing herbs and peeling garlic.

The double sheath was my favorite of the test bunch because it held the knives perfectly in place, even with the snaps open, due to the Kydex insert. The attractive outer leather provides the best of both worlds.

Knives Summit Combo Specs
Blade Lengths: Pinnacle II Scalpel 2.55”, Summit Drop Point 3.75”
Blade Material: Friction Forged® D2 tool steel
Blade Grind: Flat
Blades @ Thickest: Pinnacle II Scalpel .09”, Summit Drop Point .125”
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: Stag
Overall Lengths: Pinnacle II Scalpel 7”, Summit Drop Point 8.75”
Sheath: Leather double model w/Kydex insert
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $799

TOPS Knives Muley Skinner/Saw Combo

TOPS Knives Muley Skinner
The long, deep-bellied blade of the TOPS Knives Muley Skinner is well-suited for skinning game and performing campsite tasks such as prepping, kindling and food processing. The Muley Saw is a bone saw tailored for efficient game processing and can saw wood in emergencies.

Winner of Best Hunting Knife at BLADE Show West 2023, the TOPS Knives Muley Skinner/Saw Combo is a game changer. The Muley Skinner is a solid fixed blade for outdoor jobs. The long, deep-bellied blade is well-suited for skinning game and performing campsite tasks such as prepping, kindling and food processing. The Muley Saw is a bone saw tailored for efficient game processing and can serve as a wood saw in emergencies. The saw blade sports a razor-sharp gut hook for added function.

Due to in no small part to its flat grind, the skinner excelled at slicing meat. It also deboned chicken thighs, as the belly fit nicely between the joints while roll cutting. The robust build instills confidence for using the knife for baton cuts. The saw was aggressive and did equally well on bone as on branches. It was the most diverse tool of all those in the test sets.

Muley Combo Specs
Designer: Leo Espinoza
Blade Lengths: Skinner 4.5”, Saw 4.25”
Blade Steel: 154CM stainless
Rockwell Hardness: 58-60 HRC, cryo-treated
Blade Grind: Flat
Blades @ Thickest: .13”
Blade Finish: Tumble
Handle Material: Tan/Black G-10 w/orange G-10 liners
Overall Lengths: Skinner 8.75”, Saw 9”
Sheath: Brown leather double model
Knife to know: Winner of Best Hunting Knife at BLADE Show West 2023
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $550

Final Cut

The reviewed sets ensure you have everything you need for field dressing and processing game efficiently. A good hunting knife set can make the process quicker and more manageable, especially when dealing with larger game. Lastly, having a set of dedicated hunting tools helps preserve the sharpness and integrity of your everyday carry knife, as it won’t be subjected to the same level of wear and tear that field dressing often involves.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives And Tools:

Tru Balance Knife Co.: 75 Years And Still On Target

Bobby Branton
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Tru Balance Knife Co.: 75 Years And Still On Target

Born as a side hustle, the legendary throwing knife company continues to hit the mark.

Small businesses that have operated continuously for 75 years are a testament to the quality of their products and the dedication of their founders and owners. Such businesses have stood the test of time and have been able to adapt to changing market conditions and consumer preferences. Knifemaking is no different.

In 1949, Harry K. McEvoy, who would soon be considered the father of modern-day knife throwing and one day be inducted into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame®, was a long-time resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He worked for the Meyercord Co. as a traveling district salesman selling decals to wallpaper and decorating stores. In his spare time, Harry spent hours in his shop designing and crafting knives. His passion for knifemaking was fueled by his ongoing search for the perfect throwing knife.

Harry McEvoy shows the form and throws one of the Tru Balance knives
BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Harry McEvoy shows the form and throws one of the Tru Balance knives that helped revolutionize knife throwing.

Knife throwing as a modern sport began shortly after World War II and centered around a few individuals who threw knives at stumps or targets in their backyards. The knives they used consisted of very primitive homemade throwers that were often much smaller than the ones you see today. Harry began making his own knives around this time because he was unable to find any commercial knives suitable for throwing.

While he practiced throwing knives in his backyard, neighbors would gather to watch. Intrigued by how well his throwers performed, the onlookers were compelled to discover the source of his knives. When he responded that he, in fact, had made them himself, they asked him to make knives for them and others who were interested, and thus was born the Tru Balance Knife Co.

Randall & Scagel’s Influence

Bobby Branton and Stephen McEvoy
The author (left) bought Tru Balance Knife Co. from Stephen McEvoy (right) in 2017. The business continued to grow but the author had to sell in 2021 due to physical issues.

Around 1951, Harry learned of a knifemaker from Orlando, Florida, and another future Cutlery Hall-of-Famer by the name of W. D. “Bo” Randall. As a fledgling hobby knifemaker, Harry decided to write to Bo about his knives and the two became fast friends, exchanging letters regularly.

McEvoy soon found out that Bo had an interest in throwing knives and was surprised to learn that a throwing knife could even be found in Bo’s catalog. As a father with young children, money was scarce for Harry, so he convinced Bo to trade a Randall thrower for a couple of McEvoy throwers. Generous and willing to help a fellow knifemaker, Bo was happy to oblige.

George E. “Skeeter” Vaughan
George E. “Skeeter” Vaughan made the most fantastic knife throw in recorded history, taking out a German sentry with a modified bayonet from 87 feet during World War II. Skeeter was also an outstanding tomahawk thrower, showing his skills here with the help of a “target girl.”

Around 1952, Bo asked Harry if he would visit yet another future Cutlery Hall-of-Famer, William Scagel, who lived very close to McEvoy in Fruitport, Michigan, and buy some of Scagel’s knives for his collection. McEvoy was more than happy to do his friend a favor. Harry would eventually befriend the reclusive Scagel, too, and on his visits watched him make knives and bought knives for himself and Bo. 

As their friendship grew, Harry would visit Bo at the Randall summer home in Michigan and would even travel to the Randall home in Orlando, Florida. The two became quite close and eventually, Bo decided to feature two Tru Balance Models in the Randall catalog. The Model #1 Professional Thrower and the now world-famous Bowie-Axe Throwing Knife made their catalog debut in early 1960, which resulted in a spike in sales for Harry.

Harry McEvoy grinding a knife
In his spare time, Harry McEvoy spent hours in his shop designing and crafting knives.

Bo thought so much of Harry’s work that he gifted one of Harry’s Tru Balance Bowie Axe throwers to astronaut Gordon Cooper. He also took Harry’s popular Bowie Axe design and modified it into a large machete-style knife and submitted it to NASA in the 1960s when NASA was looking for a machete for astronauts to carry on the Gemini missions. Unfortunately for Harry, NASA required a much thinner design and eventually chose another manufacturer, Case Knives, to make the machete.

AKTA 

Meanwhile, Tru Balance soon became the go-to company for anyone who wanted a high-quality professional throwing knife. Tru Balance throwing knives became highly sought after by soldiers heading to Vietnam, professional knife throwers and knife collectors around the world.

In 1971, Harry started the American Knife Throwers Alliance (AKTA) to aid and offer guidelines to individuals and groups who wished to organize competitively in their local areas. Harry became very close friends with professional knife throwers like Kenneth Pierce, aka Che Che Whitecloud, Paul LaCross and George E. “Skeeter” Vaughan, who holds the distinction of making the most fantastic knife throw in recorded history. Considering the circumstances surrounding his legendary feat of taking out a German sentry during World War II with a modified bayonet from 87 feet, he most likely will maintain his grasp on that honor for a long time to come. “The Saga of Skeeter Vaughan” is told by McEvoy in the April 1982 BLADE®.

Harry went on to author such books as Scagel: The Man and His Knives; Archery Today; Crusader in the Wilderness; Knife Throwing: A Practical Guide; Knife and Tomahawk Throwing: The Art Of The Experts; For Knives Lovers Only; and co-authored Knife Throwing a Modern Sport, with Charles Gruzanski. McEvoy also held two design patents and trademarks for his knife designs. He also authored other articles for BLADE, as well as for Knife World (today’s KNIFE), Muzzleloading Magazine, Fighting Knives Magazine and many more.

McEvoy Legacy

In 1991, McEvoy was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame for his exceptional contributions to the world of knives. It was around this time McEvoy’s son Stephen had taken an interest in his father’s knives and had begun learning more about the business. Stephen eventually took over the company in 1993 following Harry’s passing from an illness.

Harry McEvoy surrounded by thrown knives
When McEvoy—here mugging during a lighter moment—practiced throwing knives in his yard, neighbors would gather to watch. The onlookers showed interest in the knives, and Tru Balance Knife Co. was born.

This writer, a friend of Harry’s and a fellow knifemaker, reached out to Stephen via telephone to offer condolences and advice. We chatted regularly and, over time, as we shared stories, we developed a friendship. Our phone conversations led to Stephen’s yearly visits to my home. During one of those visits, I asked him if I could take over the defunct American Knife Throwers Alliance (AKTA) and Stephen agreed.

Stephen would continue to run Tru Balance Knife Co. the same way his father ran it for many years. In 2015, after retiring from his job as an executive at a major insurance company, Stephen began speaking to me about slowing down and retiring from making knives. Already a full-time knifemaker with my own line of throwing knives, I envisioned bringing Tru Balance Knife Co. into the 21st century by selling Tru Balance knives on its own website and promoting the business via social media.

Skeeter Vaughan’s Cherokee Indian name is Grey Otter.
Skeeter Vaughan’s Cherokee Indian name is Grey Otter. He served as a chief of the Federated Indian Tribes for a number of years.

With the newfound success spearheaded by the new business plan, Stephen finally decided to fully retire from the business. A deal was brokered and I bought Tru Balance Knife Company in 2017, moving it to my hometown of Awendaw, South Carolina. The business would continue to grow but, not long thereafter, I developed some knee issues and struggled to keep up with the company’s new customer demands. Unable to find a qualified apprentice to help me fill orders, I decided to sell the business in 2021.

Tru Balance Heads Home

Though several companies made offers to buy the company, I decided I wanted to hand-pick my successor to ensure the legacy of the Tru Balance Knife Co. and that the knives would continue to be made in the USA. As the search for the right successor was underway, a mutual friend brokered a connection between me and two brothers from Michigan who had an interest in the business and the revitalization of the AKTA. The brothers made knives as a hobby and also happened to be skilled knife throwers.

Bill and James Bednarick turned out to be the perfect choice to preserve the company’s legacy and bring it back to its original home in Michigan. With their keen eye for detail, quality and passion for knife throwing, their dedication has ensured that the Tru Balance Knife Co. has lived on to see its 75th anniversary in 2024.

Plain Vs Serrated Knives: Which Is Best For Who

Dexter Ewing
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Plain Vs Serrated Knives: Which Is Best For Who

School yourself on which edge is best for you and your knife.

Coffee or tea? Pizza or hamburger? Ice cream or cake? Truck or car? Having choices in life is a good thing. You base the choices on such criteria as what you’re in the mood for to eat, how much you can afford for a nice vehicle and more. Likewise, you have tons of choices in knives, including plain, serrated or partially serrated/combo edges.

Most choose plain edges because plain edges provide the most versatile cutting format, regardless of task. They’re also the easiest to sharpen. Some have rougher slicing tasks to do, like cutting rope, cardboard, or webbing or plastic straps. If you undertake such tasks more frequently, a knife with a serrated edge will power through tough and fibrous materials with ease. 

Knowing the intended use for your knife will help you select the proper edge format, so let’s explore the possibilities for plain, serrated and partially serrated edges. Showing typical uses for all three should help you decide which edge format is for you.

CRKT Bugsy

Bugsy’s Veff serrated teeth
Rest whatever you’re cutting inside one of the Bugsy’s Veff serrated teeth and it will help hold the material as well as cut it. 

Kaila Cumings, the three-time contestant on Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid reality TV show, designed the CRKT Bugsy. Kaila grew up hunting, fishing and camping with her father, thus starting her lifelong interest in survival skills and tools, including knives. She designed the Bugsy as a compact fixed blade with high utility characteristics and superior ergonomics. 

The 3.7-inch blade enables the knife to execute a variety of tasks related to camping/survival. The modified clip point shape with a defined tip is ideal for scoring, and the gentle sweep of the main bevel gives plenty of belly to facilitate slicing chores such as food prep. The 1095-blade steel provides good edge holding and ease of resharpening in the field. As a result, it is a favorite carbon steel of knife users. The handle’s finger grooves help lock in your grip, and their rounded edges melt into your hand.

Plain edge Bugsy cutting hose
The plain edge Bugsy works well with utility chores such as cutting rubber hose. The curve of the edge makes for great slicing action.

There are two versions of the Bugsy: a plain edge blade in a gray Cerakote® finish, a tan Micarta® handle and a leather belt sheath, and a partly serrated blade in a black Cerakote finish, a black G-10 handle and a molded Kydex sheath.  The former is outdoor/hunting themed, the latter tactical—same design, two different personalities.

Performance-wise, the Bugsy is an ideal fixed-blade companion in either flavor. It’s just shy of 7.5 inches overall, making it very comfortable for everyday carry. It’s compact enough to carry well yet there is enough blade length to handle most cutting jobs. Both versions have an MSRP of $170 and are made in the USA for CRKT by TOPS Knives.

Spyderco Paramilitary 2

Spyderco Para2 cutting rope
This is where the fully serrated Spyderco Para2 shines. Manila rope is tough to cut and the Para2 handles it without any effort exerted. “If you cut rope regularly,” the author noted, “fully serrated is the way to go.”

The Paramilitary 2, aka Para2, is one of Spyderco’s hottest-selling folders. Taking what works for the company’s full-size Military model and making it a bit more compact and pocketable, the Para2’s design and performance lineage is undeniable. It has a full-flat-ground blade that makes the Military a lean, mean cutting machine. 

There’s also the ultra-strong Compression Lock that secures the blade open, yet is easy to manipulate and close one-handed. The ergonomically shaped G-10 handle sports a nice peel-ply texture that aids in grip retention. The Para2 is built for serious EDC use. The 3.4-inch clip point blade is CPM S45VN high-performance stainless steel for enhanced edge holding. 

The reasons for the Para2’s superior cutting performance are both the full flat grind and the distal taper from tang to blade tip. The resulting progressively thinning down of the blade allows it to sail effortlessly through whatever you’re cutting. The thumb rest and finger choil boast deep traction notches for a nonslip grip, allowing a choke-up grip when more control or pressure is required.

Plain edge Para2 has a slight distal taper
The full-flat-ground blade of the plain edge Para2 has a slight distal taper from tang to tip, which makes it bite hard and sink into the cutting media. It goes through foam block like a laser.

The edges of the G-10 are chamfered to prevent hot spots. An hourglass-shaped steel pocket clip mounts in one of four ways conducive for lefties and righties, as well as blade tip up or tip down. The Para2 carries well in whatever mode you select, making it a popular choice among Spyderco enthusiasts as well as those who fancy a well-made working folder.

Spyderco long has been known for its handle shapes, blending ergonomics with smart, practical design, resulting in a knife comfortable to use for extended periods. The Para2 handle has an integral guard just behind the finger choil. There’s also a generous swell in the grip area to accommodate your fingers comfortably. The butt swells just enough to prevent your hand from sliding rearward. 

With the Para2 you have a choice of a plain or fully serrated edge. Spyderco has long been known for its fully serrated blades, with its serration pattern regarded by many as the best in the industry. The tooth pattern cuts aggressively while still having a smooth action. MSRP for the plain or serrated Para 2 is $265. Country of origin: USA.  

Plain Vs Serrated Knives

Plain and serrated or partly serrated edge versions of the same knife model, clockwise from bottom left: CRKT Bugsy plain, Spyderco Para2 plain, Para 2 fully serrated and Bugsy partially serrated.
Plain and serrated or partly serrated edge versions of the same knife model, clockwise from bottom left: CRKT Bugsy plain, Spyderco Para2 plain, Para 2 fully serrated and Bugsy partially serrated.

Choose your edge format carefully to best suit most of your cutting needs. Most opt for a plain edge for the previously mentioned reasons. A plain edge does well in a variety of settings, from opening packages to stripping wire, doing light-duty scraping tasks, and even food prep. Ninety percent of cutting tasks are suited to plain edges while roughly 10 percent or so require more muscle.

Plain edge blades are easy to sharpen as well—just be sure to select your sharpener carefully based on steel type. Harder, more-wear-resistant steels like the CPM varieties require diamond sharpeners due to how aggressively diamond abrasives cut. Steels not as hard as the CPM varieties can be addressed with diamonds too, but other types of sharpeners like ceramic are very effective as well. A properly sharpened plain edge blade is all you need for most cutting jobs, big and small.

Remember that if you can reprofile the edge angle, you can decrease it by one or two degrees to get a sharper edge. For instance, most factory edge angles are 22 degrees, average. If you cut the angle back by just two degrees, you will be surprised at how much sharper the edge will be and therefore have more bite.

You need a sharpener specifically designed to address serrations. One is the Spyderco Sharpmaker 204. Set the 204 up to where the “points” of its triangular-shaped hones contact the serrated cutting edge. The points get inside each tooth as well as sharpen the tips of the serrations. There are others out there that address serrations but the best I have found is the 204. Some say serrations are difficult to sharpen but they aren’t if you use the correct sharpener.

Again, choose your edge format carefully to match the intended uses for your knife. You don’t want to cut open boxes or prep food with a serrated blade. You can do such tasks with a serrated blade if it’s the only blade you have, but, if given a choice, such tasks are better suited for a plain edge due to the smoothness of how it cuts.

Plain Vs Serrated Knife Analysis

The plain-edge versions of the Bugsy and Para2 work exceptionally well. The Bugsy’s blade belly makes slicing effortless and has plenty of bite. The Para2’s full flat grind with distal taper allows the blade to effortlessly cleave through tough materials. The excellent edge geometry enables the blade to bite in deep. In fact, the Para2’s blade makes cutting tasks easy and fun to complete, taking the work out of work.

The serrated versions of each knife have their own pluses and minuses. With the partially serrated Bugsy, the Veff serrations are ground at an angle, cutting most effectively on the pull rather than the push cut. The large scalloped teeth also help in cutting paracord, string for weed trimmers, twine, threads and zip tie ends. Just rest whatever you are cutting inside one of the teeth and that will help to hold the material as well as cut it. 

The serrations perform great but I felt that they were ineffective for some cutting work due to their limited length. You must saw back and forth with the blade to make effective use of the serrations, and sometimes that is just not feasible. A fully serrated blade would be nicer to allow for more edge real estate to apply the serrations and make full use of them. However, for what the Veff serrations are, they work well and are aggressive. I would not rely on them a whole lot but, as they say, they’re better than nothing.

There is a reason why Spyderco makes some of the best fully serrated blades on the market. The Para2 fully serrated version is a solid, proven performer. It’s pretty much an ultra-compact folding buzzsaw in your pocket. The two-step serration pattern typical of Spyderco is aggressive in bite and smooth in action. You need not even apply an excessive amount of pressure to make the cut as the serrations enable the blade to power itself through. 

Cutting manila rope is something that is tough on edges. The edge must be very sharp to do it. When I cut rope with the fully serrated Para2, I could immediately feel the edge bite in deep and effectively power its way through. Same for cardboard. The action is a bit rough but still, it gets the job done quickly.

The fully serrated Para2 also does a surprisingly good job cutting vegetables. You would think a plain edge blade would excel with the task and while you’re certainly not wrong in your thinking, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that a fully serrated blade can handle more delicate cutting tasks well, in addition to the tougher ones that require more horsepower.

More Knife Buyer’s Guides:

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