Idaho eliminates more restrictive local ordinances, while Washington outlaws knives on public transit.
Idaho became the 14th state to enact knife law preemption while Washington state banned knives on public transport in recent knife legislative developments, according to Knife Rights.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 544 that makes it illegal to possess any knife at a “transit station,” including bus, train and trolley stops. The measure goes into effect June 6. “As such,” Knife Rights reported, “unless you manage to board and get off public transport somewhere other than a ‘transit station,’ it will be impossible to legally carry a knife on public transit.” According to Knife Rights, Second Amendment lawsuits that eventually will impact SB 544 are in various stages of litigation in the Ninth Circuit, which includes Washington state, and also nationwide, including a number of Knife Rights’ cases. Some of the cases likely will wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
As for the good news in Idaho, knife law preemption goes into effect July 1. Signed into law by Idaho Governor Brad Little on March 29, the measure eliminates local ordinances more restrictive than state laws that confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling in or through the state. Thanks to knife law preemption, citizens can expect consistent enforcement of state knife laws everywhere within Idaho. Idaho joins Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin among states covered by knife law preemption. For more information, contact kniferights.org.
Cargill’s impacted the knife industry in nearly every facet.
Bobby Lynn “Bob” Cargill, custom knifemaker, a president of the National Knife Collectors Association board of directors, and founder of Cargill Knives and Cripple Creek Cutlery, passed away January 3. Of Old Fort, Tennessee, he was 81.
Using old car springs for material, Cargill made his first knife when he was 10. He went full time in his mid-30’s circa 1975 making knives via the stock removal method, including folders, some fancy, lockbacks and multi-blades. He used 440C, 154CM, D2 and other steels for blades, and mother-of-pearl, stag, bone, Micarta®, ivory and wood for handles.
He joined the Guild in 1979. “What I enjoy most is the completed knife,” he was quoted as saying in Knifemakers: An Official Directory of the Knifemakers Guild, “because it is rewarding to see a design on paper developed … If I can’t deliver a knife that I’m proud of and make you a little bit happier and proud to collect my knives, then I don’t want your money.”
Cargill had his right leg amputated below the knee as a result of a car accident. However, instead of letting it hold him back, he used it as inspiration for the name of Cripple Creek Cutlery. Founded in 1981 in Lockport, Illinois, Cripple Creek specialized in slipjoints in classic patterns and natural handle materials.
Consisting mostly of slipjoints—they were called pocketknives back then—club knives were big in the late 1970s and throughout the ’80s, and Cripple Creek was among a number of companies that provided knives for knife clubs nationwide, companies that included Case, Queen, Hen & Rooster, A.G. Russell, Fight’n Rooster, KA-BAR, Boker, Schrade and others. Among the knife clubs Cripple Creek made club knives for included the Western Reserve Cutlery Association, Allegheny Mountain Knife Collectors Association, Central Kentucky Knife Club, Badger Knife Club, the Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association and others. He was active in the American Edge Collectors Association. Cripple Creek also made limited-edition slipjoints for Knife World in the early 1980s when BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Houston Price owned the magazine. Knife World is now known as Knife Magazine. Bob also made club knives under the Cargill Knives mark for such knife clubs as the Soy Knife Collectors Club.
Bob sold Cripple Creek in 1993 and it operated under Blackjack Knives in Effingham, Illinois, until 1995. He was on the Guild’s “knifemaker emeritus” list at the time of his passing. He is survived by his three children, nine grandchildren, several great grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.
Fixed-blade hunter finds its roots a knife gifted to CRKT’s founder.
CRKT is 30 years old this year, but who’s counting candles? Apparently, the company, because it’s commemorating the milestone with the release of a little something. And what better way for an outdoorsy brand from Oregan to mark an anniversary than with a hunting knife—a dang slick-looking one at that.
Shake hands with the Soldotna.
Designed by renowned craftsman, guide and all-around outdoorsman Russ Kommer the knife is a bit of a team effort. With the Soldotna, CRKT partnered with the master blacksmiths at Vegas Forge in Nevada to make the blade’s Damascus steel and worked with TOPS Knives in Idaho to manufacture the knife. It comes with a full-grain leather sheath with a belt loop and stud closer, which is hand-made in Idaho. Yet, the design itself is pure Kommer.
The Soldotna’s roots lie in a custom knife the maker and backwoodsman created for CRKT founder Rod Bremer. As the story goes, it was a gift for Bremer’s grandson who had a particularly special hunt planned. The name of the knife, interestingly, comes from an Alaskan town near the Kenai River where Kommer and Bremer would angle for king salmon together.
In addition to the limited edition, CRKT is offering a carbon steel version with a tan canvas Micarta handle.
As for the knife itself, it’s designed as a do-all hunting knife boasting a 3.5-inch drop-point blade, with a flat grind. It has enough belly for skinning detail but is svelte enough—particularly at the point—to handle more fine jobs in the field.
Ergonomics take the front seat in this extremely manageable knife, with a slight palm swell in the walnut handle to ensure it fills the hand. Furthermore, there’s a slight curvature near the finger guard, a safety feature that locks the knife in hand and prevents slipping. Well thought out, to say the least.
CRKT is only doing a limited run of the damascus Soldotna, with only 200 pieces up for sale. One of these beauties will set you back $500. However, if you don’t have that sort of change floating around your couch cushions, CRKT is offering a Cerakoted carbon steel Soldotna at a much more affordable $200. Note, the carbon steel model has the same specs as the Damascus, except in steel and handle material, which is tan canvas Micarta.
A sushi knife that developed a taste for Texas brisket.
You might say Daniel O’Connor’s Black Widow leads a double life. It started as a sushi knife but when one of Daniel’s Texas pals said it looked like it would make a great brisket knife, O’Connor went with the flow, telling his friend, “It’s about whatever you want it to be.”
Based on a kiritsuke yanagi-ba sushi knife, Black Widow features a damascus of 150 layers of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels. Daniel forged the steels in a square and then forged them flat, perpendicular to the original stack. This resulted in the edges of the layers showing up in more or less straight lines, what Japanese swordsmiths call masame hada.
The accompanying image of the knife’s butt shows how the layers distorted when forged on edge. Daniel indicated he will use the pattern in the future.
Black Widow Specs Blade length: 12” Blade grind: A double urashi—double bevel w/a slight hollow on each side Handle: Bocote burl w/red fiber liners Bolster: Bog oak Overall length: 17” Sheath: Irish yew and bog oak Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,500
The EDC fixed blade proves itself more than just a pretty face.
After finding First Degree Forge’s website, I reached out to Joshua Brown about testing one of his knives for “Spec Sheet.” He agreed and sent me his EDC Fighter. The shape really caught my eye, along with the blue-and-black handle. The grinds are symmetrical from side to side. I checked the handle for any epoxy gaps and found none, though I did find a few areas that might cause a hot spot or two while cutting.
Light Cutting Tests
I went straight to the 20-pound bond copy paper for the initial sharpness check. The EDC Fighter zipped through the material quickly and repeatedly. I had to really concentrate on moving my fingers quickly so I didn’t leave any DNA on the paper or the knife. Joshua’s blade is very sharp indeed.
I had an extra box to pull a slicing piece from. The cardboard parted quickly. I could feel some friction as I finished the cuts. It was the medium dragging on the thick blade spine, giving the cardboard a slight curl. However, there was no slowdown in cutting.
The EDC Fighter crunched its way through 190 cuts in the sisal rope.
A piece of 8-ounce leather was next. The EDC Fighter sliced it smoothly and aggressively. I could hear every crunching slice, a sound that brings a smile to my face. The handle was comfortable but felt a tad thick for my hand.
I rolled right into some skiving with the same leather. The edge crunched into the material cleanly. Overall, the EDC Fighter was quite controllable at keeping the spacing between slices even. The flat-ground blade indexed perfectly off my finger.
Heavy Cutting Tests
Whittling time! The edge produced some thick curly-cues and wanted to bite deep into the wood (there was some possible wood grain deflection). The handle made for a secure cutting grip but the steel near the choil was sharp on my skin. A little sandpaper would remove the unwanted sharpness.
Next on the menu was some baton work on a knotted pine 2×4. The large handle was comfortable and stopped any shock from transferring to my hand. The blade drove smoothly through the wood with little damage—only a little smear on the finish.
The edge produced some thick curly-cues and wanted to bite deep into the wood. The handle made for a secure cutting grip but the steel area by the choil was unnecessarily sharp on the author’s skin. A little sandpaper would remove the unwanted edge.
The sharpness test on sisal rope awaited. The EDC Fighter crunched its way through 190 cuts. I found that the thumb rest also had a sharp edge to it—again, an easy fix with sandpaper. The handle was comfy and the palm swells worked great.
The final paper slice was barely different from the first. What little problem there was mostly was caused by the paper picking up some dampness in the air. The edge remained very sharp.
Last of all was my regular semi-destructive test—whacking the edge into a whitetail deer antler. I gave the knife 30 good antler chops and didn’t hurt the edge at all. Heat-treatment grade: great!
Botton Line
The EDC Fighter is a very nice knife, comfortable to hold and an outstanding performer.
Changes
Soften the previously mentioned non-blade sharp edges where fingers or thumb meet steel.
Sate your cutting needs with the world’s latest factory knives and sharpeners.
Have an itch that only a new knife will scratch? Look no further as we’ve gathered up a slew of new factory blades fresh on the market and ready to please. There is a load of pocket and EDC options in this haul, but there are a few outdoor-angled knives and knife accessories thrown in for good measure.
Hogue Knives Mysto
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: Jim Bruhns BLADE LENGTH: 3.4” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GRIND: Compound hollow BLADE OPENER: Thumb studs HANDLE MATERIAL: 6Al-4V titanium LOCK: ABLE Lock® POCKET CLIP: Ambidextrous, blade tip up WEIGHT: 3.5 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.4” SPECIAL FEATURES: Thumb studs and backspacers anodized red COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $329.95-$349.95 AVAILABLE: Now hogueinc.com/knives
Kershaw Bel Air
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 62-64 HRC BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: 6061-T6 aluminum BLADE OPENER: Thumb stud LOCK: DuraLock POCKET CLIP: Right/left deep carry, blade tip up WEIGHT: 2.9 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.2” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $249.99 AVAILABLE: Now kershaw.kaiusa.com
Bear OPS Rancor IX
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 2.75” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel BLADE GRIND: Taper HANDLE MATERIAL: Zytel BLADE OPENER: Flipper and/or thumb studs LOCK: Slidelock POCKET CLIP: Reversible, blade tip-up carry WEIGHT: 2.6 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4 3/8” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $100.99 AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Now bearandsoncutlery.com
Maserin Power
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: Sergio Consoli BLADE LENGTH: 3.149” BLADE STEEL: N690 stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Fat Carbon LOCK: W-Lock POCKET CLIP: Yes WEIGHT: 3.174 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.33” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy MSRP: $197 AVAILABLE: April maserin.com
A.G. Russell Knives Power Ball 4
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member A.G. Russell BLADE LENGTH: 3.25” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 60-61 HRC BLADE GRIND: Flat sabre HANDLE MATERIAL: Blue (shown) or green G-10 BLADE OPENER: Thumb stud BLADE FINISH: Handrubbed LOCK: Design inspired by Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Blackie Collins POCKET CLIP: Deep pocket left or right hand, blade tip up WEIGHT: 3.7 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25” SPECIAL FEATURES: Bold G-10 colors COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $135 AVAILABLE: Now agrussell.com
Fox Cutlery ATCF Original Gangster
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola BLADE LENGTH: 3.54” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE FINISH: Stonewashed HANDLE MATERIAL: Coarse stonewashed titanium BLADE OPENER: Thumb disc LOCK: Linerlock POCKET CLIP: One-side titanium WEIGHT: 6.34 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 5.04” SHEATH: Nylon pouch COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy AVAILABLE: May foxknives.com
Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener
ABRASIVES: Discs in coarse diamond, fine diamond and ceramic GRITS: 320, 600, ceramic ANGLE GUIDE: Magnetic angle block provides four options: 15, 17, 20 and 25 degrees DIMENSIONS: 3.75” L x 2.6” W x 2.6” H BODY MATERIAL: Metal, soft touch rubber, plastic WEIGHT: 1.9 lbs. KNIFE TYPES SHARPENED: Large, small and kitchen knives and pocketknives EDGE TYPES SHARPENED: Plain SPECIAL FEATURES: Tri-axle drive system follows blade length smoothly, and Soft Touch grip adds comfort and safety COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Designed, calibrated and quality checked in Ashland, Oregon, using foreign components MSRP: $150 AVAILABLE: Now worksharptools.com
Kellam Knives Worldwide Jouni 80
KNIFE PATTERN: Puukko DESIGNER: Jouni Kellokoski BLADE LENGTH: 4 7/8” BLADE STEEL: Stainless BLADE GRIND: Scandi HANDLE MATERIAL: Arctic curly birch WEIGHT: 3.8 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.5” SPECIAL FEATURES: First 100 are numbered SHEATH: Leather dangler COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Finland MSRP: $169.98 AVAILABLE: Now KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife commemorates the 80th birthday of its designer and company headman, Jouni Kellokoski. kellamknives.com
Queen Cutlery Slipjoint Pocketknife
BLADE LENGTHS: Clip 2 5/16”, spey 2 5/64” and sheepsfoot 2” BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon steel BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Stag PINS, SHIELD & BOLSTER: Nickel silver WEIGHT: 2.8 ozs. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $93.99 AVAILABLE: Now queencutleryhistory.com
Cold Steel Caledonian
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 4.25” BLADE STEEL: CPM 20CV stainless BLADE GRIND: Hollow HANDLE MATERIAL: Forged carbon fiber BLADE OPENER: Stud LOCK: Linerlock POCKET CLIP: Deep carry, blade tip up WEIGHT: 5.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 5 1/8” SPECIAL FEATURES: All titanium frame and liners COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan MSRP: $499.99 AVAILABLE: May coldsteel.com
Coast Founder’s Series Origin
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: Doug Hutchens BLADE LENGTH: 3.35” BLADE STEEL: 9Cr18MoV stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE FINISH: Black titanium nitride BLADE OPENER: Flipper tab HANDLE MATERIAL: Stainless steel damascus LOCK: Framelock POCKET CLIP: Stainless steel, blade tip down WEIGHT: 2.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $99.99 AVAILABLE: Now coastportland.com
Alliance Designs EZE 2.0
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC flipper folder DESIGNER: Ray Laconico BLADE LENGTH: 3.15” BLADE STEEL: Elmax stainless BLADE GEOMETRY: Laconico’s “Angry Grind” BLADE PATTERN: Tanto HANDLE MATERIAL: Titanium integral BLADE OPENER: Flipper tab LOCK: Framelock POCKET CLIP: Blade tip up WEIGHT: 4.69 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” SPECIAL FEATURES: Chad Nichols Dark Ti accents COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $495 AVAILABLE: Now KNIFE TO KNOW: Clever grooves at the base of the handle provide a secure grip; the integral handle design is milled from a solid block of titanium; re-engineered flipper tab with gimping. alliance-designs.com
Blackbird Products Dominator
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: David McHan BLADE LENGTH: 4” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel BLADE GRIND: Hollow HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 PIVOT: Ball bearings LOCK: PLX Bar Lock CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Assembled in USA, globally sourced components MSRP: $74.99 AVAILABLE: June blackbirdproducts.com
Bradford USA Guardian 4.2
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 4.825” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GEOMETRY: Sabre and full-height grinds HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10, Micarta® or carbon fiber WEIGHT: 6.7 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.375” SHEATH TYPE/MATERIAL: Vertical bridle; leather COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $269 AVAILABLE: Now bradfordknives.com
Reate PL-XT
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: Nitro-V stainless BLADE FINISH: Stonewashed or black PVD HANDLE MATERIAL: Micarta® or G-10 BLADE OPENER: Thumb studs LOCK: Pivot Lock WEIGHT: 4.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 3.9” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRPs: $112 (stonewashed) and $117 (black PVD) AVAILABLE: Now reateknives.com
Halfbreed Blades Compact Clearance Knife XL
KNIFE PATTERN: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 5.11” BLADE MATERIAL: Bohler K110 D2 tool steel ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-60 HRC BLADE PATTERN: Spear point BLADE FINISH: Teflon coated HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 WEIGHT: 2.32 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.29” SHEATH: Injection-molded plastic COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Comprises Australian and Taiwanese make MSRP: $245 AVAILABLE: Now halfbreedblades.com
Smith’s Eclesis Model 51394
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC flipper folder BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: 3Cr13 stainless faux damascus ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-60 HRC BLADE PATTERN: Drop point HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 LOCK: Framelock POCKET CLIP: Blade tip up COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Offshore MSRP: $32.99 AVAILABLE: Now smithsproducts.com
Puma SGB Hunter’s Pal
KNIFE PATTERN: Fixed-blade hunter BLADE LENGTH: 4” BLADE STEEL: 1.4116 German cutlery stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 55-57 HRC, proofmarked BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Choice of black or white G-10, jacaranda wood, olive wood, Commando Stag, stag WEIGHT: 4.69 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 8” SHEATH: .1” vegetable tanned leather COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $197.99 (stag) AVAILABLE: Now KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is the Puma SGB version of, and a tribute to, the decades-old Puma GmbH Hunter’s Pal 116397. pumaknifecompanyusa.com
Ocaso The Delos
KNIFE TYPE: Gentleman’s folder DESIGNER: Kurt Merriken BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: 120-layer German damascus ROCKWELL HARDNESS: HRC 60-61 BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE @ THICKEST: .12” BLADE PATTERN: Modified tanto BLADE FINISH: Rose pattern damascus HANDLE MATERIAL: Titanium and Fat Carbon Black Dunes or Dark Matter Blue LOCK: Framelock BLADE OPENER: Thumb stud PIVOT MATERIALS: Stainless steel caged bearings POCKET CLIP: Contoured titanium WEIGHT: 3 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy MSRP: $524.99-$549.99 AVAILABLE: Spring ocasoknives.com
Coast SP425
SHARPENER TYPE: Diamond whetstone DESIGNER: Doug Hutchens ABRASIVE: Diamond plated onto fiberglass/nylon substrate GRITS: 400 and 600 DIMENSIONS: 9” long BODY MATERIAL: Nylon w/fiberglass fill WEIGHT: 2.1 ozs. KNIFE TYPES SHARPENED: All plain-edge models SPECIAL FEATURE: Folding sharpener COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $19.99 AVAILABLE: Now coastportland.com
We put the Boker Plus Vigtig vs. Wild and Condor Tool & Knife head to head to see which come out on top in the backwoods.
A couple of decades ago, attention started turning to the category of bushcraft knives. As usual, custom knifemakers were the ones filling the demand and leading the way. I was proud to be among them, along with such makers as Scott Gossman and others. There were those* before us but the push back then seemed more on survival knives with a tactical leaning.
After the push started, many smelled the opportunity to make money and the genre was flooded with assorted marketing schemes and people seeking their 15 minutes of fame. In all the confusion of people wanting to become famous and cash in, the true meaning of bushcraft was lost.
The thinner steel thickness on the Condor Tool & Knife Lipotes enables it to make finer curlicues than the Boker Vigtig vs. Wild. Designed by Dave Wenger and made in Germany, the Boker has an MSRP of $194.95. Joe Flowers designed the Lipotes, which is made in El Salvador. MSRP: $64.98.
A bushcraft knife is not something meant to be indestructible at all costs. It instead has always been a tool of creation. Now I see most marketing or testing related to whether the knife can be pounded through a log, a log that most likely would be unavailable if not for a chainsaw. No, the bushcraft knife started out as a tool, nimble in hand, keen in cutting and used to fabricate things in the bush, things not just to accommodate survival but to help a person thrive. In that reasonable light and practical expectation of the genre, let’s see how the Boker Plus Vigtig vs. Wild and Condor Tool & Knife Lipotes are suited to help you thrive in nature.
Boker Plus Vigtig
The Boker sports a molded Kydex sheath with an ambidextrous belt clip. The sheath holds the knife secure while still allowing for an easy draw when using a thumb push off.
The Boker’s 3.35-inch blade features a Scandinavian, aka Scandi, grind, a grind in which the major bevel is the only bevel and goes straight to zero. Executed correctly, the grind should take up at least a third of the blade’s width. If the grind is any shallower it will be too steep. Some variation on the height of the grind is due to the thickness of material. Being too steep will decrease the effectiveness of the blade to cut because the angle of the edge will plow into the work material—and when I cut with the Boker, it did just that. It is not that it won’t cut with a steep angle, it just tries to take heavier cuts as it dives. Therefore, you don’t get the thin controlled cuts as easy as a properly executed grind.
Scandi grinds are popular in bushcraft because of their amazing effectiveness carving wood. In the game area they work fine but you will often find that bone wreaks havoc on a Scandi edge. In addition, the cross profile of the blade is not optimized for processing meat. Full flat grinds process soft, malleable materials such as meat best since there is no shoulder on the blade to bind as the meat flows along the cross-section profile. On flat grinds you also have a secondary bevel, or micro bevel as some call it, and it takes hitting bone better. The Boker is a full-tang knife with a blade .16 inch thick at the thickest, somewhat thick for a bushcraft knife. A clever feature is how the spine is finished. To strike a ferro rod off the blade spine you need a crisp edge. Sharp spines are more effective at generating sparks but are not very comfortable if you need to use a pinch grip or a thumb extension on a power grip. To address the issue, the Boker has a sharp spine toward the tip and a crisp spine section near the handle.
Note how much thicker (.16 inch at the thickest) the Boker blade is than that of the Lipotes (.13 inch at the thickest).
The handle is green linen Micarta® with beefy mechanical fasteners that double as lanyard holes. For those who prefer a full grip it has good profile contouring and leaves a blocky handle from side to side. There are no hot spots while still providing control. The blade is CPM MagnaCut stainless steel and is wide for its size. With its thicker blade it batons well through small branches to make small kindling. You trade some agility for durability with a beefier blade material.
The molded Kydex sheath rides high and boasts a metal belt clip that screws on for right- or left-hand carry. The knife locks securely into the sheath yet not so much you can’t easily withdraw it.
I think the Boker has its good points. I do prefer my bushcraft knife to be more of a nimble cutting tool. Overall, if the edge were ground higher this knife would up its game substantially.
Wild and Condor Tool & Knife Lipotes
For ease of baton work, the general rule is the cutting medium should be no wider than one-third the length of the blade. The Lipotes has a 4.15-inch blade of 14C28N stainless steel.
Let’s start with the handle on the Lipotes (among others, a lipotes is an endangered species of dolphin). It is an extended hidden tang and not a full tang—that’s right, not a full tang. Some time ago a well-known knife company introduced an extended-hidden-tang version of a knife and called it a full tang, and all the marketers and social media influencers decided to rename a feature so everyone could fall in line. If you can’t see the tang all around the knife’s handle, it isn’t a full tang.
Along with rat-tail tangs, hidden tangs have the distinct advantage of being some of the most comfortable knives in use. The steel element is totally encapsulated in the handle, allowing the maker to have full control in contouring the scales. In other words, you basically have a tang that will not interrupt how the material is shaped.
The Lipotes handle is very comfortable and the texture in the molded material provides a secure grip. As for the hidden tang extension, it can be used as a small hammering device or even a scraper.
Except for the grind, I like the overall proportions of the knife. As with the Boker, the grind doesn’t go high enough. It will still cut but the cutting would be greatly optimized if the grind were half its height taller. It performed well in its cutting tasks with power cuts, feathering and the like. However, it still missed the ease of cut and control of a higher grind. If I could, I would love to get my hands on a bunch of these blades and regrind them.
The Lipotes has a quality sheath that holds the knife nice and tight when you ramble through the woods. The leather belt loop riveted to the back won’t accommodate a wide belt.
I really like the sheath. It has a nice, deep carry. It is a molded plastic with a good friction fit. It is a bit mysterious to me as to why the belt loop is so small. Only a dress belt would fit through it. You could still run a cord through it for neck carry or a baldric. The Joe Flowers design checks off so many of the boxes for a good tool. I would have been singing its praises more with a higher grind. Instead, I am pretty much humming.
More Than Survival
To repeat, a bushcraft knife isn’t just for survival, it is a tool of creation. Often the real goal of an issue gets lost in the minutiae that results from personal gain and egos. Over the years, marketing and self-promotion have polluted bushcraft until we have lost it in a sea of books and an ocean of social media. A look at a simple tool such as a knife can really remind us of what bushcraft is about. It is about man’s will to do more than just survive. Man strives to prosper.
I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes about tools by Thomas Carlyle: “Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.”
*Author’s note: The origins of the discussions of bushcraft can be attributed to such enthusiasts as Mors Kochanski, Larry Dean Olsen, Lofty Wiseman, Ray Mears and others.
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