Page 58 – BLADE Magazine

What Makes A Great Pocketknife? The Pros Weigh In

Folding Knives

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April 8, 2024

What Makes A Great Pocketknife? The Pros Weigh In

Some lean traditional, others modern and others “whatever’s in my pocket is fine”.

There are times when a pocketknife is essential and times when it’s not pragmatic. Though I’m guessing most BLADE readers wouldn’t be the ones who’d cause a problem, have you ever had a knife confiscated by the Transportation Security Administration? Sure, it’s in the name of world peace or whatever, but if you find yourself frequently in airports the best pocketknife might be the one you leave at home.

I’m fixing to admit a heresy: As a knife writer and knifemaker with a work-from-home day job, I don’t often carry a pocketknife. I have a small imported Benchmade on my work desk, and some of my “knife collection” is in my office, but that’s all. In my house I’ve got knives everywhere I go—kitchen, bedroom, office, outdoor shop, all over the place. I rarely carry one yet rarely go without. I also fly occasionally, so even my keychain knife has become out-of-pocket.

Let’s drill down through all the “it depends” and get to the final question: What’s the perfect pocketknife? Of course, there’s no definitive answer but there are some perspectives.

Jordan Wagner of DLT Trading

The Les George VECM is clean and ergonomic and checks the boxes for a high-end modern pocketknife: premium CPM MagnaCut stainless blade steel, titanium framelock and easy opening.

When it comes to the modern high-end folder, Jordan Wagner of DLT Trading said, “My favorite would be the Les George VECP. What sets it apart for me is Les’s tremendous attention to detail in both design and execution. His designs are clean and simple without being pedestrian, and they perform phenomenally in use. The VECP handle has fantastic ergonomics and is comfortable in multiple hand positions, while still feeling safe and locked in during use. The blade shape is functional and handsome, and his grinds tend to be extremely slicey. The VECP really hits all the buttons I look for in an EDC knife.”

Ben Petersen of Knafs

According to the author, the CIVIVI Sendy designed by Ben Peterson combines some of the best elements of traditional and modern design, including a barlow-shaped frame, choice of a clip-point (shown here) or spey pattern blade, Nitro-V stainless blade steel, a Micarta® handle, flipper tab, linerlock and the author’s favorite: a tweezers and toothpick that slides under the scales a la a Swiss Army knife.

In addition to being co-founder of Knafs, Ben Petersen also designs knives. His latest entry is a model produced under the CIVIVI brand called the Sendy. In an innovative genius kind of way, Ben combines some of the best elements of traditional and modern design. The knife comes in Nitro-V, a stainless steel that threads the fine line between ease of sharpening and edge holding. It compares favorably to the traditional carbon steel knives of old yet sharpens much easier than the newer powder-metallurgy super steels.

The Sendy’s overall profile resembles a traditional barlow, with straight lines and a butt end wider than the tip. The blade comes in both spey and clip-point patterns. Also thrown in are more contemporary features such as a front flipper tab, linerlock, ceramic bearings, and a deep-carry, reversible pocket clip. However, what really sends this one over the top for me is the inclusion of tweezers and a toothpick that slide under the scales in the traditional Swiss Army knife configuration. Ben successfully combined modern and traditional elements into a very versatile, user-friendly pocketknife.

Goldie Russell Of A.G. Russell

A pocketknife that appeals to the author is the Skinny Brute from A.G. Russell Knives, a traditional lockback in CPM S35VN stainless blade steel. There’s a choice of carbon fiber (2.6 ounces and $135 MSRP) or green G-10 (2.9 ounces and $99 MSRP) for the “skinny”—a half-inch thick at the swell—handle. Blade and closed lengths: 3.25 and 4 1/8 inches. Country of origin: China.

I reached out to BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Goldie Russell, who with her late husband, Cutlery Hall-of-Famer A.G. Russell, basically invented mail-order knife catalogs. Over the years the A.G. Russell Knives brand has marketed a huge variety of pocketknives and fixed blades, domestic and imported. The current catalog includes some interesting designs that blend modern and traditional sensibilities. One that appeals to me is the Skinny Brute, a traditional lockback in modern materials.

“A.G. designed the Brute in the 1970s,” Goldie began. “He and handmade knifemaker W.C. ‘Bill’ Davis perfected A.G.’s idea that by using Micarta® a folder could be made without metal liners. The result of that collaboration was the A.G. Russell Brute. At some point in the late 1970s, A.G. stopped offering them. In the early 1990s, we began to work with Bill again and for a number of years they were again made by hand in the U.S.A. For over five decades our customers have loved the profile, the deep nail mark for one-handed opening, the weight and the rest of the features of the design. Now, after many years, it is back, with a handle that is just a little thinner.”

Joe Culpepper of Culpepper & Co.

Case/Tony Bose collaboration — Joe Culpepper of Culpepper & Co. and Old School Knife Works is a fan of the Case/BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Tony Bose collaboration swayback jack, as well as other swayback patterns, in either single- or double-blade configurations. (Old School Knife Works image)

When it comes to the traditional pocketknife, Joe Culpepper of Culpepper & Co. handle material supplies and Old School Knife Works is a fan of the Case/Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Tony Bose collaboration swayback jack, as well as other swayback patterns, in either single- or double-blade configurations. “I think the design is simple, clean and elegant, and,” Joe stressed, “jigged bone is a must!”

What’s In Your Pocket?

Even among industry insiders, not everyone has the same preferences or shares the same opinions on what makes a perfect pocketknife. Some lean more traditional, others more modern and others more “whatever’s in my pocket is fine.”
No matter your preference, buy all the knives you can afford and carry them as often as you can. After all, you never know—the “perfect” pocketknife may just be the one you have on you when you need it most.

More On Pocketknives:

5 BEST POCKET KNIFE SHARPENER OPTIONS
POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES: NEW POCKETKNIFE DROPS
WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT POCKETKNIFE?
HOW TO CLOSE A POCKETKNIFE

2024 BLADE Show Texas: Big Show with a Small Show Feel

Steve Shackleford

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April 3, 2024

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2024 BLADE Show Texas: Big Show with a Small Show Feel

BLADE Show Texas makes the “impossible” look easy.

“BLADE, it seems, has done the impossible—having a successful knife show in Texas!” exclaimed Bill Ruple, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member and “The Maestro” of custom slipjoint knifemakers. “All of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel guys had excellent sales. I can’t wait till BLADE Atlanta!”

The fact Bill brought 10 knives to the 3rd Annual BLADE Show Texas in the Fort Worth Convention Center and sold them all pronto would seem sufficient to bear out his observation, but selling out is pretty much routine for the big friendly Texan. No, it was more than just brisk knife sales that made the third rendition of the show February 23-24 so appealing. It was also the number of people—and agreeable people at that—attending.

“The attendance at the show was off the chart,” noted exhibiting knifemaker Roger Green, who sold six of the eight knives he brought—including four push daggers to one customer—and happily entertained a number of selfie requests from show patrons. “It seems both days were equally busy.”

Blade Show Texas award winners — Most of the factory and custom knife winners proudly display their trophies after the award presentation at the Hilton Hotel Fort Worth. From left: Phil Jacob; Harvey Dean; Mark Winburn; Evan Nicolaides (ESNYX); Jason Knight (behind Nicolaides); Princeton Wong; Jared Oeser; Jim Rodebaugh; Mike Quesenberry (behind Rodebaugh); Karis Fisher; Les George; Allen Elishewitz; David Deng (Reate); Joe Vero (Vero Engineering); Anthony Marfione (Heretic); Franco de Souza (behind Marfione and Ramm holding up his three awards); Peyton Ramm; and Tim Robertson.

The atmosphere in and around the show itself impressed ABS master smith Brion Tomberlin. “I like that this show is more laid back than BLADE Atlanta. It’s easy to get to. We stayed at a nice hotel with decent room rates. There are plenty of restaurants within easy walking distance. It’s a good set up,” he wrote. “It is a big show with a small show feel, if that makes sense.” The show hall indeed was bigger, with an additional 100 exhibitors over the previous year bringing the total to more than 400, plus an additional 28,000 square feet of space. Added Brion, “More space is good.”

The mix of show patrons was all over the board. Diane Carver of Fox Cutlery in the factory section indicated about 75 percent were sophisticated knife enthusiasts “willing to purchase expensive knives.” Set up in the custom section, Tomberlin broke it down even more: “About 10 percent were seasoned collectors and enthusiasts and about 30 percent were buyers who know what they want and come for the latest trends. Sixty percent were newbies who want to see what a knife show is all about.”

The seasoned buyers and those who know what they want no doubt helped make it a successful show for many exhibitors. In addition to Ruple a number sold out, Duane Dwyer and Bobby House among them, Fox Cutlery and Pro-Tech reported brisk sales and many did more than well enough to return. Among them was Burt Flanagan, who in addition to selling his award-winning slippies also sold three heat-treating ovens in his role representing Paragon Industries. Tomberlin brought five knives and sold two, a mix from high end to lower price. “Not a fantastic show for me sales wise but not horrible, either,” he observed. ABS master smith Harvey Dean sold his slicing knife, winner of Best Kitchen Knife, for $6,400 and took four other orders in the four-figure range. Smiled Harvey, “A lot of those orders will develop into more down the line.”

Sword at Blade Show Texas — Swords were hot at the Valiant Armoury booth.

NEW AWARDS

To open up the custom and factory knife judging segments to more knife styles and contestants, show officials made several improvements.

To provide an award avenue for tomahawks, swords, innovative designs and other “specialty pieces,” the category of Best of the Rest was added to both the custom and factory segments. Also in the factory segment, the categories of Best American Made and Best Imported were added, with Best Tactical being dropped.

Finally, in an effort to recognize knives that came within a whisker of winning but were edged out for one reason or another, a new award called Best Contender was introduced to the custom segment, with three makers earning the new honor. For the list of all the award winners, see sidebars.

SEE YOU THERE!
All in all, it was a most rewarding show for most everyone who came. Next year’s show will return to the Fort Worth Convention Center March 7-8. See you there, partner.

Check Out Previous Custom Award Winners:

Folding Knives: New Sleek, Lanky And Able Options

Mike Haskew

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April 2, 2024

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Folding Knives: New Sleek, Lanky And Able Options

Sleek new factory folders fuel consumer demand.

There’s a lanky breed of factory folder fueling consumer demand, and several notable entries in the genre are turning heads. Accomplished designers have teamed with knife companies to meld form and function with select materials to accomplish a sleek, majestic look exhibiting comfortable carry and easy deployment.

CRKT Stylus

The high-powered combination of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Ken Onion and Columbia River Knife & Tool has resulted in the Stylus, tailor made for a man or woman on the move who appreciates quality attributes in an EDC knife with great aesthetics.

“The Stylus is made to tackle just about any EDC task you can throw at it,” related Doug Flagg, CRKT vice president of marketing and innovation. “Boxes and letters are, of course, no match, but the blade has some paring knife characteristics so that it excels at peeling and even piercing tasks as well.”

Flagg has carried a Stylus for months and attests to its ability to make short work of straps, clam packaging and even a steak. “We went lean with the Stylus to balance form and function, really,” he added. “It’s lightweight, so it’s easy to carry, but it also has a certain panache that makes a statement any time you pull it out of your pocket.”

The lightweight handle combines strength with minimal weight. Texture adds purchase and control with a ridge line that brings a dimension of safety, preventing the knife from twisting in your hand. Fine 12C27 stainless blade steel and assisted opening with the Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) add to user enjoyment.

Designed by *BLADE Magazine* Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Ken Onion, the CRKT Stylus features an assisted opening blade and a linerlock, and opens and closes via the Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS). Pocket clip: stainless steel. Closed length: 4.15 inches.

According to Flagg, Onion wanted to create a simple, streamlined pocketknife that could act as sort of an office EDC to be carried in a shirt pocket, fifth pocket or standard pants pocket. “Across the knife world, Ken noticed a movement toward cleaner, leaner, more simplified designs that were a different approach compared to his typically large and more flowing knives,” Flagg concluded. “With the Stylus he was really trying to emulate that and have some fun with something new and unique.”

Coast Products Founder Series

Coast LX500 — The LX500 in the Coast Founder’s Series is a design by Todd Ernst and David Goldman. The 2.85-inch tanto blade is flat-ground 9Cr18MoV stainless steel and the handle comes in a choice of black (shown here) or green canvas Micarta®, aluminum and titanium. The deep-carry, rollover-style pocket clip is reversible.

The Founder’s Series from Coast Products is a design collaboration between Todd Ernst and David Goldman, and it hit the mark with the intent to produce an elegant executive knife. “Based on feedback from customers and when looking at our offering, we wanted to design something that would not necessarily look like a knife when in a shirt or pocket,” explained Doug Hutchens, Coast sales operations manager.

“A knife designed to flip open must have a combination of correct geometry, minimal weight in the blade, and ball bearings at the pivot to create minimal friction to facilitate easy flipping,” Hutchens noted. “The tanto blade style is also popular and provides good looks. Then, without sacrificing strength in the frame, we designed the Micarta®, aluminum and titanium handle choices to keep weight at a minimum.”

The variety of handle materials makes buyers checking out the Founder’s Series feel like kids in a candy store. Hutchens noted that each material is attractive, strong and designed to give the customer variety in aesthetics. “That’s so they can choose the style that they like best,” he said. “Another customization was the pin color in the end of the knife handle, which was designed to be visible when carried in a pocket. At purchase, we provide two pin color options for the customer to further choose their own styling. The red pin is a nod to the red Coast ring trademark, which you’ll find on most every Coast product.”

Coast Founder’s Series LX502 — The LX502 iteration in the Coast Founder’s Series sports a blackened blade that secures via a linerlock and a stonewashed titanium handle. The red pin in the handle butt is a nod to the red Coast ring trademark found on most every company product. Closed length: 4.25 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $49.99.

Thin but mighty, the Founder’s Series is up to the rigor of daily use. Hutchens commented, “All knife design is a compromise with purpose. The length of the handle allows the butt of the knife to be captured by the user’s palm easily and quickly. Because of this there is no need for large finger grooves or guard projections. Lock it into your palm and it is very secure in your hand.”

Spyderco Ikuchi

Paul Alexander and the Spyderco design team have created a long, lean gem in the Ikuchi, distinctive with its scalpel-like blade boasting the company’s trademark hole. Alexander looked at a number of traditional knife patterns while scheming the Ikuchi, including the Texas toothpick and French laguiole.

“The Ikuchi design came from two distinct drivers,” Paul remarked. “First, I wanted to explore some designs based on more traditional patterns, but evolving and modernizing. Second, I wanted to create a piece with decidedly different blade geometry than the other collaboration pieces I’ve done with Spyderco. On the latter front, I was looking to design a pocketknife with a much narrower/shorter blade and width/height.

“I decided to take the narrow blade concept to the extreme, working to conceal the entire blade width within the handle scales when closed. The idea was that a knife this size would inherently take up a minimal amount of pocket space, strongly feature the handle shape, and create designs unique among Spyderco offerings.”

The thin nature of the Ikuchi handle makes the knife responsive in your hand while maximizing a user-friendly experience. Alexander explained, “The thin handle, without any features to lock any fingers into a set location, makes the knife more grip agnostic and easily repositionable in the hand. But thin handles can cause some difficulty for folks that may have limited hand dexterity, or lost some of it.

In addition to its Japanese name, the Spyderco Ikuchi combines elements of the Texas toothpick and French laguiole for a truly international design. Handle: carbon fiber/G-10 laminate. Lock: Compression. Country of origin: Taiwan. MSRP: $244.

Both are true of the Ikuchi, but seeing as it’s meant for EDC and light-duty tasks, I don’t find myself overly concerned when using the knife appropriately and responsibly. The handle material was Spyderco’s call but I admit I’m a sucker for carbon fiber scales, and the textured, peel-ply carbon fiber [Spyderco uses] is a great blend of aesthetics and grip without adding much mass.”

Spartan Blades Spartan-Nemec

Spartan-Nemec carbon fiber — Also available in sculpted carbon fiber and a blackened blade, the Spartan-Nemec has a stainless steel pocket clip that’s deep carry and ambidextrous. Lock: linerlock. Closed length: 4.5 inches.

Czech designer Ondrej Nemec joined Spartan Blades to produce the Spartan-Nemec folder, intended to be practical and versatile in the EDC role, a tool for any common job. Compact and easy to carry in a pocket, the Spartan-Nemec is a snap to deploy and makes light work of cutting boxes, envelopes or tape.

Nemec grew up in his father’s workshop, and Ondrej’s steady commitment to quality knives led to the founding of his Acta Non Verba knife company over 10 years ago. “The knives he designed in the past are similar to the quality and size of Spartan models, making him a good fit for Spartan while bringing a new flair to what we do,” related Curtis Iovito, company president.

Looking good always helps says Iovito of the smart, lean lines of the Spartan-Nemec. He adds that the knife incorporates features such as a secure locking mechanism, comfortable grip, and ambidextrous design for easy use by both southpaws and right-handers. “The biggest advantage of the design is that it stays out of your way when in the pocket,” Curtis smiled.

User ergonomics guided the Nemec design, making it ideal for quick and precise handling. The length of the handle contributes to stability and ease of control. In combination, the design elements produce an efficient everyday tool that can act as a backup in special circumstances, too.

“Although made with everyday tasks in mind, the knife boasts sufficient length to serve as a viable defensive tool in emergency situations,” Iovito indicated. “This contributed to our decision to incorporate a flipper mechanism facilitated by caged bearings and a strategically positioned flipper tab, ensuring readiness for such scenarios.”

Iovito also notes that the Spartan-Nemec’s inspiration was a “larger counterpart,” the KA-BAR Ek Models 4 and 5. “Originating from KA-BAR, this larger knife has been scaled down to create our folding version tailored for everyday carry,” he said. “While the concept of a penknife is not groundbreaking, we are confident that our rendition stands out as a well-crafted and reliable tool.”

Check Out More Knife Drops:

Production And Custom Kitchen Kinves
Production And Custom Damascus And Stainless Steel Knives
Production And Custom Large Blade Knives

2024 BLADE University: Classes That Keep You Sharp

BLADE Staff

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April 1, 2024

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2024 BLADE University: Classes That Keep You Sharp

Get your bachelor’s of state-of-the-art degree at the 11th Annual BLADE University.

The state-of-the-art in all things knife, including the latest in mosaic damascus steel, knife and handle design, and how to sharpen, make a lockback whittler, run a knife business and more will be the focus of the 11th Annual BLADE University.

Held in conjunction with the 43rd Annual BLADE Show June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, BLADE University will be sponsored by Work Sharp. Classes begin Thursday, June 6, and will run through Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8.

While most courses will be taught in the Cobb Galleria, some also will convene under the tent in The Courtyard, aka the parking lot of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.

BLADE University gathers some of the world’s best knifemakers, bladesmiths and other cutlery and steel professionals to teach a wide range of subjects for the knife user, knifemaker, knife hobbyist, knife entrepreneur, knife designer, and knife aficionado and novice alike. If you love knives or are just beginning to, BLADE University has a topic for you. The complete course schedule, with subjects, teachers, times and venues:

Buy Knives, Don’t Wait In Ticket Lines! Get Your 2024 BLADE Show Tickets!

THURSDAY, JUNE 6

The Art of Selling at a BLADE Show, Tom Krein, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 104—A long-time maker of custom utilitarian fixed blades and folders, Tom Krein will outline exactly what a knifemaker who is serious about selling knives should do and how he/she should behave behind a knife show exhibitor table. Proper table etiquette and sales and customer relations strategies are just some of the subjects Tom will cover. The class will be held the day before the BLADE Show begins so attendees can put some of Tom’s recommendations into practice during the main event Friday through Sunday.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

ABS journeyman smith Henning Wilkinson makes impeccable keyhole knife handles like this one. Join him for his class Metal and Wood Fitting Techniques for Keyhole Handles Friday at 2 p.m. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven knife image)

Fundamentals of Grinding, AmeriBrade and guest grinders, 8 to 9:30 a.m., The Courtyard—AmeriBrade and guest makers will provide a general overview on grinds, techniques and different equipment. The class will be interactive and the team will answer questions and demonstrate suggestions for common issues.
How to Run a Small Successful Knifemaking Business, Bob Kramer, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Room 103—Learn the do’s and don’ts of making the most out of your knifemaking business. ABS master smith Bob Kramer has 30 years of experience and says he’s still learning!
Thermal Cycle Steel for High Performance, Larrin Thomas, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Room 104—There are many different recommendations for how to heat treat steel after forging, but what is best? Can normalizing and grain-refining cycles really improve properties when compared with steel from the factory? Should stock-removal makers bother with thermal cycling? How do you thermal cycle stainless steels after forging them? Is it thermocycling or thermal cycling? Join Larrin Thomas, designer of CPM MagnaCut stainless steel, creator of the website Knife Steel Nerds, and author of Knife Engineering: Steel, Heat Treating, and Geometry, as he answers these questions and more.
Symmetrical Quillon Dagger 101, Neels Van Den Berg, 1 to 2 p.m., Room 107—Join ABS master smith Neels Van Den Berg from Black Dragon Forge for a discussion and walkthrough of making a symmetrical quillon dagger. He will cover design, proportions, aesthetics, materials, fluting and finally the entire manufacturing process, sharing useful tips and tricks to save you time, money and frustration.
Intro to Power Forging, panel of forging authorities, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Room 103—Bring your forging questions to our group of expert panelists including Logan Gillihan, Will Stelter, Salem Straub, Charlie Ellis and Brian House.
Metal and Wood Fitting Techniques for Keyhole Handles, Henning Wilkinson, 2 to 3 p.m., Room 113—An ABS journeyman smith and member of the Knifemakers’ Guild of South Africa, Henning Wilkinson will outline the correct techniques for fitting metal and wood in the construction of the keyhole integral knife handle. Henning will show you how to eliminate the gaps between materials that results in the proper fit and finish collectors and those who judge knife competitions look for in an award-winning keyhole-handle knife.
Hands on Sharpening, the team at Work Sharp, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Room 113—What happens when a knife gets dull? How do you know when to sharpen it? Bring your own knife or borrow a demo model and learn the progression of shaping a bevel, sharpening and edge maintenance from the team at Work Sharp. You will get hands-on practice and experience sharpening your blade using a variety of sharpeners and abrasives, from whetstones to belts.
Originality: Experimentation, Innovation and Ingenuity, Lucas Cao, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Room 107—Why are some people more creative than others? Can creativity be learned? Lucas Cao, founder of Squid Industries, explores tools and techniques that anyone can apply to become more original.

Raise Your Knifemaking IQ! Enroll in a BLADE University Class

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

Lockback whittler class at Blade University — Tim Robertson won Best Locking Folder at BLADE Show West ’22 for his lockback whittler and will cover how to make this most difficult pocketknife of all to build in his class Saturday at 9:45 a.m. (SharpByCoop image)

Elevating Your Handle Appearance: Spine Filework, Handle Shapes and Pin Placement, Kyle Daily, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Room 113—Enhance the appearance of your knife with distinctive features that go far beyond standard production models. Knifemaker Kyle Daily from KHDaily Knives guides you through the intricate art of filework on the spine, while also sharing insights into handle design and the pin placement on your handle. Discover Kyle’s preferred files and specialized equipment for crafting his five most popular filework patterns, ensuring your knife not only looks exceptional but also feels comfortable and functional. From laying out your pattern to a step-by-step tutorial, this class provides the essential knowledge to achieve a professional and eye-catching finish. A Q&A session at the end will ensure you leave with the skills and knowledge to take your knifemaking to the next level.
Insert Welding with Bob Kramer, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Room 104—Understand how to forge weld inserts with high precision and control to create realistic depictions of animals and patterns in this BLADE University offering. This will be an exclusive opportunity to experience the technique that Bob Kramer created with fellow ABS master smith Tom Ferry and shared with the masses.
How to Make the Most Difficult Pocketknife, Tim Robertson, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Room 107—An award-winning maker of slipjoints and a charter member of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel, Tim Robertson will address perhaps the most difficult pocketknife to build: the lockback whittler. He will outline what makes the classic slipjoint/lockback folder so demanding to make, with a major focus on backspring design and function, the two areas of the knife that work against each other. He also will cover the correct sequence of parts preparation and the proper order of construction steps that reduces mistakes and helps ensure a successfully completed knife.
The Process Is the Product, TJ Schwarz, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Room 113—TJ Schwarz is the founder of Schwarz Knives, an Idaho-based manufacturer of premium outdoor fixed blades. He has over a decade of freelance knife design experience with many models in circulation, a patent, and two BLADE Show awards to show for it. Schwarz will share his insights on how to create a successful knife business, including the key point of understanding actually what it is that you’re selling.
Let the Pros Critique Your Knife, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Room 114—Award-winning knifemakers David Carver, Enrique Pena and Luke Swenson and ABS master smiths Bob Kramer and Jim Rodebaugh will share decades of knowledge and experience to critique the knife you made. They will go over every square inch of it and tell you what’s good, what’s not and how to make it better. Bring one knife only. Questions from attendees will be entertained throughout.
Hands on Sharpening, the team at Work Sharp, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Room 113—What happens when a knife gets dull? How do you know when to sharpen it? Bring your own knife or borrow a demo model and learn the progression of shaping a bevel, sharpening and edge maintenance from the team at Work Sharp at this BLADE University class. You will get hands-on practice and experience sharpening your blade using a variety of sharpeners and abrasives, from whetstones to belts.
Making Scissors in a Knife Workshop, Grace Horne, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Room 107—Have you ever thought about making scissors but don’t know where to start? If you’re curious about scissors or just want to expand your knowledge, this session is for you. Whether you want to have a go at restoring old scissors or forging your own from scratch, the basic information is the same—and it’s notoriously poorly documented. Dr. Grace Horne will give a whirlwind tour through the early history of scissors, describe methods of producing the blanks, give inside information on the twist and the curve, and highlight critical areas to consider. Most importantly, she will describe her method of scissors making that requires no specialized tools or equipment.
Pattern Welding Panel, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 104—Salem Straub, Mareko Maumasi, Charlie Ellis, Josh Prince and Will Stelter will explain how they created their collaborative Consortium billet, including each of the steps that went into creating this wild mosaic billet, and then open up to general questions about damascus forging and pattern development.

Check Out Previous Custom Award Winners:

Game Shears: Affordable Options To Cut Bones And More Down To Size

Buyer's Guides

Pat Covert

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March 29, 2024

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Game Shears: Affordable Options To Cut Bones And More Down To Size

Affordable game shears that offer cut, power, features, size and more…

When you think of processing game, a skinner is typically the first knife that comes to mind—and rightfully so. At the same time, game shears provide a viable role in the processing equation, particularly with small game like squirrels, rabbits, fowl and fish. A good pair of shears made for small game processing can cut through bone, slice hide, remove unwanted viscera and, in the case of fish, remove heads and fins. Many shears have extras thrown in, technically making them multi-tools, though that’s a bit of a stretch.

My team tested four current game shears to see how they perform and what they offer in the way of goodies. Just so we don’t get repetitive, it should be noted that all our candidates have take-apart pivots that allow the main blade/handle sections to separate for easy cleaning.

Gerber Vital Take-A-Part Shears

The simplest and smallest of the test group is the Gerber Vital Take-A-Part Shears. The spear-shaped blades are 2.5 inches of 420J2 stainless steel. Overall length: 8 inches. The handles have a hard thermoplastic frame sporting rubbery Kraton™ overlays with an ovate hole for the fingers and a round one for the thumb. One blade is plain with a bone notch and the opposing one is fully serrated. A two-color nylon sheath matches the handle. Weight: 5 ounces. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $20.

Kershaw Taskmaster Shears

The Kershaw Taskmaster Shears is a straight-blade design with a nice assortment of built-in goodies. The 3.5-inch blades are stainless steel. The spear-point patterns include one plain edge and the other partially serrated with a bone notch. The grips are finger-loop style and overlaid in black Kraton. Additional features include a lid lifter, bottle opener, screwdriver, nutcracker and jar opener. Weight: 5.1 ounces. Overall length: 8.875 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $26.73.

Smith’s Edgesport Bait & Game Shears

The Smith’s Edgesport Bait & Game Shears is the most elaborate of the group we tested. The curved blades are 3 inches each of stainless steel. One’s a plain edge and the other is serrated, but what really sets them apart is the curved fish scaler on the underside of the plain blade. The handles have a thumb hole and opposing finger hole with black Kraton over a white thermoplastic main frame. Additional functions include a nutcracker, screwdriver, bone notch and cap lifter. There is no pouch. Weight: 5.25 ounces. Overall length: 8.5 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $28.99.

Outdoor Edge Game Shears

Outdoor Edge's shears are spring loaded — The Outdoor Edge shears is the only one tested that is spring-loaded—that is, no finger holes are required to open and close it. Note the catch at the base for keeping the handles closed while not in use.

The Outdoor Edge Game Shears is the juggernaut of the bunch. What it lacks in features it makes up for in size. Respective blade and overall lengths: 3.75 and 10.5 inches. Another distinguishing feature is it’s spring-loaded with a swing lock at the base. This negates the need for manually opening the blades after making a cut—the spring does it for you. The wharncliffe blades are a plain edge and the other partially serrated with a healthy bone notch. Handles are ribbed Kraton. Weight: 10.5 ounces. A pouch is included. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $49.95.

Testing Shears

I focused on the main job of shearing first. I started with some basic straight cutting exercises of suede leather to simulate animal hide. All the candidates performed the scissor cuts well with the exception of the Outdoor Edge shears, which are just too big for such small detail tasks. As you’ll see later, the Outdoor Edge more than makes up for this deficiency in other areas. The Gerber cut best because it is the only test shears that has a humped serrated blade opposite the bone notch. It just keeps on cutting like a standard scissors whereas the others bog down when they hit the notch.

Smith’s Edgesport Bait & Game Shears — All the blades on the smaller shears were adept at such detail work as cutting suede, and the Smith’s cutter was no exception. Note the pivot piece that rotates to take the two sections apart.

Next I tested each model’s bone notch, a great feature I’ve only seen on game shears that is worth its weight in gold. I used the shears on chicken bones as they were the easiest to get in the 15-to-25°F cold snaps we were experiencing at test time. The humerus and femur are the largest “rounded” bones in a chicken skeleton, offering the best way to gauge cutting power. This is where the Outdoor Edge shears excelled. It munched its way through the larger bones with ease while the smaller shears had a hard time opening up wide enough to be able to grip them. All the review shears performed well on smaller bones, as well as cutting through the cartilage and viscera around the joints.

Hightlighting Features

Kershaw did a nice job of organizing the additional functions on its shears. Look closely and you’ll see a bottle opener, nutcracker, lid lifter, screwdriver and jar opener built into the design.

The Gerber and Outdoor Edge Shears are sparing in the multi-implement category. The Kershaw and Smith’s, on the other hand, offer a wide range of added features. Most impressive on the Kershaw is the way the lid lifter, bottle opener, screwdriver, nutcracker and jar opener are incorporated into the design. You don’t really notice the various little helpers, but you’ll be darn glad they’re there when you need them. What’s more, the fish scaler on the Smith’s shears could be a real game changer for the outdoorsman who enjoys fishing as much as hunting, or is solely into angling.

Final Cut

The good news for game shears users is choices abound in this small sliver of the overall cutlery industry. For starters, pricewise none of the test shears are going to break the bank. The small Gerber and large Outdoor Edge will please those who could care less about the extras. For them, a sharp shears with a bone notch is all they need. For those who like bonus functions on their shears, the well-organized Kershaw will perform a myriad of chores. Finally, the gamesman who prefers a loaded shears with a little something extra will appreciate the fish scaler on the Smith’s entry. Between the four choices there’s bound to be a game shears ready to work for you.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

BEST TOMAHAWKS: OUR TOP HAWKS FOR BACKWOODS TO BATTLEFIELDS
BEST BUSHCRAFT KNIFE: WHEN STEEL MEETS THE WOODS
BEST EDC FIXED BLADE KNIFE: A CUT ABOVE THE REST
BEST CAMP KNIVES: OUTDOORS DO-ALLS

Nessmuk Knife: Options In The All-American Outdoor Knife

Reuben Bolieu

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March 28, 2024

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Nessmuk Knife: Options In The All-American Outdoor Knife

History repeats itself in modern renditions of an all-American classic.

Some patterns stand the test of time and become legendary for a reason, be it a story, movie or book. The Nessmuk-style knife stands out because of its shape.

Nessmuk was the pen name of George Washington Sears, a 19th-century American writer, conservationist and outdoorsman. He wrote about his wilderness adventures, particularly his solo canoe trips in the Adirondacks, a picturesque mountain range in northeastern New York state. He promoted a simple and lightweight approach to camping and woodcraft.

A modern “Nessmuk Trinity” with a Helm Forge hatchet, Victorinox camper, and TOPS Knives Camp Creek. Nessmuk would be proud of this edged-tool setup.

According to the story, the Nessmuk knife was named after a childhood friend of Sears’s from the American Indian community. The knife was not well documented and very little is known about it except for a diagram in Sears’s book Woodcraft and Camping. The book describes the knife as “thin in the blade, and handy for skinning, cutting meat, or eating with.”

What Is A Nessmuk

The Nessmuk-style knife has a unique shape that sets it apart from other models. The 4-to-5-inch blade has a hump on the spine that is closer to the point. The blade also has a deep belly and an upswept point, which makes it ideal for slicing, skinning and similar tasks. The distinct blade shape is the defining feature of a Nessmuk-style knife.

George Washington Sears, aka Nessmuk, preferred thin knives with keen edges. He paired his knife with a double-bit hatchet and a folding knife, forming his “trinity” of cutting tools.

Nuge Camptoku, TOPS Knives Camp Creek, Bear Forest Knives PuuMuk and KA-BAR/Becker BK-19 Nessmuk knives. — The Nessmuk-type knife is a highly regarded design. The test versions are, from top: Knives By Nuge Camptoku, TOPS Knives Camp Creek, Bear Forest Knives PuuMuk and KA-BAR/Becker BK-19.

Usually, a Nessmuk blade is carbon steel ranging from 3/32 to 1/8 inch at the thickest. The handle comes in a variety of materials, including wood, bone or antler depending on availability and user preference. It is important for the handle to be comfortable and ergonomic, fitting the hand well.

What Makes A Good Nessmuk

A Nessmuk knife is a fixed blade Sears designed and used for his expeditions. It has a distinctive curved blade that resembles a skinner or a butcher knife and a handle that fits comfortably in the hand.

A quality Nessmuk knife should be able to perform various tasks in the woods, such as skinning game, slicing meat, carving wood, making feather sticks, cutting cord—even shaving. It should be sharp, sturdy, well balanced and easy to maintain. A Nessmuk knife should also be lightweight and compact so as not to add much bulk or weight.

TOPS Knives Camp Creek

The Camp Creek combines all the features of a superior hunting knife with impeccable fit and finish. It sliced camp food and passed the tomato test with flying colors.

The TOPS Knives Camp Creek is a hunting/camping knife designed by Leo Espinoza, company president. The blade is CPM S35VN steel, which boasts superior edge retention and stainless properties. The handle is a three-color camo-style G-10.

The Nessmuk-like design is perfect for hunting, skinning, processing wood and food prep around the campsite. The knife has a contemporary tan Kydex sheath and a brown leather dangler on a swivel.

Camp-style kabobs were my focus with the Camp Creek due to its classic butcher knife shape. I knew it would excel slicing meat and veggies and it didn’t disappoint. It aced the tomato-slicing test and will see more dirt time in the future.

Definitely the most Nessmuk shaped of the review knives, the super-sharp, flat-ground blade has all the right curves and excels at food prep and woodcraft.

Camp Creek Specs
Designer: Leo Espinoza
Blade Length: 4.38”
Blade Steel: CPM S35VN stainless
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade @ Thickest: .13”
Blade Finish: Tumble
Handle Material: Camo G-10
Overall Length: 9”
Sheath: Coyote tan Kydex and leather
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $305

Bear Forest Knives PuuMuk

Eating off the Nessmuk hump — The author ate off the Nessmuk hump of the PuuMuk, perhaps the way Nessmuk himself did a century-and-a-half ago.

Made by Bear Forest Knives (BFK), the PuuMuk combines the design elements of a puukko and a Nessmuk-style knife. It has a straight handle without a guard and a choice of blade grinds: high saber or Scandi. The knife features full-tang construction. The blade was sharp as can be, especially the Scandi version.

The handle is like all the knives I have used from BFK—comfort is not compromised in any way. The red oak scales are secure and comfortable in any grip.

I used the PuuMuk as I would a general camp knife. I improvised carving a fork out of wood and general woodcraft like making feather sticks for a fire. The PuuMuk prepared food outdoors, slicing bacon, tomatoes, avocados and peppers. I used it as an impromptu spoon to eat off the back of the Nessmuk blade hump; perhaps Sears did the same. I used the PuuMuk for one month straight in the kitchen, doing all a kitchen knife would typically do. It didn’t take much time before the steel took on a respectable patina, adding to the look of the old-timey pattern.

The knife’s standout feature is the thin Scandi-ground blade and sharp 90-degree spine, adding a modern improvement to the classic pattern.

PuuMuk Specs
Blade Length: 3.75”
Blade Material: 80CrV2 carbon steel
Blade Grinds: Scandi and high saber options
Blade @ Thickest: 3/32”
Blade Finish: Acid wash
Knife to know: The blade’s 90-degree spine accommodates ferro rod striking and tinder scraping
Handle Material: Red oak
Overall Length: 8.375”
Sheath: JRE Industries brown leather
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $179.99

KA-BAR Becker BK-19

BD-19 Trap — In survival Nessmuk mode, the author made a figure-four trap with the BK-19 in a jiffy.

The KA-BAR Becker BK-19 is a solid tool battened down with stainless steel Torx hardware and comes with a MOLLE-compatible, bulletproof Celcon sheath. Designed by Ethan Becker of Becker Knife & Tool, the 9.6-ounce edged tool stands out with the beloved Nessmuk blade shape so highly regarded in the bushcraft community.

The blade has more of a drop-point look than the other three test models. It is a survival Nessmuk if ever there was one. I put the knife into the deep end, splitting wood via a stout baton and crafting a figure-four deadfall trap. The robust blade easily split timber and processed wood for a late winter fire.

The handle was comfortable in several grips, and the exposed tang pommel added another degree of usefulness among the bunch, standing out as the hard-use survival Nessmuk the likes of which Mr. Sears would be proud.

The standout feature of this compact powerhouse is the sheath, which can be worn on a belt or in a scout carry orientation. The belt loop webbing is removable, and the retention is so good that the snap closure at the top is unnecessary. However, the closure can come in handy when in transit. KA-BAR has figured it out for you with two drain holes to help keep the sheathed blade dry in wet conditions.

BK-19 Specs
Designer: Ethan Becker
Blade Length: 4.3125”
Blade Material: 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade @ Thickest: .165”
Blade Finish: Burnt bronze
Handle Material: Ultramid synthetic
Overall Length: 9.125”
Sheath: Celcon
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $165.38

Camptoku Knives By Nuge

Camptoku Nessmuk — The Camptoku has a sharpened 90-degree section at the front of the spine, allowing the author to ignite some tinder with a ferro rod quickly.

The Camptoku from Knives By Nuge is a versatile general-purpose camp knife blending the esteemed Nessmuk blade with a santoku pattern, resulting in a rugged tool for outdoor and meal tasks. The Nitro-V stainless steel blade offers excellent durability and easy maintenance. The Camptoku comes with G-10 or wood scales and a custom-made slip sheath (no belt loop).

It is the longest of the bunch and a bit of a divergence from the traditional Nessy. However, it pays homage to the revered design and moves it into a new era. The thin blade screams kitchen use and allows for a comfortable chef’s pinch grip with a rounded spine for comfort. Meanwhile, the front 1.5-inch section from the Nessmuk hump to the tip has a sharp 90-degree spine for striking a ferro rod or scraping tinder.

The handle is a generous 4.75 inches, making it suitable for kitchen and woodcraft grips. Incredibly comfortable in a fist handhold, the knife is a chameleon when put into service in a chest-lever or pinch grip. The G-10 liners and pins offer that dash of undeniable modern class.

In the field the Camptoku served as the ordained kitchen knife, slicing tomatoes, meat and vegetables for stew while also starting fires to cook what it had been used to prepare.

Camptoku Specs
Blade Length: 5.5”
Blade Steel: Nitro-V stainless
Blade Grind: Saber
Blade @ Thickest: 3/32”
Blade Finish: Satin
Knife to know: The blade has a 90-degree spine in a 1.5” section from the hump to the tip for ferro rod striking and tinder scraping
Handle Material: Choice of G-10 or maple burl
Overall Length: 10.5”
Sheath: Kydex
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $425

Dime Novel Knives?

George Washington “Nessmuk” Sears spoke ill of the bowie- and hunting-style knives of his era (mid-to-late 19th century), writing of them, “The ‘bowies’ and ‘hunting knives’ usually kept on sale are thick, clumsy affairs, with a sort of ridge along the middle of the blade, murderous-looking, but of little use; rather fitted to adorn a dime novel or the belt of ‘Billy the Kid’ than the outfit of the hunter.”

Here To Stay

The Nessmuk knife is a versatile and practical tool that can easily handle various outdoor tasks. The pattern has become crucial to American cutlery history and shows no signs of going away. Here’s hoping it never does.

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

BEST TOMAHAWKS: OUR TOP HAWKS FOR BACKWOODS TO BATTLEFIELDS
BEST BUSHCRAFT KNIFE: WHEN STEEL MEETS THE WOODS
BEST EDC FIXED BLADE KNIFE: A CUT ABOVE THE REST
BEST CAMP KNIVES: OUTDOORS DO-ALLS

Pocketful Of Miracles: New Pocketknife Drops

BLADE Staff

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March 26, 2024

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Pocketful Of Miracles: New Pocketknife Drops

Hip pocket feel empty? We got the cure for that…

The pocketknife was once a rare term, most likely because back in the pioneering day fixed blades of all types ruled the roost. With few bears to skin nowadays and more wire to strip and boxes to dismember, a pocketknife practically means knife to a wide swath of people. This ubiquitous class of knives helps make our daily world go round—be they tactical do-alls or slip-joint stunners. And we have gathered a load of new ones—factory and custom—hitting the market.

Barnett Custom Knives 6-Blade Congress

Knife pattern: 6-blade congress
Master blade length: 17/8”
Blade steel: Ladder-pattern damascus
Blade grinds: Flat
Scales: Gold-lip mother-of-pearl
Handle frame: .030” 410 stainless steel
Bolsters: 416 stainless
Closed length: 3.5”
Knife to know: Bruce Barnett is an ABS journeyman smith
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,750
Maker: Barnett Custom Knives (Rod Hoare image)

Manuele Messori Little Blue

Knife name: Little Blue
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade material: Björkmans Twist damascus forged by Damasteel w/Fat Carbon White Storm inlay
Pivot: Ceramic bearings
Scales: Titanium GR5 w/Fat Carbon White Storm, zirconium and mother-of-pearl inlays
Backspacer: Zirconium
Hardware: Titanium screws
Closed length: 4”
Maker: Manuele Messori (SharpByCoop image)

Andrew Demko Full-custom AD-20 Stinger Tanto

Knife name: Full-custom AD-20 Stinger Tanto
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade grind: Compound
Scales: Fat Carbon
Liner material: Titanium
Lock: Shark Lock
Closed length: 5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,000 (standard U.S.-made AD-20 starts at $450)
Maker: Andrew Demko (SharpByCoop image)

Bob Hook Linerlock Folder

Knife type: Linerlock folder
Blade length: 3.75”
Blade steel: Reptilian damascus by Vegas Forge
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Caramelized musk ox
Bolster: Same material as blade
Closed length: 3 5/8”
Knife to know: Handle has detailed screws and liners; maker’s name in the interior; stud opener; the maker is an ABS journeyman smith
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200
Maker: Bob Hook (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Fallkniven GPbm

Knife model: GPbm
Blade length: 3.07”
Blade material: Laminated CoS (cobalt steel) stainless
Rockwell hardness: 60 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @ thickest: .11”
Lock: Linerlock
Weight: 3.3 ozs.
Closed length: 3.94”
Carry: Suede pouch
Knife to know: GPbm stands for Gentleman’s Pocketknife Black Micarta
Country of origin: Japan
MSRP: $327.95 at press-time exchange rate
Company: Fallkniven

Kershaw Livewire

Knife name: Livewire – Double Edge
Designers: Kershaw Originals and Matt Diskin
Knife type: Out-the-front automatic
Blade length: 3.45”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 60-63 HRC
Blade @ thickest: .125”
Handle material: Textured 6061-T6 aluminum
Pocket clip: Deep carry, right/left, blade tip down w/black Cerakote® finish
Hardware: Black-oxide steel screws
Knife to know: Double-action (opens and retracts automatically w/sliding button)
Weight: 3.1 ozs.
Closed length: 4.8”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $400
Company: Kershaw

GiantMouse ACE Biblio XL

Knife name: ACE Biblio XL – Green Canvas
Blade length: 3.2”
Blade steel: Elmax stainless
Blade @ thickest: .138”
Blade finish: Stonewashed
Scales: Green canvas Micarta®
Lock: Linerlock
Pocket clip: Wire, reversible
Backspacers: Brass
Weight: 3.915 ozs.
Closed length: 4.375”
Country of origin: Italy
MSRP: $225
Company: GiantMouse

A Sharp Life with Bob Terzuola

Video series: A Sharp Life with Bob Terzuola
What’s included: 11 episodes start to finish of building one of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola’s groundbreaking ATCF tactical folders, and also on knifemaking in general.
Knife to know: Buy the entire series alone or bundle it with Bob’s monthly subscription service, Shoptalk, the latter which includes weekly Q&A Zoom calls with Bob and two “deep dive” educational videos per month, “Terzuola Swag” and more.

Halfbreed Blades MILSPEC MILF-02PS

Knife name: MILSPEC MILF-02PS
Knife type: Flipper folder
Blade length: 3.54”
Blade steel: CPM S30V stainless
Rockwell hardness: 59-60 HRC
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade @ thickest: .19”
Blade style: Harpoon drop point
Finish: PVD coated throughout
Washers: Phosphor bronze
Handle frame, liner & spacers: 420J2 stainless
Scales: G-10
Pocket clip: Ambidextrous, blade tip up or down
Lock: Framelock
Weight: 7.34 ozs.
Closed length: 4.84”
Country of origin: Comprises Australian and Taiwanese manufacture
MSRP: $185 at press-time exchange rate
Company: Halfbreed Blades

Barking Gecko Forge Eureka Jack

Knife pattern: Eureka jack
Blade lengths: 2.44” (main) and 1.57” (pen)
Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless
Blade grinds: Hollow
Scales: Giraffe bone
Bolster: Fluted 416 stainless steel
Sharp stuff: Domed pins, fileworked liners and center spacer, jeweled liners and stainless steel shield; long-pull nail nick on main blade
Closed length: 3.54”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $795 at press-time rate of exchange
Maker: Barking Gecko Forge (Rod Hoare image)

Rothman Knives Elephant Toenail

Knife pattern: Elephant toenail
Blade length: 2”
Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless
Blade grind: 14” hollow
Handle frame: 416 stainless in an integral construction
Scales: Mammoth ivory
Knife to know: Fileworked liners; the elephant toenail is also known as a sunfish; the maker is a probationary member of The Knifemakers’ Guild
Closed length: 3.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200
Maker: Rothman Knives (SharpByCoop image)

Shane Taylor Linerlock Folder

Knife type: Linerlock folder
Blade length: 3”
Blade steel: Dragon damascus
Blade grind: Flat w/convex edge
Bolster: Same as blade
Scales: Mammoth ivory
Lock type: Linerlock
Backbar: Engraved
Closed length: 3.75”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,800
Knife to know: The maker is an ABS master smith
Maker: Shane Taylor, Miles City, Montana, [email protected], taylorknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

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Some lean traditional, others modern and others “whatever’s in my pocket is fine”.

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Affordable game shears that offer cut, power, features, size and more…

Gerber Vital Take-A-Part Shears

Kershaw Taskmaster Shears

Smith’s Edgesport Bait & Game Shears

Outdoor Edge Game Shears

Testing Shears

Hightlighting Features

Final Cut

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

History repeats itself in modern renditions of an all-American classic.

What Is A Nessmuk

What Makes A Good Nessmuk

TOPS Knives Camp Creek

Bear Forest Knives PuuMuk

KA-BAR Becker BK-19

Camptoku Knives By Nuge

Dime Novel Knives?

Here To Stay

Check Out More Outdoor Knives:

Hip pocket feel empty? We got the cure for that…

Barnett Custom Knives 6-Blade Congress

Manuele Messori Little Blue

Andrew Demko Full-custom AD-20 Stinger Tanto

Bob Hook Linerlock Folder

Fallkniven GPbm

Kershaw Livewire

GiantMouse ACE Biblio XL

A Sharp Life with Bob Terzuola

Halfbreed Blades MILSPEC MILF-02PS

Barking Gecko Forge Eureka Jack

Rothman Knives Elephant Toenail

Shane Taylor Linerlock Folder

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