The Cutting Edge

Ax-Throwing Gaining Popularity with New Indoor Venues

June 19, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Wood Hack Axe Ax Wood Chop Woodworks Cases

The art of knife throwing (and ax throwing) has always felt on the cusp of mainstream.

A slew of soon-to-be-opening indoor ax-throwing venues might just help provide that boost the pastime needs to be as common and prevalent as mini golf, bowling, or billiards.

Patt Johnson of the Des Moines Register wrote a great feature (filled with some solid puns) on three new businesses opening up in the Des Moines area over the summer dedicated to ax throwing.

Here’s more about the business called Lumber Axe soon to open in downtown Des Moines by Aaron Coy:

Ax-throwing centers allow participants to pick out a two-handed ax or hatchet and launch it about 12 feet at a bulls-eye.

…

Throwing lanes are generally divided with chain-link fencing to protect throwers in nearby alleys.

Ax-throwing costs vary, but generally, an hour of casual throwing starts around $20 for a group of eight. League fees can be about $135 for a season. Ax prices range greatly but start around $20.

Coy is opening a center with four single-throwing lanes and six double lanes. The business will also include laser tag, virtual reality stations and two bars.

These centers are meant to rival pool halls or bowling alleys with concessions and even alcoholic drinks.

Fox Slim Dragotac Friction Folder – Badass Knife of the Week

June 18, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

The Dragotac series from Bastinelli Creations has been popular over the years — both custom and factory versions. One of the most common requests submitted to Bastinelli Creations is for the Dragotac to be available in a non-locking version.

With the help of Fox Knives, Bastinelli Creations accomplished that feat in the Dragotac Slim Friction Folder called the Piemontes.

The friction folding version of the Dragotac is every bit as functional and sexy as its locking counterpart. The 3.1-inch blade features a modified Wharncliffe blade profile. Unlike the traditional Wharncliffe blade, the edge is slightly curved to provide better cutting ability; however, the blade retains the piercing power of the Wharncliffe.

The Dragotac 😅 #foxknives #foxcutlery #foxdragotac #foxdragotacslim #dragotacslim #dragotac #n690 #n690co #frn #frictionfolder #frictionfolderporn #knife #knives #pocketknife #pocketdump #knivesofig #knivesofinstagram #knifestagram #knifelife #knifenut #knifeporn #useurshit #knifecollection #knifecollector #knifecommunity #edc #everydaycarry #edcgermany #edcgear #edcdump

A post shared by My EDC and other stuff (@genji_shimada04) on May 26, 2018 at 8:34am PDT

The satin-finished blade is made with N690Co stainless steel, an alloy that holds a better edge and provides better stain resistance than comparable steels. Jimping along the spine gives a more reliable grip for finer tasks.

20 Knife Gift Ideas Under $100

June 16, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Our suggestions for gift ideas at certain price ranges continues with 20 knife gift ideas under $100.

This list only features knives in the $50 to $100 price range. If you’re interested in $20 to $50, check out our 20 knife gift ideas under $50 post. For prices under that, check out our 20 knife gift ideas under $20.

These recommendations cover the full gamut of styles, designs, and functions, so if you can’t find something to your satisfaction, you’re trying too hard.

1) Benchmade Mini Griptilian

We’ll start with one of the most beloved knives under $100 by knife enthusiasts — the Benchmade Mini Griptilian. The Mini Grip is the go-to knife for anyone looking for a solid and reliable American-made EDC (it’s currently my personal EDC too). It’s hard to top this knife.

The Mini has a 2.91-inch blade made from 154CM steel. You can get it in a sheepsfoot blade with Round Hole, drop point with thumb stud, or tanto with thumb stud. Another great aspect of the knife is that the grippy (hence the name) nylon handle comes in several different colors, from pink to blue.

2) Spyderco Delica 4

Spyderco makes a ton of great knives at a budget cost, but for a true representation of the quality and design elements of the brand, there’s the Delica. This is another truly beloved knife from the knife community because of its versatile size, excellent construction, and interesting design.

The ‘Maker Knife’ Launches on Kickstarter

June 14, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

There is a time and place for utility knives — those knives that use replaceable box cutter blades.

They’re cheap, easy to use, replaceable, and work well on simple tasks like cutting open boxes. The only problem is that the containers for most utility knives are pretty bad.

Enter the Maker Knife.

The Maker Knife is an everyday carry tool made for utility knives that’s designed to be carried and used almost like any ordinary pocket knife. The design was launched on crowdfunding site Kickstarter on June 9 with a goal of about $11,000 (translated from euros). Not only did it reach its goal on the first day, but it is currently funded at more than $105,000 by more than 1,400 backers.

That’s impressive.

The Maker Knife started brewing about two years ago when Giacomo Di Muro — known for his awesome YouTube channel Giaco Whatever — got a utility knife. He used it every day, but its design was bulky and not meant for EDC. One day he was visiting with designer David Windestål. After talking about the lack of good utility knives, the two decided to make their own.

Spring-Assist Knives Might Now Be Illegal in New York State

June 12, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

I lived in New York for a few years — first upstate and then down in the city. During this time, I resigned myself to the fact that I should never carry a knife outside a slipjoint concealed deep in my pocket. This is why:

On a ruling of 6-1, the state’s highest court upheld the conviction of a man who had an assisted-opening knife under the theory that it was an illegal switchblade.

How did not just one but several courts agree that a spring-assisted knife was a switchblade? Let’s try to follow the logic.

Facts About the Case

Let’s start with some details about the case.

Defendant Steven Berrezueta was on his way to work at the mailroom of an investment company when he was stopped and arrested in the subway after an officer noticed a knife protruding from his rear pants’ pocket.

It doesn’t say the type of knife except that it was a “United States Army-themed knife” that he bought off the internet for use in his job in the mailroom. I imagine it was a dirt cheap knife like this one. There is talk of a button, but I think they might mean flipper tab. Not too sure about that one.

So, Berrezueta was charged with carrying a switchblade among other things.

KA-BAR MULE – Badass Knife of the Week

June 11, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Some companies make knives that should be kept in a safe, only brought out under dimmed lighting and handled with gloves. Other companies, like KA-BAR, make knives that are meant to be worked and beaten mercilessly.

The perfect example of this kind of knife is the KA-BAR MULE.

Standing for Military, Utility and Law Enforcement, the MULE is the very definition of a workhorse knife. It features a sturdy 3.875-inch black-coated blade made from functional AUS 8A stainless steel, a reliable lockback mechanism, and a nearly indestructible black Zytel handle.

But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. KA-BAR describes this heavy-duty tool as the folding knife’s answer to the traditional KA-BAR fixed blade. While no folder can ever compare to a fixed blade as storied as the KA-BAR, the MULE has proven time and again that it can take pretty much anything you throw at it.

Knives Save Lives: The Rabid Coyote

June 7, 2018 / Tim / 5 Comments

My thoughts on knives as poor defensive weapons is well documented. That being said I often carry a knife for self-defense.

I live in a neighborhood where packs of large dogs are often roaming around unleashed. On top of that, I frequently take my young kids out for walks. Carrying a large stick is impractical most of the time, so I carry a knife just in case.

Fortunately, I’ve never had to use the knife for such a purpose (though I came alarmingly close one time). A Georgian hiker named Nate Edmund wasn’t so lucky.

On the last Saturday of May, Edmund had gone to a demonstration forest in Jones County for a hike. However, he noticed a creature ahead of him.

“I saw something moving through the woods,” Edmund told Georgia Outdoor News. “I saw what looked like a dog, but by the time it finally got out into the trail, I could clearly see it was a coyote.”

20 Knife Gift Ideas Under $50

June 6, 2018 / Tim / 1 Comment

If you’re like me, trying to find a gift is the worst. Fortunately, for you, helping you find the perfect gift is part of my job.

I’ve written about 20 different knife-related gifts for under $20 with some great options. But, if your budget for a good friend or little brother is a little higher, we got you covered.

Here are 20 knife-related gift ideas for under $50. These include some of the best-sellers at Knife Depot and products people have been excited about recently.

1. Spyderco Tenacious

We’ll start with an easy option that just ekes in under the budget: the Spyderco Tenacious. This is not only one of our best-sellers, but it is one of the most renowned budget knives around. It showcases all that Spyderco has to offer in an affordable package.

This version has a 3.38-inch 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade, grippy G-10 handle, and pronounced Round Hole. For under $50, it’s hard to find such a beloved knife as this.

2. Kershaw Reverb

The Reverb is an interesting little knife. This futuristic-looking folder was named one of the top sellers of 2017 by Knife News, and it’s not hard to see why. The small 2.5-inch blade is versatile and its machined recess allows for easy, one-handed opening.

A combo G-10 and carbon fiber handle adds some texture to the grip while a carabiner in the back allows for versatile carry. The best part about this knife is you can really take it anywhere you go.

3. Schrade Old Timer 6OT Golden Bear

From the modern to the classic, the next item under $50 is the Old Timer 6OT Golden Bear from Schrade. I’ve always been a big fan of Old Timer knives — the saw cut Delrin handles and the brass bolsters/pins give this knife a look that harkens back to the days of old.

2018 BLADE Show ‘Knife of the Year’ Awards

June 5, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Another BLADE Show has come and gone.

While I wasn’t able to attend this year, I’m not going to ignore one of my favorite events of the knife-filled weekend: the awards.

The Knife of the Year awards are designed to recognize the highest achievements in the factory-made and custom knife industries. Some experts in the field have argued that the winners of the awards have not reflected the consensus of the wider knife community. However, it is interesting to see which ones take home the top prize.

Overall Knife of the Year: Fox Knives SURU

Image from Blade Magazine

First up is the biggie: the Overall Knife of the Year. Fox Knives took home the top prize with the SURU. Designed by Jesper Voxnaes (as you can plainly see), the SURU is the first frame mechanism made from 90 percent carbon fiber and 10 percent TPI stainless steel. I imagine the carbon fiber makes it extremely lightweight.

It is a darn sexy knife with flourishes like titanium screws, Vegas Forge Herringbone Damascus steel, and a titanium clip with a zirconium oxide ball.

American Made Knife of the Year: Chris Reeve Impinda

Next up is the American Made Knife of the Year. The Impinda is the first slip joint from Chris Reeve Knives and looks as though it captures the same quality and finish you can expect from other CRK models like the Sebenza. It has a 3.123-inch S35VN blade with a titanium handle.

CRK Slipjoint “The Impinda” 2018 American Made Knife of the Year #chrisreeveknives #thinktwicecutonce #impinda #knivesofinstagram #knifenut #knifecommunity

A post shared by Rob Gray (@nchunter78) on Jun 4, 2018 at 7:09am PDT

Imported Knife of the Year: Spyderco Paysan

The Paysan was just released in the Spyderco 2018 Mid-Year Guide a few days ago and was one of the knives we were most excited for. It’s not hard to see why.

CRKT Heiho – Badass Knife of the Week

June 4, 2018 / Tim / 1 Comment

The CRKT Heiho was born out of a challenge to knife designer and martial arts instructor James Williams.

Williams had designed the CRKT Hissatsu — based on an old Japanese fixed blade — for use by tactical law enforcement and military forces. However, some special operations and government security professionals are not allowed to carry a large fixed blade, so he set out to create a low-profile folder that could be used in hostile environments.

The result is the Heiho.

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