Author: Tim (page 29 of 113)

Timothy Martinez Jr. is the community director for Knife Depot and the editor of The Cutting Edge. If you have any questions or ideas for The Cutting Edge, you can contact him at Tim@knife-depot.com.

Spyderco Yojimbo 2 – Badass Knife of the Week

May 21, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Renowned personal-defense trainer Michael Janich is credited with popularizing the modern Wharncliffe blade design with an eye on tactical applications. This unusual blade design culminated in his most recent creation — the redesigned Spyderco Yojimbo 2.

Spyderco is known for taking risks on knives with odd-looking designs, and the Yojimbo 2 is no exception.

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The most notable part of the whole knife is the 3.11-inch Wharncliffe blade. A Wharncliffe blade is defined by having a completely flat edge with a spine that tapers to a piercing point. Both of these attributes make the profile excellent for everyday tasks… and self-defense.

Knife Podcasts You Should Listen To

May 17, 2018 / Tim / 9 Comments

I am addicted to podcasts. I pop them on when I’m cleaning the house, sharpening my knives, and going for walks.

With hundreds of thousands of unique podcasts, there’s no dearth of something to listen, including dozens of pods 100 percent dedicated to sewing. But what about us knife nuts?

It’s true that there are far fewer knife-related podcasts than there should be, but there are at least seven that every knife fan should be subscribed to. Let us know in the comments if we missed any.

This post was originally published in December 2016, but there have been a few new podcasts in the last few months and others that have faded away. I’m hoping these are here to stay.

Gear Geeks Live

This is one of the longest running knife-related podcasts out there. Except when it took a short hiatus, the pod has been publishing at least once a month for around four years. Gear Geeks Live is hosted by Anthony Sculimbrene of Everyday Commentary (a personal favorite). In the past few months, Sculimbrene has been joined by the great Nick Shabazz.

The guys take a thorough look at the goings on in the knife world including new releases, the news, and more. They also do interviews with folks around the knife community and interviewed knifemaker Jesse Jarosz in the past. Sculimbrene and Shabazz have a nice rapport.

Kershaw Fraxion – Badass Knife of the Week

May 14, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Back in the day, the term budget was synonymous with cheap. These days, you can get a budget-friendly knife that’s built as good as some of the more pricey knives.

Take our latest Badass Knife of the Week, for example.

The Kershaw Fraxion — a collaboration between the esteemed brand and Danish knifemaker Jens Anso — is a lightweight folder with a streamlined design.

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The knife features a 2.75-inch clip point blade with a BlackWash finish that springs open with the help of a manual flipper mechanism. The size and blade profile make the 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade versatile and easy to carry anywhere.

Watch a Knife Get Made From Aluminum Foil

May 10, 2018 / Tim / 2 Comments

Aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals. In fact, it is one of the most abundant elements on earth. So why is it that people never mention aluminum when making knife blades?

Well, despite being lightweight and durable, aluminum is extremely soft. That means a knife made from aluminum would dull quicker than you could sharpen it. But that hasn’t stopped some enterprising knifemakers from experimenting with aluminum blades.

In March, one of the most creative knifemakers in Japan made a fantastic kitchen knife out of a roll of aluminum foil.

Aside from that Japanese knifemaker, few are more skilled or creative at the videos turning everyday objects into knives than Steve Miller from Miller Knives. I’ve highlighted his videos in the past — such as the time he turned a rusty wrench into a knife or the time he made a folder out of a bullet — but he too took on the challenge of making a knife from aluminum foil.

Buck Bantam BBW – Badass Knife of the Week

May 7, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Buck is no stranger to creating solid, inexpensive knives made in these great United States of America.

The years of history and manufacturing prowess of Buck are on display in the small but efficient Bantam BBW.

The Bantam BBW series is in that sweet spot right above the Nano Bantam and right below the Bantam BHW. This means the Bantam BBW features a 2.75-inch blade with a large thumb stud for easy opening. The drop point profile will do its job no questions asked while the size is optimal for urban or everyday carry.

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This Buck uses 420HC stainless steel with the heat treat process pioneered by Paul Bos. In less capable hands, 420HC could be a subpar steel, but Buck knows how to maximize the steel for edge retention and durability.

KA-BAR Introduces ‘State & Union Knives’ Custom Shop

May 3, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Sunday marked the 120th anniversary of KA-BAR.

To celebrate the momentous milestone, KA-BAR had a few goodies up its sleeve. We already covered the well-made documentary series about the long and complicated history of the company.

Then, they released some commemorative KA-BAR models with a 120th Anniversary logo laser-engraved on the blade. There’s the U.S. Army, USMC, USN, and Dog’s Head models.

That wasn’t all KA-BAR announced, however.

KA-BAR is paying homage to its past by introducing State & Union Knives. The internal shop will allow the company to once again create hand-finished custom designed knives in Olean, New York.

Boker Magnum Pocket Kukri – Badass Knife of the Week

April 30, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Want to carry a huge kukri machete without having to attach it to a sheath on your belt? Boy, have we got the knife for you.

Behold, the Magnum by Boker Pocket Kukri.

The Pocket Kukri is massive. It has a long 4.63-inch blade made of 440 stainless steel. The kukri-inspired blade design features a recurve and swedge for optimal slicing and piercing. A fuller near the spine cuts down on the weight of the knife and doubles as a notch for two-handed opening.

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You may not think this makes a good EDC knife because of its size, but the knife is surprisingly versatile. The blade can be used for light chopping or carving, and its reach makes it a fierce self-defense tool.

Watch ‘The KA-BAR Story’ Series

April 26, 2018 / Tim / 1 Comment

KA-BAR the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary on April 29th. In honor of its amazing longevity, KA-BAR dove deep into the history of the brand — from inception in the late 1800s all the way to today.

This deep dive culminated in a four-part documentary series released over the past few weeks on the KA-BAR YouTube channel.

These four videos are exceptionally well-made and track the company through the decades as it responds to major events in U.S. history. KA-BAR got some actors to play historical figures in the company that really help you visualize the company.

I wrote my own brief history of the KA-BAR brand and a closer look into what makes the company so great a few years back. But even I learned a few new things about the brand from the video. For example, I’m glad the company didn’t keep the name Tidioute Cutlery.

I would have liked this documentary better had it been released as one video (since you get a minute intro at the beginning and about four minutes of credits at the end of each video).

See Quiet Carry’s Kickstarter Campaign for the Chase Folder

April 24, 2018 / Tim / 1 Comment

Every so often I take a gander through Kickstarter to see what sort of intriguing designs or contraptions people are asking the masses to back.

One active campaign that really captured my eye is the Chase by Quiet Carry.

The Chase is an everyday carry pocket knife with an emphasis on utility and convenience. The creator says that the inspiration for the knife was a fixed blade, though I don’t necessarily get that impression upon first glance. It does look like a clean and refined EDC folder, however.

Victorinox Farmer – Badass Knife of the Week

April 23, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Trying to find the perfect everyday carry is almost impossible, but if you had to pick just one knife to carry wherever you go, it might as well be the Victorinox Farmer.

This Swiss Army Knife has all the essentials you need — nothing more and nothing less.

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The knife features nine functions. The main tool is the large blade, which opens up with the help of a nail nick and snaps into place with a slipjoint spring. A bottle opener and can opener sit on opposite ends and boast additional uses, including a wire stripper and two screwdrivers.

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