Author: Tim (page 49 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 Releases 2017 List of Discontinued Knives

November 3, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

Spyderco Rubicon from a 2014 YouTube review by Sup3rSaiy3n

It’s that time of year again. Beloved knife models are dropping like flies and there’s nothing we can do about it.

Knife brands are publishing their lists of discontinued knives. First there was Kershaw. Then Benchmade (which we’ll get to in a few days). Now there’s Spyderco.

Some of these aren’t surprising and were predicted (considering many have sequels upcoming) but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. As I did with Kershaw, I’ll write obituaries for a few of my favorites. If you want to see the full list (along with links to those still available at Knife Depot), skip to the bottom.

Spyderco Friction Folder

The Friction Folder was an original. A few months ago, I wrote a thorough post explaining what a friction folder is, how it works, and why anyone would want one. I also named four factory-made friction folders you can buy. Yes, the Spyderco Friction Folder was on the list.

This was a non-traditional folder that used friction to keep the blade engaged. While this isn’t the type of knife you’d use for tough tasks, it’s great for simple EDC jobs. Not only that but this was one of the few knives legal to carry in the United Kingdom.

While the number of factory-made folders is dwindling by the day, you can find a number of friction folders from custom makers. Farewell old friend.

Spyderco Rubicon

The Rubicon is dead. Long live the Rubicon 2. The death of the Rubicon was one of the least surprising discontinued knives this year because of the arrival of the new Rubicon 2—a cheaper but faithful version of Peter Carey’s original masterpiece. What did the handsome Rubicon in was the high cost. I would have loved to use it as my EDC, but it went for more than $300.

KA-BAR ZK Famine Tanto – Badass Knife of the Week

October 31, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

A strange virus has spread across the world. Normal, law-abiding citizens now have a thirst for flesh and blood. The dead shuffle among the living with a goal of eating any human in its path.

What are you to do? Grab the KA-BAR Zombie Killer Famine Tanto.

The ZK Famine is a rugged tool designed to take down the walking dead while tackling the toughest survival tasks with impunity.

This 13-inch knife boasts a 7.5-inch blade with a stout tanto profile. The tanto is strong and capable of piercing the toughest materials without fear of breaking the tip.

Kershaw Releases List of 2017 Discontinued Knives

October 26, 2016 / Tim / 6 Comments

rainbow-leek

Brace yourselves: Kershaw has released its list of discontinued knives for 2017.

Many are not a surprise, but there are a few that made us look twice. I wrote a thorough post a few weeks ago about why some knives are discontinued and other knives live on, but it’s always sad to see some of our favorites get the boot.

At the time of this writing, we have most of these knives in stock, so if you want one before you’re forced to find it for resale, I suggest getting it now.

I thought it’d be pertinent to write the obituary for five of my favorite Kershaws not coming back next year. You can find the complete list at the end.

Kershaw Whirlwind

Although the Whirlwind lived a nice long life, its death was sudden and surprising. This knife has been around for more than 15 years, with the stonewashed version being slightly newer. OK, so maybe its long life was an indication that the knife would soon cease production.

The loss of the Whirlwind is quite personal to me, as it’s been my father’s reliable EDC work knife for years. He really enjoyed Sandvik 14C28N steel blade with the SpeedSafe mechanism.

Unfortunately, this knife has been around for so long that people are likely no longer interested in it. That and the more popular Kershaw Blackout is nearly identical to the Whirlwind (except for a black blade).

Kershaw Shallot

The death of the Shallot is like the death of one of the Beatles. The Shallot was part of the famous line of knives created by Ken Onion and named after relatives of the onion. Along with the Chive, Leek, and Scallion, the Shallot helped establish Kershaw as a formidable brand for folders.

The Shallot was the largest of the line —with a 3.5-inch blade—and likely received the least amount of love. All iterations of the Shallot are no longer slated for production (you can find links to the rest below).

CRKT K.I.S.S. – Badass Knife of the Week

October 24, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

If you don’t believe a single knife could set a fledgling knife company on a positive trajectory for decades, you haven’t seen the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

Paul Gillespie and Rod Bremer founded Columbia River Knife & Tool back in 1994, but it wasn’t until the introduction of the CRKT K.I.S.S. that the company got its first major hit.

The K.I.S.S. is designed by the late Ed Halligan, who was only the second major knifemaker to work with the then relatively new brand. According to legend, the K.I.S.S. was introduced at the Shot Show in 1997. Within a few days of the show, a year’s worth of the knife had sold out.

Work Sharp WSCMB Combo Knife Sharpener Review

October 21, 2016 / Tim / 3 Comments

There’s no shortage of knife sharpeners.

Sharpeners come in all shapes and sizes and perform vastly different functions. The endgame is always the same: to sharpen a knife.

It’s a well-known fact that a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp knife because it requires more effort and strength to cut. However, my main gripe with a dull knife is the simple fact that it’s less effective.

But if you’re the type of person who can’t be bothered to take out the old whetstone and honing oil or simply don’t have the skillset to do freehand sharpening, Work Sharp’s newest item called the Combo Knife Sharpener is made for you.

Work Sharp sent me a unit to review, so I decided to answer whether this is the sharpener for you.

Target Audience of the Combo Knife Sharpener

Before we get into the review, it’s important to understand the target audience of the sharpener; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to accurately give it a fair review for what it’s designed for.

If you’re a hard-core knife user with high-end knives featuring complicated grinds and different edge angles, the WSCMB is not for you.

But if you’re an amateur knife person who has never sharpened a knife and frequently use less expensive knives, this is your knife sharpener.

Work Sharp has three levels of power sharpeners. The Ken Onion Edition Knife & Tool Sharpener is the ultimate solution for your sharpening needs. It can sharpen every knife (and edged tool) you own with adjustable angles and variable speeds. This is for hard-core knife enthusiasts.

Work Sharp’s Original Knife & Tool Sharpener

For those who don’t need as much customization but still want some control, the Original Knife & Tool Sharpener is still one of the best out there.

The Combo Knife Sharpener is the simplest of the available power sharpeners from Work Sharp.

Initial Impressions and Specs

The WSCMB sharpener has an insanely quick and easy setup. It comes in a compact box a little larger than the size of the machine (which is already as compact as it gets without sacrificing convenience).

Included with the main unit inside the box is an additional abrasive sharpening belt, instructions, and a quick-start guide. That’s it.

To set it up, you simply plug it into an outlet, and it’s ready to go. This is huge for the amateur knife sharpener without much experience sharpening knives.

Buck 124 Frontiersman – Badass Knife of the Week

October 17, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

An old adage says that if a knife looks beautiful enough to be in a museum, it’ll probably suffer in its performance. Our latest Badass Knife of the Week begs to differ.

The Buck 124 Frontiersman is one of the most elegant and classy knives you’ll ever see but that doesn’t mean it can’t get down and dirty.

This classic hunting knife carries on the Buck tradition of reliable hunters made in the United States of America. It boasts a 6.25-inch blade made from 420HC stainless steel, which will resist corrosion and take an edge without much effort.

Steel Will Censor – Badass Knife of the Week

October 10, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

The definition of a badass knife varies greatly. Some badass knives are brash, loud, and insane. Others are quiet, biting, and understated. Our latest Badass Knife of the Week firmly falls into the latter category.

The Steel Will Censor is a compact knife made for discreet carry. But just because it’s subtle and easy to conceal doesn’t mean it can’t be an invaluable tool in distressing situations.

Coming in at an overall length of 7.68 inches, the Censor features a unique design that you’ll appreciate when you need the knife the most.

It all starts with the 3.54-inch blade. The AUS-8 stainless steel is more than adequate at holding its own against the toughest tasks while resisting corrosion and wear. A satin finish on the blade undermines any minor scratches or wear encountered in daily use.

12 Knives Made From Old Junk

October 5, 2016 / Tim / 9 Comments

A knife, formerly a horse shoe, created by Miller Knives

We’re drowning in trash and junk. Look in your neighbor’s garage or head down to the scrap yard and you’ll see so much refuse and detritus that it’s not even funny.

But what if you could take those pieces of scrap metal and make them into something practical and rewarding? Well, you can.

If you put enough work and skill into it, you could turn nearly any piece of scrap metal into a functional knife. Will all pieces of scrap metal make great knives? Heck no! But with the right piece of metal, you can create something useful and even beautiful.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at these knives made from old junk you can find in your garage or the scrap yard.

1. A knife made from a file

Many knifemakers start by constructing a knife from a file. It’s not exactly making a knife from scratch, but it gives you a place to start. Files are made from different steels, such as W-1 and W-1, but a Nicholson file is 1095 carbon steel. That’s a great steel to work with. Way back in 2011, I wrote about how to make a knife from a file.

Here’s a great tutorial of a file knife made with common tools.

2. A knife made from a shovel

There’s a classic video that shows how to make a knife from a shovel and some concrete, but I appreciate how this video from Rusty shows what you can make at home without many tools.

3. A knife made from a railroad spike

The railroad spike is another fairly common starting point for knives. You can often find these lying near old railroad tracks (though be aware that it may be considered stealing to take one), but you can also grab some at a local scrap yard. You can also get some railroad spikes from McMaster-Carr for pretty cheap too.

Kershaw Blackout – Badass Knife of the Week

October 3, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

Just because a knife has been around for more than 15 years doesn’t mean it’s any less worthy of praise and elevation. In fact, our Badass Knife of the Week proves that a great knife will just keep getting more and more popular over time.

Originally released as one of the first knives to feature Ken Onion’s revolutionary SpeedSafe assisted opening mechanism, the Kershaw Blackout continues to garner fans and appreciation with every passing year.

Why? Just take a look at it.

The Blackout is the very definition of sleek, with a black 3.25-inch blade made from Sandvik 13C26 stainless steel. The alloy performs well under stress, holds an edge, and resists corrosion. Scratch-resistant Tungsten DLC coating will keep the blade a clean black, even through everyday use. A drop point blade profile, accompanied by a slight swedge, ups the knife’s overall versatility.

NAACP Joins Knife Rights in Fight Against NYC Knife Laws

October 2, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

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Thanks to a distorted reading of New York City knife laws, the NYPD has sent as many as 60,000 people to jail over the past decade. According to the Village Voice, simple possession of a pocket knife has even landed defendants in prison for up to seven years.

Knife Rights has been taking on the city for the past few years, arguing that the laws are unjust, capricious, and unconstitutional. In some cases, people have been arrested for carrying legal knives like the Buck 112 Ranger or Leatherman Surge—not exactly gravity knives.

buck-112-ranger

Now the organization has garnered support from a group traditionally on the other side of the political spectrum: the NAACP.

These two groups make strange bedfellows, but they are fighting for the same thing: justice for unfairly targeted groups.

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