Author: Tim (page 53 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.

Knife Myths: Knives from China are always cheap and inferior

June 23, 2016 / Tim / 123 Comments

tenacious-china

If you have a few conversations with some of the most ardent knife fans, you’ll usually come to the conclusion that all knives from China are pieces of junk. Some people won’t even look at China-made knives because nothing can beat a quality American-made blade.

Strap yourself in because I’m here to bust the myth that all knives from China are cheap and inferior to knives made in the United States.

Let me start with a disclaimer: If you only buy knives from the United States because you believe in supporting the local economy and encouraging American businesses that employ Americans, that’s fine and commendable. I can’t argue with that moral approach to things. But if you refuse to buy any knives from China because you think they’re junk, you’re simply wrong.

Why Everything is Made in China

Unless you’re diligent, nearly everything you own comes from China. Most parts on the computer or phone you’re looking at were made in China, most clothes you’re wearing were made in China.

So when did China become so engrained in our manufacturing? Let’s take a look.

The Korean War in the early 1950s (yes, we’re going back far) was essentially a proxy war between the United States and Soviet communist-supported allies like China. During the Korean War, all trade between China and the United States was frozen. This embargo would go on until 1970, when the Nixon administration began laying the groundwork to lift the ban on US-China trade.

Richard Nixon with Mao Zedong

In 1972, President Richard Nixon made a historic visit to China to improve relations between the US and China. In the following years, the two countries signed agreements to improve trade.

Schrade SCHF52 – Badass Knife of the Week

June 20, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

Think you can’t improve on something that’s already great? Our latest Badass Knife of the Week proves otherwise.

The Schrade SCHF52 Frontier is an updated version of the SCHF37, which was widely hailed as a great all-around survival knife.

The SCHF52 retains the same 7.04-inch 1095 carbon steel blade, but it features an upgraded blade coating. The thick powder coating of the previous iteration created drag while batoning, but the SCHF52 uses a Teflon-like coating that not only holds up better to rigorous use but also adds an extra layer of rust-resistance to the steel.

Kershaw Select Fire – Badass Knife of the Week

June 13, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

It’s rare for people to strive so relentlessly for innovation and originality. It’s even rarer for those people to consistently hit the mark on so many levels. But that’s what you get from the knifemakers behind the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

With Father’s Day only a few days away, we thought it would be apropos to look at a knife designed by the creative father/son duo of Grant and Gavin Hawk.

The Kershaw Select Fire is one of those knives that punches well above its weight class in so many ways. The folder is an honest and reliable pocket knife with a few features that every handyman should have nearby.

2016 Father’s Day Giveaway

June 10, 2016 / Tim / 26 Comments

2016 Father's Day Giveaway

In a famous quote from coach Jim Valvano, he said “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me.”

While we can’t give your dad that greatest gift, we can give him another great gift: a laser-engraved knife.

2016 BLADE Show ‘Knife of the Year’ Awards

June 9, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

With the 2016 BLADE Show in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at all those awesome knives that won the “Knife of the Year” awards. It’s fantastic that knives and knifemakers are honored for excellence at one of the biggest events in the knife world.

Like last year, we’ll take a look at some of the big winners from the 2016 BLADE Show, but you can find the full list at the very end of the post.

Overall Knife of the Year: Lionsteel Metamorphosis

For a consecutive year, Lionsteel took home the top prize of the Overall Knife of the Year with the Metamorphosis. Lionsteel is a family-owned operation founded in Italy in 1969. Its goal, which all other companies should strive for, is to produce knives using only the best materials with unparalleled quality control.

The Metamorphosis is a flipper with a textured aluminum handle featuring a special heat-sensitive coating. When the handle is held in the hand for a few minutes, it changes from black to camouflage. Check out the video:

The premium Sleipner steel blade is 3.43 inches and locks with a liner lock. Sure, the handles are just a luxury, but the knife itself is a real performer.

American-Made Knife of the Year: Spartan Blades SHF

The Spartan Harsey Folder, which goes by SHF, is an anticipated design from Bill Harsey Jr. Harsey has won a few American-Made Knife of the Year awards in the past and this folder is definitely worthy.

United Cutlery Highlander Bowie – Badass Knife of the Week

June 6, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

In the immortal words from the cult-classic film Highlander: There can be only one.

The United Cutlery Highlander Bowie has a design that will have you abandoning all your other knives for this one.

Designed to encapsulate the ethos of ancient highlanders, the massive 8.75-inch blade is made from 420 stainless steel with a tip that’s a cross between a trailing and clip point.

Recurve along the cutting edge of the blade adds versatility and a nice belly while a swedge improves its piercing capability.

Spyderco Introduces 12 New 2016 Mid-Year Knives

June 4, 2016 / Tim / 6 Comments

Some brands release new knives just ece a year. Not Spyderco.

The company is always working on new knives and innovation to share with the knife community. Because Spyderco is eager to get its knives out to the public, the brand introduces new products every month.

Since a once-a-year catalog doesn’t give customers the full story, Spyderco releases supplemental product guides. Here are 12 new Spyderco knives in the 2016 Mid-Year Product Guide.

Advocate

The Spyderco Advocate is a tactical flipper designed by the great Gayle Bradley. The 3.49-inch blade is made from Bradley’s favorite CPM M4 tool steel and includes the Round Hole—though the hole is partially covered, making it mostly decorative.

Its handle is made from machined solid titanium scales with a texture Spyderco calls “orange peel” adjacent. The blade stays engaged with the Reeve Integral Lock mechanism.

Rubicon 2

The Rubicon 2 is the next generation of the original Peter Carey design. This version of the folder strips down the design to make it more affordable. It no longer has the orange G-10 accents, but it retains a carbon fiber handle and CPM S30V steel. The tip-up pocket clip is more in line with other Spyderco pocket clip styles.

Magnitude

If you noticed the Rubicon and Magnitude look alike, you wouldn’t be off base. The Magnitude is another Peter Carey design and carries a similar style. The 3.5-inch blade is made from CPM S30V, and the handle is made from carbon fiber scales.

A brown G-10 accent pivot is reminiscent of the original Rubicon.

EuroEdge

Spyderco indulges in some bizarre designs, but its Ethnic Series always has truly unique creations that take cues from knives of other cultures. The EuroEdge is an Ed Schempp design (who’s contributed a few knives to the Ethnic Series like the Schempp Bowie) and combines characteristics of old European swords and daggers.

Gerber Mark II – Badass Knife of the Week

May 30, 2016 / Tim / 2 Comments

badass-gerber-mark-ii

Memorial Day is a holiday to remember those who died while serving in the military. In honor of all of those who lost their life, our latest Badass Knife of the Week is one that so many soldiers—both those who perished and those who survived—carried into action since 1966: the Gerber Mark II.

The Gerber Mark II has the honor of being one of the best-selling knives of all time, thanks to its place in the hallowed halls of military weapons.

Designed by US Army Captain Bud Holzman, the Mark II was inspired by the Roman Mainz Gladius sword and the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife. It has a slender design with a 6.5-inch double-edged spear point design.

CRKT Introducing Knife With New ‘Field Strip’ Technology

May 25, 2016 / Tim / 6 Comments

crkt-homefront-hand

CRKT is no stranger to innovation. In a recent post naming 15 knives with unique opening mechanisms, CRKT made the list more times than any other brand.

Now, the brand is coming out with another innovation they’re calling Field Strip technology.

The premise of the technology is fairly simple: you can take apart and reassemble a folding knife in the field without any tools. Take a look at the knife in action in this video:

Why would anyone want a knife like this? Folding knives are notoriously tough to clean out in the field. Sure, many designs, including those with open handles, try to mitigate the amount of detritus that gets stuck in the moving parts. But thorough cleaning usually requires a complete teardown, which involves tools and small screws.

Boker Plus Subcom Titan VG-10 – Badass Knife of the Week

May 23, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

How could such a small and stout folder like the Boker Plus Subcom be the latest Badass Knife of the Week? Just ask the countless people who carry this versatile brute in their pocket.

The Subcom is a foundational piece in the Boker Plus series and remarkably became one of Boker’s best-selling knives of all time. That’s high praise coming from such an old and storied brand.

The Boker Plus Subcom Titan VG-10 is a premium and smartly refined version of the original with flourishes that take this rotund folder to another level.

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