The people have spoken: our latest Badass Knife of the Week is one extraordinary fixed blade. As the most recent winner of the People’s Choice award at BLADE Show 2015, the Schrade SCHF36 Frontier has proven its worth by helping countless people navigate parts of the wilderness where no other has gone before.
We all know there’s little love between knife manufacturers. When you are trying to make a knife stronger, better, and more interesting than a competitor, there’s bound to be tension and animosity.
But Cold Steel is taking it to the next level.
In a press release, Cold Steel announced that it’s suing CRKT over misleading marketing assertions. Cold Steel says CRKT’s claims that its various locking mechanisms—including LAWKS, AutoLAWKS, and L.B.S—can convert a folding knife into a “virtual fixed blade” is not only misleading customers into buying poorly performing knives but also causing losses to their business.
Here’s more from Cold Steel President Lynn C. Thompson: “Consumers are entitled to truthful information. They need to know what a knife can and can’t do. We are a nation of people who USE our knives. Responsible knife owners want to use their tools, and they should be given honest information about the performance, reliability and safety they should expect.”
So what does Cold Steel want out of this lawsuit? The company is seeking an unspecified amount of money from damages caused by CRKT’s “blatantly false claims” and “dishonest tactics,” which will then be donated to Knife Rights. It also wants an injunction, treble damages, and attorneys’ fees.
When you’re talking about most iconic knives from Benchmade, our latest Badass Knife of the Week will always be in the conservation. In fact, some people say this knife is as close to perfection as you can get.
Not only is the Benchmade 710 the first Benchmade to feature the highly regarded AXIS locking mechanism but it’s also one of the best all-around folders on the market.
It all starts with the 3.9-inch blade. The modified clip-point blade is extremely versatile, and the dual thumb studs make for quick and easy ambidextrous opening.
The 710D2 iteration of the folder, which was designed by Bill McHenry and Jason Williams, features high-quality D2 steel. Known for its outstanding wear resistance, D2 steel is touted for its ability to tackle the toughest tasks around.
Update: We originally wrote this post way back in January, but CRKT recently unveiled a few more 2015 mid-year years at the BLADE Show in Atlanta. You can find the new ones at the bottom.
It’s January and you know what that means… it’s time to take a look at the new knives coming your way. The SHOT Show (where companies are showcasing new knives) is currently underway, but many companies have already released the new catalogs.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a look at the new knives across various brands. We’re kicking things off with the 22 new knives from CRKT.
BT-70 (Designed by Bob Terzuola)
If you’re not familiar with Bob Terzuola, the new BT-70 is the perfect way to get acquainted. Terzuola is one of the fathers of tactical knives and this collector’s piece showcases his feel for the tactical folder. It has a stonewash finish, G-10 handle scales with his dragon logo, and a blade length of 4.03 inches.
Argus Black
The Argus is a spring-assisted knife with the Outburst assisted opening mechanism. Designed by Matthew Lerch, the Argus Black has an aluminum handle and a 3.55-inch blade with black corrosion resistant coating.
No Time Off
Designed by Flavio Ikoma, the No Time Off is a burly folder that’s aimed at heavy-duty tasks. It has a waffle iron traction grip handle and a 2.99-inch blade that locks into place using the Ikoma Locking System.
Saker
The Saker is an interesting bushcraft knife by Abe Elias, with its scandi grind and 1075 carbon steel blade that’s about 4.5 inches. The handle is made from Walnut.
G.S.D. (Get S**t Done)
With a name like G.S.D. (which stands for Get S**t Done), you’d better expect a knife that’s tough, reliable, and functional. Check, check, and check. It has a classic industrial look and can handle heavy-duty tasks.
Hunt’N Fisch
We’re starting to get to the puns. The Hunt’N Fisch plays off designer Larry Fischer’s name and is a fixed blade hunting knife with tons of jimping and some interesting grooves on the spine.
It’s designed to be an all-around hunting and fishing knife with a blade of 2.99 inches made of 8Cr13MoV steel. It has G-10 scales on the handle.
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Our latest Badass Knife of the Week features a sick design that’s not very common: it’s a spring-assisted knife with a knuckle guard.
With its modern twist on the classic trench knife, this spring-assisted knife with knuckle guard is something to behold. The knife mimics the style of the popular combat knife from the two World Wars but adds some newer features that take it to the next level.
It was yet another great BLADE Show down in Atlanta this year. We saw the arrival of a few new and exciting prototypes, drooled over all the custom knives, and watched the cutting competitions with captivation.
However, one of our favorite segments of the BLADE Show is finding out the winners of the Blade Magazine Knife of the Year Awards. Fifteen awards are handed out, but we’re only going in depth with a few. You can see the full list without all the commentary at the bottom.
First up is the Accessory Of The Year Award. The recipient is the Generation 3 Pro from Wicked Edge. This $700 contraption is an astounding knife sharpener. With micro-adjustable ball jointed guide arms and precise angle adjustments, you can’t find a more accurate sharpener than the Generation 3 Pro.
Spyderco won two awards this year, including the Best Buy. This is a knife that offers the best design and performance for the money. The Byrd Cara Cara 2 is a lightweight folder with a 3.75-inch blade made of 8Cr13MoV steel. The least expensive iteration has a handle made of Black FRN with a midlock to keep the knife open. Since Byrd Knives are a sub-brand of Spyderco, they have a modified Spydie hole that’s just as easy and quick to deploy.
This is definitely a well-deserved recipient.
As I’ve said previously, the award for most innovative is my favorite because it showcases the ingenuity still present in a field that’s been around for thousands of years. The innovative imported design goes to the Desert Fox from Fox Knives. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Fox Knives is known for making knives of the highest quality.
The Buck 110 Hunter is one of the most iconic knives ever made, having sold millions over the past five decades. It constantly makes the list of best knives and has found its way into the pockets of millions of Americans.
So how could anyone or anything ever live up to the lofty expectations of this knife? Our latest Badass Knife of the Week has proven it’s more than possible.
At Knife Depot, we pride ourselves on being a business that works toward giving customers the greatest selection of products possible.
So, when we were finally able to sell automatic knives (better known as switchblades), we were downright stoked. We posted on Facebook and sent out an email to our subscribers announcing the arrival of automatic knives for authorized military personnel and law enforcement officers.
Microtech Combat Troodon DE Automatic Knife
Let’s just say that the reception was less than enthusiastic.
We received emails from disgruntled fans attacking our automatic knives policy as dumb, ridiculous, and discriminating.
The truth is we whole-heartedly agree with the hate mail. Unfortunately, as a business that conducts interstate commerce, we’re bound by the federal law of the United States.
The Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 prohibits the manufacture, importation, distribution, transportation, and sale of switchblade knives between states, but there are a few exceptions in terms of what can be mailed across state lines found in 18 USC 1716 (G) and 15 USC 1244.
If you didn’t click on the links to the actual code (and we don’t blame you), they basically say switchblades can only be shipped across state lines to certain people, which includes authorized government personnel and those who have the use of only one arm.
Benchmade Bedlam Automatic Knife, Axis
So how did we get to this point? Let’s go back to the development of automatic knives.
A switchblade is a folding knife that uses a spring-loaded button to fully engage a knife. (If you’re curious, I wrote an article about the difference between a switchblade and assisted-opening knife.) The blade’s natural position is to be open and the button is absorbing that pressure. Once that pressure is removed, the knife opens up.
Switchblades were around in ewhe form since the mid-18th century, but those mostly used levers and weren’t very practical.
It wasn’t until the late 1800s did George Schrade help pioneer the modern and functional iteration of the switchblade. By 1916, Schrade had created what we know as the switchblade today. He used a button to engage the knife instead of the old lever system.
A switchblade from Flylock Knife Company from between 1918 and 1929.
Legend has it that the automatic knife was developed in order to make it easier for women to open folding knives without breaking a fingernail. While this is a slight exaggeration, early advertisements did use this aspect as a selling point.
Here’s a Schrade advertisement from 1904, according to Gizmodo.
Operated With One Hand.
No Breaking of Finger Nails.
Will Not Open in Your Pocket.
Will Not Close on the Fingers When in Use.
The Schrade Safety Push Button Knife, of which we are the exclusive manufacturers, is rapidly becoming the leading knife on the market because of its many advantages over the ordinary pocket knife. Being easily operated with one hand it is far more convenient than the old style pocket knife which necessitates the use of both hands to open and frequently results in broken finger nails… This novel knife is especially suitable for a gift or souvenir, as it is something out of the ordinary, very useful, and when furnished with one of our attractive handles makes an ideal gift.
What made the knife go from a tool that wouldn’t break your nails to a weapon that was destroying society? We turn to the 1950s for the answer.
Let’s set the scene of the time. The U.S. was undergoing a major economic boom in the wake of WWII, while the onset of the Cold War had shifted the politics of the country right. The Civil Rights movement was gaining steam. Rock-N-Roll was emerging on the scene with artists like Sam Cooke, Buddy Holly, Howlin’ Wolf, and others were captivating teens. Juvenile delinquency was up during the time, and movie stars like James Dean weren’t helping matters.
The seed that germinated the movement against the automatic knife can be traced back to a 1950 article that appeared in the Women’s Home Companion called “The Toy That Kills.” It basically lays out how the switchblade will quickly become the weapon of choice in gang warfare if it’s not taken care of.
Astute followers of our Badass Knife of the Week series will remember seeing the legendary KA-BAR USMC Fighting and Utility Knife way back in 2014.
We may be cheating a little bit, but in honor of Memorial Day, we picked the KA-BAR U.S. Army iteration as the latest Badass Knife of the Week.
Smooth, sleek, and badass.
Those three words perfectly describe the new collaboration between Hinderer Knives and SilencerCo: The Blackout Package.
This recently announced set is the latest edition to the SilencerCo Summit line, which includes premium products with cutting-edge features.
The contents of this limited edition Blackout Package is a Summit-edition Omega suppressor, customized Hinderer XM-18 folder, and a case of black nickel-plated SilencerCo Harvester Subsonic 300 Blackout ammunition.
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