Category: Knife of the Week (Page 16 of 35)

The word Aegis, which rhymes with prestigious, is ripe with history and meaning.

In its most basic definition, the word means protection. But the origins date back to Ancient Greece when the word was described as a form of protection — possibly a shield or the skin of a giant — carried by gods Athena and Zeus.

But the SOG Aegis was inspired by the code name for the air and sea component of the United States’ Ballistic Missile Defense System, and it’s not hard to see how. The Aegis boasts a covert size, lightweight construction, and significant power.

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The Izula from ESEE Knives is one of the most popular and beloved fixed-blade knives ever made. It’s what knife experts and beginners alike turn to when they want a lightweight survival tool that’s versatile enough to be used for everyday carry.

So what do you do with a beloved model? You make another version.

The ESEE Izula-II is nearly identical in appearance to the original Izula with a few important changes you’ll feel in the hand.

Like the original, the Izula-II features a 1095 carbon steel blade with black-powder coating to increase its resistance to rust and the elements. On the blade is the famous bullet ant, sometimes known as Isula by the people to Peru, with which the knife gets its name and inspiration.

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Some knives are only meant to be used in the outdoors and others are only meant to be used for opening envelopes. The Badass Knife of the Week knows no limits.

The Kershaw Reverb is the kind of knife you can take anywhere. It’s light enough to be taken backpacking, versatile enough to be used for everyday tasks, and reliable enough to be used around the campsite.

It all starts with the futuristic design. The two-tone blade is 2.5 inches and made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, known as a capable alloy that’s easy to sharpen. The gray PVD coating along the grind offers the steel extra protection from the elements.

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On top of making some great EDC knives, Spyderco is known for making specialty knives for specific tasks — whether it’s the Whale Rescue Blade made only for rescuing whales or the serrated Jumpmaster made for the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division jumpmasters.

The latest Badass Knife of the Week is the Spyderco knife made specifically for self-defense purposes, and it’s a doozy.

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Many knife patterns have come out over the years, but only one seems to have stood the test of time as one of the most popular knife patterns ever made. Yes, we’re talking about the trapper.

Our latest Badass Knife of the Week puts a modern twist on the traditional knife pattern in the always reliable Urban Trapper from Boker Plus.

Here’s an overview of the cocobolo version from Black Owl Outdoors:

The trapper design has been around for more than a hundred years, originally featuring a blade optimized for trapping and skinning. While the need for trapping and skinning has dwindled the past century, the need for a versatile and functional pocket knife has not.

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Jesse Jarosz designed his very first knife in December 2009, a process he described as not knowing what he was doing. By 2012, he won “Best New Maker” at the USN Gathering. More than five years later, Jarosz has become one of the top knifemakers around.

And our latest Badass Knife of the Week is the perfect representation of his work.

KA-BAR teamed up with Jarosz to bring the quality and design of his custom Model M75 Tetrad to the masses in the production model simply called the KA-BAR Jarosz Folder.

Here is a quick video overview from Everyday Commentary:

This moderate-sized folder features a 3.5-inch blade made from AUS-8 stainless steel, which can rival some of the best steels when treated right. This version comes with the versatile but always dependable drop point blade profile, but it’s also available in a tanto version.

It opens via dual thumb studs and stays locked with a liner lock. Jimping along the spine allows for more nuanced control when you need better control.

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When Ken Onion left Kershaw a few years back to pursue new design opportunities with CRKT, some wondered whether Onion could still deliver. Our Badass Knife of the Week proves he’s still got it.

The CRKT Ripple brings the design quirks and aesthetics of the inimitable Ken Onion to an inexpensive and effective everyday carry flipper.

The Ripple Aluminum is the latest generation of the knife, and it has knife people all aflutter.

It has a plain satin finished 3.125-inch blade made from 8Cr14MoV stainless steel that springs to life with a silky smooth action from the patented IKBS ball-bearing pivot system and a well placed flipper tab.

If you want a smaller size, the Ripple 2 Aluminum boasts a blade length of 2.7 inches.

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It wasn’t long ago when the term bushcrafting – the art of practicing wilderness survival skills — was considered underground and outlandish.

But now even the most amateurish bushcrafter can embrace using the natural resources of the land to survive with the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

The Benchmade Bushcrafter combines tried-and-true design principles with modern materials to create a knife that won’t just withstand the elements but excel.

Here’s an excellent overview from HighCarbonSteel Love:

Designer Shane Sibert has earned a reputation over the past 20+ years for making hard-use knives that are functional and durable like the Benchmade Adamas family. The Bushcrafter is made in the same vein.

It starts with the 4.4-inch satin blade made from CPM-S30V steel, which keeps its edge like few others. The blade features the classic and versatile drop point profile, making it ideal for all the tasks you’d encounter in nature.

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When the work day begins, it’s Carter Prime time.

This workhorse folder is a collaboration between Ontario Knife Company and knife designer Robert Carter. If you aren’t familiar with Carter, the man has tiny knives embedded in his DNA.

Carter is the grandson of Mel Pardue, best known for Benchmade designs like the Griptilian, and the son of Joe Pardue, of OKC Utilitac fame. But instead of just relying on the reputation of his ancestors, Carter has forged his own path using the knowledge he’s soaked up over the years.

Just look at Carter Prime.

Based on his Generalist custom design, the Carter Prime is an overbuilt flipper with a thick cut 3.37-inch blade made from D2 tool steel. D2 is a semi-stainless steel that’s often underrated because it’s not new or expensive, but it’s a tough steel that will get the job done.

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Sometimes it’s a crapshoot trying to figure out which knife models will become hits and which will become duds that fade away after a few years. Our latest Badass Knife of the Week shows the winning formula a long-lasting knife must have.

The Gerber E-Z Out is a simple folder with a reliable design made right here in the United States. When you put all those elements together, you undoubtedly get a winner.

The knife gained a cult following when it was first introduced decades ago. The knife is so old, you can find threads on BladeForums spotting the knife in the hands of Fox Mulder during the original run of the X-Files.

But just because the knife is old doesn’t mean it hasn’t been updated.

The Skeleton version of the popular E-Z Out line reduces the weight and narrows the profile of the knife without compromising the utility and functionality of the E-Z Out.

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