Our latest Badass Knife of the Week continues to prove our theory that sometimes the best utility knife is the simplest knife.
The Condor Tool & Knife Rodan is built for one thing and one thing only — work.
Here is a good overview from IslandOutdoors1 on YouTube:
Absent of all gimmicks and unnecessary technology, the Rodan is simplicity at its best. The 5.25-inch blade is made from 1075 high carbon steel, a workmanlike alloy that’s tough as nails and easy to get razor sharp on the fly.
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Knives make poor self-defense weapons.
Not only do you have to get extremely close to your assailant but the knife can quickly be turned against you — not to mention the psychological ramifications of having to stab someone (sometimes repeatedly) less than a foot away from your face.
But Delhi Metro — the rail system serving the expansive and highly populated city in India — will now allow women to carry knives up to four inches for self-defense purposes.
This may not seem like a big deal here, but Delhi Metro officials apparently search people pretty frequently and have confiscated tons of items.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Burmese Boy Playing with a Knife | Photographed by Wagner T. Cassimiro via Flickr
Most kids these days are not self-reliant or self-starters.
This isn’t just some old man yelling about how the new generation is a bunch of pansies because they didn’t walk 10 miles to school in the snow either. (I’m not very old and no one walks anywhere where I live.) No, tangible evidence continues to come out about how kids are more dependent and feeble nowadays. For anecdotal evidence, find a 10-year-old and try to pry him away from his smartphone, tablet, or computer screen and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
Kids in many other societies (specifically preindustrial societies) are much more independent, interested in learning, and helpful around the house without being asked.
What’s the reason for such a huge discrepancy across cultures? The answer is complicated but part of the reason is that adults in other places allow their kids to play with knives.
In a recent article called “Playing With Knives: The Socialization of Self-Initiated Learners,” anthropologist David Lancy took a look at how children develop and learn across different cultures. He analyzed observations about parent and child interactions in more than 100 preindustrial societies.
Jesse Jarosz is a name you’re going to be hearing more and more often. The young knife maker is relatively new to the business (he made his first knife in 2009), but he’s already made his mark on the knife community. He won the “Best New Maker” award at the USN G4 in 2012 and has since earned a reputation as one of the best young makers on the scene.
Now, KA-BAR is releasing his first production folder simply known as the Jarosz Folder.
The Jarosz folder is getting two iterations: the Drop Point 7505 and the Tanto 7506. Both knives feature 3-inch blades made from AUS-8A stainless steel and glass-filled nylon handles.
These knives are based on the Jarosz custom design Model M75 Tetrad. That custom, which uses AEB-L steel and contoured handles with 6AL4V Aircraft Titanium Liners, received rave reviews from anyone who got their hands on a model. One of the most effusive reviews comes from Everyday Commentary.
Karina Vetrano was brutally raped and murdered last week while jogging through a park in Queens.
The gruesome details of the case, as well as a recent spate of women being attacked while jogging, have led to women feeling vulnerable and unsafe when out on a run.
So what’s the solution? A knife-equipped bra.
A company cleverly called Booby Trap Bras invented a bra with a hidden sheath sewn into the lining to offer women a means of self-defense when all else fails.
This knife bra has been around for a few months now, but the Vetrano murder has sparked major interest in the product. According to the New York Post, sales of the bra are surging, particularly in New York.
Here is a look at how it works:
The origin of the Booby Trap Bra is actually pretty scary. Check out this excerpt from the creator of the bra:
I walked around thinking life was all rainbows and butterflies until I was jumped out at on a local running trail. I was in active wear and had no form of protection on me. The little pocket knives I had collected over the years were all at home in the drawer with my pepper spray. I needed something I could pull in less than a second.
We came up with the idea to sew a knife sheath inside my sports bra and used that home-made prototype to file a patent. From there, we received a whirl-wind of support from family, friends, retail stores and manufacturers…
The “Just in Case” bras come in two designs: one with a concealed knife sheath and another with a concealed pepper spray slot. If you want a bra with a gun, you’ll have to look at the non-athletic Flashbang Bra.
Image from Abomb520
We’re in the age of mods (or modifications for you older folk). Whether we’re talking about modding video games to defy gravity or modding cars with chrome, people want to put a stamp on what they own.
This sentiment also extends to knives.
If you’re interested in adding a personal touch to your knife via some easy modification, we’re here to help.
These five knife modifications are projects most people can do. Just be aware that things can go wrong and these mods may void your warranties. But in the end, you’ll have a knife that’s not only unique but reflects you in a personal way.
Ernest Emerson is one of the most influential knife makers ever. Known for helping popularize tactical folders, Emerson has made some darn good knives. One of his many innovations is known as the Emerson Wave Feature. This is a little protrusion at the base of the spine that facilitates a fast and seamless opening of the blade when it’s pulled from the pocket. Check it out on the Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K or the Endura 4 with Emerson Wave.
Here’s a shocking fact for you youngins: The pocket clip is a relatively new invention in the history of knives.
Depending on how you define it, the pocket knife was invented more than 2,000 years ago. By comparison, the pocket clip on knives was introduced in the early 1980s. Sal Glesser of Spyderco created the “Clip-it” Worker, which was essentially the first tactical folder ever and the first to use a pocket clip. That knife went into production in 1981.
Although pocket clips are on pretty much every single folding knife these days, people went without clips for thousands of years. Here are five reasons you may want to ditch your pocket clip.
One of the most common complaints people levy against pocket clips is the fact that they create “hot spots.” No, that doesn’t mean you’ll get better WiFi. A hot spot on a pocket clip is when there’s unwanted tension or discomfort in a specific area of the grip.
For example, a pocket clip may put some pressure right in your palm, causing pain during regular use. Some complain about the clip on the Chris Reeve Sebenza 25 because the tip bends up right where the middle finger grips the choil. Take a look at this complaint thread over at bladeforums with an image.
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