The Cutting Edge

Hogue Deka – Knife of the Week

February 15, 2023 / Tim / 0 Comments

The knife community often speaks hyperbolically about the next great knife. But it’s hard to argue with the fact that the Hogue Deka in MagnaCut may be the ultimate EDC for the price.

The Deka design originally started out with 20CV steel and G-10 scales. However, once Hogue adopted the new super steel and switched to lightweight polymer scales, the Deka entered a new stratosphere. (There’s a reason we named it one of the best new knives of 2022!)

This version of the Deka has a 3.25-inch blade with dual thumb studs. It comes in either a modified Wharncliffe blade or a clip-point blade, but the one we’re highlighting here is the clip-point Deka.

Ontario Air Force Survival Knife – Knife of the Week

February 8, 2023 / Tim / 0 Comments

We’ve all heard fantastic tales of stranded Air Force pilots making the best of bad situations, with only a few emergency rations and a single Air Force survival knife on hand as they fought for their lives in enemy territory.

What’s most impressive is that even decades later, several branches of the U.S. Armed Forces continue to use the same rugged fixed blade as an indispensable tool.

The Ontario Air Force Survival Knife is no joke.

Built in accordance with the specifications of the U.S. Government, the Ontario Survival Knife offers a tried-and-true design at a value few others can offer. It is one of the best Ontario knives you can buy.

10 Best Gerber Knives

February 7, 2023 / Tim / 21 Comments

This post was originally published in May 2018 but was updated in October 2021 to include newer models.

Gerber has a long history dating back to 1939. The brand has evolved over the years — undergoing some ups and downs as some of the best designers and knifemakers around left the company to start their own ventures.

Gerber has been relatively quiet the past few years, releasing an assortment of higher-end knives mixed with brand-new budget designs. None have really stood out from the bunch, and plenty of the older models that were great have been discontinued.

It’s been a rocky two decades, but Gerber seems to be on firm footing by doubling down on their best knives. Here is a look at Gerber’s 10 best knives currently in production.

Note: As always, these best-of lists are highly subjective. However, I do my due diligence through personal experience as well as consensus from around the internet. These lists will always skew toward the tried-and-true models, but new models will always make the jump.

1. Gerber LMF II Infantry

Gerber has remade itself over the past few years thanks to three very reliable (and pretty similar) fixed blades. The Gerber LMF II has an undisputed spot on this list for good reason. Gerber says the knife was originally designed to free an aircrew from a downed aircraft, and it remains an adaptable fixed blade that can be used in all types of situations.

The blade is 4.84 inches made from 420HC stainless steel. It has partial serrations and glass-filled nylon with TPV overmold handles.

You can see all the Gerber LMF II Infantry variations here.

2. Gerber Gator

This list is heavily populated with perennial favorites, and the Gerber Gator is no exception. It was first introduced in the early ’90s when it was named “Most Innovative Knife of the Year” at the 1991 Blade Show. Despite being so old, the knife remains one of the best Gerber has to offer.

Cold Steel Chaos Push Knife – Knife of the Week

January 31, 2023 / Tim / 0 Comments

The push dagger works surprisingly well as an everyday carry fixed blade or as a last-ditch self-defense knife in a pinch.

But only one push knife rises above the others in terms of ferocity and curiosity: the Cold Steel Chaos Push Knife.

This knife sees Cold Steel (which makes some truly great knives) continue with its Chaos series, which pays homage to the trench knives from World War I but with modernized designs and updated materials.

The Chaos Push Knife features a long 5-inch dual-edged spear-point blade. The blade uses SK-5 high-carbon steel with a black fine-powder coating.

Benchmade 9400 Osborne Auto – Knife of the Week

January 25, 2023 / Tim / 0 Comments

Way back in 2014 when the Knife of the Week series first started, the Benchmade 940 Osborne was one of the first recipients of this prestigious honor.

In those ensuing years, the world lost the great Warren Osborne but gained his iconic EDC in a new form: the Benchmade 9400 Osborne Auto.

Knifemaker Warren Osborne unfortunately passed away in 2016 after a lengthy battle with an illness. Steve Shackleford of Blade Magazine had a great writeup on his life shortly after Osborne died.

The 9400 Osborne Auto retains all the elements that made the original such a quintessential everyday carry design. It has a 3.4-inch satin-finished blade made from high-quality S30V steel.

The modified reverse tanto blade remains a versatile and unique blade profile.

Top 10 New 2023 CRKT Knives

January 24, 2023 / Tim / 4 Comments

new 2023 CRKT knives

It’s a new year and that means new knives.

Nearly all of the major brands announced their new lineups for the year, and now it’s time to play catch-up on some knives we’re most excited for this year.

While I haven’t spent an extended time with all of these knives, I was able to get my hands on all of the knives at Shot Show 2023 in Las Vegas this year.

You can see the full list of all new CRKT 2023 knives this year at their website, but these are the 10 that caught our attention the most out of the more than 20 announced.

CRKT Squid Compact

The Squid has been one of the mainstays of the CRKT lineup. For years, it existed as one of the best little big knives available. However, CRKT and Lucas Burnley have slowly built out variations that range from an assisted-opening version to the larger CRKT Squid XM.

This year, CRKT went all in with compact versions of its knives, including the Squid Compact.

CRKT M16-03DB – Knife of the Week

January 16, 2023 / Tim / 0 Comments

The late Kit Carson’s M16 folding knife design is one of the most beloved, tried-and-true tactical folders. For over two decades, the M16 has been the knife of choice for countless users in countless situations.

So, when CRKT decided to reconceive the classic (which is already one of CRKT’s best knives), they brought it up to date and then some.

The result is the M16-03DB.

This new iteration of the M16 is outfitted with all the latest technology and mechanisms a knife user could want. Its 3.58-inch black stonewashed D2 steel blade is durable and flips open using assisted-opening technology with an IKBS ball-bearing pivot that ensures smooth deployment.

KA-BAR USSF SPACE-BAR – Knife of the Week

January 11, 2023 / Tim / 0 Comments

When a knife becomes so iconic that it conquers Earth, there’s only one place left for it to go: space.

KA-BAR teamed up with the relatively new branch of military called the United States Space Force to bring a unique and head-turning take on a cultural icon.

Behold the KA-BAR SPACE-BAR.

This version of the most recognizable fixed blade is essentially a reskin of the original USMC KA-BAR. However, it has some welcomed humor injected into the design.

But if you think the knife is just a gimmick, you’d be sorely mistaken. The knife features the same 7-inch clip point blade made from 1095 Cro-Van steel, an alloy that’s tough, has great edge retention, and is easy to sharpen.

Kershaw Launch 11 – Knife of the Week

January 4, 2023 / Tim / 0 Comments

What better way to launch yourself into the new year than with one of the best automatic knives from one of the best knife series ever made?

The Kershaw Launch 11 is a compelling everyday carry auto with a ton to love.

It has a 2.75-inch black blade made from high-performance CPM 154 stainless steel. The alloy not only holds an excellent edge but provides resistance to corrosion and wear.

Like all the knives in the auto series, the blade bursts open lightning quick with the press of the slightly recessed push button. Its low profile button helps prevent any accidental deployment.

Pennsylvania Repeals Ban on Switchblades

January 3, 2023 / Tim / 2 Comments

If you’re one of the roughly 13 million people who live in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have some good news for you: the switchblade ban in Pennsylvania has been repealed and is now in effect.

Thanks to the hardworking lobbyists at American Knife & Tool Institute and Knife Rights, a repeal of the switchblade ban in the state was passed and signed by the governor in November. The repeal officially took effect January 2, 2023.

Here’s a quote from Penn. state representative Martin Causer, who sponsored the bill that repealed the ban:

“I am pleased we were able to work together to finally get rid of this antiquated law that needlessly infringed on citizens’ rights and put knife manufacturers here at a competitive disadvantage. Thank you so much to American Knife & Tool Institute for your strong advocacy in getting this bill across the finish line.”

This means Pennsylvania is now the 45th state to allow the manufacturing and carrying of automatic knives.