Size matters when choosing a pocket knife, at least according to Washington firefighter Tom Horne. I recently stumbled onto an article about Horne, who has constructed what may be the world’s largest pocket knife, the Jake Knife.
The Jake Knife has a blade that is nine inches long when closed, 16 inches when opened. It’s made from stainless steel and has a liner lock. According to Horne’s website, it’s capable of doing some pretty heavy-duty stuff, like:
Whereas some of the previous examples about how knives have saved a person’s life prominently feature amputations, the man in this story used a knife as a weapon for self-defense. What he was defending himself against, however, was a huge black bear.
In 2006, Tom Tilley, a then 55-year-old outdoorsman from Canada, went on a 12-day canoeing trip with his trusted dog Sam. While walking on a trail about 4 days into the trip, he came across a 200-pound black bear.
Annually there are between 1 and 2 bear attacks a year, so this isn’t really an uncommon experience. So, Tom did what you are supposed to do when you encounter a bear, he waved his arms and slowly back away.
Nevertheless, the bear was hell-bent on attacking and continued his march toward Tom. He described what happened next to the CBC news:
The utility knife is an amazing multipurpose tool with countless uses. Its retractable blade and lightweight design allows it to be safely carried in pockets or toolboxes.
Aside from cutting boxes or tape, there are a number of other uses you may not be aware of. Here are 7 unique ways you can use a utility knife.
1. Removing paint-covered screws
After you’ve painted the house, you may have accidentally gone over a number of screws that you now need to take out. Nevertheless, a utility knife makes the task effortless. Simply go to the screw, carefully scrape out the paint from the slots and unscrew it. Be sure to completely scrape off all the paint from the slots, so the screwdriver can get a strong grip.
2. Cutting foam
Foam is a great way to protect and organize your tools, which is why people usually use it to line their toolboxes. Since it requires precise measurement, utility knives are perfect for cutting the foam into rectangles.
A proposed Nevada knife law, which would criminalize possession of a wide range of knives on school property, would make it illegal for a parent to possess a pocket knife at a high school football game.
The bill, SB. 171, was introduced earlier last month by Nevada State Senator Shelia Leslie and classifies any knife larger than 2 inches as a “dangerous knife.”
Anyone who possesses a dangerous knife on school property or at a school function could be charged with a misdemeanor, face a fine and be imprisoned for up to 15 days.
The bill even goes as far as to prohibit knives at “any activity sponsored by a private or public school or child care facility.”
It doesn’t just apply to students and would extend to those in vehicles on school property as well.
According to an article published today at Japolink.com, the walls of the imperiled Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant are made by a steel company that still forges samurai swords by hand.
Japan Works, a major steel company with over 5,000 employees, constructed the containers in a tedious process that utilizes a 14,000-ton press to shape a special steel alloy
The company has built almost all of the containers used in Japan’s 54 nuclear power plants, yet despite it’s high-profile nuclear manufacturing, it reportedly still has a sweet spot for making high-quality samurai swords.
After watching the film 127 Hours about Aron Ralston and posting on the astonishing case of doctors having to amputate a man’s legs with a Swiss Army knife, I became fascinated with the concept of life-saving knives.
It’s no secret that knives are extremely helpful in everyday life, but there are also many examples when carrying a knife has saved someone’s life or prevented them from being significantly injured. Occasionally, I’ll be posting examples of these gripping tales I find around the web.
Although not all examples of knives saving lives involve amputations, the story of Sampson Parker was so amazing that it’s the first story we’re looking at.
Sampson Parker, a farmer from South Carolina, found himself in a terrifying life-or-death situation a little more than three years ago when a corn stalk became lodged in his giant mechanical picker. He mistakenly tried to get it out with his hand, which was instantly sucked into the machine.
His first idea was to simply pull as hard as he could until his hand would get loose, even if it meant literally pulling his hand off. Unfortunately, that’s when the situation turned even uglier.
Last week, I posted the Top 5 Movie Knives (That You Can Also Own), and, as promised, here is the next installment: the top 5 coolest movie swords (that you can own).
There are a few arbitrary rules I set for qualifications. Firstly, the sword has to have appeared in a feature film. Secondly, you have to be able to buy it either as an officially licensed or unofficial replica. Finally, it has to be awesome.
There are undoubtedly many movie swords that deserve to be on this list, so if you think I missed one, feel free to argue your addition in the comments section.
Without further ado, here are my top 5 coolest movie swords (that you can own).
0. Longclaw Sword of Jon Snow from The Game of Thrones ($334.99)
Ned Stark’s bastard son, Jon was raised at Winterfell on near-equal footing with his siblings. After joining the Night’s Watch he served as steward to Lord Commander Mormont. Instead of joining Robb on the battlefield, he remained up north to honor his vows to the Watch. While traveling beyond the Wall with the Lord Commander, he was separated from the rest of the group.
The Game of Thrones Longclaw Sword of Jon Snow was painstakingly recreated from the actual props used on HBO’s hit fantasy epic Game of Thrones. The officially licensed collectibles are made from the highest quality materials and have been crafted with special attention to reproduce the authentic details found on the props. Each sword is serialized and will come with a wall mount and a certificate of authenticity.
1. Maximus’ sword from The Gladiator ($68.95)
With the release of The Gladiator in 2000, we witnessed some of the gritty battles that took place in ancient Rome. The most impressive battle of the movie was at the very beginning when the main character, Maximus, leads his forces against Germania. In the scene, Russell Crowe uses a beautiful sword with a scabbard that fits around his shoulders. There are several types of unofficial replicas on the market, but all of them have about a 30’’ blade, an ivory handle and come with those really cool straps.
2. The Spartans’ swords from 300 ($29.66)
Say what you will about the violence in 300, but the movie spotlights a lot of exceptional weapons. The Sword of Sparta is prominently featured in the film with its unique shape and rugged appearance. The authentic replica is 34 1/4” overall and has a 27” blade. It also comes with a hand guard, so you can wield it easily.
3. Captain Jack Sparrow’s Cutlass from The Pirates of the Caribbean
It’s impossible to compile this list without having at least one cutlass, since there were so many movies with great cutlasses. For this we turn to the craggy Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, from The Pirates of the Caribbean series. Throughout the films, Sparrow is never far from his trusty cutlass that he uses in numerous battles. The great thing about the authentic replica is its sturdy construction and wear marks, so it looks weathered. The sword is about 30” and also comes with a display.
4. Robin Hood’s sword from Robin Hood (2010 version) ($44.99)
Even though Robin Hood may be known for his bow and arrow, the most recent edition of the Robin Hood story featured a truly awesome sword. Our second Russell Crowe movie shows a huge battle on the beaches of Dover with Robin Hood wielding his huge sword on a horse. The officially licensed sword of Robin Hood measures 40” with a blade of 33” made out of high carbon steel. The sides are engraved with two phrases: “Rise and Rise Again” and “Until Lambs Become Lions”.
5. Aragorn’s sword from The Lord of the Rings ($209.99)
The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy of epic proportions featuring a slew of cool looking medieval weapons, such as Frodo’s Sting sword and Gimli’s iconic axe. However, none of those weapons match the impressiveness of Aragorn’s heroic sword used in the final chapter of the series. In the film, the legendary sword is used to summon the army of the dead and battle countless orcs.
The officially licensed Anduril Sword of Aragorn is made at a massive length of 52 7/8″ overall with a blade measuring 40 5/8″. It features an inscription in Tolkein’s language of Quenya and a leather-wrapped steel handle. It also comes with a plaque that has the symbols of the Kingdom of Gondor. This sword is a must-own for any collector of awesome movie replicas.
If you’re an avid knife collector, there’s a good chance you’ll be buying some of your blades at knife shows or antique shops. In both of these situations, prices are usually negotiable. If you want to get the best deals, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of negotiating. Here are a few tips.
Ask a ton of questions
If you’re interested in a knife, you’ll likely have all sorts of questions, like: What’s the knife made of? How old is it? What kind of handle does it have? What’s the best way to sharpen it? Etc. Use these inquiries to not only find out information about the knife, but also loosen the seller up. People are generally more receptive to lowering prices for a buyer they feel they have a repoire with.
Don’t show too much excitement
Even if you’ve just stumbled onto an antique Bowie knife that you’ve been coveting for years, it’s important not to start drooling in front of the seller. If you make it obvious how enthused you are about a knife, it’s more difficult to bargain hard for a good price. Keep yourself in check and play it cool. If the seller thinks that knocking a few bucks off the price will turn you into a buyer, he’s much more likely to do so.
Don’t be unfriendly
One of the biggest misconceptions about the art of bargaining is that you have to be rude or confrontational to excel at it. If you approach a negotiation with this attitude, you’ll likely rub the owner the wrong way. Instead, be as amicable as possible. Make small talk, smile and don’t grow angry if you don’t get your way. When you’re drawing a line in the sand, do it with a smile.
With several collectible road shows popping up around the nation in the few next weeks, you could have a serious opportunity to make money by selling old knives or family daggers hidden away in your attic.
These road shows, like the Treasure Hunters Road Show taking place right now, seek out old knives and swords passed down from generations.
Some of the most lucrative type of collectible knives are those from World War I or World War II.
A great example of this is a recently sold dagger used by Germans in WWII. Although the dagger, called an SA Dagger, was not necessarily rare, its mint condition shot up the value three or four times the regular price.
The dagger, sold to the American Rare Collectibles Association, was passed down to the former owner from his father who was a U.S. soldier. During WWII, his father helped capture German supplies, which included new daggers.
Looking for a stellar gift for your girlfriend or wife? If you’re tired of doing the standard flower, candy, mediocre-looking necklace routine, then consider giving the love of your life something a bit sharper: a knife. Here are four knives that are especially popular among the fairer sex.
(1) Schrade Primos Linerlock Folder Knife with Drop Point Blade and Pink Aluminum Handle
This sweet-looking, single-blade, folding pocket knife will make any woman swoon. It is made of stainless steel and weighs in at a svelte 3.2 ounces, making it convenient to carry almost anywhere. The knife has a liner-lock closing mechanism and its handle is made of anodized aluminum.
Price: $18:99
This a great blade for gals on the go. Small, safe and convenient, this key chain knife has a small blade and a bottle opener. It’s great for opening boxes or cracking a cold one.
Price: $13.99
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