The Cutting Edge

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live in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have some good news for you: the switchblade ban in Pennsylvania has been repealed and is now in effect.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 state representative Martin Causer, who sponsored the bill that repealed the ban: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.

If you’re curious about the contents of the bill, you can find more here.

Knife Depot’s Best-Selling Knives of 2022

December 27, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

With our selection of the best knives of 2022 posted last week, it’s time to look at the knives the people voted for with their wallets. So, I combed through the data on the best-selling knives from Knife Depot in the 2022 calendar year.

A few things to note: This list is in no particular order because we factored in the price of these knives as well. If we sold 500 $30 knives and 500 $150 knives, we gave some special considerations to the pricier model because purchasing is more of a hurdle.

We did our best to get this list as accurate as possible.

Kershaw Launch 6

The first thing you’ll notice on this list is the surprising number of automatic knives. I argue no knife series is more popular than the Launch series from Kershaw.

The Launch 6 was one of the most popular knives from the series this year. That’s meaningful considering it sold a ton of units and it’s a fairly pricey knife.

It’s hard to argue with the sleekness of the Launch 6. It has a 3.75-inch CPM 154 stainless steel blade with a black aluminum handle and a red push button that fires with force.

Smith & Wesson SWFR2S

Smith & Wesson knives were also very popular this year. But the Smith & Wesson SWFR2S was by far the most popular.

Two factors contributed to the overall success of this knife, which is a best-seller year after year. First, the knife is a workhorse. This is a knife I have in my personal collection and one I often recommend to people looking for a reliable folder at a good price.

Smith & Wesson M325 Revolver – Knife of the Week

December 26, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

What do you get when you cross a good everyday carry knife with an iconic revolver? You get the Smith & Wesson M325 Revolver Knife.

This unique folding knife from Smith & Wesson came out earlier this year to a ton of fanfare. That’s why it’s an easy pick as the latest Knife of the Week.

The Smith & Wesson M325 Revolver Knife works well as a standard pocket knife. It has a good-sized 3-inch stainless steel blade that can either be opened with thumb studs or popped open with a flipper tab.
It locks securely with a sturdy frame lock mechanism.

Best New Knives of 2022

December 23, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

It was another fantastic year of knives. So, with 2022 almost in the rearview mirror, we thought it was time to look at the best knives to come out this year.

Like all of our best-of lists, this selection of knives is biased and somewhat arbitrary. Here are a few qualifications. In order to qualify for this list, the knife had to have been available at Knife Depot. There are a ton of great knives out there, but we thought it would be somewhat odd to choose knives that we weren’t very familiar with.

We did take into account the reviews and opinions of others when selecting these knives, but they were pretty much selected by myself.

Let us know your favorite knives of the past year.

Kershaw Outlier

Let’s start with an easy one: the Kershaw Outlier.

The Outlier has been one of the top-selling knives of the year at Knife Depot, and the feedback has been positive all around. The design is nothing mind-blowing. It’s a tactical folding karambit, but it just works so well and the price is great. It reminds me of the great Fox Karambit, but at a much cheaper price price point.

It has a 2.6-inch hawkbill blade with a black glass-filled nylon handle. It can be opened with a flipper and assisted-opening mechanism or via thumb stud.

When I look back at 2022, I’ll think of the Outlier.

Hogue Deka

The Hogue Deka is not a new design, but 2022 saw the release of the definitive edition of the Deka.

The new Deka is one of the first production knives to receive the super steel MagnaCut on its blade. This steel is widely considered the best all-around steel ever made. For steel nerds, check out this highly in-depth article from Larrin over at Knife Steel Nerds.

Along with the MagnaCut steel, this version of the Deka has polymer handle scales which help cut down on the weight and price of the knife.

Spyderco Ambitious Lightweight – Knife of the Week

December 19, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

When Spyderco first came out with its value series named after admirable attributes in the late 2000s, the knives were the pinnacle of value for everyday carry.

As time passed, price creep has seen the value folders get more expensive… until recently.

Despite soaring inflation, Spyderco has delivered a brand new version of the beloved Ambitious with lightweight scales and a competitive price.

The Spyderco Ambitious Lightweight is the smallest of the value folders with a 2.42-inch leaf-shaped blade made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel.

Kershaw 2022 Product Release #3 Now Available

December 16, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

In late October, Kershaw unveiled four new knives that would make their debut this year.

All four of these knives are now available at Knife Depot, so we thought it was time to bring you an in-depth look at these four new models from Kershaw.

Check them out and let us know which one catches your eye the most.

Kershaw Interstellar

Let’s start with the Kershaw Interstellar. This knife is the one that caught my eye at first in the reveal trailer.

Cold Steel SRK Compact – Knife of the Week

December 14, 2022 / Tim / 1 Comment

What happens when you make one of the best-valued survival-rescue knives a little more compact? You get one of the best all-around fixed blades, period.

The original Cold Steel SRK, which stands for Survival Rescue Knife and is one of the best Cold Steel knives, is a testament to hard-use, low-cost knives you can literally bet your life on. The rugged fixed blade has been a mainstay of the Cold Steel lineup for years.

So, when Cold Steel decided to bring a compact version to the masses, people were giddy with excitement.

The Cold Steel SRK Compact boasts the same performance as the beloved fixed blade but in a shorter, lighter, and thinner design.

CIVIVI Bo – Knife of the Week

November 21, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

When you need a simple, elegant, and high-quality knife, reach for the CIVIVI Bo Flipper.

Designed by Brad Zinker — a knifemaker known for his slim everyday carry knives — the Bo is an attractive design with details that will make you fall in love when the knife is in your hand.

The blade is a perfect EDC size at 2.92 inches with a gray stonewashed finish. It uses Nitro-V stainless steel, an alloy with exceptional toughness and good corrosion resistance that’s easy to sharpen.

What Should I Engrave on a Knife? 10 Engraving Ideas

November 15, 2022 / Tim / 5 Comments

engraved knives

Laser-engraved knives make exceptional gifts for a reason—they’re both practical and personal. We’ve written a lot about why they’re such meaningful presents, but the short version is this: they’re tools people actually use, with a custom touch that shows you care.

But here’s the big question: What should you engrave on the knife?

That simple decision can elevate your gift—or make it fall flat.

At Knife Depot, we’ve engraved thousands of knives over the years, and we’ve learned what works best when it comes to meaningful and visually appealing engraving.

If you’re stuck on what to write, here are some helpful tips and ideas to get you started.

Name

Of all the knives we’ve engraved over the years, names are by far the most popular choice—and for good reason.

At first, it might seem a little unusual to put your name on a knife, but it instantly transforms a generic tool into something personal and meaningful.

CRKT Squid XM – Knife of the Week

November 14, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

The CRKT Squid is often called the best “little big knife” available.

So what happens when you make it bigger and better? You get one of the best regular knives available.

The CRKT Squid XM is a larger version of the overbuilt Squid with a 2.95-inch blade and 7-inch overall length when opened.

Its strong drop point blade now features a black coating and tough D2 steel, making it great for demanding work tasks. The blade engages via flipper or thumb stud with the help of an IKBS ball-bearing pivot and assisted-opening mechanism.