The Cutting Edge

Why Engraved Knives Make the Best Gifts

November 4, 2022 / Tim / 2 Comments

Engraved knife

There’s nothing worse than trying to find the perfect gift.

You spend countless hours thinking about a gift only to see the recipient disappointed when opening it up.

But, there is one thing that has been my go-to gift with excellent results every time: engraved knives.

Here’s why.

1. The person will actually use it.

Let’s start with one of the best arguments for a knife as a gift: it’s functional!

How many times have you given or received a gift that ends up stuffed deep into a closet or tossed in a drawer?

Now think of all the times you’ve pulled out your pocket knife in the last hour alone. If you’re anything like me, it’s a fair amount. I have used my knife to open packaging from Knife Depot, cut a straw in half (a long story involving my son), and break down cardboard.

If you’re worried the gift recipient may not be familiar with all the uses of a knife, share my look at 101 uses for the pocket knife.

2. You can find the perfect engraved knife for any personality.

Since the knife has been around for millions of years, countless variations and designs exist. This means you can find a knife that matches up with the personality of the recipient.

10 Best CIVIVI Knives

November 3, 2022 / Tim / 3 Comments

Best CIVIVI Knives

In terms of knife companies, CIVIVI Knives (a subset of WE Knife Company) is relatively new.

Yet somehow the brand has catapulted itself into contention for one of the best knife brands around. Its name has become synonymous with high-quality knives at shockingly low prices.

While these knives are made in China, more and more companies are proving that knives you buy from China can no longer be dismissed as cheap junk. So if you’re interested in seeing what CIVIVI has to offer, these are their 10 best knives currently available.

CIVIVI Elementum

Let’s start with a no-brainer: the Elementum. The Elementum is no longer simply one of CIVIVI’s best knives but may be the very best EDC knife for its price.

Almost everything about the knife is perfect. It’s a good size with a 2.96-inch blade that flips open effortlessly and reliably. It has a simple yet ergonomic handle. It’s not adorned with a bunch of logos and numbers. Instead, it’s just a simple knife that works.

And because the knife has become so darn popular, CIVIVI has created this knife in more than a dozen different styles. You can the knife in your choice of handle material and color. There are higher-end versions and larger versions and versions with button locks and Damascus versions. The list goes on and on.

If you want to see just some of the variations, check out the CIVIVI Elementum collection here.

CIVIVI Conspirator

From a more people-friendly design to a more tactically-focused design, the CIVIVI Conspirator is a larger knife with a more aggressive profile.

Kershaw Kapsule: Knife of the Week

October 31, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

OTF (out-the-front) knives are all the rage these days. Unfortunately, the automatic versions are illegal in many places. So, Kershaw decided to team up with Jens Anso for this unique manual OTF called the Kershaw Kapsule.

The Kershaw Kapsule is a small but compelling everyday carry with an eccentric design you won’t want to put down.

Here’s how the knife works: you manually push upward on the blue actuator until the blade locks into place with a button lock. When you want to close it, you push the blue button and manually pull it back down. It’s as simple as that and a unique opening mechanism.

Smith & Wesson Sideburn – Knife of the Week

October 26, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

Who says you can’t get a good budget knife for under $25? The Smith & Wesson Sideburn begs to differ.

The Sideburn is a solid, budget-friendly everyday carry with a unique design that works well.

It has a 3-inch modified Wharncliffe blade made from functional 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. The blade profile offers a strong, piercing point with a subtle curve in the blade’s edge.

A flipper tab allows the blade to spring open manually but reliably, while a cutout notch allows for a more controlled method of opening.

Behold the Ultra Premium Utility Knife from Hawk Knives

October 24, 2022 / Tim / 1 Comment

It’s no secret that Grant and Gavin Hawk are among my favorite knifemakers. Their designs aren’t always the most practical but they constantly push themselves to make truly innovative designs.

So I was excited when they announced a brand new design that’s sure to ruffle feathers.

Behold the Hawk Knives Shortcut.

Images from Mitchell D Cohen Photography

The Shortcut is an ultra premium utility knife made with top-notch materials and a trailblazing design not normally reserved for simple utility knives.

Cold Steel SR1 Lite – Knife of the Week

October 18, 2022 / Tim / 2 Comments

The Cold Steel SRK (Survival Rescue Knife) is one of the best all-around survival fixed blades you can buy at an affordable price. So Cold Steel transferred much of what made it successful and made the premium SR1.

Now, you can get everything that the robust folder has to offer in a more affordable package with the Cold Steel SR1 Lite.

Take a look at this review from Pete (and Bricky) from Cedric & Ada Gear and Outdoors:

The SR1 Lite boasts a 4-inch blade with affordable and durable 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. This version has the same clip point blade found in the SRK, but you can also get the tanto SR1 Lite if you prefer.

Spyderco Pacific Salt 2 – Knife of the Week

October 12, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

Most knives are like Mogwai from Gremlins: if you get them wet, something terrible will happen.

Well, the latest Knife of the Week doesn’t just tolerate water, it excels in damp and briny conditions. (Plus, it’s already green!)

Behold the Spyderco Pacific Salt 2.

Here is a knife overview from one of the best knife YouTubers out there:

Spyderco’s Salt series has undergone a pretty impressive evolution from its first iteration with yellow scales and H-1 steel. But this new iteration of the Pacific Salt blows those out of the water.

KA-BAR TDI Pocket Strike – Knife of the Week

October 4, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

Concealable, reliable, and flexible.

Those are the three attributes that work well in a self-defense fixed blade. And the KA-BAR TDI Pocket Strike is all of those things and more.

Designed by John Benner of the Tactical Defense Institute, the Pocket Strike is a cross between Benner’s earlier Law Enforcement models and a karambit.

Victorinox Compact – Knife of the Week

September 20, 2022 / Tim / 0 Comments

There are Swiss Army Knives for every occasion, with some models featuring two tools and others boasting over 70 functions.

But there is only one knife you can arguably call the very best for everyday tasks: the Victorinox Compact.

The Victorinox Compact is a unique knife in that it has one of the highest functions-to-size ratios of any Victorinox, thanks to its two-layer construction and plus scales.

This is the only knife or multitool I’ve consistently carried with me on a daily basis the last 5 years. Folding knives comes and go, but the Compact has seen the most carry (and use) time in my personal EDC.

Do Knife Companies Lie About Their Steel?

September 15, 2022 / Tim / 2 Comments

It’s a common concern among knife collectors. You spend just over $150 (if you’re lucky) on a brand new knife with the latest steel, only to second guess whether it’s the steel you paid for.

It may be because the steel is starting to rust in some spots, dulls quicker than you expect, or isn’t as tough as you thought it should be.

That’s when you start to ask yourself: do knife companies mislabel or lie about the type of steel they’re using?

The truth is that sometimes they do.

Yes, Some Brands Intentionally Mislabel Steel

I decided to write this post after watching a video knifemaker and former Cold Steel collaborator Andrew Demko did on a YouTube channel in November 2020.

When the interviewer mentioned that people were ambivalent about the use of AUS10A steel in one of Cold Steel’s knives, Demko said that the reason certain steel gets a bad reputation is because some knife companies are intentionally passing off lower end steel like AUS6A for AUS8A.