The Cutting Edge

KA-BAR USN Mark I – Badass Knife of the Week

May 28, 2019 / Tim / 1 Comment

For the week of Memorial Day, we thought it would only be apt to pick a badass knife with a military history. There are so many to choose from, but the KA-BAR version of an old and iconic fixed blade was too hard to ignore.

The KA-BAR USN Mark 1 is an updated version of the fixed blade made for the U.S. Navy during World War II. The original Mark 1 had a design similar to existing hunting knives at the time and varied in specifications depending on the manufacturer making the knife for military use.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @gear4years

This version of the remake takes some liberties with the design to make the classic military knife more versatile and more durable. The 5.125-inch blade is made of 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel with a black coating to help increase its resistance to corrosion and damper the steel’s reflective properties.

Ontario Utilitac II – Badass Knife of the Week

May 20, 2019 / Tim / 0 Comments

If you ask anyone what the best budget knife for the common man is, they will almost always point to the Ontario Knife Company RAT models. But our latest Badass Knife of the Week shows that Ontario has yet another contender for best budget folder.

The Ontario Utilitac II is an impressive folder that excels at its purpose as an inexpensive work knife you don’t have to think twice about using.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by SPbKnife.ru | Ножи, заточка (@spbknife.ru)

Designed by Joe Pardue — son of Mel Pardue of Griptilian fame and father of knife designer Robert Carter — the Utilitac II represents form and function over everything else.

SOG Spec Elite II Auto – Badass Knife of the Week

May 13, 2019 / Tim / 0 Comments

Automatic knives are becoming more and more mainstream as laws prohibiting the carry of switchblades fall around the country. Now we all get to reap the benefits of a good automatic knife like the SOG Spec Elite II Auto.

The Spec Elite series from SOG was designed for military and law enforcement personnel as a back-up and versatile tool. Its simple design and functional construction show the intent of the knife.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Сабиров Александр (@sabirovaleksan)

The 4-inch drop point blade features a long slicey edge and is coated with hardcased black TiNi (titanium nitride). Not only does the coating help damper the reflective qualities of the steel but it also adds an extra layer of durability to the AUS-8 stainless steel.

Smith & Wesson SWHRT3 Boot Knife – Badass Knife of the Week

May 6, 2019 / Tim / 0 Comments

The boot knife is an underrated type of fixed blade. Not only are they versatile and lightweight but they can also be carried in multiple ways.

Our latest Badass Knife of the Week is the perfect example. The Smith & Wesson SWHRT3 H.R.T. Boot Knife is a deceptively robust boot knife that you can conceal on your person without much effort.

The full tang blade stretches 3.5 inches long and features dual-sharpened edges that culminate in a piercing spear point. Its steel is functional 7Cr17 high carbon stainless steel, an alloy that’s resistant to corrosion and easy to maintain.

Using a black TPR (thermoplastic rubber) handle, the boot knife is comfortable to hold and stays in the hand when wielding.

Spyderco Sage 5 – Badass Knife of the Week

April 29, 2019 / Tim / 1 Comment

The latest Badass Knife of the Week is the culmination of the iconic brand’s efforts to make the best all-around everyday carry knife.

Let’s back up a bit first. When Spyderco first came out with the Sage series of folding knives, they wanted to offer the same EDC-friendly design with different types of locking mechanisms to allow the user to choose which one they like best.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Manny (@sharpbynature_)

On all the knives in the series, the design is essentially the same. The leaf-shaped blade is 3 inches long, which makes it legal in most places and small enough for easy carry. S30V steel is often overlooked as other, newer steels have entered the market, but the alloy remains one of the best premium steels around.

Cold Steel Master Hunter – Badass Knife of the Week

April 22, 2019 / Tim / 0 Comments

Can you really be a master hunter without a knife? Probably but a knife can be an essential tool to hunters.

The Cold Steel Master Hunter proves that carrying a well-designed and well-built hunting knife makes your life just so much easier.

The 4.5-inch drop point blade has a strong point. Although hunting knives are commonly clip point blades, the drop point profile offers its own advantages like excellent balance and functionality. This version of the Master Hunter has VG-1 San Mai III steel — laminated steel with a VG-1 core.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dennis Retlof (@retlof_knifelive)

The edge is razor sharp and features a sharpening choil to get it back to shaving sharp easily after putting it through the ringer. The spine is 3/6-inch thick to help strengthen the blade.

Knife Rights Gives Updates on WA & TX Knife Bills

April 19, 2019 / Tim / 1 Comment

Knife Rights is hot off the heels of helping get a switchblade ban repeal and knife law preemption bill passed in the state of Montana.

In fact, the knife advocacy organization held a signing ceremony for the bill, which was attended by Ethan Becker, Governor Steve Bullock, activist Joe Paschal, ACLU of Montana Director of Advocacy and Policy S.K. Rossi, and more.

Even cooler, all involved received an inscribed Pro-Tech SBR (Short Bladed Rockeye) automatic knife.

Texas Knife Bill Moves Forward

While all of this was happening, a bill in Texas that would remove location-based restrictions on knives in the state moved forward after it was passed out of the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee. This bill — along with its companion House bill — are still in the early stages of passage, so it would still need to pass a committee and both chambers.

What is Lock Stick and How Do You Fix It?

April 16, 2019 / Tim / 11 Comments

It’s happened to almost all of us.

You get a brand new framelock folding knife in the mail and eagerly engage it. Everything seems fine as the knife opens smoothly and effortlessly. But, just as you’re closing it, you notice the framelock is extremely difficult to disengage.

This is known colloquially as lock stick.

Unfortunately, it’s an all-too-common issue in framelocks and even liner locks. The good thing is that there are several ways to go about fixing it.

What Causes Lock Stick?

In the most basic terms, lock stick is when a framelock or liner lock feels sticky when trying to unlock it. This makes it more difficult and sometimes even painful to disengage.

That’s the definition of lock stick, but what actually causes the major knife annoyance?

Galling

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joes Knives (@joesknives)

The cause of the issue is multifaceted. One of the reasons has to do with the lockbar material and the blade steel. Lock stick happens most prominently in knives with titanium handles because titanium is susceptible to galling and tends to stick to dissimilar metals.

For example, if you have a titanium lockbar contacting with the tang of an S35VN blade, they have the tendency to stick to one another. That’s why this issue isn’t reserved only for budget knives but also affects pricier ones.

Boker Plus Kwaiken – Badass Knife of the Week

April 15, 2019 / Tim / 0 Comments

Boker calls the Kwaiken one of the most influential designs of the 21st century. While that may sound like hyperbole, it’s not too far from the truth.

The Boker Plus Kwaiken, designed by Lucas Burnley, took the concept of a functional and crisp knife that’s made to cut to the extreme. Based on the clean Japanese knives of old, this folding version of Burnley’s Kwaiken Classic fixed blade appeals to nearly everyone — from the groom at a wedding to law enforcement personnel.

The knife has a long and slender 3.5-inch blade that opens effortlessly with the flick of the flipper tab. A piercing point and a long cutting area make using this knife a dream. Its VG-10 stainless steel provides solid rust resistance and ease of sharpening.

Legislation on ‘Gravity Knives’ in NY Moves Forward… Again

April 11, 2019 / Tim / 1 Comment

The arrests of knife owners in New York continues.

More than four years after the Village Voice published an exposé on how vague wording in the statutes have led to thousands of arrests against mostly minority knife owners in New York City, the arrests are still going on.

Even after lobbying from Knife Rights and the passage of two bills by the state’s legislature clarifying the law (which were ultimately vetoed), police are still using gravity knives as an excuse to arrest law-abiding citizens.

But, “tenacious dems” — as Knife Rights puts it — have continued to work on stopping the arrests in New York City. The state assembly just passed a bill that would completely remove “gravity knives” from New York criminal statutes. It passed unanimously. The state senate will soon vote on a companion bill, and I expect it to be passed near unanimously as well.