The Cutting Edge

Watch Man Make Knife Out of Jello

July 10, 2018 / Tim / 2 Comments

One of my favorite genres of YouTube videos is watching people make knives out of unusual things. No one is better at this genre than a YouTuber known as kiwami japan.

I mentioned his work in a blog post about two months ago relating to knives made from rolls of aluminum foil, but one of his more recent videos takes the cake.

The Japanese knifemaker makes a functional and razor-sharp knife out of gelatin. That’s right, that soft liquidy substance made from extract from boiled skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals was turned into a knife.

Schrade SCHF16 – Badass Knife of the Week

July 9, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Schrade has been through a lot the last two decades. The brand has changed hands a few times yet still makes some cheap and reliable knives. One of the best examples is the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

The Schrade SCHF16 is an inexpensive fixed blade that can do it all — whether you wear it as a neck knife around town or take it on an excursion into the woods.

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This 4.6-ounce general utility knife comes in at an overall length of 7 inches. The black-coated blade itself is 3.1 inches and made from 9Cr18MoV high carbon stainless steel, a budget alloy that is easy to sharpen and resists corrosion.

Morphing Coin-Shaped EDC ‘Eclipse’ Launches on Kickstarter

July 8, 2018 / Tim / 10 Comments

How many knives do you already have on your keychain? Well, you may want to make more room for the Eclipse.

Launched on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter July 1, the Eclipse is a unique coin-shaped everyday carry knife that morphs into a functional knife.

Take a look:

Despite being Fulcrum Knives’ first ever campaign, the Eclipse has already shot past its goal of $20,000. The Eclipse actually reminds me of another highly successful knife Kickstarter campaign — the Morphing Karambit from Caswell Knives. Similarly, the small coin-shaped Eclipse transforms into a knife with a locking blade.

KA-BAR Introduces First Flipper in the Mark 98

July 6, 2018 / Tim / 3 Comments

Nearly two decades after Kit Carson popularized the flipper tab in folders, KA-BAR is finally getting in the flipper game with the Mark 98.

The KA-BAR Mark 98 is a beefy knife with a design that echoes some of the brand’s fixed blade offerings. The spear-point blade is 3.5 inches — complete with a fuller to help cut down on the weight of the knife. It doesn’t do much, however, as the weight is about 5.6 ounces. Also, the steel is 5Cr15, so don’t expect it to hold an edge for too long.

The handle is made from durable G-10 with colors that remind users of other KA-BAR knives, including the iconic fixed blade.

Case Mini Copperlock – Badass Knife of the Week

July 2, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Case is an institution almost as American as apple pie and baseball.

These are the kinds of knives your great granddad used to carry out into the fields during harvest. They’re the kind of knives your dad whittled on the porch with as a kid. And they’re the kind of knife you can carry to a black-tie event.

The Case Mini Copperlock is one those knives that’s versatile enough to do it all.

What makes the Mini Copperlock stand out from some of the other Case knives is that it has a backlock mechanism. Slipjoints have a time and a place, but when the job requires just too much force, a locking folder is safer.

Actual gravity knife

NYC’s Ban on Gravity Knives Upheld by Federal Appeals Court

June 26, 2018 / Tim / 1 Comment

Hot off the heels of a ruling by the highest court in New York State that potentially makes all assisted-opening knives illegal, a federal appeals court upheld New York City’s vague ban on gravity knives.

The case of Copeland v. Vance has been a long-running battle between Knife Rights and New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. Knife Rights has challenged the gravity knife policy of New York City that allows cops to call any locking folder that can be opened with a flick an illegal gravity knife.

Knife Rights has insisted that the practice of the wrist flick is inconsistent and unconstitutional because there is no test that would allow a user to determine whether the knife is legal. The panel, however, argued that the test was constitutionally applied at least once in 2010.

Camillus CUDA – Badass Knife of the Week

June 25, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

The Camillus CUDA has been around for what feels like forever. When the knife was first released way back in 1998, it won the Most Innovative American-Made Design of the Year at BLADE Show.

Even though the knife has been surpassed in speed and efficiency by more modern assisted-openers, the Camillus CUDA still serves its purpose as a functional and badass knife.

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Standing for Camillus Ultra Design Advantage, the CUDA features an overall length of 9 inches with an interesting opening mechanism that will have people asking how you did it.

Ax-Throwing Gaining Popularity with New Indoor Venues

June 19, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

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The art of knife throwing (and ax throwing) has always felt on the cusp of mainstream.

A slew of soon-to-be-opening indoor ax-throwing venues might just help provide that boost the pastime needs to be as common and prevalent as mini golf, bowling, or billiards.

Patt Johnson of the Des Moines Register wrote a great feature (filled with some solid puns) on three new businesses opening up in the Des Moines area over the summer dedicated to ax throwing.

Here’s more about the business called Lumber Axe soon to open in downtown Des Moines by Aaron Coy:

Ax-throwing centers allow participants to pick out a two-handed ax or hatchet and launch it about 12 feet at a bulls-eye.

…

Throwing lanes are generally divided with chain-link fencing to protect throwers in nearby alleys.

Ax-throwing costs vary, but generally, an hour of casual throwing starts around $20 for a group of eight. League fees can be about $135 for a season. Ax prices range greatly but start around $20.

Coy is opening a center with four single-throwing lanes and six double lanes. The business will also include laser tag, virtual reality stations and two bars.

These centers are meant to rival pool halls or bowling alleys with concessions and even alcoholic drinks.

Fox Slim Dragotac Friction Folder – Badass Knife of the Week

June 18, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

The Dragotac series from Bastinelli Creations has been popular over the years — both custom and factory versions. One of the most common requests submitted to Bastinelli Creations is for the Dragotac to be available in a non-locking version.

With the help of Fox Knives, Bastinelli Creations accomplished that feat in the Dragotac Slim Friction Folder called the Piemontes.

The friction folding version of the Dragotac is every bit as functional and sexy as its locking counterpart. The 3.1-inch blade features a modified Wharncliffe blade profile. Unlike the traditional Wharncliffe blade, the edge is slightly curved to provide better cutting ability; however, the blade retains the piercing power of the Wharncliffe.

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The satin-finished blade is made with N690Co stainless steel, an alloy that holds a better edge and provides better stain resistance than comparable steels. Jimping along the spine gives a more reliable grip for finer tasks.

The ‘Maker Knife’ Launches on Kickstarter

June 14, 2018 / Tim / 10 Comments

There is a time and place for utility knives — those knives that use replaceable box cutter blades.

They’re cheap, easy to use, replaceable, and work well on simple tasks like cutting open boxes. The only problem is that the containers for most utility knives are pretty bad.

Enter the Maker Knife.

The Maker Knife is an everyday carry tool made for utility knives that’s designed to be carried and used almost like any ordinary pocket knife. The design was launched on crowdfunding site Kickstarter on June 9 with a goal of about $11,000 (translated from euros). Not only did it reach its goal on the first day, but it is currently funded at more than $105,000 by more than 1,400 backers.

That’s impressive.

The Maker Knife started brewing about two years ago when Giacomo Di Muro — known for his awesome YouTube channel Giaco Whatever — got a utility knife. He used it every day, but its design was bulky and not meant for EDC. One day he was visiting with designer David Windestål. After talking about the lack of good utility knives, the two decided to make their own.