The Cutting Edge

Louisiana Switchblade Ban Repealed

May 29, 2018 / Tim / 2 Comments

If you live in Louisiana — the same great state Knife Depot is based in — then we have good news for you.

Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill that repeals the state’s antiquated ban on switchblade knives. Although the bill was signed by the governor on May 25, it doesn’t officially take effect until August 1.

The repeal was another victory for the knife community spearheaded by Knife Rights. The knife advocacy organization lobbied to get members of the state’s congress to draft and pass the bill.

The bill — titled HB892 — legalized the buying and carrying of switchblades as long as there is no “intentional concealment on one’s person.” The wording is a bit vague, but Knife Rights said it was necessary to add so sheriffs and state police wouldn’t oppose the bill.

SOG Super Bowie – Badass Knife of the Week

May 28, 2018 / Tim / 3 Comments

The SOG Knife was designed by Benjamin Baker, the Deputy Chief of the U.S. Counterinsurgency Support Office. It had a stacked leather handle, an interesting clip point blade design, and a blackened blade to reduce glare.

Knife designer Spencer Frazer was so inspired by the original design that he created a company called SOG Specialty Knives based on the SOG Knife. What started out as a single commemorative model that paid tribute to the special ops that made it slowly turned into a larger knife company with dozens of models.

BLADE Show 2018 Info

May 22, 2018 / Tim / 1 Comment

It’s that time of year again. BLADE Show 2018 is nearly here.

From June 1 to June 3, thousands of people will descend on Atlanta to partake in the world’s largest knife show.

Here’s a nice promotional video to get you going:

If you’re not familiar with BLADE Show, then you’re in for quite the treat.

Spyderco Yojimbo 2 – Badass Knife of the Week

May 21, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Renowned personal-defense trainer Michael Janich is credited with popularizing the modern Wharncliffe blade design with an eye on tactical applications. This unusual blade design culminated in his most recent creation — the redesigned Spyderco Yojimbo 2.

Spyderco is known for taking risks on knives with odd-looking designs, and the Yojimbo 2 is no exception.

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The most notable part of the whole knife is the 3.11-inch Wharncliffe blade. A Wharncliffe blade is defined by having a completely flat edge with a spine that tapers to a piercing point. Both of these attributes make the profile excellent for everyday tasks… and self-defense.

Knife Podcasts You Should Listen To

May 17, 2018 / Tim / 9 Comments

I am addicted to podcasts. I pop them on when I’m cleaning the house, sharpening my knives, and going for walks.

With hundreds of thousands of unique podcasts, there’s no dearth of something to listen, including dozens of pods 100 percent dedicated to sewing. But what about us knife nuts?

It’s true that there are far fewer knife-related podcasts than there should be, but there are at least seven that every knife fan should be subscribed to. Let us know in the comments if we missed any.

This post was originally published in December 2016, but there have been a few new podcasts in the last few months and others that have faded away. I’m hoping these are here to stay.

Gear Geeks Live

This is one of the longest running knife-related podcasts out there. Except when it took a short hiatus, the pod has been publishing at least once a month for around four years. Gear Geeks Live is hosted by Anthony Sculimbrene of Everyday Commentary (a personal favorite). In the past few months, Sculimbrene has been joined by the great Nick Shabazz.

The guys take a thorough look at the goings on in the knife world including new releases, the news, and more. They also do interviews with folks around the knife community and interviewed knifemaker Jesse Jarosz in the past. Sculimbrene and Shabazz have a nice rapport.

Kershaw Fraxion – Badass Knife of the Week

May 14, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Back in the day, the term budget was synonymous with cheap. These days, you can get a budget-friendly knife that’s built as good as some of the more pricey knives.

Take our latest Badass Knife of the Week, for example.

The Kershaw Fraxion — a collaboration between the esteemed brand and Danish knifemaker Jens Anso — is a lightweight folder with a streamlined design.

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The knife features a 2.75-inch clip point blade with a BlackWash finish that springs open with the help of a manual flipper mechanism. The size and blade profile make the 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade versatile and easy to carry anywhere.

Watch a Knife Get Made From Aluminum Foil

May 10, 2018 / Tim / 2 Comments

Aluminum is one of the most commonly used metals. In fact, it is one of the most abundant elements on earth. So why is it that people never mention aluminum when making knife blades?

Well, despite being lightweight and durable, aluminum is extremely soft. That means a knife made from aluminum would dull quicker than you could sharpen it. But that hasn’t stopped some enterprising knifemakers from experimenting with aluminum blades.

In March, one of the most creative knifemakers in Japan made a fantastic kitchen knife out of a roll of aluminum foil.

Aside from that Japanese knifemaker, few are more skilled or creative at the videos turning everyday objects into knives than Steve Miller from Miller Knives. I’ve highlighted his videos in the past — such as the time he turned a rusty wrench into a knife or the time he made a folder out of a bullet — but he too took on the challenge of making a knife from aluminum foil.

Buck Bantam BBW – Badass Knife of the Week

May 7, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Buck is no stranger to creating solid, inexpensive knives made in these great United States of America.

The years of history and manufacturing prowess of Buck are on display in the small but efficient Bantam BBW.

The Bantam BBW series is in that sweet spot right above the Nano Bantam and right below the Bantam BHW. This means the Bantam BBW features a 2.75-inch blade with a large thumb stud for easy opening. The drop point profile will do its job no questions asked while the size is optimal for urban or everyday carry.

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This Buck uses 420HC stainless steel with the heat treat process pioneered by Paul Bos. In less capable hands, 420HC could be a subpar steel, but Buck knows how to maximize the steel for edge retention and durability.

KA-BAR Introduces ‘State & Union Knives’ Custom Shop

May 3, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Sunday marked the 120th anniversary of KA-BAR.

To celebrate the momentous milestone, KA-BAR had a few goodies up its sleeve. We already covered the well-made documentary series about the long and complicated history of the company.

Then, they released some commemorative KA-BAR models with a 120th Anniversary logo laser-engraved on the blade. There’s the U.S. Army, USMC, USN, and Dog’s Head models.

That wasn’t all KA-BAR announced, however.

KA-BAR is paying homage to its past by introducing State & Union Knives. The internal shop will allow the company to once again create hand-finished custom designed knives in Olean, New York.

Boker Magnum Pocket Kukri – Badass Knife of the Week

April 30, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Want to carry a huge kukri machete without having to attach it to a sheath on your belt? Boy, have we got the knife for you.

Behold, the Magnum by Boker Pocket Kukri.

The Pocket Kukri is massive. It has a long 4.63-inch blade made of 440 stainless steel. The kukri-inspired blade design features a recurve and swedge for optimal slicing and piercing. A fuller near the spine cuts down on the weight of the knife and doubles as a notch for two-handed opening.

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You may not think this makes a good EDC knife because of its size, but the knife is surprisingly versatile. The blade can be used for light chopping or carving, and its reach makes it a fierce self-defense tool.