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ABKT Desert Scavenger Review

December 15, 2017 / Tim / 3 Comments

With established companies like Spyderco and Kershaw embedded in the market for decades, it’s hard to break into the knife industry. Sure, companies like Steel Will Knives and Kizer have made names for themselves in the crowded knife market over the past few years, but I imagine many other small companies have failed over that time.

That’s why I was intrigued when David McHan of American Buffalo Knife & Tool reached out to me about reviewing one of their knives. I had never heard about the brand before, but I took a look at the fairly robust catalog and was interested in seeing the quality of these knives.

So I chose one of their models and David sent me the one I requested — along with a few others — to take a look at.

Here is my honest review.

Background of ABKT

As I typically do with reviews of products from less established brands, I’ll give you a brief background.

American Buffalo Knife and Tool, also known by the more accessible initialism ABKT, is a gun care and cutlery company located in Sweetwater, Tennessee. ABKT designs, makes, and distributes all types of cutlery and gun care products, which are made in China and imported to the United States.

Here’s where things get a bit confusing.

Under the American Buffalo Knife & Tool umbrella are five different sub-brands or categories. One is ABKT Gun Care so we’ll skip that one since it doesn’t pertain to knives.

ABKT Knives – This is an assortment of cheaper knives made for hunting and everyday carry. There are flippers with a tactical look along with some fixed blades.

ABKT Elite – This is their higher end assortment of knives. I believe all of them are made with D2 steel and use higher-grade materials. Aside from the fixed blades, they are all flippers that use a ball-bearing opening mechanism.

Roper – These are more traditional knives, with designs that mimic those made by Case. You’ll see trappers, peanuts, and stockmans.

Cattleman Cutlery – This line is targeted toward working farmers or cowboys and feels like it could be lumped with the Roper brand. There are some of the same traditional patterns along with two models that look like Spyderco designs (or the SOGzilla Spyderco-like design).

With that out of the way, let’s get to the knives.

AKBT Scavenger Specs

I opted to review the Desert Scavenger because it seems most in line with what I would carry. The product descriptions on the website and catalog are a little incomplete, so here are my measurements.

Out of the box, the knife was the size I expected. It has a 3.5-inch drop point blade and a 4.5-inch handle — making for an overall length of 8 inches when open.

30 of the Strangest (or Ugliest) Spyderco Knife Designs Ever

December 12, 2017 / Tim / 10 Comments

Regular readers here at the Knife Depot blog know just how much we love Spyderco Knives. We’ve written a number of blog posts about the iconic brand, as well as a comprehensive article about its history, designers, innovations, and more.

Despite our gushing over Spyderco Knives, we’re not afraid to say the company comes up with some of the most bizarre and strange-looking designs ever. Although many people would call some designs downright ugly, their functionality-over-looks mentality is part of why we love them so much.

I went through some of the most unique blade shapes already, which featured more than a few Spydies, but I wanted to dedicate a whole post to interesting Spyderco knives.

I originally wrote this post a few years ago with 10, but I’ve since gone through the archives of products and seen some of the latest models and thought it would be a good idea to give this list an update.

So now, instead of the 10 most awesomely bizarre Spyderco knives, here are the 30 most awesomely bizarre Spyderco knives.

1. Spyderco Matriarch 2 with Wave

The original list featured the Civilian, but I’ve come to realize the Matriarch 2 with the Wave feature is even more strange. Long-time Spyderco fans have probably become inured to the odd look of the knife since the larger version has been around since the 1990s, but if you give this knife to the common person, they’d likely be confused.

It has a fully serrated patented reverse S-blade with the wave featured made by Ernest Emerson. Users can engage the knife in a single motion out of the pocket. The blade shape and wave give this an almost reptilian look.

2. Spyderco Captain

SPY-C111G

From the fierce Matriarch 2 with Wave to the pudgy Captain. This discontinued knife had a 4-inch blade with a shape like no other. The lower part of the blade was curved with a bulbous tip. The handle was also somewhat blocky and peppered with screws and rivets.

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Part of the reason it was probably discontinued was the fact that it was unclear what the goal of the knife was.

3. Spyderco Roadie

Next up is the Roadie — one of the most recent models on this list. This design came about after the TSA announced it was going to allow certain knives on planes. Working within those limitations, Spyderco made the Roadie.

But when the TSA reversed its decision to allow knives on planes, Spyderco went forward with the release. Despite its very odd look, the knife is beloved by diehards. It has a 2.09-inch blade that looks like the head of a dodo and a slender handle. The blade opens up with a pair of symmetrical dimples and doesn’t look intimidating at all.

Strange indeed.

4. Spyderco Q

Simply named the Q, this knife featured a fascinating design that’s come in a ton of variations — at least 50 according to Spyderco Source. The standard version of the Q has a cutout blade design with the Spyderco logo on a web. The handle also has cutouts and comes in different colors.

Cold Steel Tiger Claw – Badass Knife of the Week

December 11, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

Tigers hold a special place in the pantheon of mythology. They are known for their mysticism, understated power, solitary lifestyle, and courage.

Knife designer Andrew Demko adapts the claw of the mighty beast into a Cold Steel design known simply as the Tiger Claw.

The Tiger Claw is a folding karambit with a 3-inch blade that mimics the versatility, strength, and retractability of a real tiger claw.

10 States with the Most Lenient Knife Laws

December 5, 2017 / Tim / 14 Comments

This post was published in December 2015, so it might not be completely up to date.

Do you want to carry your knife without fear of arrest? Find a place with knife-friendly laws.

But if you’re having a hard time determining which places have the most lenient knife laws, you’re not alone. Keeping track of knife laws is difficult these days. Not only does each state have its own knife regulations but in some states, each city has its own rules.

Resources Used in Rankings

How am I a judge on knife laws? Here are a few of the resources I used:

1) Doug Ritter, founder and chairman of Knife Rights. Ritter, who we interviewed in 2011, is part of the team that has helped get many of the laws passed in the states that appear on this list, so I thought his advice would be the best. He gave me his thoughts and recommendations about the subject. His rankings ultimately differed from mine, but I like to think I have some reasons.

2) Knife Rights resources. The Knife Rights website has a lot of great resources on the topic. If you aren’t a member or haven’t donated to the knife rights organization, I highly recommend doing so now.

3) American Knife & Tool Institute website. AKTI is another public advocacy group for all aspects of the knife industry. It has a pretty thorough list of knife laws throughout the United States.

4) “Knife Laws of the U.S.: Loopholes, Pitfalls & Secrets” by Evan F. Nappen. Nappen is “one of the most respected legal authorities in the nation on the topic of knife law” and his book is a great resource on knife law. The book was published in 2015, so some information was a little outdated. Knife News did a ranking in 2015 based on the book.

How States Were Ranked

The truth is nearly all of these states are nearly equal in terms of knife-friendly laws. They all have statewide preemption clauses that prevent individual municipalities from issuing their own knife laws and they all have very little restrictions.

SOG Aegis – Badass Knife of the Week

December 4, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

The word Aegis, which rhymes with prestigious, is ripe with history and meaning.

In its most basic definition, the word means protection. But the origins date back to Ancient Greece when the word was described as a form of protection — possibly a shield or the skin of a giant — carried by gods Athena and Zeus.

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But the SOG Aegis was inspired by the code name for the air and sea component of the United States’ Ballistic Missile Defense System, and it’s not hard to see how. The Aegis boasts a covert size, lightweight construction, and significant power.

How to Get Rust Off the Blade of Your Knife

December 1, 2017 / Tim / 56 Comments

Rusty Kitchen Knife

Whether you’ve found a knife in one of your old toolboxes or accidentally left your favorite knife outside in the rain, chances are you have encountered a nasty case of rust.

While some old-school knife users believed a little rust was the mark of good, high-carbon steel, the truth is that rust weakens the blade, ruins its looks, and can even make it unsafe to use.

(See a knife you like from our catalog, just enter the code below for 10% off. No signup required. Thanks for stopping in!)

We originally wrote this post way back in December 2011, but we thought it’d be a good idea to do update it with some better information, videos, and recommendations.

What is Rust?

Rusty Iron Chain

If you’re just here for rust removal tips, feel free to skip ahead — but understanding why your blade rusts can help you prevent it in the future.

Let’s start with the basics: rust is actually iron oxide, the reddish-orange flaky substance that forms when iron reacts with oxygen and moisture. And it doesn’t take direct water contact — even humidity in the air can be enough.

Here’s a more scientific explanation from How Stuff Works:

Iron (or steel) rusting is an example of corrosion — an electrochemical process involving an anode (a piece of metal that readily gives up electrons), an electrolyte (a liquid that helps electrons move) and a cathode (a piece of metal that readily accepts electrons). When a piece of metal corrodes, the electrolyte helps provide oxygen to the anode. As oxygen combines with the metal, electrons are liberated. When they flow through the electrolyte to the cathode, the metal of the anode disappears, swept away by the electrical flow or converted into metal cations in a form such as rust.

Why Do Knives Rust?

Here are the ingredients for rust: iron, water, and air.

ESEE Izula-II – Badass Knife of the Week

November 27, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

The Izula from ESEE Knives is one of the most popular and beloved fixed-blade knives ever made. It’s what knife experts and beginners alike turn to when they want a lightweight survival tool that’s versatile enough to be used for everyday carry.

So what do you do with a beloved model? You make another version.

The ESEE Izula-II is nearly identical in appearance to the original Izula with a few important changes you’ll feel in the hand.

Like the original, the Izula-II features a 1095 carbon steel blade with black-powder coating to increase its resistance to rust and the elements. On the blade is the famous bullet ant, sometimes known as Isula by the people to Peru, with which the knife gets its name and inspiration.

Urban Kukri Pocket Knife Review

November 21, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

Much like the urban sombrero, people have been trying to make city or mainstream versions of typically niche things. While they often fail spectacularly, some of these items break through and prove worthwhile.

Designer Konstantin Shaporenko decided to take the versatile kukri — a machete-like tool usually found in the jungles of Nepal — and make it into a pocket knife. He launched the product on Kickstarter for some help getting things off the ground.

Shaporenko isn’t the first person to make a pocket-sized kukri folder. Cold Steel makes a very solid kukri folder in the Rajah series, and Magnum by Boker has the inexpensive Pocket Kukri as well. What makes the Urban Kukri a little different is its focus on being not only legal in most locales around the world but also being a piece of art.

They sent me one to look at. You’ll find my honest opinion below.

Background of the Urban Kukri

The Urban Kukri campaign launched on Kickstarter around November 7 with the modest goal of $12,00 for funding. As of publication, the campaign was fully funded by more than 290 backers who pledged over $21,000.

This means the project will move forward no matter what. There are still about two weeks to go before the project closes though.

Here’s a video released by the team:

I couldn’t find much else about Shaporenko, so I asked for some background on the artist/designer. He’s from Ukraine and likes working with metal. Here’s more of his backstory they sent me:

My ancestors were soldiers, Zaporozhye Cossacks. I have always been fond of knives since childhood, but I came to their creation not so long ago. The occasion was not the best, in my country the war began and all the people who wanted peace began to help the soldiers of Ukraine.

The army needed everything, and my comrades and I began to make knives and tools for soldiers. In the process, I learned the important elements of working with serious materials. For three years of constant practice, I have mastered certain skills and knowledge about knives.

Becoming literate technically, I began to create no longer simple knives, but all sorts of interesting products that can hardly be called a knife. This project is suitable for all urban residents, regardless of gender. This is a pocket knife for the city and travel.

He has a pretty cool backstory that’s admirable. But what about the knife itself?

Urban Kukri Specifications

The Urban Kukri comes in three different-sized blades — 100 mm, 50 mm, and 30 mm. That translates to 3.93 inches, 1.96 inches, and 1.18 inches.

Kershaw Reverb – Badass Knife of the Week

November 20, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

Some knives are only meant to be used in the outdoors and others are only meant to be used for opening envelopes. The Badass Knife of the Week knows no limits.

The Kershaw Reverb is the kind of knife you can take anywhere. It’s light enough to be taken backpacking, versatile enough to be used for everyday tasks, and reliable enough to be used around the campsite.

It all starts with the futuristic design. The two-tone blade is 2.5 inches and made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel, known as a capable alloy that’s easy to sharpen. The gray PVD coating along the grind offers the steel extra protection from the elements.

Why You Should Never Buy Knockoff or Counterfeit Knives

November 17, 2017 / Tim / 29 Comments

“I’ll never be able to afford a Sebenza.”

“I want to try out a SOG Tomcat before a get a real one.”

“I wasn’t going to buy a real one anyway — might as well get a fake.”

“It’s not hurting anyone.”

These are common arguments from people trying to justify buying knockoff and counterfeit knives.

To those people, all I say is NO. Counterfeit knives are not only harmful to the designers and makers but can also be harmful to you.

If you’re not dissuaded from buying clones or knockoffs, this post will hopefully open your eyes to the dangers and pitfalls of buying fakes. Here’s why you should only buy a real and legitimate knife.

A Note on Terminology

Clones, knockoffs, counterfeits, homages. What’s the difference? All of these terms are typically used to mean one of two things.

A knife passed off as the real thing.

A counterfeit knife is one that looks exactly like the real thing — with branding, all the design elements, and even packaging information — but is not from the actual company.

A knife that steals designs from another model.

If it looks like a Spyderco, functions like a Spyderco, but is called an Arachnidco, it’s a stolen design. It may not have the branding of the original but it may be a heavily borrowed design. This is not necessarily a counterfeit knife, but the effects are the same.

1) Counterfeit knives cause loss in sales.

This one is the most obvious reason not to buy a counterfeit knife: you’re taking away money from those who made the original. Multinational brands typically lose around 10 percent of their annual revenue to counterfeiters, according to the Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce.

The American Knife & Tool Institute has some knife stats for you.

“Based on the latest ‘AKTI State of the Sporting Knife and Tool Industry Report,’ we conservatively estimate that the annual financial impact on the sporting knife and tool industry is around $80 million,” said AKTI Executive Director Jan Billeb back in 2013.

Imagine spending all this time, money, and resources on making the best product possible only to have everyone copy the product and sell it as their own. Not only does all your hard work go unpaid but it has to feel just awful and could possibly discourage people from making new things.

Millions of dollars each year are going away from those who deserve it to criminals trying to make a buck off of others.

2) Knife companies incur unforeseen costs.

Aside from the loss of revenue from sales, counterfeiting puts a big financial burden on knife companies you may not have considered.

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