The Cutting Edge

The official blog of Knife Depot

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The Legend of the Bowie Knife

September 19, 2017 / / 13 Comments

It must be long enough to be a sword, sharp enough to use as a razor, wide enough to use as a paddle, and heavy enough to use as a hatchet.

That quote from a historian perfectly sums up the versatility and diversity of design represented in the legendary Bowie knife.

There is no single item with a stronger connection to the American experiment than the Bowie knife. So where exactly did the Bowie knife come from and just what is a Bowie knife? We’re here to answer your questions.

What is a Bowie Knife?

Before we delve deeper into the history of the knife, here’s what the experts say is the consensus Bowie knife design.

…

I fooled you. There isn’t one. Different historians and knife enthusiasts will tell you different things. Some say any large knife with a blade exceeding five inches is a Bowie knife. Other says a Bowie knife must have a double-edged point.

In general, most would say a Bowie knife is a large fixed blade (although you will find the occasional folding Bowie like the Spyderco Slysz Bowie) with a clip point blade. A hand guard is often a staple of the Bowie but not necessary.

This Winchester Bowie is something that’s reminiscent of a knife people think you would see in the old American frontier.

I wouldn’t say it’s the quintessential Bowie knife because there are better quality versions out there, but this is what many see when they think Bowie knife.

The Man Behind the Knife

It’s impossible to trace the lineage of the famed Bowie knife without an earnest look at the knife’s namesake: James Bowie. Back in 2010, one of the contributors to this blog wrote a nice profile about Bowie, but it’s important to provide some context.

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Victorinox Money Clip – Badass Knife of the Week

September 18, 2017 / / 0 Comments

When someone sees the iconic red scales and that familiar emblem with a cross coming out of your pocket, they know exactly the type of person you are: a go-getter who’s self-sufficient and resourceful.

The Swiss Army Knife is one of the most iconic tools of all time, but those of us who already carry far too many things in the pocket may be opposed to stuffing a multitool in there as well.

For those who want to consolidate their everyday carry, there’s the Victorinox Swiss Army Money Clip.

Here’s a great video overview:

This Swiss Army Knife has the all the multifunctionality of any other Victorinox model with one feature that makes it stand out from the countless others: a clip.

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Act to Repeal the Federal Switchblade Ban Introduced to Congress

September 15, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Buck 110 Auto

It seems like nothing good ever comes out of Congress these days. Well, there may be some good news out of Congress for knife lovers out there.

The Freedom of Commerce Act was introduced earlier this month.

Although it may not sound interesting, the Freedom of Commerce Act was brought to light with the help of the American Knife & Tool Institute and CJ Buck of Buck Knives and would repeal the Federal Switchblade Act of 1958 and remove prohibitions on free trade, interstate commerce, and consumer choice.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Mike Crap (R-ID), would allow people to buy automatic knives across state lines as long as it is legal in their jurisdiction.

“In states allowing the possession of switchblades, it is imperative that law-abiding citizens and sportsmen have the ability to buy and sell the tools vital to their trade,” said Crapo in a statement. “This measure would remove one of the many federal regulatory burdens that have hindered manufacturing growth, interstate commerce and consumer practices for far too long.”

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Watch a Buck 110, Leatherman Wave, and Swiss Army Knife Get Made

September 14, 2017 / / 0 Comments

So much content exists out there that it’s easy to miss something that’s really cool and informative. Even a guy like me who’s paid to notice everything that goes on in the knife world can miss a thing or two. But some things are still cool even after they’re a little old.

Brandmade.TV is a YouTube channel that makes pretty interesting and in-depth videos on how famous products are made — like a Pelican Case, Samuel Adams Beer, and Pyrex Measuring Cup. Although the channel hasn’t put out videos for a year, three of the videos in the archives focused on iconic knives. Let’s take a look.

Buck 110 Folding Hunter

The 110 is one of the most iconic knives of all time and became so prevalent that any knife in that style is known as a Buck knife. The video features an interview with CJ Buck, who’s the chairman and CEO of the company, on the process the knives go through to get to their final state.

Wenger Swiss Army Knife

Remember Wenger? In case you don’t, Wenger was known as the maker of the “Genuine Swiss Army Knife” (vs. Victorinox’s “Original Swiss Army Knife” tagline) before it was bought out by its main competitor Victorinox in 2005. Then, in 2013, Victorinox announced that there would no longer be two separate brands and merged the two together under Victorinox. Although some Wenger designs still exists, they’re under a different name.

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What is Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP) and How Does it Affect Knives?

September 12, 2017 / / 4 Comments

If you’ve ever bought something from an online store, you may have noticed the term MAP in fine print somewhere. Standing for Minimum Advertised Pricing, MAP plays a pretty big role in how much you pay for things — whether it’s knives, water canteens, or televisions.

Because we are a knife store, we thought we’d look at the pros and cons of MAP policies and how they affect you.

What is Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP)?

We’ll start with the basic definition: MAP is a policy that sets the lowest possible price you can advertise something. For online stores, this means that the prices displayed must be at or above the amount established by the manufacturer.

To be clear, MAP only deals with the minimum advertised price, not necessarily how much the item can actually be sold for. So even at online stores, you can buy items conforming to MAP at cheaper prices. More on that later though.

Another thing to clarify is that not all manufacturers have MAP policies. Only a few actually have the policies and I think even fewer really enforce the policies. We’ll go into detail later but knife brands like Schrade, Case, and KA-BAR don’t have MAP policies while others like Benchmade, Spyderco, and Hogue do.

What is Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)?

You’ve likely seen MSRP next to prices as well. This is the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price or what price the manufacturer thinks the item should be sold at. This is just a general guideline and you’ll often see the street price significantly lower on these items (especially if they don’t have a MAP policy).

Why Does MAP Exist?

There are often raging debates about the benefits and drawbacks of MAP policies on BladeForums.

For the consumer, MAP can feel like a greedy money grab from manufacturers who are trying to keep prices high. I understand where that’s coming from too. MAP can prevent consumers from getting deals on their products and it prevents stores with the means to sell at lower margins.

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Cold Steel Kobun – Badass Knife of the Week

September 11, 2017 / / 0 Comments

When you need a lightweight but powerful fixed blade that’ll fade into the background until you need it most, reach for the Cold Steel Kobun.

“Kobun” is Japanese for “soldier,” and that’s no coincidence. This knife performs dutifully and fearlessly in all types of situations — whether you’re carrying it as a backup self-defense boot knife or using it as an EDC fixed blade.

Here is a good overview from Shahzad Kayani on YouTube:

This easily concealable Tanto style knife boasts a 5.5-inch blade made from AUS8A stainless steel, which is tough and corrosion resistant. The blade profile features a reinforced point that can pierce some of the most fibrous materials. A slight recurve along the cutting edge provides a deeper belly.

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Top 7 Most Popular Boot Knives

September 7, 2017 / / 1 Comment

When things get rough or situations are unknown, there’s nothing more comfortable than knowing you’ve got a back-up plan tucked away in your steel-toe boots.

Boot knives can be used for everything, from survival situations to last resort self-defense. Since they’re often concealed and frequently feature dual-edged blades, you should check with your local laws to see whether there are any restrictions.

But if you’re looking to pick up a new boot knife, these seven are among the best on the market.

CRKT Sting

Forged from one solid piece of steel, the Sting is a knife from the great A.G. Russell that features a simple but effective design as reliable as when it was first introduced in the 1970s. The overall length is just under 7 inches with a roughly 3.2-inch dual-edge blade. The blade and handle are made of 1050 carbon steel coated with a black powder finish.

A good sheath is essential in a boot knife, and the Sting delivers on that end. It comes with a custom nylon-stitched sheath with a glass reinforced nylon insert. Russell updated the design not long ago with the Sting 3B, but the original remains one of the best.

Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B H.R.T. Boot Knife

There are three boot knives on this list with nearly identical designs as the Smith & Wesson SWHRT9B H.R.T. Boot Knife, but we’ve received nothing but praises about the knife. This is one of the best-selling knives at Knife Depot. As I’ve written before, the knife is the perfect choice for a last-ditch weapon when things get rough.

A 4.74-inch double-edged blade is made from 7Cr17 high carbon stainless steel and coated with black Teflon. Its shapely handle is wrapped in black rubber while the grooved rings provide extra grip when holding the knife.

The leather sheath holds the knife in place with snap fastener.

Cold Steel Kobun

The Cold Steel Kobun is less of a dedicated boot knife than the others but it is more than capable of hanging around on your boot in wait of some action. At 4.4 ounces, the Kobun weighs less than the S&W boot knife with a longer blade. The 5.5-inch blade is made from Japanese AUS 8A stainless steel and features the American-style tanto blade that offers a durable design. It’s definitely on the larger end of a boot knife.

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Watch Miller Knives Turn an Old Rusty Wrench Into a Knife

September 5, 2017 / / 1 Comment

They say, “If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” Well, if you’re a knifemaker, everything looks like it could be a knife.

Us normal people would see a rusty wrench and think it’s nothing but a rusty wrench. But to Steve Miller of Miller Knives, that rusty knife could be a functional knife with a ton of personality.

In an easy to digest video, Miller takes a rusty wrench and transforms it into a knife you can do some light batoning with, feather wood for a fire, or use as a throwing knife.

To me, the best part of Miller’s videos is the wordlessness. You hear nothing but the comforting sounds of the workshop as Miller does his thing.

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Byrd Meadowlark 2 – Badass Knife of the Week

September 4, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Budget knives often get a bad rap because they may not have premium materials or be made in the right place, but as our latest Badass Knife of the Week proves, you can still get a darn good knife that stands up to the best of them.

The Byrd Meadowlark 2 takes an already popular knife whose value is nearly unparalleled and makes it even better.

As a subdivision of Spyderco, Byrd Knives is able to retain the same manufacturing quality and design elements of the iconic brand while keeping prices low. Just take a look at the Meadowlark.

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20 More Ways People Have Tried to Sneak Knives on Planes

September 2, 2017 / / 13 Comments

Put your knives in a checked bag when going to the airport.

I cannot stress that enough. Not only do you risk losing one of your prized possessions but you also run the risk of getting fines or jailed.

At one point, it seemed like knives would be allowed back on planes in limited capacities before an outcry from flight attendants and the general public led to a cancelation of those plans. That means knives either stay at home or go in your checked luggage.

Unfortunately, not everyone is willing to part with their knife. A few years ago, I presented 10 ways people have tried to sneak knives past the TSA. Now I’m back with 20 more ways people have tried to get knives onto planes.

These come courtesy of the TSA Instagram page. The TSA may be reviled by many but they run a darn entertaining social media account.

1. In a can of deodorant

It looks like this person tried to hollow out a canister of deodorant to get their cheap knife onto the plane. It’s almost like they didn’t realize the TSA has sophisticated tools that allow them to see through objects.

Here’s a bonus deodorant knife hider. This person went through a little less effort by simply trying to hide it underneath the lid. I’m sure the knife will smell wintery fresh for a long time. It’s too bad the person will never see the knife again.

2. Inside a boot

If you check any knife lover’s boot, you’re bound to find a knife. Just don’t forget to take it out before going to the airport like this person. It looks like the knife was velcroed on the inside of a cowboy boot or tucked away in a hidden compartment.

3. Wrapped in foil

As you’ll see, there’s a strong belief that foil can foil the TSA. They look at a wrapped piece of foil and think, “That’s just a delicious burrito tucked away in someone’s bag. Next.” A big piece of metal inside a bag just raises suspicions even more.

4. Inside a belt

There is no shortage of belt knives out there. I like to think this person simply forgot that there was a knife embedded in his belt.

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