The Cutting Edge

TOPS/Buck CSAR-T – Badass Knife of the Week

March 6, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

If you want a heavy-duty knife you can take into the field, I dare you to find a more reliable folder than the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

The TOPS/Buck CSAR-T is one of the most rugged, hard-core folders you’ll ever encounter. Standing for Combat Search And Rescue Tool, the CSAR-T is a no-nonsense knife that can withstand just about anything you throw at it.

Here’s a quick overview from Florida Man on YouTube:

Its strength begins with the stout 3.5-inch blade made from 154CM stainless steel, an American alloy that balances edge retention with corrosion resistance. A modified tanto blade profile makes the knife versatile, with a strong point for piercing and a long edge for slicing. Cutouts in the thick blade also help reduce the weight and add extra functionality.

What is Rockwell Hardness and What Does it Actually Mean?

March 2, 2017 / Tim / 8 Comments

If you’ve bought a knife in the past, you’ve undoubtedly seen something like “HRC 56-58” in the specs.

You may know that it represents the hardness of a blade or even that it is measured on the Rockwell scale. But if you don’t know what it actually means for your knife, you’re not alone.

Understanding the Rockwell hardness is not the most intuitive thing out there, but with a little information, you can be more informed about the characteristics and performance of your knife.

Let’s delve in.

What is the Rockwell Scale?

A blade’s hardness is based on the Rockwell scale. The Rockwell scale was cocreated by Hugh and Stanley Rockwell in the early 20th century to test the hardness of different materials. There are several different scales by which a material’s hardness is measured on, but blade steels are measured on the C scale. (HRC means Hardness on Rockwell scale C.)

To find the value, a diamond-tipped cone is impressed into the steel to measure the depth of the indentation. It’s pressed into the steel at two levels of pressure and then the numbers are measured before calculating the results into the HRC via a formula.

Here is a quick video talking about the measuring process.

Rockwell testing can leave a mark on the steel, which is why many makers measure it on a part of the steel that’s concealed by the handle.

What Does HRC Mean?

So now that you know how it’s tested, what does the number actually mean? The HRC — which also goes by other abbreviations like RC — lets you know the hardness of the steel. A low HRC number means the steel is softer and a higher number means it’s harder.

Top 8 Best-Selling Cold Steel Knives at Knife Depot

February 28, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

Every now and again, we delve into our analytics to see which models have been selling the best. Because we know people are always interested in what others are buying, we like to share this information with our readers.

Next up is Cold Steel.

Cold Steel is as polarizing as politics — people pick sides for or against the brand and stick to their guns. Nevertheless, Cold Steel is pretty popular around these parts with a pretty eclectic array of designs making this list of best-sellers at Knife Depot.

As usual, if you’re reading this in the future, this may not be entirely accurate as it tends to change over time.

8. Cold Steel Finn Bear

Coming in at number eight on the list is the Cold Steel Finn Bear. This simple fixed blade is an underrated knife from the typically flashy brand. This workhorse tool features a 4-inch blade and a design inspired by the Finnish puukko. It’s also a great option for this who want a reliable and tough EDC fixed blade to carry around.

Thanks to its affordable price (and recent naming as a BKOTW), it’s not hard to see why the Finn Bear is such a popular knife around here.

7. Cold Steel Recon 1

The Recon 1 is Cold Steel’s flagship knife and gave the brand a clearer identity as a maker of tough-as-nails knives with a tactical focus. Since there are so many iterations, along with a recent change in blade steel, the numbers are tougher to track. However, when you add up the numbers of the Recon 1, you see it’s no slouch.

The Recon 1 with a clip point and partially serrated blade is one of the most popular iterations at Knife Depot. The 4-inch blade is now made with U.S.-made Carpenter CTS XHP steel and uses the same grippy G-10 handle scales. This is a hard-use knife that makes an excellent EDC.

6. Cold Steel FGX Grivory Karambit

Karambits frequently top the list of best-sellers because they’re simply awesome. They make great self-defense tools and you can even use some of the folding karambits as everyday carry knives. That makes the Cold Steel FGX Karambit an obvious addition to this list.

CRKT Clever Girl – Badass Knife of the Week

February 27, 2017 / Tim / 3 Comments

When you’re in a fight for your life, you don’t need a tool that’s pretty or precious, you need something with cunning, grit, and austerity. That’s where the latest Badass Knife of the Week comes into the picture.

The CRKT Clever Girl is a tactical fixed blade designed to perform at its best when things are at their worst. From its piercing point to its exposed steel pommel, the Clever Girl is constructed with an eye toward functionality and ferocity.

Its long 4.6-inch blade boasts an upswept blade made from SK5 high carbon steel, an alloy known for balancing blade toughness with the ability to take an edge easily in the field. The black powder coating dampens the reflective property of the steel while giving the slender blade a more understated appearance until you need it in action.

Buried 3,000-Year-Old Sword Dubbed ‘Find of a Lifetime’

February 23, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

If some catastrophe were to happen in my city and humans started excavating at the former location of my house thousands of years from now, they’d undoubtedly find a cache of folding knives and fixed blades like few others.

It seems like archaeologists may have found a blade addict’s house from the Bronze Age after discovering a hoard of metalwork, including an incredibly well-preserved sword from 3,000 years ago.

Archaeologists were digging at a construction site in Scotland and found a cache of weapons from the Late Bronze Age. A group called GUARD Archaeology was commissioned to evaluate a field in Scotland before starting construction on two soccer fields. That’s when the group made the once-in-a-lifetime discovery.

What the discovery looked like. Photo from GUARD Archaeology

Apparently, the artifacts were found in a pit close to a settlement from the Bronze Age. Scientists are stoked about the discovery.

“It is very unusual to recover such artefacts in a modern archaeological excavation, which can reveal so much about the context of its burial,” said GUARD Project Officer Alan Hunter Blair. “Owing to the fragile nature of these remains when we first discovered them, our team removed the entire pit, and the surrounding subsoil which it was cut into, as a single 80 kg block of soil.”

Here they are working on the block in the lab.

A few cool things were found, including a spearhead, bronze sword, a pin, and the remains of a sheath.

SOG Tomcat 3.0 – Badass Knife of the Week

February 20, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

Back when SOG Specialty Knives introduced the Tomcat in the late ’80s, it was not only the first folder from the company but it also won the award for Overall Knife of the Year. Nearly 20 years later, the third generation of the Tomcat continues to prove it is no one-hit wonder.

The SOG Tomcat 3.0 boasts a timeless look with a design that balances finesse with sheer strength. This gorgeous knife is a force to be reckoned with and features advances that any knife enthusiast can appreciate.

Here is a good overview of the knife from Tactical on YouTube:

It starts with the large 3.75-inch blade made from VG-10 stainless steel, which is a true workers’ steel, thanks to its excellent corrosion resistance and ability to easily take and hold an edge. The satin clip-point blade also features jimping for better control and dual thumb studs for quick one-handed opening.

India’s Urumi Whip Sword May Be Most Dangerous Sword Ever

February 15, 2017 / Tim / 17 Comments

A Sri Lankan version of the urumi weapon

In the pantheon of insane weapons, it’s easy to look at more modern offerings like the PHASR or vomit gun. But one of the fiercest and most difficult weapons to use is the ancient whip sword known as the urumi.

The urumi may very well be one of the most dangerous melee weapons ever — not only for foes but also for the person using the weapon. While the weapon hasn’t been used as such for generations, it is still wielded in demonstrations and Indian martial arts.

This unusual blade is essentially a bendy piece of sharp metal that the user wields like a whip. Here is a look at a fighting demonstration with the urumi sword.

The urumi, which translates to curling blade and is sometimes known as the aara or chuttuval, comes from southern India where it was used as a weapon back in the day. Eventually, it fell out of favor but became incorporated into Kalaripayattu martial arts, one of the oldest fighting styles in the world.

KA-BAR BK3 Becker Tac Tool – Badass Knife of the Week

February 13, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

I know your dad always told you, “Never ever use your knife to pry.” But he’s clearly never used the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

The KA-BAR BK3 Becker Tac Tool is the ultimate tactical fixed blade that takes the definition of hard-use knives to a whole new level. This knife is designed to be used and abused, tortured and beaten, and pushed to the extreme.

Legendary knifemaker Ethan Becker and 37-year police veteran John Benner designed the Becker Tac Tool for urban SWAT teams who would need a reliable tool that could pry, chop, hack, chisel, hammer, and more. Although the boys delivered a remarkable tool for SWAT teams, the BK3 has taken on life as an all-around survival tool.

The heart of the Tac Tool is the beastly blade. Coming in at a hefty 7 inches, the blade is made from 1095 Cro-Van steel with a thickness of a quarter of an inch. The partially serrated blade is powerful enough to pry open doors without breaking a sweat and a slot on the black offers another method for cutting rope or saving lives.

Watch 1000 Degree Hot Rocket Knife Cut Through Lighters

February 7, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

Thanks to the advent of YouTube, there’s no shortage of amateur scientists doing crazy things at their house.

We’ve seen the unparalleled Joerg Sprave create the knife chainsaw and some dude heat up a knife to 1000 degrees to cut things. Now, the Backyard Scientist is taking things to the next level with his latest experiment: the 1000 Degree Red-Hot Rocket Knife.

Normally, these videos only elicit a shrug in me, but some are just really captivating. In the latest video, the Backyard Scientist created a rail to act as a track for a knife to be shot 150 miles per hour at an object. To add to the insanity, he also heated the knife up to a temperature of about 1000 degrees before it’s propelled.

Cold Steel Finn Bear – Badass Knife of the Week

February 6, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

The vast forests of Finland are home to an estimated 1,500 brown bears — creatures that can go from docile and majestic to fierce and intimidating in a moments notice.

Cold Steel combines elements of the popular Finnish puukko knife with the spirit of the bear in the Finn Bear.

If you’ve never carried a fixed blade as your everyday carry, this is the perfect knife to get you started. It all begins with the 4-inch blade made of German 4116 stainless steel, which is known for its corrosion resistance and ability to be resharpened easily. The hollow grind edge coupled with the blade’s shape makes this a practical knife that people have been using in some iteration for centuries.

This knife is robust enough to skin a moose and delicate enough to slice an apple, making it a master of the outdoors.