The Cutting Edge

SOG Pushes the Boundaries of Multitools with 2017 Designs

January 25, 2017 / Tim / 3 Comments

The world of multitools has become stagnant.

When the first modern multitool was introduced in the late 1800s, it was truly revolutionary and groundbreaking. While the idea of combining a few tools into a single gadget dates back hundreds of years, this design was so well-conceived it remains in production to this day. Yes, I’m talking about the Swiss Army knife.

If you take a look at the design of the Modell 1890, one of the first iterations of the SAK, you’ll notice how surprisingly similar it looks to current Swiss Army knives. It just means that the design was near perfection.

Swiss Army Modell 1890

The design of multitools stayed relatively unchanged for decades until a young man spent time traveling abroad after graduating from Oregon State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. During his travels, he realized that the one thing multitools was missing were functional pliers.

That man was named Tim Leatherman.

In 1983, Tim completely changed the multitool landscape with his first design called the Pocket Survival Tool (PST). Now retired, the knife set the standard for what a multitool with pliers should look like — tools coming out of the two handles and the ability to fold into a rectangle.

Unfortunately, the way things work is that one company makes something revolutionary and the others just try to copy it and add small changes. It’s no coincidence that most multitools these days look like the Leatherman Skeletool (a very good design).

More than 30 years after that last true innovation in the multitool world, we’ve been waiting for the next big thing.

SOG may have found it.

SOG Baton Series Rethinks the Multitool

Most multitools fold up into thick bricks that take up way too much space in your pocket. That includes both SAKs and Leatherman types.

So SOG decided to do something a little different.

In conjunction with global design and consulting firm IDEO, which is responsible for such innovations as Apple’s first mouse and the convenient Swiffer, SOG created a new line of multitools called the Baton series.

Here is a quick look from GearSight:

When the tools are in the open position with the pliers (or scissors) engaged, it looks like any other pliers multitool. The difference is that the tool folds up into a relatively thin vertical design that’s more in line with a marker than a brick.

ESEE-6 Survival Knife – Badass Knife of the Week

January 23, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

The minds behind ESEE Knives and Randall’s Adventure & Training know a thing or two about making a darn good knife. Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin became frustrated with the bloated and unnecessary offerings of survival gear and made their own line of field grade knives called ESEE Knives.

The ESEE-6 is the perfect representation of what Randall and Perrin were hoping to achieve with their line of knives.

Boasting an overall blade length of 6.5 inches, the ESEE-6 is a no-holds-barred knife that will do everything from batoning logs to chopping carrots.

Is Allowing Women to Carry Knives for Self-Defense on Trains in Delhi a Good Idea?

January 20, 2017 / Tim / 4 Comments

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: Knives make poor self-defense weapons.

Not only do you have to get extremely close to your assailant but the knife can quickly be turned against you — not to mention the psychological ramifications of having to stab someone (sometimes repeatedly) less than a foot away from your face.

But Delhi Metro — the rail system serving the expansive and highly populated city in India — will now allow women to carry knives up to four inches for self-defense purposes.

This may not seem like a big deal here, but Delhi Metro officials apparently search people pretty frequently and have confiscated tons of items.

10 New CRKT Knives To Add To Your 2017 Wishlist

January 17, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

CRKT recently revealed its new offerings, and I’m pumped.

The company is releasing a fair amount of models that boast the CRKT charm, innovation, and splendor. While I (like many diehard knife enthusiasts) would like to see CRKT use more high-quality materials in its knives, its designs are always something to behold.

Unfortunately, there are far too many to put here, so I’m highlighting the 10 I’m most excited for. You can see more here.

1. Homefront EDC

Innovation is hard to come by these days, but Ken Onion took the knife world by storm last year with the reveal of his “Field Strip” technology. The original Homefront was the first knife to enjoy the technology, which allows you to disassemble a knife without the need for tools.

The knife was well-made and the tech was superb. CRKT is expanding the Homefront line with a few more models, including the Homefront Hunter and Homefront Tactical. My pick here is the Homefront EDC. It has a lot of the same features as the original, except for a slightly longer blade (without the fuller) and GRN handles instead of aluminum.

I’m excited to see what else they do with Field Strip in the future.

2. Bombastic

Another Ken Onion design, the Bombastic reminds me of his Hootenanny. It has a flipper opening mechanism, frame lock, and spear point blade profile (with a false edge). The blade is 3.3 inches and made of 8Cr13MoV steel. The handles are 2Cr13 stainless steel with glass reinforced fiber polyamide inlays. I enjoy the switchblade-inspired design with stylings from WWII.

Smith & Wesson Border Guard 2 – Badass Knife of the Week

January 16, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

The Smith & Wesson Border Guard 2 can take some serious abuse, without even a chance of a complaint. This badass knife is proof you can get a reliable knife for about $20.

Let’s take a deeper look.

The modified tanto blade is 4.4 inches and made of functional 7Cr17 high carbon stainless steel. Ambidextrous thumb studs adorn each side of the blade, and two blood grooves on one side help reduce the overall weight of the knife.

Made for first-response police forces in such demanding fields as highway patrol and environmental disaster recovery, the Border Guard comes with a feature-packed handle. The black aluminum handle boasts Trac-Tec inserts for a reliable grip in all types of conditions as well as an integrated seat belt cutter and window breaker.

Bill to Repeal Federal Switchblade Act Introduced to Congress

January 11, 2017 / Tim / 1 Comment

It’s been a long time in the making, but 2017 may be the year the increasingly irrelevant 1958 Federal Switchblade Act finally gets repealed.

We’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves, though.

The Knife Owners’ Protection Act of 2017 — originally conceived and authored by the great Knife Rights in 2010 — has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Andy Biggs. The act, known by its acronym KOPA, now includes language that repeals the federal switchblade ban.

“The Federal Switchblade Act was an asinine idea when it was passed in 1958 in a wave of Hollywood-inspired politically motivated hysteria and has only become more irrelevant as time has passed,” said Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter in a statement. “The majority of states have always allowed switchblade possession and with Knife Rights’ repeal of switchblade bans in 11 states in the past seven years, fully four-fifths of the states now allow switchblade possession to one degree or another.”

James Dean wielding a switchblade in “Rebel Without a Cause.” The film was part of the inspiration for the original switchblade ban.

I’ve written on this very blog countless times why it’s time for the switchblade ban to be repealed. Not only has it affected the business of companies like Knife Depot (which can’t sell automatic knives except to government, law enforcement, or military personnel) but it makes traveling from state to state with different regulations extremely complicated.

New 2017 Benchmade Knives

January 10, 2017 / Tim / 3 Comments

With the new year comes new knives.

2017 is off to a great start with a slate of new knives from Benchmade.

The Oregon-based company revealed its new knives last month shortly after it announced the discontinuation of a number of models, including its entire line of HK knives. While the specific reasons each knife was discontinued can only be speculated, the new line confirms that some of the models got upgrades or were brought on over under the Benchmade name.

The new product lines (and special editions) are mostly what you’d expect from Benchmade with a few new tricks. The new knives also indicate that the 154CM steel standard for the Butterly Logo brand is likely becoming S30V (since all the new knives are that steel).

Take a look at what Benchmade has in store for you this year.

Benchmade 560 Freek

The 560 Freek is a manual-opening AXIS lock folder with a focus on well-made and grippy handles. Sound familiar? The Freek will appeal to fans of the Griptilian (or to those who want a little more from the Grip). The 3.6-inch drop point blade is made of CPM-S30V steel, but the focus really seems to be on the handle. It has what Benchmade calls dual durometer handles, which features Versaflex inlays for maximum comfort and durability.

This model seems to be one poised for wider market appeal among those looking for a quality EDC. There are a few versions of the 560, including one with serrations and a black blade.

Benchmade 590 Boost

The Boost shares some of the same qualities as the new Freek with one notable addition, the AXIS-Assist mechanism. Like the Freek, the blade is S30V with a drop point profile, except the length is 3.7 inches.

Old Timer 8OT Senior – Badass Knife of the Week

January 9, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

Get back to your roots with the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

Legend has it that Old Timer started in 1958 when the folks in charge of Schrade Cutlery Corp decided to offer a knife like the one their grand-dad used to carry — comfortable, practical, reliable, and tough.

The Old Timer 8OT Senior is the perfect embodiment of the ethos behind the brand’s founding.

The classic design of the Senior has been proven through more than a hundred years of farmers and tradesmen using the stockman for tasks ranging from the mundane to the momentous. The three blades —spey, sheepsfoot, and clip point — may seem outdated but remain as useful in the 21st century as they were in the 19th century.

New York Governor Vetoes Bill to Reform Unjust Knife Law

January 3, 2017 / Tim / 3 Comments

In a huge blow to the knife community and civil rights in general, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have reformed an antiquated knife law that has resulted in thousands of capricious arrests.

We’ve been following this story closely ever since a Village Voice investigation found that as many as 60,000 people were arrested for illegal gravity knives between 2003 and 2013, with more than 80 percent being black or Hispanic.

The current gravity knife laws are poorly written and open to interpretation from individual officers. People who buy knives legally at stores in the New York area have been arrested for carrying a supposedly illegal knife. With some effort, New York police officers can argue nearly any folder is a gravity knife.

Morakniv Eldris – Badass Knife of the Week

January 2, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

Who says a badass and functional knife has to be huge?

Featuring a fixed blade that comes in at a little more than two inches, the Morakniv Eldris is a compact knife that packs quite a punch.

The pocket-sized fixed blade is one of the newest additions to Morakniv but still carries the same craftsmanship and focus on quality the company has instilled in each knife for more than a hundred years.

The 56mm (or about 2.2-inch) blade is made of high-quality Swedish 12C27 stainless steel, which is known for good corrosion resistance, exceptional toughness, and admirable edge performance. The 2mm thick blade features an easy-to-maintain Scandi grind and a semi-matte finish.