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Gateway Knives for Each Brand

February 13, 2018 / Glenn / 6 Comments

Quick picks for your first knife from a brand

Start with the size and opening style you prefer. These five options were available when we checked in September 2026; follow each link for current price and availability.

Compact utility folder: Cold Steel Tuff Lite 20LT — a short, plain-edge blade for everyday cutting.
Simple manual folder: CRKT Drifter 6450K — a 2.88-inch blade and black G-10 handle.
Lightweight KA-BAR folder: Dozier Folding Hunter 4062 — a 3-inch drop-point blade and black Zytel handle.
Slim assisted opener: Kershaw Leek 1660 — a 3-inch blade and stainless steel handle.
Fuller-size Spyderco folder: Tenacious C122GP — a 3.39-inch plain-edge blade and black G-10 handle.

For more comparisons, explore our Spyderco buying guide, Cold Steel buying guide, and KA-BAR buying guide.

Classic gateway knives by brand

The original brand-by-brand selections below include historical models. Not every pictured version is currently stocked; product links are included where a matching listing is available.

There is an old theory called the stepping-stone hypothesis that claims using mild drugs will lead to the usage of more potent and addictive drugs. This phenomenon became more widely known as the concept of the “gateway drug” in the 1970s.

I am not here to argue the merits of the claim, but the term “gateway” has now become a catchall for an introductory item that leads to a greater obsession.

I was curious to learn more about how people came to the obsession of knives, so I set out to find the most common “gateway knives” for every brand. These are the knives people first got that made them more interested in a brand, slowly consuming them until they had bought up as many knives from the brand as possible.

I thought I’d focus on the 20 top brands. I’ll include a secondary choice at the end.

Benchmade Mini Griptilian

The first brand up is Benchmade. Benchmade is already a brand known for higher-end knives, so it’s not likely a person’s first knife will ever be a Benchmade. However, for those interested in trying out the brand before they make a long-term commitment to its more expensive offerings, there’s the Mini Griptilian.

This knife is an icon and still represents the best of Benchmade. The Mini Griptilian uses 154CM steel on its sub-3-inch blade and Noryl GTX scales. After this knife, you shouldn’t be surprised to see someone upgrade to the premium version of the Mini Griptilian and maybe even try out some other Benchies like the Barrage or Infidel.

Secondary Choice – Benchmade Griptilian

I was tempted to choose the Benchmade 940 as a secondary option, but it’s about $182. So the larger Griptilian seems like a better option.

Boker Kalashnikov Automat 74

Of all the brands, I had the most trouble finding the perfect gateway knife that could get people hooked on Boker. The problem is that there are so many models — not to mention several different brands under the Boker umbrella. I ultimately decided on the Boker Plus Kalashnikov Automat 74.

Kershaw Brawler – Badass Knife of the Week

February 12, 2018 / Glenn / 0 Comments

A brawl is defined by chaos and conflict. With the Kershaw Brawler, you get something that’s strong and reliable even when things get rough and unpredictable.

The heart of the Brawler is its blade. At 3 inches, the black-coated blade is a perfect size for everyday carry and doesn’t take up much space in the pocket. Although the 8Cr13MoV stainless steel is a budget steel, it performs well while boasting excellent rust resistance.

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The Brawler’s modified tanto point is exceptionally versatile. Unlike the standard American tanto which features an abrupt angle toward the point, the Brawler’s profile has a more subtle curve. This gives the user more edge to cut in one long pull.

6 Reasons for Tip-Down Carry

February 8, 2018 / Glenn / 24 Comments

There is no right way to carry a knife — unless you ask the millions of people who carry knives. Some will insist that the only true way to carry a knife is clipped to the pocket so that the blade tip is pointing up.

A smaller but still vocal minority say that’s preposterous and that one should carry a knife in the pocket with the blade pointed down.

The truth is that it’s simply a matter of preference.

According a survey in Knife News, 64 percent prefers tip up and 19 percent prefers tip down while 15 percent don’t care and another 2 percent prefer no clip.

This post isn’t to persuade anyone to carry a knife a certain way but to enlighten those who don’t carry their knives tip down.

So if you can’t understand why anyone would carry a knife tip down, here are a few reasons.

Better Positioning for Larger Knives

One of the main advantages of carrying a knife with the tip up is that you can slid your thumb into your pocket, pull out the knife, and already be in the natural position to open it. This is true… for most knives.

Larger knives — like those with blades longer than 4 inches — are a bit trickier.

When you slide a larger knife like the Spyderco Resilience out of the pocket when it’s tip up, you won’t be in a natural position to open it. You’d end up need to adjust the grip a little to open it effectively.

Boker Plus Exskelibur I – Badass Knife of the Week

February 5, 2018 / Glenn / 0 Comments

Boker has released hundreds if not thousands of models over the past hundred years, but few have seen the success or critical acclaim as the Boker Plus Exskelibur line.

The Boker Plus Exskelibur I is a gentleman’s folder that pulls out all the stops. Along with using the best materials on the market, the knife features a simple design you wouldn’t be afraid to take to an office party or use out at the construction site.

The knife — designed by South African knifemaker Mike Skellern — boasts a long 3.5-inch blade made from high-quality CPM-S35VN stainless steel, an alloy known for its wear resistance, toughness, and increased ease of sharpening. The blade profile is a straightforward drop point design that performs well in nearly every way.

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Adding to the intrigue of the folder is the unobtrusive front flipper. It takes a second to get used to it, but you’ll be wishing the flipper was so placed on every knife. A framelock mechanism keeps the blade securely engaged.

What is a Knife’s Boye Dent?

February 1, 2018 / Glenn / 8 Comments

The great thing about knives is just how many minor changes and innovations there are. Sure, we know about the biggies like creation of the pocket clip by Spyderco’s Sal Glesser or the Reeve Integral Lock, but what about the smaller things?

For example, if you’ve bought a Spyderco with a lockback mechanism in the past few years, you’ve undoubtedly used something called the Boye Dent.

But just what is the Boye Dent?

Here it is.

The Boye Dent is a very minor addition that’s infiltrated modern lockback knives from Spyderco. It is essentially a scallop-shaped recess in the release bar of the lockback or mid lock.

What is the Purpose of the Boye Dent?

The Boye Dent was pioneered by knifemaker David Boye, who is now known for designing boating knives. On his site, it says that the dent is for “preventing accidental disengagement of the blade when the handle is gripped tightly.”

Blue Whale Folder by Boye Knives

Essentially, when you put the palm of your hand against the release bar, there is less material there to accidentally disengage the knife.

Fox 479 Folding Karambit – Badass Knife of the Week

January 29, 2018 / Glenn / 1 Comment

Although some people call the karambit nothing but a gimmick, it just means they’ve never used one the right way.

Because when it comes to self-defense, it’s hard to beat the Fox 479 Folding Karambit.

This unparalleled self-defense tool has undergone rigorous testing in extreme climates and high-pressure situations and utilizes all the advancements you could ever need.

Here’s an excellent video review from ForPete’sSake:

Highlighting the knife is the curved 3.14-inch liner locking blade that’s been coated in black teflon to dampen the reflective properties of the N690Co stainless steel.

See the New 2018 SOG Knives

January 24, 2018 / Glenn / 0 Comments

It’s time for some more new knives.

We’ve already checked in on the new releases from Benchmade , CRKT, and Kershaw.

A few others have announced their new lineup, but today it’s all about SOG.

SOG has done well over the past few years. They strove for innovation and succeeded last year in the very unique Baton multitool series. Here’s a writeup on the Baton series if you’re interested. 2017 also saw the arrival of a few slipjoint knives and more Arc-locking knives.

For 2018, SOG kept the lineup nice and tight. I almost prefer a smaller, more manageable lineup of knives than being inundated with dozens of models. Let’s just hope that focus on fewer models means they’re very well done.

SOG-TAC California Special

I currently live in California. It’s not the most knife-friendly place, but there is a growing number of knives that cater to the tighter knife laws regarding automatics. SOG is getting in on the action with the SOG-TAC California Special.

This is an automatic that conforms to the laws in California. You’re basically allowed to carry an automatic as long as it has a blade under two inches. The California Special abides with a 1.9-inch AUS-8 clip point blade — well it says clip point but the small blade gives it a nice curve.

New 2018 Kershaw Knives

January 23, 2018 / Glenn / 1 Comment

With SHOT Show starting today, that means Kershaw is releasing its new line of knives for 2018.

What do they have in store for us this year?

Kershaw has 15 new products this year. However, several are simply updates or new iterations of old products. From a quick glance at the new models, there’s nothing really mind-blowing, but you can expect some solid EDC knives.

Kershaw Method

Kershaw collaborated with Jens Anso on a few knives over the years, including the Fraxion. The latest is the Method.

The knife has a 3-inch 8Cr13MoV steel blade that uses KVT ball-bearing opening and a flipper. It looks good and comes to a piercing point.

MSRP $39.99

Kershaw Decimus

The Decimus is based on a Rick Hinderer design. It has the look of a stiletto with a dagger-style blade (though only one side is sharpened for legal reasons). The blade is 3.25 inches and uses 8Cr13MoV as well as SpeedSafe.

This is visually appealing though I’m not sure how many people would actually carry it.

MSRP $49.99

Kershaw Flythrough

On first glance, I almost thought this was the Blackout, but it features a different design upon closer inspection. This is an RJ Martin design, who has designed a few very solid knives for Kershaw.

Buck 102 Woodsman – Badass Knife of the Week

January 22, 2018 / Glenn / 0 Comments

Take a poll of outdoorsmen on what their favorite lightweight fixed blade for general outdoor use and most will put the understated Buck 102 Woodsman on the list. The kicker is that the Woodsman would be on that list any time in the past 40 years.

So, how could such an old knife remain in the hearts and minds of knife fans everywhere for so long? The answer is in the tried-and-true design perfected by Buck.

The design stems from the hugely popular and successful Buck 119 Special, complete with its clip point blade, black handles, and polished hand guard.

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The Woodsman is a smaller version of the knife with a 4-inch clip point blade made from 420HC stainless steel. In less capable hands, the steel would only be adequate but excels under the tutelage of Paul Bos, an industry leader in heat treating.

Canada Customs Bans Import of Nearly All Folding Knives

January 17, 2018 / Glenn / 27 Comments

What is going on?!

Just a few months after Canada joined the rest of the world (except the United States, of course) in allowing small knives on planes, it announced a sweeping change that essentially bans nearly every type of folding knife in existence from being imported into the country.

On January 5, here’s what the Canada Border Services Agency wrote on its website:

In accordance with subsection 84(1) of the Criminal Code and the CITT’s recent decision in T. LaPlante, the CBSA resolves that centrifugal knives will be classified as prohibited weapons if the following conditions are met:

a. a knife has a blade that opens by centrifugal force, when the blade is released from the handle into the fully ejected and locked position with a simple and brisk outwardly flick of the wrist; and

b. it includes knives that require some preliminary or simultaneous minimal manipulation of either a flipper or other non-edged parts of the blade.

Knives that can be opened with the flick of your wrist are prohibited. This could include those knives that also use a flipper or other non-edged parts like a thumb stud.

If applied broadly, that pretty much covers the vast majority of folding knives — whether it has an assisted-opening mechanism or not. While slipjoints are safe in theory, you could probably open most of them with centrifugal force if you tried because this includes non-edged parts of the blade. (Hold the spine of a blade on your Swiss Army Knife and it’s not hard to see how you could do it.)

The ZT0350 was the subject of other CBSA disputes.

If you think I’m being a bit flippant, just take a look at how a similar law was implemented in New York City. The laws there are very vague and police have taken advantage of the vagary to classify pretty much any folding knife they want as an illegal gravity knife.

Needless to say, the takes have been brutal.

The Cutting Edge