The Cutting Edge

Ontario RAT Model 1 – Badass Knife of the Week

August 8, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

At first glance, you might be turned off by the aesthetics of our latest Badass Knife of the Week. But looks can be deceiving.

The Ontario RAT Model 1 is a beater knife that’s universally acclaimed for its performance by pretty much everyone who uses it. Those who need a reliable budget folder to get the job done are always pointed to the RAT 1.

How did this simple folder garner such a powerful reputation?

It all starts with the 3.6-inch satin finished blade. The classic drop point blade profile won’t blow long-time knife users away, but it provides a versatility and functionality that’s essential in a good EDC.

Ontario Knife Company gets the most out of the AUS-8 stainless steel used for the blade. AUS-8 is tough, holds an edge like nobody’s business, and resists corrosion.

What is a Friction Folder and How Does It Work?

August 6, 2016 / Tim / 9 Comments

Image taken from Liquid Cobra’s excellent review of the Spyderco Friction Folder

We’re in the age of locking knives. Each major knife brand has at least one of its own proprietary locking mechanisms. There’s the Tri-Ad Lock, the Compression Lock, the AXIS Lock, the Arc Lock, the Reeve Integral Lock, and many more.

But it wasn’t always like that.

Not long ago, most knives were slipjoint knives. These folding knives use backsprings to keep a blade open or closed, even though it’s not technically locked. And before that, there were friction folders.

In fact, the first folding knives ever made were friction folders. Let’s find out what these actually are.

What is a Friction Folder?

A friction folder is a folding knife that doesn’t use a lock or springs. It uses the handle’s friction against the tang to stay open. Over the years, the design has adapted to feature an extended tang. This allows the user’s hand to keep the blade from folding shut.

As you can tell by the description, friction folders aren’t for hard use. They are excellent for light cutting, but put any pressure on the spine and your fingers will be toast.

How Portland Became the Knife Capital of the US

August 3, 2016 / Tim / 17 Comments

These days Portland is best known for old-timey beards, hipsters, microbreweries, and veganism. But, if you look past the alternative culture oozing out of the city, you’ll find out that Portland is the undisputed knife capital of the United States.

That’s not surprising considering some of the most important knife innovations and designs have come out of the Portland metropolitan area over the past 75 years or so.

How did Oregon’s largest city take a seat among the greatest knife cities of the world—alongside Solingen, Germany; Seki City, Japan; and Sheffield, England?

Read on.

Portland’s Start in the Knife Business

Pretty much all of Portland’s importance in the knife community can be traced back to one name: Gerber.

It started back in 1910 when the Gerber family set up an advertising business in Portland—a business that still runs today. Joseph Gerber, founder of the Gerber advertising agency, was looking to send gifts to his clients during the holiday season. So he obtained carving knives from a local knife maker named David Murphy.

According to a great article in the Portland Business Journal discussing the city’s place in the knife industry, the knives were a hit. Because the knives were so popular, Gerber arranged for Murphy to produce the knives on a larger scale.

Then, in 1939, he established Gerber Legendary Blades and made his first sale to Abercrombie & Fitch.

By 1939, Gerber wasn’t the only knife company to call Portland its home. Coast had been established earlier in 1919. The company, which still makes knives and flashlights, was founded by Henry Brands near the banks of the Willamette River in Portland. An excellent early history of Coast can be found on its website.

Portland_and_Mt_Hood

While Coast remains an important name in the history of Portland knives, much of the city’s stake today can be attributed to Gerber. Thanks to his marketing prowess, Joseph Gerber turned those holiday gifts into thousands of retail accounts around the country. Then, when his son Pete Gerber took over the company from 1951 to 1987, the company only grew bigger.

Benchmade 530 Pardue – Badass Knife of the Week

August 1, 2016 / Tim / 2 Comments

Mel Pardue takes a less is more approach to knives that make them stand apart. The famed knife maker is probably best known for his revolutionary Griptilian knives from Benchmade. But, as our latest Badass Knife of the Week suggests, Pardue is no one-hit wonder.

The Benchmade 530 Pardue is a lightweight everyday carry knife that gets lost in your pocket until you’re ready for it to spring into action.

Here’s a short overview from TheApostleP:

To say it’s easy to carry is an understatement. The knife only weighs 1.88 ounces and is Benchmade’s lightest knife and one of their slimmest. That’s amazing considering the knife has an overall length of 7.42 inches.

Easy Knife Mods Anyone Can Do

July 26, 2016 / Tim / 3 Comments

Image from Abomb520

We’re in the age of mods (or modifications for you older folk). Whether we’re talking about modding video games to defy gravity or modding cars with chrome, people want to put a stamp on what they own.

This sentiment also extends to knives.

If you’re interested in adding a personal touch to your knife via some easy modification, we’re here to help.

These five knife modifications are projects most people can do. Just be aware that things can go wrong and these mods may void your warranties. But in the end, you’ll have a knife that’s not only unique but reflects you in a personal way.

Zip Tie “Emerson Wave” Knife Mod

Ernest Emerson is one of the most influential knife makers ever. Known for helping popularize tactical folders, Emerson has made some darn good knives. One of his many innovations is known as the Emerson Wave Feature. This is a little protrusion at the base of the spine that facilitates a fast and seamless opening of the blade when it’s pulled from the pocket. Check it out on the Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K or the Endura 4 with Emerson Wave.

Morakniv Ushers in Next Generation of Outdoor Knives

July 22, 2016 / Tim / 8 Comments

Morakniv, formerly known as Mora of Sweden, is a name that’s well-respected among bushcrafters. Mora knives consistently make the list of best outdoor knives. That’s surprising considering the prices for these fixed blades are shockingly low.

The last few months, Morakniv has been teasing a new generation of models named after locations in and around Mora, Sweden. These have been circulating for some time now, but since they’ll be showcased at the upcoming Summer Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, we thought we’d take a more in-depth look.

Mora Garberg

morakniv-garberg

The Mora Garberg is the oldest of the bunch, having been announced at the SHOT Show in January, but it’s one of the most anticipated. The Garberg is a full tang version of Morakniv’s popular bushcrafting knives. That’s right… full tang! This is pretty exciting considering all the other Moras have rat-tail tangs.

Here is a note from the press release back in January.

“After much research and development, Morakniv has released the knife that Mora fans have been begging for,” said Graeme Esarey, President of Industrial Revolution. “The full-tang Garberg is packed with useful details, even more rugged construction, and yet maintains the essence of a true Mora. It’s an amazing knife.”

This knife will have a 4.25-inch blade made from 14C28N Sandvik stainless steel—different than the classic’s carbon steel. It will also have an exposed pommel to get some additional use out of that full tang.

Smith & Wesson to Buy Taylor Brands

July 19, 2016 / Tim / 3 Comments

taylor-brands-sw

Taylor Brands has been one of the best knife companies of the last few years. Not only did the Taylor family save established brands like Schrade, Old Timer, Uncle Henry, and Imperial knives from oblivion but they made a constant effort to improve their knives through public feedback. (See the SCHF51 and SCHF52, for example.)

Now, Smith & Wesson is purchasing Taylor Brands, which also licenses the Smith & Wesson name, for $85 million in cash.

What does this mean for the knives currently under Taylor Brands? We’re not quite sure yet.

Here’s what we do know. Since Taylor Brands licensed the Smith & Wesson name for knives, it’s likely S&W wanted to keep everything under one roof while also expanding its name and portfolio.

CRKT Minimalist – Badass Knife of the Week

July 18, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

A wise person once said, “Minimalism is not subtraction for the sake of subtraction. Minimalism is subtraction for the sake of focus.” No sentiment better describes the idea and execution of our latest Badass Knife of the Week.

The CRKT Minimalist is a small and lightweight fixed blade that offers surprising control and versatility.

However, don’t mistake the knife’s simplicity for a lack of sophistication.

CRKT Honors Knifemakers with Commemorative Knives

July 15, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

In 2014, the knife community lost two amazing knifemakers. First, Kit Carson passed away in September; then it was Ed Halligan in September.

These two knifemakers were huge figures in the knife community and played roles in helping CRKT become what it is today.

So to honor these legends, CRKT is releasing two commemorative knives that perfectly sum up the ingenuity and workmanship of each knifemaker. Both of these knives have production numbers topped at just 200. Let’s take a closer look.

CRKT K.I.S.S. Ed Halligan Commemorative

crkt-kiss-commemorative

Ed Halligan was the second noted knifemaker to work with CRKT, and his biggest imprint on the knife world was his K.I.S.S. design. Standing for “Keep It Super Simple,” this series of knife designs became a staple of CRKT.

Halligan was an aircraft technician for 37 years before he founded Halligan Knives in 1985. Here is an excerpt from the product description of the knife:

As the story goes, Ed first etched this design on an airplane napkin while flying home from a knife show. Today, there are many copycats, but Ed’s re-mains the only true original.

As its name suggests, the knife is simple but highly effective. This knife is a reconstructed version of his original design with a blade that rests against a frame. The handle of this frame lock knife is titanium. But the real special trait of this knife is the Damasteel Damascus DS93X blade with an acid etched Hugin pattern.

Spyderco Matriarch 2 – Badass Knife of the Week

July 11, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

Self-defense is usually at the lower end of why people carry knives. That’s because most knives aren’t designed for protection like our latest Badass Knife of the Week.

The Spyderco Matriarch 2 is a ferocious knife with an aggressive Reverse-S blade design and lightweight handle scales that’ll leave you ready for anything.

The Matriarch 2 traces its roots back to the Spyderco Civilian. Back in the 1990s, a specialized branch of U.S. law enforcement approached Spyderco to make a knife for their undercover agents. The result was the longer more intimidating Civilian.

When a South African distributor requested a more economical version of the largely self-defense folder, Spyderco created the Matriarch.