The Cutting Edge

5 Reasons to Ditch Your Pocket Clip

July 5, 2016 / Tim / 69 Comments

Here’s a shocking fact for you youngins: The pocket clip is a relatively new invention in the history of knives.

Depending on how you define it, the pocket knife was invented more than 2,000 years ago. By comparison, the pocket clip on knives was introduced in the early 1980s. Sal Glesser of Spyderco created the “Clip-it” Worker, which was essentially the first tactical folder ever and the first to use a pocket clip. That knife went into production in 1981.

Although pocket clips are on pretty much every single folding knife these days, people went without clips for thousands of years. Here are five reasons you may want to ditch your pocket clip.

1. Some clips create hot spots

One of the most common complaints people levy against pocket clips is the fact that they create “hot spots.” No, that doesn’t mean you’ll get better WiFi. A hot spot on a pocket clip is when there’s unwanted tension or discomfort in a specific area of the grip.

sebenza-25

For example, a pocket clip may put some pressure right in your palm, causing pain during regular use. Some complain about the clip on the Chris Reeve Sebenza 25 because the tip bends up right where the middle finger grips the choil. Take a look at this complaint thread over at bladeforums with an image.

Hogue EX-04 – Badass Knife of the Week

July 4, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

Today is the Fourth of July, which just happens to coincide with our weekly Badass Knife of the Week selection, so it’s only pertinent to choose a knife made in the USA.

Hogue Inc is a company with a family tradition of American quality and innovation dating back to 1968. The company may be best known for its guns and gun accessories, but the Hogue EX-04 is a knife to be reckoned with.

The Hogue EX-04 is the next generation in the Extreme Series. These uniquely designed knives are aesthetically appealing and reliably functional.

Designed by Allen Elishewitz with cues from his Jekyll and Hyde custom knives, the EX-04 comes in two different blade styles. The one we’re highlighting here is the 3.5-inch modified Wharncliffe version. The blade profile is simultaneously angular and curvaceous, giving the user a deep belly for slicing and a hook-like point.

Spyderco Tool Used in Ongoing Effort to Free Blue Whale

June 30, 2016 / Tim / 6 Comments

Whale entanglements are on the rise. In 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported 61 incidents of whale entanglements along the West Coast. That’s the most since the NOAA started keeping records in 1982.

On Monday, an 80-foot blue whale entangled in crab traps and lines attached to buoys was spotted off the coast of Orange County. Blue whales are endangered after being hunted mercilessly by whalers for decades, so it’s a shame for the whale to be stuck.

That’s where Spyderco comes into the picture.

DPx Gear HEFT 4 Assault – Badass Knife of the Week

June 27, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

DPx Gear knows a thing or two about making a badass knife. The brand reshaped what a survival knife can be with its designs called HEST (Hostile Environment Survival Tools).

Our latest Badass Knife of the Week takes the HEST idea to the next level. Meet the HEFT 4 Assault.

The DPx Gear HEFT 4 Assault upgrades the HEST concept and makes the knife bigger, harder, and more versatile. The HEFT, which stands for Hostile Field Environment Field Tool, boasts a truly badass design.

The HEFT 4 Assault features a 3.94-inch blade made from high-performance Lohmann Niolox steel. If you’re unfamiliar with this largely German steel, Niolox is known for its excellent stain-resistance, superb edge retention, and overall durability.

badass-dpx-gear-heft-4-assault-side2

The blade is coated with black satin Titanium Carbo-Nitride (TiCN) PVD coating to remove the blade’s reflective properties. Its blade profile is an understated yet versatile drop point.

Knife Myths: Knives from China are always cheap and inferior

June 23, 2016 / Tim / 126 Comments

tenacious-china

If you have a few conversations with some of the most ardent knife fans, you’ll usually come to the conclusion that all knives from China are pieces of junk. Some people won’t even look at China-made knives because nothing can beat a quality American-made blade.

Strap yourself in because I’m here to bust the myth that all knives from China are cheap and inferior to knives made in the United States.

Let me start with a disclaimer: If you only buy knives from the United States because you believe in supporting the local economy and encouraging American businesses that employ Americans, that’s fine and commendable. I can’t argue with that moral approach to things. But if you refuse to buy any knives from China because you think they’re junk, you’re simply wrong.

Why Everything is Made in China

Unless you’re diligent, nearly everything you own comes from China. Most parts on the computer or phone you’re looking at were made in China, most clothes you’re wearing were made in China.

So when did China become so engrained in our manufacturing? Let’s take a look.

The Korean War in the early 1950s (yes, we’re going back far) was essentially a proxy war between the United States and Soviet communist-supported allies like China. During the Korean War, all trade between China and the United States was frozen. This embargo would go on until 1970, when the Nixon administration began laying the groundwork to lift the ban on US-China trade.

Richard Nixon with Mao Zedong

In 1972, President Richard Nixon made a historic visit to China to improve relations between the US and China. In the following years, the two countries signed agreements to improve trade.

Schrade SCHF52 – Badass Knife of the Week

June 20, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

Think you can’t improve on something that’s already great? Our latest Badass Knife of the Week proves otherwise.

The Schrade SCHF52 Frontier is an updated version of the SCHF37, which was widely hailed as a great all-around survival knife.

The SCHF52 retains the same 7.04-inch 1095 carbon steel blade, but it features an upgraded blade coating. The thick powder coating of the previous iteration created drag while batoning, but the SCHF52 uses a Teflon-like coating that not only holds up better to rigorous use but also adds an extra layer of rust-resistance to the steel.

Kershaw Select Fire – Badass Knife of the Week

June 13, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

It’s rare for people to strive so relentlessly for innovation and originality. It’s even rarer for those people to consistently hit the mark on so many levels. But that’s what you get from the knifemakers behind the latest Badass Knife of the Week.

With Father’s Day only a few days away, we thought it would be apropos to look at a knife designed by the creative father/son duo of Grant and Gavin Hawk.

The Kershaw Select Fire is one of those knives that punches well above its weight class in so many ways. The folder is an honest and reliable pocket knife with a few features that every handyman should have nearby.

2016 Father’s Day Giveaway

June 10, 2016 / Tim / 26 Comments

2016 Father's Day Giveaway

In a famous quote from coach Jim Valvano, he said “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me.”

While we can’t give your dad that greatest gift, we can give him another great gift: a laser-engraved knife.

2016 BLADE Show ‘Knife of the Year’ Awards

June 9, 2016 / Tim / 1 Comment

With the 2016 BLADE Show in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at all those awesome knives that won the “Knife of the Year” awards. It’s fantastic that knives and knifemakers are honored for excellence at one of the biggest events in the knife world.

Like last year, we’ll take a look at some of the big winners from the 2016 BLADE Show, but you can find the full list at the very end of the post.

Overall Knife of the Year: Lionsteel Metamorphosis

For a consecutive year, Lionsteel took home the top prize of the Overall Knife of the Year with the Metamorphosis. Lionsteel is a family-owned operation founded in Italy in 1969. Its goal, which all other companies should strive for, is to produce knives using only the best materials with unparalleled quality control.

The Metamorphosis is a flipper with a textured aluminum handle featuring a special heat-sensitive coating. When the handle is held in the hand for a few minutes, it changes from black to camouflage. Check out the video:

The premium Sleipner steel blade is 3.43 inches and locks with a liner lock. Sure, the handles are just a luxury, but the knife itself is a real performer.

American-Made Knife of the Year: Spartan Blades SHF

The Spartan Harsey Folder, which goes by SHF, is an anticipated design from Bill Harsey Jr. Harsey has won a few American-Made Knife of the Year awards in the past and this folder is definitely worthy.

United Cutlery Highlander Bowie – Badass Knife of the Week

June 6, 2016 / Tim / 0 Comments

In the immortal words from the cult-classic film Highlander: There can be only one.

The United Cutlery Highlander Bowie has a design that will have you abandoning all your other knives for this one.

Designed to encapsulate the ethos of ancient highlanders, the massive 8.75-inch blade is made from 420 stainless steel with a tip that’s a cross between a trailing and clip point.

Recurve along the cutting edge of the blade adds versatility and a nice belly while a swedge improves its piercing capability.