If you’re not familiar with the name Bill Moran, you should be. Moran is the founder of the American Bladesmith Society and the father of modern American knife making.

He’s also the designer of many highly respected knives, including this week’s badass knife: the Spyderco Bill Moran.

To understand the beauty of the Spyderco Bill Moran Hunting Knife, you first have to understand the genius of Bill Moran. More than 60 years ago, Moran was one of the last proper bladesmiths in the United States who actually forged his metal using a coal forge and a hammer and anvil. He spent his life preserving the traditional bladesmithing techniques and reviving the process of making Damascus steel.

One of his custom knives recently went for $30,000 after his death in 2005 so the fact that you can buy a knife based on his design is something you can’t ignore.

Like Bill Moran himself, this hunting knife is unassuming, deceptively simple, and highly ambitious. With a 3.88-inch drop point blade made of VG-10 steel, the FB02P is a durable hunting knife that features a perfect blade-to-handle ratio.

This balance offers a feeling of precision and control, which are great assets to have when skinning an animal. To ensure maximum comfort and efficiency, the FRN handle conforms to the palm of the hand and is inlaid with Kraton for extra security in wet conditions.

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Sure, we may be stretching the definition of “knife” for this week’s installment of the Badass Knife of the Week, but there’s no denying that the BlackJet Throwing Axe from United Cutlery is badass.

It may be hard to evaluate the weight and feel of a throwing axe by simply looking at pictures, but trust us, the BlackJet soars through the air like a hot knife through butter.

Designed by Kit Rae, the famous knife and sword designer whose creations have appeared on popular television shows and movies over the past two decades, the BlackJet is made to run the gamut of all skill levels. The throwing axe is easy to learn on and pushes the boundaries for even the most seasoned throwers.

The axe is one piece of solid tempered 420J2 stainless steel, which is corrosion resistant and extremely durable, for a cohesive unit with a perfect balance.

At an overall length of 14 7/8 inches and a blade length of 4 5/8 inches, the axe has a nice blade-to-handle weight that allows for expert throwing with various techniques.

Including a reinforced custom fitted sheath that allows you to carry it to your next throwing competition, the BlackJet Throwing Axe is a great thrower for amateurs and professionals alike.

Find out more about the Badass Knife of the Week by checking out the product page for the United Cutlery BlackJet Throwing Axe.

The rise of globalization has meant that knives are increasingly manufactured in different countries around the world. While the quality of the knives made overseas are just as good, there’s still something special about a knife made in the good ol’ United States.

We’ve already gone through several months of the Badass Knife of the Week series and somehow we’re barely getting to our first knife from Case Cutlery. But the Case Medium Jack is well worth the wait.

Made in the USA, this gentleman’s folder boasts a design that’s functional and sleek but holds nothing back.

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Look at the knives you use most often. Perhaps your pocket knife logs the most minutes with your fixed blade coming in second. But, you might not be considering one of the most used tools in the house: the chef’s knife.

This week’s Badass Knife of the Week takes the unsung knife of the house and gives it its proper due. The Chef’s Knife from Ergo Chef is an 8-inch masterpiece that makes slicing and dicing effortless.

The Chef’s Knife 8″ Pro-Series is designed with maximum ease-of-use and comfort in mind. Made with a precision-sharp 18 degree edge, its comfortable ergonomic molded handle allows for unparalleled fine-point work for an 8-inch knife.

Its blade is hollow ground to reduce the tendency of food to stick to a blade surface while cutting. This knife also has a full tang, meaning increased strength and balance for cutting large fruit, vegetables, and cuts of meat.

Made from precision forged German stainless steel, the chef’s knife features a seamless molded handle made from aircraft-grade aluminum rivets.

Feel free to take it with a grain of salt, but this is celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s knife of choice. You can see him using the knife on his hit show “Guy’s Big Bite.” That’s just a feather in the cap of this knife.

Knives in food preparation typically take a backseat to pocket knives and fixed blades, but with the Chef’s Knife from Ergo Chef, you’ll never forget you own this knife.

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If you follow the Badass Knife of the Week, you’ll notice that the knives trend toward the simple yet effective models without much fluff. The Damascus from Boker Plus eschews that trend, but with good reason.

This knife is highly functional but it’s also darn beautiful.

From our experience with this model, people love talking about and looking at this knife, so be prepared for gawking if you carry it around.

The knife’s mesmerizing, 71-layer Damascus steel blade and bolsters look incredible in person, and the layers shine through like wood grain.

And just because it’s handsome doesn’t mean it’s not any less useful. The 3 1/8-inch, super-sharp blade is just as functional as Boker’s more rugged models.

The beauty doesn’t end there though.

An unexpected element of wildness is added to the knife through the genuine stag handle.

The handle also offers some ergonomic curves that fit the hand perfectly and the balance of the knife is great. At an overall length of 7 inches, the knife complete with a clip-point blade makes a solid EDC.

Whether you’re looking for a knife to carry around for everyday tasks or want a new blade for your collection, this folder is one badass knife that can successfully manage multiple personalities.

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And SOG said, “Let there be light.” And there was light from this week’s Badass Knife of the Week: the SOG BladeLight Camp.

The concept of lighted blades is not new, but SOG has quickly become the leader in lighted knives with its fantastic BladeLight Series that includes the BladeLight Fillet and BladeLight Tactical. Still, the SOG BladeLight Camp is the tour de force.

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