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Let’s face it—most “tactical” knives look like they were built for a zombie apocalypse… and not in the stylish, Mad Max way. But every once in a while, a blade comes along that blends battlefield grit with runway-worthy design. Enter the Tekto A5 SPRY Series—a knife that’s equal parts James Bond and John Wick.

We took a deep dive into this OTF (out-the-front) bad boy to see what makes it tick—and whether it’s all looks or the real deal. Spoiler: it’s not just a pretty face.

A Knife That Dresses Up and Throws Down

At first glance, the A5 SPRY could pass for something you’d pull out at a black-tie event (assuming it’s the kind of party where slicing through rope is on the itinerary). With its sleek aircraft-grade aluminum handle and clean lines, it’s got that “refined operator” vibe—like a secret agent who knows 12 languages and always carries floss.

But don’t let the polish fool you. This thing’s built for action. The D2 steel blade is as tough as they come—ready to take on EDC tasks, outdoor abuse, and the occasional overzealous Amazon box.

The Breakdown: Why It Works

Here’s why the SPRY Series isn’t just another tactical wannabe:

• D2 Blade Steel: High carbon, high chromium, high performance. It holds an edge longer than your buddy holds onto fishing stories.
• OTF Mechanism: With a flick of the switch, the blade snaps out faster than a cat spotting a laser pointer. It’s smooth, reliable, and extremely satisfying.
• Build Quality: Tekto’s fit and finish are top-notch. No rattle, no wobble—just a solid, precision-crafted tool.

Real Talk: SPRY in the Wild

I took the A5 SPRY on a weekend camping trip in the Rockies—half to test it, half to convince my family that nature is still cool. Over two days, it tackled food prep, feather-sticking kindling, and some impromptu zip tie removal (don’t ask). Despite dirt, sap, and questionable weather, it never flinched. The OTF deployment never jammed, even with some grime buildup. That’s the kind of reliability that makes you feel like you’re starring in your own action movie.

Check out this unboxing/testing video.

Looks Can Kill (In a Good Way)

One thing I appreciate about the SPRY is that it doesn’t scream “tactical.” It whispers it. Clean silhouette, refined edges—this is the knife that’ll impress your knife buddies and your design-obsessed cousin who still uses a butter knife to open packages.

TL;DR Summary

• What It Is: A tactical OTF knife with sleek styling.
• Best For: EDC, light outdoor use, tactical fans who also appreciate aesthetics.
• Why We Love It: Tough, sharp, reliable, and cool enough to make you invent cutting tasks.

Let’s Talk Knives

What’s your take on knives that blur the line between tactical and classy? Have you carried the A5 SPRY—or something like it—that surprised you in both looks and performance?

Drop your stories, thoughts, or your favorite “unexpectedly useful” knife moment in the comments. We’re always up for some good edge talk.

Sounds like movie magic, right? But with the right technique and tools, you can spark a fire using a knife. It’s not just survivalist fantasy—it’s a real, rugged skill every knife owner should know.

First, let’s talk gear. You will need a carbon steel knife with a sharp 90-degree file, something like the Cold Steel Wild West Bowie works well, and a ferro rod. Forget stainless blades; they don’t throw sparks well. This method uses the edge scraping against the rod to ignite your tinder. It doesn’t take much pressure, just the right angle and a clean strike.

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This post was first published in 2017 and updated in October 2023.

They say a rose by any other name would smell as sweet… but if they were called stenchblossoms or crapweeds, I imagine they would be a bit less appealing.

The same thing goes for a knife. The almost universally acclaimed Ontario RAT Model 1 would still perform just as well if it were called the Ontario Elephant Earwax 7, but it might not be quite as popular.

While I acknowledge naming something is extremely difficult (I considered naming my son Humphrey), it can really kill the whole vibe of a knife. So I scoured the Internet and my memory bank to come up with a list of the worst knife names around. Many of these knives are well-made and perfectly usable but simply have a name that is off-putting.

This is my personal preference, so take that as you will. If you have any to add, let me know in the comments.

Note: I excluded custom knifemakers because they have a little more creative leeway. I also tried to exclude knives with people’s names. For example, I dislike all the Brian Tighe-related pun names (Tighe Rade, My Tighe, Tighe Coon, etc), but it’s the guy’s name so I let them be.

Finally, the LA Police Gear “The Best F***ing Knife” S35VN Every Day Carry Folding Knife (yes, that’s the full name) was considered for this list but I couldn’t figure out whether the overly descriptive and braggadocios name was so over the top it was the best name ever or the worst. I decided to leave it off for now.

25. Kershaw Wild Wild Turkey

Let’s start with one that’s a bit innocuous: the Kershaw Wild Wild Turkey. This now discontinued knife was actually a well-made and sleek gentleman’s folder. The steel was ATS 34 with titanium handles (if I’m correct). The name Wild Turkey is already a bit silly but the addition of another Wild takes things to another level.

I think Kershaw learned its lesson because future iterations of the knife were simply named Wild Turkey. Still, despite the name, this knife is still sought after by aficionados.

24. TOPS Felony Stop

Next we have the first of many TOPS Knives with the Felony Stop. Knives already get a bad rap because of their misuse by a few individuals and you don’t want to call attention to that fact. The name Felony Stop is a bit confusing anyway. Is it supposed to be an instruction to stop a felony or is the knife itself a felony stop? Either way, the knife wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t say FELONY in big bold letters right on the knife.

The knife, designed by the great Laci Szabo, is said to be only intended for law enforcement personnel and specialists, so take that as you will.

23. CRKT Hootenanny

Hootenanny is an Appalachian colloquialism that originally started off as a Scottish word meaning party or celebration. It has since evolved to mean thingamajig or whatchamacallit or doohickey. So when you say pass me that “Hootenanny,” it just sounds funny.

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Photo by Dennis Hoffman

If you’re a knife collector like me then you know the importance of knife storage. My knives are considered invaluable to me, and for most collectors, they hold a certain sentimental value, so it only makes sense to store them properly and preserve their beauty and longevity for generations to come.

Keeping them sharp, oiled, dry and out of the sun is key to ensuring they stay rust free and last forever, but how you store them can also be crucial. Throwing your knives in a drawer and letting them get beat up is a bad way to go.

Here are some different ways to store your extensive knife collection:

1. Knife Bag

The knife bag is a great option for folders, especially if you like carrying your knives from time to time. Brands like Zero Tolerance, Benchmade, and Case all have great storage bags for knives that come in an array of sizes.

Bags can be made from top grain leather, vinyl, canvas, and heavy-duty polyester with insides that include felt, thick foam padding, and soft cloth material for scratch-free storage. Most come with adjustable shoulder straps for easy carry and zippered or Velcro closures for safe keeping.

My Pick: The Spyderco SpyderPac large bag is a hard-to-beat proven seller. Made of black heavy duty polyester denier with large clear individual viewing pockets. This is a great solution for outdoorsmen who like to not only transport their folders but store and display them as well. Choose between the small or large version.

• Small measures 16″x18″ holds 18 folders with a MSRP $39.95
• Large measures 25″x8″ holds 32 folding knives MSRP of $49.95

2. Protector Cases

Protector cases — like those used for guns — are a surprisingly effective method for storing knives. Well, maybe not that surprising since they’re designed to hold guns and other gear, but the cases that feature egg crate material hold knives in place extremely well. On top of that, many of these cases lock, so you don’t have to worry about little ones with candied fingers getting in.

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