Tabla de contenidos para November 2019 en Knives Illustrated

Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) are a global phenomenon. You’ve probably seen FMA on the big and small screens and weren’t even aware of it. I was introduced to FMA when I was 14 years old by Sifu Al Dacascos at a seminar in Nashville, Tennessee. Sifu Al Dacascos is the father and teacher of Mark Dacascos, Star of “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.” (“Sifu” is a title for and role of a skillful person or a master in the context of martial arts. -Editor) For this article, I decided to try something different. Instead of a simple knife review or giving my opinion on the ability of certain knives, I held to a round table interview with several blade enthusiasts from around the country. I brought together a group…

While many of us think of a fixed blade knife when we think of hunting knives, there is certainly a camp of hunters who would disagree; just look at the millions of Buck 110 folding hunting knives sold since 1964. There’s something to be said about the compact size and convenience of a folder, as long as it’s tough enough to withstand regular field use. Victorinox is a company that knows something about building rugged knives designed for the field, since they’ve been making knives for various militaries, most notably the Swiss, but also the German and Dutch, amongst others, for well over 100 years. While they had a strong history of military and outdoors knives in 2013, they jumped into the hunting market with the first Hunter Pro model,…

“HARDNESS IN KNIFE STEELS CORRELATES TO STRENGTH. … MOST KNIFE BLADES FALL IN THE 56 TO 60 RANGE.” A lot can change in 2.5 million years. Take knives, for example. Our early ancestors crafted knives by chipping and flaking off bits of rock to make an edge. On occasion, they attached those tools to a handle. Naturally, man eventually discovered new and better materials for knives. As the technology improved, knives improved. Stone became copper. Then bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Iron moved into the line-up. Then steel, an alloy of iron and carbon. In some parts of the world, exotic materials, like meteorite, even got pounded into blades. When purchasing a knife, you want to make an informed decision, whether you’re planning to use the tool for…

01 Bobby Bushcraft Beads If you’re a gear junkie, you probably like to have unique things, and also a way to tell your gear apart from other folks. Especially if you have a popular piece of kit, be it a knife, a flashlight or some sort of tool. Custom lanyards are a good way to do that, and lanyard beads are a great accent piece to really make those pop. Bobby Bushcraft currently offers 7 different beads including a Bushcraft Backpack, a Bushcraft Lantern, a Bushcraft Anvil, a Bushcraft Piranha, and a Camp Fire bead that all embrace various aspects of the outdoors like hiking, knifemaking, fishing and camping. There are also two beads that channel Native American lore including the Bison, which is a symbol of health, strength,…

At Blade Show 2017, I was given the opportunity to hold and inspect one of the original Kephart’s still in existence today — in the private collection of Ethan Becker. After seeing this amazing knife, I was speaking with Dan Eastland and he told me his plans to re-create it in a limited run, but I had no idea what he really had planned. With the help of his friend Ethan Becker — who provided him access to his original Kephart — and a micrometer, Dan set about the task of re-creating the original Kephart to exact specifications. Shortly before Blade Show 2018, Dan contacted me and let me know that he was going to have one of the limited-edition versions for me to check out. When I arrived —…

Like many cutting tools throughout history, the weapons of the battlefield are influenced from the tools of peacetime. The karambit was originally an agriculture tool in Indonesia, and tomahawks were used in the woodlands of the United States when they weren’t employed as tools of war. It makes sense then that Dave Wenger’s work, popular with woodsmen, hunters, and campers, became popular with armed professionals doing work in harm’s way. Dave Wenger is known for making some pretty incredible tomahawks and he seems to have jumped from a smalltime operation to overnight success, with many companies and survival training programs adopting his work for their lineup. Wenger is a Journeyman Knifesmith and his knives feature finely ground strong edges that slice and hold up to hard use. The new Vardr…

When you find yourself on the Edge of Survival, the only tool that stands between you and your survival is your knife. Yes, that knife that you always remember to carry — now you can withstand almost any dire situation. You never know when your ability to survive will be tested. Especially for those of you who enjoy the outdoors, there is always a chance you will get lost or a catastrophe may strike. Survival is tough because all of your previous certainties are now unknown. You don’t know where your next meal is coming from, you need to figure out shelter and staying warm. Fortunately for you though, you did not forget to bring the ultimate asset, your knife. If you ask me if I would rather have a…

As we mentioned briefly last issue, Knife Rights finally prevailed over the largest city in the nation when New York Governor Cuomo signed Knife Rights’ bill repealing the state’s Gravity Knife Ban. Thus, ending New York City’s persecution of knife owners carrying common folding knives as being illegal gravity knives. Knife Rights Founder and Chairman Doug Ritter exclaimed, “We won! After nine long, frustrating and expensive years and two absurd vetoes, we backed Gov. Cuomo into a corner, and we won!” Ritter was referring to their two-pronged attack — the combination of gaining unanimous approval for the bill in the legislature, and the threat that Knife Rights’ long-running civil rights case against New York City and District Attorney Vance would be accepted by the U.S. Supreme Court. A win in…

Honesty, integrity and outstanding craftsmanship are the hallmarks of Dogwood Custom Knives. I first met Dan back in 2014 during a trip to the Amazon jungle in Colombia with Bushcraft Global. Dan and I immediately hit it off and our conversations regularly turned to knives — a topic that was not hard to get either of us on. Having brought with him a small sampling of his knives for testing, Dan provided me with one that I used extensively while there, and still own today. Since then, I have found myself going to my Dogwoods more often than not, with my Echo-7 being a common go-to bushcraft knife. Now, with the introduction of his version of the Kephart — based on the design of legendary outdoor survivalist and author, Horace…

What is your worst nightmare? For me, there is nothing more disastrous than having a knife fail when I need it the most. While many would say this is only an inconvenience, some rely on these tools as their main item for survival. To them, knives are not just a statement piece — they are tools to be utilized in multiple scenarios. Jeremy Valentine is an example. As a youngster, he got lost in the woods during a hunting trip. Of course, it’s routine for hunters or campers to carry some essential tools. Regardless, these tools are scarcely put through demanding tests. Sure, they hold up just fine to normal use and mild abuse, but survival needs are different. Like all hunters, Jeremy had several of the knives that held…

Talk about amazing. With its XCOM knife, Kershaw has created a powerful blend of the old and the new. Inspired by a classic traditional military knife, the Oregon-based company and custom maker Les George updated the XCOM for today’s unpredictable modern world. The result is a simple, yet efficient design for both everyday tasks and life-and-death applications. For those utility uses, the knife performs basic cuts to most of the materials you have around your house, but will it save your skin when push comes to shove? After all, there are some important factors to consider. For example, can the knife be easily secured and quickly opened? And how does it perform offensive and defensive self-defense techniques? You’re about to find out how XCOM stacks up when things go down…

When so many feet hit the ground for the world’s largest knife show, you’re bound to overhear some conversations. These are just some of the gems the Knives Illustrated staff picked up while walking the floor at BLADE. “I guess you’d call me a maker. I make knives. And moonshine. And soap.” “Where else but BLADE would a French guy be hanging out with a guy from Michigan? It’s knives that bring us together.” “I used to collect cars. Now, I collect knives. They’re smaller, so I don’t need a big garage anymore.” “Really? All these people are here for knives?” —Uber driver 12-13 “My cousin and I have been collecting knives and reading Knives Illustrated since we were 12 or 13 years old.” “Every Christmas, my dad gifts himself,…

It was 9:06 p.m. Monday, July 23. Most people were likely in front of their TV. Tony Cetani, the owner of Hourglass Knives, was in his knife shop. For those on social media, they likely got a chuckle out of the Star, Idaho resident’s Facebook posting. “What happens when you f*%k two knives up that were for the show? You curse multiple times, cry a little, eat pizza, curse again and start fresh. Crunch time this week!!” This transparency is what makes Cetani, 32, a cool dude. This commitment to excellence is what makes the married father of two daughters a rising star in the knife world. Here is his story. — Doug Jeffrey 01 The First Show Currently, I’m devoting 10-15 hours per week to Hourglass Knives. I…