It is a sad occasion actually, since this looks to be the last issue for a while, unless Bas finds a new person to take over the project. It is a labor of love, and quite well done. It will be a shame to see it go. The reports from the European shows showed that there is still a knife culture in Europe, and a demand for coverage that will go unmet. You can see the whole flipbook at https://www.europeanblades.com ..read more

I really dropped the ball last week getting the SHOT issue pulled together, and some things fell behind, like showing off the cover and Table of Contents from the March issue. Subscribers should have received it already, and I just reached out to make sure she turns on the online edition for our Premium Members. March has a mix of old and new, custom and production. Just what you would expect from KNIFE. There is even a sharpening article thrown in for good measure. All of our regular features are back as well. Two columns from Bruce Voyles, AKTI, Knife Rights, KnifeMaker’s Guild, and of cou ..read more

Big news from KA-BAR: the company, in conjunction with its State & Union shop arm, has released its first new, Made in the USA folding knife design in 50 years. It’s called the F01 and, fittingly, is an intriguing blend of old and new. Item one in the “New” column is the blade. The shape here, which KA-BAR simply calls a drop point, in today’s parlance qualifies as a “modified drop point” or even a “modified wharncliffe” – according to our lights, at least. Word games to one side, it is a funky and fresh profile to see from KA-BAR, and at 3.25 inches it’s pure EDC all the way. Opening is ..read more

Vosteed brought their newest project to Blade Show Texas last weekend, a model called the Ankylo. Not only is it a new design, the Ankylo is also the debut platform for a patented lock mechanism Vosteed calls the Vanchor. From a purely visual perspective, the Ankylo has similar lines to previous Vosteed designs, but it still carves out a visual identity of its own. Utility-wise, you’ve got a user built around a modified wharncliffe blade shape, mid-sized and ready for the full spread of daily chores. Too, there’s a trio of opening options on offer: a front flipper, back flipper, opening oval ..read more

In September 2019, Russell Fouts and Tan Miguel Tolentino filed a lawsuit challenging California’s complete ban on the “manufacture, import into the state, keep for sale, or sale, loan, and possession of billies.” “Billies” are not explicitly defined but are, essentially, any short club and are considered to be synonymous with batons. On September 22, 2021, two years later, Judge Roger Benitez found the ban to meet the requirements of the law as determined by the Ninth Circuit precedent. This was nine months before the Bruen decision clarified the standards to be used in determining the bound ..read more

I’ve been fascinated by Bertucci watches ever since my buddy, a tree care specialist in Savannah, showed me his. It was deeply beaten up by his work climbing large coastal oaks, its thick NATO strap softened by sweat from sweltering 90-degree days. He liked his Bertucci because it was affordable and made for the job; he didn’t have to worry about breaking it — always nice when you’re operating a chainsaw 80 feet in the air. Cheap, tough, sold as a workhorse: as a field watch concept, it was kind of awesome. Bertucci has long been an interesting brand for going all-in on making the best daily ..read more

They tagged us on the Instagram, and figured I would pass it along for those in the vicinity of Texas. You can find out more at BladeAces.org ..read more

Hey everyone. I have to admit, I am glad this week is over. Our annual SHOT Show review is one of our biggest articles of the year, and not actually having gone to SHOT Show made it a bit more difficult than it would already have been.   But we are done, and it is off to the printer. I am getting ready to leave for Cookeville in the morning. Coaching 4 girls lax games tomorrow. Last Saturday was a good day, despite our coming out on the short end of a close game, and getting throttled by a team with 10 8th graders. I had 12 players who were playing in their first game ever, and a bunch ..read more

One look at a gear shop’s knife case will confirm a simple fact as cold and hard as steel: pocket knife blades come in all shapes and sizes. And yet, it’s easy to overlook the fact that even subtly different blade shapes have unique histories behind them and specific uses in front of them. One shape that’s occupying an increasing amount of space in those display cases (and online store pages) is the tanto. What Is a Tanto Knife? Tanto knives are easier to spot than nearly any other blade type. They’re characterized by an angular, almost noncontinuous edge made up of two cutting planes instead ..read more

Our ongoing coverage of Boker’s 2024 lineup continues with the Swoopy. Don’t let the quirky name fool you, the Swoopy is a hardworking knife from big name custom maker Michael Burch. Michael Burch is no stranger to production collaborations (see: the Spyderco Bombshell from 2020, among others). Burch’s style emphasizes the brawn that today’s folding knives can achieve thanks to modern materials and hefty dimensions; but Burch’s work is always sensibly hefty; his penchant for the tanklike does not mean hinder their performance in or out of the pocket, instead striking a balance that blends bee ..read more