Innholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2022 i Knives Illustrated

WELCOME TO THE 2022 ISSUE OF THE ANNUAL KNIVES ILLUSTRATED BUYER’S GUIDE. We hope you enjoy looking at all these knives and making mental notes of the ones you’d like to own. I was like the proverbial kid in a candy store while helping to put this together. This is technically our January/February issue, but because it actually comes out before Christmas, you still have time to open the magazine to the page of your choice and leave it where someone might coincidentally, but conveniently, take notice of it or even accidentally trip over it. And if that special someone thinks you’ve been less naughty than nice, just maybe you’ll have that solid little rectangular package waiting for you under the Christmas tree that you know from experience must be…

“…TWO MAIN AREAS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO KNIFE COLLECTING SATISFACTION: ACCURATELY JUDGING THE QUALITY OF A KNIFE, AND ACCURATELY MANAGING THE ECONOMICS…” I’M NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF ONE DAY I WOKE UP AND EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WERE HONEST, STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND ACCURATELY REPRESENTED. I’d think I had been abducted by aliens or something, because the world I’m familiar with is often deceptive, or at least has yucky consequences for my bad choices. When it comes to buying and selling collectible and custom knives, I’d love to say, “It’s all good, just go buy one. Maybe buy a dozen, because it always works out great!” But we instinctively know from observing the world around us that it’s not “all good” all the time. There are two main…

“…THERE’S NOTHING MORE REWARDING THAN PREPARING A WONDERFUL MEAL YOURSELF...” WHEN IT COMES TO FEEDING THE FAMILY, THERE’S NOTHING MORE REWARDING THAN PREPARING A WONDERFUL MEAL YOURSELF, WHETHER THE INGREDIENTS COME FROM THE LOCAL MARKET, YOUR BACKYARD GARDEN, OR THE WOODS YOU’VE HUNTED. Naturally, having the sharpest, handiest blades configured for the job will make the work easier and more enjoyable. So, let’s get cooking with these food prep knives.…

THE WORD “TACTICAL” CAN HAVE A BROAD MEANING, BUT NORMALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A “TACTICAL KNIFE,” WE’RE REFERRING TO A BLADE THAT MIGHT HAVE SELF-DEFENSE AS ONE OF ITS PURPOSES OR CAPABILITIES. As civilians going about our daily lives, we often choose a folder or small fixed blade that conceals well for that role. Obviously, those in military or special law enforcement units might want a somewhat larger defensive tool. We ordinary folks too might choose a larger blade when concealability isn’t an issue, such as when we’re in more remote regions. The Case Winkler Skinner is a perfect fixed-blade knife for all-around outdoor use because, while it easily can handle typical hunting and camp chores, unlike many hunting and camp knives, this knife adds true defensive capability to…

“…AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT MATTERS IS WHETHER THE KNIFE WILL PERFORM ITS JOB WELL.” From the time the first caveman realized a chipped bit of obsidian could be used to remove skin and meat from animals they harvested, humans have sought to improve on the basic design of that sharp edge. For some collectors, the shape of the blade, often called the blade’s profile, is primarily a matter of aesthetics. They might purchase a specific knife simply because they don’t have a hawkbill or trailing-point knife in their collection yet. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that approach in the least. Others, though, buy a knife because it is designed to tackle a certain task or range of chores efficiently and effectively. This is largely determined by…

“ THE RIGHT KNIFE ... WHETHER YOU’RE AWAY IN THE WOODS ... OR IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION.” HAVING THE RIGHT KNIFE CAN BE CRITICAL WHEN YOU HAVE MINIMAL GEAR AND YOU’RE USING A BLADE TO IMPROVISE THE THINGS YOU NEED, USING THE RESOURCES YOU GATHER ALONG THE WAY. That’s true whether you’re away in the woods for a bushcraft weekend or you’re in a survival situation and your life depends on your ingenuity, your skill, and your blade. Survival and bushcraft blades can include the smallest carving knives to the largest hatchets, axes, and machetes. Here we present a cross-section of edged tools you can use when you’re living lean.…

“… AS PEOPLE WHO PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR SELF-RELIANCE, WE OWN AND REGULARLY USE MANY OTHER ITEMS... ADD-ONS TO OUR KNIVES AND SHEATHS ...” NATURALLY, WE DON’T CARRY ONLY KNIVES. As people who pride ourselves on our self-reliance, we own and regularly use many other items. First, we need the tools to keep our edged tools sharp. And there are add-ons to our knives and sheaths, survival gear to add to our kits, as well as great bags to carry our blades and other gear. Here, then, are some accessories to consider for the knife enthusiast.…

“…POCKET-SIZED PROBLEM SOLVERS THAT YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO.” SOMETIMES YOU NEED A TOOL THAT DOES MORE THAN CUT AND SLICE. Multitools are pocket-sized problem solvers that you can take with you wherever you go. They come in an ever-increasing range of shapes and sizes, some with just a few tools and others with most every gadget you can imagine. So, put on your work boots, grab your favorite multitool, and be ready to be the person everyone turns to when something needs to be fixed.…

“HOW YOU CARRY A KNIFE IS A PERSONAL DECISION AND SHOULD BE BASED ON THE TYPE OF KNIFE YOU NEED AS WELL AS THE TYPE OF WORK YOU’LL BE PERFORMING.” IT IS SAID THAT THE BEST KNIFE IS THE ONE YOU HAVE WITH YOU WHEN YOU NEED IT. After all, if it is sitting in a case at home, it won’t be of much help when you’re two days into a five-day hiking trip. Yet, at the same time, when it comes to shopping for a knife, often we’re far more concerned with the blade steel and handle material than we are about how we’re actually going to carry it with us. While some models might incorporate more than one of them into the design, there are four materials that…

“…A TOOL SO VERSATILE THAT IT COULD BE MADE TO SERVE WELL IN MOST ANY OF THE ROLES LISTED IN THIS ISSUE.” YOU CARRY ONE ALWAYS AND WONDER HOW ANYONE CAN GET THROUGH A DAY WITHOUT ONE. Often, an everyday carry knife is a tool so versatile that it could be made to serve well in most any of the roles listed in this issue. From tactical to hunting and fishing to survival to food prep, these knives are called on to do it all because they’re the ones close at hand all the time. Open a package, clip a coupon, cut a rope, fend off an attacker, free someone trapped in a vehicle, or slice some meat and cheese for your lunch. Whether you choose one that’s long and…

I HAVE SEVERAL ESEE FIXED-BLADE KNIVES AND I LOVE THEM ALL. The Xancudo I carry when I’m traveling light and covering miles over tough terrain. The Ashley Game Knife accompanies me on remote deer hunts. But the ESEE-4HM is probably the one I’d pick if I was in a wilderness area where there was the possibility, if lost, injured or otherwise, that I wouldn’t to be able to make it back home as anticipated. ESEE knives are designed by folks associated with Randall’s Adventure & Training, one of the premier survival schools both here and abroad. These guys know what it takes to live in the most remote, unforgiving places on the planet, and the knives they choose are made to perform in extreme settings. The ESEE-4HM is the right…

“…WITH THE PROPER TRAINING AND MINDSET, A BLADE IN THE HANDS OF A SKILLED USER CAN BE A FORMIDABLE ASSET...” WE’VE ALL THOUGHT ABOUT IT WHEN HANDLING CERTAIN KNIVES: “I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE THIS TO SAVE MY LIFE.” While a knife isn’t the ideal weapon in all circumstances, with the proper training and mindset, a blade in the hands of a skilled user can be a formidable asset in helping you to stop an attack and to give you an opportunity to get out of harm’s way. What exactly constitutes a tactical knife is open to discussion. Many knives listed here could just as easily have been placed in other categories. What they all have in common is the ability to provide a measure of protection.…

“…ALWAYS HAVE A KNIFE WHEN YOU NEED ONE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT IT GETTING LOST, STOLEN, OR DAMAGED.” NOT ALL GOOD KNIVES COST A MORTGAGE PAYMENT. If you’re like us, you stash knives everywhere: in the glove compartment or center console of your vehicle, in your toolbox, in your daypack, in your tackle box, in your range bag, in your survival kit. Good quality blades at reasonable prices are great for places like these so you’ll always have a knife when you need one without worrying about it getting lost, stolen, or damaged. Here are some choices that won’t break the bank.…