Knives Illustrated May/June 2023

I'm not contagious, but I am a carrier. Members of my family never seemed to catch my obsession with carrying certain items with me wherever I go, even if where I go is from one room to another in my house. I don’t consider myself a diehard prepper, but I do consider myself reasonably prepared to handle most things I’m likely to face. I prefer to think I’m prepared for some things that, honestly, I probably wouldn’t face in a million years, but I insist on being ready for them anyway. And thank goodness I was born a guy. It’s worked for me rather well over time. One reason, obviously, is that guys’ clothing is made typically with more and deeper pockets than you might find on women’s clothing. Without…

1. Bawidamann Chattanooga Leatherworks MK1 Sap If you follow this Gear Up column, then you’re familiar with Andrew Bawidamann’s work. I dig his retro military vibe. His designs are things that could have—and should have been. The MK1 Sap is another one of these designs. It’s not based on a known issue item, but it looks like one and might have been handy in the trenches or on an OSS mission. The sap is made from Hermann Oak vegetable-tanned leather and old-school military canvas with a lead insert. They’re hand stitched by Chattanooga Leatherworks in Tennessee. If you need an attitude adjuster with some vintage class, the MK1 has it in spades. As always, check your local laws before slipping one of these in your back pocket when you go…

In the December 2022 issue of Knives Illustrated, we journeyed together through the Philippines in search of bolo knives. That was only the beginning of my quest to find authentic, hand-forged blades of Southeast Asia. More countries and more adventures were ahead of me. It was a work in progress, but until then I hadn’t seen many forges in working operation up close and personal. AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND My first trip to Thailand was behind a camera in awe of what I consider to be the greatest subjects for a photographer. Strolling through the marketplaces in Thailand, I couldn’t help but notice the many different blades being used to process chicken, fruit, and food in the many street restaurants. After a few days, I soon learned of a village about a…

DISCLAIMER: This is Part 2 of our special presentation on knife defense and is intended for educational purposes only. The author and this publication are not liable for the use or misuse of any content shown herein. Consult with a medical professional before starting training, find a reputable instructor, and practice responsibly. Some say the oldest weapon ever designed was the stick. But they’re wrong—humans didn’t invent the tree branch. The first engineered weapon was more likely an edged tool invented hundreds of thousands of (possibly even 2.6 million) years ago, according to archaeologists. Whether used as tips for javelins or for prehistoric protection, cutting stones were formed by striking two rocks together, flaking off bits until an edge with the desired angle and sharpness remained. Yet, fast forward several…

SPECIAL SECTION FIRST-CLASS FIXED Small and mid-sized fixed blades are everyday carry favorites for many of us. They’re great choices when you need something extra strong, easy to maintain, and quick to deploy. In this special section, we highlight some new blades you might want to consider, along with some old favorites. We’ve provided some suggestions on how to carry them too.…

SPECIAL SECTION FIRST-CLASS FIXED An interesting thing about knife collecting is that there are no hard, fast rules as to how a given knife is categorized. Most often, it is a matter of, “I’ll know it when I see it.” Even that doesn’t always pan out, as there are many who might look at a historically accurate Bowie knife and not recognize it as such, given that it is missing the sweeping clip point profile that became prominent on later iterations. This is absolutely the case when it comes to the bird-and-trout knife. You could ask 10 people to describe one to you, and odds are that no two will be identical. There may be some similarities in terms of size and overall style, but that’s about it.…