Innholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2023 i Knives Illustrated

I own lots of knives. That’s not a surprise. I know you do, too. There are many more that I have my eye on that I’d like to acquire. So, when it comes to picking the knives I am going to carry on any particular day, I have to make some difficult choices. In this issue, we have a special section on EDC folders that includes five articles reviewing some new pocketknife options. I tend to get enthusiastic about many of the knives I get a chance to test. That only complicates things, because if I decide to put them into my regular rotation, I have to be honest with myself and admit I really don’t have a “regular rotation.” No matter how many knives I acquire, I tend to…

SPECIAL SECTION EDC FOLDERS “… THE ROUND HOLE WORKS JUST AS INTENDED, ALLOWING YOU TO DEFTLY OPEN THE BLADE WITH ONE HAND BY SNUGGLING YOUR THUMB INTO IT AND FLIPPING THE BLADE OUT.” Reliable. Curves in all the right places. Silky surfaces, artfully shaped, and easy on the eyes. No, I’m not describing the kind of lady you might desire as a mate, nor a comely feline. I’m describing the SpyOpera, a lovely little EDC folder from Spyderco, designed by Italian custom knifemaker “Max,” that hits all the right notes. NOTE BY NOTE When my SpyOpera first arrived, I was a little surprised at how small and light it was. This was my bad, because I probably hadn’t carefully read the specs before selecting it to review. However,…

SPECIAL SECTION EDC FOLDERS “…A LABEL OF ‘EDC KNIFE’ MEANS IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE MOST ANYTHING YOU FACE DURING YOUR DAY WITHOUT EVER FEELING AWKWARD OR CLUMSY IN THE HAND.” I can’t help it. When I think of knives from W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery, I think of classy USA-made slip-joint pocketknives with jigged bone handle scales. Maybe that’s because I own more of them than any other type of knife by any other maker. When taking notes for this article, I sharpened my pencil with one. But the new Case Westline has given me a new appreciation for the other types of knives the company produces. A couple of years ago, I reviewed the then-new Case Marilla and Kinzua models. These were ruggedly built manual…

SPECIAL SECTION EDC FOLDERS “I WANTED A SIMPLE BLADE SHAPE THAT WAS GOOD AT YOUR EVERYDAY TASKS… BUT THE BLADE NEEDED TO BE THICKER TOWARD THE TIP FOR MORE DEMANDING TASKS, TOO.” – KEN ONION JR. By definition, if you’ve been “bamboozled,” you’ve been deceived by trickery or flattery. When I first handled Columbia River Knife & Tool’s new Bamboozled folder, I was fooled by its solid feel, modern aesthetics, and quality build. I was convinced I was holding a folder that was surely well out of my price range. But this finely crafted assisted opener from CRKT carries a suggested retail price of just $75. This is a very nice knife for that price. YOUNG KENNY’S FIRST The CRKT Bamboozled marks the first full-production knife designed by…

SPECIAL SECTION EDC FOLDERS “YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE IT TO SUIT YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. SOME ARE CONSIDERED STOCK WHILE OTHERS CARRY AN ADDITIONAL COST.” I’ll admit, when someone mentions premium folding knives, Gerber isn’t the first brand that usually comes to mind. But, I have a feeling that’s going to be changing for a lot of people. The knifemaker’s new Savvy model ticks all the right boxes and could prove to be stiff competition to other companies operating in the niche. Rather than being just one more budget import, the Savvy is an Americanmade knife that will be produced in small batches. This fact alone will help the Savvy stand out among its peers. Each one is hand-sharpened at Gerber’s factory in Portland. On top of…

“ZERO TOLERANCE HAS A CHAMPION OF A FIELD KNIFE…IF YOU’RE IN THE MARKET FOR A CAMP AND SURVIVAL TOOL THAT WON’T LET YOU DOWN.” Zero Tolerance is no stranger to making tough combat ready blades. The new 0006 is a military-inspired design with elements of the original ZT-9 bayonet. The Triple Aught Six isn’t a bayonet though, and it won’t lock up on a rifle. It does carry over the ruggedness and utility of that tool though, which makes it well-suited for survival and outdoor use. MODEL 0006 The “six” in the name comes from the knife’s 6-inch blade. It has a drop-point blade with a high flat grind. The 0006 is made from CPM 3V tool steel treated to a 59-61 Rockwell, which is a great choice for toughness…

For good reasons, Condor Tool and Knife has secured a prominent place in the bushcraft and survival communities. The company’s various patterns include machetes, knives, axes, fighting blades, and more. Let’s not forget that the company’s products sell for a more-than-fair price point, too. Condor’s new King Kukri upholds that reputation. It’s a big, high-quality blade that’s ready for all of your camp chores. KUKRI BRIEF Embodying centuries of history and culture, the iconic kukri knife symbolizes power and strength. It is an adventure-worthy tool for everyday tasks. Dating back to the 16th-century Nepalese war tactics, these curved blades became renowned throughout South Asia as formidable weapons in conflicts. Once used for close combat by Gurkha soldiers, it now serves more for ceremonial purposes. Still, the kukri has a timeless…

SPECIAL SECTION EDC FOLDERS If you carry a folding knife, chances are the solution to your next problem is in your pocket. From making small repairs to improvising things you need to fending off an attacker, a knife can literally be a lifesaver. It can handle the little jobs, too, from opening packages to cutting string to slicing a sandwich for your lunch. In this special section, we highlight a few select folders that we feel are worthy candidates to be your next pocket partner.…

SPECIAL SECTION EDC FOLDERS GiantMouse always seems to be raising the ante when it comes to the folders in its ACE line. Preference in knives is a very personal matter and tastes vary widely. That’s why there are so many knife companies and so many models. GiantMouse is just one of those companies that seems to be reading my mind when it comes to what I look for in a blade. It sells lots of knives, so I’m not alone in my fondness of the company. EARLIER EXPERIENCES I now own eight GiantMouse knives. Six of them are folders. I reviewed the Nimbus V2 early last year and absolutely loved that knife. But then I got a chance to test the Corta, and I liked that even more.…

“SOG HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ON THE DESIGN OF THE TELLUS SERIES…FIT AND FINISH ARE VERY GOOD, AND THE BALANCE OF QUALITY MATERIALS TO PRICE POINT IS EXCELLENT.” SOG has a long history of making solid military and tactical blades, and the company still makes a lot of things geared toward those markets. Its knives also have found a following with outdoorsmen and folks who are more inclined to hike, camp, and hunt than they are to assault an enemy position in some far-off war zone. If you happen to fall into the latter category, then SOG’s Tellus line is made just for you. WELCOME TO THE TELLUS SOG’s Tellus line consists of both fixed-blade and folding options, so you can pick what works best for you. You have…