New CRKT Lucas Burnley Obake

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Wilson

CRKT Obake 2As I stood at the Columbia River Knife and Tool’s SHOT Show 2014 booth, talking to custom maker Alan Folts (Minimalist, S.P.E.W.), I suddenly vapor-locked as I glanced into the glass case below.  “Oooooo, what’s that?”  I may have interrupted Mr. Folts mid-sentence.  He said, “Let me show you.”  Out came the new CRKT Obake, designed by Lucas Burnley.

Obake is a Japanese term that refers to ghostly transformation of a living thing or supernatural beings.  It can also refer to human ghosts, though less so.  We will have to see if Mr. Burnley will divulge more about the name of this knife in the future.

The particular Obake I was admiring is a production prototype and had not been branded with the CRKT or Burnley logo.  This obviously Japanese-inspired fixed kwaiken measures 7.630″ overall.  The full tang stainless steel is 8Cr14MoV at a Rockwell hardness of 58-59.  The length of the blade is 3.640″.

What captures the eye about the blade is its acid-etched appearance.  CRKT accomplished this by layering Continue reading →

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A Trio of New Benchmade Knives for 2014

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Wilson

New Benchmade Knives for 2014At SHOT Show 2014, I picked out what I thought were three of the more interesting Benchmade Knives’ products from their case of new blades for 2014.  I know, two of the knives are actually branded from Benchmade’s HK division.  Same difference…

The top knife is the new HK Axis model.  This Made in the USA offering has a 3.69″ black coated D2 blade at a hard RH of 60-62.  Its black G-10 scales are supported by stainless steel liners.  This is a 4.96 ounce knife with Benchmade’s ambidextrous Axis lock.  Equipped with a right or left, tip up pocket clip, the HK Axis is a no-nonsense tactical folder which retails for $155.00.

The center knife is Benchmade’s new Model 300-1 Axis Flipper in blue and black G-10.  The stout 3.18″ clip point blade is made of 154 CM.  This is a very smooth flipper designed by Continue reading →

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Emerson Teams Up With Kershaw Knives

Posted on January 15, 2014 by Wilson

Emerson Kershaw CollaborationEmerson Knives is collaborating with Kershaw Knives on line of eight SKU’s featuring Emerson design and a Kershaw build for 2014.  Six will be frame locks and the other two will be liner locks.  According to the Kershaw catalogue, six of the knives are scaled in black G-10, one is coyote brown G-10, and the last is olive green G-10.

The knives are numbers CQC-1K through CQC-8K.  While the CQC-1K reminds me of the Emerson Gentleman Jim in looks, none of the designs are literal interpretations of any of the existing Emerson Knives, Inc. pieces.  That said, they all are unmistakably Emerson.  So much so that I had not even heard of this collaboration, but I popped the drag chute when I passed Kershaw’s SHOT Show 2014 booth as I spied these very recognizable sharp things.

Emerson/ Kershaw reverseAll the Emerson/Kershaw CQC’s come equipped with thumb disks and Continue reading →

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New SOG Kiku Fixed Blade Knife

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Wilson

SOG Kiku Fixed BladeSHOT Show’s Media Day at the Range is not a place at which knifemakers tend to rent space.  But in what is almost a tongue-in-cheek move, SOG had a knife and axe throwing lane–mimicking the gun guys!  I even saw some of the über-serious Boulder Rifle and Pistol Club range officers monitoring its safety, which came into question when I started tossing steel.

This is the second year in a row that SOG Knives was out with the rest of us in the dusty, cold desert of Boulder City, Nevada.  I spent a little time with SOG’s Chris Cashbaugh and his crew.  One substantial and seemingly familiar piece of steel on the table caught my eye.

SOG Knives is introducing a new fixed blade version of their Kiku Matsuda-designed folding knives.  As with the large and small folders, Mr. Matsuda’s hand was instrumental in bringing Continue reading →

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SHOT Show 2014

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Wilson

SHOT Show 2014The plane flight and hotel room are booked for my trip to Las Vegas tomorrow for the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show, known as the SHOT Show.  SHOT will attract some 62,000+ attendees, 1,600 exhibitors, and over 2,500 media members.  If you walk the entire show floor, aisle for aisle, you will travel 12.5 miles!  I will do my best to find new knives, watches, and other toys that are dripping with cool for you. Keep this radio frequency open for further updates.

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Spyderco and Kahr Arms Collaborate on a Delica4

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Wilson

Spyderco Kahr Delica

Kahr Arms and Spyderco Knives have come up with a variation of the Delica4 that both Kahr owners and certain defensive knife practitioners will find attractive.  We all know the Delica4 is Spyderco’s latest iteration of their venerable cutting platform.  It features bi-directional textured FRN scales over skeletonized stainless steel liners.  The Boye-detented back lock secures a saber ground VG-10 blade.

What makes the Kahr model exciting is the Wharncliffe-style blade style that those with sharp memories will instantly recognize as the blade shape employed by Martial Blade Concepts founder Michael Continue reading →

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Boker Kwaiken Large Thumb Disk

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Wilson

Kwaiken DiskA year ago, I wrote a review of the Boker/Lucas Burnley folding Kwaiken.  One criticism I had written was that the thumb disk on the Kwaiken was too small, resulting in the knife being hard to open with one hand.  As time passed, I read on several forums that I was not the only one suffering this difficulty.

Boker apparently heard the negative feedback because the successive orange handled Kwaiken had a larger, more squared off thumb disk.  The most recent model of the Boker and Burnley knife has a flipper modification.

When I saw that a larger thumb disk was available, I did a bit of recon and contacted Boker USA’s repair facility.  Two emails later, they had shipped me a new larger thumb disk.  Mere seconds after it arrived, I had the Torx bits out and Continue reading →

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Spyderco Karahawk Knife Review

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Wilson

Spyderco KarahawkSpyderco‘s new Karahawk is the linguistic blend of Indonesian kerambit (karambit in the Philippines) and hawkbill blade, penned by “little known” designer Sal Glesser.  The Karahawk is Spyderco’s second karambit and it is markedly different from the Spyderco/Warren Thomas original all-steel knife design.

Mr. Glesser has stated he wanted the Karahawk to be “a simple, compact version designed for very rapid deployment, very secure grip, and quick to the ready.”  Intended as a modern, practical interpretation by Glesser, the Karahawk’s blade extends via either its Spyderco Trademark Round Hole or the licensed Emerson Opening Feature (formerly known as The Wave).

Because the Wave feature is the “rapid deployment” method, a right or left tip-up pocket clip rides just below the finger ring.  The tip-up orientation is necessary to actuate the Emerson opener against a pocket corner.  More on the positive attributes of the clip placement in a minute…

Karahawk ClosedThis is a thin knife, with a 5/8″ cross section at its widest point.  The abbreviated black USA-made G-10 handle scales are supported by skeletonized Continue reading →

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Cardsharp 2 Knife Review

Posted on December 10, 2013 by Wilson

CardsharpI have this friend at work who I think is the Most Interesting Man in the World—real life version.  While I cannot divulge what I know of his past, think of someone who has traveled the globe in service to his country as both a Super Soldier and as an Agent of Freedom.  He is equal parts roughneck and bon vivant.  His days as an active participant are over, but his current co-workers shy away when he is…perturbed.

One day, this friend said he had a knife to give to me.  I expected one in the “Tactical Bowie” arena.  Instead, he handed me a thin cardboard package that looked like it contained a very small music CD.  The understated black matte logo on the cover said Cardsharp®.

I was puzzled when I opened the pack and that was appropriate since the Cardsharp folding knife is something of a literal puzzle in itself.  Cardsharp is a credit card sized metal and polypropylene device that articulates to form a 2 ½” stainless steel cutting edge affixed to Continue reading →

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Ontario Knife Company RAT II Folder Review

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Wilson

Ontario RAT 2I had no idea there would be a backstory of deceit and intrigue when I did a little research on the Ontario Knife Company‘s RAT Model II folder I had just stolen for under $30.00–with shipping.  When I saw the original Ontario RAT I folder, I liked its utilitarian appearance.  It reflected the Randall’s Adventure & Training reputation for rugged exploits, but it was a bit large for my needs as my current “Amazon jungle” has a woven synthetic floor and a drop ceiling canopy.  An Ontario RAT II folder, with a 3 inch blade and OAL of 7 inches, was more slacks-worthy than the Model I’s BDU-friendly dimensions.

Ah, on to the intrigue…  I was intrigued by the RAT II’s reported 2.8 ounces, despite it having full stainless steel liners.  Posts replace a backspacer, freeing up mass.  The liners and posts are bead blasted and provide a nice contrast to the remainder of the RAT II’s blacked out exterior.  Ontario screws on lightweight FRN scales that very much simulate the look and feel of a G10 composite.  All this adds up to the light feel.

Ontario RAT 2 Reverse Continue reading →

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