Coast Products Rapid Response Folder Review

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Wilson

Coast Rapid Response FolderBecause I legally carry a handgun in my right front pants pocket when I leave the house, I naturally tote a clipped folding knife in my left pocket.  I would never, ever, ever, never place anything into the same pocket as a holstered gun, so my utility knife rides on the opposite side.  A favored blade for this purpose is my Coast Products’ Rapid Response 3.0 folder.

Spoiler alert:  I honestly did not think I would like this Rapid Response knife as much as I do.  I purchased the larger Rapid Response 3.9″ bladed folder first.  It was just a bit big for my own daily tasks.  When the smaller 3″ bladed knife arrived several weeks later, I was immediately pleased.  It had the same rugged construction of its older brother in a package more to my liking.

While the larger knife’s blade thunks open, the blade assist technology snaps the diminutive 3″ blade forward with authority.  The patented opening method utilizes Continue reading →

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Szanto 1000 Series Field Watch Review

Posted on September 17, 2013 by Wilson

Szanto 1Several months back, I had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. Barry Cohen, founder of the Luminox Watch Company.  The story of how he came up with his Szanto Watch line was an interesting listen.  Cohen told me that two years ago an old friend called him to meet for coffee.  At the coffeehouse, his friend, a famous chef, was wearing an old military watch styled from the 1930’s.  Cohen noticed it had a worn canvas strap, subdial second hand, and was about 33mm in case diameter.

Cohen remarked to him that most men would not wear a watch of such small proportions in these modern times.  The celebrity asked if Cohen could make a newer watch like it for him.  Gears slowly began turning…

Since that meeting two years ago, Cohen said his mind began to focus on vintage timepieces, specifically in that Cohen wanted to take the classic looks of the older marks like Gruen, and Hamilton, and Bell & Ross and “contemporize” the Continue reading →

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Zero Tolerance/Todd Rexford 0801CF Prototype

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Wilson

imageI am still finding Blade Show 2013 photos in my cache.  This is a prototype for the Zero Tolerance model 0801CF, which is based upon custom knifemaker Todd Rexford’s Singularity.  One’s eye immediately gravitates to the 6K twill weave carbon-fiber overlays and the bronze-hued PVD coating on the titanium handle.

0801CF’s frame lock has a strong stainless steel insert inside the titanium handle.  Black hardware, including the right/left tip up deep carry pocket clip, lands on the surface of the grip.

Bohler Uddeholm M390 powdered metal technology stainless steel is ground to make the drop point blade. Its Rockwell hardness is in the 60-62 range. The M390 blade glides on a KVT Continue reading →

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Benchmade Bali-Song Model 35 and Model 32

Posted on September 1, 2013 by Wilson

Benchmade Bali-SongsI have owned balisong knives since the late 1980’s.  It might be the only-slightly-diluted Filipino blood flowing through my circulatory system, but I love the bladed bi-fold handle action.  My very first Bali-Song®, that in this form is the Benchmade Knife Company‘s trademarked name, was a Model 35. It has a 3.375″ polished Weehawk blade with handles milled from a solid piece of stainless steel.  The pins are hidden and the large holes are chamfered.   At about 4.8 oz’s, it is a natural flipper.  This knife was technologically advanced in its day.

The BM 35 was an example of Benchmade elevating the traditional Filipino “broken horn” knife by making it from better materials with bulletproof engineering.  It truly made the reputed three pin strength of the balisong folder literal in translation.

Benchmade Bali-Song 4 Continue reading →

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Cool Carbon-Fiber Pocket Clips from KnifeSupplies.com

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Wilson

IMG_3584I was perusing the aisles at Blade Show 2013, when something caught my eye and altered my course.  Carbon-fiber pocket clips!  A bin of them!  I moved in for the kill.  KnifeSupplies.com produces some very nice looking replacement clips from the material that is the technologically high-speed look.  Think stealth and strength.

I had scuffed up the clip of my Emerson Mini-Commander, so I wanted something cool to fit onto it.  This was an obvious choice.  I found that the three hole pattern fit the Emersons and Benchmades in my collection.  Carbon-fiber is a composite material that has reinforcing materials such as Kevlar, Twaron, glass fibers, or carbon fibers held together with an epoxy-based binding polymer.  The resultant material is lightweight and extremely strong.  It is good enough for B-2 bombers, Space Shuttles, and America’s Cup AC-72 yachts, which makes it good enough for me.

IMG_3580 Continue reading →

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The Glenlivet French Oak Finish 1983 Review

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Daniel

Glenlivet French Oak Finish 2This past Sunday I was provided a monumental birthday gift. I was lucky enough to receive a bottle of scotch that shared my birth year. The Glenlivet limited edition 1983 French Oak Finish was the fourth of an elite Cellar Collection produced by Master Distiller Jim Cryle. It was released in 2003 and has been described as one of the more complex Glenlivet’s to date. In 1983 the journey began for this bourbon and sherry barreled whiskey when some of the most exceptional casks were hand picked and set aside. In 2000 Cryle chose some of these select “intense spirits” and transferred them into new, lightly roasted, French Limousin casks for their final three years of aging. After 20 years, the best of these French oak finished whiskies were bottled for the 1983 French Oak Finish as the final member of an elite Cellar Collection. It should be noted that of the 8,000 bottles that were produced in this limited edition, only 3,000 were sent to the United States in 2003.

When I was given this bottle on Sunday, I was told that only 12 bottles were currently available in the state of Florida. While I am not privy to the cost of this bottle, the 1983 French Oak Finish was originally priced right around $200 in 2003 and has escalated to over $350 in recent years.

My initial inspection of the 1983 was pleasing. I liked the honey oak box with brass hardware. Upon opening the box I observed a white booklet that described the process this scotch had gone through since 1983. The scotch is housed in the classic green glass Glenlivet bottle. While admiring my new gift I noted that the label appeared Continue reading →

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Szanto Watch Teaser

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Wilson

Szanto Box I received some boxes from Szanto Watches this week.  The slogan “Time Rediscovered” is apt.  A few months back, I interviewed Szanto’s owner and designer Barry Cohen, the founder of Luminox Watches.  Suffice it to say, the resemblance between the Szanto box and a steamer trunk is no accident.

Yes, the two boxes I received did, indeed, contain time pieces.  More on those to come after they have spent some time-on-wrist.  Sorry, this truly is a teaser.

Szanto Box 2by Wilson

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Bad Blood Knives

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Wilson

IMG_3301Bad Blood Knives are an offshoot of Hallmark Cutlery, which markets products under the Robert Klaas, Chief, Super, and other monikers.  Bad Blood is anchored by tactical fixed and folder offerings from knifemakers Sean Kendrick and David Mosier.

The fixed blade you see here is Kendrick’s Raijú SL (Slim Line) model.  It is a chisel ground tanto made from 8Cr14 steel.  The blade is 4″ and the overall knife’s measurement is 8 1/2″ in length.  The full tang blade supports smooth pinned G-10 scales over red contrasting liners.  A lanyard tube rides out back.  The Raijú weighs Continue reading →

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Pohl Force Knives

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Wilson

Pohl ForceDietmar Pohl is a German knife designer with over a decade and a half’s experience in the Soligen knife industry.  Pohl is the owner and designer for Pohl Force Knives, which are currently made by LionSteel in Maniago, Italy.

I got to play with a table full of the Pohl Force products at Blade Show.  Each one had excellent fit and finish.  The ergonomics of Pohl’s blades speak in the visual lines and tactile feel.  Though heavily ensconced in the Tactical/Military/Law Enforcement battlespace, if you are looking for the high speed, low drag appearance for your civilian pocket, search no further.  Pohl’s knives are as tough as Continue reading →

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Hogue/Elishewitz EX-F02 New Fixed Blade

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Wilson

IMG_3263This is the only shot I got at Blade Show of the new Hogue Knives Elishewitz-designed fixed blade called the EX-F02.  The blade steel will be A2 tool steel with an unnamed black coating.  Hogue cryogenically treats the blades and gives them a RHC of 57 to 59.  The steel thickness is .250″.

The OD green handles are an injection molded polymer.  They felt slightly soft in the hand and very grippy.  This was another hand ground Allen Elishewitz prototype made specifically for Blade Show.  I put the blade length at around 5″ with an overall length of around 10″ give or take.

This knife had a nice drop point with a section of fuller and jimping Continue reading →

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