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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Szanto Watches 5000 Series Diver

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Wilson

Szanto 5000 Series Dive WatchSzanto Watches aimed squarely for a vintage look.  When I saw their dive watch at SHOT Show earlier this year, I thought of skin diving.  Yeah, it’s an old term for free diving.  Fins, mask, maybe a snorkel and spear.  I could envision such a watch on my wrist when we used to skin dive for spiny lobster in the Florida Keys in the late 1970’s or spearfish Hawaii in the 1980’s.  Ruggedness and simplicity were the rules.

I unboxed a Szanto 5000 series dive watch a few months ago…un-trunked would be more appropriate.  It has classic cues that are upsized for today’s market.  The 5000 models have a 47mm case diameter.  They are definitely large, but that is in keeping with modern styles, and definitely attractive.

IMG_3768The 50001 and 50002 have dark grey titanium colored ion-plating over Continue reading →

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SOG’s Kiku Matsuda Folder Collaboration

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Wilson

SOG KikuI was tremendously excited to see a collaboration between SOG Knives and Kiku Matsuda of Kiku Knives.  I essentially stalked Mr. Matsuda at Blade Show 2013 and I think I left a few drops of saliva on the table as I admired his custom creations.  Merely knowing I could buy a production knife designed by this Japanese master cured me of cost-rophobia and freed up my healthy credit card.

The new SOG Kiku Folder evidences Mr. Matsuda’s influence in the blade shape.  This knife’s blade is a modified tanto, with a kicked up swedge and recurved primary edge.  It is very reminiscent of his customs in its alternating curves and straight lines.  I hate the word “organic,” but it fits here.

Mr. Matsuda grinds his blades in a convex Hamaguri-Ba style, which utilizes the side of a power disc.  His custom knives sometimes feature hollow ground sections.  SOG Kiku’s first third from the point back has a flat grind, as does the swedge, but the primary edge is Continue reading →

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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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