Al Mar Knives Introduces New Eagle HD’s

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Wilson

Al Mar Eagle HD'sAl Mar Knives introduced their new Earth Brown, International Orange, and Blue Eagle Heavy Duty folding knives at SHOT Show 2013.  I have watched the Eagle evolve since the early 1980’s, before thumbstuds and pocket clips came along.  The original AMK Eagle was a “protection” knife–thin for ease of carry and serving up a 4″ blade, which many believed was the minimum for a defensive folder.  Back then, it was quietly said that operatives of “alphabet agencies” favored the Eagle folder as a secondary.

The Eagle Heavy Duty is an “up-armored” version of the Al Mar’s venerable canvas Micarta/AUS-8 Eagle Ultralight.  The new HD models have full length 400 series stainless steel liners under the textured ‘glass scales, a departure from the smooth Micarta-only handles of its predecessor.

The Eagle HD has Al Mar’s front lock and reversible tip-up pocket clip.  The black handled model has an AUS-8 blade (HRC 57-59).  An new Earth Brown Eagle HD features a high performance ZDP-189 powdered stainless steel blade (HRC 64-65).  Both blades wear dual thumbstuds and the AMK Talon grind, which features an unsharpened false edge.

The changes to toughen up the Eagle Heavy Duty add only an ounce compared to the Ultralight, bringing the HD to 3 ozs.  While photographing Continue reading →

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Szanto Timepieces Debuted at SHOT Show 2013

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Wilson

Szanto TimepiecesTime Concepts, LLC has unveiled a new line of watches with an eye to vintage looking, rugged designs.  Szanto Timepieces will offer various models of field watches, chronometers, and dive watches.  They are scheduled to enter the market in May or June of this year.  I hope to obtain one for T&E.  More to come on this interesting and handsome series…

Szanto Field Watch Szanto Dive Watch IMG_1205 Szanto Watches 1Szanto/Time Concepts Jennifer Leonard was a gracious host in the Szanto booth and she helped me get some good photos of their timepieces.

by Wilson

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What’s In Your Knife Pocket? Part 3

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Wilson

Coast Products Ron LakeIn this latest installment of my new found SHOT Show 2013 game, I sidled into the Coast Products booth and schmoozed knife great Ron Lake.  I sort of interrupted his sandwich, but he was patient with me and very friendly.  I sprung the question on him.  He obliged by unclipping his Coast Rapid Response Knife from the right pocket.  Mr. Lake designed this knife and it has some unique workings.

The RRK opens with Mr. Lake’s Smooth Assist Technology.  The 3.9″ blade unfolds with a small bearing rolling along a spring to kick the blade open.  It is definitely smooth.  The liner lock, perfected by Lake’s former knife making partner Michael Walker, catches the 5Cr15MoV blade.  Coast’s Max-Lock™ backs up the liner lock by using a sliding detent to manually keep the blade either open or closed.

I sincerely thanked him for the design, as I have a satin-finished 3.9″ RRK model and a black oxide coated 3″ RRK model.  I think both are terrific knives.  I also thanked him for his hospitality.

by Wilson

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Zero Tolerance 0770 Review

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Wilson

Zero Tolerance 0770Zero Tolerance Knives, the Made in USA hard-use offshoot of KAI Group, Inc, was displaying a very nice mid-sized folder in their SHOT Show 2013 booth.  Rep. Andy Peterson showed me the prototype of the new model, which he said was a gentleman’s version of the Blade Magazine 2011 Knife of the Year, ZT’s 0777.

The new 0770 has a 3.25” stonewashed blade of Uddeholm Elmax® powdered steel.  Elmax has high percentages of carbon, chromium, and vanadium, which result in high wear and corrosion resistance plus toughness.  Rockwell harness of the Elmax is gauged at 58-62.  I would call the blade profile a modified wharncliffe, having a slightly upswept cutting edge.

SpeedSafe® assisted blade opening is activated via a flipper.  The liner lock is housed in dual 6061-T6 aluminum handles, which are anodized black.  A reversible tip-up deep pocket clip and other hardware are blackened.  The backspace is open and bridged by Continue reading →

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What’s In Your Knife Pocket? Part 2

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Wilson

Al Mar Kirk RexroatI happened across Kirk Rexroat, American Bladesmith Society Master Smith, at the Al Mar Knives SHOT Show 2013 booth.  I asked, “What’s in your pocket?”  He produced one of his handmade folders.  It had a 4 1/2 ” Rexroat Wire Damascus blade, Mokume bolsters, and Mammoth Ivory scales.  It was large and in charge!

Kirk Rexroat Folder SHOT ShoW 2

Kirk Rexroat Al Mar FolderIt was one very nice looking knife and my photos do not do it justice.

Mr. Rexroat was a good sport and he even sold me an Al Mar Mini-SERE.  A review of the Mini-SERE is imminent, but his personal carry knife was damn!

by Wilson

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What’s In Your Knife Pocket?

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Wilson

Shempp and Bradley at SpydercoI wandered up to the Spyderco Booth at the SHOT Show 2013.  I was able to spend quite a while talking to master knife makers Ed Schempp and Gayle Bradley.  Both of these men are stellar personalites in the knife world and custom collaborators with Spyderco.

I was taken with how personable and folksy these guys were.  We talked about knife making, their contributions to Spyderco, and their desire to continue their relationship with Mr. Sal Glesser.  There were a ton of soon-to-be-produced models and design prototypes in two large glass cases in front of us.  Media or not, I was not allowed to take photos.  Pictures taken today are cheap knockoffs tomorrow, they said apologetically.

Out of the blue, I asked them what knives they had in their pockets.  Mr. Schempp produced his Persian 2 from his right pants pocket.  Mr. Bradley was carrying his Spyderco namesake model.  They graciously posed for a photo. At last year’s SHOT Show, I spoke to Spyderco owner Sal Glesser for nearly half an hour.  He was equally as down-to-earth.

After a couple of firm handshakes with Mr. Schempp and Mr. Bradley, I left the booth with a big smile.

by Wilson

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Arrival at the SHOT Show 2013

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Wilson

imageI’ve landed in Las Vegas for the 2013 SHOT Show.  After a nice meal of  Thai at Lotus of Siam last night, I’m psyched to hit Media Day at the Range on Monday, then the show floor for the rest of the week.   Since I have a press pass once again this year, I’ll try to scope out new knives and concealed carry guns and post some photos and reviews as the week progresses.  Stay tuned!

by Wilson

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CRKT Heiho aka Hissatsu 2 Review

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Wilson

CRKT HeihoI wrote my last article about a knife with a Japanese-influenced design.  Let’s do another.  Columbia River Knife and Tool has produced a line of knives, envisioned by noted martial arts instructor James Williams, that deeply bow to the Land of the Rising Sun and distill the essence of the samurai.

CRKT’s Heiho and Hissatsu 2 are the same basic gentleman’s folding knives separated only in moniker.  Heiho translates as “method of the warrior,” while hissatsu means “to kill with one strike.”  Either way, this diminutive knife exudes a combative lineage.

With a 3.125″ satin-finished AUS-8 modified tanto blade, Heiho is at the minimum length for a defensive knife.  But it’s not about the size, it’s about what you can do with it.  Yeah, I said it.  The blade, 58-59 HRC, sports two hollow ground edge sections with a very slight swedge on the spine.  It results in the thick thrusting point for which a tanto is coveted.

CRKT’s Outburst assisted opening system flings the blade to its destination when brought out to 30 degrees with the thumb disk.  A Walker liner lock mechanism smartly seals the deal.  CRKT’s manual LAWKS safety can be used to snug the knife into a virtual fixed blade.  My knife exhibited good lock-up and held closed well by the detent ball.  I prefer the manual LAWKS to the Auto LAWKs simply because I want the autonomy to determine when it is needed.  Call me a control Continue reading →

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Seiko 5 Sports SNZH57 Fathoms Review

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Wilson

IMG_1002 copyIn 1953, the Swiss Blancpain SA watch company was commissioned to construct a diving watch for the French Navy Combat Diver School.  The watch was a collaboration between then Blancpain CEO Jean-Jacques Fiechter and French Naval Officers Captain Robert Maloubier and Lieutenant Claude Riffaud.  The Blancpain Fifty Fathoms watch predated the Rolex Submariner and Omega Seamaster (as a dive watch).  Seiko 5 SNZH57 pays homage to the Fifty Fathoms, for which modern analog dive watches owe a debt of gratitude.

Seiko focused on several distinct design features of the Fifty Fathoms, which had previously been described by Maloubier himself, “Finally a small watch company, Blancpain, agreed to develop our project which envisioned a watch with a black dial, bold large numerals and clear markings:  triangles, circles, squares; a rotatable exterior bezel which repeated the markings of the dial.   We wanted at the start of a dive to be able to set the bezel opposite the minute hand in order to mark the time.  We wanted each of the markings to shine line a star for a shepherd.”

With its domed Hardlex crystal, deep chested case, and Hardlex-protected bezel, the Seiko 5 SNZH57 bears a resemblance to the original Blancpain, so much so that modders have been buying aftermarket Fifty Fathoms-style dials and turning Seiko SNZH’s into replicas of the pioneering submersible timepiece.

IMG_0946These modified Seiko watches avoid copyright infringement by changing the dial lettering to read “Fifty Five Fathoms” and omitting any reference to Blancpain.  Other replica watches are Continue reading →

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Glenmorangie 18 Review

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Wilson

IMG_0798Some of my co-workers came into the “cube farm” the other day and gave me some Christmas presents.  Apparently I am not a total ass as a boss.  The larger package gurgled, so I begged off and told them I’d open that one at home (non-permissive environment). The second box contained four nice Waterford tumblers.  Sweet.

Back at home when the red wrappings came off the first present, I felt my workers must really, really like me:  18 year old Glenmorangie!  I like scotch whisky, but I have never had this one.  The suspected ringleader of the guys had told me that it was his favorite, so there you go.

IMG_0790I am no gastronomical connoisseur of fine single malt scotch whiskies.  I do know what I think tastes good to me.  So here are my thoughts on the Glenmorangie 18.

Nose–Citrusy and smart

Palate–Honey, oak, apricots

Finish–Long, lingering, and tingly

From Glenmorangie:  “The 18 Years Old is a single malt Scotch whisky of serious distinction. Once it has spent fifteen years maturing in American white oak casks approximately 30% is transferred into Spanish Oloroso casks to spend a further three years maturing. Then, when both elements have reached 18 years, we blend them back together to create a whisky with a rich bouquet and full, rounded flavour.”  A bottle of the GM 18 will set your credit card back about a hundred dollars.

I found this 18 to be exceptionally smooth and enjoyable.  While I don’t mind less refined, and sometimes harsh, 12 year old single malts, a good whisky like the Glenmorangie 18 makes me feel special–which is what my workmates had in mind!

by Wilson

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