GATCO/Timberline Gas Monkey Garage Knives

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Wilson

Timberline Gas MonkeyGATCO, the Great American Tool Company and maker of Timberline knives, is releasing a line of products promoting the Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas, Texas.  You may know the garage from the Discovery Channel TV show Fast N’ Loud.

Fast N’ Loud follows the reality show automotive adventures of perpetual self-promoter Richard Rawlings and his mega-bearded main mechanic Aaron Kaufman.  At SHOT Show 2015, I was drawn to the GATCO booth because of the Gas Monkey logo on the side of their booth.  Hmmm, this looked familiar, yet out of context.

Gas Monkey logoGuess you can’t fault the Fast N’ Loud guys for wanting to cash in on their current popularity.  The knives and other accessories, such as multi-tools, flashlights, and Continue reading →

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CRKT Deviation

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Wilson

CRKT DeviationColumbia River Knife & Tool had a new art knife at SHOT Show 2015 which showcased a sci-fi-ish design by Terry Lee Renner.  My photos of the knife do not do this one justice.  The lighting in the Sands Convention Center is sadly inadequate for good photography, especially of shiny things.

To continue, the Deviation evidences Renner’s past as a mechanical designer from a different industry.  When pen went to paper, the guy doing the work obviously had visions from elsewhere.  And the term “art knife” was not so far off.  Renner is an artist, as well.

From a knife standpoint, Deviation functioned like a proper tool.  The modified tanto rolls open on Flavio Ikoma’s IKBS ball bearing pivot system.  The large flipper spur gives ample leverage with which to fling the blade to lock.  When held in the hand, the Deviation is not uncomfortable, as it might appear. Continue reading →

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Zero Tolerance/ Dimitry Sinkevich 0452CF

Posted on February 8, 2015 by Wilson

ZT SinkevichZero Tolerance and Dmitry Sinkevich have a new knife out for 2015.  Well, not new, but a keen variation.  Introduced at SHOT Show 2015, the ZT 0452CF flipper is a play on the ZT 0454, Best Overall Knife at Blade Show 2013.  It really helps to start with good bones.

Replacing the previous knife’s composite blade are 4.1 inches of S35VN, finished in nicely contrasting satin and stonewash.  The 0452’s edge circles open on a slick KVT ball bearing system and is held fast by a titanium framelock.  The pivot hubs have a machined five spoke pattern.

The new 0450 carries on series’ left side carbon fiber Continue reading →

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CRKT Achi and Akari

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Wilson

CRKT AchiColumbia River Knife & Tool dispatched two new Lucas Burnley-designed fixed blade knives to Las Vegas for SHOT Show 2015.  The upper knife is called the Achi and the lower knife is the Akari.  Both knives have the same interesting acid-etched TiNi coating that was seen on Burnley’s Obake knife from last year.

The Achi and Akari wield 2.83″ blades of 8Cr27MoV steel hardened to 56-58 RHC.  Achi has a drop point profile, while the Akari is an upswept drop point.  The overall length of the Achi is 6.25″ at a weight of 2.8 ounces.  The Akari is 6.38″ and 2.6 ounces.

Both knives have faux green same’ (rayskin) lurking under resin-impregnated cord wrapped handles.  Like that on the Obake, the plastic rayskin has glossy Continue reading →

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Pro-Tech Knives at SHOT Show 2015

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Wilson

Pro-Tech TR-3.51Pro-Tech Knives of Artesia, CA had a strong presence at SHOT Show 2015 with some of the most eye-popping semi-custom folders of any booth.  The top knife is the TR-3.51.  The Bruce Shaw engraved inlay is a “coin struck” skull scene.  Its satin blade just killed.

Pro-Tech TR-3.51 blade Pro-Tech TR-3.51 handle Pro-Tech TR-3.51 labelBelow is another Pro-Tech auto featuring Mr. Shaw’s engraving as Continue reading →

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New Gerber Dime Travel

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Wilson

Gerber Dime Travel 1It amused me when I breezed into the Gerber Legendary Blades booth at SHOT Show 2015 and stepped up to one of their new product displays.  Above a micro multi-tool was a card that contained the text, “Safe and Approved for Carry-On/Airplane Travel.”  A passenger in my very backpack was the Leatherman Style PS that had been my companion in the cabin of our flight from back East.  Hmmmm, competition.

Gerber’s Dime Travel is their new version of the standard Dime tool.  Lacking a blade, the Dime Travel will look up through the X-Ray machine at the TSA operator and grin!  While there is no knife, the Dime Travel does have these useful Continue reading →

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New Schrade Knives at SHOT Show 2015

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Wilson

Schrade daggerAt SHOT Show 2015, I was pleased to be able to converse with Morgan Taylor, the President of Taylor Brands, which makes knives for Schrade, Uncle Henry, Old Timer, Imperial, and Smith & Wesson.  Getting shown knives by a company head would be cool, but Mr. Taylor is also a designer and very passionate about his products.

I was so busy talking shop, I did not push the shutter button as much as I would have liked, but, hey, I did not wish to be rude.  The above knife is a new Schrade tactical dagger that is forged from a single piece of 1070 steel.  It features a hollow handle and composite sheath.  It was definitely solid.

Schrade A10BSThe next knife is the new SCHA10BS M.A.G.I.C., which is a dual action Continue reading →

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CRKT Terzuola BT-70 folding knife

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Wilson

CRKT TerzuolaThis is my favorite folding knife of SHOT Show 2015.  Bob Terzuola, a founding father of the tactical knife, has joined with Columbia River Knife and Tool to make what is essentially a version of his iconic Advanced Tactical Combat Folder (ATCF), the BT-70 folder.

Mr. Terzuola spent his early life in Central America on Peace Corps, U.S. government, and commercial adventures.  His exotic experiences gave him an appreciation for working knives.  In the early 1980’s, he began making knives and selling them to those who travel abroad in service to our country, both combatant and clandestine.

The word “iconic” is not hyperbole for Terzuola’s original ATCF.  With its liner lock, signature blade shape, and first-rate materials, the mid-1980’s ACTF was a blueprint from which later makers derived inspiration.  Terzuola is credited with inventing the term “tactical knife.”

CRKT’s BT-70 has the ACTF’s pedigree with a few annotations.  The 4″ AUS 8 modified tanto blade has Continue reading →

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New Leatherman Tread Multi-tool

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Wilson

How did I miss this at SHOT Show?  I was in a hurry, that’s how.  I wandered past the Leatherman booth, but I did not see the gi-normous photos of the Tread plastered on the walls.

Leatherman Tools President Ben Rivera, an engineer, designed this product before he ascended to the big chair.  Here’s their video.

BladeBarrelBezel reader Steve G. sent me some photos he took of a stainless steel Tread at SHOT Show last week.

image2image1Steve said the Tread was very large, indeed.  His wrist is average to large.  Size-wise he said it was bulkier than a big paracord bracelet.  That said, he called it, “Cool as hell!”  Thanks, Steve!

by Wilson

 

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New Hogue Karabmit Scale Knife for 2015

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Wilson

Hogue KarambitHogue Knives was displaying some of their newest products at SHOT Show 2015.  The eye-catcher was this karambit prototype with purple and black G-Mascus handle scales.  That was hard to miss in a sea of blackened knives!

The new Karambit Scale Knife is a modification of the EX-F03 neck knives already in production.  Available in either the clip point or modified hawksbill blades, the Scale knife adds a “piranha” textured overlay with a karambit-style ring at the butt.  The Karambit Scale knife will be offered in black or the purple G-Mascus G-10.

Blade steel for the EX-F03 is 154 CM stainless, heat treated to 57-59 RH and cryogenically treated.  Its blade length is 2.25″ with a .16″ blade thickness.  As either the neck knife or the Karambit Scale Knife, its finish is tumbled.  The finger ring adds an extra inch to Continue reading →

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