When I think of why a rock climber would need a knife, the first thing that comes to mind is Aron Ralston. If you are not familiar with the name, then it’s time you learn. Aron is an outdoors man, engineer and motivational speaker. While descending a slot canyon in Blue John Canyon in Utah, an 800 lb boulder came dislodged and fell pinning his right hand and forearm up against the canyon wall. Aron was stuck there for five days before having an epiphany that he could break his arm using torque and amputate his own arm. After breaking his arm, it took him one hour to cut his own arm off with his very dull multi tool. If Aron did not have a knife on him, he would have died in that canyon. Fortunately, he was able to survive this horrible ordeal thanks to his knife and strong will to return to his family. Since the incident, Ralston has written a book (Between a Rock and a Hard Place) and even had a movie made after his accident (127 Hours).

I’m not saying that every climber will eventually end up in the same situation that Ralston did on that day, but I am ensuring you that there will be a time that you are going to wish you had a knife with you. That’s why today, we are going to look at some knives that you should consider taking rock climbing with you. Some of my rock climbing friends refer to their knife as a companion while they are rock crawling and make sure it’s the first thing that they bring with them.

When looking at some rock climbing knives, I always look for two things. One is serrations and the other is making sure that the knife can be operated using one hand. Lets take a look at some knives you might want to consider taking with you on your next outing.

Spyderco Rescue Assist I

Spyderco hit the nail on the head with this knife. Just like the name says, this knife was designed to assist. This knife is really simple to use. You only need one hand to open this beauty. It features an 80% serrated blade. I really like that this knife is a bright orange color. It makes it a lot easier to keep track of and easier to find if dropped or misplaced. It can come in black as well. You might find yourself wondering what the waves on the spine of the blade are. Well, that involves my favorite feature of this knife. If you look on the inside of the handle, you will find a flat square piece of metal. The reason why it’s there is for cutting things like rope. If you open the blade a little bit and line up the rope or string with that piece of metal, simply use the “waves” or finger grooves on the spine of the knife to close the knife and it cuts right through the rope for you. The pocket clip is ambidextrous for right or left hand carry.

Next up, we are going to look at something that is more conventional for a one-handed carry. Nothing beats a one-handed knife like a fixed blade. I know, I know it’s another Spyderco, but they make amazing knives.

The Spyderco JumpMaster

This knife is for you adrenaline junkies out there. This knife is perfect for rock climbing up waterfalls or getting really wet. The fully serrated H-1 steel blade prevents rust on the metal. It was originally designed to fit the needs of the U.S. Army’s 82^nd Airborne Division. It’s perfect for cutting through thick rope. My favorite thing about this knife is the sheath. It fits really snug in there and won’t fall out no matter what angle you are dangling from. It has straps to secure the knife to your leg or wherever you prefer. Not only does this knife look good, it feels even better when you have it in your hand. The handle is extremely thin and provides a firm grip.

Now, lets look at something that isn’t as common as the two previous knives. 

Microtech Ultratech D/A OTF DE 122-3

This might not be the most common knife you will see attached to someones pocket when they are rock climbing, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in any field. Microtech has been gaining popularity through their heavy duty OTF (out the front) knives. What makes these so special is their durability and how light they are for the duties they are capable of performing. This Ultratech features a double edged S35-VN super steel blade that is serrated on one side and plain on the other. It also has jimping in necessary places on the handle to provide a firm comfortable grip. For convenience it has a glass breaker on the bottom of the knife for “just in case” situations. Another great thing about this knife is that it is ambidextrous. All you have to do is take off that glass breaker and simply flip the pocket clip to the other side. To work the knife, all you have to do is slide the button up and the blade fires out. To close it, simply pull that button down and the blade retracts back into the handle. This is a knife you don’t have to worry about failing on you. I can assure you if you are good to this knife, it will be good to you.

Last, we are going to check out a knife that you are going to see a lot more than others. It’s not too common, but it’s a great knife with a wonderful name backing it up.

Benchmade Warn Mini-Barrage Spring Assist

If you are a fan of Warn or Warn accessories, then you will love this knife. The Mini-Barrage features an awesome axis lock mechanism that provides a solid lock up on the knife. Also, this knife is perfect for use with one hand. Also, the tanto style, D2 tool steel blade has really sleek serrations. From top to bottom this knife is built to last. There is a safety on the spine just in case you get roughed up while climbing. You won’t need to worry about the blade flipping open. Not only that, just like Warn’s hubs, this knife has a lifetime warranty. The knife was designed by Benchmade so you know it’s high quality.

Quite simply, a knife can be a companion when rock climbing. My first time rock climbing, I got my hair caught in a carabiner while repelling….oops. It didn’t feel great, but luckily I had a knife to give myself a little hair cut. Not only used for cutting hair, but a knife can be useful in cutting anything.

If you have a better knife than what I have listed here, comment and let me know. I want to see what you guys take rock climbing with you.

Whether you are into spinners, flies and/or bait, nothing is more relaxing or serene than a day fishing. Even if the fish aren’t biting, it is just nice to get away, sit back and crack open a cold beer. The only think I can think of that might ruin a day of fishing is not having a knife! If you are anything like me, you make sure to bring at least two knives on your fishing trips. Normally, I tend to bring three to four with me. Today, we are going to look at a few types of knives—ranging from fillet knives to multi-tool knives—that should be a must-have when packing for a fishing excursion.

As many of you fishermen know, there are 3 basic ways to deal with a fish after you’ve reeled her in: the catch and release method, putting her on a line for later use or cleaning her right then and there. Each to their own. I personally love to snatch the fish out of the water and filet them on the spot. That being said, let’s take a look at a few really good fillet knives.

Kershaw Pro-Grade 4.5” Narrow Fillet Knife:

Not only is this a really good fillet knife (intended for smaller fish), but it can also be used as a boning knife. The injection molded polypropylene handles ensure that your hands will have that sure-grip even when your hands are really slimy and slippery. It also features a flexible 420J2 steel blade with blade guards to protect the edge. Every time I hold this knife, I can’t believe how light it is (3.4 oz).

Lone Wolf Big Water Fillet Folding Knife:

This is a personal favorite of filet knives for me. Since the blade is an astounding 8”, Ken Steigerwalt designed it to be a folder that is easier and more conventional to carry around with you. The blade guard slides into the handle to work as a tang to lock the 420J steel blade up and protect the blade when it is closed (known as a Tail-Lock mechanism). What really blows my mind on this one is that it only weighs 3.2 oz. It is so light due to the topographic handles. For you back country fishermen who are looking for light and effective, this is the fillet knife for you . This knife also comes with a sheath to carry it in.

Let’s now take a look at gutting knives. When gutting a fish, you want the knife to be sharp. You also don’t want a knife to dull quickly. Not all fish have tough skin but if you were gutting something like a Red Rockfish, then you might want a pretty solid blade and edge.

SOG Aura Hunting Knife Fixed Blade:

SOG did a really good job with the way this knife feels in your hand. It has tough glass-reinforced zytel with rubber overmold handles. This knife comes razor sharp right from the manufacturer. Keep in mind you will need to sharpen the blade from time to time. SOG was very thoughtful in putting a built in carbide sharpener that unscrews from the base of the handle. Included is a nylon sheath with belt loop. This knife also features a gut hook. It weights 5.4 oz and has a blade length of 5”.

Bone Collector Large Fixed Blade Knife w/ Gut Hook:

This knife is a perfect design from Benchmade. The whole knife is flawless (in my opinion). Not only is it razor sharp but you will almost never have to sharpen the D2 tool steel that comes with this knife. The handle is green and black layered G10 with a rib cage pattern that makes a firmer, more comfortable grip. One of the best features of this knife is the gut hook on the top. It’s really sharp and can open any fish like a zipper. It is a really nice feature to have. Because of it’s size, I personally wouldn’t use it on a really small fish. Another great feature is the serrations for sawing away at things. It has a 4.10” blade and comes in at 4.5 oz. This knife can also come serrated.

Last, let’s take a look at some multi-tool knives. These are very handy. They can complete every aspect of fishing for you. The only thing missing is a fishing pole and a reel. Yeah I know the pole and reel are essential, but what good does that do you if you can’t cut any of your line or pinch on the clip weights to your line? Quite frankly, these knives are a must-have when fishing.

Leatherman Charge TTi Multi Tool w/ Knife:

The Charge TTi is stuffed with eighteen tools! It comes with drivers and eight bits. It has two blades. One of which is an S30V steel plain blade that will stay sharp for a very long time. The other is a serrated 440HC steel blade with gut hook/seat belt cutter. Not only does it sport the blades, but it comes with a mini saw and file (see center picture). All of the tools and blades in this multi-tool lock up good and tight. Don’t forget, my favorite feature, a bottle opener! I know it’s nothing special, but it’s something easily overlooked.

Leatherman Wave:

This is by far the most popular model of all of the Leatherman multi-tools. The reason this knife is so popular is due to the fact that the blades are easy to deploy for the handy reason that they are on the outside of the handles. Also, the knives are fairly large compared to the size of the handles. They fill them out nicely. Along with the Charge TTi, the blades and tools lock up.

Quite simply said: Different knives serve different purposes when fishing. Please comment on the different knives that you like to take fishing with you.

Today, let’s focus on my Top 6 Skeletonized Neck Knives:

#6 – H&K Snody Fixed Blade Instigator Neck Knife w/ Kydex Sheath:

This neck knife has many unique features. Not only is it a chisel grind blade, but it is also a wharncliff (AUS-8 steel). The straight blade makes it really simple to sharpen. You might think it would be cool if you could stick your fingers through the handle and have knuckles too. However, it is pretty hard to do unless you have slender fingers. It is BP1 coated to prevent corrosion. Also, it feels really good in your hand with very nice jimping on the spine of the blade. The overall length is 7.5” with a 3.25” blade.

#5 – Ka-Bar ESEE Becker Eskabar Neck Knife BK14 Fixed Blade:

This knife was made by both Ka-Bar and ESEE. It looks very similar to the Izula by ESEE with an obvious Ka-Bar style blade. This knife comes with a 1095 Cro-Van steel blade (3.25”). It comes in at 7” long and has an amazing weight of just 3 oz. This knife is built to last and will suffice any type of need you might have for a neck knife.

#4 - Ka-Bar TDI LDK Neck / Boot Knife w/ Sheath:

The TDI LDK (Last Ditch Knife) is an amazing little knife. At first look you might think that this is a weird shaped knife that won’t feel good in your hand. Despite its awkward shape, this knife does feel really good in your hand. The elbow shape makes it easier to get into some tight places. and it growns on you really quick. The grind is straight making it really easy to sharpen if needs be. It is only the size of a credit card (3.7” overall with a 1.5” blade) and can be carried many different ways. You can lace it into your boot, wear it around your neck or tuck it inside a belt. Ka-Bar has included an ABS sheath with this knife. This knife will become your constant companion.

#3 – Microtech MANUS Neck Knife Green Fixed Blade:

This polymer green coated knife is very light and durable. It features a D2 steel blade. My favorite thing about this knife is the sheath. It has a thumb-pad quick-release to pull the blade out. Not only does it look good, it feels even better when you hold it. It has jimping on the spine and in a few spots around the handle to ensure traction. These are difficult to find, so if you find one you should snatch it up. It is 5.75” long with a 2.4” blade.

#2 – TOPS Knives FDX Skeleton Spear (or Hunter) Point Knife Fixed Blade:

The TOPS FDX Skeleton is a very solid knife (handcrafted in the USA). FDX stands for Field Duty Extreme. This knife is a very useful knife. Not only is it one solid piece of 1095 carbon steel, it is light and is comfortable to hold. TOPS did a really good job on this knife. It is meant to be carried at your convenience. Whether it being in a backpack, on you belt or around your neck. As you can see, this knife can come with a hunter or spear poing blade. It can come in a easy-to-find code yellow as well as black. It is possible to get micarta handles for this knife. The overall length is 6” with a 3” blade.

#1 – ESEE Izula with Kit Extras:

Hands down, this is the best neck knife out there. How about a short entomology lesson? (I know you want one.) The Izula got its name from the nastiest ant of the jungle that the locals call the “Izula”. This Peruvian ant is also known as the Bullet Ant. One bite from the Bullet Ant feels like being shot by a real bullet! (I can’t confirm that nor would I want to). This little ant has one of the most painful bug bites in the world. Now back to the knife: The skeletonized handles make it very easy to wrap your own paracord design through them. If you prefer something more sleek, they make micarta handles for the knife. It has a razor sharp 1095 carbon steel 2.88” blade with jimping on the spine for thumb traction. It fits smoothly in your hand even though it’s only .156” thick. The overall length is 6.25” which is plenty of room for a really good grip. However if you want something more to hold on to, I suggest the Izula II which has a 1/2” longer handle with full micarta scales. The Izula comes in lots of different colors including black, gray, OD green and desert tan. Some companies even have more intense colors like red, venom green, orange and a few others. If you are looking at buying an Izula, I suggest getting the model with the kit extras. This kit comes with a lot more bells and whistles.

There you have it! They are light, durable, and–dare I say it–sexy. Any of these knives would be a great addition to your collection.

]]> http://www.knifeblog.com/my-top-6-skeletonized-neck-knives/feed/ 0 http://www.knifeblog.com/knives-featured-in-video-games/ http://www.knifeblog.com/knives-featured-in-video-games/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:22:47 +0000 admin http://www.knifeblog.com/?p=1092 Through the years, knives have become more popular in video games. Particularly, throwing knives. Here are a few knives that have been made famous by recent video games.

God of War

First up, if you liked God of War, then you’ll love the United Cutlery UC2665:

This is a replica of the knife used by Kratos in God of War. It is called the Blade of Chaos. United Cutlery sells the knife with a custom tabletop display stand. The blade is cast from zinc aluminum alloy with custom etched mold textures and features fantasy grindings. This knife is definitely not practical to carry or use, but might be helpful if you ever need to slay monsters.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Lets look at something a little more practical in an every day carry. If you look closely at the screenshot from the game, you can clearly see it’s a Spyderco Military Digi Camo folding knife.

The knife can also be viewed at another point in the game (left-handed version). It’s on the diamond mine level next to the Russian President’s daughter. In the screenshot above, Sandman used the knife to cut his seat belt. This knife features a CPM-S30V steel blade with a digital camo G-10 handle.

Resident Evil 5

Next up, we have the Goliath by MercWorx:

In Resident Evil 5, Chris Redfield wields this knife in a wooden sheath on his back as his trademark. It is part of the David and Goliath set. It is the largest knife that MercWorx makes. It has a total length of 15.75″. This knife features a S30V steel blade with an OD Green micarta handle.

Assassin’s Creed II

Last, let’s take a look at a throwing knife. This knife was featured in Assassin’s Creed II. It’s the Ezio Throwing Knives:

The manufacturer of this throwing knife call them Museum Replicas. They did a really good job designing these heavy-duty throwing knives. They fit perfectly in the Ezio belt and Baldric set. Also, these knives are made from high-carbon steel. Weighing in at 1lb and 6 oz, this knife is sure to take down any enemy.

As you can see, many video game knives start out as special designs within that game, but there are also some knives featured in video games that are pre-existing production models. If you know of any more that have been recently featured, feel free to comment on this post.

April 2012

Centofante Memory

This is a tribute from Spyderco to the late Frank Centofante. This is one of the rare Spyderco knives that has had its release date pushed back a couple of times. It is a really nice knife, and I can’t wait for it to be released.

Green Tenacious Distributor Exclusive

This is an exclusive to Blue Ridge Knives and will be available at multiple dealers. The picture is an artist rendering and may not exactly represent what the final product will look like. I personally like the Tenacious. I think that it is a nice size, and I am excited about this exclusive.

Blue Persistence Distributor Exclusive

This is an exclusive to JB Outman Distribution and will be available at multiple dealers. The Persistence is a nice workhorse of a knife, and it is difficult to beat for the price.

Southfork

Spyderco has created their own version of a popular Phil Wilson fixed blade knife. I am excited for this one, because I can’t think of another production fixed blade knife that has been available with S90V stainless steel. Production prototype pictured.

Gayle Bradley Air

This is going to be a very elegant gentleman’s pocket knife, the kind you wouldn’t feel bad about putting into your suit pocket. Production prototype pictured.

Paramilitary 2 Orange Cutlery Shoppe Exclusive

Orange is very hot right now for knife handles, and this knife looks very good.

May 2012

Endura Flat Ground Black

Delica Flat Ground Black

The Delica and the Endura 4th generation with black handles will be released with flat ground blades. Sorry I don’t have a picture of this one, but it’s not too hard to imagine what they will end up looking like.

Meerkat Burgundy Sprint Run

The Meerkat is being re-released in a Sprint Run Burgundy version. The “phantom lock” on this knife is really cool, and I am glad to get a chance to add this knife to my collection.

Cricket Nishijin

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

The latest knife to get the Nishijin glass fiber treatment will be the Cricket. I really like the Nishijin fiber handled knives, I personally think the glass fiber looks pretty cool.

Native 5 Fluted Titanium

The newest version of the Native 5 will feature a sunburst-machined titanium handle. Some of you might have had a chance to see the Military with a fluted handle.

June 2012

Green Paramilitary 2 Distributor Exclusive

This is an exclusive to Blue Ridge Knives and will be available at multiple dealers. The picture is an artist rendering and may not exactly represent what the final product will look like.

Blue Ambitious Distributor Exclusive

This is an exclusive to JB Outman Distribution and will be available at multiple dealers.

Techno

The Spyderco Techno is a Marcin Slysz design. He is a Polish knifemaker and it shows in this European design. The Techno won’t be a large knife, but will feature CTS-XHP steel.

Caly 3.5 ZDP-189 with Carbon Fiber Handle Sprint Run

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

I really like the Caly 3.5, I purchase one of the super blue sprints and I have been really happy with it. The combination of ZDP-189 steel and carbon fiber should be really great.

Pink Squeak

The Spyderco  Squeak is  a cool little slip joint folding knife. I have never been a huge fan of pink handled knives, but I am sure there are people out there who will get excited.

Chaparral Titanium Stealth

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

The Titanium version of the Chaparral is one of the knives I am most looking forward to this year. The coolest thing about this knife is that it won’t be receiving a frame lock like the Sage series, but will instead still have the backlock. The titanium handle features facets which give it a very cool appearance.

Tuff

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

This is another hotly anticipated knife designed by Ed Schempp. It is a very unique knife, and I am not sure if I am a fan of the dimples on the handle or not. I can’t decide. I think that they will probably offer a decent grip.

July 2012

Pygmy Warrior

This is a new, smaller version of the Spyderco Warrior.

August 2012

Szabo Folder

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

This is a new folding knife designed by Laci Szabo. I really love Lightning Strike carbon fiber, and I am glad that they decided to include it on this knife.

September 2012

Rescue 3

This is an update of the current rescue model.

Late 2012

Ulize

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

This is a German knife designed by Ulrich Hennicke. The knife was originally designed for the German police.

Lil’ Matriarch

Spyderco is releasing a smaller version of the Matriarch. Pictured above is the full-size Matriarch 2. The Lil’ Matriarch will be released with a plain blade.

No Date Specified or Farther Out

Streetbowie

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

One knife that appears to be making a comeback is the Streetbowie. The 2012 Fred Perrin Streetbowie has a classic knife desigh and a new sheath that comes with the knife. They have improved both the knife and the sheath since the last release of the Spyderco Streetbowie.

Starmate

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

The new release of the Starmate has the same great design but with a few added features like a new clip. The new Starmates will be made in Japan and come equipped with a VG10 blade.

Southard Folder

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

Another long anticipated knife that is coming out this season is the Brad Southard Folder. This is the first folding knife Spyderco has ever released with a flipper design. With a small flick the knife will flip open into locked position in one smooth movement. This knife is available with brown colored handles.

Lum Tanto Fixed Blade Sprint Run

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

This new knife offers knife collectors a rare chance to own a beautiful Lum Tanto. It has a single edge tanto blade and a burgandy handle made from paperstone micarta. It also comes with a custom leather sheath.

Nilakka

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

This unique manual folder actually evolved out of the design for a fixed blade. Over the course of several different designs they came up with the Tuominen Nilakka.

Foundry

(You can check out more pictures of this knife at Spydercollector, by clicking on the picture above.)

This knife is being developed in conjunction with the Carpenter company to use 100% Carpenter materials. This is a special model of knife and the first run will go to Carpenter Employees before it is made available to the general public.

Knives in “The Walking Dead”

There are some jobs that can only be handled with a good knife. Sometimes those jobs include killing zombies. Using a knife is quiet, so it won’t attract more zombies and a knife never runs out of ammo so it’s always ready when you need it.

The Walking Dead is a zombie show on AMC that features knives so often they can almost be considered another cast member. The producers of the series recently posted a video with the show’s prop master, dicussing the various weapons characters on the show use to kill Zombies.

Check out the video:

Gerber has signed a deal with the creators of the show, and consequently there are a lot of Gerber knives used on the show. Gerber is now offering a Zombie Apocalypse kit, that includes all of the knives featured on the show. This amazing knife kit comes with seven apocalypse survival tools including:

• Gator Machete
• Gator Machete Pro
• Bear Grylls Parang
• LMF II Infantry
• DMF Folder
• Epic Fixed Blade Knife

Here is a picture of all the knives and tools that come with the apocalypse kit.

All of these expert knives have been used in the Walking Dead and are perfect for dismembering zombies or any other big job. Included with the Apocalypse Zombie Kit is a durable canvas carrying case, handle for easy transport, stud buttons to keep the case closed, and reinforsed case stiching.

Here is the case closed and rolled:

And here is the case open with all the knives inserted:

Other knives have also been featured on the show.

Rick carries a Gerber DMF folding knife:

Lori carries a Spyderco Endura:

Darryl carries a Busse Team Gemini:

“The Walking Dead” understands that a lot of knife enthusiasts watch the show and they make an effort to feature popular knives on the market. Many of these knives are available for purchase right now, so you can have them in your hands just a few days after you watch the show.

Just in case…

The requirements have already been met (10,000+ fan on Facebook and 4000+ subscribers on YouTube already!) but the contest doesn’t end until March 1st. You can still enter for a chance to win one of the awesome prizes listed above!

Blade HQ Facebook Page

Blade HQ (Knife HQ) YouTube Channel

Blade HQ website

Chris Reeve is always great to chat with, he is an industry legend. The Sebenza has always been one of my favorite knives. At his display, Chris had several of his unique graphic, and computer generated graphic Sebenzas available for us to drool over.

At the Italian booth where we met with Lion Steel. They are updating the steel that they use on the majority of their knives from 440C to D2. I personally think that this is a good move, and the knives will be only slightly more expensive because of the change. Lion Steel also showed us a new version of their Opera folding knife that has G-10 scales. The G-10 will come in four colors: black, green, sand, and orange. The orange handled version has a black blade. These Opera knives will be available in the small and larger versions.

Next to Lion Steel we met with the guys at Maserin. They have some nice looking knives, and I wanted to share a few pictures of what they are doing with you.

The Emerson Knives booth was very busy. This year they have introduced the Journeyman which is a 4.1″ folding knife that looks like it will be a real workhorse and a great all around knife. It was designed specifically to work well in almost every possible situation that you could use a knife.

Also this year, Emerson is releasing a smaller and a larger version of their popular Roadhouse folding knife.

Taylor Brands has some new Smith and Wesson knives for 2012. They have started making automatic knives in the USA and will be adding to that line this year. Taylor has also updated the look of their Viper line, which is a side opening assisted knife.

They have also updated the look of the Military and Police line.

Taylor has come out with a new version of their spring assisted out the front line as well.

We stopped by the Kershaw booth one more time to chat with Rick Hinderer. Rick makes some of the absolute best knives in the industry, and we were excited to hear what he had to say about his new Zero Tolerance line. Rick told us that he is upping his production capacity for knives this year, so you may see a few more of them in the market.

Condor has several new machetes available this year and it looks like they have really stepped up their game. My favorite knife at the booth was the Woodlaw fixed blade. This knife has a 4″ blade and a micarta handle. It feels great in the hand!

At the Surefire booth, they have a new push dagger that they will be releasing in April. It looks like Surefire will be developing a couple of new daggers that you will see come out in the next year or so.

Finally we stopped at Mantis knives to see what Jared is up to. While we were there we saw Mykel Hawke with a prototype of a proposed new knife line that will be made in conjunction with Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Jared had worked hard to get the prototypes made in time, and it looks like this knife line could yield some cool stuff. Myke is a nice guy and he told us that soon he would have a new survival show with his wife that would be a little bit easier on the family schedule.

Jared showed us some of the knives he has been working on with a steel bearing pivot system that opened really smoothly. The new system that he is using should really improve the action on all of his folding knives. He doesn’t know for sure what these new knives will be called, but look for them to be released soon.

We started off at the ESEE knives booth. They have a new version of their Izula that is called the Candiru. Its smaller, but just as nasty. There will be tan and orange micarta scales available for the Candiru.

From ESEE’s facebook page, size comparison with the Izula:

Also very exciting, the ESEE Laser Strike is finally ready. For those of you who are not familiar with the Laser Strike, it is an older ESEE model that had been produced by TOPS Knives for a while. It will now be made by ESEE, and its a very cool knife. The micarta scales on the knife fit together to create a cavity that houses a firestarter. This is a nice design that is exciting to see back at ESEE.

There is also a brand new fire kit that will be coming out this year.

Spartan Blades has a couple of new knives this year. One is called the Phrike and it is a smaller, fixed blade with micarta inlays.

From Spartan Blades facebook page:

They also have a new Model 2, which is smaller than the Model 1. I personally have always felt that the Model 1 was a little too large for my hands, so I was very excited to see the smaller version.

Close to the Spartan Blades booth, we discovered a brand that I had not heard of called Medford Knife. They make big, bulky folders and fixed blades that kind of reminded me of some of the stuff Dwaine Carrillo makes. Most of his folders feature Digi Camo G-10 on one scale with a titanium frame lock on the other side. The blade style that are used are unique and I think that a lot of people will really like them.

We stopped by the Kershaw booth to check out the new stuff that they have coming out this year. I wasn’t sold on the Funxion series when I saw them in the catalog, but looking at them in person I like the smooth opening action of the knife. Each of the Funxions comes with a different multi-tool geared for different end uses.

I also was able to flip one of the Kershaw Cryos and this is an excellent knife for the price. It’s a Rick Hinderer design that won’t be too expensive.

Speaking of Rick Hinderer, we checked out several of his Zero Tolerance Knives while we were at the booth. The 560 and 561 both have great opening action, super smooth, and tight tolerances. I pestered one of the guys at the booth to let me see the 777, and I got my hands on one of the prototypes for a minute. This is going to be a very nice knife. It will feature the same folding mechanism that is on the 560.

After Kershaw we went to the Spyderco booth. Spyderco had tons of prototypes and concept models that were fun to look at. I was able to talk to Ed Schempp about some of his knives. Ed is a really nice guy and was fun to listen to. He showed me a concept model of the Equilibrium, which is a larger version of the Balance. There are tons of great new Spyderco knives coming out this year, and we will do a much more thorough post about them once we get back.

CRKT (Colombia River Knife and Tool) has some cool new models out this year as well. They have a smaller version of the popular Nirk Tighe that will be out this year.

A new aluminum version of the Ken Onion designed Ripple will be released this year.

Alan Folts has designed a new neck knife that they are calling the S.P.E.W.

My personal favorite knife at the CRKT booth was the Eraser. It is a new tactical folding knife designed by Liong Mah with a modified tanto blade. This one is going to be very nice.

Leatherman has a new multi-tool out called the Rebar, which is a smaller version of the Super Tool 300. There is also a version of the Style multi-tool called the Style PS that was designed to be TSA compliant.

We stopped by Camillus knives and I have never seen their booth so busy before. They just released a new line of Les Stroud survival knives that should be extremely popular. For those of you who don’t know, Les is the star of the hit “Survivorman” TV show. There are three knives and a machete that will be part of this line.

From the Camillus Home Page:

Bear and Son Cutlery has a brand new balisong that will be released early this year. It is called the Bear Song III and features micarta handles. I have handled a few of Bear’s butterfly knives and this one is going to be a pretty good flipper. The nice thing about the Bear line is that you don’t have to break the bank in order to purchase a decent balisong. Bear has really expanded their Bear Ops line of tactical folding knives and there are several new ones this year as well. Bear has also named most of their knives, which is nice because it makes the knives easier to keep track of.

Right next to Bear we discovered a custom knifemaker named Arno Bernard. Arno is from South Africa and carries on the tradition of great knifemakers from that country. His knives kind of look like bushcrafting fixed blades, and are all made with very nice handle materials. Things like giraffe bone, abalone, and several beautiful wood combinations. The fit and finish on these were superb.

Cheetah Model – Desert Ironwood

Meerkat Model – Giraffe Bone

We stopped by the Meyerco booth and saw Darrell Ralph. He showed us a bunch of balisongs that he had been working on as part of his DRT (Darrel Ralph Tactical) line. He also had several custom Gunhammers at the booth with damascus blades and bronze hardware. These are going to be a limited run of 30 and they look really cool. HTM has incorporated Darrell’s Maxx Glide opening technology into most of their knives now, and it seems like most of them open much smoother now. There is a brand new knife called the Bull Whip that looks like it will be a big success. Jeff Hall has teamed up with Meyerco to make a new line of assisted opening knives that look like they are going to be really popular as well.

Our show started off quick at the Strider Booth. This is where I got my first chance to look at the SJ75, a relatively new titanium framelock mini folder. This is a stout little knife that would be ideal for almost any gentleman’s carry. Those guys who are big Strider fans, but generally like a smaller knife are going to love this one.

Ontario Knife Company is probably best known for making excellent survival fixed blades. They have had an affiliation with Randall’s Adventure and Training, which gives them an expertise working with survival knives.

The Blackbird SK-5 is a sturdy fixed blade knife that has won a couple of knife awards.

We also saw the DPx Gear HEST folder that Ontario is currently manufacturing. Lion Steel is making the majority of the HEST knives, but the Folder II is being produced by Ontario.

TOPS has several new knives they are rolling out this year. One of our favorites was the CUMA TAK-RI designed by Waysun Johnny Tsai. The CUMA TAK-RI is a fixed blade knife that features a kukri shaped blade. The knife is currently being featured in IDW Publishing’s G.I. JOE comic book series “Snake Eyes”. Snake Eyes can be seen slashing Cobra troops with the CUMA TAK-RI.

TOPS also has a number of fixed blade knives that will be coming out with stainless satin blades.

Hogue has a new folding knife called the EX02. This knife is thicker and rounder than the EXo1. The knife will come with a flipper and will also have a variation with no flipper. It should be available really soon.

Picture C/O and Copyright – Valerie Elishewitz

Hogue also had another prototype called the EX04 which will be coming later this year.

Ka-Bar has several new knives coming out in 2012. They have a brand new Zombie folding knife called the Zombie Mule, which is larger and thicker than the current Zombie folding knife.

This is the Desert Mule folder. The Zombie Mule will have the same look, but will feature a toxic green handle. It will be available in plain and serrated versions.

There is also a brand new Zombie Killing fixed blade knife called the “Chop Stick”. The Zombie line seems to be doing very well for Ka-Bar. There is also an exciting new set of Becker fixed blades called the “Tweeners”. These knives are shorter than the original Beckers and are very cool. The anticipated release date of the Becker Tweeners is March of this year.

Blackhawk has a new fixed blade knife coming out this year called the Gideon. It comes in tanto and drop point versions. We didn’t get to hold the knife, but it looks like it will fit nice in the hand.

Gerber is releasing several new Bear Grylls items this year. There are a few multi-tools, a new survival kit, a canteen, and a knife or two. Gerber has been listening to what people were saying and decided to come out with a plain version of the Ultimate knife. So if you were looking for a non-serrated version, then this is your chance. Gerber said that the plain version would be at your favorite knife store some time at the end of the first quarter this year. Gerber also has a couple of new multi-tools, including one that works as a tripod for your camera. I didn’t play with this multi-tool but it looks like Gerber is trying to do something a little bit more exciting with their multi-tool line.

Many of you will be familiar with Benchmade’s new offerings for the year. They had the model 62 at their booth for us to play with and it is super nice. I know that some guys have been concerned with the weight of the 62, since it is going to be stainless steel instead of titanium. After actually holding the knife in my hand, I can tell you that this is going to be an excellent flipper.

Also we saw the automatic version of the Adamas folding knife. This automatic fires hard and has a solid lock-up. The knife uses the Axis lock mechanism.

Some of you will be familiar with the Boker 715. It was an older knife that worked similarly to an Italian leverlock. Well, Boker has a new knife that is similar to the 715 that could be coming to market soon. There is a new titanium framelock folding knife called the Albatros that is very cool.

Protech had a prototype of the FlyFather butterfly knife at their booth. The FlyFather is going to be an extremely cool butterfly knife when it comes out into production.

They have a new fixed blade knife called the Spindrift which is an Allen Elishewitz design. The most unique thing about this knife was its handle. Each one is 3D machined and contoured G10 with a 154CM blade.

Protech is also releasing a new CA legal automatic knife this year that is thinner than the Runt. Its called the Sprint, and its thinner and more compact. Most people looking for a CA legal automatic knife who didn’t like the Runt felt like it was too thick. So, Protech has made a new knife for all of these people!

SOG has several new knives available this year. The one that is bound to get people talking is called the BladeLight. Its a knife that doubles as a flashlight. No, really. The concept sounded hokey to us at first too. Once we actually took a look at the knife and held it in our hands, we liked it much better than we thought that we would.

SOG is also releasing new satin versions of some of their tomahawks.