knives illustrated

The Adventure Tool is a bit wider than the original tool and incorporates some new features. In addition to the bottle opener, flat head screwdriver, scoring tool, 1.4-inch bit driver, and 8-, 9-, and 10-mm hex wrench of the original Pocket Tool, you also get a new proprietary carabiner built in that lets you quickly fasten the tool to your keys, pack, or belt loop, along with a #2 Phillips screwdriver, a split ring recess, and a notched ruler.

This new knife is also a looker. It manages to combine a classic blade shape with modern touches very well. The Micarta scales blend very well with the bronze backspacer and the wire clip looks right at home here. There’s a lanyard hole if you’re into that, but it doesn’t dominate the design in any way.

Getting that fire started can be a chore sometimes though, especially if it’s wet out, and that’s where bringing a good fire starter with you can make a difference. You can find a lot of fire-starting options out there, but I’m always on the prowl for new ones. Lately, the Black Beard rope has caught my eye.

It all began in the wilderness adjacent to Lake Metonga. Like most knife enthusiasts, Anthony Paul Fewkes was just a boy exploring the Illinois wilderness when he fell in love with knives. More than 30 years later, the love affair is still raging for the 43-year-old father of two young girls.

Finding the perfect balance between big and small, the 0707 offers something for everyone with its premium looks and cutting performance. Its sleek profile is comfortable in the hand, while also keeping a low profile in the pocket. Yet its 3.5-inch blade offers a substantial edge for most cutting tasks. Plus, for a first in the Zero Tolerance lineup, users can access the blade with ZT’s Tuned Detent System (TDS™), which allows the knife to be opened even with pressure on the lockbar. A reversible extra-deep-carry pocket clip, carbon fiber handle scales, and CPM 20CV blade steel round out this feature-packed ZT innovation.

All of the knives are made with “German Steel.” (That’s as specific as they get.) Each are a single piece of metal. No handle scales here. They have a black coating and the overall look is actually pretty cool. A bit non-traditional for sure, but they should look at home in any modern kitchen. The looks actually grew on me more and more as I had them. They are very classy, in a modern sort of way. The knives don’t come with any sheaths or covers to speak of, but that isn’t uncommon on less-expensive kitchen knife sets.

To make a quality knife, I’ve learned it’s all about geometry. A good-looking knife with a sharp edge is great; but, if the geometry is wrong, it won’t hold its edge. I learned that with my first knife. Initially, it wouldn’t even cut rope. When I found the perfect geometry, it cut the 2-inch rope, 2x4s and other heavy power cuts without chipping or rolling. Plus, it still had a fine edge to cut paper and other delicate cuts.

Got some time on your hands. Put down that hot pocket and get off the couch. Master the moment and build your knife skills. If you’re a blade buff, here’s a one-stop roundup of skill building resources to get you going.

If you own or work for a small outdoor business, or if you’re self-employed, you’re likely facing unprecedented challenges. Some businesses are scrambling to keep up with high demand and opportunities for growth as people revive their outdoor interests and sharpen their capacity for self-reliance. But some small businesses and 1099 employees are seeing revenue slow.

Flowers’ own introduction to survival blades as a boy was much more American—err, Australian. “I watched Crocodile Dundee way too much as a kid,” he tells Amber. His parents had the movies on VHS, so he could watch the movie’s machete-wielding hero over and over again. “Here’s this dude with a big knife, outside in the Australian outback with a bunch of reptiles,” he says. “Basically, I do that today.”

When looking at different characteristics for knife blades, you may have to balance several different attributes. For example, improving one attribute usually deteriorates another. It is also important to keep in mind that no single knife steel does everything. Typically, steels made to hold an edge become more brittle. Steels made to take impact often have less corrosion resistance. Sometimes it makes sense to carry more than one knife (a beater and a biter). With that in mind, following are the properties of the steels and their descriptions.

First, take into consideration the legal ramifications of what you are planning. If you are running from debts or from illegal activities, you will go to prison for considerably longer if they catch you. Becoming a fugitive shouldn’t be part of your plan. Frank M. Ahearn, the author of How to Disappear, writes: “You don’t successfully vanish by staging an elaborate disappearing act that ultimately involves a tri-state search, police dogs, and your home town believing that you were mauled by a bear and dragged off into the dark night.” He stresses the importance of disappearing in a legal fashion.

Scientists call Neanderthal tool-making ‘Mousterian,’ after a place in France where tools from 200,000 years ago were first found. Knife makers would strike pieces off from a hard stone core. This flaking wasn’t random. Rather, Neanderthal craftsmen approached the project “much as a diamond cutter analyzes a rough gemstone today, trying to strike just the spot that would yield ‘flakes,’ for knives or spear points. Knives made this way required minimal sharpening and shaping,

While trying to find water in the wilderness can have its difficulties and challenges, an urban-survival scenario offers its own unique set of issues … and solutions. The Law of 3s about not being able to survive more than 3 days without water still applies. What you do to prepare for an urban-survival situation, plus the know-how contained in these great tips, will help you with your water management.

Oliver’s sons had become interested in blacksmithing back in their German hometown Herrstein, which attracts lots of tourists because it still has buildings dating back to medieval times. The region hosts festivals where craftsmen demonstrate blacksmithing and other medieval crafts. When the family moved to North Carolina, Oliver built a forge for his boys so that they could do a hobby together as they adjusted to their new home.

Both the handle and blade are black, which is ideal when you are carrying at night because there are no reflective surfaces to give away its presence. Created from all-weather, glass-filled nylon, the handle has segmented grooves that keep the knife firmly in your hand. Although the literature says the handle fits a wide range of hand sizes, it was an inch or so too short to provide a solid and comfortable fit for me. As I moved the knife about, I continually had to reposition my pinkie finger on the handle. This hindrance didn’t prevent me from gripping the knife; however, it was a distraction as I performed various tests.