Gear Reviews

Review: Winkler Knives’ Ultimate Folder

Daniel Winkler is comparable to the likes of the world’s greatest artists, but this artist applies his craft to steel and iron. If you are not aware, Daniel Winkler is an American award-winning custom bladesmith based in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. He is also a certified master bladesmith with the American Bladesmith Society, and was designer and manufacturer […]

Emerson Knives: Combat Tested and Reliable

What makes Emerson Knives so great? Well, for one, it’s 100% Made in the USA, down to the screws they use. Most other knife manufacturers try to use the latest and greatest steel or handle material as their selling points. One year it’s one super steel, and the next year it’s a different super steel. […]

HOW TO CHOOSE A SURVIVAL KNIFE

Well, the answer is actually an easy one. There is no perfect survival knife. The closest thing to it is the one that you have with you in a survival situation. The brand name and quality of the knife are irrelevant at that point. A sharpened rock, a razor blade, broken piece of glass or […]

Neck Knife With Survival Magnetism | Tops SSS Knife Review

Survival knives have come in many shapes and forms over the years, the most common being a large knife with all kinds of goodies stashed inside a handle with a screw-off base. That’s a good idea, but if the knife is not what you need, then the benefits don’t outweigh the need to carry it. […]

Airborne Delux | Special Forces GWOT Knife Review

Some years ago the late Chuck Karwan introduced me to a very talented Oregon knifemaker named Steve Huey. The maker’s knives are well known for being no-nonsense, hard-working tools that will perform under the most extreme conditions. Recently, I learned that Steve had been commissioned to make a distinctive combat knife for a Green Beret […]

SOLKOA Suma Pro Navy SEAL Survival Kit

What a treat to be able to preview AND review a survival kit, such as the SOLKOA Suma Pro Survival Kit available at Precision Rifle Supply. When it first arrived, my initial thought was….SWEET…nice and compact. When we plan for any kind of adventure, be it on land or on the water, most new comers don’t […]

Navy SEAL Automatics | TR-3 Knives Review

With most military units it is relatively easy to identify issue weapons and equipment. With the U.S. Navy SEALs—not so much! Naval Special Warfare units have a wide leeway in purchasing weapons and equipment. Often, each Special Boat Team, Seal Delivery Vehicle Team, or SEAL Team purchases special equipment to fit the unit’s mission. A […]

Polish Air Assault Knife Review

Poland has a rich tradition of parachute troops dating back to Free Polish paratroopers who jumped at Arnhem during World War II. This tradition continued throughout the Cold War when Polish airborne forces were considered one of the better units in the Warsaw Pact. Today, the Polish 6th Air Assault Brigade (Airborne) was the first […]

My Favorite War Boots: Zamberlan IDRA GT

There are some great boot companies out there (Asolo, Sportiva,etc) but Zamberlan is my personal favorite. These light hikers pictured are great for just that, I would also have no problem going on RECON with these boots. They have great ankle and sole support (the sole matters). I humped a pair of the heavy weight […]

BlackHawk CQD MK-1 | Tactical Folding Knife Review

A little over a decade ago Tactical Knives featured the then-new Duane Dieter-designed Masters of Defense “Close Quarters Defense” tactical folder. Billed as the “most advanced tactical folder of all time,” the heavy-duty knife certainly had a lot going for it. But its superior design and construction came at a price, $269.98 in 1999 dollars, […]