Gear

Father’s Day 2021 – Pike’s Picks For Dads.

Father’s Day is right around the corner, and if you lack ideas, then you’ve come to the right place. As a man who understands men, I’m here to help you pick out a few good gifts for dad. Dads are famously hard to shop for, so I’ve got six kick-ass gifts for you to make Dad’s day.

The Ka-Bar EK Model 4

The Ek Model 4 is a classic fighting knife that traces its legacy back to World War 2. It was used in the hands of soldiers, Marines, and commandos. Marie Raiders favored it for slicing the throats of America’s enemies across the Pacific. It’s a dagger design with a dual-edge 6.625-inch blade that can reach an internal organ from nearly any angle. Who wouldn’t want this for Father’s Day?

Ka-Bar purchased the Ek company and faithfully reproduced the classic blade at an excellent price point. The big blade delivers the same weight and chunk as the classic Ek Model 4. It can slash, stab and chop brutally and brilliantly. It’s a fantastic knife that’s surprisingly affordable, especially when compared to original Ek Model 4 knives. It’s a sweet knife that Dad can appreciate for its utility, its asskickery, and its historical significance.

Buy It Now

Century BOB

Punching bags are a great way to exercise, sharpen your self-defense skills and get some stress out. What’s better than a punching bag is the Century Bob and Bob XL. The Bob punching bags are made from a soft polymer designed to take punches and blows over the long term.

It’s shaped and resembles a man, and that’s the key to the Bob’s success. It looks like a man meaning you can target body parts realistically and accurately. This ensures you are getting the most out of your training and having a more realistic training experience. If your dad’s looking to get into martial arts or wants to increase his fitness in general, then the Bob is an outstanding father’s day gift.

Buy It Now

5.11 PT-R Sandbag Kit

Since we are talking all about fitness, let’s talk about 5.11 Tactical’s new PT-R gear, specifically the PT-R sandbags. These sandbags come in 50 and 100-pound varieties and give you an excellent at-home option for working out. The 5.11 PT-R sandbags give you big robust handles placed well to commit to a variety of exercises.

The 5.11 PT-R Sandbags will completely change how you work out. The constantly shifting sand challenges you in a way that traditional metal weights cannot. It forces you to work stabilizer muscles you might not have even known you had. Sandbags allow for both full-on cardio or strength workouts with dynamic movements you can’t accomplish with standard weights. If Dad has a home gym, the PT-R sandbags are the perfect addition and a great Father’s Day gift.

Buy It Now

Mantis X3 Shooting System

Ammo is tight this year. It’s exploded in price and seems to be constantly sold out. As such dry fire has become a must to keep your skills sharp. If Dad likes to dry fire, then he can take it to the next level with the Mantis X3 dry fire system. This device attaches to your handgun’s rail and measures your dry fire training.

It measures your trigger pull, grip, and a half dozen other factors that inhibit accurate shooting. It can diagnose and help fix your problems while perfecting your trigger pull. The Mantis X3 also tracks your history and growth, runs you through training courses and drills, and will work with dry fire, live fire, and air guns. It’s a great Father’s Day gift if your dad is into guns and training.

Buy It Now

Cloud Defensive Rein

Does Dad need a new weapon light? Or does your dad want the very best weapon light on the market? If so, then you can light up this father’s day with the Cloud Defensive Rein. The Rein packs a ton of power into a relatively small and light weapon light. It packs 1,400 lumens, on top of 60,000 candela.

That means it’s not just bright but throws light nice and far. This light gives you an effective range measured in the hundreds of yards. The Rein performs better than any Streamlight or Surefire and comes from a small but very capable American company. It is the best weapon light on the market and not only shines bright but takes a serious beating.

Buy It Now

Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case

If dad has expensive taste in firearms, he should have expensive taste in protecting those firearms. If not, help him out this father’s day with the Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case. This double case blends protection with modern stylings to provide you with a lightweight and durable gun case for protecting your goods.

You get a set of wheels for easy transport, pre-perforated pluck foam for easy customization, a pressure release valve, dual-stage lockable latches, and a Dri-Loc seal to keep water and dust out. It’s feature-filled and surprisingly affordable. The Plano All Weather Tactical Gun Case provides you with a made in the USA option to keep dad’s second-most precious firearms safe.

Buy It Now

Beyond Father’s Day

Dad deserves something great. If your dad is a regular reader of SOFREP, the Loadoutroom, or similar websites, I can guarantee you he’ll love the items on this list. We are a community, though, so let us know below what you think dad will love? The more we can share, the better.

The Nitecore P20i – A Pumped Up Flashlight

Need a powerful light that doesn’t cost a small fortune? Well, then Nitecore might be for you. Nitecore makes a wide variety of lights, batteries, and chargers. People like Cloud Defensive use Nitecore chargers with their products for a reason. Nitecore was kind enough to send me the P20i for test and review, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

Breaking Down the P20i

The P20i is a handheld style light that’s a little big for EDC use, especially if you are in business or formal wear. It’s 5.61 inches long and 1.25 inches wide at the widest point. The light does weigh a relatively lightweight 4 ounces.

What makes the P20i impressive is the 1850 lumens backed by 29,500 candela. That’s a lot of power in a little light. That’s the high mode, and the medium and low modes reduce lumen and candela counts to save battery when you don’t need a massive amount of light. The mid mode gives you 280 lumens, and the low mode is 35 lumens for long battery life.

$90 Buy It Now

Speaking of, the P20i can use a 4000 MAH 21700i battery or 2 CR123 batteries. Dual fuel designs are always a good touch. You do get the rechargeable battery, but if it dies, you can toss in some disposable CR123s and keep going. The light can use an independent charge, or you can just plug the whole light in. The light is compatible with a USB C charger, so it is completely compatible with my phone charger.

The tip is also fitted with a strike bezel. You never know when you need to break glass or someone’s face with your light. The P20i has all the little tactical features you know and love.

The P20i In Action

I charged it and had to wait a painfully long time for night to settle in. I just wanted to play with my ultra-powerful light! Finally, the sun set, and I start lighting the world up around me. Holy crap, this thing is bright. The beam lights up targets as far as 100 yards without much difficulty. A light reaching 100 yards isn’t impressive.

A light reaching 100 yards and providing enough light to easily identify everything at my range is impressive. I can see colors and details. When paired with a little magnification, I can see tons of details and features. I can, without issue, identify a threat or target in great detail.

The beam has enough spill to fill your peripheral vision. Indoors it lights up huge rooms without issue. Light is cast from left to right and fills my vision. The hot spot is large and immediately apparent. Nitecore’s P20i has a decent compromise between spill and throw for good range and a wide, bright beam.

The P20i shines a cool beam temperature-wise. It’s slightly blue but not so far into the cool territory that it messes with other colors.

Controls include two buttons that have multi-use functions. The big main clicky button controls the momentary and constant mode. A soft touch provides a momentary beam, and a hard click is constant. It comes out on high mode out of the gate. A smaller, flushing fitting button allows you to swap between high, medium, and low mode.

That same flush-fitting button can be used to activate the strobe mode by itself. The strobe mode can only be activated when the light is off, and the strobe is only a momentary setting. When the button is released, the strobe shuts off.

Shining Lights

I tested the P20i for a few hours one night through its various modes and found that it will step down in lumens to avoid overheating. Although it does get still get hot. I’m not a huge fan of lights that step down their lumens, so that’s one downside to the light. For a budget light, I can’t complain much. What turns me off is that I can’t find any information regarding what lumens count it steps down, and Nitecore doesn’t necessarily tell you that step-down occurs.

If that doesn’t bother you, the Nitecore P20i is a good light at a low price point. It’s quite bright with some serious power…until it warms up. For short bursts, it’s a good light, or if you want to use the medium mode, then the light works extremely well for most uses. It’s a light perfect for camping, hunting, hiking, and similar tasks. For duty use, I’d stick to Streamlight and Surefire, but for everything else, the Nitecore P20i brings enough power, a durable, compact design, and an easily rechargeable one at that.

Top Ten Concealed Carry Holsters – Peep The Best

Concealed carry allows the everyday Joe and Jane the means to pack a firearm for self-defense. One of the most important considerations to concealed carry in your holster. Your holster selection plays a bigger role than you might know. Holsters are responsible for helping keep the firearm concealed, keeping it safe, and ensuring you can fill your hand when need be. With that in mind, you might be asking yourself, which holster should I use? Well, I got good news for you, I have ten of the very best concealed carry holsters on the market.

Phlster Spotlight Concealed Carry Holster

Phlster makes some of the best holsters on the planet, and they provide an unbeatable holster option in the form of the Spotlight. The Spotlight allows shooters to conceal any compact or full-sized medium frame Glock pistol, with a TLR 1 weapon light, a red dot sight, a muzzle device, and suppressor height sights.

If you carry a Gucci Glock, you might as well carry a Gucci holster to accommodate it. Phlster holsters are superbly comfortable, well made, safe, and easy to draw and reholster from. It’s tough to beat the best, and Phlster takes the number one spot for a reason.

Buy It Now

Compatible with – Glock 17/22/31/19/23/32/34/35

Raven Concealment Systems Perun OWB Holster

Raven Concealment are masters of discreet carry, and when you pack a big piece for concealed carry, you need a good holster, especially when you want to carry OWB. The Raven Concealment Systems Perun OWB holster gives you an ultra-thin but ultra well-made OWB option.

It clings tight to the body and makes it possible to conceal a Glock 19 with nothing more than a T-shirt over the top. Users have adjustable retention, and the holster can be reversed for either left or right-handed carry. It’s a downright dirty trick of a holster that disappears and carries with absolute ease.

Buy It Now

Compatible With – Glock 19/19x/23/26/32/44/45

Galco Miami Classic

Shoulder carry comes in and out of fashion, but regardless of the current fad, the quality of Miami Classic remains pristine. This is the flag bearer of shoulder holsters and combines comfort with retention but allows for easy access and excellent concealment. The Miami Classic gains its name from its starring role on the television show Miami Vice.

Opposite the holster is a double mag pouch for a reload or two. The rear of the holsters features a spider harness that allows the four points to pivot independently. This ensures complete and total maneuverability and total comfort. The Miami Classic makes concealed carry simple and comfortable.

Buy It Now

Compatible With – Numerous Glock, SIG, Beretta, and S&W handguns

Concealment Express OWB Concealed Carry Holster

If your budget is tight and you want a rock-solid concealed carry holster, then it’s tough to beat the Concealment Express OWB rig. It provides the comfort and speed of access that OWB offers with a tight fit and easy concealment you need for a stress-free carry experience.

This rig allows users to have complete ambidexterity, as well as room for all the modern doo-dads. This includes suppressor height sights, threaded barrels, and red dot sights. This simplistic polymer holster delivers excellent retention, easy concealment, and a relatively low price point.

Buy It Now

Compatible with – Too Many To List.

Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0

Life is all about options. With the Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0, you get two options for carry. You can run the Torsion 3.0 as a traditional strong side concealed carry holster or as an appendix carry rig. Users can remove or adjust one belt clip to add cant or reduce bulk.

This polymer holster delivers outstanding performance in all conditions and a near impossible to break design. This thin rig disappears under a t-shirt and allows you to carry guns both big and small with near invisibility. The Bravo Concealment Torsion 3.0 rig gives users a minimalist rig that provides exceptional comfort and instant access when your concealed carry firearm is needed.

Buy It Now

Compatible with S&W M&P series, Most Glocks, HK VP9, SIG P320 series

Desantis Mini Scabbard

Polymer-based holsters are without a doubt the superior option for duty holsters, but leather can still produce an amazing concealed carry holster. The Desantis Mini Scabbard is the perfect example of an outstanding leather holster. This custom-molded holster accommodates specific firearms and allows for a sure fit and excellent retention.

The Mini Scabbard encloses the firearm completely and provides a fixed, non-collapsing design for the utmost safety. This holster comes from Desantis, masters of leatherwork, and they produce outstanding holsters for concealed carry. The Mini Scabbard clings tight to the body and makes it easy to dedicate yourself to concealed carry. You’ll forget you’re even wearing a gun on your hip with a holster this comfortable.

Compatible with S&W M&P Shield, SIG P365, and S&W J frames

Buy One By Clicking Links Above

Blackhawk T Series L2C

Do you live a life of blood and danger? Full of adventure? Or maybe you move furniture for a living, climb ladders, or swing a hammer? If so, you likely find yourself in situations where concealed carry is challenging. You need active retention, and not many concealed carry holsters offer it. That’s where the Blackhawk T Series L2C comes into play.

The L2C sports a thumb-activated retention device that ensures the gun stays in place until you need it most. The thumb activation falls where your grip naturally falls, so defeating it is far from an obstacle. The L2C allows you to have a concealed carry, minimalist OWB rig with the retention of a duty holster. Adventure away and do so knowing your firearm is safely tucked away.

Compatible With S&W M&P 2.0, S&W Shield, Glock 17/19/22/23, SIG P320, SIG P365

Buy It Now

Safariland 7378 ALS

Safariland made their bones making duty holsters, and their adventure into concealed carry gave us the 7378 series of OWB concealed carry holsters. They took all the features of their famed duty holster designs and shrunk them a bit, made them easier to hide and ultimately easier to conceal. The 7378 uses the ALS system to retain the weapon.

The retention is outstanding, but all it takes to draw the gun is a straight upwards tug. The 7378 series provides excellent security, a very easy draw, and awesome concealment. Safariland even gave these rigs an excellent price point that makes them perfect for nearly any budget-conscious shooter. It’s an outstanding concealment rig that makes your weapon disappear with ease.

Compatible With- Almost Everything Made after 1911

Buy It Now

Phalanx Defense Stealth Operator OWB/IWB Package

I’ve been using the Phalanx Defense Stealth Operator for years now, and it’s my favorite ‘universal’ holster. The Stealth Operator provides polymer construction with compatibility with over 150 handguns designs. The IWB and OWB models offer an insane degree of concealability. Phalanx Defense has packaged both the IWB and OW holsters together for one very affordable price point.

This gives users two options for the price of one. Both encourage active concealment and allow you to keep your gun close at hand. This design provides you options not only near modern firearms but for a multitude of carry positions. You can’t beat it when it comes to versatility. It also provides you an exceptional amount of comfort, concealment, and it’s perfect for any concealed carry condition.

Compatible with Over 150 different firearms.

Buy It Now

Galco Underwraps Belly Band

Belly bands are tricky. Most are cheap crap you find for a few bucks, and believe me; you get what you pay for. With the Galco Underwraps, you get an outstanding belly band for a little more money. The investment is well worth the little extra cash. With the Underwraps, you can effectively conceal a handgun, as well as extra magazines, a flashlight, and more with little effort.

Your firearm will be secure, safe, but easy to access, and damn sure it’s concealed. The Galco belly band allows you to concealed carry regardless of the situation. You can carry comfortably in gym clothes, yoga pants, or if you decide to just Winnie The Pooh with a shirt and not pants. At least you got your gun. It’s a comfortable deep carry method to safely carry your firearm.

Compatible With – Most subcompact firearms.

Buy It Now

Boom, Bang, Pow

When you strap a holster on your body, you should have complete confidence in it. You shouldn’t worry about your gun flying out, your trigger being exposed, or your firearm being hard to draw. With a high-quality concealed carry holster, you’ll have none of those worries. When you choose one of the above holsters for concealed carry, you won’t have those worries.

The Rush24 2.0 From 5.11 Tactical

The 5.11 Rush series have been around for almost 15 years now. This year we see the first update in the form of the Rush 2.0 series. We got our greedy mitts on the Rush24 2.0 and have been putting it through its paces.

What’s New With The Rush24 2.0

First, they added a concealed carry pouch. It’s hidden ingeniously but quick to access. It sits as a pocket between the front pocket and main pouch. It’s sealed with hook and loop, so it’s effortless to open and access.

Second, the inside of the main pouch now features a laptop pouch that allows you to fit a 15-inch laptop in it. This was added due to user demand. The EDC world has largely adopted military and tactical packs, so small things are changing to better accommodate every user. Plus, the tactical world is changing, the implementation of technology is being infused into our warfighters.

Buy It Now

The Rush24 2.0 comes in a multitude of colors, including tactical favorites like Multicam, but also black, brown, and various greens. The bag has a wide variety of pockets and pouches to allow the organization of everything from sleeping gear to pens and paper. Let’s look at the features that stood out to me.

Organization

You learn quickly how important pack organization is when it starts to rain on your field op. Your sprint to cover your gear, but you packed your tarp at the very bottom of the pack. Organization is critical. It doesn’t matter if it’s an EDC pack, a hiking kit, a bug-out bag, or whatever. You want it organized.

The Rush24 2.0 exists as a pocket packing machine. There are pockets everywhere. The side pockets allow for the easy stashing of important gear. From phone chargers to IFAKs, you can store it all for relatively easy access. Organizing your gear in the dozens of pockets is easy and accessing them even easier.

Pockets in the top, front, and side give you plenty of room to stash emergency essentials that you might need right away. I pack an IFAK and rain poncho in the quick access compartments.

Capacity

Thirty-seven liters of your junk can be shoved into the Rush24 2.0. This much space gives me enough room to pack for days at a time. I can pack at least 48 hours of supplies in this bag. If I stretch it a bit and eat thin, then the bag can last 72 hours. I can pack a sleeping bag, extra clothes, a few MREs, lots and lots of water, as well as a good flashlight, an IFAK, and so much more.

I’ve put the pack to the test in my adventure rucks and packed it with a 45-pound load to simulate the Wildland FireFighter pack test. It fit in without making the bag bulbous and tough to close. The extra pockets and dedicated hydration pack makes a huge difference in your capacity.

I’ve loaded the bag for EDC purposes from the office to the gym, and it served as a bag for both. I filled it up with weight to help shoot a gun like an improvised Caldwell Lead Sled. The Rush24 2.0 is a powerhouse of a pack with plenty of capacity for crossing the border into Iraq or going to that 3 PM college class.

Fit and Comfort

Remember when I loaded this bad boy with 45 pounds? Well, I also took it on a three-mile hike. That three-mile hike was completed in under 45 minutes to comply with the Wildland firefighter fitness test. That’s mighty fast for a hump, and it admittedly gave me a good perspective on the pack’s comfort.

Without an external frame, 45 pounds seems to be about the top weight I’d want to carry in this pack. The good news is 5.11 designed the Rush24 2.0 to carry a hefty load for a ‘backpack.’ A healthy amount of reinforced padding on the back. Padding provides an excellent degree of comfort, and the pads allow air to pass between you and your pack.

The shoulder straps are thickly padded and extremely wide. These wide pads provide a high level of comfort to the pack and help support the weight without the straps digging in. The Rush24 2.0 provides a high degree of comfort even when loaded down with heavyweight.

Inherent Quality

Is it made well? Well, it’s made from high-strength 1000D nylon that’s also water repellant. It’s tear-proof, and 5.11 sews everything on with what appears to be a double stitch. The zippers are all YKK high-quality, smooth-moving sealing devices. Duraflex makes the buckles, so you’re well covered here too.

Plus, when it gets filthy dirty, I just hose it down, dry it out and get back at it. For the price, it’s tough to make a better backpack. I’m sure you could, but selling it for under 150 bucks is next to impossible. Give it a peak and let us know what you think below.

Legend All-Weather Compression Socks

Socks are something I never thought about when addressing tactical gear. Not until my first deployment and I realized how valuable good socks are. I got my hands on the Legend All-Weather Compression socks and have put some miles on them. Proper socks are so damn important.

I deployed with the bargain bin socks the PX sold and didn’t think twice. An Any Marine Package showed up from a lovely group of generous individuals and packed away were expensive hiking socks. I can’t remember the brand, but they had an REI price tag on them and were made for hiking. After my first patrol equipped with good socks, I realized just how damn important good socks are.

The Legend All-Weather Compression socks are boot-length socks that go all the way up. They are made from a combination of merino wool, spandex, and nylon. The combination offers flexibility, comfort, and proven performance.

The Legend All-Weather Compression Socks In Action

That thought has been reinforced by the Legend All-Weather Compression socks. I strapped these bad boys almost a month and a half ago and since then have put more than 100 miles between both pairs. My goal was to put 50 miles per pair, and after that, I stopped counting the miles. Since then, I’ve worn them extensively in normal sock rotation, and whenever I need to hike, I grab them.

The Cold and Wet

I hit the ground running in a variety of environments. All-Weather is a mighty big claim, so I put that name to the test. I put miles on these bad boys in the cold rainy foothills of South Carolina. At a firearm’s media event, I climbed through various environmental conditions. I crawled up muddy hills of clay in cold and wet conditions.

Buy It Now

Yet, my feet never felt cold or uncomfortable. They were just right for the 30 to 50-degree temperatures I was facing. The Legend All-Weather Compression socks even got a good dose of being wet due to some uncomfortable puddle jumping. Yet, they dried quickly and didn’t leave me wet for long.

Keep in mind the moisture was minimal, and it was resigned to the toe of my sock. A full submersion would not dry very quickly.

Turn Up the Heat

Florida sucks y’all. If it wasn’t for the lack of state income taxes, I’d leave these swampy states. It’s almost always hot, and even in March and April, the heat is righteous. I rucked in hot and humid conditions.

My longest hump was five miles at high noon in Florida. I’m a big fella, and I sweat a good bit. That includes my feet, and normally I get nice gross, sweaty socks. The problem here is that wet socks rub, and they create blisters.

However, the Legend All-Weather Compression socks are moisture-wicking. My feet never felt wet and sweaty even after mile 5. The moisture-wicking really made a difference.

The Comfort Factor

The Legend All-Weather Compression socks are super comfortable. On these longer hikes, I noticed my feet didn’t go numb. That’s an issue I tend to have with normal socks when I add weight and ruck for time. The graduated compression hosiery promotes better blood flow and gives you the ability to ruck faster and farther.

The cushion on the sole and around the legs keeps blisters away and keeps the boots from rubbing your legs raw. Better yet, the sock never rolled downwards or sagged. The Spandex is in play here, and I’m grateful for it.

Overall I’m impressed by the Legend All-Weather Compression socks. I’ll probably take them out of my normal rotation and save them for hiking and field use. I’d hate to wear them out too fast. I plan to purchase a few pairs extra and toss them in the bug-out bag as well. Legend knocked it out of the park and if you are the type to hike, hump, ruck, conduct foot patrols, fight fires on mountains, then you owe it to yourself to get good socks for your feet.

The Ek Model 4 – A Killer Commando Knife

KA-BAR’s legend needs no introduction here. They’ve been producing finely made fighting, utility, and pocket knives for Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors since World War 2. KA-BAR teamed up with Ek Knives to bring back the classic EK Model 4 commando knife for the modern market. John Ek produced these knives during the height of World War 2. The Ek Model 4 killed Japanese and Nazi soldiers in the hands of Marine Raiders, the Army Rangers, the First Special Service Force, and the OSS.

This was the height of the Commando dagger, and John Ek’s Model 4 quickly became a popular choice for the boys doing the throat-slitting and lung piercing. Demand grew so fast, and the need for knives was massive. John Ek eventually had three shifts working 24/7 to produce knives for military service. President Roosevelt and General Patton both own Model 4 knives, and Clark Gable reportedly purchased several.

The Ek Model 4 – KA-BAR’s Entry

Over time the Ek knife company moved around quite a bit, and eventually, KA-BAR purchased the brand. This is where we sit now with the new Ek Model 4. KA-BAR made some minor changes for ease of production.

Notably, the grips are no longer wood but glass-filled nylon. KA-BAR ensured the grip design was identical to the classic knives. This unique grooved system gives you a very sure grip on the blade. Eighth scallops are cut into the grips, and it’s an ingenious way to provide a good grip without using G10 style scales. Old school doesn’t mean outdated all the time.

The crossguard is slightly different, with one side going upwards and one curving downwards. It’s small, and small is good to prevent the knife from snagging on your gear when drawn. The handle is also massive for an easy draw and plenty of room to grip. It’s like a hand and a half sword, but on a dagger.

Digging the Blade

An Ek Model 4 features a blade similar to most fighting knives of its time. Back in the day where the Model 4 came to be, fighting with a knife wasn’t out of the question. Fighting men wanted long blades that could extend their natural reach as well as reach the vital organs from nearly any angle of attack. The original KA-BAR had a 7-inch blade, the Gerber Mk2 had a 6.5-inch blade, and the Ek Model 4 comes with a 6.625-inch blade.

Daggers mean dual-edge, and the Ek Model 4 doesn’t disappoint. The blade is dangerously sharp on each side and made from 1095 Cro Van steel. The grind is absolutely beautiful and even on both sides. It cuts through meat cleanly without stutter or interruption. I know that because I’ve been meal prepping a lot, and cutting chicken is a daily chore.

Buy it Now $110

This is no kitchen knife, but that’s the only way I can see how this thing cuts through meat legally. I have a big pile of broken-down Amazon boxes, and I stacked ten layers of cardboard up, taped it together, and pushed the blade right through it with little effort.

John Ek chose the 1095 Cro Van steel, and it was a smart choice. This steel is extremely strong, has great edge retention, holds an edge for a long time, and can be used hard without worry. The downside is the corrosion resistance isn’t great, but KA-BAR coats the blade to help.

A combination of the long blade and long handle gives you the ability to chop. Being able to chop with a dagger is a rare feat. The big hefty design allows you to swing the blade downward with surprising force. The pointy tip and dual-edge design make this a natural stabbing tool, and it’s likely slipped through the ribs of the enemies of Democracy more than once.

The Ek Model 4 In Action

Daggers do not lend themselves to versatility like a traditional KA-BAR. You can’t baton wood, strike a fire starter, and the lack of a belly makes cleaning game more challenging. You can strap the Ek Model 4 on your belt as a survival knife, but it most certainly excels more like a fighting knife than a survival tool.

I couldn’t be happier to see the return of the Ek brand, and I’m happy to see it in the hands of KA-BAR. The Model 4 is an excellent example of John Ek’s design with KA-BAR’s quality. I’m excited to see what other Ek blades they bring back.