blade

Watch: Karambit Blade Demonstration

I’ve always been a huge advocate for carrying a blade for both utility and defense. There is a lot more to carrying a blade for self-defense than just buying a cool knife and throwing it in your pocket. You need to seek training in using a knife for self-defense if that is going to be your primary purpose for carrying one, even if that is only watching a DVD and practicing in the comfort of your home. Some of the more exotic arts are harder to find schools for. Sayoc Kali, for example, is an extremely effective system, but finding legit training schools can be tough. In this case, buying a DVD and practicing is your best bet until you find an actual school (something is better than nothing). Practicing drawing your knife and going through the various strikes is just like dry firing your pistol when not at the range.

One of the knives you don’t often see people carrying or practicing with is the Karambit. Just the sight of this blade in someone’s hands may be enough to make your attacker think twice. There is something to be said for the psychological impact these have. In the hands of a trained person, the Karambit is extremely lethal. Emerson Knives sells both fixed and folding Karambit knives along with their training system on DVD. If you’re thinking about picking up a Karambit and learning a new skill check out this video. At the end of the video, you can thank me for convincing you to spend more of that hard earned cash on another knife. Enjoy!

*Photo courtesy of InsideMartialArts Youtube channel

Morakniv Tactical Blade | Carbon Steel Excellence

Morakniv of Sweden has been making blades for over a hundred years. While the company has undergone a few name changes, their commitment to crafting ultra-sharp knives for use at home or in the field has never wavered.

I recently received the Morakniv Tactical for testing and evaluation. While I’m busy taking this thing out and working it over, I wanted to drop a preview here to show off its features a bit.

Carbon steel blade with DLC coating for unmatched edge sharpness and retention
58-60 HRC hardness
4.25″ Drop-point fixed Blade with no serration
9.25″ Overall length
MOLLE compatible plastic sheath
4.2 oz
Rubber handle
Ground spine for use with firestarters

If the name wasn’t enough of a giveaway, the design of the blade clearly lends itself to use in the tactical and outdoorsman realms. The rubber handle is grippy and stays that way even when wet. The carbon steel blade comes from the factory supremely sharp and can be counted on to stay that way with a hardness rating of 58-60 HRC. The “shave test” is a popular way to check how sharp a knife is and there is a nice bald spot on the back of my hand to attest to the factory edge Morakniv put on this thing.

Carbon steel knives are well-known for being capable of a sharper edge than their stainless steel counterparts and also being able to hold that edge through more use and abuse. The downside to this is carbon steel’s need for a little more maintenance. If your grandpappy handed down a knife that still seems impossibly sharp, I’d bet dollars to doughnuts it’s of carbon steel construction. Stainless is more convenient, sure. But for the demanding owner, go with the one that contains the hardest element on earth, carbon.

The plastic sheath is very reminiscent of my dive knives, with a rubber retaining ring that pulls down over the butt of the handle to keep ahold of the Tactical when not in use.

Wipe off the blood of your foes (the fish you caught or that buck you bagged), clean and oil your Morakniv before putting it away and this will be your favorite knife for years to come. The Tactical comes in at $68 on Morakniv’s website.

Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker: the complete sharpening system

When I opened the package, I was initially a bit overwhelmed by the Spyderco Tri-Angle sharpening system – particularly by the detailed instructions – but I quickly learned it is really very simple to use. I think electric sharpeners and grinders are a great option but they can be a bit messy, while I found the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker to be a cleaner and very efficient sharpener. In addition to the “Sharpmaker” instruction book, the system also comes with a step by step DVD to guide you through the sharpening process for all blade types.

The lid and base are made of polymer and seem very sturdy. The total system weighs in at 14.25 ounces. The base contains holes that firmly set the triangular stones at 30° (15° each side) or 40° (20° each side). It is designed to keep the plane of your blade vertical as you draw each stroke, and I feel it definitely accomplishes this.

The two included sharpening stones are made of high alumina ceramic (medium and fine grit) and are completely American made and do not require any sort of lubricant. The medium grit stones will last 3-5 years of consistent use, while the fine grit stones will virtually last a lifetime. Additional stone grits are available separately.

Stones can sharpen any metal, including:

Stainless steel
Stellite
Tool steel
Vasco wear
Tools made of (or tipped with) tungsten carbide, cobalt, or titanium

When sharpening, Spyderco recommends that the system be held on a stationary surface below waist level. This allows you to ensure you are using effective strokes at the correct angle. The brass safety rods are there for a reason, so use them! If I hadn’t, I probably would be missing a finger because the blade slipped off a time or two as I was testing on my first blade. The safety rods do their job well.

I practiced first on a cheaper knife that I own, and on the first try, I was able to follow the instructions resulting in an incredibly sharp edge. I was so impressed with how quick and easy it was that I broke out several of my favorite knives to give them a little tune-up as well.

This system may look a little intimidating when setting up, but it is incredibly effective and easy to use. When stored, it can be easily slipped into a backpack or kit for field use should the need arise. There are certainly cheaper options on the market, but in my experience, they generally don’t work as well and I’ve come to find that some things are worth paying more for. This is one of them. MSRP is $104.95 on the Spyderco site, and I recommend you check out the link along with the instructional video below.

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Emerson CQC-7 BW: Minimal maintenance and maximum self-defense

I have owned several folding knives that became favorites for various reasons. Sometimes it is a functional feature, other times aesthetic. With Emerson’s CQC-7BW it all boils down to that incredible chisel ground ‘B’ blade and Tanto style point. It wraps everything I want out of a blade into one – durability, design, and function.

Good for cutting, piercing, and hacking – my CQC-7 blade features a black finish (also available in a satin finish). It measures 3.3 inches in length with a thickness of .125 inches, and it is comprised of 154 CM stainless steel with a hardness of 57-59 RC. Overall knife length is 8.0 inches, while the handle is 4.65 inches long. The handle features a simple but good looking black G-10 epoxy and glass laminate that provides excellent grip and comfort. The knife is weighted very well at 4 ounces and virtually disappears in my pocket.

The wave feature is one that I have experience with due to owning some Emerson designed Kershaw knives, and for a self-defense weapon, it functions perfectly for me. The liner lock is made of an advertised “Aerospace grade” titanium and is built to last. When drawing from my pocket it opens crisply and with little effort. When wearing in my waistline, one-handed opening of the knife requires a bit more effort than other folders I have with SpeedSafe or auto-opening functions. Still, if carried in a pocket as intended this knife really can’t be beaten in its own class.

One feature I noticed on this knife that I really like is that the blade has one sharpened side while the other is flat. It makes sharpening the knife very easy. The straight lines on the edge also make sharpening easier than most of my curved-edge blades. Serrations can be added to the blade for an extra $5, but my personal preference is without. Overall this knife requires minimal maintenance while offering an incredibly effective EDC knife.

Cost of this knife starts at $201.95. Check out the CQC-7 line at the Emerson site.

Gerber Gator Bolo | Machete madness

Founded in 1939, Gerber has long since established itself as one of the biggest names in cutting tools. From kitchen cutlery to pocket knives, to skinning knives, Gerber has remained a small-shop powerhouse for most of a century. The Portland, Oregon based company is still fighting to keep at the forefront of the industry. Being local, I was very happy to hear I’d be working out their machete, the Gator Bolo.

The Gator is 22.5″ long with 15.5″ of that taken up by the (full-tang, 1050 steel) blade. The slip-proof handle is made from Gator Grip™ and includes a small lanyard hole at the end. A nylon sheath is included, which zips shut and has a hook-and-loop strap to secure it shut. A D-ring on the back of the sheath can be affixed to a belt or backpack. The Bolo design comes courtesy of the Philippines, where the front-heavy design is used to add mass and inertia for chopping thick vines or hard coconuts.

After a day at the range, I stopped at an area often used as a campsite. Lots of downed tree limbs and scrap wood were strewn about, providing a bounty of chop fodder. After a brief inspection (looked good!) I got to chopping. My first 10 whacks were given to a ~2.5″ diameter branch, which bisected it easily. The bolo design definitely gives a different balance to the Gator’s swing, taking just a little getting used to, it certainly helps to drive the edge home. I continued, taking the Gator to a number of limbs and branches between 1″ and 4″ in diameter. Over the course of 45 minutes, I spent probably 25-30 minutes of consistent chopping, gathering up a nice pile of wood in the process.

Here’s what I found: The handle of the Gator is marketed as ergonomic, and it really is. The shape of the handle as well as the material combine for an excellent grip. Even when the machete had been given a good soaking by rain, the grip was excellent. The edge of the blade didn’t start out particularly impressive, which stands to reason. A razor sharp blade would dull too quickly to be useful, but a wider blade edge should hold up to more significant abuse, right? Well, the Gator wasn’t impressing me in that department. I was taking down some fairly soft wood such as cedar and pine, but the edge on this blade was blunted significantly in parts after short use. I always test before I research, but a quick look online shows that many customers are finding their edge dulled or even chipped after short use. Ouch. The sheath works fine, as a sheath should. It secures the machete when you don’t need it and releases it easily enough when you do.

I’ll admit, I’m not a metallurgist. I understand that 1050 steel is a carbon steel, lacking in chrome or other metals to inhibit rust and corrosion. As such, the Gator Bolo needs to be dried and oiled to prevent surface rusting/discoloration. Even though my Gator showed slight surface rust after use of the machete, as evidenced by the large number of reports of chipped, folded and broken edges. Perhaps it’s more of a heat treating issue and the metal wasn’t properly tempered? I’m not certain where the problem lies, but a chopping tool that blunts so easily isn’t going to be around long. Also, made in China.

While the Gerber Gator Bolo has an excellent design, acceptable sheath and a great handle, the steel used is either inappropriate for this use or not adequately prepared. If you want to read up some more on the Gator Bolo machete, check it out here. MSRP is $49, street price more like $35.

-Rex Nanorum

The Kershaw Injection 3820

Kershaw’s Injection 3820 is a small frame knife that comes with an incredibly sane price-tag of around 10 dollars. It contains a three-inch, bead blasted, 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade that comes with a straight flat grind and razor-sharp scandi edge out of the box. It is the perfect length for an everyday carry folding knife in most states, but more importantly it comes in at such an affordable price, I’m not afraid to use and abuse the little blade. It is in my experience, the more I spend on a tool, the less likely I am to carry or really put it to use for fear of damaging or losing it and being out a particularly expensive item.

8Cr13MoV is great steel for the money, it sharpens easily and maintains its edge for a reasonable amount of time. The actual blade has refined design with sleek angles, both suitable for stabs or slashes. The body of the frame is stainless steel as well and is flanked by 3-D machined G10 scales with slots cut into their sides for added grip in wet conditions. The liner lock is fitted great and it matches up to the blade extremely closely for solid retention during use. The liner lock also has a small bead bearing that lets the blade fold open with ease against its ever-present pressure. The stainless steel pocket clip is fully ambidextrous and is supported by two hex screws that keep it securely in place during carry. The frame is held together by two pillars and a polymer spacer to negate flex on the panels. The pillar screws are held in retention via the G10 scales so having them back out is not possible unless the scales do first.

The Kershaw’s blade stud, the knob on the side for opening a knife with your thumb, is large and clean-looking. I was able to work the blade fairly easily with a push of the thumb and snap of the wrist straight out of the box. This is where the price-tag starts to show in the knife though. While the liner lock does have a small bearing, the blade itself is flanked by two washers where it rotates as opposed to the dual washers found on high-end folding knives. This however does not bother me because it is still fully functional and the blade retention screw/pin is sturdy with an appealing exterior at the ends.

All in all, the Kershaw Injection 3820 is a great value for the cost. It fits well in the hand in either reverse or forward grips and I would feel more than comfortable with it should I be forced into a self-defense scenario and had to employ it. But realistically speaking, it will be used for opening packaging and other small miscellaneous tasks on the regular but it will perform just as well in that regard. If you need a small quality knife or can’t afford some of the more expensive options, look no further because the Injection 3820 can probably suit your needs just fine.

*Originally published on SOFREP and written by KURT T