The Proper was a welcome surprise from Benchmade this year. Nobody was expecting to see a non-locking folder from the company best known for their proprietary locking system, but the response to – and demand for – the Proper has been huge. The aptly-named Proper is very much a gentlemanly knife, with a 2.9-inch blade and classy red G-10 or green canvas […]
Knife News
TOPS Grandpa’s Ax Takes Down the Competition
TOPS’ latest release brings Grandpa’s Ax to life. The full-tang belt ax is named after its designer, TOPS President Leo Espinoza’s father. Tool making is often passed down from father to son, not usually the other way around. But, in this case, TOPS President Leo Espinoza’s father caught the design bug from his son. The 11-inch Grandpa’s […]
Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017: #7 CRKT Pilar
The CRKT Pilar, designed by Danish knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes, offers high-end design and quality at an astonishingly low price. Perfectly sized for everyday carry virtually anywhere, the compact Pilar has been a huge hit for CRKT who have been working hard to keep up with the demand. The 2.4-inch blade is comfortable to use thanks to a generous forward […]
Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017: #8 Olamic Wayfarer 247
Olamic Tactical’s motto is “never the same,” and that perfectly encapsulates their custom approach to production knife making. The overall design of every Wayfarer 247 knife that leaves their California shop is the same. But each has seen hand-finishing, and many arrive with their own touches like sculpted backspacers, finishes, and artful handle sculpting. “All the handwork allows […]
Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017: #10 Spyderco Lil’ Nilakka
The Lil’ Nilakka is based on Spyderco’s now discontinued Nilakka folder. Both the original and the Lil’ Nilakka are Pekka Tuominen’s interpretation of a traditional Puukko knife. They also share the same ambitious blade geometry. The blades are full-flat ground straight from the spine to the edge without a secondary edge bevel. Also known as ‘zero-ground,’ this keen and […]
How Buck Expanded Their USA Made Budget Blade Line
Buck continues to grow its high-value made in the USA models with the introduction of the Rival series. According to the Post Falls, Idaho company, they are able to offer the knives at a low price by investing in a modern manufacturing process capable of producing a high volume of knives each day. The Rival series, […]
Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017: #12 TOPS El Chete
When TOPS Knives President Leo Espinoza was tasked with designing the ultimate chopping knife, El Chete sprung from his mind practically fully formed. “Leo knew as soon as he drew this thing up that people were going to love it,” TOPS Knives’ Craig Powell tells us. “As soon as they look at it, people just know that it’s going […]
Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017: #13 Spyderco Chaparral Raffir Noble
Often straddling the line between collectible and user, each Chaparral model has roughly the same overall design: a 2.8 inch, sliver-thin leaf shaped blade made from high-performance CTS-XHP steel, a 50/50 finger choil, a deep carry wire clip, a crisply-machined backlock, and a slender profile. Spyderco uses this gentlemanly EDC folder as a blank canvas to test […]
Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017: #14 Cold Steel Knives Steel Tiger Karambit
With its curved, talon-like blade and pinky ring, the Steel Tiger Karambit takes on the intimidating form of a classic karambit, but Cold Steel’s interpretation of the ancient Indonesian blade gives it a modern tactical update. Designed by Cold Steel President Lynn Thompson in collaboration with the late custom knife maker Steven Likarich, the Tiger Karambit is one […]
Top 25 Best Selling Blades of 2017: #16 Microtech Tachyon III
Last year, Microtech elevated the EDC framelock flipper by applying high-tech machining and next-level finishing work to Derek Munroe’s Sigil design. This year, the humble balisong got the same treatment, as Microtech pulled out all the stops for their Tachyon balisong. “Throughout the year we’ve been releasing an increasing variety of serration and color configurations that will appeal to a broader audience […]