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knivesillustrated.com
JULY/AUGUST 2014 VOLUME 28, NO. 4$5.99 U.S. DISPLAY UNTIL: 7/29/14
Engaged Media By Beckett
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MADE BY AMERICAN HANDSFOR YOUR HANDS
Available in
2 sizes & 3 Colors
B-450-ALBD-S
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B-450-ALCF-S
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B-400-ALPD-S
Bear Song TM IVT-6 Aircraft Aluminum Handles
14C28N Stainless Steel Blade
Blade rides on Bronze Phosporus Washers
All New
7/22/2019 Knives Illustrated - August 2014 USA
4/844 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY/AUGUST 2014
KNIVES ILLUSTRATED (ISSN 0898-8943) Vol. 28, No. 4 is pub-lished 7 times a year, January/February, March/April, May/June,July/August, September/ October, November and December, byBeckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, YorbaLinda, CA 92887. Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, andadditional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: send addresschanges to Knives Illustrated c/o Beckett Media, 4635 McEwenRoad, Dallas, TX 75244. Return undeliverable Canadianaddresses to: PITNEY BOWES, INC, P.O. Box 25542, London,ON N6C 6B2 GST#855050365RT001 2014 by Beckett Media,LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from thisissue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
JULY/AUGUST 2014VOLUME 28, NO. 4www.knivesillustrated.com
k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c o m
COVER STORY18 Worth Their Salt
Completely impervious to rust and corrosion,H-1 steel makes Spydercos Salt series knivesdependable under even the harshestconditions.BY DAVE SPAULDING
TACTICAL
30 Not Your Granddads FolderSouthern Grinds Bad Monkey is a tacticaldesign youll recognize, but with hot new add-ons, including the Emerson Wave feature.BY JIM WEISS AND MICKEY DAVIS
36 Everyday WarriorsCRKT proves tactical knives arent only fortactical professionals with the Liong Mah #5,Hammond FE9 and Tighe Dye.BY CLINT THOMPSON
44 Defensive UtilityCertain to impress tactical and custom-knifeenthusiasts alike, Jason Brous knives embody
artful simplicity and excellent functionality.BY TIM STETZER
CUSTOM60 Wild Blades From The Wild West
Levi Grahams knives are fit for a frontiersman.BY BETHANY MILLER
64 Precision CraftsmanshipBrian Nadeau brings a personal, artistic touchto CNC-machined knives.BY LES ROBERTSON
56
26
36
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http://casiberia.com | (800) 635-9366
Multi-National Designs, Made in Russia
Kizlyar Supreme utilizes the highest tech processes and mate-rials available today to produce superior performance knives.Tey are backed by a multinational team of talented designersand engineers from Russia, Germany, Australia and Japan.See the full line of high-quality knives at http://casiberia.com.
SANTID2 - MSRP: $121
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BIKER Z
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JULY/AUGUST 2014Volume 28 Number 4
EDITORIALEditorial Director: Doug JeffreyEditor: Bethany MillerManaging Editor: Jeffrey Rick
Art Director: Ronald AbellaCreative Director: Eric Knagg
CONTRIBUTORSMickey Davis, Abe Elias, Craig Hodgkins, Les Robertson,Dave Spaulding, Tim Stetzer, Clint Thompson, Jim Weiss
ADVERTISINGGabe Frimmel:Ad Sales Director (714) [email protected] Clifford: Senior Account Executive (717) 896-8956Mark Pack: Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1939Gennifer Merriday:Ad Trafc Coordinator
DIRECT MARKETING GROUPJohn Bartulin (866) 866-5146 ext. 2746Paul Caca (866) 866-5146 ext. 4961Ryan Lauro (866) 866-5146 ext. 2756Mary Ann Jaca (866) 866-5146 ext 2716
OPERATIONSGus Alonzo: Newsstand Sales & Marketing ManagerCelia Merriday: Newsstand Analyst
Amit Sharma: Business Analytics ManagerMohit Patel: Newsstand & Production AnalystAlberto Chavez: Senior Logistics & Facilities ManagerJohn Cabral: Creative Graphic Designer
EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE22840 Savi Ranch P arkway, #200Yorba Linda, CA 92887(714) 939-9991Fax: (800) 249-7761www.knivesillustrated.comfacebook.com/knivesillustratedfacebook.com/eembybeckett
KNIVES ILLUSTRATED (ISSN 0898-8943) Vol. 28, No. 4 is published 7 timesa year, January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October,November and December, by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi Ranch Parkway,#200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, andadditional mailing ofces. POSTMASTER: send address changes to KnivesIllustrated c/o Beckett Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244.Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PITNEY BOWES, INC,P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 GST#855050365RT001 2014 byBeckett Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material fromthis issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
CUSTOMER SERVICEBeckett Media, LLC4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244
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Letters to the Editor, New Products orto Contribute a Story or PhotoBethany Miller22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA [email protected]
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This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding thatinformation presented is from various sources from which there canbe no warranty or responsibility by Beckett Media, LLC as to thelegality, completeness or technical accuracy.
6 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY/AUGUST 2014 k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c om
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82
ODDS AND ENDS12 On File
Every knifemaker needs thesetools; heres why, and where tofind them.BY ABE ELIAS
72 From the Inside OutCome with us on our behind-the-scenes tour of Benchmade to seehow their knives come to be.BY CRAIG HODGKINS
COLUMNS10 On the Edge
Guess the Maker, upcoming events,and the latest happenings withinthe knife world.
26 Behind the ScenesHow KRUDO Knives incorporatesmartial arts concepts into
knifemaking craftsmanship.
52 Bells and WhistlesOur top 10 accessories for the knifeuser on a budget.
56 In the SpotlightSix impressivecustom knives
82 Show and TellA readers favorite knifefrom Queen Cutlery.
Cover photography byTERRILL HOFFMAN
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k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c om8 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY-AUGUST 2014
For the servicemen and women who
are our national and local heroes, we
focused on a number of tactical knives
that can perform heroically. Theres
Southern Grinds Bad Monkey folder with
its lightning-fast Emerson folding mech-
anism, perfect for those who must act
boldly when every second counts. For
ultimate reliability, we considered the T4
flipper, made by Jason Brous, which is
tested 25,000 times (yep, you read that
correctly) before hitting the market.
But if tactical isnt your taste, never
fear; we didnt stop there. As always,
were striving to show you the best knives
for every task. Take Spydercos Salt
series, for example, which offer ultimate
weather resistance. If you work near salt-
water or in extreme humidity, these tough
folders and fixed-blades alike promise to
be faithful companions.
We have a few new features in store
for this issue, too. Were sure hobbyist
knifemakers will appreciate our look at
the usefulness of files; that collectors will
feel well-informed by our tips on dealing
with a custom order gone wrong; and
that any knife lover will enjoy our exclu-
sive look at the inner workings of Bench-
mades factory.
So as you read through the pages ofthis issue, we hope youll appreciate
afresh the diversity of ways and means to
which knives lend themselvesthe real
beauty of a blade!
Bethany Miller
A Blade forEvery PurposeA
gun may be an excellent weapon, but it has no practicality for
everyday use. A hammer may be great for routine chores, but
wont go far in the event of an emergency. Knives, however, can
do all of this and more, and thats exactly what we love about them,
and what we hope to celebrate in this issue.
EDITORS
LETTER
PHOTO BY JIM COOPER
KNIFE BY GUSTAVO CECCHINI
BUT IF TACTICALISNT YOUR TASTE,
NEVER FEAR; WE
DIDNT STOP
THERE. AS ALWAYS,
WERE STRIVING TO
SHOW YOU THE
BEST KNIVES FOR
EVERY TASK.
KI
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k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c om10 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY-AUGUST 2014
POINTSofINTEREST THE LATEST GOINGS-ON
IN THE KNIFE WORLD
Name the MakerSCORE A CHANCE TO WIN A SUBSCRIPTION BY
CORRECTLY IDENTIFYING THE MAKER OF THIS BLADE
PHOTO BY CHUCK WARD
HINT: The maker of this knife and matching jewelry has been in the business for almost 50 years.Based in Oklahoma, on many of his folders he uses a unique pivot system he designed himself. Hesa member of a number of knife organizations, including the Knifemakers Guild.
HOW TO WIN
If you correctly identify the maker of the featured knife, you will be entered into a drawing for afree one-year subscription toKnives Illustrated. If youre already a subscriber, you may choose toextend your current subscription or to receive a subscription to one of our sister magazines, GunWorldorBow & Arrow Hunt ing.
All entries must be received by 4 p.m. PST on July 23.Winners are determined by placing entries in numerical order and generating a random number
using www.random.org.
Please submit guesses to [email protected] and specify your preferred prize option. Pleasealso include the mailing address where you would like to receive your subscription should you win.
We congratulateKnives
Illustratedreader
Gregory Hallen, who
correctly identified
David Kinzan Goldberg
as the maker of the
knife featured in our
March/April issue.
Benchmade
IntroducesCustomKnifeMaker
Program
TennesseeSwitchbladeLawsRepealed
Effective July 1, 2014, in Tennessee, just
about anything goes.
Following lobbying efforts by nonprofit
organization Knife Rights (with support
from Smoky Mountain Knife Works and
Taylor Brands), in April Governor Bill
Haslam signed into law a measure
repealing an antiquated ban on switch-
blades and knives with blades longer than
4 inches. Also after July 1, no new knife
bans may be imposed.
Knife Rights had previously helped pass
a law in Tennessee prohibiting local
governments from imposing limitations
stricter than those at the state level.
FOR MORE INFO ON
Benchmades Custom Knife Maker program:
www.customknife.benchmade.comKnife Rights and current legislation:
www.kniferights.org
VMatter Knives:
www.vmatter.com
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k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c om KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY-AUGUST 2014 1 1
If youve ever wanted a
knife built just the way you
want it, but cant afford to
commission a fully custom
knife, Benchmade offers the
next best thing with their
Custom Knife Maker program.
Online, users can choose
from a variety of models and
select a blade, handle, colors,
engraving, clip and other
components according to
their own preferences.
The base prices for all
knives are under $200, and
delivery time is only 10
business days from the datethe knife is designed.
Heres one for lovers
of culinary knives: A
chefs knife so
durable it essentially
wont dull. VMatters
knives are injection
molded from a
vitreous metallic
alloy that, according to the
companys website, combines
the best properties of steel and
ceramic.
Five lengths and styles are
available, each with a number of
handle options. The ultra-sharp
blades are antibacterial, and asan added bonus, most models
are even dishwasher safe.
Prices range between $150
and $400.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dates and locations subject to change; please contactthe show managers before arranging your travel.
ONGOING THROUGH JUNE 22LITTLE ROCK, ARA Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America(501) 324-9351www.historicarkansas.org/whatsnew
JUNE 20-22SEVIERVILLE, TNABS Youth Hammer-In(865) [email protected]
JULY 11-13AUBURN, MEABS New England Hammer-In(888) 753-7502dglaser@newenglandschoolofmetalwork.comwww.americanbladesmith.com
JULY 11-13BELLEVILLE, ILBelleville Knife Expo(618) 658-8221
JULY 31- AUG. 3LOUISVILLE, KYKnifemakers Guild Show(502) 585-3200www.knifemakersguild.com
AUG. 15-17DENVER, CODenver Custom Knife Show(785) [email protected]
AUG. 16-17TORONTO, ONTARIO
Canadian Knifemakers Guild Showwww.canadianknifemakersguild.com
AUG. 22-24TROY, OHMid-America Bladesmithing Symposium(419) [email protected]
SEPT. 13-14WINSTON-SALEM, NCSoutheastern Custom Knife Showwww.southeasterncustomknifeshow.com
OCT. 3-4WAUWASOTA, WINorthern Lakes Knife Company Annual Fall KnifeShow(414) [email protected]
OCT. 4-5TOPEKA, KSHeartland Bladesmithing Symposium(785) [email protected]
OCT. 11-12GARDEN GROVE, CACalifornia Custom Knife Showwww.californiacustomknifeshow.com
OCT. 18-19CLYDE, NCABS Smoky Mountain Fall Hammer-In(828) [email protected]
www.americanbladesmith.com
OCT. 24-26TULARE, CACalifornia Hammer-In(559) [email protected]
NOV. 21-23JERSEY CITY, NJNew York Custom Knife Show(417) 866-6688www.fiftyfiftyproductions.net
JAN. 23-25, 2015LAS VEGAS, NVSHOT Show(855) 355-7468www.shotshow.org
JAN. 24LAS VEGAS, NVTactical Knife Invitational(417) 866-6688www.fiftyfiftyproductions.net
ForChefs:The Knife
ThatDoesntDull
KI
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The lowly file is a surprisingly amazing tool. While theyre
low-tech, they have so many uses. Just ask any old-timer tool-and-
die guy, and youll hear about how he started his training with a file.
As CNC machines become more prevalent in knifemaking, the
art of filing is being forgotten. But some of us staunchly favor doing
things the old-fashioned way. I personally hand-make my knives,
and draw a certain pleasure from knowing that it was my ownhands that shaped the steel. I can use a file for anything from
forming the bevel of a knife to actually serving as the base stock
for the knife itself.
For other like-minded knifemakers who prefer traditional
technique, Jantz Supply is a great source for stocking up on these
useful tools. Here are some of my favorites, and tips for getting the
best use out of them.
HOW THESE SIMPLE TOOLS ARE
MORE VERSATILE THAN YOU THINK
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ABE ELIAS
Whats the most indispensable tool in a
knifemakers workshop? One of the strongest
candidates may actually be one of the
most basic.
ONFILE
I CAN USE A FILE FOR
ANYTHING FROM FORMING THE
BEVEL OF A KNIFE TO ACTUALLY
SERVING AS THE BASE STOCK
FOR THE KNIFE ITSELF.
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From left to right: A set of diamond
needle files; Habilis hand-style,
one-cut file; 20-lines-per-inch
checkering file; 6-inch bastard-cut
mill file; 8-inch Magicut file; and
10-inch wood rasp .
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Nicholson Magicut
When I began making knives, I forged
them. I didnt have a grinder, so I made my
first few knives by using a technique
called draw filing. A Nicholson Magicut
works great for draw filing a knifes bevel.
To do this, first, forge your knife or cut
the blank out of a piece of annealed
stock. If youre forging, youll have a head
start on the bevel since you have ham-
mered one in. Remember to anneal it
properly and clean off any scale with a
stone or sandpaper since the scale will
clog the file.
On the forged knife, you just have to
follow the established bevel and clean it
up. On a full-stock knife, the act of draw
filing is a lot like using a drawknife: Put
the file on an edge or corner and slowly
draw the knife towards you while main-
taining the same angle. Its easier if
rather than holding
the file at 90
degrees from the
workyou skew it
a bit. This helps
the file cut with-
out chatter.
Eventually, you will form a flat and then
you can start again by using the new edge
formed toward the spine of your blade.
After every draw, tap the file on the bench
(not the vise) to knock out chips so your
file doesnt become clogged. If you tap it
on the vise you could easily break the file.
Once your bevel is formed, you can
start using paint sticks wrapped in wetand dry sandpaper to refine the face of
the bevel.
Diamond Files
Those of us who dont have a milling
machine can turn to files to finish our
guards, washers and pommels. Making
these pieces is not one of my favorite
activities, since it only takes one pass too
many to create a sloppy guard and it
seems to take forever to get through the
early phases of fitting.
To get that perfect fit, you must go
slowly and be very careful, especially if
I use the 20-lines-per-inch checkering file to add texture to the extended tang on my Northern Bush Craft Survival Tool.
CONTACT INFO
JANTZ SUPPLY
(800) 351-8900
www.knifemaking.com The best technique for draw filing is to hold the file at an angle, then skew it while drawing to make the cut easier.I use an 8- to 10-inch Magicut file to start, because theyre so aggressive.
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youre not used to doing a lot of guard
work. There are a number of ways that
people fit their guards; my technique is
simply to mark the center line on my
material and drill through the bolster with
a series of holes along my center line.
Next, I take a jewelers saw and cut out
the material between the holes. Once I
have done that, I take a set of diamond
files and slowly broaden the hole until it
starts to fit the tang. As I get closer, I will
check after every pass of the file, so that I
make sure to keep the fit extra tight.
Specialty FilesThe number of files available in any
catalogue is staggering, but
this just means there are plenty
of options for every task.
One of the specialty files I
use is a checkering file. I use a
20 lines-per-inch Habilis check-
ering file to add checkering to a
thumb rest. In the case of one
of my most popular knives, the
Northern Bush Craft Survival
Tool, I checkered the part Ive nicknamed
the Sparrows Crown. This is an extended
tang that allows the user to do
a number of things like scrape
bowls or magnesium rods, or
separate fibers for doing
cordage. If I wanted, I could use
the same file to give texturing
to any number of surfaces on
the knife.
Another very useful sort of
file is the needle file, which
allows you to perform detailed work or
even cut your own serrations on a blade.
For the hobbyist knifemaker without
machinery, rifles and rasps come in handy
to shape handle material when you dont
have a belt sander.
An Extra EdgeFiling is an excellent way to further your
knifemaking skills, and a helpful resource
I have turned to myself is a DVD produced
by Center Cross called Fileworking withDuane Dushane. This DVD is a complete
instructional video on how to do various
file patterns on your knives.
Youre taken through a number of pat-
terns and shown what can be done from
the spine of a knife to folder liners and
handles. You can employ a variety of files
After drilling and cutting holes and cutting out the material between holes with a jewelers saw, I use a small, flatdiamond file to open the hole for the tang. As I get closer, I check the tang more frequently to ensure a tight fit.
I use a Jantz file guard to make sure my shoulders line up on my stick tangs. I also use a Habilis hand-style, one-cut
file. One of the edges of the file is blank, allowing you to get into corners without accidentally cutting into the side.
A NICHOLSON MAGICUT
WORKS GREAT FOR DRAW
FILING A KNIFES BEVEL.
A 10-inch, half-round bastard rasp makes quick work of
roughing out a wooden handle. If you dont have a
sanding machine, you can use a rasp. You might evenfind this tool useful for other jobs around the house.
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Abe Elias is a prolific
knife reviewer and the
owner of Diving
Sparrow Knife Works.
For more information
on his knives, visit
www.dskw.ca.
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for this work,
from round
and triangular
to a number of
needle files for
finer detail.
File work is
not for every-
one, but its a
great way to
stretch your
legs, so to
speak, and try
something different. Taking the time to
work through the patterns and watch
them evolve from a group of measured
lines on steel is very satisfying. File work is
something you cant rush. It can be a very
Zen-like experience as you are drawn into
the pattern with every pass of the file.
An Affordable Solution
A wide variety of files are at your dis-
posal for making an entire knife, from start
to finish. These tools are so essential and
versatile that their uses are almost
innumerableand they wont break the
bank. You might call them the poor mans
milling machine, and with a diverse selec-
tion of files, youll be prepared to make
just about any knife you can imagine.
KNOW YOUR FILES
NICHOLSON MAGICUT
Best for: Draw filing
DIAMOND FILE
Best for: Fitting guards and
pommels
CHECKERING FILE
Best for: Creating texturing
NEEDLE FILE
Best for: Detail work
RASP
Best for: Smoothing handles
A good set of needle files allows you to do detailed jobs, such as cutting a thumbhole
in a folder blade or file work on the spine of a knife. Here, Im using a half-round towork out this rope pattern on a neck knife.
A close look at a Habilis hand-style, one-cut file. Notice that one edge has no cutting
teeth, which allows you to get into corners and bring down one surface without cuttinginto another.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE NO
MILLING MACHINE CAN TURN
TO FILES TO FINISH OUR
GUARDS, WASHERS AND
POMMELS.
A close-up look at the checkering file and the Sparrows Crown. After each pass, its important to tap the file on the
bench to clear it or use a file card. A file card is a wire brush used to clean out chips from inside the tooth pattern.
You can see that Im about due for a new file.
KI
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THE HARSHEST ELEMENTS ARE NO MATCH
FOR SPYDERCOS RUSTPROOF SALT SERIESWORTHTHEIR SALT
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A lack of resistance to corrosion is a handicap for many other-
wise excellent knives. Some steels, like 154CM or the 440 family,
are at the more resistant end of the spectrum, but others are
completely at the mercy of the elements, and under harsh condi-
tions, a rusted blade is a danger you cant afford.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVE SPAULDING
W
hen it comes to
knives, you dont
want a fair-weather
friend. You want a tool youcan depend on, rain or shine.
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Enter Spyderco with its new H-1 blades.
Saltwater, humidity and sweat, the
company promises, are no match for this
specially processed, exceptionally durable
steel type.
All-Weather Blades
At the 2014 SHOT Show, Spydercos
Joyce Laituri introduced me to the compa-
nys Salt series. She described to me the
rustproof steel used on the Salt folders.
These H-1 steel knives are saltwater-
friendly, which is the basis for their name.
All Salt knives use H-1, a nitrogen-
based blade alloy, rather than carbon-
based. Because carbon reacts with salt,
eliminating carbon renders the steel 100-
percent rustproof. Like its carbon-steel
cousins, H-1 takes a hard, sharpened
cutting edge and earns high marks for
edge retention. While a rustproof blade is
essential for a waterborne knife, it is also
very nice to have for other uses as well.
Did I mention these knives do not rust?
Wanting to get a good look at the Salt
series, I asked Ms. Laituri to send me a
variety of lengths, configurations and grip
styles so I could test their effectiveness
for a variety of mission-specific uses.
A Closer Look
The test models included the C88PBK
Salt 1; C91PBBK and C91PBK Pacific Salt
(the same design, but the first has a
yellow handle, and the second, black);
C118YL Saver Salt; and the C106YL
Tasman Salt. These knives are cousins to
Spydercos Endura, Delica, Rescue and
Harpy models, respectively, but with the
rustproof H-1 blade. All these popular
models have lent themselves to tactical,
EDC and outdoor chores with great suc-
cess over many years. Now, users can take
advantage of them in a variety of environ-
ments without fear of rust.
The Pacific Salt is designed to offer re-
liable high performance. Its blade is avail-
able in standard H-1 or with a black car-
bonitride coating (model C91BBK), which
The Salt Rescue and Tasman folders would be a good addition to any operators trauma kit, supplementing surgical shears or other cutting tools.
IN A NUTSHELLAll of the knives I evaluated measured
between 7 and 8 inches in length, and 2 to 3
ounces in weight. The tactical or EDC user
may prefer the black handles, but for an
outdoorsman, an easily visible yellow
handle is an attractive option. Thanks to
large thumbholes and textured grips, the
Salt knives are easy to handle under any
condition.
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lessens the blades re-
flection. Hollow-ground,
the blade offers a plain
edge. It's similar in shape
and size to Spyderco's
Endura model, but has a
more rounded tip. Really,
all of the Salt blades
have a stronger, rounded
tip than their standard
counterpartsmore on this later.
The Saver Salt has nothing to do with
value, but a lot to do with saving lives.Spyderco's Rescue models have long
been favored by seamen,
first responders and out-
doorsmen alike. Those
who must cut near or
around flesh in an emer-
gency appreciate the
rounded tip of the Res-
cue folder. Meanwhile,
the Saver is a modified
Rescue, made with the
non-rusting H1 steel. The oversized 14mm
round thumbhole, Spydercos trademark,
works well for opening and closing even ingloved, cold or wet hands. Available in
PACIFIC SALT
(C91PBBK YELLOW;C91PBK BLACK)OVERALL LENGTH: 8.6875 inches
BLADE LENGTH: 3.812 inches
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.875 inches
WEIGHT: 3 ounces
HANDLE MATERIAL: FRN
SALT SAVER (C118YL)OVERALL LENGTH: 7.188 i nches
BLADE LENGTH: 3.093 inches
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.093 inches
WEIGHT: 2.2 ounces
HANDLE MATERIAL: FRN
SALT TASMAN (C106YL)OVERALL LENGTH: 6.812 inches
BLADE LENGTH: 2.938 inches
CLOSED LENGTH: 4 inches
WEIGHT: 2 ounces
HANDLE MATERIAL: FRN
SALT 1 (C88PBK)OVERALL LENGTH: 7 inches
BLADE LENGTH: 3 inches
CLOSED LENGTH: 4 inches
WEIGHT: 2 ounces
HANDLE MATERIAL: FRN
Spyderco knives are very, very sharp from the factory, capable of rough-duty cutting chores. Whether plain edge or
serrated blade, one of the Salt series knives will meet your needs.
The Spyderco hole cut into each blade also acts as a guard against sliding on to the blade. The jimping helps keep the thumb locked in place when using a saber grip.
SALTWATER, HUMIDITYAND SWEAT ARE NOMATCH FOR THISSPECIALLY HEAT-
TREATED,EXCEPTIONALLY
DURABLE STEEL TYPE.
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black or marine yellow, the fiberglass-
reinforced nylon resin grip comes textured
with a waffle pattern. An ambidextrous
tip-up pocket clip also houses a lanyard
hole for a variety of carry possibilities.
The Tasman Salt folder features a
hawkbill blade and is based on Spyder-
cos Harpy, a distinctive curved cutting
tool with a claw-like tip that originated in
the marine/commercial fishing industry.
Cutting in and around water involves cut-
ting line, netting and rope. This is done
quickly, often at arm's length while pulling
downward or toward youwhich I can
personally tell you needs to be done with
GREAT care! The blade's arched configu-
ration holds whats being cut against the
sharpened edge, keeping it from slipping
off the tip.
Like all of the knives in the Spyderco's
Salt series, this hawkbill blade is madewith state-of-the-art non-rusting H-1
steel and is available with a plain edge or
SpyderEdge serrations. The molded fiber-
glass-reinforced nylon handle, offered in
black or visible marine yellow, features a
textured volcano grip pattern. Like its Salt
cousins, the Tasman is equipped with a
reversible left/right hand titanium pocket
clip (also non-rusting) that positions the
folder tip-up in the pocket. All knives in
the Salt line have internal steel parts that
are treated to make them impervious to
rust and pitting.
One of Spyderco's top sellers is the
Delica. I have carried this knife for many
years while working in law enforcement
and have long felt it was a small knife
with the feel of a big knife.
Users gravitate to it for its sen-
sible size, versatile shape and
proven durability. Making a
version with the rustproof H-1
steel is a no-brainer, and
Spyderco did just that, with a
couple of modifications. The
resulting Salt 1 (C88PBK) has a more
rounded tip that's thicker at the point.
Rounding the tip better meets the
requirements of cutting chores associated
with boating, fishing and other outdoor
activities while also making it less proneto breakage. I have broken off the tip of
many knives over the years and have
never been satisfied with my attempts to
re-curve the blade, so I like the idea of a
stronger tip. David Boye's
locking lever dent is a
standard feature that keeps
the lock from accidentally
opening if the handle is
gripped tightly.
Finally, like other knives in
the Salt line, a matching black
titanium pocket clip is included for posi-
tioning the folded knife for left/right tip-
up portability. Tip-up or tip-down carry is
controversial in the knife world, much like
9mm vs. .45 in the gun world, but I have
found that I can carry either way with a bitof practice. And isnt practice a require-
ment of anything useful? A hole running
through the hollow clip screw makes a
lanyard pipe for stringing through a thong
The David Boye indent on the lock lever keeps the hand from unlocking the blade when held tightly.
CONTACT INFO
SPYDERCO820 Spyderco Way
Golden, CO 80403
(303) 279-8383
www.spyderco.com
All of the Salt series knives are equipped with a rustproof, black-coated tip-up pocket clip.
ALL SALT KNIVES USE H-1, A
NITROGEN-BASED BLADE
ALLOY, RATHER THAN
CARBON-BASED.
DID YOU KNOW?While most users think the trademark
Spyderco hole is the primary means to open
the blade with the thumb, the blade can also
be opened using inertia. To do so, grip the
hole between the thumb and index finger
and flip the knifes handle open with a
flick of the wrist. This technique can be used
as an alternative when the optimum grip
cannot be achieved on the knifes handle.
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or cord when using the knife around wa-
ter, hiking up trails, climbing mountains,
parachuting or riding in a helicopter
basically any high-risk mission around
the globe.
Put to the Test
While the Salt series certainly appears
to have all the goods for a wide variety of
missions, the only way to know if they are
worth our hard-earned money is to carry,
deploy and cut, as it were. I devised a se-
ries of tests for the various Salt knives
and their unique blade designs, most of
which are based on my tactical back-
ground. I had to cut seatbelts more than a
few times during my police career, so be-
ing able to not only cut seat belt material,
but being able to cut someone out of a
seat belt is important. For this test, I used
a 3-D target mannequin that I strapped
into a junk car. After making my initial cut,
I had to repair the seat belt by stitching
it up with fishing line and then cutting the
belt in another location. This actually
worked quite well and I was able to test
all of the knives quickly.
the knife was then removed and folded wet and sat on a shelf to see what would happen. In the end,
the knife looked the same as it did when the test started.
The rust resistance of the H1 steel was tested by leaving the Tasman in
a salt bath for several days to see if rust would develop
The textured volcano grip pattern is designed to allow the hands skin or material of a glove to fill the indents, a gripping method just the opposite of checkering but just aseffective.
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As stated earlier, cutting near flesh is
hazardous (in cases such as seat belt re-
moval or trauma care) and needs to be
undertaken with due diligence. In this par-
ticular application, the curved Tasman
with its hawkbill blade is a real asset! In
addition, seat belts are very tough materi-
al and require either a very sharp straight
edge blade or serrations to saw through.When trying to saw through a seat belt,
especially one in the close confines of
human flesh, a curved blade really helps,
since within the close confines of a
crashed vehicle, pulling the seatbelt away
from a victims body may not be possible.
Other tests included cutting rope, nylon
cord, leather strapping and shaving small
hunks of wood. Each blade configuration
offered advantages for specific cutting
chores, which is the reason for a series of
waterproof knives instead of just a model
or two. In the end, the user must look at
their real world of work and decide
which blade will best serve their needs.
For my last evaluation, and perhaps the
most important one, I put to the test Spy-
dercos insistence that H-1 is rustproof. I
filled a small bin with water, added water
softener salt, added one of the knives and let it sit for several days. I then pulled
each knife from the water, folded it up
and sat all of them on a shelf to see what
would develop. In a nutshell, the kniveslooked the same when they finished the
test as they did when they started. While
this may not have been the most strictly
scientific test, it was proof enough to me
that H-1 will, indeed, stand up to saltwater
and rust.
A Worthy Investment
Undoubtedly, with the Salt series Spy-
derco has produced an excellent line of
tools that will be valuable assets for any
purpose, from tactical to everyday to the
outdoors. The only problem an interestedbuyer may face is narrowing down his or
her options!
The author subjected the Salt knives to a series of cutting tests, including cutting through a seatbelt. Every material
tested was no match for the aggressive blades.
ALL ABOUT H-1An excerpt from Spyderco promotional
materials explains the process of creating a
rustproof steel:
Rust occurs when the carbon in steel reacts
with chloride [aka salt] . To avoid this, H-1
uses 0.10% nitrogen instead of carbon to give
the materials its steel-like qualities. Nitrogen
does not react with chloride, making H-1
blades completely impervious to rust, even
when submerged in s altwater for extended
periods of time.
H-1 is also unique because it is an austenitic
steel. Traditional austenitic steels use a heat-
treating process to harden and temper them
to be serviceable knife blades. H-1, however,
work hardens through the mechanical
processes of shaping and grindin g the steel.
The areas worked the mostlike bevels and
Cutting Edgesbecome the hardest. The
areas worked less remain softer and tougher.
The end result is a blade with differential
hardness that provides an exceptional
balance of strength, flexibility and cutting
performance" The curved blade of the Tasman is a great choice for removing oneself from a stuck seat belt. The curved bladeproved to be a good choice for a number of other cutting chores as well.
ALL OF THE SALT BLADES
HAVE A STRONGER, ROUNDED
TIP THAN THEIR STANDARD
COUNTERPARTS.
KI
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k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c om2 6 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY-AUGUST 2014
This month, we spoke with Louis Krudo, founder of KRUDO
Knives.
What was your background before founding KRUDO Knives
and, earlier, its flagship company, SNAG Knives and Con-trollers?
Before KRUDO came to fruition, I was in the medical field. On
the side, I trained in martial arts and taught self-defense.
I gained my passion for knives and edged tools at age five by
watching my cousin build knives from scratch. He did it all by
hand; the only power tool was his buffing wheel and an acetylene
torch for heat treating.
Twenty years ago, in my Sarasota, Florida, garage, I had an idea
for a folder. I drew it and showed it to a friend, who quickly told
me it was a lawsuit waiting to happen. But three years later, I
decided to create a prototype.
Because I knew nothing myself about building knives, I took my
design to a custom maker. After
learning Id thought of this design
three years earlier, he asked what
took me so long to have it built,
and showed me a magazine with a
knife on the cover in almost the
same design. Id waited too long!
The (Martial) Artof Knifemaking
HOW KRUDOS FOUNDER TURNED A PASSIONFOR SELF-DEFENSE INTO A FLOURISHING
KNIFE BUSINESS
STORY BY BETHANY MILLER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KRUDO KNIVES
BEHINDthe
SCENES
ABOUT THEINTERVIEWEENAME: Louis Krudo
TITLE: Owner/designer
EMPLOYED FOR: Eight years
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SNAG Controller
and TATCHET BagTHE RECOGNITION AND
ACCEPTANCE OF SNAG FOLDERCONTROLLER INTO LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN THE U.S.
AND OVERSEAS HAS BEEN ONE
OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS.
LOUIS KRUDO
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The back can be custom
engraved upon request.
What challenges have
you faced in reaching
your achievements,
both from both a
personal and a company standpoint?
From a personal standpoint, achieving
these goals is a huge endeavor. I started
KRUDO Knives with little knowledge
about the knife industry, so my greatest
challenge has been the very steep learn-
ing curve. Ive taught
myself how to get into
the industry as fast as
possible, with minimal
mistakes and with kick-
ass products. This
requires working up to 19
hours a day, seven days a week.
From a companys point of view, the
journey has been very time consuming,
with large expenses. Its challenging to
orchestrate manufacturing schedules
and to find responsible, dependable
As I was driving home, I had an
epiphany. When I got home, I carved a
design out of wood, tested it (gently) on
one of my self-defense students, and the
SNAG Controller was born. The creation
of this tool, an edgeless design loosely
inspired by the karambit, was the begin-
ning of my venture into knife design.
I started KRUDO Knives in 2006 and
made my debut at the 2010 Blade Show.
Near the end of that year, I made a profes-
sion-changing decision and devoted
myself to completely establishing KRUDO
as a company. Since then, Ive created 27
new designs, plus five new fixed-blades
and three new folders that I introduced at
the Blade Show this year.
What products or achievements have
you been most proud of?
Im proud of all my tools and new,upcoming products, but the recognition
and acceptance of SNAG Folder Con-
troller into law enforcement in the U.S.
and overseas has been one of my proud-
est moments.
Im also proud of the continuing inno-
vation of my designs. One of my newest
offerings is KTC54 OS, a Delrin and
aluminum iPhone case with a titanium K
Wedge tool thats discreetly
carried in a slot on the back.
Im adding a micro 32-
gigabyte USB drive to
the case, making it a
truly one-of-a-kind tool.
ABOUT THECOMPANY
IN BUSINESS SINCE: October 2010NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 10
WEBSITE: www.olamiccutlery.com
PHONE: (408) 480-3533
IVE TAUGHT MYSELF HOW
TO GET INTO THE INDUSTRY
AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, WITH
MINIMAL MISTAKES AND
WITH KICK-ASS PRODUCTS.
LOUIS KRUDO
KRUDO Folder
KTC54 OS iPhone case
with K Wedge
Silhouette
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manufacturing companies for large-pro-
duction runs.
What do you think makes your knives
unique?
My designs are heavily influenced by
my background in martial arts, and are
designed largely with self-defense in
mind. I design my tools to be used in
multiple ways, not just for cutting. This is
the basis for the SNAG Controller, for ex-ample, which has no blade edge at all , but
can still cause pain when used properlyfor self-defense.
Another example is the KHatchet,
which I designed to be usable with the
sheath on, or with your grip near the head
of the axe, midway or at full length. In a
reverse grip, the butt end of the handle
can be used to hook or str ike.
When I design a knife, because of my
self-defense background, Im thinking
closely about the grip (Is it comfortable?
Is it meant to be used in standard or re-
verse grip, or both? What techniques will
make this easy to use?), and about the
blade (What is the best angle for cutting?
Can I hook the blade for control? What is
the best way to deploy the knife when its
in my hand, my pocket or on my belt?).
I create tools that are excellent for self-
defense, but also practical for everyday
life. I get many compliments from my
customers ranging from, Wow, cool
design! to It feels great in my hand.
Keep us on your radar, because there ismuch more to come.
WHAT EXACTLY IS SNAG?The SNAG tool comes in two versions: one with a cutting edge, the other without.
The edgeless version, the Controller, is the original. The general shape is reminiscent of a
karambit knife, but because its designed to inflict pain without being lethal, its function is
substantially different. Plenty of jimping and excellent thumb support allow the user to hook,
grab and jerk an aggressor in any number of ways.
The edged Live Blade version, meanwhile, can be used much the same, but is much more
genuinely dangerous thanks to a partially serrated, fiercely sharp tip.
Sharp or not, you wouldnt want to be on the receiving end of either of these tools but if you
doubt the Controllers effectiveness, Krudo is happy to demonstrate.
WHEN I DESIGN A KNIFE,
BECAUSE OF MY SELF-
DEFENSE BACKGROUND, IM
THINKING CLOSELY ABOUT
THE GRIP AND ABOUT THE
BLADE.LOUIS KRUDO
KHatchet
KI
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Take Southern Grind Knives, for example,
a cutlery company founded by Grammy-
winning country singer Zac Brown. Based in
Georgia, Southern Grind proves that well
more than just good manners and a charm-
ing drawl come from the heart of Dixie.
Our teams custom knifemaker, Paul
Granger, first encountered Southern Grind at
the 2013 Blade Show. He spoke with Brown,
traded some knives, and came away
impressed. And after thoroughly evaluatingSouthern Grinds Bad Monkey tactical fold-
ersin both drop-point and tanto form
we are all the more impressed by their blade
design, high quality, dependability and
excellent function.
A Custom Knife Maker's ReviewCustom knifemaker Paul Granger
evaluated the drop-point version of the Bad
Monkey for its appearance, construction
and feel.
HANDLE: The Bad Monkeys handle is a
tough twill weave with a matte finish. Its
carbon fiber scales create a beautiful visualeffect in the sun, appearing so three-
dimensional that it seems you can reach
right into the handle.
SOUTHERN GRIND UPDATES A CLASSIC TACTICAL
DESIGN WITH THE HOTTEST NEW FEATURES
STORY BY JIM WEISS
AND MICKEY DAVIS
PHOTOS BY P. J. RYAN
AND JIM WEISS
Country singer Zac Brown, founder of Southern Grind, shows off some of his knives.
NOT YOUR
GRANDDADSFOLDER
SOMETIMESgreat things come from unexpected places.
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The handle is designed with one deep
finger groove and one large curved
surface, which is a downward curve for
the knife users other three fingers.
Granger prefers this style. In fact, its the
way he prefers to make his own custom
knife handles. Other knives often are
made with either multiple finger grooves
or with the handle in a straight line.
As to the finger cutout, theres effective
jimping (crosscut grooves) so the user
gets a good bit of drag on it. This jimping
is also cut into the handles liner and in
the guard area of the handle that extends
over the hook-shaped pocket catch.
There are three standoffs (spacers)
going through the Bad Monkeys handle:
one at midpoint on the back of the handle
on top and the other two effectively
placed parallel to the handles butt. The
standoff on the butt, farthest from the
back of the handle, gives the knife muchmore integrity and strength than just
having two standoffs, as is the case with
some folders. Theres also a convenient
thong hole at the handles butt between
the two standoffs.
BLADE: The Bad Monkeys 14C-28N
blade is a conventional flat grind, ground
equally on both sides. The grind is
symmetricalvery clean work. This grind
work comes up above the tip of the
blades drop point, giving it a sharpened
edge above the blades tip, which makes
that tip excellent for puncturing.
Granger was extremely impressed by
both the grind and finish of the blade.
He believes the flats, or unground areas,
of this blade were likely finished in a
rotating can tumbler with an abrasive
media yielding a look finer than (but
somewhat reminiscent of) the finish of
galvanized plumbing.
This type of knife is the fastest-deploy-
ing folding knife blade in the world. The
Emerson Wave featurethe hook-shaped
pocket catch just a bit above and forwardof the thumb studis what enables the
swift opening. Simply pull the knife out of
your pocket while dragging it toward the
rear of the pocket; by the time its clear of
the pocket, its open. It takes a little bit of
practice to get used to drawing the knife
using the Emerson Wave feature to effec-
tively work the pocket catch, thereby
opening the blade.
The phosphor bronze bushings on each
side of the blade around the pivot point
are good because when this metal is
oiled, it can stay lubricated for a long time.Granger also was very impressed with
the pocket clip at the butt end of the Bad
Monkey because its short and strong.
Normally, a knife pocket clip is half the
length of the handle, which draws atten-
Southern Grinds Bad Monkey tactical knife comes in two versions: one with a drop-point blade, the other as a
modified tanto.
The Emerson Wave
feature allows the
blade to be
unfolded as the user
draws the knife outof his pocket.
ITS CARBON FIBERSCALES [APPEAR] SOTHREE-DIMENSIONAL THAT ITSEEMS YOU CAN REACH RIGHTINTO THE HANDLE.
ABOUT PAUL GRANGER
Paul Granger specializes in making fixed-blade knives of his own unique design, as well as intraditional patterns. He has created a line of lightweight, non-metallic, non-ceramic knives currently
in use by the American and Canadian militaries, multiple police departments, and the FBI and CIA. His
website is www.palehorsefighters.blogspot.com.
GRANGER LIKES
The Bad Monkeys easy, secure grip.
The Emerson Wave feature, which allows the
knife to be deployed as it is withdrawn from
the users pocket.
The discreet pocket clip.
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tion to the knife users pocket
and advertises that that
pocket is carrying a knife.
This pocket clip is only one-
third the length of the knife.
Granger wore his Bad Mon-
key clipped to a thick,
leather-reinforced work
pants pocket. The clip did
not stretch out, meaning that
it had a great temper. He
bought some extra ones for
his custom-made knives.
Overall, Granger liked the
Southern Grind Bad Monkeyfolder a great deal. It felt
good in the hand, and was
shaving sharp out of the box.
Law Enforcement
Specialists Field
Evaluation
The Southern Grind Bad
Monkey folder, with a modi-
fied tanto point, arrived at
the castle on a late summers
day. Its field evaluation was
one of our longest. Because a
folder is a normal carry blade
when you cannot get away
with a fixed blade, we decid-
ed to see exactly how it
rolled long term.
One of the interesting
features of the Monkey was
the short pocket clip. In the
past, I have lost two very niceknives due to the pocket
clips, one while crawling around on
a rooftop, the other when snorkel-
ing. Some self-proclaimed aficiona-
dos would blanch at the thought of
swimming with a knife clipped to
them. They do not live or work in my
world.
The other feature I was curious
about was the liner lock. In the past,
Ive had a very expensive and well-
known tactical folders liner lock fail,
and as a result, cause a great deal of
physical damage to my finger.
Knowing what I know now about
folders, regardless of how they are
marketed, theyre prone to lock fail-
ure, period. The least favorite of
mine are the liner lock designs, since
they can fail when the knife is used
aggressively, as you would do so in a
tactical situation.
Yours truly carried and used the
Bad Monkey for more than 90 days:
while I was on duty as a uniformed
peace officer, while as a law en-
forcement trainer, and for day-to-
day carry and usage. These environ-
ments included patrol, search and
rescue, and close protection opera-
tions of a federal dignitary. They
also included firearms range,subject control and physical
conditioning laboratories in police
academy training. I carried the Bad
Monkey in plainclothes, while in uni-
form, once while swimming, and in
excess of 300 miles of running.
I used the knife to cut paracord,
cardboard, clothing and fat juicy
meat for the grill. I used it to demon-
strate for a police knife class, and to
carve up the holiday ham. I batoned
hardwood for the grill, and per-
formed a 100-repetition spine strike
test on the Bad Monkey with no lock
failures. The 6AL4V titanium lock
and liner seemed to hold up well.
Even after months of general use
and abuse of the knife, the Bad
Monkeys integrity was still sound,
with no looseness or rattling.
Reviewer Paul Granger
appreciated the jimping on
the handle and liner.
AN IMPRESSIVE
STEEL
The knifes blade steel,
14C-28N, is a newer,
rather high-grade knife
steel. Steel is iron with
various elements
added to it; in the case
of 14C-28N and
according to Sandvik
Materials Technology
literature, the added
elements are carbon
(0.62), silicon (0.2),
manganese (0.6),
phosphorus (0.025),
sulphur (0.010),
chromium (14.0), and
nitrogen (0.11).
Reviewer Paul Granger
tested the blade ashaving a 58-59 HRC.
EVEN AFTER
MONTHS OF
GENERAL USE AND
ABUSE OF THE
KNIFE, THE BAD
MONKEYSINTEGRITY WAS
STILL SOUND, WITH
NO LOOSENESS OR
RATTLING.
The Bad Monkeys handle
is designed with one deep
finger groove and a large
downward curve for therest of the users fingers.
ABOUT MARK ALLEN PRINCE
Mark Allen Prince is a professor of law enforcement technology/special operations at
Central Ohio Technical College; a former USDOE SRT operator; and spent 20 years in
local law enforcement special operations and training. He has developed and teaches
courses in homeland security and special operations for military, state, and local
special operations personnel and organizations, and is an instructor trainer certified by
the late Colonel Rex Applegate.
Both reviewers were impressed by the short yet
sturdy pocket clip.
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The combination of a full-size handle
(more than 5 inches) with carbon fiber
weave texture, and the finger groove and
jimping on the back of the handle and
proximal end of the blade, provide excel-
lent purchase. The steel of the blade
(14C-28N), along with the almost 4-inch
length, modified tanto point and Emerson
Wave feature, provide a very sharp, fastand competent business end of this
cutting tool.
The knife was easy to re-sharpen with
the kitchen steel when needed. The black
armor Cerakote finish defeated the nor-
mal wear and tear of our folder evaluation
to include batoning. (Cerakote is a ceram-
ic-based finish used on M45 CQB pistols,
employed by the special operations units
of the U.S. Marine Corps. The M45 CQB is
Reviewer Mark Allen Prince
found the modified tantoblade to be very effective.
PRINCE LIKES
The impressively durable, secure liner lock.
The excellent purchase afforded by the
handle.
The ease of sharpening.
SPECIFICATIONS
HANDLE: Twill-weave carbon-fiber, textured
matte finish
LOCK AND LINER: 6AL4V titanium
BLADE STEEL: 14C-28N
GRIND: Conventional flat grind
BLADE FINISH: Cerakote armor blackOVERALL LENGTH: 9.125 inches (tanto
version)
BLADE LENGTH: 3.875 inches (tanto
version)
HANDLELENGTH: 5.25 inches
WEIGHT: 4.97 ounces
BLADE THICKNESS: 0.130 inches
The Bad Monkey features a conventional flat-ground blade, which Granger particularly admired.
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updated version of the U.S. M1911A1 pistol,
long in use by U.S. military).
At more than 9 inches long, the Bad
Monkey is not a small knife, nor is it light at
almost 5 ounces. The knife is also not in-
expensive at $269.95. However, what the
Southern Grind Bad Monkey represents is
quality. It appears that Zac Brown not only
can turn out quality country tunes, but
quality folding knives as well.
Discover the premier
knife magazine.
www.facebook.com/knivesillustrated
Find us on
THIS TYPE OF KNIFE
IS THE FASTEST-
DEPLOYING FOLDING
KNIFE BLADE IN THE
WORLD.
The Bad Monkeys blade steel, 14C-28N,
is a newer, high-grade steel type.THE STEEL OF THE
BLADE, ALONG WITH THE
EMERSON WAVE FEATURE,
PROVIDE A VERY SHARP, FAST
AND COMPETENT BUSINESS END
OF THIS CUTTING TOOL.
SEARCH HERE
The Bad Monkey uses the Emerson Wave
feature for opening. Using this mechanism is
tricky at first, but many helpful tutorial
videos can be found on YouTube by sea rching
for Emerson Knives Wave Feature.
KI
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KI
THESE KNIVES FROM CRKT ARENT ONLY FOR FIGHTERS
EVERYDAWARRIO
CRKT
Tighe Dye
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You may carry a briefcase instead of a gun, or wear a tie instead of a badge,
but a true warrior is one in heart, mind and deednot just on the field. Every
warrior needs a blade, and CRKT has just that bladethree blades, in fact, in
the forms of their Liong Mah Design #5, the Tighe Dye and the Hammond FE9..
1Liong Mah Design #5The Liong Mah Design #5 is a well-made handful of a knife. When I firstsaw the knife on CRKTs website, I was instantly impressed by its beefy body
and powerful-looking blade. When I received my sample and opened the
familiar CRKT box, I was not disappointed.
INSIDE of every man and woman is a warrior.
STORY BY CLINT THOMPSON
PHOTOS BY CLINT THOMPSON AND COURTESY OF CRKTEVERY WARRIOR
NEEDS A BLADE,
AND CRKT HAS
JUST THAT BLADE.
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The #5 fit perfectly and comfortably
both in my hand and in my pocket. The
blade measures just under 3 inches long,
and a little more than 1 inch at its widest
pointan excellent size for everyday utili-
ty. It features a straight-edge blade, but
those looking for something serrated may
want to try the #5s sister model, the #6.
While this beauty is not equipped witha lock-blade system, its traditional
slipjoint locking system works perfectly.
When deploying the blade, there are two
distinct snapping points: one at the 90-
degree angle, and one at the fully opened
position.
At a very reasonable price point of
$49.99, the #5 would be perfect for the
blue-collar warrior.
2Tighe DyeThe knife a warrior carries says a lot
about the warrior himself. For the warrior
who wants to be easily recognizable as
The oblong groove in the top of the Liong Mah #5allows a user to open the knife with one hand. The Liong Mah #5 uses a slipjoint locking system, which works well for two-stage deployment of the blade.
As folding knife locking systems go, the Tighe Dye has one of the best. The button release is designed to lock the
blade of this bad boy in the open position, but not in the closed position, thereby allowing the lucky user to use the
flipper system to deploy the blade quickly.
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someone who is adventurous and who
knows his blades, the Tighe Dye
embodies both danger and beauty.
When you hold the Tighe Dye in your
hand, you may feel what Japanese samu-
rai felt when they took up their swords: a
sense of noble responsibility and of
excitement. In your hand in either forward
or reverse grip, the knife feels reassuringly
powerful. To deploy the blade, simply
push down on the flipper tab and give a
flick of your wrist. The blade will easily fly
open and lock into the open position. A
well-designed button release holds the
blade securely in place.
Not only does the Tighe Dye function
flawlessly, it has a highly distinctive
appearance as well. It features a spear-
point blade (only one side is sharpened, in
CRKT CONTACT INFORMATION
COLUMBIA RIVERKNIFE & TOOL(503) 685-5015
www.crkt.com
The uniquely designed
Tighe Dye can be
purchased on its own, or
as a packaged deal with a
matching belt buckle and
money clip.
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the interest of safety), which lends itself
both to everyday tasks and to self-
defense, if necessary. Artistic grooves on
the aluminum coffin-style handle truly set
this knife apart.
Beauty may be in the eye of the
beholder, but it would be difficult for any-
one not to be impressed by the Tighe Dye.
3Hammond FE9
For those who are warriors not only in
spirit, but also out in the field, a combat-
ready blade is a necessity. The FE9,
designed by Jim Hammond, is just the
knife for the boots-on-the-ground
warrioror even for the more
adventurous outdoorsman.
Hammond designed the FE9 with
professional warriors in mind, and as a
police officer who served in Kosovo and
Iraq, I can attest to the FE9s excellence.
Its large enough to cut away anything
blocking your view, and thanks to itsMOLLE-compatible sheath (complete
For the DIY handyman warrior, the Liong Mah #5 offers good utilitywith class.
The Tighe Dye is not only a work of art, and its also impressively functional. A well-placed pocket clip allows this
knife to be carried top up and deep in your pocket.
THE KNIFE A WARRIOR CARRIES SAYS A LOT ABOUT
THE WARRIOR HIMSELF.
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with spare clips), it can be carried in any
number of configurations, on MOLLE gear
or simply on a hiking belt.
To test how well the FE9 withstands
tougher use, I took mine out into the
woods and put it to work. I was able to
stab the 9-inch blade into a fallen tree,
and then twist the blade around until I
made a round hole. Because of the beefy
ridge and full tang, the point sustained no
visible damage.
I then tried out the FE9s chopping
ability. The handle, which was engineered
for two different holds, makes this easy.
Making use of the finger grooves next to
the hilt, the operator has an excellent grip
for cutting, slashing and general use.
Move your hand back one finger groove,
and youre able to maximize the amount
of energy for chopping. I easily cut
through a sapling an inch in diameter with
a single, properly angled blow.
My 90-year-old father was looking onas I went on a chopping frenzy, hacking
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through a 3-inch sapling in two downward blows, then a 4-inch shrub, which was
severed after just four or five hacks. My dad shook his head, chuckled, and said,
The great tree killer. He could have been referring to me or, just as easily, to the
FE9, an excellent blade for one big job after another.
Impressive Impressions
Japanese samurai may be best known for their swords, but swords were not
their only blades. They would each have also carried a tanto, which works well for
everyday tasks but could also be used as a weapon. Modern-day warriors can take
note: Tactical knives arent limited to tactical contexts. You cant do much betterthan one of these three blades from CRKT to represent your inner warrior.
LIONG MAH DESIGN #5OVERALL LENGTH: 6.5 inches
BLADE: 2.77 inches, 8Cr14MoV with satin finish
HANDLE: Black G10
WEIGHT: 3.5 ounces
MSRP: $49.99
FAST FACTS: LIONG MAH
Designer of the Liong Mah Design #5
www.liongmahdesigns.com Immigrated to the U.S. from Malaysia in 1983. Designs knives for limited-edition runs. His logo is a version of the symbol for the Japanesegod of war.
TIGHE DYEOVERALL LENGTH: 8.75 inches
BLADE: 3.89 inches, AUS-8 with satin finish
HANDLE: Aluminum
WEIGHT: 5.1 ouncesMSRP(knife only): $89.99MSRP(with belt buckle and money clip): $135
FAST FACTS: BRIAN TIGHE
Designer of the Tighe Dyewww.tigheknives.com Has been designing knives for 25 years. A resident of Ontario, Canada. Custom knives sell for $525 to $3,500.
FE9OVERALL LENGTH: 14.13 inches
BLADE: 9 inches, O1 tool steel with black powdercoating
HANDLE: Black G10WEIGHT: 15.2 ouncesMSRP: $375
FAST FACTS: JIM HAMMOND
Designer of the FE9www.jimhammondknives.com A resident of Alabama. Has been a member of the Custom KnifemakersGuild since 1978. Was the first custom knifemaker to design forCRKT.
THE FE9 IS AN EXCELLENT
BLADE FOR ONE BIG JOB
AFTER ANOTHER.
The FE9 comes with a
versatile, high-strength, nylon
glass fiber-reinforced sheath
with a MOLLE clip.
The strong tip of the FE9 is easily able to penetrate through hard wood.
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www.knifeandgun.com
K & G FINISHING SUPPLIESYour #1 Stabilizer for over 23 years
Custom Dying and StabilizingCall for more information
800-972-1192
We can stabilize your wood, horn, bone,
Ivory and gemstone.
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In my many years as a knife reviewer, Ive handled countless excel-
lent blades. Sometimes you find that something you really wanted
to like just doesnt feel right once you finally wrap your mitts around
it. But other times, you know right away that a knife is something
extra special. This was what happened with the T4.
Perhaps this is because Brous isnt just any knifemaker. With his
background in CNC machining and a deep interest in surrealist
Brazilian art, Brous brings not only a unique perspective, but unique
expertise to the tablefiguratively and literally.
Since making his first knife in 2010, Brous has refined his style to
what his website describes as functional simplicity, while still main-
taining a strong artistic signature. The T4 tactical flipper is an excel-
lent example of this.
THE T4 FLIPPERS STREAMLINED YET
POWERFUL DESIGN MAKE THIS KNIFE
ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY
STORY AND PHOTOS BY TIM STETZER
As soon as I pulled the Jason Brous T4 out of its box, Ihad what I call a whoa moment.
DEFENSIVEUTILITY
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CONTACT INFO
BROUS BLADESP.O. Box 550
Buellton, CA 93427
www.brousblades.com
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Devil in the Details
The T4 Flipper is a collaboration
between Jason Brous and Jason Moriel-
Riboloff from Tanium Design. The 4-inch,
hollow-ground, D2 steel blade features a
modified drop point and protruding flip-
per, which acts as a guard when the knife
is opened. A recessed finger groove is also
milled into on each side of
the blade to allow for
thumb opening if you
prefer that option. G10
scales with angled grooves
milled along their length,
as well as recessed finger
grooves, enhance both the
grip and the opening of the
blade. A pocket clip allows
for tip-up carry.
Two features serve to
lighten the T4s design
while still retainingstrength. First, a propri-
etary G10 back spacer is designed to
maintain the strength of the knife (and as
a bonus, this makes the knife easier to
clean). Second, the scales cover a skele-
tonized stainless steel frame and a liner
locking mechanism.
The only markings on the knife are a
discreet Brous Blades trademark etched
on the clip, and the serial
number visible on the
front of the flipper when
the knife is opened.
In Motion
Im a fan of a flipper
system for knife opening
for several reasons that
are perfectly exemplified
by the ball bearing-
mounted system of the
Brous T4. First, I find it
fast, convenient and easyto use. Second, while Im
not averse to autos or assisted openers in
the least, a good flipper is often just as
fast as an automatic or assisted-open
knife, but with fewer parts that can mal-
function. This is a huge plus for a rugged-
use blade.
Third, I like that, when opened, a flipper
provides a nice built-in finger guard for
the blade. Add that finger groove to the
excellently contoured, grooved handle on
the T4, and you have a knife thats
extremely stable in the hand and that
locks your hand into place even under full
power thrusts and tabs.
The thumb cut-outs in the handle do
help to orient the blade by feel when
drawing it from your pocket and make it
easier to position your hand to snap the
blade open fast. I found that the grip
shape on the T4 worked extremely well in
both saber and reverse grips.
Any knife can be used for utility tasks,obviously, but some are simply nicer to
46 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY-AUGUST 2014
SPECIFICATIONS:OVERALL LENGTH: 9 inches
BLADE LENGTH: 4 inches
CUTTING EDGE LENGTH: 3.9
inches
BLADE THICKNESS: 3/16
inches
BLADE MATERIAL: D2
HANDLE MATERIAL: Black G10
CLOSED LENGTH: 5.175 inches
WEIGHT: 6 ounces
FINISH: Black Cerakote, acid
wash or satin
MADE IN THE USA
HIGHLIGHTSThe reviewers favorite aspects of the T4 are:
Its easy, secure grip.
Its smooth and rapid opening mechanism.
Its combination of being durable, yet lightweight.
Jason Brous T4 combines a sleek design with excellent functionality.
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k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c om
use than others. The D2 has a very good slightly toothy edge: It
isnt hair-popping sharp, yet it cuts through paper, cordage, rope
and cardboard with ease, especially cardboard. My wife is a Girl
Scout troop leader, and it was cookie sales time so we ended up
with a lot of empty cardboard cookie cases in the garage that
had to be broken down for recycling. I used the T4 on the mess
of them and scavenged some of the cardboard to make a new
cutting and stabbing test target. The D2 held up very well on the
cardboard, which often can quickly dull the edges of even
quality blades.
Everyday Testing
From a purely tactical perspec-
tive, the T4 has a lot to offer a seri-
ous user. The thick D2 blade offers
very good strength and served well
at penetrating various materials,
such as denim and leather placed
over my test target. The T4 is fast
to get into play with either your
primary or support handanimportant consideration if your
KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY-AUGUST 2014 47
THE T4 HAS MUCH TO OFFER
BOTH TACTICAL AND EVERYDAY USERS
IN NOT ONLY STYLE, BUT ALSO IN
PERFORMANCE.
The T4 is equally
comfortable carried in a
saber or reverse grip.
The D2 steel blade features a modified drop point and a protruding flipper. The blade can
be purchased in satin-finish T4, black Cerakote or acid-washed finish.
TestedTOUGHJason doesnt put out any
product without rigorous
testing first. According to
Jason the T4 prototype
was beat up, taken apart
and opened more than
25,000 times and its still
going strong. Thats more
than most users will ever
do with even an EDC blade
in their lifetime.
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blade might be called into play as a back-
up weapon, or to aid in weapons retention
if your primary hand is occupied.
I used the T4 as my everyday carry knife
both at home and at work in my day job
as a police detective over the period of a
month or so. It definitely falls into the
tactical category of knives, but that said,
it makes for a very handy everyday tool as
well. The modified drop-point works well
for myriad tasks. It has enough of a point
to make a good thrusting weapon, as well
as being precise enough for small detail
work like picking stitching out of a pack
strap with a broken buckle and for remov-
ing a splinter. The blade has a bit of belly,
too, which worked well on slashing cuts
and for doing rocking cuts on a board
when I was trimming some leather. It
seemed to be a good blend of practical
utility and serious defensive capability.
The T4 is a good-size knife but carries
pretty easily. The low-profile carry clip lets
the knife sit deeply and discreetly in your
pocket and keeps it securely in place. The
knife is only around 11/16 of an inch at its
thickest point, so it carries pretty flatly in
the pocket as well, and at 6 ounces it
doesnt weigh you down. If I had one issuewith the T4, itd be that I found the clip a
The authors T4 is number 334
in a 500-piece serialized run.
The T4 punches easily through cardboard while still
maintaining its edgesomething that many knives are
unable to accomplish.
BONUS FEATUREThe Brous T4 locks up via a stainless steel
liner lock. That lockup is extremely secure
and no wiggle or blade play was detected
upon initial receipt of the knife or after
heavy use. Its recessed enough to make
inadvertent release extremely unlikely, yet
the serration provided make it easy to
disengage when you choose to do so.
A proprietary G10 spacer makes the T4 both durable and lightweight.
The T4s pocket clip holds the knife securely within theusers pocket for tip-up carry.
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little tight. I found that I generally had to
pull up on the clip a bit when slipping it
over the edge of my pocket. I usually
prefer a clip that slides on a little easier.
Plus, as tight as the clip grabs, I suspect
its going to cause enhanced wear on your
pocket over time. However, the flipside is
that it does keep the knife where its
supposed to be, and your chances of it
popping loose and being lost are slim.
Last Impressions
The T4 has much to offer both tactical
and everyday users in not only style, but
also in performance. Brous and Moriel-
Riboloff have done a great job of combin-
ing sleek, modern styling with great
ergonomic features to make a very well
thought-out and functional piece of
hardware. If youre looking for something
a step up from your basic EDC folder in
materials and design then the T4 Flippershould definitely be on your short list.
k n i v e s i l l u s t r a t e d . c om KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JULY-AUGUST 2014 49
Thanks to a ball
bearing pivot
mechanism, the
blade flips open
rapidly and easily.
By the NUMBERS500:The number of pieces that will be
produced in the T4s limited run
334:The serial number on the authors knife
$259:The price for a satin-finish T4
$289:The price for black Cerakote or acid-
washed finish
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BUDGET BUYS
10HOTaccessories
under$25Y
our blade may have cost a pretty penny, but
the things that go along with it dont have to.
For the bargain hunter, weve rounded up a
list of great options currently on the market. The
only thing cooler than the accessories themselves
is their affordable pricetags!
BELLS &WHISTLES
1Smiths Pocket Pal X2 Sharpenerand Survival ToolThe best tools are those that are capable of multiple jobs while still
fitting inside your pocketand the Pocket Pal X2 is a prime example.
Two pull-through sharpening slots, a tapered diamond rod, a fire
starter, compass, whistle and LED light all are combined into a compact
body that measures just 3.4 inches long and 1.7 ounces in weight.
MSRP: $14.99
2Benchmade 7-PieceKnife DisplayWant to show off your knives, but cant afford one
of the fancier displays? This display from
Benchmade may do just the trick. The blue
Plexiglas frame can hold up to seven of your
favorite knives of almost any size.
MSRP: $25
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3Gerber Vital ZipThe Vital Zip combines the best features from two
other tools that may be familiar to Gerber
enthusiasts: the E-Z Zip and the Vital
exchangeable-blade folder. Like the Vital knife,
the Zips utility blade can be easily exchanged, for
efficient. With six included replacement blades,
comfortable and a sturdy, highly visible orange
body, this efficient cutting tool will be a great
complement to a first responders kit. Also
includes a sheath.
MSRP: $15
4Coast LED112 3-in-1 ToolWhile the Smiths multitool lends itself well to outdoor
adventures, this little tool is perfect for everyday carry. Dropped
your phone in a dark theater? Use the LED light (two batteries are
included). Opening a package? The inch-long 3Cr13 blade will come
in handy. Cracking open a cold one? Youre already equipped with a
bottle opener. With a nylon handle and at only 1.2 ounces, its easy
to use in hand and easy to carry on a keychain.
MSRP: $19.49
5TOPS Tactical NUKWhen your favorite folder is more knife than you need for an
everyday task, the TOPS Non-Metallic Utility Knife may be just
what you need instead. This polymer dagger, available in two
colors, was designed for opening letters, cutting boxes, minor
prying and, if necessary, can serve as backup protection. Two
6.75-inch blades are included. Be advised: Even without a
metal blade, the NUK is not TSA-approved, and local laws
regarding fixed blades may still apply.
MSRP: $10
6PUMA Replacement Fixed-Blade SheathWhile Kydex sheaths seem to have a particularly large presence in the market recently, theres something to be said for
a classic, gentlemanly leather sheath. PUMAs line of leather sheaths are handmade from top-grain, genuine cowhide
leather and 100 percent vegetable tanned. Available in a variety of sizes, theres sure to be an option for any knife.
MSRP: $19.99
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7Benchmade Bluebox Service KitFor the DIY Benchmade user who wants to keep his everyday carryin prime shape at all times, the Bluebox Service Kit will be avaluable asset. Six bits in various sizes, along with a bit holder,enable you to make minor adjustments to Benchmades uniquesix-lobe headed screws