Knives Illustrated - September-October 2022

86 Pages·2022·25 MB·English

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Top Blade Choices
HISTORICAL
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knivesillustrated.com SAW
SEPT./OCT. 2022 • VOL. 36, NO. 5 • U.S. $5.99 • DISPLAY UNTIL: 9/6/2022 PLUS: To
10
Your Camp Kit
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ENGAGED MEDIA LLC

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
VOLUME 36, NUMBER 5
WWW.KNIVESILLUSTRATED.COM
ON THE COVER
SPECIAL SECTION:
BUSHCRAFT
24 CAMPCRAFT CAPABLE
Use the proper tools and skills for survival 26 34
necessity and camp comfort. BY KI STAFF
26 WILD HARVEST KNIVES
Wilderness and kitchen tools from Les Stroud
and Chef Paul Rogalski. BY TIM STETZER
34 TOOTHY TOOLS
For camp or survival, it’s hard to beat a good
saw. BY REUBEN BOLIEU
42 BUSHCRAFT KNIFE BASICS 42 50
Take your bushcrafting to the next level
with these techniques. BY REUBEN BOLIEU
50 DUAL-PURPOSE PERFORMER
The Ben Orford Trapper does double duty
for bushcraft, hunting. BY KEVIN ESTELA
58 A GOOD START
When you load your pack, start with a
Morakniv Kansbol. BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW 58
OTHER FEATURES
10 MERGING OF THE MINDS
What’s it like for a custom knifemaker
to work with a company on a small-run
production blade? BY JASON FRY
16 FRY UTILITY HUNTER
10 16
This handy fixed blade offers custom
quality at a production price.
BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW 22
22 SKANDI FOLDERS
Three new EDC blades from Helle of Norway.
BY KI STAFF
Cover Photo: Reiff Knives F6 Leuku Survival Knife. Photo by Reuben Bolieu.
Cover Design: Jacqui Dawson
KNIVES ILLUSTRATED (ISSN 0898-8943) is published seven times a year, January/
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4KNIVES ILLUSTRATED • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 knivesillustrated.com
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022
Volume 36 • Number 5
EDITORIAL
Steven Paul Barlow Editor
Wendy Wilson Managing Editor
Rayna M. Padgett Editorial Intern
64
DESIGN
Jacqui Dawson Art Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Reuben Bolieu, Jim Cobb, Kevin Estela, Jason Fry, Tim Stetzer
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KNIVES ILLUSTRATED(ISSN 0898-8943) is published seven times
a year—January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August,
September/October, November and December—by
Engaged Media LLC, 2220 Sedwick Road, Durham, NC 27713.
Periodical postage paid at Durham, NC, and additional mailing offi ces.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to KNIVES ILLUSTRATED
c/o Engaged Media LLC, ColorArt, 101 Workman Court, Eureka, MO 63025.
Canadian Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. Return
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London, ON N6C 6B2, Canada. GST# 855050365RT001
©2022 by Engaged Media LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any
material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.
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Outfi t your favorite knife with a handle upgrade. BY JASON FRY
SIXSAILS GROUP
76 REIFF KNIVES Scott Hall Chief Executive Officer
Prashant Upadhyaya President
The spirit of the wolf goes with these rugged, American-made fi eld knives. Carrie Rubalcaba Human Resources
BY REUBEN BOLIEU Nikiann Gray General Counsel
COLUMNS
ENGAGED MEDIA LLC
Emil Reister Chief Executive Officer
Sonal Mehta Chief Operating Officer
06 EDITOR’S EDGE BY STEVEN PAUL BARLOW Mike Giancola Executive Vice President of Sales
Erin Masercola Content Director
Terry Rollman Audience Development Director
08 GEAR UP
BY TIM STETZER
This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the
understanding that information presented is from various sources from
which there can be no warranty or responsibility by Engaged Media LLC as to
the legality, completeness or technical accuracy.
knivesillustrated.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • KNIVES ILLUSTRATED5
EDITOR’S EDGE
ALIEN ENCOUNTERS:
WHY DO YOU CARRY
A KNIFE?
H
ow do you handle it when you encounter When dealing with any alien
an alien? By alien, I mean, of course, with edged-tool indifference,
one of those strange, other-worldly it’s important not to do
creatures that isn’t obsessed with anything that could turn this
knives and never carries one. creature into an anti-knife
advocate. For that reason,
Some of you knife enthusiasts out there might still
try to avoid whipping out
believe there’s no such thing because everyone you
your big-bladed automatic
call friend carries a knife or two. But these aliens
or assisted opener for the
do exist, and they’re not the only ones bladelessly
effect of it and saying in
prowling the earth in secrecy. I mean, look at Bigfoot.
your best tough-guy voice,
He’s rarely seen and never with a knife on his belt or
“Because no one’s going to
even with just a belt now that I think about it.
mess with me!” This might
While aliens can be disguised as any normal person, alienate—yes that’s the
they often reveal themselves when they ask You can let an alien right word—the alien, prompting it to change into its
incredulously, “Why do you carry a knife?” as if you’re handle one of your actual, hideous form. At this point, it’s likely to start
knives, but never
an alien for doing so. give an alien a fork. snarling and spewing political and ethical opinions
abluecup / iStock
Rather than instinctively shrinking back in horror photo at you.
at realizing you’re face to face with an alien, try to
maintain a cool demeanor and provide an answer
“WHEN DEALING WITH ANY ALIEN
while using your peripheral vision to note any possible
WITH EDGED-TOOL INDIFFERENCE,
avenues of escape.
IT’S IMPORTANT NOT TO DO
Potential responses could range from the flippant
“to trim my nails,” to the innocent “to open my mail,” ANYTHING THAT COULD TURN
to the logical “I have lots of packages to open” or
THIS CREATURE INTO AN
“because I need one when I go camping.” If you use a
vague response, such as “just in case,” squint your eyes ANTI-KNIFE ADVOCATE.”
slightly and nod as if you know something they don’t.
This might well end the conversation right there and
get you off the hook. It’s much preferred to use a more humanizing
approach with any alien you meet. Be kind and patient
at the alien’s lack of knife knowledge. You could cite
specific examples of times when the knife you carried
was particularly useful in solving some problem. Avoid
the “whittled tent stakes” cliché if you can and try not
to be too boastful of your own resourcefulness.
You can let an alien handle one of your knives too, but
never give an alien a fork. We need to be tolerant of all
aliens we meet and try to educate them on our knife-
KNIVESILLUSTRATED.COM carrying way of life. If we don’t, they could eat us alive.
INSTAGRAM: @KNIVESILLUSTRATEDMAGAZINE
Steven Paul Barlow
Editor
6KNIVES ILLUSTRATED • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 knivesillustrated.com

GEARUP
CRKT
RELEASES
NEW HATCHET
BY TIM STETZER, PHOTOS BY TIM STETZER AND MANUFACTURERS
1. CRKT Chogan Hatchet 2. Galco Change Carrier
The Chogan Hatchet is another splitting kindling, or other camp Have you ever wanted a handy way
design by Ryan Johnson of RMJ chores. At under $50, it’s an to carry loose change and be able to
Tactical. According to CRKT, it’s affordable piece of kit, too. thump someone who needs it at the
based on a classic rifleman’s same time? Well, if so, Galco has you
tomahawk hatchet from 1804. < SPECS: covered with its new change carrier. It
I actually thought it looked snaps onto your belt or bag strap and
CRKT Chogan Hatchet
like a carpenter’s hatchet, is handy enough to get to when you
•Blade Length: 3.16 inches
which is fine, too, because the need to pull out your Aldi quarter,
•Blade Edge: Plain
company makes great camp but it also quickly unsnaps into a
•Blade Steel: 1055 carbon steel
tools. The head is made from handy sap weighted down with all
forged 1055 carbon steel with •Blade Finish: Manganese phosphate coating of your worldly wealth in coins. It’s
a 3.16-inch edge blade on one •Blade Thickness: 0.91 inch a slick, low profi le self-defense tool
side and a hammerhead on the •Overall Length: 13.19 inches that has a common lawful purpose
other. The head is affixed to a •Weight: 1.48 pounds as well, carrying around all that pesky
glass-reinforced nylon handle •Handle: Glass-reinforced nylon change. As always, check your local
that should resist weather and •MSRP: $48 laws before you start swinging your
breakage. It’s the perfect size CRKT.com change carrier around, but if you can
for hammering tent stakes, carry one, it’s a neat tool to have.
8KNIVES ILLUSTRATED•SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 knivesillustrated.com
< FEATURES: 4. CJRB
XShear Medic Shears Hyperlite
• Hardened stainless steel
blades, twice as thick as most If you’re familiar
trauma shears with Joe Flowers from
• Sharpened to razor edge Global Bushcraft, you
• Patented blunt tip and curved know that there’s little that can’t be accomplished by locking
design for gentler edge near skin
him in a room with an energy drink and some sugar. When Joe
• Soft touch inner handles for
comfort and slip resistance was tasked to come up with an ultra-light fi xed blade for
3. XShear
• Heavy duty center bolt that hiking and backpacking, it didn’t take him long to come up
Medic Shears won't loosen over time with the Hyperlite for CJRB, a subsidiary of Artisan Knives.
• Variety of handle colors and
The Hyperlite comes in at a ridiculously light 2.47 ounces
If you’re a fi rst responder or work in an ER, then trauma blade finishes
• Black titanium coating on blades for the skeletonized version with no scales and a still
shears are part of your go-to kit. Even if you aren’t,
provides extra durability and feathery 3.53 ounces for the model with G10 scales, not
they’re extremely useful in your own med kits or even sleek matte black appearance
too shabby for a full tang, 4-inch fi xed blade knife. The
around the shop. Basic shears are relatively cheap, but • 90-day guarantee
knives have a blade of AR-RPM9 powdered steel with a
that’s because they’re disposable. They aren’t built to • Five-year warranty
fl at grind and either a sand polish or black PVD coating.
last but rather to be thrown out when they get dull or • Free expedited shipping within
The Hyperlite comes with a nice, streamlined Kydex
break. XShear founder Wes Brubaker is a fl ight nurse the USA
•MSRP: $39.95 sheath suitable for belt or pack carry. Three versions are
and paramedic, and he wanted something better, so he
XShear.com available: the skeletonized model, the G10 model, and a
set about designing and manufacturing it himself.
model with Micarta scales. These run between $66.66
XShears are made by one of the makers of high-end and $93.33 depending on handles.
SPECS: >
scissors out of a stainless-steel blade that’s twice as
CJRB Hyperlite, J1922B G10
thick as regular trauma shears. They’re sharpened to a
handle 5. Field Notes
razor edge, and they have a much sturdier center bolt •Blade Length: 4.17 inches
National Parks Series
that won’t loosen up over time. You’ll notice the blade •Blade Thickness: 0.11 inch
shape has a steady curve rather than the angled blades •Blade Finish: Sand polish/ With cell phones these days, it’s sometimes easy to forget
of conventional trauma shears. The patented curved black PVD coating
that we used to carry notebooks to jot stuff down. Well,
blade makes it easier to slide under tight clothing and •Blade Grind: Flat
not everyone has forgotten, and if you spend a lot of time
safely cut away from the patient. •Blade Material: AR-RPM9
in the outdoors, you know it’s nice to have something
•Blade Hardness: HRC59-61
I had a chance to work with a pair of XShears and can that doesn’t rely on batteries to take and reference
•Blade Style: Drop point
say they’re defi nitely well-built and comfortable to use. I notes. The folks at Field Notes know this and have been
•Overall Length: 8.19 inches
didn’t have any medical calls, but I did use them on heavy providing excellent fi eld notebooks for a long time now.
•Handle Material: G10
zip ties and some heavy plastic matting that laughed at •Weight: 3.53 ounces The National Parks series gives you all of the quality you’d
my utility knife. The XShears zipped through the material •MSRP: $79.99 expect from Field Notes and couples them with some
like it was paper. I plan on keeping a pair on my work great covers with artwork celebrating our national parks.
ArtisanCutlery.net
bench and grabbing another pair for my trauma kit. The books have 48 pages marked with a 3/16-inch graph
that can be used for whatever you need to record. Take
notes on hiking and camping locations, draw maps, sketch,
< FEATURES:
or take down range and fi eld of fi re notes from your hunting
Galco Change Carrier blind or tree stand. There are currently 18 books, and they
• Carries coins in a slotted pocket come in six diff erent packs of three, so you can pick a pack
• Unsnaps to become impact weapon with your favorite parks or get all 18. Inside, you’ll fi nd a brief
• Sauvage leather history of the park and a spot for the offi cial National Park
• Black or tan
Passport. Field Notes also donates fi ve percent of retail and
• 4.5 x 3 inches folded,
wholesale purchases to the National Parks Service.
9 x 3 inches unfolded
• $59
GalcoGunleather.com
SPECS: >
Field Notes
National Parks Series
• Six packs, 18 parks
• Made in USA
• Graph Paper 3½ × 5½ inches
• 48 Pages
• $14.95
FieldNotesBrand.com
knivesillustrated.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 • KNIVES ILLUSTRATED9
M E RG I N G M I N D
OF
THE
The handmade
version of Jason Fry’s
Utility Hunter is one
of his most popular
patterns. It is typically
offered in 154CM
stainless, pictured
here with Australian
ringed gidgee and a
sheath by Fry.
“I KNEW THIS KNIFE WAS
A SOLID DESIGN, I HAD
TUNED MY PREFERENCES
FOR SPECIFICATIONS, AND
DEMAND FOR MY HANDMADE
VERSIONS WAS GREATER
THAN MY ABILITY TO
SUPPLY.”
10KNIVES ILLUSTRATED • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 knivesillustrated.com