Category Archives: Edged Tools

Knives, axes, saws, machetes and any other tool with a sharp edge or point.

Wild Boar Blades Trout and Game Knife

by Woodsbum

I can’t remember exactly, but it was about 18 months or so ago I saw an advertisement in The Backwoodsman for a nice little trout and game knife made by Wild Boar Blades. I called the number to get some pricing and information. Come to find out, the maker has a shop out in Silver Lake, WA and answered his own phone. The gentleman seemed like a great guy so I went ahead and ordered one of his knives.

Shipping was quick and the price was good considering I was getting something from a custom knife maker. Some of my custom knives have been over $600, so this was almost “chump change” in comparison. Again, I will say that the maker himself was great to talk to over the phone and the pictures of his work made his knives appear quite good. Then I got it in the mail……

Now I don’t want to pick apart someone’s work nor do I dislike the knife enough to not use it. There were just some quality issues that need to be addressed before I feel that it should have been released from the work bench.

First, let me show you the knife.

Wild Boar Blades Trout knife

Wild Boar Blades Trout knife

As you can see, it looks nice from the pictures. Mind you, I have used the heck out this knife and both it and the sheath have seen better days. There are a couple maker errors that I found when I first got the knife, however. The first thing that I noticed was that the handle scales were not even. The maker did not square off the butt evenly and now there one side is annoyingly longer than the other. It is hard to see in this picture, but if you look closely you can see it.

Crooked scales

Crooked scales

You can also see the grinding marks on the tang right at the butt as well as crookedly ground scales up toward the top of the scales.

The grind on the blade was also way too sharp of an angle. It would not hold an edge at all. It took me several hours on a stone to get the angle to a workable angle. As you can see here, I did not do a perfect job. It is a lot better than it was, however. The blade came with a very sharply angled convex grind to it. The way it was done made it where the blade did not hold an edge nor could I get it very sharp. A flatter or more tapered grind would have been a better choice for this knife considering it was designed for cleaning trout and small game. It really came as more of a patch type knife than anything else. I still have many hours left to make it perfect, but considering the other flaws I will just let time and strop sharpening fix the edge.

The other issue that will require my attention is the stitching of the sheath. Even though the sheath is not evenly cut and the stitches were not properly aligned to the edge, the real problem is that the maker used an easy stitch with unwaxed thread. Of course the thread broke and is now in need of a complete restitching job.

Broken stitching and uneven edge spacing

Broken stitching and uneven edge spacing

Now don’t get the idea that I hate the knife. The finish sanding and polish of the scales is awesome. The design and shape is phenomenal as well. I even like the maker’s mark and name of the blade company. I just think that there are some build and quality issues that need to be addressed.

As a side note, I have used this knife quite extensively to clean small game and fish. It has cleaned 20-30 trout, several dozen ducks, a dozen or two rabbits, probably a 100 doves, countless squirrels and helped bone out my son’s deer. After flattening out the edge on the blade it is now sharp enough to work as it was originally intended. Again, it has a long way to go. As you can see below, it is sharp enough after meating out several racks of ribs last night to still cut paper without issue.

Sharp enough for now

Sharp enough for now

If you have the skills to fix the blade when you get it or are like me and don’t care too much about using a blemished custom knife, I would recommend the shape and design of this knife. If you want a show piece or don’t know how to fix the edge of a knife to make it more suited for cutting up meat then I would recommend you look elsewhere.

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Spyderco Street Beat – Review

by GunGuy

Of all the knives I own the Spyderco Street Beat is the one I would stick in my pocket for EDC use and self-defense. Like my other Sypderco knives the fit and finish are excellent and the workmanship and materials are first class.

The design of the Spyderco Street Beat is what really won me over with this knife. The blade comes super sharp, and the VG-10 is a good steel.The deep finger choil and spine jimping make the knife a secure and comfortable fit in the hand.

I have larger hands and the handle looks like it might be too small for me. Keep in mind that it’s a small knife and that you could carry it in the small of your back or in the appendix position under a shirt with ease. However due to the design of the handle it is such that the knife grips well in a palm grip and reverse grip and the balance is absolutely perfect. This is one of the few knives I own that are equally well gripped back and forth. When you have the Street Beat in a reverse grip pointing towards your elbow the knife literally disappears from sight.

The sheath works well and has a very positive snap when the blade is pushed in. Initially it was some what difficult to take it out of the sheath. With about 50 insertions and removals it loosened up a bit and everything was perfect. The kydex sheath can be thumbed off or you can mount it on the included Spyderco G-Clip. I found that the G-Clip was too uncomfortable for in the waistband carry and I removed the G-clip and added a 1.75 in IWB belt loop at about a 20 degree angle and it made a big difference in comfort and concealability.

One of the best things about the Spyderco Street Beat is that in spite of being an all business fighting knife, it looks far from it, in part due to its size, but also the overall shape. Overall, this is a great knife design manufactured of the best materials with top quality fit and finish. Highly recommended.

Spyderco Street Beat
Spyderco Street Beat
Spyderco Street Beat
Spyderco Street Beat
Spyderco Street Beat
Spyderco Street Beat

Spyderco G-Clip
IWB belt loop

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Benchmade Barrage Model 581

by Woodsbum

For many years I carried an old Ka-Bar folding knife as my EDC. It holds an edge and works fine, but it was not really big enough for my hand and it has a serrated section. I am fine with serrated blades, but I would rather have all or none. This is just personal preference based upon the way I use a knife. Luckily, I was able to pick up a beautiful and functional EDC that seems to suit my needs a bit more. It is the Benchmade Barrage Model 581.

Benchmade Barrage Model 581

Benchmade Barrage Model 581

Now there are several different models of the Barrage. This one is the more expensive one with some nicer features, but there is one that is about $100 less expensive (Model 580). I have one of these as well, but never carried it or really used it much. The size and blade shape was great, but I didn’t like the handle or the steel used. Their Model 581 is much nicer. Here are the specifications:

Blade Length: 3.60
Blade Thickness: 0.121
Handle Thickness: 0.650
Blade Material: M390 Super Steel
Blade Hardness: 60-62HRC
Weight: 5.20oz.
Pocket Clip: Reversible, Black, Tip-Up, Split Arrow
Lock Mechanism: AXIS-Assist
Overall Length: 8.35
Closed Length: 4.75
Sheath Material: Sold Separately
Class: Blue

Like it’s less tricked out brothers, the 581 also has the same locking mechanism. This thumb slide locks the blade so the spring assist doesn’t allow it to open in your pocket, but also locks the blade release so it won’t close either. It is a very nice feature to ensure you don’t stab yourself in the leg when carrying the knife while working. All you really need to remember is to push down on the slide a bit with your thumb and it will easily click into either locked or unlocked position.

Benchmade locking mechanism

Benchmade locking mechanism

This is the blade locking mechanism. When the blade is out, just slide this guy back and it will release the blade. It is quite secure and takes one heck of a beating without failing. I have yet to have the blade release on me with either this model Barrage (Model 581) or the Model 580.

Benchmade blade locking mechanism

Benchmade blade locking mechanism

The last big difference between this model and the others is the steel that is used. Instead of the 154CM that comes on the 580’s, this has a “super steel” called M390. It is supposed to be a super performance, high tech steel that actually starts off with iron powder for better mixtures and is used in surgical cutting instruments. The edge is hair popping and it does seem to hold an edge like no other EDC knife I have ever had.

As to why I like this type knife, there are several reasons. Many knifes come in with the drop point and have a good, solid handle like this that makes it easy to grip. Here are a few other features that I personally like.

  • Drop point: For what I use an EDC knife for, this is just a perfect blade shape. It is easy to touch back up with a strop, I can do basic carving with it, and I can use most of the blade’s cutting surface for 90% of my jobs. Just my preference and usage needs.
  • Convex grind: This has a convex grind with a secondary grind for the edge. I really like this grind versus a hollow ground knife, like most EDC options out there. Again, it is just my preference.
  • Ambidextrous thumb studs: Because I use my knife with both hands, this is an important feature for me. My old EDC did not have them and I found that I had to do a lot of transferring the knife or opening it in odd manners with my left hand. This has made life much easier for me.
  • Handle material: The 580 has a Valox handle that is ultra lightweight and just doesn’t give me the personal “feel” that I want out of a knife. This 581 uses G10 and and aluminum bolster which gives me the feel and weight that I prefer. The Valox holds and my hand doesn’t slip off it, but it just feels too light and throws the balance off in my hand. Many people (my son included) like the Valox, which is why the 580 is now his….

This knife retails for around $200. This is much more money than many people are will to pay for a pocket knife. I know that. Considering what a knife snob I am and how I like my “kits” that I build for each individual purpose, spending $200 for something that will actually span all those “kits” is something that I can justify. If you are looking for a good, all around EDC knife that will supplement all your heavy use fixed blades in your kits then the 581 might be the one for you.

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ESEE 3 with Sheath and Grizzly Firesteel

by Woodsbum

Several years ago I picked up an ESEE 3 knife for use as a bushcrafting neck knife. It is tough, keeps an edge, is light weight for its size and actually fits my large hands. There are all sorts of reviews and perspectives on this knife floating around the Internet. What I wanted to do was to show you how 3 years of hard bushcrafting use will do to this knife and how a few good accessories will make this a phenomenal field tool.

My ESEE 3 with Grizzly sheath and firesteel

My ESEE 3 with Grizzly sheath and firesteel

First off, let me talk about the knife. I got this as a NIB “catch and release” from someone who did not like the weight or narrow stature of this knife. This allowed me to get it at about 60% of the normal cost without it having ever been used. It was still in the plastic that it was shipped in. This is important to note because all the wear and tear you see was done by me in the woods. When it came to me I found that it had some sort of odd coating over the entire blade, excluding the sharpened edge. This made it impossible to use as a striker or to get a spark off a firesteel. I went ahead and squared off the spine of the blade and made it capable of use with a firesteel. This was the only modification I made to the knife itself.

Squared off spine

Squared off spine

The other accessories that I got that made this the great field tool that it is were the ESEE sheath and a firesteel from Grizzly. The sheath is very well constructed and has an internal tension type retention for the blade. It will hang upside down all day long without issue, but will pop right out with only a little pressure from my thumb and a pull. It also does not rattle at all in the sheath while hiking, hunting or general be-bopping around in the woods. The firesteel stays in place very well in the molded Kydex attachment. All being said, this is a very nice setup for someone wanting a dependable field knife.

As you can see from the pictures, I have used the firesteel quite a bit. It is not a tough as one of the H60’s, but it is a close second. I would not hesitate to use this as my primary fire igniter or as a secondary system in case something happens.

There are clips for the sheath that allow you to carry the knife in a variety of ways. Since I wanted something that I could slip around my neck for any number of outdoors activities like duck hunting or general camping, I opted for a neck carry. As time as gone on, I am now considering getting a clip to attach this knife to my tactical chest rig. Only time will tell if I move forward with that plan, but it is definitely something that I have been considering.

I can not speak highly enough of this configuration. For less than $150 you can get a screaming deal on a knife configuration that will last you a lifetime if you take care of it. I highly recommend this for anyone looking at a production type field knife.

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Spyderco Manix 2 G-10 Review

I was looking for a high quality knife to carry while at work. I’ve always carried cheap knives that I wouldn’t care if I lost, and I felt that it was time to step it up to something of better quality. After spending hours reading reviews on knives and what is best for every day carry I decided on the Spyderco Manix 2 for $120. I had very high expectations of this knife after doing my research and after receiving it I have to say that I am very impressed.

This knife definitely lives up to its hype as it is very high quality. The G10 grip has an excellent feel, it’s scalpel sharp right out of the box, and the ball bearing lock is smooth and has a solid lock up. My only gripe about this knife is that you can only carry it tip-up.

I have been carrying this knife over a year now and it is as good as the first day I got it. It requires very little maintenance and I  touch up the blade every month or so. The only changes I made to the knife was to add a couple of strips of Talon Grip tape to the sides to make it easier to pull it out of my pocket when my hands are slippery.

Overall the Manix 2 is a substantial upgrade over my other knives in terms of build quality, materials, and overall ergonomics. It was well worth the extra money I spent. I’ll be buying more Spyderco’s in the future.

Spyderco Manix 2

Spyderco Manix 2

Spyderco Manix 2

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