Search Results for: Knives Under %2450 That I Love

Pat’s Product Review: Cold Steel Bushman Series Knives

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…two of these babies and toss ’em in your e-box in your car, or your bug out bag. I can’t think of any other knives, in this price range, that can stand-up to the same torture – it’s just that simple in my book.   As I stated at the beginning of this article, I’ve received more requests for me to test and evaluate the Cold Steel Bushman series of knives, than any other products. I’ve got to admit, I’m sorry I didn’t request a Bushman many years ago. I kind of put it off, since the Bushman series are  inexpensive knives, assuming that they were more of a gimmick than anything. I hate admitting I’m wrong – but I was. The Bushman series are knives that won’t let you down, and you can certainly afford them on just about any budget. Get one or two, or all three –…


All-American Tool Manufacturers

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…(Made in McCall, Idaho.) Bear & Son / Bear Ops knives. Made in Alabama. Becker Knife and Tool Blade-Tech knives – Made in Puyallup, Washington Blind Horse Knives Buck Knives (in Idaho) (They have a few imports, but they are now actively “reshoring” their production.) Calico Forge Knives (in Idaho) Case Knives Continental Divide Knives (in Arizona) Dogwood Custom Knives Fiddleback Forge Knives (Made in Georgia, USA. They also make a fantastic machete.) Fletcher Knives (Made in Georgia, USA. For now, this is still a small “made in batches” maker with a small line, where you get on a “dibs” list, to order.) Knives of Alaska Leatherman – The original multi-tool. Made in Oregon. Montie Gear – Tactical tanto ultra-lightweight knives Ontario Knives. Because of their name they are often mistakenly thought of as a Canadian company. They are actually south of the Canadian border, in upstate New York.) Pro…


Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Kershaw Knives – Launch 1

…couldn’t be done. They were dull, and stayed dull. Many police officers, including my home state of Oregon, still believe that an automatic knife is illegal to own, and they still arrest people for carrying them in Oregon, only to have the cases dropped before going to trial or dismissed when they do go to trial. There are several knife companies in Oregon that produce automatic opening knives. If they were illegal, they would sure know about it and stop making ’em. However, in Oregon, it is a little bit tricky when it comes to actually carrying an automatic opening folder. It can’t be “concealed” in your pocket; it has to be “showing” in some manner; if that means a pocket/clothing clip, that’s fine. If that means it is carried in a belt sheath, that’s fine, too, even if the belt sheath is actually covered by a jacket it is…


Kershaw Knives, Fraxion, by Pat Cascio

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…out on my small piece of land and use it for chopping down things. Instead, it was used for the usual cutting chores, opening boxes and the mail, and even cleaning my fingernails! My wife also used it a number of times, and it almost ended up in her purse, by mistake I’m sure. She’s not into knives for the most part. However, at any given time you can probably find three or four knives in her purse. A “Steal-of-a-Deal” Bargain As many will know, I’m a bargain hunter. I have to be; I’m not rich, far from it. So, if something isn’t a bargain, in my humble opinion, I’m not interested in it, no matter how much I want it. I’ve walked away from some really good gun deals/trades at times, not because they weren’t a good deal but because it was not “good enough” for my financial abilities…


How I Test and Evaluate Firearms and Knives, by Pat Cascio

…for $150. I actually carry and use the knives I write about, too. I like to carry a folder for a couple weeks in my pocket and use it for everyday cutting chores, as well as testing the cutting ability in meat from my freezer, too. Fixed blade knives – I used them around my small homestead for various chores. So, I don’t just sit down and write about a knife without first using it. And, just like firearms, a knife has to have a good value in my eyes – remember, I’m not rich, I have to watch every penny I spend, so I’m careful how I spend my money. I hope this gives SurvivalBlog readers a brief look at to how I test firearms and knives for my articles. And, how and why I got started doing this: I enjoy writing about guns and knives, and other gear….


Field Gear: Identifying The All-American Makers

…in the US.) Quik-Clot – Hemostatic dressings. (Sold by Ready Made Resources and other Internet companies,) The Vest Guy – A great selection of magazine pouches and other MOLLE gear. Made in Utah. Aqua Rain – Water filters Sawyer Products – Water filters Platypus water filters Portable Solar Power Surefire – Flashlights and suppressors Mag Instrument – Makers of the well-known Mag-Lite flashlights Knives deserve their own category, since this is one of the few industries where there is still a large number of American makers. We can maintain this presence by only buying from these makers: Bear & Son / Bear Ops knives. Made in Alabama. Becker Knife and Tool Blade-Tech knives – Made in Puyallup, Washington Blind Horse Knives Buck Knives (in Idaho) Calico Forge Knives (in Idaho) Case Knives Continental Divide Knives (in Arizona) Dogwood Custom Knives Fiddleback Forge Knives (Made in Georgia, USA. They also make…


Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Kershaw Knives Emerson Launch 5

…ownership of automatic-opening knives for some reason. I still believe we have Hollywood to “thank” for this. They demonized automatic-opening knives in movies back in the 1950s, making the viewer believe that a “switch blade” knife was some how more deadly than a manually opening knife. Such is not the case, not then and not now! I’m glad I live in an enlightened state, where automatic-opening knives are legal to own, and many are made in Oregon! One of the newest automatic-opening knives from Kershaw Knives is the new Launch 5, which is a joint collaboration between Kershaw Knives and Ernest Emerson, who many consider to be the father of “tactical knives”. I’m not about to dispute this claim. I’ve interviewed Emerson several times in the past for some articles I was doing on his custom and factory-made knives, and we spent many hours on the phone. We had a…


Zero Tolerance 0804CF, by Pat Cascio

A famous gun writer once said “only accurate guns are interesting…”, and I certain concur with that statement. If a gun isn’t accurate and reliable, I lose interest and get rid of it. It can similarly be said that “only sharp knives are interesting…”. I have no use for junk knives. If a knife isn’t up to my high standards, I won’t waste my time testing or writing about it. For quite a few years, I collected (and designed) custom-made knives, and I really enjoyed it. Even though it was an expensive hobby, it was still fun. When we moved from Colorado back to Oregon, I sold off all my custom knives, even the ones I designed, to make ends meet for the long move. I certainly regret selling the knives I designed and had made. However, these days I’m still designing some knives, so my hidden talent, if you…


Kershaw Knives Natrix CF, by Pat Cascio

Kershaw Knives has been in business since around 1974, if memory serves me correctly. The company is here, in my home state of Oregon – my chosen home state. Kershaw isn’t too far from my digs, and I’ve toured their factory several times – but I’m overdue for another visit, as they have grown a lot since my last visit. Kershaw is a division of KAI USA, and they also own Zero Tolerance knives – also made in the same factory, where many of the Kershaw products are made. But note that some Kershaw knives are made overseas, and that is a huge savings if you collect knives. The knife I’m reviewing today is one of the Kershaws that is made in mainland China. They are very reasonably priced, but the quality is top notch in all respects, and I love a bargain. I have a difficult time keeping up…


Cutlery Considerations for TEOTWAWKI, by Gage

…different times. This leads me to another suggestion. Pocket knives make excellent barter items. If my services were rendered I for one would accept a nice Case Trapper over a few pre-1965 quarters any day. It just makes good sense to stock up on pocketknives now for future use. If you frequent flea markets, garage sales, and the like you can come by these gems at very reasonable cost. Look for brand names such as Case, Winchester, Buck, Camillus, etc. Tactical Knives: In 1982 Spyderco introduced a new knife design called the Clipit. It was unique in the fact it had a hole in the top of the blade so it could be opened with one hand, a two step serrated edge and a metal clip that allowed it to be attached to a pocket, belt, etc. Today almost every knife maker offers a version of this design. I urge…


Pat’s Product Review: Kershaw and Zero Tolerance Knives

…adjust the blade tension with a wrench – there is a nut on the end of the pivot pin. This knife is so over-built, it’s not even funny.   I tested the 0200 into some stacked cardboard boxes, and I could easily penetrate the full-length of the blade to the handle when I stabbed into the cardboard. Also, the slashed at the stacked cardboard boxes, and the 0200 really ripped into this material – it grabs it. So, I can only imagine what it would do to clothing or flesh if a person were to slash into it. The top, back of the blade is also “raised” just a little bit, and there are friction grooves machined into this area, for a positive thumb placement in the fencing grip, which is the grip most used in knife fighting.   The design of the handle – it flows with the design…


Ontario RAT 1 Knife and AccuSharp Diamond PRO Sharpener, by The Novice

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…Sharp tool that resembles the Accusharp with great results. I am decent with a whetstone but the little tool gets the it done in a fraction of the time for less than 10.00 on Amazon. JW While there are many legends about the Holy Grail, it is currently located in the Cathedral in Valencia, Spain, in a small chapel just to the right of the entrance that was made for it in the middle ages. It is neither of precious metals, nor ornamented stone. It is an extremely plain, small round cup made of alabaster, and quite beautiful because of the markings in the stone, though it is not otherwise decorated. Archeologists have identified it as typical of cups made around the first century in the eastern Roman Empire. It has been visited by popes, and is almost certainly authentic. It is not credible that a medieval forger would have…


Zero Tolerance 0460Ti Folder, by Pat Cascio

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…a month in my right front cargo pants pocket, and often forgot it was there. In fact it got washed several times in the washing machine – no damage to the knife at all – thankfully. I didn’t even realize the knife was in my pants pocket when carrying it – it slipped right in, and came right out when I drew it out of the pocket. Titanium is lightweight stuff, and there is plenty of it in this folder. The ZT 0460Ti retails for $275 – if you can find one in-stock. I shopped around, and I found a few on Amazon.com — a couple for around $220, and just one for $196 – but they were selling out fast. This folder is very classy looking in all respects, and more importantly, it is tougher than it looks. Check one out. I’ll bet you’ll fall in love with it….


Buck Knives 841 Sprint Pro Folder, by Pat Cascio

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…called “Kleenex”. It has become a generic term, and in reality, it is kudos to the original maker of that product, that it is so readily recognized. Buck Knives lives on, in Idaho. They finally packed-up and had enough of Kalifornia, and moved to a more free state – and they don’t come much more free than Idaho is. I’ve entertained the thought numerous times about just packing-up and moving to Idaho, from Oregon. The Oregon I live in now, is nothing like the Oregon I knew, when I first moved here in 1979. Oregon is on the fringe of becoming the very next Kalifornia – a state that is pretty much Communistic. Perhaps if I were much younger, I’d just pack-up and move – but such is not the case…my next move will be, into a nice used 5th wheel trailer, and I’ll sell my small homestead. I don’t…


CRKT Ken Onion Panache, by Pat Cascio

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…in mind that, there is a limited lifetime warranty on all CRKT knives – and that’s something to ponder in itself – a nice touch if you ask me. The Panache comes in a nice presentation case, and as I stated, it would look great sitting on your desk, and to be sure, those who see it, will want to handle it themselves. Just be sure to keep a watchful eye on the knife – so it doesn’t walk off or just magically disappear off your desk…LOL! For $295 and considering that this is a very limited edition folder, it is worth every cent, be sure to check it out on the CRKT website, and hopefully, they’ll still have a few in-stock so you won’t be disappointed. It’s a lot of knife. I know that $295 really is a lot of money for us blue-collar workers, but it’s worth it….