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With such a variety of items we carry on a daily basis, we still ask ourselves if we're missing anything. We try and meet every situation with the preparedness that we're known for. People come to us because they know we've got a tool or gadget tucked away that will come to the rescue. I'm not one of those that carries a bag or something larger that a pocket organizer, but I've entertained the idea. The part of me that wanted to carry everything I own, versus the part that's rational and I can only carry what I really need. So, what I do is I pair down to the essentials and hope it's enough. One such item I keep for situations is the Civivi Tac-N-tweeze. Strange name, is it for ninjas or fending off a would-be adversary? None of the above, but it is effective as it's intended job.
With each new year we watch SHOT and Blade Show with anticipation of what companies have in store for us. Anticipation builds from announcement to launch, absorbing YouTube reviews and other media till it shows up in your mailbox or at your local dealer. One knife that has created such a response is the Kansept Loki. The Loki design is by Steven Dunnuck who's a mechanic by trade, and loves making things that are fast, sharp, or deadly. The Loki was originally designed as a custom fixed blade, the Loki has since evolved to an EDC knife. Let's take a look at this new knife and see how it edges up.
The guys at Vosteed never cease to amaze me. They are a company that's constantly breaking the mold and pushing the envelope. Co-founder and in-house designer Yue Dong is the wizard behind a lot of what the company produces. Having worked at Kizer as a product development director, he knows what it takes to bring something from concept to completion. A very large project that he's been working on has just been released on Kickstarter. Dubbed the Ankylo after the Ankylosaurus dinosaur that lived about 68 million years ago, this knife is the embodiment of of its namesake.
Benchmade has several knives that are iconic, like the Griptilian, and the 940. Back in 2017 Benchmade released a new knife that would soon become iconic, the Bugout. The Bugout was what people were looking for: utilitarian, ergonomic, lightweight, axis lock, and was made with quality materials. Since then the Bugout has become one of the best selling knives in history. The Bugout comes in two sizes and a ton of colors. Plus there's a large amount of aftermarket mods you can do to truly make it your own.
Carved is a creative company that designs products that evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia. The company started in 2011 when John and Grant began their quest to create the perfect wood phone case. Over a decade later, they've expanded their product line to include a variety of wood and resin creations, including pocket knives!
Carved's pocket knives feature the same wood and resin art found in their other popular products. These knives are perfectly sized for everyday carry and boast premium features such as a titanium framelock and a damascus steel blade. Each knife is unique, much like a work of art. The different woods and vibrant resin colors result in knives that are both eye-catching and warm.
QSP has made a few fixed blades over the years, with the Canary being a recent popular addition. The company turned this fixed blade into a folder with slightly different dimensions, nine color combinations, and a price tag under $50. This knife is sure to fit your style and wallet.
ViperSharp is one of those companies that's born out of trying to solve a problem. It's a story of ingenuity, determination, and building a better mousetrap.... or sharpener. Owner Mike Wood purchased a sharpener based off of a recommendation. The sharpener did a good job but he noticed some design limitations that caused frustration during sharpening. At first, he sought out to fix those problems on his sharpener, not realizing other systems existed or that some of those limitations were solved. As he went down the rabbit hole, he noted more issues that needed solving, why fix a broken system when you really need to do is go back to the drawing board.
Mike spent over a year working on designs and prototyping, learning more about machining than he expected. His end product is a system that fixes those shortcomings he noticed on that sharpener as well as others in the industry. His goal was to create a tool that offered the precision he wanted and was built to last a lifetime. The end result is a system that's American made and will deliver a perfect angle every time. Today we're checking out the ViperSharp diamond sharpening system, will it make the cut?
Roxon Flex multitool pre-order is now live. The tool/pliers are $40 with individual tools running $4-8. Someone could get the tool and the implements you want for around $100. Pre-orders are currently for US residents only.
https://roxontool.com/products/flex
On my hunt for knife sharpeners around the world I came across a gentleman on Etsy by the name of Zeljko Mihanovi. He runs a carpentry shop out of his house and makes an assortment of handcrafted items. One of those items just so happens to be a knife sharpener, that's not something you see very often. The sharpener is similar to other designs I've seen by folks who've made their own. Zeljko says these do pretty well for him and he's shipped them to many countries around the world from his home in Croatia. This sharpener is quite unique and it's a creative take on what we typical think of when we hear guided knife sharpener.
The latest news from Opinel in France is a new limited edition model featuring an ebony wood handle and forged carbon blade. Registration for this new limited edition model is now open and can be accessed HERE.
Have your say about this Limited Edition knife on our forum.
We got a chance to check out the new Roxon Flex. Check out the video below and see what makes the new Flex heads and tales above the competition.
TSProf is a Russian brand that got its start back in 2010. Thier goal was to make comprehensive sharpening available to all by using only the best, safest and most sustainable materials. The company produces the sharpening systems in Izhevsk, and it's known for its defense, engineering and metallurgy industries. TSProf wanted to reflect the craftsmanship that Izhevsky was famous for. All the parts of their sharpeners are CNC machined with extremely tight tolerances, while all final assembly and inspection is done the old-fashioned way.
Today we're taking a look at the company's latest model, the Pioneer. It's the most compact and lightweight system TSProf has made, coming in at 1.4kg (3.08 lbs). TSProf's models share similarities but you can see that each model fits a niche, some are better for some things than others. The Pioneer is meant to be extremely compact and have the ability to fold down and be disassembled with ease. That's a cool feature, because the company's other models can dominate a tabletop like the K03.
Vosteed is an innovator, and they are constantly pushing the boundaries rather than resting on their laurels. Whether it be new and interesting designs or creating new locking mechanisms for future releases like the Ankylo Racoon. This new release from the company is both a first and a mini variation of a popular model, the Labrador. Mini versions are popular with customers because it gives that same feel as the full-size version in a more compact form.
The mini-Labrador comes with a blade of 14C28N that's 2.73", a titanium handle that's 3.5", and an overall of 6.23". This cute yet capable package comes in at a feather light weight of 1.93oz. There's a lot going on with this mini, and good thing really do come in small packages. Let's take a look at what makes this Labrador man's best friend.
Wayne Thornton of Wayne's Sharp World has been covering the knife scene for a few years. His love for knives has spawned a collaboration with Vosteed Knives. Wayne worked with the company to produce a knife that pays homage to his grandfather, Wayne Thornton Walter, along with his love for aviation and travel. His grandfather was a mechanical squad leader for aircraft in the Solomon and Philippine Islands during World War II. Wayne designed the knife to capture that love and wanderlust spirit. Hoping that this knife will make a great companion, taking you on many adventures.
What kind of people would write collect and review multitools? Quite simple really- we are designers and do-ers, outdoors types and indoor types, mechanics, doctors, problem solvers and problem makers. As such, we have, as a world spanning community, put every type, size and version of multitool, multifunction knife, pocket knife and all related products to every test we could manage in as many places and environments as there are.