Can I see some of your pocket and/or tactical knives?

[mrpinter]

I got a nice addition to my small folder collection in the mail yesterday: a Hogue Deka; with machined G10 handles and a 3.25" modified wharncliffe blade made of CPM-20CV steel. It has a cross-bar locking system, pretty much identical to the Benchmade Axis Lock, since the patent has expired. Hogue calls theirs the ABLE lock.

First impressions: The handles are nicely machined and the texture feels good in the hand; and it has enough color and pattern to have some visual interest, but is subdued enough for a nice stealthy look. The lock system works perfectly - opening and closing is effortless. It's a great size for everyday carry and for all kinds of uses - I can still get my hand in the pocket I've clipped the knife into with no trouble, but the handle is big enough for a full fingered grip. Hogue is known for its factory sharpening, and this thing is, indeed, scary sharp - it slices paper almost like it's not even there.

Here are a few photos. Show us a favorite(s) from your collection.

 

[Scott]

Here is a fixed blade hiker I made for my sister. The padauk handle is from a guitar bridge blank (I have made a few handles from bridge blanks). I made the center mosaic “eclipse” pin on the day of the April 2024 total eclipse. It will 2044 before I can do that again.

AEB-L blade w/ E cerakote ~3” length
Kydex sheath

 

[Spud]

No you can't.

 

[mrpinter]

Here is a fixed blade hiker I made for my sister. The padauk handle is from a guitar bridge blank (I have made a few handles from bridge blanks). I made the center mosaic “eclipse” pin on the day of the April 2024 total eclipse. It will 2044 before I can do that again.

AEB-L blade w/ E cerakote ~3” length
Kydex sheath
View attachment 66172

That's an elegant little fixed blade @Scott, I'm impressed.

 

[Scab Pickens]

G10 handles

That's some nasty stuff to machine! Pretty cool to see it in this application, though.

 

[Hodgo]

I dont have it anymore, but I carried a 4.5” Swamp Rat Knife Co Rodent in Afghanistan. Thick chunk of SR101, I used it several times to baton through some crazy hardwood for kindling and it handled it with ease. Gave it to a friend to take on his deployment.

Now I am a cheapskate, my EDC is a $40 Amazon folder jobby from Honey Badger.

 

[Hodgo]

I am going to grab one of these, probably: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hacksmith/the-smith-blade-21-in-1-titanium-multi-tool

 

[mrpinter]

Knife fever strikes again! KnifeCenter has an exclusive on a version of the Deka that's different from the one I just bought, and not found anywhere else - with red and black "G-Mascus*" handles and CPM MagnaCut blade steel instead of CPM-20CV, which is a better steel normally only found on more expensive knives. I heard that each new batch sells out quickly, so I grabbed one. This one has a stonewashed/satin clip point blade instead of the CeraKote black modified wharncliffe like my first one. It arrived a couple days ago, and it's a beauty.

* G-Mascus is what Hogue calls their patented formula for G10 - which has colors injected into the layering of fiberglass and epoxy resin, so that when it is shaped and machined random patterns appear - much like the patterns of the forged, folded over layers of damascus steel.

 

[Don O]

“That’s not a knife. THIS is a knife”




My dad “obtained” this during WWII.

 

[mrpinter]

Allen Elishewitz is a custom knife maker who has done collaborations with other knife companies. Recently some of Hogue's models are his designs - like the Deka models I posted above, and he has also worked with Benchmade. You can see the family resemblance between the Hogue Deka and this Benchmade 909 Stryker II. The blade grinds and handle shape are very similar to the Deka, as is the handle material. It's a heavier knife than the Deka, with full steel liners, and was a Benchmade Black Class model intended for LE and military applications, whereas the Deka is oriented more around lighter everyday carry uses. The Stryker II was discontinued and is becoming a somewhat rare collectors item.

 

[bagman67]

My own EDC is a no-name folder a la your basic Buck knife, made in Germany, not China. It formerly belonged to my father-in-law, and I got it when he died. No photos. It'd be boring. But I recently bought this Mini Bugout for my daughter at her request. She skippers a fishing boat in northern California and finds it quite handy.

 

[bagman67]

One of the aforementioned daughter's pastimes is foraging for wild mushrooms in the redwood forests. This work-in-progress is a mushroom knife for her for which I am making the handle and a sheath. Since you are guitar nerds, you'll be happy to know the species of wood involved: Macassar ebony, a purpleheart stripe, and curly maple.

 

[mrpinter]

My latest: a Zero Tolerance model 0235 Jens Anso design slipjoint folder. It has carbon fiber handles, and a 2.6" CPM-20CV blade. It doesn't have a lock, but has a ball assisted detention system, putting more resistance on the blade in the half open/closed position, making it more secure and safer than a "regular" slipjoint. It is very light, but big enough for a good grip.

Fit and finish are flawless, the blade is perfectly centered, and it opens and closes with subdued but satisfying clicks. It has enough blade length to be very useful for everyday carry, but small enough and with a low-key appearance so it shouldn't be intimidating, or ruffle any feathers like a more tactical folder would. And with no locking mechanism, it is probably legal for carry in much of the UK and Europe, if it's within blade length restrictions.

 

[BroccoliRob]

i just #realized that people call em Tactical but they never really talk about what tactics they use em for specifically

 

[Spud]

i just #realized that people call em Tactical but they never really talk about what tactics they use em for specifically

Well, I am guessing the OP mainly uses his for dirty fingernail cleaning first and foremost. "Tacticool"

 

[mrpinter]

i just #realized that people call em Tactical but they never really talk about what tactics they use em for specifically

The word "Tactical" used in conjunction with "knives" usually refers to design and durability suitable for law enforcement and military applications. They tend to be on the large side, and heavy for their size, with little or no ornamentation. Of the knives I've posted so far in this thread, only the Benchmade Stryker is what I consider a true tactical knife. It has full steel liners under the G10 handles, giving it strength and rigidity, and Its blade steel optimizes toughness and ease of sharpening, rather than strict edge retention - simplifying field maintenance. And while the Stryker was still in production, it was one of the company's Black Class knives - their category for knives oriented to LE and military use.

As far as using my knives: I'm more of a collector than a user, and a few of them I'm keeping in factory new condition for resale value considerations. But occasionally I use one of them for around the house chores, like cutting up boxes or even just opening mail. Most of the time though, I'll just use this little guy (Spyderco Manbug) as I always have it in my pocket.

 

[BroccoliRob]

i'm just #sayin' they need a new name if they aren t being used for tactics . something like "fancy knives" or "flamboyant blades" or "tough guy cutters"

 

[rockandroller]

A couple of years ago I started working for a local police force (as IT systems admin, not uniform!) and the detachment commander gifted me one of their very nice tactical knives. This thread has reminded me of it, but I haven't been able to find it yet. My jean pockets are already overladen with too many phones and sets of keys, no room to carry a pocket knife!! Come to think of it, I bet it's in the toolbox at my office, maybe I can dig it up next week...