Archive for January, 2010
Portable Protection
A few years ago, I was mugged by some derelicts as I got off the bus. People were too stunned to help and I sustained some minor injuries. Luckily, I survived and wasn’t hurt too terribly, but now I have to think about my personal safety when I leave the home.
A friend of mine had some advice for me to feel a bit safer when I’m going out to work, one of which was to carry folding knives with me. It’s not quite as messy as carrying a gun and completely safe, but it can still provide me with the protection that I need when I’m just trying to get out of the house.
The Buck Zipper
I’m going to review the guthook hunting knife by Buck- the Buck Zipper.
I think you’ll like this knife. It’s a simple yet very effective knife created in response to some negative comments by customers in reference to the standard “guthook” knife.
Of course this is a classically well made and handsome knife…as are all knives made by Buck. It comes with a nice quality leather sheath and Bucks “Forever” warranty.
The Sheath: Made of good quality leather, it has a belt loop to allow the knife to hang comfortably and snap to secure the knife. It has heavy stitching and rivets so this sheath can take some abuse and protect the knife well.
The Knife: I’d have to say, this is a handsome knife. The blade is 4 1/4in made of 420 high carbon steel and is hollow ground. There is no skimping on the steel here- the blade has a good, thick spine. The guthook is ground on both sides making it far more effective than the “standard” guthook knives. This knife opens up an animal like a zipper! The handle is made of resin impregnated Birch wood that has been polished smooth and shiny! Both the butt cap and finger guard are brass. With an excellent fit and finish, this handle fits very naturally in the hand.
Knives very often reflect the taste and personality of the owner. This knife says “I have a refined taste” – so if your looking for a classy hunting knife…..
Why at Tanto Blade?
What is your favorite style of knife? You might like bowie knives, hawkbills, spear point knives or even drop point knives. Why choose a tanto blade style over any of these other styles? Consider how you will use it.
Knife buyers have been in love with tanto knives for many years. This is because of their Japanese sword-like appearance and SUPER strong point.
Here are three reasons why you should buy tanto knives:
1. Many knife styles have VERY thin points. These are great for stabbing or puncturing but make the knife vulnerable to breaking or cracking.
Bowie knives, daggers and talon point knives are perfect examples of thin pointed knives that could break if used hard enough. Although tanto knives usually have a point that is thin enough to puncture or stab, it is reinforced and thick enough to withstand rigorous torture testing.
2. Tanto knives are normally made with a thick enough spines to withstand a lot of abuse. They are also hollow ground, which means that the thick spine “tapers” down to a RAZOR thin cutting edge.
3. Sharpening a tanto knife is unlike almost any other knife. You should remember that tanto cutting edges have two separate angles.The “primary grind” is the long and straight cutting edge. The secondary grind is the smaller portion of the blade that curves upward. When you sharpen your tanto knives, remember to adjust the angle accordingly for the two different grind styles.
Why Buck?
Buck knives are famous for holding their edge. First, they use a specific steel for each type of knife. Second, they heat-treat their blades to match the end use of the knife. Third, their proprietary, computerized Edge2x⢠Technology was developed to edge their blades to be sharper out of the box, hold the edge longer and make sharpening easier. Their automated technology, combined with hand edging and sharpening, results in a consistent, thinner and sharper edge that lasts longer.
Buck has over 100 years of experience with making knives. Buck knives has developed many unique processes, and they know what works. Buck is dedicated to their craftsmanship, quality, integrity and customer satisfaction. All of their products are tested in -48º C (-55º F) temperatures without significant embrittlement of the blade, handle, or sheath materials. If you experience temperatures in the minus range, try to keep your knife dry and free of ice, and be sure to keep the blade lubed.
They don’t cut corners in materials, processes or workmanship; and they back it up with their famous 4-Ever Warranty. Buck Knives warrants that it will repair, adjust or replace its knives if they are found to contain any defects in materials or workmanship.
Pocket Knives and Scouts
Earning his first pocket knife has been a right of passage for Cub Scouts since scouting began. The pocket knife is an important tool for any Cub Scout. Its multifunction capability makes it useful for many Scouting activities. Before putting a pocket knife to use, however, a Scout should learn how to use it safely.
YOUR KNIFE IS NOT A TOY
The pocket knife is a serious tool and should never be played with. Never carry an open knife in your hand and never use the knife for anything other than its intended purpose.
Make a safety circle by holding a closed pocket knife in your hand and extending your arm out in front of you with the closed knife. Turn in a complete circle and make sure that you do not touch anything or anyone within this circle. Be sure to check overhead clearance as well.
To open the knife, hold it in one hand and put the thumbnail of the other hand into the slot containing the blade. Pull out the blade while pushing against the hinge with the hand holding the handle. The blade will snap into an open position.
When you are done using the knife, close the blade with your palm against the back of the blade and put it away. Be sure the fingers of your other hand are not covering the opening.
USING YOUR KNIFE
When using the knife, always cut away from your body. When whittleing try to make small shavings and chips, and never use the knife to shave bark from a tree. When you make cuts, always cut at a slant.
To pass the knife to someone else, the person handing off should hold the knife by the blade and place the handle into the receiver’s hand.
CARING FOR YOUR KNIFE
Keep the blade clean and dry. Always clean the blade with a soft dry cloth after each use. You should know how to sharpen the knife properly using a sharpening stone; a dull blade has a better chance of slipping and cutting you than a sharp blade. Keep the blade off the ground and do not try to cut things that will dull or break the blade.
SOG Trident: The Perfect Fishing Knife
Though it looks like an ordinary knife, this folding knife is quite impressive. SOG includes features that outdoorsmen, especially anglers, will surely find handy such as the TiNi coated blade, SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.), and the noticeable and unique Groove. The Trident not only has good balance, it has a good size handle for both small and large hands. In addition to the locking feature that keeps the blade from accidentally coming open, their trademark Arc-Actuator , locks stronger and releases easier.
Having the right blade can mean life or death for some, especially to an outdoorsman whom relies on a knife that’s used for survival purposes. A quality blade, solid construction, and useful features are key specifications one should consider when buying a pocket knife. The SOG Trident TF-1 has these characteristics and more. It is truly a high performing folding knife that one can trust to have at hand. The Trident has effective features like the Groove system allowing anglers to cut fishing line without opening the blade and the SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) that swiftly opens the blade no matter which hand you use. The blade is ground out of a tough stainless steel and the TF-1 model is even more durable with its Titanium Nickel coating. The SOG Trident is a blade that inspires confidence to help you get the job done right.
Knife Safety (cont.)
The simplest of all knife safety guidelines is to always cut away from your body, never toward it. When you’re using a knife, be attentive to the job at hand. You should always be aware of where your knife is pointed.
Do not run with a knife and do not sleep with a knife. You are not Daniel Boone, nor are there bears in your neighborhood that might disrupt your sleep (if there are, calling 911 is the safest response). If you drop your knife, don’t try and catch it. Use your knife for appropriate tasks, not opening bottles or loosening screws. Use your knife for it’s intended purpose. A skinning knife is for skinning, not poking or prying. Use the proper knife sharpener for the type of blade (is your knife serrated or does it have a plain edge?)
Knife safety is about respect: respect for yourself and for the knife. Maintain that respect, and you’ll use your knife safely.
Knife Safety 0
Most knife safety tips are appropriately related to the manner in which a knife is used. But knife safety is about far more than simply handling a blade with caution. Regular cleaning and preventive maintenance play a role in knife safety, as does a proper understanding and respect for the type of knife you are using.
Learning as much as you can about your knife and how to care for it is the basis of all knife safety. A good sharpening stone – properly used will reduce the chance of a knife accident caused by a dull blade. Regular lubrication of folding knives will reduce the chance of mishaps due to malfunctioning parts. In addition, regular cleaning and preventive maintenance play a role in knife safety, as does a proper understanding and respect for the type of knife you are using.
Understanding your knife’s design can also be a factor in reducing accidents. If you own a knife with a fixed blade, always keep it sheathed when not in use. As for folding blade knives, familiarize yourself thoroughly with the blade’s strength and locking features. Also consider the different handle materials when you shop for a new knife. Although most knife manufacturers will offer the proper grip for the knife’s most common use (ie. a hunting knife will have a handle most suitable for that purpose), many knives have multiples uses and therefor many different handle materials.
Knife safety means knowing what your knife is capable of. A knife is a tool, but mishandled, it can quickly become a weapon. It’s said that familiarity breeds contempt, but with knives, familiarity breeds safety.
Smith and Wesson
The fact that Smith & Wesson, founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson in Norwich, Connecticut, makes knives under its own name is not very well known. Smith & Wesson doesn’t manufacture these knives itself, however, It gave production rights as well as the use of the logo to knife manufacturer Taylor Cutlery from Kingsport, Tennessee. A number of these knives, such as the special police and military knives, have unique features.
The most widely used Smith and Wesson knives are their Hostage Rescue Team knife or H.R.T. Knife. This large knife was designed by Darrel Ralph. The stainless 440C steel blade is 6.7inches long and 0.197 inches thick at the blade back. The blade is also bead blasted against reflection.
Taylor Cutlery also produces the H.R.T. Folder. This knife is not used by the police or military during rescue operations. The H.R.T indication alludes to its sturdy and macho character- which does not detract from the superior quality of this knife.
Kershaw Knives
The emergence of culinary schools and cooking shows is brought about by the never-ending interest in good food. There will always be a demand for food, particularly delicious, tasty food. Restaurateurs know that the secret to keeping a restaurant running is to serve honest-to-goodness dishes that will keep the clients craving for more. Of course, a huge responsibility falls on the chef.
The chef is the main person who sees to it that all the dishes prepared are worth tasting and worth eating. He also is the man who has to innovate and introduce new flavorful dishes every now and then so the crowd will not get bored with what’s on the menu. Aside from that, he is the man in charge of the nitty-gritty kitchen details from the ingredients to the knives needed. Chefs pay close attention to the quality of the kitchen knives they use. The more popular brands, such as those Kershaw knives, are usually most chefs’ favorite as they wouldn’t settle for anything substandard.