Show Us Your Knife (And Pipe)

[Joe H]

Since I mentioned finding an old knife above, I ought to post a picture of it in this thread. From what I can tell, it’s an Old Hickory boning knife from the 1930s. My Dad joined the Army shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, so it’s unlikely he would have got it during the war. By the end of the war the stampings on the blade had changed, but that’s all guesses based on internet searches and knowing what Dad did back in those days.

I cleaned it up a bit, touched up the edge and now it’s doing duty with the rest of the kitchen knives. Today I put it in use making a cap for my latest project – a homemade corn cob pipe. It’s proven to be a good smoker.

 

[Sig]

I'm always buying new knives to try, but I'm not a collector, I'm just a user.
My knives take some abuse.
For the last 6 months I've been carrying this Civivi Elementum 2.
Nitro V steel, ceramic ball bering pivot, button lock, G10 scales.
Yes they are made in China, but by a Chinese company, not an outsourced American company.
Ive heard a lot of good things about Civivi as a budget knife of great quality.
Well, it's done everything I asked for, with zero issues.



I liked it enough that I bought the Kepler. A very heavy knife designed by Polish knife designer Maciej Torbé.
It's made with 9CR18Mov steel and G10 scales. I will be beating it up on some outdoor activities soon.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I'm always buying new knives to try, but I'm not a collector, I'm just a user.
My knives take some abuse.
For the last 6 months I've been carrying this Civivi Elementum 2.
Nitro V steel, ceramic ball bering pivot, button lock, G10 scales.
Yes they are made in China, but by a Chinese company, not an outsourced American company.
Ive heard a lot of good things about Civivi as a budget knife of great quality.
Well, it's done everything I asked for, with zero issues.
View attachment 397409
View attachment 397410

I liked it enough that I bought the Kepler. A very heavy knife designed by Polish knife designer Maciej Torbé.
It's made with 9CR18Mov steel and G10 scales. I will be beating it up on some outdoor activities soon.
View attachment 397412

No doubt brands like Reate, Civivi, Kizer, Maxace, Bestech, et al. have changed the perception of what it means to be “made in china” for the knife world.
Reate especially has upped the quality standard for licensed designs.
I’ve been tempted a few times but I can’t pull the trigger.
Not because “china”, but I just can’t get out of the custom world anymore. I’m stuck.

That said, I’ve got a new one from French maker Emmanuel LeBrun coming soon. Looking forward to sharing!

 

[Sig]

No doubt brands like Reate, Civivi, Kizer, Maxace, Bestech, et al. have changed the perception of what it means to be “made in china” for the knife world.
Reate especially has upped the quality standard for licensed designs.
I’ve been tempted a few times but I can’t pull the trigger.
Not because “china”, but I just can’t get out of the custom world anymore. I’m stuck.

That said, I’ve got a new one from French maker Emmanuel LeBrun coming soon. Looking forward to sharing!

Yep, I like customs, but I abuse my knives too much, I'm not a collector...they are just tools for me. I use them as screwdrivers, I pry with them, open cans, clean hooves.......
I look for affordable quality....which is very difficult today.
Gerber used to be my brand, but they have nose dived in the last few years.....so has Buck....except their USA made knives are still great. I haven't been without a 119 in several decades. One knife that can dress anything from a squirrel to a moose.
The Buck 119 I had for 25+ years is now on the bottom of Chautauqua Lake.
A couple years ago I bought a new one. A quality American made knife that lasts decades of hard use for $50...cannot be beat. To be fair, this knife is only used for dressing game...no prying or screw driving.
Ive destroyed more expensive knives in a matter of months.
And I absolutely HATE the sheath for that Civivi Kepler. Why try to fix what isn't broke? If it turns out to be a good knife, I will make a leather sheath for it. It's made from mid grade Chinese steel, but I've seen good reviews. It's VERY thick steel.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I use my fixed blades for most of the harder use scenarios I engage in.
Folders are mostly relegated to finer slicing jobs and general fidgeting.
=]

 

[Sig]

I use my fixed blades for most of the harder use scenarios I engage in.
Folders are mostly relegated to finer slicing jobs and general fidgeting.
=]

I wish I could say the same.

 

[Sig]

I also recently lost my "do all" Morakniv 511 that is my daily farm knife. Sooo, I bought another. They are $9.99 at our shop.

 

[Sig]

This Puma Buffalo Hunter has skinned more big game than I can remember. Bought it at a small shop in Alaska after I forgot my skinner back in NY. Absolutely the best $40 knife I've ever bought. You can't get them for that anymore.

 

[Dshift]

A Dingle and a Strider

 

[bluegrassbrian]

New knife alert!
My third piece from French cutler Guy Poggetti, a Sanjo with an updated blade shape- very kwaiken-ish.

I’ve become hooked on the new wave of French knife makers- and Guy does some of my favorites.
This Sanjo is made from titanium liners/Carbon Fiber scales, Elmax blade, no clip, and a supple leather braided tail.
The front flipper mechanism on his knives is incredibly smooth, strong, and fidgety. That’s part of why I keep coming back to his knives.
I was a BIT reticent about the lack of a pocket clip at first. It adds to the symmetry and hand-feel, but I don’t love a loose knife in my pocket. It’s very light so.. not too bad.
I’ve got a new leather pocket slip w/clip being made for it.
….

 

[troutface]

I'm getting antsy waiting for Spyderco to release the MagnaMax mule. Looks like Larrin Thomas is turning in to the Greg Pease of metallurgy.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I'm getting antsy waiting for Spyderco to release the MagnaMax mule. Looks like Larrin Thomas is turning in to the Greg Pease of metallurgy.

Haha yeah, Larrin can do no wrong!
I enjoy listening to him talk about metallurgy.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

The knife is a Vipertech hidden release auto trapper with a pocket clip and stag horn scales, the lighter is a Thorens teleflam, also an auto. Pipe is a Pre-Republic Pete Sterling 80S.

 

[Rockyrepose]

Designed in Stilwell, KS, Finch knives are Chinese QSP production knives and I recon a bit expensive for some. Probably 80% profit but I have no clue. I really liked the thing. Action is nice and it's on the smaller side which is what I was after seeing how most of my collection is not. It runs on caged bearings and has nice jimping. There are 3 different scales that just dropped around a week ago. This is Fire Red Bone. I just got it and plan on it being in my pocket for a while, a 4th of July Cherry Bomb.

 

[Sig]

Two knives of the same type.
The bottom one is an old USA made Craftsman knife given to me by my dad in about 1984. On the top is a China made Buck I saw in a hardware store a few years ago.
Ive used the Craftsman for whittling for many years. The Buck has opened boxes.
Even though they look alike, they couldn't be more different in quality. The feel, the steel, the sharpness....the Craftsman is world's better. The Buck dulls in moments the Craftsman stays sharp through years of whittling.

 

[blueeyedogre]

Couple of favorites.... A Finman fixed blade, sort of a Finnish version of a Morakniv, with a MM cob and a CRKT compact Provoke with an Eric Paulson Devil Anse.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Been waiting almost three months for this one. La Forge AGAB #1 from Gabriel Berthelemy. Another Franc, he’s starting to make a splash in the scene. I think he’s going to turn a lot of heads at the NYKS this year.

I’ve always been a sucker for a thin & narrow frame lock, and frankly I’ve never seen one quite this diminutive while still being full size in length and reach. I don’t usually go for Damascus at all but I dig the style he and some others are doing over there.
This particular combo is O2 and 75Ni8 (like 15N20, it uses primarily Nickel in the usual role of Chromium).

Titanium frame and pocket clip, Damascus blade & backspacer, zirconium pivot collars…

 

[Sig]

Been waiting almost three months for this one. La Forge AGAB #1 from Gabriel Berthelemy. Another Franc, he’s starting to make a splash in the scene. I think he’s going to turn a lot of heads at the NYKS this year.

I’ve always been a sucker for a thin & narrow frame lock, and frankly I’ve never seen one quite this diminutive while still being full size in length and reach. I don’t usually go for Damascus at all but I dig the style he and some others are doing over there.
This particular combo is O2 and 75Ni8 (like 15N20, it uses primarily Nickel in the usual role of Chromium).

Titanium frame and pocket clip, Damascus blade & backspacer, zirconium pivot collars…View attachment 406079View attachment 406080View attachment 406081

That's some tight Damascus.
I usually like the less folded look, but this tight pattern looks cool.

 

[Sig]

Im really liking many of these budget knife brands.....Civivi, Sencut, CJRB, Kizer, Kancept, Petrified Fish, QSP, Miguran....
I just picked up this CJRB Acacia.
FRN scales, AR-RPM9 steel, cross bar lock, flat grind drop point blade, deep carry reversible carry clip, ceramic bearings, steel nested liners, lifetime warranty...very quick action, strong spring, great detent.
This is obviously made to compete with the Benchmade Reptilian.
But this CJRB was $28 delivered.
The Benchmade is $130.
The AR-RPM9 is decent spray formed steel. Holds a decent edge, and very easy to sharpen.
Its the same weight as the Benchmade, and feels the same.
For an EDC slicer its hard to beat.
Reviews are absolutely fantastic.

 

[crazyhog]

My Manix 2 Xl makes my Vauen look small! I only carry this big boy when Im hiking in the woods.