Blades for Every Adventure: A Comprehensive Guide to Outdoor Knives
Knives for All Your Travels
CIVIVI Sendy
CIVIVI Knives just released the Sendy, a great everyday carry knife designed by Ben Petersen of Knaf’s Knives. The Sendy has modern Barlow lines with some of the utility of a Swiss Army Knife. The Sendy comes in a variety of colors and blades finishes. The Sendy opens smoothly with a front flipper mechanism and is a liner-lock design. It’s a trim knife and has a deep-carry pocket clip. You can tell the Barlow influence in the lines of the knife, but the Swiss Army part comes in with the inclusion of a set of tweezers and a toothpick, which adds to its EDC function. MSRP is a very reasonable $74.70.
CIVIVI Knives/Sendy
Overall Length: 6.52″ Closed Length: 3.68″
Blade Length: 2.83″ Blade Thickness: 0.091″
Blade Material: Nitro-V stainless steel
Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC Blade Style: Spey Point
Blade Grind: Flat Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: Green G10 with red G10 spacers
Handle Thickness: 0.48″ Liner Material: Stainless steel
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Pivot Assembly: Caged ceramic ball bearings
Pocket Clip: Stainless steel (tip-up, right/left carry)
Weight: 2.61 ounces Country of Origin: China
MSRP: $74.70
www.civivi.com
MKM Pocket Tango 1 and 2
MKM’s new fixed blade is the Pocket Tango designed by David C. Andersen. As the name implies, the Pocket Tango, designed for pocket carry, is a small fixed blade. Think of it as an EDC alternative to a folding knife. There are two styles available: the Tango 1 with a Nessmuk style blade and the Tango 2 with a lambs-foot blade. The Tangos are full-tang designs and made from CPM Magnacut with a satin finish. Handle materials include olive wood, canvas Micarta, G10, and carbon fiber. They come with a slick, leather pocket sheath that uses a handy and easy-to-use magnetic clip. When slipped into your front or rear pocket, the sheath’s flap locks down via a magnet. It’s simple to use but very secure. The Pocket Tango is made in Italy by Lionsteel for MKM and has an MSRP of $219.90 to $239.90, depending on handle material.
MKM/Pocket Tango
Overall Length: 6.69″
Blade Length: 2.91″
Blade Thickness: 0.120″
Blade Material: CPM-MagnaCut Stainless steel
Blade Hardness: 61-63HRC
Blade Style: Nessmuk
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Stonewash
Handle Length: 3.78″
Handle Material: Green canvas Micarta
Sheath Material: Leather with magnetic strap
Weight: 2.54 ounces
Country of Origin: Italy
MSRP: $219.90 to $239.90
www.mkm.it/en
Benchmade Water Line
Benchmade just released its Water Line of outdoor knives this year, and there’s something for everyone in the set. These knives are geared for fisherman, boaters, or anyone who spends a lot of time outside or near water. Six knives are in the line: 7- and a 9-inch Fishcrafter fillet knives; the Adira and Mini Adira Axis Lock folders; and two fixed blades, the Intersect and the Undercurrent. All of the Water Line knives have handles in what Benchmade calls Depth Blue, and the folders and fixed blades have orange accents and lanyards. Magnacut steel was used on all of the knives due to its excellent corrosion resistance along with edge retention while still remaining easy to sharpen. Even the blade markings in white etching resist corrosion. The Intersect and Undercurrent fixed blades use Santoprene handles and molded sheaths, with the Intersect being set up for pocket carry and the Undercurrent for belt carry. Either sheath can be strapped to your pack, floatation device, or other gear. Prices run from around $200 to $260 depending on model.
Benchmade/Intersect Fixed Blade
Overall Length: 6.55″
Blade Length: 2.68″
Blade Thickness: 0.12″
Blade Material: CPM
MagnaCut Hardness: 60-62 HRC
Blade Style: Drop point
Blade Grind: Flat
Finish: Stonewash
Edge Type: Plain
Handle Length: 3.87″
Handle Thickness: 0.63″
Handle Material: Polymer
Color: Blue
Weight: 2.36 ounces
User: Ambidextrous
Sheath: Polymer
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $200-260
www.benchmade.com
WE Knife Qubit
No matter how much we want to, most of us don’t spend all of our time outside. That doesn’t mean we don’t need a good knife for all of our EDC chores. WE Knife always has a great selection of high quality, precision carry knives, and the Qubit is a great example of that. The Qubit uses a titanium handle with a blue anodized finish steel blade. Weight is just a touch over 3 ounces, and its flat profile and deep-carry pocket clip make it the kind of tool you forget you have until you need it. It has dual thumb studs and opens cleanly and swiftly on a caged ceramic ball-bearing pivot. It locks open with a solid, easy-to-use button lock. If you want an EDC folder capable of handling all your daily tasks while presenting the style and build quality, then the Qubit is well worth considering.
WE Knife/Qubit
Overall Length: 7.41″ Width: 1.23″ Closed Length: 4.21″ Blade Length: 3.2″ Blade Thickness: 0.1″
Blade Material: CPM 20CV Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC Blade Grind: Flat Blade Finish: Hand-rubbed satin
Blade Type: Drop point Handle Thickness: 0.46″ Handle Material: 6AL4V titanium Handle Color/Finish: Blue
Pivot Assembly: Caged ceramic ball-bearing Pocket Clip: Tip-up, ambidextrous
Locking Mechanism: Button lock Knife Weight: 3.03 ounces MSRP: $225
5.11 Tactical CFA Peacemaker Tomahawk
5.11’s CFA Peacemaker hasn’t been available for a while, but the company announced at SHOT Show in January that it’s in the pipeline again. Designed by Special Forces veteran and tactical tomahawk maker Justin Gingrich, the Peacemaker is a tool that can take some hard use. It has a 6.5-inch butting edge and a back spike, and it is made from a single piece of 0.35-inch-thick SCM 435 steel and coated with an electro black finish for durability. Handle scales are made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon and come in a tan “Kangaroo” color. The knife comes with molded nylon polymer sheath with a MOLLE clip. 5.11 bills it for use in a go-bag, camping kit, or vehicle. My brother-in-law carries one on his Jeep for clearing light obstructions from trails and to use for campsite prep.
5.11 Tactical/CFA Peacemaker Tomahawk
Overall Length: 14″
Head Length: 6.5″
Blade Thickness: 0.125″
Blade Steel: 0.25″ thick, full tang construction
Blade Material: 0.35″ thick SCM 435 steel with black electro-coat finish
Intended Uses: Chopping, digging, campsite prep
Handle: Removable FRN scales for option to wrap paracord
Plus: Spike for splitting wood, breaking hard materials
Includes: Nylon sheath
MSRP: $140
LTWrightKnives.com
The Survival University Series
The Survival University is an outdoor survival and skills school in central Colorado. The team there does a lot of work, from shelter building to hunting, medical courses, and general camp craft. They just launched a series of school knives based upon their skills and years of experiences. The blades are their own designs, along with some mentoring and suggestions from knife designer Jason Breeden. They have three knives in the lineup: the Courage, a fixed blade with a 6.5-inch blade; the Spirit, a more compact 4.5-inch fixed blade; and the Gallantry, a Philippine style Ginunting designed chopper with a 16.25-inch blade. The Courage and Spirit are made from 1095 high carbon steel with a full tang and a stonewashed finish. The Gallantry is 1075 high carbon with the same finish. Handle materials are gray-green Micarta, and they come with black Kydex and Cordura sheaths with fire steel holders. MSRPs are $180 for the Spirit, $220 for the Courage, and $300 for the Gallantry. You can get them direct from The Survival University.
Survival University/Gallantry
Overall Length: 23.75″
Blade Length: 16.25″
Blade Thickness: 0.1875″
Blade Material: 1075 high carbon steel
Blade Finish: Stonewashed
Handle Material: Green/gray Micarta
Sheath: Black Kydex and Cordura
Weight: 1 pound, 13 ounces
Country of Origin: El Salvador
MSRP: $300
www.thesurvivaluniversity.com
Kershaw Launch 16 Automatic
Although many folks don’t realize it, automatic knives in various forms are now legal in 47 states. Groups like Kniferights.org are working to repeal laws in the remaining states, not to mention the Federal Switchblade Act. What this means for you is that more likely than not, you can own and use an automatic knife for EDC and utility use. Autos are fun and handy, and now that the stigma of 1950s gang fights (that never materialized outside of Westside Story) has largely expired, lawmakers are realizing they’re just tools like any other knife. Kershaw has embraced auto knives and has a whole series of them with its Launch line. The Launch 16 is the latest, and it’s a slick setup. It has a black Cerakoted 3.45-inch blade of tough M4 steel in a tanto blade shape. It comes in both a plain edge and a half-serrated version. It has a good-sized handle that’s almost 5 inches in length: plenty of gig for gloved hands. The combination of finger choil, contours and jimping, and “Trac-Tec” handle inserts give it a very solid grip even with wet or cold hands. The opening is using a recessed fire button on the left side of the knife and a reversible, tip-up deep carry pocket clip is provided.
Kershaw/Launch 16 Automatic
Overall Length: 8.4″ Closed Length: 4.95″ Blade Length: 3.45″
Blade Thickness: 0.16″ Blade Material: CPM M4, HRC 63
Blade Finish/Coating: Black Cerakote Handle Thickness: 0.55″
Handle Material: 6061-T6 aluminum, Trac-Tec inserts
Handle Finish/Coating: Black or Olive Drab anodized
Weight: 4 ounces Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $199.99
kershaw.kaiusa.com
Boker Plus Appalachian Axes
I’m a fan of axes for heavy work, especially if you can carry them in your vehicle or on your ATV. Boker has a couple of nice Appalachian Axes that it released for 2024. The company uses 1055 carbon steel heads that are protected with a lacquer finish. The Rhenish-style head and blade thickness are well suited to felling and splitting. American hickory handles are used, which are pretty much the gold standard for axe handles. Boker has two sizes available: a large axe with 19.69-inch handle and a small axe with a 13.98-inch handle. Both axe heads have the same 4.13-inch cutting edge. The large axe has an MSRP of $82.95; the small axe is slightly less expensive at $75.95. An optional leather sheath is available for $28.95.
Boker Plus/Large Appalachian Axe
Overall Length: 19.69″
Blade Length: 4.13″
Blade Thickness: 0.79″
Blade Material: 1055 carbon steel
Handle Material: Hickory wood
Color: Silver
Weight: 30.79 ounces
Country of Origin: 30.79 ounces
MSRP: $82.95
www.bokerusa.com
