Spyderco Price Increase!

What goes up, must come down.  That isn't always the way it works, especially when it comes to inflation.  The cost of raw materials, regulation and more are ever increasing it seems and it effects our pocketbooks everywhere we dare open them. 

Effective January 1, 2012, Spyderco, Inc. will be increasing the wholesale and MSRP on most of their product line.  National Knives will follow suit on January 1, 2012.  Because of time constraints, National Knives, doing business as Robbob8 on eBay, has already increased prices there (eBay).  www.NationalKnives.com  pricing, as stated previously, will be changed to reflect the price increase on January 1, 2012. 

Get your orders in now and save some $$$.

As a side note, National Knives is now a supporting (Dealer) member of www.BladeForums.com under the user name National_Knives.  If you are not a member, you should consider joining one of the largest online communities of cutlery enthusiasts in the world.  A lot of great people and knowledge.

Rob

Video overview and written review of the Spyderco Bob Lum Chinese folder models.

http://EdgeObeserver.com has done it again with an overview of the Spyderco Lum Chinese folder. Look for the coupon code good for $5.00 off at NationalKnives.com. http://www.edgeobserver.com/?p=1073

What a Steel! A look at Carpenter Technology Corporation.

In the late 1800s, James Carpenter received a patent for a tool steel that was air-hardened.  At that point in history, James Carpenter's industrial complex amounted to just one building in Pennsylvania.  This was the beginning of what would be known today as Carpenter Technology Corporation, a producer of a wide array of steels along with other metallurgical products.

Carpenter Technology Corporation produces a wide array of products that surround us in our day to day lives.  In the car you drive, the plane you fly, from the doctor's office to outer space, chances are you have encountered their products without even knowing about it.  Unlike the cars and planes that are branded with the manufacturers name and logo, Carpenter and other industry suppliers don't often get the opportunity to brand their products, at least not in a fashion that would be recognizable to most of us.  The premium knife industry understands that the type of steel used to make the blade of the knife is very important to the end user (you and me).  With this in mind, knife manufacturers have been labeling the blades of their knives with the type of steel used to produce it.  This bit of information helps those of us that have a steel fixation (also known as "Steel Junkies") to better choose the knife that is most appropriate for the task at hand. 

CTS™ XHP

• Offers grindability, edge retention and corrosion resistance comparable to 440C stainless steel.
• Contains 1.60% Carbon, 0.40% Silicon, 0.35% Nickel, 0.45% Vanadium, 0.50% Manganese, 16.00% Chromium, 0.80% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) is between 60 - 64.
• Can be compared to a corrosion resistant D2 tool steel or a high hardness (HRc) 440C stainless steel.
• Can be polished or left in a matte finish.

Spyderco Military, Plain 4" CTS-XHP Blade, Brown G-10 Handle Sprint Run C36GPBNXHP

CTS™ BD1

• Offers high hardness and wear resistance
• Contains 0.85% - 0.95% Carbon, 0.040% Phosphorous, 1.00% Silicon, 0.50% Molybdenum, 1.00% Manganese, 0.030% Sulfur, 15.00% - 17.00% Chromium.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) is between 58 - 60.

Spyderco UK Penknife, CTS-BD1 Stainless Steel Blade, FRN Handle C94FRN

CTS™ 204P

• Offers high wear resistance and high corrosion resistance.
• Contains 1.90% Carbon, 0.60% Silicon, 1.00% Molybdenum, 0.65% Tungsten, 0.35% Manganese, 20.00% Chromium, 4.00% Vanadium.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) is between 57 - 63.

CTS™ 40CP

• Offers high hardness.
• Contains 0.95% - 1.20% Carbon, 0.040% Phosphorous, 1.00% Silicon, 0.75% Molybdenum, 1.00% Manganese, 0.030% Sulfur, 16.00% - 18.00% Chromium.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) is between 60 - 62.

CTS™ 20CP (Micro-Melt­® 420 CW)

• Offers high wear resistance and high corrosion resistance
• Contains 2.25% Carbon, 0.030% Sulfur, 12.80% Chromium, 9.25% Vanadium, 0.50% Manganese, 0.90% Silicon, 1.30% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) 56 - 60.
• Compared to Crucible Industries CPM® S90V

Spyderco ParaMilitary 2, Plain Edge CTS-20CP Blade, Gray G-10 Handle, Sprint Run, C81GGY20CP2

CTS™ TMT (Trinamet® Stainless)

• Offers excellent corrosion resistance.
• Contains 0.30% Carbon, 0.040% Phosphorous, 1.00% Silicon, 1.00% - 3.00% Molybdenum, 1.00% Manganese, 0.030% Sulfur, 12.00% - 14.00% Chromium, 2.00% - 3.00% Copper
• Ideal hardness (HRc) 49 - 53.

CTS­­™ 10 (410 Stainless)

• Offers good corrosion resistance.
• Contains 0.15% Carbon, 0.040% Phosphorous, 1.00% Silicon, 1.00% Manganese, 0.030% Sulfur, 11.50% - 13.50% Chromium.
• Often used in creating a Damascus style pattern (laminate) on knife blade.

 

Al Mar Ultra Chef, Plain VG-10 Stainless Steel Blade with 410 Stainless Steel Layers (33 per side) and 410 Stainless Steel Handle SC8

CTS­™ 20 (420 Stainless)

• Offer good corrosion resistance.
• Contains 0.15% Carbon, 0.040% Phosphorous, 1.00% Silicon, 1.00% Manganese, 0.030% Sulfur, 12.00% - 14.00% Chromium.
• Offers better corrosion resistances than CTS™ 10 (410 Stainless) as well as better strength and hardness.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) 49 - 52

CTS™ 40A (440A Stainless)

• Offers better hardness than 410 and 420 stainless steels
• Contains 0.60% - 0.75% Carbon, 0.040% Phosphorous, 1.00% Silicon, 0.75% Molybdenum, 1.00% Manganese, 0.030% Sulfur, 16.00% - 18.00% Chromium
• Ideal hardness (HRc) 50 - 57

CTS™ 40C (440C Stainless)

• Offers higher attainable hardness levels than CTS™ 40A (440A Stainless).
• Contains 0.95% - 1.20% Carbon, 0.040% Phosphorous, 1.00% Silicon, 0.75% Molybdenum, 1.00% Manganese, 0.030% Sulfur, 16.00% - 18.00% Chromium
• Ideal hardness (HRc) 56 - 60.

Spyderco Cat, Plain 2-7/16" 440C Stainless Steel Blade, Black G-10 Handle, C129GP

­CTS™ B52 (52100 Alloy)

• Offer great wear resistance.
• Contains 1.00% Carbon, 0.25% Silicon, 0.30% Manganese, 1.40% Chromium.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) 48 - 66

CTS™ B70 (CRB® 7 Alloy)

• Offers good corrosion resistance and wear resistance.
• Contains 1.10% Carbon, 0.30% Silicon, 2.00% Molybdenum, 1.00% Vanadium, 0.40% Manganese, 14.00% Chromium, 0.25% Columbium/Niobium.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) 58 - 64.

Carpenter Technology offers a wide array of steels, some of which are currently or have been used in the cutlery industry as well as others that have the potential to be used in the cutlery industry.  This is just a basic breakdown of some of Carpenter's products.  The ingredients used to make these steels offer differing characteristics which are better explained here.

Rob

"Alloy TechZone." Advanced Specialty, Titanium and Powder Metallurgy Materials from Carpenter Technology. CRScartech.com>.

The Edge Obeserver Video Overview of the Caly 3.5 Sprint Run C144GPGY

WOW! Awesome video overview and written review of the Spyderco Caly 3.5 Sprint @ The Edge Observerer. Check it out. - http://www.edgeobserver.com/?p=952

Spyderco Caly 3.5, Plain 3-1/2" Aogami Super Blue Steel Blade, Gray G-10 Handle C144GPGY

Rob

What a Steel! - What do those ingredients mean to me?

In "What a Steel! Part 1" and in future "What a Steel!" posts, I will do my best to accurately list what each steel contains, giving them their characteristics.  In doing so, I won't be listing what each ingredient does each time it is listed, instead I will use this post as a reference and will point each "What a Steel!" post back to this one for reference.  This will allow you, my readers and customers, the ability to better determine how each of the ingredients affect the steel performance, both in a positive and negative manner. 

The one component that remains consistent amongst all steels is iron.  However, iron is not sourced from one or two locations, but multiple locations and from multiple sources.  Iron is inherently a soft metal and is hardened and made usable as a knife blade by the addition of other ingredients, each of which adds and/or detracts a quality or qualities, such a corrosion resistance.
Please feel free to comment on this post as well as any other post.

This post will be updated often as new information becomes available and does not contain all elements used in the production of various types of steel. 

Carbon - C

• Most common element added to iron.
• Increases hardness.
• Increased edge retention.
• High carbon steels tend to be a bit more resistant to corrosion.
• According to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), a for a steel to be considered high carbon, it must contain at least 0.3% carbon.  Many high carbon steels used in knife manufacturing hover in the 1.00% area.

Chromium - Cr

• Added to create stainless steel.
• A minimum of 10% chromium is required for a steel to be considered stainless according to AISI.
• When exposed to oxygen, chromium forms a protective barrier to aid in corrosion resistance.
• Corrosion resistance (rust resistance) is not the same as corrosion proof (rust proof) and most stainless steels will oxidize (corrode) given the ideal conditions.
• Hardness and toughness also benefit from the addition of chromium.

Copper - Cu

• Aides in corrosion resistance

Hydrogen - H

• Used in place of carbon to make H1 stainless steel.
• Used to partially replace carbon to make X15 stainless steel.
• H1 stainless steel has shown strong evidence to be the closest to a true "rust proof" stainless steel.

Manganese - Mn

• Aides in ability to harden and overall hardness
• Aides in overall toughness.
• Adds to corrosion resistance
• Aides in the ability to machine.

Molybdenum - Mo

• Aides in the ability to harden and in overall hardness.
• Aides in toughness and corrosion resistance.
• Helps with the ability to machine.

Nickel - Ni

• Aides in overall toughness.
• May aide in corrosion resistance.
• Necessary ingredient in austenitic (chromium/nickel) stainless steel, which is the most common variety. According to the AISI, this type of stainless steel accounts for approximately 70% of all stainless steel production.

Niobium - Nb

• Aides in grain production
• Aides in corrosion resistance

Phosphorous - P

• Aides in the ability to machine.
• Aides in the ability to harden.

Silicon - Si

• Added to metal in the molten state to aide in the removal of gases and oxidation.
• Aides in overall strength.

Sulfur - S

• Aides in the ability to machine.

Tungsten - W

• Aides in toughness and wear resistance.
• Aides in the ability harden.

Vanadium - V

• Added to aide in wear resistance and strength.
• Allows for fine grain production during heat treatment attributing to the overall hardness (HRc) of the finished blade, edge retention and overall sharpness.
• Toughness also benefits from the addition of vanadium.

Rob

What a Steel! Part 1 - Crucible Industries, LLC

Premium steels are revolutionizing the knife industry.  When premium steels are referred to, most often it is in reference to a high performance steel that maintains a cutting edge somewhere along the lines of forever.  Okay, forever is really stretching the truth quite a bit, but for those out there that don't often use a pocket knife, or a hunting knife, the possibility of literally going years between sharpening is possible.  Steel producers from all over the world are constantly challenging themselves to upgrade, not just out of competition, but because of demand.  Who creates this demand?  We (consumers) do.  For those out there that consider themselves steel junkies and are always looking at the latest and greatest, the mere thought of Spyderco releasing a knife with a blade in Crucible Industries CPM-S90V® stainless steel, gets the heart pumping and leads us to empty out the piggy banks and play the part of a laboratory experiment for little known drug companies for a few extra dollars so we can afford to add yet another knife to our collection.

Crucible Industries is headquartered in Syracuse, New York and produces some of the most popular and finest knife steels in the United States.  Crucible has been doing so since 1876 with roots going back to England a hundred years earlier.  With over 1000 patents, Crucible is a leader in the steel industry, not just for knives, but creating steel for just about any specialty and everyday use.  Crucible's premier line of steels are known as Crucible Particle Metallurgy®, or CPM® as it is most commonly referred to and are best known for their wear and corrosion resistance, toughness and their ease of grinding.

A list of CPM® stainless, high speed and tool steels most commonly used in knife manufacturing:

CPM-154®

• Offers easier grinding, polishing and better toughness over standard 154 CM and better edge retention (stays sharper longer) and resistance to chipping than 440C stainless steel. 
• Contains 1.05% Carbon, 14.00% Chromium and 4.00% Molybdenum
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 55 and 62
• Does not offer the wear resistance of CPM-S30V stainless steel.
• Does offer the same toughness as CPM-S30V stainless steel.
• Does offer better grind ability than CPM-S30V stainless steel.

CPM-S30V®

• Offers better wear and corrosion resistance and toughness versus 440C and D2.
• Contains 1.45% Carbon, 14.00% Chromium, 4.00% Vanadium, and 2.00% Molybdenum
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 58 and 61.

Zero Tolerance Bayonet, 7-1/2" CPM-S30V Stainless Steel Blade, Ranger Green G-10 Handle ZT-9

CPM-S35VN®

• Designed to be tougher than CPM-S30V stainless steel.
• Contains 1.40% Carbon, 14.00% Chromium, 3.00% Vanadium, 2.00% Molybdenum, and 0.50% Niobium
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 58 and 61.
• Offers the ability to withstand 20% more impact energy than CPM-S30V stainless steel.
• Offers similar edge retention to CPM-S30V stainless steel.

Spyderco Native 5, 3" S35VN Stainless Steel Blade, Black G-10 Handle C41GP5

CPM-S90V®

• Designed to offer outstanding, long lasting edge retention.
• Contains 2.30% Carbon, 14.00% Chromium, 9.00% Vanadium, and 1.00% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 56 and 59
• Offers better corrosion resistance than 440C and 154CM.
• Offers better toughness than 440C.

CPM-S110V®

• Designed to offer better corrosion resistance than 440C and CPM-S30V.
• Contains 2.80% Carbon, 15.25% Chromium, 9.00% Vanadium, 3.00% Niobium, 2.25% Molybdenum, and 2.50% Cobalt.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 58 and 61.

CPM-3V®

• Designed to offer outstanding resistance to chipping and breakage.
• Contains 0.80% Carbon, 7.50% Chromium, 2.75% Vanadium, and 1.30% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 58 and 60.
• Offers better toughness than A2, D2 and CPM-M4 steels.

Zero Tolerance Military, 5-3/4" 3V Steel Blade, Matte Black G10 Handle 0100

CPM-M4®

• Designed to offer more wear resistance and toughness.
• Contains 1.42% Carbon, 4.00% Chromium, 4.00% Vanadium, 5.50% Tungsten, 5.25% Molybdenum, 0.30% (0.70%) Manganese, and 0.06% (0.22%) Sulfur.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 58 and 66.

Spyderco Gayle Bradley, 3-7/16" M4 Steel Blade, Black Carbon Fiber Handle C134CFP

A list of other steels produced by Crucible Industries, LLC:

154CM

• Designed as an upgraded 440C steel which offers better corrosion and wear resistance as well as better edge retention.
• Contains 1.05% Carbon, 14.00% Chromium, and 4.00% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 55 and 62.

Benchmade Mini-Griptilian, 2.91" 154CM Steel Blade, Gray Handle, 555SGY-600 - Set

420

• General purpose stainless steel
• Contains >0.15% Carbon, 1.00% Manganese, 0.04% Phosphorous, 0.03% Sulfur, 1.00% Silicone, and 12.00% - 14.00% Chromium
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 51 and 55.

440A

• Designed to be the toughest high Chromium cutlery steels
• Contains 0.60%/0.75% Carbon, 0.04% Phosphorous, 16.00%/18.00% Chromium, 1.00% Manganese, 1.00% Silicone, 0.03% Sulfur, and 0.75% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 52 and 57.
• Ideal for cutlery requiring a "mirror" finish.

440C

• Designed to offer higher hardness, good corrosion resistance and good edge retention.
• Contains 0.95%/1.20% Carbon, 1.00% Manganese, 1.00% Silicone, 0.40% Phosphorous, 0.03% Sulfur, 16.00%/18.00% Chromium, and 0.75% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 54 and 59.
• Ideal for cutlery requiring a "mirror" finish.

Spyderco Cat, 2-7/16" 440C Stainless Steel Blade, Black G-10 Handle C129GP

A2

• Designed to be tougher than D2 and CRUWEAR.
• Contains 1.00% Carbon, 0.85% Manganese, 5.25% Chromium, 1.10% Molybdenum, and 0.25% Vanadium.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 58 and 62.

CRUWEAR

• Designed as an upgrade to D2 tool steel with better wear resistance and toughness.
• Contains 1.10% Carbon, 7.50% Chromium, 2.40% Vanadium, 1.15% Tungsten, and 1.60% Molybdenum
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 60 and 65.

D2

• Offers a balance of toughness and wear resistance.
• Contains 1.55% Carbon, 11.50% Chromium, 0.80% Vanadium, and 0.90% Molybdenum.
• Ideal hardness (HRc) range is between 60 and 62
• Known for it's ability to take a very sharp edge and hold it.

What do those ingredients mean to me?  Click here.

Rob

Crucible Industries, LLC. "What a Steel! Part 1 - Crucible Industries, LLC." ::Crucible Industries:: Home :: You & Us. Crucible Industries, LLC. Web. 25 Sept. 2011. <http://www.crucibleservice.com>.

Spyderco Manix 2. Made in America. Made Right.



Spyderco Manix 2, 3-3/8" Plain 154CM Stainless Blade, Black G-10 Handle C101GP2

A great multi tasking folder that utilizes a ball bearing lock system, grippy black G-10 handles and a plain edge, 3-3/8" 154CM stainless steel blade.  The pocket clip is set up for right hand/left hand tip up carry and the knife features a lanyard hole.

The Spyderco Manix 2 is Made in the USA in Golden, Colorado and is now in stock at National Knives for $69.99 plus shipping (starting at $3.99).

Rob

Spyderco Delica 4. Great Value. Great Knife.

Spyderco Delica 4, 2-7/8" VG-10 Stainless Blade, Green Handle C11FPGR

One of Spyderco's best selling knives of all time is the Delica.  With a multitude of variations, from handle material types to blade steels, there is bound to be one made that fits your needs.  The Delica shown here is shown with a green Fiber Glass Reinforced, or FRN, handle which is a lightweight and extremely durable material.  The color is optional, you can get this particular model with a blue, purple, gray, black, brown and of course, green FRN handle.  The blade steel is a higher end stainless steel made in Japan called VG-10 which will offer great corrosion resistance and excellent edge retention.  The grind on this particular model is referred to as a full flat ground which means that when the blade was ground, starting at the cutting edge and moving to the spine, the blade begins thing and gradually gets thicker.  This grind is well suited for low resistance slicing.  This also features a right hand/left hand, tip up or tip down black pocket clip which allows you to adapt it to your needs.

This this particular model is $53.99 + shipping (starts at $3.99 for USPS Priority) at www.NationalKnives.com.  You can also view other Delica models here.


Rob

TOPS Tom Brown Tracker Knife

TOPS Tom Brown Tracker, 4-1/4" Blade, Linen Micarta Handle TBT-010

TOPS Knives are built tough.  These knives were designed to be used and used hard, to stand up in extreme conditions and have been proven in the hands of professionals from around the world.

Starting with the "working end" of the knife, the blade, it is noted that the overall shape of the blade is not of a traditional design, then again this is not a traditional knife by any means.  This knife is designed to be multifunctional and can be used to saw, chop, carve, split, scrape, etc.  Built of 1095 high carbon steel and hardened to HRc 58 allows this knife to be abused with limited concern of breakage.  It is easy to keep sharp and is willing to take a shaving sharp edge given the correct amount of attention and experience. 

The Linen Micarta handles finish off this 11-7/8" (302 mm) knife and wrap themselves around the full tang and provide excellent grip, with or without gloves and offer several hand placement positions for a multitude of tasks.

You can purchase this knife here for $239.20 with free USPS Priority shipping to all 50 U.S. states and APO/FPO addresses.

Rob

When it comes to keeping your knives sharp, do you shy away from all in one kits?

In my last post, I wrote of the Spyderco Sharpmaker and it's relative ease of use.  Some of you might prefer an alternative method of sharpening, whether it be a different manufacturer's kit, the use of bench stones or ?.  The only kit National Knives currently carries is the Spyderco Sharpmaker, in fact most of National Knives sharpening products are produced by Spyderco. 

Here are some of Spyderco's Bench Sharpening Stones. 

Spyderco Bench Sharpening Stone, 2" x 8" x 1/2", Fine Grit 302F

Spyderco Bench Sharpening Stone, 2" x 8" x 1/2", Medium Grit 302M

Spyderco Bench Sharpening Stone, 2" x 8" x 1/2", Ultra Fine Grit 302UF

These stones will take care of most sharpening tasks, but take a bit of time and practice to find a perfect technique.  One advantage to using bench stones over a kit, is the user can sharpen their knife to whatever angle they prefer, where as kits may limit the angle.

Purchasing a set of these stones, if one so chooses, can get a bit pricier than a kit.  The 302F and 302M (top two) are $39.99 each + shipping (starting at $3.99 and .99 for each additional item) and the 302UF is $51.99 + shipping (starting at $3.99). 

These sharpening stones do not require the used of any type of lubricant, they are autoclave save, dishwasher safe and can be easily cleaned using a plastic scouring pad and an abrasive cleanser.  The high alumina ceramic used to make these is produced in the United States.

Rob

Keeping those knives, scissors, etc. sharp

A dull knife will make any job more challenging than a sharp knife will.  A dull knife can potentially cause more injuries as you will exert more force when cutting than you would if you were using a sharp knife.  A knife is a tool made to simplify your task, you can relate a dull knife to a coin and a sharp knife to a flat edge screwdriver, both can potentially get the job if unscrewing/screwing done, just one (the sharp knife/flat edge screwdriver) is going to make it a whole lot easier and is going to require a lot less effort on your part.  Your pocket knives, hunting knives, kitchen knives, scissors of all varieties, lawn mower blades and more, they all perform better when properly sharpened. 

You say that you don't know how to properly sharpen a knife?  Good news!  Spyderco manufactures the Triangle Sharpmaker, model 204MF which is a relatively inexpensive kit that is very easy to use and gets your knives back in to proper working order.  It comes with a "How To" DVD and instruction manual, 2 - fine grit triangle rods and 2 - medium grit triangle rods, 2 - brass safety rods and a base that doubles as a storage container for the rods.

Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker Sharpening Set, Instructional DVD 204MF

National Knives sells this kit for $51.99 + shipping (starting at $8.99).  Replacement fine and medium rods are available for $11.49 + shipping (starting at $3.99) and are sold individually.  For those that have knives in poor shape and need to remove a lot of metal fast, you can purchase the optional diamond rods for $41.99 + shipping (starting at $3.99) for a set of 2 rods.  If you are really looking for a professional edge Spyderco also manufactures an ultra fine rod that polishes up the edge of your knife.  The fine, medium and ultra fine stones are made of high alumina ceramic, can be cleaned with a plastic scouring pad and a powdered abrasive cleaner and are autoclave safe.  The diamond rods should be rinsed in fresh, clean water.

This kit is capable of sharpening both plain edge knives and serrated edge knives, but also has the capability of sharpening pointed items like fish hooks, darts, awls and more.

Rob

Spyderco Caly 3.5 Sprint Run with Aogami Super Blue Steel Blade

Spyderco Caly 3.5, 3-1/2" Super Blue Steel Blade, Gray Handle C144GPGY

I really like this knife!  The Spyderco Caly 3.5 Sprint Run with gray G-10 handle and Aogami Super Blue Steel blade is home run in my opinion.  There are some of you that don't like the color of the handle, being a lighter shade of gray, you feel as though this particular color is prone to show more dirt and I won't argue with you as it probably will.  If I was keeping this knife in the safe or as part of a collection and was concerned about getting it dirty, I could relate, but if I am carrying this knife on a day to day basis, then I would expect it to get dirty and if it didn't, then I would know that I don't need to carry a knife at all as I am not using it. 

This knife comes wrapped in a corrosion preventing paper wrap as the blade is not 100% corrosion resistant, in fact, it will "tarnish" as time goes by and some fans of this knife have been purposely "tarnishing" the blade as some feel it adds to the beauty of the knife.  I would suggest you visit some knife forums and get some suggestions and ideas on how to go about it and what to expect. 

The name of the steel used to manufacture the blade on this knife, as mentioned earlier, has nothing to do with the color of the blade.  When the steel is produced it is wrapped in paper that is blue before being shipped to be made into knife blades, etc. and that's it, nothing more to it and nothing less.\

National Knives has these in stock and ready to ship.  They are a great buy at $145.99 + shipping (starting at $3.99 for USPS Priority).

Rob

New Arrival - Zero Tolerance Folding Knife 0350ST

Zero Tolerance Combat, 3-1/4" Black Blade, Black G-10 Handle 0350ST

The 0350ST arrived a couple of days ago, but I have been too busy to post these beauties.  This is a smaller version of the 0300ST by about 10% and features a standard black G-10 handle that provides great grip.  This does feature a flipper allowing for easy one handed assisted opening.  The blade is CPM-S30V which offers a great combination of edge retention and corrosion resistance.  The blade is also black Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coated and is partially serrated allowing the best of both cutting edges on one knife. 

To purchase this knife, simply visit National Knives at www.NationalKnives.com and order.  Zero Tolerance products are shipped free to all 50 states. 

Rob

Spyderco Damascus Delica - Just in!

Spyderco Delica, 2-7/8" SS Damascus Blade, Orange Bone Handle C11JBOP

These have just landed.  This Delica is a Sprint Run (Limited Edition) and is $204.99 + shipping (starts at $3.99 for USPS Priority). Please stop in and visit National Knives today for this and other great knives at great prices.

Spyderco Military Sprint Run - Just in!

Spyderco Military, 4" Plain XHP Blade, Brown G-10 Handle C36GPBNXHP

You can find them here for $164.99 + shipping (starts at $3.99).  Take a look around while you are visiting and see our growing selection and low prices.  National Knives ships out packages Monday through Saturday and orders are shipped in most cases within 24 hours of being placed.

Spyderco Shabaria Sprint Run

Spyderco Shabaria, 3-7/8" Stainless Blade, Carbon Fiber Handle C59CFP

The Spyderco Shabaria  is a design brought to life by custom knife maker Eduard Bradichansky and is modeled after a knife by the same name carried by the Jordan River Valley nomads hundreds of years ago. 

With the Shabaria's hollow ground, plain edge, VG-10 stainless steel blade and it's lightweight black Carbon Fiber handle, this knife is a makes for a great every day carry (EDC) knife or as an unique addition to your collection.

Spyderco UK Pen Knife in G-10

Unfortunately, knife laws are following gun laws and are being strengthened all over the world.  I won't go into whether or not they are effective, I think you can probably figure out my stance on the issue without me having to tell you.  I will tell you that to some it nothing more than a mere hindrance and to others, they are more like a nightmare you just can seem to wake up from. 

The United Kingdom has had laws imposed on what kind of knife can be carried and Spyderco answered with the UK Pen Knife (UKPK).  The name may imply that this knife is only available in the United Kingdom, thankfully, Spyderco has made it available to all and with the rapidly changing laws, I would have to agree with their marketing strategy. 

Spyderco UK Pen Knife, 3" S30V SS Blade, Foliage Green Handle C94GPFG3

The UKPK utilizes GIN-1 and CPM-S30V stainless steels as it's primary blade materials.  The handle materials include Carbon Fiber, Titanium, Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN), and G-10 (shown above).  Carbon fiber and FRN both are lightweight materials with carbon fiber adding a decorative, classy touch and FRN being relatively inexpensive, but neither are very "grippy".  Titanium is another smooth material, virtually indestructible, and high tech, but expensive.  G-10 is not as expensive as carbon fiber or titanium, but is more so than FRN.  With G-10, the user ultimately gets a knife that offers great grip allowing for better control over the knife, in turn allowing for more precise cuts and better safety.

The UKPK is part of Spyderco Slipit line in which the blade does not incorporate any form of locking mechanism, the blade is held open (per Spyderco) by "resistance pressure at the pivot area" of the blade.  The non-locking platform is what keeps this knife legal in the UK as well as other areas of the world. 

Of course, you don't have to be obligated by law to be "forced" to have to carry the UKPK, you can carry it in any area of the world where it is legal for the simple reason that it is a high quality knife that will offer you years of reliable use in an attractive, handy and lightweight package.





Rob

Quick as Lightning! The Kershaw Blur.

With a name like "Blur" it should come to no surprise that this knife opens fast.  It should also come to no surprise that this knife is a spring-assisted opener, not a switchblade/automatic knife, but about as close as you can get to one legally. 

Kershaw Blur Folder, 3-3/8" Stainless Blade, Aluminum Handle 1670S30V

This a sweet liner lock folder features right hand and left hand thumbstud, a right hand tip up or tip down black steel pocket clip, a lightweight black aluminum handle that has Trac-Tec inlays which are great for grip and control.  The blade on this particular model is a stonewashed CPM-S30V stainless steel, which differs from the other Blur models which feature Sandvik's 14C28N stainless steel.  What's the difference?  CPM-S30V is considered an upgrade to 14C28N stainless in that it will typically hold an edge longer. 

The one disadvantage, if you can call it that, is that this knife does not incorporate a "flipper" which is essentially a "tab" that is part of the blade that protrudes out of the back of the knife and allows the user to open the blade with the forefinger (or any finger), whereas the thumbstud is, well, self-explanatory in that it is designed to be utilized by the thumb.


Rob

One beautiful pocket knife, Made in the USA

W.R. Case & Sons is an iconic American manufacturing company.  In 1889, four brothers started making and selling knives, I doubt that they knew at that time how famous their brand of knives would become.  With over 19,000 members, W.R. Case & Sons boasts the largest knife collector communities in the world.  This should speak volumes of the time and effort Case puts into the development, manufacturing and quality control of their product lines. 

Case occasionally retires a particular model and refines them and then, in time, brings them back to the market even better than before.  One particular model is the Case Cheetah.  This model was taken out of production 3 years ago and reintroduced in 2011.  The model shown below features a stunning Raindrop Damascus pattern blade and India Stag Handle and nickel silver bolsters.

Case Cheetah, 3-1/4" Raindrop Damascus Blade, India Stag Handle Model 6087

This is a great knife for a gift for a friend, a family member or to treat yourself with a beautiful knife made in the United States.

Rob

VG-10 stainless steel used in knife blade.

Knife blades made of VG-10 stainless steel, means very little to many of us and the very mention of VG-10 or any other type of stainless steel type to the average consumer can cause confusion and misunderstanding, essentially you might as well be speaking a foreign language all together.   Compare it to talking car engines with someone who just wants he car to get them to point A to point B safely and reliably.  They don't want to know about the engine, or they will pretend to understand but in reality have no clue what you just said or what it meant.  Same goes for types of steel, except that there are even fewer people that understand, even the basics, of the different types of steels used in knife manufacturing. 

VG-10 stainless steel is produced by Japanese steelmaker Takefu Special Steel CO., LTD and is considered a high carbon stainless steel.  VG-10 contains 1.0% carbon, which according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) qualifies it as a high carbon steel and it contains 15% Chromium meeting the minimum AISI standards of 10% to qualify VG-10 as a stainless steel. 

VG-10 is often clad with 400 series stainless steel in such a way as to produce a Damascus appearance on knives as seen on the Mcusta folding knife, model 13D as seen below.

Not only is VG-10 common in folding cutlery, many people have had experience with it in the kitchen, with the introduction of the Al Mar Ultra Chef line and Kai's Shun line.

VG-10 is best known for it's edge retention, being a harder steel often HRc of >60, it will retain a sharper edge for a longer period of time than a softer steel.  VG-10 not only stays sharper longer, when sharpened it can be honed to an incredibly sharp edge.  It also offers great corrosion resistance and is a relatively tough steel being a more resistant to tip breakage and edge chipping which can and does occur with harder steels.

The next time you purchase a knife, consider a knife blade made of VG-10 stainless steel.  A great introduction to higher end knife steels and a world away from to dime store folders and gas station specials. 

Take a look at the Spyderco Centofante III, sweet knife for only $53.99 + shipping.

Rob

Beautiful in blue, Spyderco Sage 3 is one sweet knife!

Spyderco Sage 3

Spyderco Sage 3, 3" Plain Stainless Blade, Blue G-10 Handle C123GPBL

It is not uncommon for Spyderco to introduce a model that isn't eye catching and how better to catch one's eye than to slap a blue G-10 handle on it?  Spyderco included a 3" (76 mm) blade made from Crucible Industries CPM-S30V stainless steel, which is a powdered steel that offers a consistent grain pattern, great edge retention and corrosion resistance.  A great blade and a grippy handle on a folding knife only means so much if the blade doesn't stay open in a secure manner, so Spyderco added a Bolt Action Lock invented by the late Blackie Collins. 

For those that are unfamiliar with G-10, it is essentially a laminate of fiberglass and epoxy resin, compressed and put into an oven.  G-10 can withstand most types of chemicals and elemental exposures and makes for an excellent knife handle material that allows the user a great textured surface that provides for a great grip!

Spyderco will donate approximately 5% of sales of the their Sage series knives to the National Alzheimer's Association Denver, Colorado Chapter (Spyderco is based in Golden, Colorado).  For many of us, myself included, we have witnessed our loved ones suffer with Alzheimer's Disease and the toll it takes on a person.  If you are interested in purchasing a new knife, consider one of the Sage Series (there is a Sage 1, and a Sage 2), you will end up with a great knife, that is not only functional, attractive (as far as knive go), but you also help support finding a cure!

Rob

Collaborations or conspiracies, a love story

When purchasing a knife, for some of us we look at the brand name first, for some of us the price will help determine our purchase, for some of us it will be the design of the knife and for most of us the functionality and how we plan on using, or not using the knife will be a key factor.  Then there are those of us that have an obsession and sometimes buy knives that we don't need, don't have a use for, can't afford and will put us on the brink of bankruptcy because we won't buy just one, but several of the same knife.  What drives us to have this "horrible" obsessive compulsive disorder?  Why must we be the first kid on the block to have the latest model, you know, to keep up "with the Jones?"  I think it's a conspiracy! 

Knife manufacturers, for years, have known that even though they produce a product that only in the most extreme cases would actually need to be replaced in a average persons lifetime, they can produce a new design, use a new material or subliminally suggest that you need a new knife and will get the sales.  Realistically, we don't need a new knife, the knife that we carry is fine, might need a bit of sharpening, but still does the job that we required of it when we purchased it.  Of course, there are those of us that have a habit of misplacing stuff, knives included and/or loaning our material possessions to neighbors, friends, and/or relatives and believe that we are going to get that stuff back, but know deep down that we will never see it again.  When we don't see it again and after several phone calls, personal visits and maybe a strong verbal warning about the ramifications that will occur (but most likely won't) if that possession isn't returned in a timely manner, we give up and realize that all hope is lost and go buy a new one (whatever was loaned) or live without, knives included. 

It's a conspiracy I tell you!  Manufacturers move these neighbors in next door to you or they convince you that the house/apartment that is vacant and in the vicinity of one of their "friendly neighbors that you just can't say no to" is the perfect place for you, knowing full well that you will lend the aforementioned neighbor your possessions. 

Had enough yet?  Me too!  I am not a conspiracy theorist by nature.  I don't wear tin foil anything, my windows aren't painted black and my curtains are usually open during the day.  I walk around the neighborhood and make conversation with my neighbors and I don't dwell on the things that I read on the Internet and have accepted as the God given truth.  One thing I will admit to though...I like knives and believe that knife manufacturers do their best at designing and marketing what they are best at - making knives! 

Most every knife manufacturer and custom knife maker have their loyal followers that will buy anything and everything that manufacturer/knife maker has to offer and are willing to put a second mortgage on their home to do so.  To bring you the most innovative designs, sometimes these manufacturers and custom knife makers collaborate on a design.  Sometimes it is nothing more that using a patented design/part and paying royalties and other times it is a true collaboration where designers from the manufacturer and a custom knife maker will sit down together and dream up something they hope they will be able to convince the masses to buy.

A manufacturer will often be the one that is charged with producing the new model and marketing it with a portion of the proceeds going to the custom knife maker.  On occasion, one or both of the manufacturer and the custom knife maker will donate all or part proceeds to a charitable cause which is just one of the ways they give back to the community that they market and sell their product to. 

Here is an example of a fixed blade collaboration between Spyderco and Ed Schempp.

Spyderco Schempp Rock Fixed Blade Knife FB20FPBK

Here is an example of a folding knife collaboration between Spyderco and Jens Anso

Spyderco Jens Anso Rock Lobster C126GPFG

As you see, the innovative designs above are eye catching and functional and worthy additions to your inventory, whether as users or as part of a collection.  You can find these and other great knives at www.NationalKnives.com so please stop by and take a look around and feel free to contact me at Sales@NationalKnives.com. 

(so where is the love story connection? - there really isn't any other than my love for God and my family)

Rob

Get a grip! Metal as a knife handle material.

In my previous post, I spoke of the use of woods in the manufacturing of knives, specifically, knife handles.  In today's blog, I will focus more on the use of metals, advantages and disadvantages.  I won't cover ever advantage or disadvantage so if you feel that something is missing that is just too important to be left out, feel free to leave a comment.

Most metals can be used to manufacture knife handles but this doesn't mean that they would make good knife handles.  Some would be to costly to produce, but have been used such as gold and silver, others would be too soft and/or too heavy such as lead and others would be too dangerous such as uranium.  Most of the knives made with metal handles and metal components on a knife are made of stainless steel, aluminum, and/or titanium.

Stainless steel advantages include, but are not limited to, strength, corrosion resistance, the ease of manufacture, relatively low cost, can be etched and/or engraved in many cases and the ease of keeping it clean and protected.  In appearance, stainless steel is rather bland, in my opinion.  It provides a smooth transition from blade to handle if the blade is also made of stainless steel.  I like different textures and styles and unless the blade is a differing color and/or texture than the handle, I would opt for a different knife.

Below is an example of a knife with a stainless steel handle.

Byrd Pelican BY06PS

Aluminum offers a lighter weight material that stainless steel and shares similar advantages such as corrosion resistance, the ease of maintenance, the ability to etch and/or engrave the surface and it's relative low cost.  Aluminum is not as strong as stainless steel though, but through a process called anodization, aluminum can be offered in a variety of colors that are very durable in reference to color fading, scratching and normal wear and tear.


Below is an example of a knife with an aluminum handle.

 

Darrel Ralph Assisted Opening Gun Hammer

Titanium is the most expensive of the more commonly used metals.  It is difficult to manufacture and machine.  However, it offers a lightweight metal that is corrosion resistant, easy to maintain, and has high strength and durability. 

Below is an example of a knife with a half of the handle in titanium and the other have in black G-10 laminate.

Zero Tolerance (ZT Knives) Hinderer Folder 0551 Limited Edition

Leaving a metal handle smooth does have one primary disadvantage and that is grip.  In a hard use environment, you want the knife to stay in your hand, you don't want it to slip, slide, and/or fall all of which can result in serious physical injury.  In the last knife pictured above, the Zero Tolerance Hinderer Folder, the titanium backside of the knife is left smooth, but the front of the knife features a G-10 laminate surface as to offer the end user more "tooth" or grip to the knife handle to help prevent an accident, but also to get the task at hand done more efficiently. A good grip on the knife allows the user more control of the knife and how it's being used.

In future blogs, I will be writing about other types of knife handle materials.  Keep checking back and don't forget to visit my website - www.NationalKnives.com.

Rob

Get a grip! Wood as a knife handle material.

I would like to expand our knowledge of handle materials and their advantages and disadvantages. A knife handle is simply the part of a knife that was built with the specific purpose of being able to safely hold and use the knife it's attached to. In the beginning, the handle material was the part of the cutting tool that didn't cut you, not much as changed regarding the concept of the handle. However, the materials used and their purposes have changed.

I won't be covering all the different types of handle materials as just about anything that is relatively hard can be used. A shortened list of those materials would include, metal, wood, plastics, animal horns and more. I will cover some of the more basic materials of knives that National Knives has in stock and for sale or had in stock at some point.  This blog will focus on wood.

The first material I am going to address is wood. It's all around us and used virtually everywhere in just about everything, or so it seems anyways. Knife manufacturers don't simply rely on one type of wood to all their products. Different species of woods offer different textures, grains and either add or detract from the overall appearance of the knife. Wood can add to the cost of the knife or detract from it, depending on the type of wood used and how attractive it makes the knife when it is on the dealers shelves waiting to find a new home. A scarce wood that is plain in appearance and offers no usable advantages probably won't increase the value much, but probably wouldn't be used by a manufacturer to begin with. A scarce wood that offers visual appeal and/or usable advantages will not only add to the appearance of the knives but will usually add the the price of the knife too. Some of the more common wood types that are used in the manufacturer of knife handles are : Cocobolo, wood laminates (often dyed), Pakkawood, Rosewood, Oak and Sandalwood.
I would like to expand our knowledge of handle materials and their advantages and disadvantages. A knife handle is simply the part of a knife that was built with the specific purpose of being able to safely hold and use the knife it's attached to. In the beginning, the handle material was the part of the cutting tool that didn't cut you, not much as changed regarding the concept of the handle. However, the materials used and their purposes have changed.

The picture attached to this post features a Mcusta model 13D folding knife. Mcusta used ebony wood as the handle material with this knife. This particular model is finished smooth but has indents where the user can rest their fingers. I would not consider this knife a "hard use" knife, in other words, it would not be good for military, police, fire, EMS, survival applications. I would classify it more of a gentleman's knife and a great every day carry (EDC) knife and with it's Damascus style blade adding to the visual beauty, this would make a great special occasion folder.

Some woods are absolutely beautiful, but are difficult to keep stable so they won't split, crack or chip. One manufacturer recently used Spalted Maple, which is a heavy grained wood, as a handle material on a fixed blade knife that resulted in the manufacturer having to switch to a non-wood material and selling the defective knives at a discount. The knives were easy on the eyes with the beautiful heavy grained wood handle, unfortunately it just didn't work out for the manufacturer.

Please feel free to contact me at Sales@NationalKnives.com.

Rob

You think you are tough? Try on some high carbon knife steel and let's see...

High carbon steels have a higher carbon content than stainless steels as implied by the name and according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, must contain more than 0.3% carbon to be classified as high carbon.  There are many varieties of high carbon steels, each with differing characteristics.  This blog will focus on one of the more popular high carbon steels - 1095.

The "10" in 1095 is a numerical designation assigned to carbon steels and the last two number refer to the amount of carbon, in this case 0.95%.  The numerical designation may lead you to believe that 1095 is going to carry 0.95% carbon, no more and no less, but that is not the case.  1095 can carry anywhere from 0.9% to 1.03% carbon depending on the manufacturer's or maker's requirements.

1095 can be "zone" heat treated, in other words, the edge of the knife blade can be hardened to a different Rockwell Hardness than the spine of the blade which will offer the end user a knife with great edge retention, keeping the blade sharper for a longer period of time and offer the end user a tough knife when the spine is left a bit less hard than the edge.

1095 may sound like it will make the "perfect" knife and for some, this is true, but for others that don't like maintaining their tools, 1095 steel and well as any other non stainless steel won't be ideal.  1095 is prone to rust so maintenance is mandatory and relatively simple.  Simply apply a thin coat of oil to the metal and reapply again whenever needed.  The type of oil you use to prevent rusting will depend on what you will use the knife for.  If food is a possibility, then using a motor oil, gun oil, 3 in 1 oil, etc, isn't the best idea and you should consider using a vegetable type oil or a  food grade mineral oil, which you should be able to find in your local drug store or a kitchen supply store (used for wood butcher blocks).  Some oils perform better than others and a bit of trial and error will lead to the best oil for your needs.

TOPS Knives uses 1095 high carbon steel in most of their lineup, like the Tom Brown Tracker (shown above).  The steel is hardened to Rockwell (HRc) 58.  TOPS Knives offers free lifetime sharpening for the original owner.  You can learn more about TOPS products at their website.

Rob

Knife news, facts and random commentary.: Beautiful day in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan (and...

Knife news, facts and random commentary.: Beautiful day in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan (and...: "As much as I like knives , I also enjoy beautiful, sunny days, but then again, who doesn't? As you may or may not know, I live in Sault Sai..."

Beautiful day in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan (and Ontario, too!)

As much as I like knives, I also enjoy beautiful, sunny days, but then again, who doesn't?  As you may or may not know, I live in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan (Sault is pronounced Soo).  The main industry here is tourism.  People come from all over to watch the freighters enter the Soo Locks and either raise or lower depending in which way they are going.

A freighter that is down bound, is a one that is coming from Lake Superior and going to Lake Huron or further, an up bound freighter is heading into Lake Superior.  The boats that enter the Soo Locks, will raise or lower 21 feet and the water is filled or emptied out of the Locks without any mechanical device (gravity does the work). 

The Soo Locks can handle some large ships.  The largest lock is the Poe Lock at 1200' x 110'.  The largest ship that the Soo Locks is required to handle is the Paul R. Tregurtha at 1013.5' x 105', this leaves little room for error with only 2.5' clearance on either side of ship.  The Tregurtha is considered a laker as it is too large to make it out to the ocean (too large for the locks in the St. Lawrence Seaway).

The Soo Locks visitor center is open to the public, but be warned, you do not want to carry pepper spray, firearms (even with CPL/CCW) or knives.  You are required to go through a checkpoint to enter into this area, but then you get to enjoy the use of the platforms which allow you a better view of the locks and the ships that pass through and you can also visit the Visitor Center where you can learn some of the history and mechanics of the locks.  Did you forget to leave your pepper spray in the car and don't want to go back and refuse to let the guards confiscate it?  No problem, head east to the other side of the Army Corp of Engineers building and there is a nice park there that allows you to see the freighters as they go by.

Take care,
Rob




 

CPM-S30V stainless steel, not the popular kid at the party, but the one holding the party.

National Knives stocks a variety of different styles of knives, from folding pocket knives to kitchen knives.
These knives are manufactured with a wide variety of materials, with specific focus on the blade, they can be made with stone (obsidian), ceramic, steel and other materials and the end results (and usability) determine not just on what material is used, but how it was produced, the ingredients that were used and the manufacturers ability to treat/temper/grind/etc. that material into a functioning knife blade.

Knife steels are constantly evolving and getting upgrades to their performance levels.  In the higher end knives, CPM-S30V, a US made steel produced by Crucible Industries, S30V is a high performing powdered steel that features a very fine grain with the typical end results being good edge retention and good toughness that will help minimize edge chipping and tip breakage.  With that said, my every day carry (EDC) knife is currently a Spyderco Native with a S30V blade and I managed to chip the edge on it AND break the tip off, however, I was using the knife as a prying tool when the tip broke off, something that most knives are not meant to be used as.

S30V edge retention is significantly improved over still current knife industry standards steels like 440C and 154CM.  According to Crucible Industries website (link takes you to PDF Data Sheet), S30V outperforms both of these steels in edge retention tests and corrosion resistance. 

When a knife manufacturer receives a shipment of steel, the steel hasn't been heat treated yet.  Heat treating is important to knife steels as it allows the manufacturer control over how hard or soft the steel will be when the end user receives the knife.  A knife steel that is too hard, will be difficult to sharpen, but would stay sharp longer, the edge would chip easy and is essentially a brittle knife, good for slicing relatively soft objects.  A knife steel that is too soft would not stay sharp for very long, but would be easy to sharpen when needed.  Ideally, S30V would be hardened to HRC 58-61 (see above link for reference) and would provide a workable knife that is neither too hard nor too soft giving the end user a blade that will stay relatively sharp and resistant to chipping/breakage.

What makes a good knife steel is a subjective topic, not only among the end users, but amongst the manufacturers and custom knife makers too.  Most manufacturers use a variety of steels and are always testing and trying new steels so they can stay on the cutting edge (pun intended).  What's the best steel for you?  Ask yourself what you are going to be using it for and then do some research.  In the future, I will be blogging about different types of steels and their advantages and disadvantages.  So far, I have covered H1 and with this blog S30V and there will more to come.  You can also feel free to sent me an email.

Rob

Some small talk...Spyderco Bug Knife

This is one small knife (the specifications are at the end). The first time I held one I thought what a great small folding knife for a keychain. At less than half an ounce, it won't add any significant amount of weight to the keychain that most of us carry, you know, the one that has about 20 keys on it, 10 of which we don't know what lock they fit and/or don't use but once a year or so and one or more of those keys we use to open packages that we receive in the mail or to break down boxes at work. 

You don't want to add another knife to your keychain because it is crowded enough?  Make a necklace out of the Spyderco Bug.  You can buy this knife here at National Knives for only $6.49 plus shipping.  We also have other members of Spyderco's Bug line like the Honeybee and the Grasshopper.  These are all part of Spyderco's Slipit Group of knives that have no mechanical lock, but instead relies on resistance pressure at the pivot joint to hold the blade open.

The specifications of the Spyderco Bug Model C133P:

Blade Length: 1.3125" 

Blade Material: 3Cr13 Stainless Steel
Blade Style: Flat Ground Plain Edge
Blade Thickness: 0.0625"
Rc Hardness:
Lock Style: Non-Locking Slip Joint
Closed Overall Length: 1.625"
Open Overall Length: 2.875"
Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Pocket Clip: N/A
Sheath: N/A
Weight: 0.40 Ounces
MSRP: $9.95
Special Features:
Smallest Knife in Spyderco's Lineup
Lanyard Hole
Made in China

Rob

Knife Rights - Home

Knife Rights - Home

Knife not big enough...Spiders

Funny thing happened to me on the ...... yeah, you probably don't want to read yet another article/blog/email/etc that starts off with that, so I will tell you that my wife, daughter and myself all went to Tahquamenon Falls this past Saturday.  We haven't been there in a couple of years and made the day out of it which included hiking part way to the upper portion of the falls which is 4 miles one way of hiking through different types of terrain of medium difficulty.  Typically, this wouldn't be much of an ordeal, but my wife had surgery that involved her hip about 2 months ago and it not quite fully healed so we only made it in about about a mile or so before we turned back due to her discomfort.  It was beautiful day and fun filled.

So what about the spider?  Being a blog about knives and carrying Spyderco brand products, you would think that maybe what I am referring to, but you would be wrong.  On our ventures down that trail, we came across the largest spider I have ever seen in Michigan outside of a zoo or pet store.  My hands are of average size and from leg tip to leg tip, that spider would fill the palm of my hand which is a good 3.5" to 4.0" across.  Did I mention that I don't like spiders, especially big spiders?  Ironically, I was carrying a Spyderco knife, but it just didn't make me feel safe at all.  This is the actual picture of the spider:

Not good enough?  You say that only video will suffice?  You're in luck!  You can hear my daughter giving me directions and her start to yell "butter noodles!" towards the end, which is a lot easier on the ears then what I was thinking of saying...

I was tapping on the tree with my sunglasses (the expensive 2.99 pair from our local hardware store) and standing off to the side so I didn't have a clear view of the spider.  Before this, I had attempted to show the size of the spider in comparison to a $10.00 bill and the spider attacked the bill!  When I retracted the bill, rather quickly I might add, the spider retracted into the crevice in the tree as you can see in the video.

My first thoughts was that this spider was a wolf spider based on it's appearance, apparently Michigan is also home to a water spider and based on what Googled, that is what we happened upon.  I hope it is the last one I see.

I don't want any of you to have nightmares about this spider, so I included this photo of a Primrose moth, which until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't know existed, especially in Michigan:

This picture was taken at the Pendills Creek National Fish Hatchery near the water fountain where there were several of these hanging around on the wall and fountain.  The picture doesn't do this justice.

Rob

Knife Chit Chat

When it comes to knives, whether it be kitchen cutlery, hunting blades or every day carry (EDC) pocket knives, I don't consider myself overly picky.  I carry a Spyderco Native C41PSBBK (see pic below) that I might have to retire after I snapped the tip off doing something I shouldn't have done (cleaning out a paper shredder).  I like the Native a lot and I know there are a number of people out there that don't care for Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN) handles and/or back locks, I am not one.  I started carrying this knife after I received it from a distributor with wear marks on the pocket clip.  Instead of returning it or selling it at a discount, I decided to make it my EDC knife and with no regrets.

When comparing FRN to a more "grippy" material like G-10, I have found that, at least in my case, that the FRN slides in and out of my pocket easier.  This does not mean that I don't like G-10 or won't carry it, in fact I would prefer G-10 if/when I am using my knife in a manner that may be more aggressive like cutting cardboard.  That extra grip that G-10 offers may make the difference in a trip to the hospital or to the medicine cabinet.

The locking system of a folding knife is designed to safely keep the blade in an open position.  Cutlery connoisseurs have vastly differing opinions on what type of lock style is best.  I am not going to go into the differing styles in the post, each style has a purpose which can range from ease of use to safety or to abide by a law.

I have to tell you that it is now 5days in a row that Sault Sainte Marie, MI has received rain.  Blah!  At least it's not hot and muggy, the last time I checked, the temp. didn't even hit 60 degrees F makes me wonder if I should get the snow shovel out of storage....

Rob