Tag Archives: Tactical Knives

First Tactical’s Diamondback Folding Knife

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Randall

First Tactical™ makes products for Law Enforcement and Fire Rescue.  Their products are conceived in concert with professionals who work in these fields.  The Diamondback Tanto folding knife is designed and tested by end users to make it functional. A 3.43 inch AUS8 blade comes in a modified tanto or spearpoint shape.  Unique to the Diamondback Tanto is their Thumb Bridge over the blade opening hole.  It adds a lot of real estate for the thumb to open the knife.  It also provides a large shelf upon which the thumb can place pressure to cut materials that are hesitant to yield to the edge. The G10 handle scales are shaped … Continue reading →

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Schenk Knives at BLADE Show

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Randall

One of the first booths I happened upon at BLADE Show 2015 was being shared by Fox Knives with a fledgling company, Schenk Knives.  Zane Schenk, CEO, designer, maker, and all around nice guy showed me their Made in Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA products.  He said he likes to think they manufacture custom knives, affordable to the general public. Schenk uses three main steels in their full-tang fixed blade creations:  51200 bearing steel, Bohler-Uddenholm ELMAX, and lightning strike damascus, which is a blend of 1095 and 15N20.  Schenk knife models can be had in any of the three, partnered with a stonewashed, Cerakote, or combination Cerakote-satin finish, as in the knife … Continue reading →

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BLADE Show 2015

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Randall

I arrived home from BLADE Show 2015 last night.  My trip was on a nomad’s budget, so I drove up, spent one night, then drove right back.  I was able to attend the show floor on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.  It was rushed.  There were 300 booths and nearly 700 tables of good things to see.  Because of my abbreviated stay, I missed much, but I met some cool folks and saw some of the newest knives.  In the next few weeks, I will be posting articles on what I learned, so keep TBF dialed in. Friday, I collected my Media Pass at Will Call and marched right into … Continue reading →

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Kramer Custom Knives

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Randall

I met Eric Kramer in his Kramer Custom Knives booth at Blade Show 2013 and immediately I liked him.  He is, ahem, a younger guy and active duty U.S. Coast Guard.  Sometimes, I don’t just want to see a knife, I want to see what is in the mind of the man who makes it.  In Eric, I found a thoughtful tactician as a knife maker. Eric high-hollow grinds beefy 3/16th” S35VN blade stock into shape.  The premium S35VN has a small amount (.5%) of niobium, which gives the stainless steel much-increased toughness and edge holding abilities over S30V, current darling of the knife making world.  Textured G10 handle scales … Continue reading →

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