Top 3 Clip Point Knife Choices For Every Day Carry

January 28, 2024 iluvknives

Clip point knives are a very common and popular style of knife with a curved blade that gradually comes to a sharp tip. They are used for a variety of purposes, from hunting to outdoor activities like hiking and camping. In this article, I’ll be discussing my top three clip point blade recommendations and what makes them stand out from the plethora of other choices out there.

Buck 110

The Buck 110 Folding Hunter Knife is a classic clip point knife that has become a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts. This knife features a large, 3.75-inch blade made from 420HC steel, which is known for its durability and resistance to rust. The handle is made from genuine wood and has a brass rivet for a traditional look. The knife also comes with a leather sheath for easy carrying and storage.

One of the best things about this knife is its ability to hold an edge. The 420HC steel blade is strong and holds a sharp edge for an extended period of time, even when used on tough materials. The knife is also very reliable and can be counted on for heavy-duty tasks.

KA-BAR Fighting Knife

The KA-BAR Fighting Knife is a classic clip point fixed blade that has been trusted by soldiers and outdoor enthusiasts for decades. The long, thick blade is made from high-carbon steel and features an absolutely AMAZING grip wrap and guard for a secure grip under any conditions. The pommel is solid metal and is perfectly suited for rugged outdoor use.

Voyager Vaquero

The Voyager Vaquero by Cold Steel is a modern take on the classic clip point knife with a contoured G-10 handle and high-performance steel. It is made of high-quality Japanese AUS-10A steel, which is known for its toughness and excellent edge retention. The Voyager Vaquero also features a back lock opening system, which provides excellent lock up and a secure grip. This knife is designed for both EDC and outdoor use and is an excellent option for those looking for a high-quality clip point knife with a more modern kukri design. If you are unsure of what size to go with, go with the XL (Trust me, it’s exactly as awesome as it looks).

Those are my top 3 choices for knives with a clip-point blade. Never forget, a drop point may LOOK similar, but the main difference of a clip point vs drop point is that a clip point knife has a ‘clipped’ spine. A drop point ‘drops’ into the spine. The Romans used to clip coins, so think of it like that. Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for today. Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful rest of your week.

Top 3 Recurve Knife Choices For Everyday Use

January 27, 2024 iluvknives

With thousands of different designs available, why choose a recurve knife? Simple. Due to recurve knives having a curved blade that bends inward toward the handle, the blade geometry naturally creates a force multiplier. This allows the user to slice through whatever they may be cutting a heck of a lot easier than other blade geometries. Now you may be asking, “Great, but what is the best recurve knife out there?” I’m glad you asked. Here are my three top choices. Let’s start off with a fixed-blade tactical recurve knife.

Tops Tom Brown Tracker Field Edition

One of the most well-known and uniquely-shaped recurve knives is the Tops Tom Brown Tracker Field Edition. This knife features a 6.5-inch blade made from O1 high-carbon steel and comes with an upgraded G10 handle for improved grip and control. The recurve blade on this knife makes it a great choice for hunting, as the curved blade allows for improved cutting power and precision. The knife includes a durable kydex sheath designed to protect the knife while not in use. The only downside to this the Tops Tom Brown Tracker is that, due to the irregular blade shape (which is AWESOME in my opinion), it can be difficult to sharpen.

Boker Arbolito Buffalo Soul

For those looking for a more unique style of knife, the Boker Arbolito Buffalo Soul is a phenomenal choice. This knife features a 4-inch blade made from high-carbon steel and comes with a classic-style handle made from grippy micarta. The recurve blade on this knife is designed to provide a smooth and straight cutting edge and is perfect for tasks like skinning and filleting. Due to the hardness of the steel, the edge retention holds up quite well on this specific model. The knife also includes a cordura belt sheath and warranty, making it a great choice for those looking for an affordable, yet high-quality knife. Also, this knife is great for beginners learning how to sharpen a recurve blade.

Kershaw Blur

The Kershaw Blur is massively popular, and for good reason. The Blur is a high-performance knife with a modern recurve design that features grippy G10 handle scales and an assist-opening mechanism. The blade is made from a high-performance Sandvik 14C28N stainless-steel, which provides excellent edge retention and a strong, sharp edge. The blade is specifically shaped to provide precision and control, while the handle is designed to be ergonomic and comfortable. The Blur has become so popular that it is now available in multiple colors. If you read about these three choices and don’t know which one to pick – Go with the Blur. The Kershaw Blur is a great choice for both everyday carry and hardcore outdoor use.

In conclusion, choosing the right recurve blade is all about finding a design that you find visually appealing and the tasks you plan on using it with. While there are countless options available, you really can’t go wrong with ANY of these three knife choices. If you can’t decide which one of these three to go with, go with the Kershaw Blur. I own at least three Blurs (I forget how many I have). I have my favorite one as part of my EDC (Every Day Carry) rotation. It has replaced my SOG Flash II since the lock of the Flash II failed on me. Alright, I am starting to rant so I better wrap this one up. Thanks for reading and, as always, have a lovely day.

Bon Appétit! Top 3 Budget-Friendly Chef’s Knives

January 24, 2024 iluvknives

When it comes to your kitchen, having a quality chef knife is crucial. However, a top-of-the-line chef knife can be quite expensive, leaving many wondering if there are any affordable alternatives. Luckily, there are several budget-friendly options available that offer exceptional performance and value for the money. A good kitchen knife is essential, because a bad one can lead to injury. Below, we’ll explore my top 3 picks for inexpensive, but high-quality chef’s knives on the market.

Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife

Pros:

Affordable: Available at an value-busting price, the Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife provides exceptional value for money.
High-quality steel: The Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife is made from a high-carbon stainless steel with a fiber-reinforced handle, making it a durable and reliable option.
Excellent performance: The Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife is widely regarded as one of the best budget chef’s knives on the market, mainly thanks to its thin blade and exceptional performance.

Mercer Culinary Millenia Chef’s Knife

Pros:

Excellent value for money: Like the Victorinox, the Mercer Culinary Millenia Chef’s Knife is another exceptional value-for-money option when it comes to kitchen knives.
High-quality steel: The Mercer Culinary Millenia Chef’s Knife is made from a high-carbon steel, making it corrosion-resistant and reliable choice.
Highly-Rated By Reviewers: The Mercer Culinary Millenia Chef’s Knife is highly rated for its performance, with many users remarking on its ability to hold an edge for prolonged periods of time and a insane ability to cut through foods with ease (Of course, this requires keeping the knife sharp).

Dalstrong Shogun Chef’s Knife

Pros:

Exceptional performance: The Dalstrong Shogun Chef’s Knife is widely-regarded as THE best-performing chef’s knife for the price.
SUPER steel: The Dalstrong Shogun Chef’s Knife is made from Japanese AUS-10V Super Steel.
Ergonomic Handle: The handle on the Dalstrong Shogun Chef’s Knife has a smooth design, which fits comfortably in the hand and provides a stable grip. This can help to prevent wrist strain and improve slicing accuracy while cutting anything from tough meats to soft tomatoes.
Sharpening: The Dalstrong Shogun Chef’s Knife has a wide blade for a kitchen knife, which provides optimal blade geometry for a sharp and even cut. Additionally, many packages containing the knife come with an in-box sharpening steel to help maintain the edge.
Style and Design: The Dalstrong Shogun Chef’s Knife has a unique and stylish design, which makes it an attractive option for not only Chefs, but also knife enthusiasts who also enjoy using their kitchen tools as a statement piece of beauty and quality.

Those are the Top 3 Best Value chef knife selections on the market today. You really can’t go wrong with any of these three choices. Personally, I would spend the extra and go with the Dalstrong Shogun, but the Victorinox Fibrox is a solid knife in its own right. Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful day!

Top Knife Brands For Lightweight EDC Folders

January 19, 2024 iluvknives

Are you in need of a high-quality, lightweight folding knife that you can carry in your pocket on a daily basis and rely on? Faaaaantastic. Then look no further than these top 4 manufacturers: Benchmade, SOG, Spyderco, and Gerber. These brands offer a range of folding knives with features and designs that make them ideal for a variety of uses and lightweight carry. Each of these manufacturers brings their own unique approach to making durable, lightweight, and functional knives. Alright, time take a closer look at these options and see what makes each of them stand out. I’ll start off with a basic summary of each brand and then give you my top model for each manufacturer.

Benchmade

Famous for their sleek designs and durability, Benchmade is one of the major leaders in the knife industry. If you need a reliable and lightweight option, the Bugout 535 is a top pick. Made with G10 handles and an S30V steel blade, this knife is built to last and can handle just about any task you throw in front of it. Let’s talk about the weight… It’s quite light, weighing in at just over two ounces – PERFECT for everyday carry. You won’t have to worry about carrying a giant hunk of steel around, like you would with most Cold Steel products. Another great, even lighter, Benchmade option is the Mini Griptilian 555, but take in mind that it is smaller than the Bugout 535, so there are some limitations, but it may be perfect for someone who needs a more compact knife.

SOG

If you’re looking for a knife that can handle anything you throw at it, look no further than the SOG Flash II. This knife features a durable stainless steel drop-point blade and a grippy zytel handle. It also has a comfortable, ergonomic design that will fit your hand perfectly – even if you’re wearing gloves. And with its ambidexterous pocket clip, you can carry it however you prefer. If you’re looking for a more compact option, the SOG Vulcan is a great choice. It features a similar blade size with a more flashy design, making it perfect for everyday carry.

Spyderco

If you’re looking for a high-quality folding knife that you can count on, Spyderco is a great option. The Yojimbo 2 is a popular choice thanks to its lightweight design and strong, durable blade. It features a compression lock for easy one-handed operation and a G10 handle with a grippy texture. For those who prefer a stronger blade shape, the Manix 2 is another great option.v It features a full-flat grind and a solid lock mechanism, making it perfect for heavy-duty tasks.

Gerber

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, look no further than Gerber. Gerbers knives are known for being high quality knives that won’t break the bank. My favorite Gerber folder is the Gerber E-Z Out. Now, DON’T get the non-serrated version of this knife. Why? Because the serrations on this particular blade are AMAZING. Something about the geometry of the serrations made me EDC this knife for over a year exclusively. Now, this was before I had two nickels to rub together. So, if you are looking for a budget-friendly folder from one of the top knife brands, but still want a GREAT knife – Gerber E-Z Out.

Alright folks, that’s all I’ve got for this one. The bottomline is that you really can’t go wrong with any of these brands. These are world-class knife manufacturers that have a proven track record and numerous happy customers. If you end up picking up a blade from one of these knife makers then you’ll end up smiling from ear-to-ear knowing that the manufacturing process they used was well-above the ‘cheaper’ brands. Thanks for reading, and as always – Have a lovely day.

My Absolute Favorite FULL TANG Bowie Knife

March 17, 2019 iluvknives

If you have never gotten your hands on the Buck 124, then you definitely need to. There are many things that I ABSOLUTELY love about the blade. It comes out of the box with a RAZOR sharp 6-1/4″ blade made from 420HC steel. The build is absolutely solid. I’ve used mine quite extensively for over two years now and it is still rock solid, no rattling, minimal sharpening needed, and perfectly capable of batoning. For these reasons alone, I think that the Buck 124 is the best full tang bowie knife.

The Grip of the Buck 124

The grip is solid and secure. It is a black micarta handle with curves and palm swells that allow for the perfect grip. It fits in my hands perfectly and I wear large size gloves. There is a bit of extra room, so if you wear XL gloves you shouldn’t have a problem. The aluminum pommel is a nice touch as well. It does add a bit of extra weight, which is the only caveat. However, I will take a bit of extra weight for a good looking knife.

The Leather Case

The case is quite convenient. The Buck 124 bowie knife is designed for best carry, and if that is what you plan on doing with it, then it will serve you well. The case is made from genuine, high quality leather.

Made in the USA

The knife is made in the USA. So, if you are a fan of USA made stuff, then this is the knife for you. I am bias to Japanese knives personally, especially tanto knives, but lately the Americans have been making some extremely high quality knives. Buck has been making their knives in the USA since 1902. There are plenty of good reasons why Buck is still in business, and the Buck 124 is one of them.

Kershaw Brawler Tanto Review

March 4, 2018 iluvknives

The BEST Affordable Assisted Tanto Folder.

Yes, I’ll admit it. I’ve had many knives pass through my hands over the years and Kershaw has been hit or miss for me. However, the Kershaw Brawler *cough cough* excuse me… I meant to say the Kershaw TANTO Brawler is the BEST affordable assisted folder with a tanto tip that I have ever purchased.

Let’s start off with my absolute favorite thing about this knife – the blade length. The Brawler has the PERFECT amount of blade as well as not a sharp tanto angle, but a bit of a curved edge making it not only have the awesome tanto look.

The Grip Design

Another huge factor in my decision to name this as the best affordable tanto folder that I have is the grip. Not only is the design really cool, but it also allows for a great grip. There are shallow grooves within the grip which allow your hands to still dig in without slipping even when they are sweaty.

The knife comes with the clip positioned in a tip down position on the grip straight out of the box. However, I always prefer my knives to be tip up and luckily the Kershaw Brawler tanto allows for a 4 way repositioning.

The Flipper

The flipper is well designed, but it falls a tad short in my opinion. I wish that Kershaw would have extended the flipper slightly more and made the edge a bit more rigid instead of smoothed over. However, it is a small price to pay for the overall great design of the knife.

I also love how deep the knife sits in the pocket. It isn’t a deep carry knife, but the knife does carry pretty deeply in the pocket regardless. Also, I love how Kershaw has been making all blacked-out knives lately instead of their typical black handle, grey blade models. The all black looks much better in my opinion.

Hinderer XM-18 3-Inch Knife Review

September 9, 2017 iluvknives

Razor Sharp Hinderer XM-18

I don’t think that I have ever had a production knife come straight out of the box as sharp as my Hinderer XM-18 did. It was so sharp that I was making micro-slices in printer paper. I also love the lock bar stabilizer that came with the knife. Most stabilizers I normally have to push too far just to unlock the knife, but the stabilizer on the XM-18 is PERFECT. If you want to skip this review and go straight to where you can buy the knife, click on the picture below. However, if you want to get down to the nitty-gritty of this knife, I will break down both the good and the bad.

The Good – Hinderer XM-18 3 Inch

Hinderer is famous for overbuilding their knives. The XM-18 is no exception to this. This knife is completely overbuilt. Now, some may think that this is a bad thing. I think that the fact Hinderer makes their knives to take a beating is one of the greatest things about their knives.

The construction of this knife is solid. In fact, I have dropped mine several times on my solid concrete floors in my house and it hasn’t even managed to make a scratch on the Hinderer XM-18 spanto. I would assume that the Hinderer XM-18 wharncliffe would behave in the same manner, but I only own the spanto version of the knife.

The Bad – XM-18 3 Inch Knife By Hinderer

Unfortunately, the blade is so heavy that when I open it the recoil is quite large. Now, I get that this may be a good thing for some, but I don’t like how authoritative the opening is. I wish that it wasn’t so forceful, but I guess you can’t get everything when you get a knife that is so overbuilt. I also wish that they used a polish finish on the blade, but I do like the finish regardless.

Bottomline – Get It

This is a great knife for bad conditions. If I were to only have one knife for the rest of my life, I would definitely pick a knife close to the Hinderer XM-18 spanto. This knife isn’t going to break easily, and if I needed a folding knife for survival-like situations, then this would be a great option.

Boker Besh Wedge Review

September 8, 2017 iluvknives

Finally! A Neck Knife With A Besh Wedge!

Thank you Boker, finally someone in the knife industry decided to make a neck knife with a besh wedge! Boker was kind enough to create a beautiful blade with 4.25 inches worth of cutting edge. Most neck knives are so small that I can barely fit my large sized hands comfortably on them. However, Boker stepped their game up and made a knife that I can actually grip. I was so excited to get my hands on this knife when it first came out, and I am glad that I bought it. With that being said, there are some things that could be changed about this knife, but overall, it is a great knife. If you want to skip my besh wedge review and just go buy the knife, click the picture below. However, if you want to hear about all the nitty-gritty then keep on reading.

Slick Besh Wedge Design By Brent Beshara

Brent Beshara was the original designer of this besh wedge knife and I think that he did a great job. He hails from Canada, where it is so cold you need a knife just to cut through your frozen food. The knife looks slick overall. I understand that it is a neck knife, and being a neck knife it does have quite a bit of handle grip.

However, I would have extended the handle a little further out, but I have bigger hands than the average person, so your opinion of the knife may be slightly different from mine. A person who wears medium sized gloves should find no issue with the size of the handle.

Kydex Sheath Included

One of the main reasons that I bought the Boker besh wedge neck knife is because of the fact that they included a Kydex sheath in the mix. I love Kydex. It is much better than your typical cheap plastic sheath that you get with most Chinese knives.

Kydex is actually heat formed to make a better fit to the actual blade resting inside of it. I actually don’t know if I would have originally bought the blade had they not included the Kydex sheath. It was a major plus to the overall package.

Boker Besh Wedge Bottomline

In conclusion, I would buy the knife again if I didn’t already have one. I might gift a couple during the holidays to my friends and my nephew. While this knife isn’t a complete homerun for me, it has most of the features that I look for in a knife. However, I am a tad bias about this besh wedge review. I am bias because I have never really been a huge fan of neck knives. I get that there is a huge community of neck knife owners that swear by them. However, for me, I prefer to have a folding knife in my pocket. Having something around my neck gets annoying after a while. But that may just be me. If you personally love neck knives, then I recommend you pick one of these up.

Cold Steel Finn Wolf Review

September 2, 2017 iluvknives

I Luv Knives Review Of The Finn Wolf By Cold Steel

Of the hundreds of knives that I own, the Finn Wolf from Cold Steel has to be one of my favorites. I am so glad that Cold Steel finally decided to make a folding knife with a Scandi Grind. While it may seem like a pretty lightweight knife, especially if you only look at the 3.2oz overall weight, this knife has a big, heavy blade.

Also, the lockup of this blade is incredibly secure, I might have to switch out my Mora that I regularly use on camping trips for the Finn Wolf in the future. Most of the weight comes from the hefty blade, and when I say hefty, I mean hefty. The knife is not well balanced at all and that is actually a good thing.

Baton With The Scandi Grind Finn Wolf

I have lately been using my Finn Wolf for batoning through tree branches of various thicknesses and it has held up to the abuse thus far. I’m really impressed with this knife. Normally I, the owner of I Luv Knives, get a knife and it falls short in so many categories. I thought at first I was going to hate this blade because it wasn’t assisted. I usually love assisted knives, but this Cold Steel Finn Wolf review is the exception to that rule.

Cold Steel Finn Wolf Is Great For EDC

I carry the Finn Wolf in my EDC blade rotation now. In fact, this knife has overtaken precedence over my once all-time favorite EDC knife – the SOG Flash II. Sorry SOG, you have been pushed out of the rotation because Cold Steel makes a fine knife. The Tri-Ad lock seals the deal, making this knife virtually as strong as a fixed blade. There is absolutely no blade wiggle both horizontally and vertically, it just simply locks up like a champ. If anything, the lock is actually TOO strong. However, I will never admit that to my friends, but I’m relatively anonymous in this review, so I will tell that secret to you in this Cold Steel Finn Wolf Review. It is actually a tad bit difficult to undo the lock, but I would rather have too strong of a lock than one that fails on me. Overall, I love this knife and it is one of my all time favorites.

The Ultimate Sailing Knife With A Folding Marlin Spike Tool

August 22, 2017 iluvknives

The Best Boating Knife With A Marlin Spike

I always have wanted to have a sailing knife with a marlin spike attached to it so I finally decided to pull the trigger on the Camillus boating knife. They have two versions, but I am glad that I went with the bamboo version, because I heard that the other model has a slippery grip.

You definitely don’t want to have a slippery grip with a boating knife because… well… you are on a boat surrounded by water. Water tends to make boat knives that are slippery even more slippery. Also, the last thing that you want is to cut yourself while you are in the middle of the ocean miles away from medical help. The Camillus Ti Marlin Spike has a dual locking system that allows for both the blade and spike to be locked into place.

Marlin Spike Boat Knife Cutting Area

The cutting area is only 7cm long, but it is plenty for cutting rope and lines, as long as they are under an inch in diameter. If you are worried about your blade rusting while out at sea, then don’t worry, this blade has a very tough coating that will keep it from rusting even after hard use. The only other blade I have seen with such a tough resistance to rusting can be found in my Cold Steel Finn Wolf review. The Finn Wolf seems to never rust, even when I bury it with snow.

Before we received the knife here at I Luv Knives, I was worried that the marlin spike would be flimsy and break on me because I have never seen a folding version before. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how sturdy this sailing knife marlin spike was in practice.

Small Folding Marlin Spike Tool Market

Unfortunately, the boating knife market is a very small niche inside of the very large knife community. It is especially rare to find knife manufacturers making blades with a folding marlin spike tool attached. While it may be a great nautical knife, definitely don’t use it as a throwing knife because it won’t work very well. It has a clear and defined purpose and it is only good for that purpose, nothing else.

I have a feeling that they aren’t a hot ticket item that will be around for too long. So, if you are looking for a boat knife, then I suggest you pick this one up before it becomes discontinued.