Knives

Ranking the 10 Best Knife Sharpeners of 2018

By Scott on April 2, 2018

Even the best knife in the world is useless when it’s dull. A quality knife sharpener will help you keep your knives sharp and can actually increase the longevity of your knives.

Whether you’re using knives for hunting, throwing practice, or just in the kitchen, a quality knife sharpener is an essential item to add to your arsenal.

Ever since humans began using knives we had the need to keep these knives sharp. Some of the first sharp-edged tools can be dated back more than 2.5 million years (1). Early knives were fashioned primarily of stone and they were often made for a specific purpose and then discarded immediately after satisfying that purpose.

Today, we fashion knives from a variety of metals and these metals can be routinely sharpened to enhance performance.

We’ve compiled our very own list of the Top Ten Knife Sharpeners to help you find one that’s right for you.

Ranking the 10 Best Multi-Tools of 2018

By Scott on March 22, 2018

The multi-tool is one of the most useful and essential items carried by all recreational enthusiasts.

Whether you avidly enjoy hunting, fishing, backpacking, hiking, mountain biking, or any other form of outdoor recreation, you’ll find many uses for a good multi-tool.

In the modern age, there is a multitude of multi-tools to choose from, including knives, basic tools, flashlights, and dozens of other options.

We’ve sorted through hundreds of selections to give you our 10 Best Multi-Tools of 2018.

Ranking the 10 Best Throwing Knives of 2018

By Scott on March 21, 2018

Throwing knives are among the coolest looking tactical weapons out there.

The origins of throwing knives can be traced back to many ancient civilizations throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. They are widely considered one of the original weapons used by man and were purportedly the weapon of choice for Tutankhamun in Egypt around 1300 B.C (1).

However, if you’ve ever tried throwing a knife, it can be quite difficult. Sure, it looks awesome in the movies when the bad guy is stopped by one, but when you’re first starting out in your backyard, there are a few tricks to learn.

First, it takes hours of practice to even be somewhat decent at it. Second, you ‘ll need to accurately gauge how far the target is, how many times the knife will spin, how hard to throw, the right arm motion, and that’s not all. You’ll also find out pretty quick that having the right knife is critical.

Some knives will never work for a number of reasons and you’re more likely to break them than to be remotely effective throwing them at a target. Knowing this, we’ve put together our list of the Top Ten Throwing Knives of 2018.

Ranking the 10 Best Hatchets of 2018

By Scott on March 14, 2018

A hatchet or axe is a strong, thick bladed, wood chopping tool. In a survival situation if you don’t have a chainsaw handy, your hatchet is going to be your best friend.

A vital part of any survival situation is fire, and you will not have fire if you don’t have something to burn. Even if you are gathering fallen branches instead of chopping down your tinder, you are still going to want to have a tool that can chop your wood down to size and clear up stray branches in order to control your flame.

Axes, hatchets, and tomahawks are excellent blades to have for any hiking, camping, or outdoor adventures. Be sure to check out our Buyer’s Guide if you want help deciding what tool would be best for you and for more information about the difference between an axe and hatchet.

Ranking the 10 Best Machetes of 2018

By Scott on March 4, 2018

The machete is the largest hunting tool and can be used as a crucial tool in many different survival, hunting, and outdoor situations.

The need for a long bladed knife to help cut down vegetation in survival situations has been an important tool for thousands of years. The name “machete” derives from Spanish and originated in South America when the need to clear vines and jungle brush was a necessity for survival.

However, this concept was developed in many areas around the world for survival, and has evolved into the varying blade styles of machetes that you can find currently on the market. For example, the Panga style is from East Africa, the Prang from Malaysia, the Barong from the Philippines, and the Indonesian Golok.

Ranking the 10 Best Hunting Knives of 2018

By Scott on February 12, 2018

Whether you’re hunting, fishing, scouting, or just camping, having a good knife at your disposal can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Or the difference between having sliced cheese back at camp or having to break it off the block (which is why its a staple on most bug out bag checklists).

Whichever camp you fall into, selecting the right hunting knife can be crucial to your success in the field. If you’re wanting a stainless-steel blade for use around the ocean, or you’re wanting a knife that will work for everyday use along with elk hunting, there’s a knife for you!

We’ve also included a buyer’s guide at the bottom of the article, with some more options to consider to help you find the perfect knife. It walks through a few things that are mentioned with the knives below, but goes into a lot more detail, so make sure to check it out!

Now, with that in mind, we’ve sorted through hundreds of knives out there to bring you some of the best; there’s a lot of variety in the knives below, but one thing is consistent, and that’s the quality of these knives.