It is the middle of the month, so that means it is time to share the KNIFE News column from the February 2024 print issue. Subscribers have seen it already, and if you are already a Premium Online Member, you could have read this online already as well.
The rest of you, please enjoy…
Case Bridgeline reimagines the Modern Barlow
Anyone who has followed the goings on at WR Case the past several years knows that the company is much more than just their classic traditional knives. They have become a major player in the modern EDC market as well. This year they are continuing this trend with their new Bridgeline knives.
The series debuts with a pair of knives based on the venerable Barlow pattern, but with updates in materials and construction. Of the two, the Highbanks is the more traditional, as it is a half-stop slipjoint, with a nail-nick and pinched bolster. However, it is made with a CPM20CV blade, screw-together construction, lanyard hole, and pocket clip.
Like the Highbanks, the Longhouse has a CPM20CV blade and the other features mentioned above. However, it takes the “modern” Barlow step further with its liner lock construction and front flipper mechanism.
Both knives are named for landmarks which are local to Case’s Bradford, Pennsylvania home. Retail price for each model is $164.99.
You can find out more by visiting www.caseknives.com, or by calling (888) 442-1932
CRKT Releases pair of USA-Made Autos
CRKT has announced a plethora of new 2024 offerings, most of which we will cover in our annual SHOT Show review in the (APRIL?) issue. However, there is a pair of knives which are just too noteworthy to wait. CRKT has tapped knife maker Philip Booth for two new automatic knives, once again partnering with Hogue Knives to manufacture them in the USA.
The first is named the Michica, a portmanteau if Booth’s hometown of Ithaca, Michigan. It is a scale-lock auto, with G10 handles, 3.30” MagnaCut blade, and a decorative stripe which is a hallmark of many Booth blades. MSRP is $300. A deep-carry pocket clip rounds out the package.
The second knife bears the appropriate name of Minnow ($200). This California-legal auto features a 1.68” blade, also of MagnaCut. The handle scales are green linen micarta with stainless bolsters, and button-lock mechanism. Measuring just 2.7” when closed, the Minnow would make an excellent “5th Pocket” knife.
You can find out more about CRKT’s 2024 lineup, including the Michica and Minnow automatics by visiting www.CRKT.com. You can see more of Booth’s work at @philipboothknife on Instagram.
Ondrej Nemec designs Gentleman’s Flipper for Spartan Blades
Czech knifemaker Ondrej Nemec is not yet a household name, though most KNIFE readers will have heard of the company he co-founded, Acta Non Verba. That may be set to change, as he has partnered with Spartan Blades for the release of the Spartan Nemec folder.
Ondrej has spent more than a decade in the knife industry, though his interests in tools and craftsmanship developed along his father in the family workshop. “I’ve been fortunate enough to call Mark and Curtis my friends for several years now, so I had full confidence that they could bring to life what I had envisioned. The entire process unfolded seamlessly”, he said.
The Spartan Nemec Folder is a modern gentleman’s folder, with an elegant, slim profile. The blade is 3.5” of S35VN, with choice of titanium (MSRP $295) or Carbon fiber ($275) handle scales.The Nemec Folder is part of Spartan’s Bronze Class of knives, which are imported from countries, in this case Taiwan, which are friends and allies of the United States.
According to Nemec, “The knife is crafted with a focus on a sleek and simple design while still ensuring high performance in a discreet package. Achieving this balance is not easy, but I am confident that (t)he knife remains faithful to the Spartan performance-oriented design philosophy, while also being exceptionally compact and wearable”.
For more on North Carolina based Spartan Blades, visit www.SpartanBlades.com or call 910-757-0035. Designer Ondrej Nemec can be reached through the www.anvknives.com website.
Paul Munko channels the Cosmos in new Kansept folder
Paul Munko makes a living in the art and design worlds, but has become a growing presence in the knife world. In addition to a trio of collaborations with Kizer, Paul has provided artwork for custom knife scales and designs EDC gear.
The new Cosmos is Munko’s first design for Kansept Knives. Its bold lines are no accident. According to Paul, “(t)he idea here was to create a design that reflects the curves and spirals seen in deep space. Dramatic contours, vibrant materials, and connecting lines were all chosen in an effort to tie in that space-like feel with an abstract but very usable design”. The 4 available scale options (carbon fiber, Timascus, and micarta) further this effect. Contrasted with the bolster, the scales “almost gives the impression a planet against a night sky’, he said.
The cosmos has a 3.58” CPM20CV blade with a dramatic wharncliffe profile. It is a frame-lock flipper, with a single position pocket clip configured for right hand, tip-up carry. MSRPs range from $295.89 on the high end for the Timascus scales, to $179.89 for the Micarta.
The best way to reach Kansept is via the web at www.kanseptknives.com or email info@kanseptknives.com. You can check out more of Paul’s art and designs on Instagram – @munkoknives