Hey folks, I am a couple of days late in publishing September’s Knife News column. In fact, the October issue just arrived in the office. As always, these have often been covered in our newsfeed already. I share these to both highlight what I feel is worthy of one of the 4 slots that we have to cover each month, as well as put forth the most important context and facts related to the item in question.
Here you go…
Boker is latest to join Utility Knife craze
While the banana-sized grey Stanley retractable utility knives are a ubiquitous presence in tool boxes and junk drawers worldwide, and folding, pocket clip models have been available for a couple of decades, replaceable blade utility knives have been experiencing a renaissance of late. Boker is the latest of many to hop on the trend in collaboration with Ben Logan of Turnback Knife Company with the new Boker Plus Cutweazle.
The Cutweasle operates much the same as a classic Christy with a push-button slider and multiple position stops. The chases is stainless steal, and the slider portion is made from G-10.
Weighing just 1.30 ounces and with its broad, deep-carry pocket clip, the Boker Cutweasle could even be used as a money clip if one so desires. (MSRP $56.95). More information can be found at www.bokerusa.com.
The replaceable utility blade craze is not limited to production companies either. Ramon Chavez introduced his $300 OTF auto CHUB at this year’s blade show, and even makers like Gavin Hawk and Mykel Piper have added custom handles to the genre. Look for a more thorough survey of replaceable blade utility knives in an upcoming issue of KNIFE Magazine.
AG Russell Knives brings back Premium Scout Knife
We have covered the classic Scout/Utility knife in these pages on many occasions, and you can find a good background on the style in Neal Punchard and Jack Black’s English Scout Knives article (KNIFE August 2023).
AG Russell Knives has a Premium version of the Scout knife that they used to contract with Camillus for production. Since Camillus closed in 2006, Russell Knives has been looking for a producer capable of manufacturing this pattern to a standard that the late AG would have approved. They have found one in China, and the new knives will be manufactured to the same specifications as the originals, right down to the acorn shield on the handle.
The blade steel has been given a major upgrade to VG10. The secondary tool package contains a cap-lifter, can-opener, and leather punch which are made from 5Cr15MoV. Handle scales are available in Stag (MSRP $94.95) and Red Saw-Cut Bone ($74.95). Brass liners, nickel-silver bolsters, and a bail round out the package.
AG Russell Knives maintains a brick and mortar knife store in Rogers, Arkansas or you can find them on the web at www.agrussell.com.
Kershaw celebrates 50 years; rerelease classic Tilt
After leaving Gerber, Pete Kershaw founded his eponymous knife company in 1974 in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Kershaw struck up a partnership with Japan’s Kai Cutlery shortly after, with the latter purchasing the company in 1978, forming Kai USA Ltd. Kershaw retired in 1998, remaining with the company in an advisory role until the year 2000.
In honor of their 50th anniversary, Kershaw has re-released a cult favorite, the Tilt. First released in 2010, it was a radical design, with an angular wharncliffe blade and wedge-like handle profile. Like the original, the new Tilt features a composite blade, only upgraded with a 14C28N spine and a CruWear cutting edge (from 440 & Vanax 75). The handle is bead-blasted titanium with a carbon fiber insert.The Tilt is a manual flipper, with a Sub-Frame Lock and KVT bearings. The pocket clip is single position (tip-up, right-hand), and the knife comes with a collector-quality box and serialized Certificate of Authenticity.
The 2024 iteration of the Kershaw Tilt is being produced in limited quantities and may be sold out by the time of this publication. Check www.kaiusa.com for availability or for more information. (MSRP $500)
Rosecraft Blades adds second Barlow pattern to their lineup
There is no knife pattern hotter right now than the venerable barlow. Dating to the 17th century, a barlow is a jack-knife with an oversized bolster, which adds additional strength to the pivot area of the knife.
Like their previous Beaver Creek Barlow, the Rosecraft Blades Otter Creek Barlow is designed by Andy Armstrong in Maryville, Tennessee. According to Armstrong, “Don’t let your mind’s eye fool you on the new Otter Creek Barlow. It’s not a copy of our best-selling Beaver Creek Barlow with a new blade. It’s a completely new body design with more-rounded bolsters and thinner profile. It also offers a sleeker clip point blade than our old-school Loosahatchie Jack”.
The Otter Creek’s 2.9” D2 blade opens via nail-nick, transitioning through a half-stop to an overall length of 6.4”. It features steel liners, nickel-silver pins, and the bolster displays an etched otter paw print. The teardrop shaped handle’s scales are yellow sandalwood, stained a light brown, which highlights the wood’s natural variability from piece to piece. It is a fraction lighter than the bone-scaled Beaver Creek, tipping the scales at 2.7 ounces.
The Otter Creek Barlow is available through the Rosecraft website (www.rosecraftblades.com) and at major retailers. MSRP is $58.99.
Premium Online Members can read the whole issue online at this link…