Shooting Industry: The edge extravaganza

It was the first tool devised by mankind - the knife - and while we've come a long way from the chipped flint blades used by early hunters to of their game, the knife remains an indispensable part of every hunter's field dress Beyond that, there are knives for collectors, campers, boaters, history dozens of other outdoor enthusiasts.

Of course, with a knife comes the need for cutlery accessories: sharpeners, cleaning tools, honing oil, and more. Don't forget those other edged "weapons" your customers will need in the field, like saws, hatchets and axes.

If you sell guns to collectors, hunters, military enthusiasts, or any breed of sportsman, you're selling your gunshop short if you're not selling a line of quality knives. A fine field knife is the perfect add-on sale for a high quality deer rifle or upland shotgun; a multi-purpose camping knife is a perfect product to recommend to a fisherman or camper who buys a small revolver to keep in the tackle box or backpack in bear country; and a selection of collectible knives and swords is sure to catch the eye of anyone in your shop interested in military surplus guns.

This month, Shooting Industry presents the Edge Extravaganza, a round up of the finest edged products on the market, from the humble two-blade pocket knife to the formidable survival knife and everything in between.

Beretta

Beretta offers an extensive line of knifes for both hunters and collectors, including their Classic Cartridge series of folding knives with cartridge medallions molded right into the non-slip, Zytel grips. Beretta knives are as rugged and durable as the name implies.

Blackjack Knives

Classic Bowie-style knives from Blackjack Knives are beautiful, durable, and practical. The award-winning Model 1-7 offers the finest materials and classic styling in a knife every outdoorsman should own. The polished blade is heat treated and hand finished by American craftsmen. In addition to the classic stacked leather handle, the 1-7 is also available with a stag horn handle or a sleek micarta grip.

Bowen

Bowen Knives offers a fine line of stout working knives. Bowen's cutlery line includes several hunting and combat knives, as well as a unique selection of boot knives and throwing knives for the hobbyist.

Browning Arms Co.

Browning's knife line continues with several high-class models, plus new offerings that include a John M. Browning Commemorative knife designed by Michael Collins, with a 24K gold-plated medallion featuring a likeness of the famous gunmaker inlaid in an exotic quince wood handle. This collector's piece is a folding lockback with 440C stainless clip point blade, overall length 6 3/4" and nickel silver bolsters. The knives were produced in a limited run of 5,000.

Also new: Auto-5 Limited Edition Knife celebrating the famous Browning Auto-5 shotgun in three grades - Grade 1, Classic and Gold, the latter with elaborate blade etching matching the engraved scene on the Gold Classic Auto-5 Browning shotgun. The Classic showcases an engraved duck hunting scene, while the Grade I has mahogany wood handles. Only 5,000 of each knife will be produced, with special 1 of 5,000 models offered.

Brunton USA

"Distinctive" describes Brunton's Lakota knives, especially the Fin Wing No. 273 and Falcon No. 275. The Fin-Wing sheath knife has a 31/8" "Stand up" style fixed blade and a laminated mahogany handle. The Falcon is a compact folder with a 23/8" "stand up" blade, and a laminated mahogany handle. The stand-up style blade offers a sharp point with a cutting edge useful in both field work and skinning.

Buck Knives, Inc.

Ever popular, ever excellent, Buck's famous Model 110, introduced in 1963, continues in the best sub-model ever, the XLTi Titanium, including two clip blade folders for heavy-duty work, one with black titanium nitride hand coating, one standard model, and a Tiny Titanium at only 1/2 oz. with a 1 3/4" blade.

New to the Buck lineup is the Nighthawk, a heavy-duty camp knife developed by Buck for the U.S. Navy SEALS. The Nighthawk's guard wraps over the back of the knife slightly, offering a comfortable thumb rest. The handle is made of Zytel ST-801 with co-molded Alcryn insets, textured for sure-grip. The blade is black oxidized, non-reflective, 6 3/4" long and made of 425 steel. The Nighthawk weighs 10 oz. and is 11 " long.

Also new, three Swiss Bucks: a Golfer's model with cleat wrench and tool for repairing ball marks, along with eight blades and tools, the SwissMate I with 3 1/2" clip blade, and the SwissMate II with the same blade, plus pliers, wood saw, and other handy tools.

Camillus Cutlery Co.

Camillus is long known for interesting knives. The company's current lineup is no exception. The Model X68 CCC4 is a perfect example. This is the Camillus Classic Cartridge Knife honoring the 257 Roberts cartridge. This two-blade banana jack has an overall length of 9 1/2", 5 5/16" closed, with a 3 3/4" 440A stainless clip blade and 2 5/8" 440A stainless pen blade. The 257 Roberts cartridge embedded in the handle is the real thing, with inert primer.

Another interesting model is the Camillus D-Day Commemorative fixed blade knife, marking the 50th anniversary of "the longest day" of World War 11, June 6, 1944, when American soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy. The USAR2 model is 11 1/2" long with a 6 9/16" blued blade and 18K gold etching of the Normandy landing. It comes in a solid oak display case with a brass plaque.

Coast Cutlery

Coast is the exclusive authorized U.S. sales agent for the famous Puma knives. Coast carries a number of superior designs guaranteed by Puma-Werk of Solingen, including rugged Puma folding hunters and the International Series sheath knives.

Hammer forged, hot tempered, hard ground and Rockwell tested, Pumas are hand assembled. The Model 230385 Protec lockback folder has a 3 1/8" hollow-ground clip point blade, nickel plated metal scales, glass-fiber reinforced DuPont-Zytel handle, and closes to 4 1/2". The Model 230241 Hobbytec is similar in style, but with a 2 3/4" blade. Coast also offers the Pocket Mechanic multi-tool with spear blade, can/bottle opener, wire cutters, pliers, pry par and more, all in a 5 1/2" stainless construction with Zytel handle.

Cold Steel

The Voyager Series from Cold Steel is comprised of several ultra-fight strong, lockback knives, featuring the same premium steel familiar in other Cold Steel products. Especially interesting: a Tanto style lockback with 4" blade that weighs only 3.3 oz.

Edge Craft Corp.

Sharpness is the theme of Edge Craft with the Chef's Choice Model 110 electric knife sharpener, and Chef's Choice Manual Diamond Hone 450, both incorporating angle control. For broadheads, fish hooks, all types of knives, as well as various cutting tools, there is also the EdgeCrafter with interchangeable diamond abrasive pads. EdgeCraft has knives, too: Chef s Choice Trizor Professional 10X Cutlery, boasting super sharpness in three models.

Gerber Legendary Blades

Exciting hand axes in two models, the Model 05906 Camp Axe and Model 05908 Sport Axe, stand out in the 1994 Gerber line. Molded Lexan handles and forged steel heads, plus excellent designs, make these axes hard workers on the trail or in camp.

Gerber's new Patriot Survival Knife, Model 05965, is a "system" with its 6" high carbon stainless blade, all-black metal parts, and locking knife sheath.

The BMF Survival System knife, Model 05925 is a must for outdoorsmen with its special sheath and compass. Also new is the Gerber Strike Force special fire starter kit with a re-usable tinder block.

Gutmann Cutlery , Inc.

Gutmann's big Safari Hunter is part of the company's new Explorer line with Solingen steel, sambar stag handle, integral blade guard tang and non-slip thumb rest. A bone saw is incorporated in the upper blade, and the spine of this knife is sharpened.

Katz Knives

With a full line of knives featuring XT80 stainless steel fixed blades, Katz products are always popular. All Katz fixed blade knives have exotic handles made from cocobola wood, stag horn, white micarta, or Kraton. Katz folding knives all come with a one-hand opener and a thumb rest.

Lansky Sharpeners

The heart of the Lansky sharpening system is its adjustable Guide Rod. Lansky's Deluxe kit, stock number LK005, contains five Guide Rods, a knife clamp to hold the blade in position for sharpening, five stones of varying grit from extra coarse to ultra fine, and oil, all in a carrying case.

Leatherman

Tool Group, Inc. Leatherman's popular compact Multi-Tool Tool continues to incorporate stainless steel needle nose pliers, along with wirecutters, knives, screwdrivers, files, and other useful implements. It fits easily on a belt in its sheath. A new version called the Super Tool will be introduced soon which is bigger, stronger, has more features and sports 10 locking blades.

Lyman Products Corp.

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Known for shooting products, Lyman brings its unique, portable, 600-grit diamond-coated Knife Sharpener to the cutlery field to hone sporting blades, home cutlery, fish hooks, and other cutting tools. The shank is reversed and stored in the aluminum handle. Carrying length is just 4 1/4", and it weighs in at just 3 oz. Black, red, gold, and blue versions are available.

Outdoor Edge

For a different angle in your knife display, give Outdoor Edge a try. Your customers are sure to be intrigued by the innovative design of the Outdoor Edge line of knives, made to give the hunter and fisherman maximum cutting power with an ergonomic handle and a gut hook. Also available is the SH-100M ceramic sharpener to keep your customers' blades keen in the field.

Pro-Cut Professional

Cutlery Services

Anza Handmade Knives, sold through Pro-Cut, offers a unique product to its customers: "Built for the collector, priced for the sportsman," as the company advertises. Now in its 13th year, the Pro-Cut Anza line has grown to over 25 knife models, all handmade in America with laminated wood handles and blades crafted from files. File blades offer high-carbon tool steel at a reasonable cost, which is passed on to the consumer with the average Anza knife running from about $25 to $40 for most patterns (their highest priced knife currently retails in the $80 range). Special annealing turns file blades into sharp knives. All models feature fixed blades.

Razor Edge Systems, Inc.

These sharpness experts consult everywhere from large meat packing plants and others concerned with blade edge efficiency. John Juranitch, who proves his abilities by honing a dull double-edge ax blade then shaving his beard off with it, offers The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening, which is included in a sturdy wooden-boxed kit containing proper stones, plus Razor Edge sharpening guides that keep blades at correct angles to the stones, the special Edge Tester, and the Sportsman's Razor Steel.

The unique revolver-like fish hook sharpener, with spin-type cylinder, sharpens a hook that will stick to a thumbnail.

Remington Arms Co.

High-tech, high-service, is the well-designed Remington Fixed-Blade Sportsman series, featuring finger-sculptured orange or black Kraton handles with lanyard hole, 4 1/4" clip or 4 5/8" drop points with hollow-ground 440A steel blades.

New for 1994 is Remington's R3 Big Game Wooden Handle Folding Knife with paunch hook, bone saw and hollow-ground blade. A special collector's 1920 reproduction Bullet Knife poster is also available.

Schrade

One of the foremost names in the knife industry, Schrade continues to offer customers excellent cutting tools for the home, field, or job.

Last year, Schrade introduced the unique Tradesman series to serve the working customer. Models in this folding-blade series includes saws, screwdrivers, linoleum blades and standard clip blades.

For 1994, Schrade offers the Outback series, three rugged, folding-blade field knifes with unique "down under" styling. The Outback series features the secure Kraton handle for a firm, no-slip grip, as well as several blade designs for a variety of tasks.

Of course, the most popular series in the Schrade line continues to be the Uncle Henry, with models ranging from the 3 7/8" Pro Trapper, with its two simple blades, to the 5" Papa Bear, a single-bladed camp knife with a simulated stag handle and stylish brass bolsters. All Uncle Henry knives come with tough leather sheaths.

Smith Abrasives

For all your customers' sharpening needs, Smith Abrasives gives you the products you need to make a sale. From a full line of Arkansas sharpening stones and fine honing oil to the easy-to-use Jiff-V-Sharp, a hand-held sharpener that gives a razor edge in just seconds, you'll keep your customers cutting right with Smith's.

SOG Specialty

SOG features a complete line of specialty knives and tools, including the new Paratool, which has the most tools for hunting, camping, or anywhere your customers need a compact toolbox.

Spyderco

One of the most distinctive knife designs on the market belongs to Spyderco. This year, Spyderco's new addition is the hard-working little Hotaru, or "firefly," a 1 3/4" lockback pocketknife with a red LED flashlight and a handy keyring. The Hotaru's blade is made of AUS 6A steel for a tough, long-lasting edge.

Also in Spyderco's extensive line is the popular Clipit series with a wide range of blade lengths. The Clipit knives all feature serrated SpyderEdge blades and an integral pocket clip to keep the knives handy for quick use.

Of course, all Spyderco knives feature the uniquely designed "one-hand-opening" blades for the ultimate in convenience and useability.

The Ultimate Edge Co.

Ultimate Edge Diamond Sharpening Steels are hand-held, light as air, go anywhere, state-of-the-art friends of the knife edge. Made of micro-crystalline diamonds bonded with nickel, the unique oval-shaped sharpeners return an edge, while at the same time straightening that edge - two tasks at once. There are five models: the 5N (Companion), 5W (Utility), ION (Household), 10W (Gourmet), and 12W (Professional). These made-in-America sharpening steels do an excellent job with 600-grit diamond mesh surfaces.

Western Cutlery

One of the oldest names in cutlery, Western has long been famous for hardworking fixed blade hunting knives. Its Model WL628 is a perfect example with its leather-handled, 3" clip blade (made of 440A stainless steel), measuring 6 1/2" overall. This model is a reintroduction of an original Western model popular with small game hunters.

Another leather-handled hunter is Western's Model WL66, with a larger 4 1/2" 440A steel fixed blade (8 5/8" overall length). Because of its upswept fore-blade, this model is considered a good big game skinner.

Western's WR12 is a departure from the usual with its Kraton handle. The blade is 4 1/4" long with a hollow-ground clip blade made of stainless steel (overall length is 9 3/8"). The black Kraton handle on this fixed-blade hunter is designed with finger grips. All three models come with sheaths.