Knife Chat: Slicing to the meat of all things sharp

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Here's a pic of the knives I picked up today.

The top knife with the wharnecliffe style blade was $4.50 and the bottom knife with the drop point blade was $8.00.

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[NT2C]

Top knife looks like a Ken Onion knockoff.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Top knife looks like a Ken Onion knockoff.

Yeah, it does resemble a Leek a good bit.

It seems like a decent little knife, though. Only complaint is the fact it was gunked up with grease from the factory, but that was easily cleaned up.

Another issue may be I have zero idea what kind of steel the blade is made of. It's definitely stainless steel, but what kind isn't known. The box is really sparse on what the steel is (it just says "stainless steel" on the box), so I doubt it'll be something like 8cr13mov or equivalent. More than likely, it's probably either 420j2 or some form of 440 stainless.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Picked up a WorkSharp guided field sharpener today while I was at Walmart again (had to go to the one in Seminole to  pick up some prescriptions for Mom).

Used it to put a better edge on the Ozark Trail Not-a-Leek. It's not a great edge by any means, but it'll still cut surprisingly well.

The edge on it from the factory was ok, but I wanted something better (which I'm still looking for, but the sketchy steel probably won't let me achieve it.)

The other Ozark Trail knife I took to the strop side of the WorkSharp sharpener and with just a couple passes, it now cuts way better.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I went garage sale hunting this morning and found a used, but still in decent shape SOG Flash II folder.

It just needed a cleaning and a quick touch up on the edge and it was back in business. Biggest pain in the ass was during reassembly because of the spring for the assisted opening mechanism. But a quick YouTube video check later (and a few curses directed at whoever designed the spring) and it was good to go.

[EBuff75]

I went garage sale hunting this morning and found a used, but still in decent shape SOG Flash II folder.

It just needed a cleaning and a quick touch up on the edge and it was back in business. Biggest pain in the ass was during reassembly because of the spring for the assisted opening mechanism. But a quick YouTube video check later (and a few  curses directed at whoever designed the spring) and it was good to go.

Great knife! I carried one of those for years, before I replaced it with an SOG Aegis.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I went garage sale hunting this morning and found a used, but still in decent shape SOG Flash II folder.

It just needed a cleaning and a quick touch up on the edge and it was back in business. Biggest pain in the ass was during reassembly because of the spring for the assisted opening mechanism. But a quick YouTube video check later (and a few  curses directed at whoever designed the spring) and it was good to go.

Great knife! I carried one of those for years, before I replaced it with an SOG Aegis.

I'd heard the Flash II was a good knife, which is why I grabbed it as soon as I saw it.

[Red Tamarillo]

Why not just buy directly from the tomahawk company and cut out Cold Steel entirely? 

Problem with that is they don't sell the war hammers themselves. They only make them for Cold Steel.

$39 from Tractor Supply

That's where I was hoping to buy one from.

There's a Tractor Supply in my town not too far from my place and I'm hoping they have them in the store and not just on the website.

It's website only but can be shipped to the store.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/cold-steel-war-hammer

I figured it was a website only thing. Probably the same for the Fallout game stuff they advertised in the same deal aa the war hammer.

Probably.  If you can wait until around Memorial Day I can have it shipped to you.

No worries on that, NT2C. It's not an important thing for me to get right now.

I'm just trying to force myself to break free of this silly superstition I have about Cold Steel stuff.

Basically it's just me thinking out loud.

Late to the convo, but the one handed versions are probably more usable. But not Cold Steel, Estwing geological (come in various weights- which one suits you dependent upon your stature/biceps)-

https://www.estwing.com/shop/?filters=product_cat[94]

[Red Tamarillo]

Plus you could make some cash by using them prospecting.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Why not just buy directly from the tomahawk company and cut out Cold Steel entirely? 

Problem with that is they don't sell the war hammers themselves. They only make them for Cold Steel.

$39 from Tractor Supply

That's where I was hoping to buy one from.

There's a Tractor Supply in my town not too far from my place and I'm hoping they have them in the store and not just on the website.

It's website only but can be shipped to the store.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/cold-steel-war-hammer

I figured it was a website only thing. Probably the same for the Fallout game stuff they advertised in the same deal aa the war hammer.

Probably.  If you can wait until around Memorial Day I can have it shipped to you.

No worries on that, NT2C. It's not an important thing for me to get right now.

I'm just trying to force myself to break free of this silly superstition I have about Cold Steel stuff.

Basically it's just me thinking out loud.

Late to the convo, but the one handed versions are probably more usable. But not Cold Steel, Estwing geological (come in various weights- which one suits you dependent upon your stature/biceps)-

https://www.estwing.com/shop/?filters=product_cat[94]

I didn't even think of Estwing. I've got one of their tomahawks and it's pretty well built.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Stopped by the Walmart in Seminole today and left with a pair of these knives (well, I bought three of them, but gifted one to a friend that works there.)

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If anyone has been watching knife YouTube videos lately, you'll recognize what these are. For those of y'all that don't, these are the Ozark Trail D2 Axis lock knives that have been all over Knife YouTube for the last couple weeks.

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Ozark Trail hasn't given it a model name yet, but several YouTubers have taken to calling it the Ozark Trail Dropout due to the similarities between it and the Kizer Drop Bear and Benchmade Bugout.

I may have had a hand in naming it the Dropout since it was first featured in a livestream by YouTuber "Knives, I Guess" (who is a friend of mine on YouTube).

The biggest reason for the hype on this knife on YouTube is the price. They're only 10 bucks.

You get a D2 blade and an axis/crossbar lock knife for only 10 bucks.

Another point for the hype is the edge retention of this knife.

"Knives, I Guess" did two livestreams putting each knife through what he calls "Cardboard Slayer" in which he tests the edge retention of a knife by cutting as much cardboard as he can before there's any noticeable wear on the edge.

Each stream he did on the Ozark Trail D2 knife lasted over 7 and a half hours. Dude got tired before the edge on each knife did. Last knife he tested that did that was a Kizer Sheepdog XL with 154CM steel and that stream went on for over 8 hours.

[Mr. E. Monkey]

That's impressive!  I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for these.  

[Lodewijk]

Finally caved in and got a Tac Tool. I have wanted one of these for a long time.

Stripped it, rounded the flat side a bit, and gave it a vinegar bath. Happy with how the forced patina came out.

Not sure about the plasticky scales yet... it's not bad but I'd prefer G10 or micarta for traction. Might as well go all the way.

[Mr. E. Monkey]

That looks really good!  And I think you're right -- new scales would look (and feel, I'm sure) even better.  

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I don't know if they make different scales for the Tac Tool, but I know they make different scales for the short Becker BK16. They look like they'd fit a Becker TacTool since the grip seems to be about the same size.

Here's the link to them on Knife Center.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KABK16HNDL/ka-bar-bk16hndl-short-becker-canvas-micarta-handle-slabs-knife-not-included

[Lodewijk]

I don't know if they make different scales for the Tac Tool, but I know they make different scales for the short Becker BK16. They look like they'd fit a Becker TacTool since the grip seems to be about the same size.

Here's the link to them on Knife Center.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KABK16HNDL/ka-bar-bk16hndl-short-becker-canvas-micarta-handle-slabs-knife-not-included

Yep, either those micarta ones or the G10 from TKC is where my head went. I have an OD pair of TKC scales on an RTAK that I really like.

Not sure what color for this though. Black or blue with a hi-viz paracord lanyard was my first thought.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I don't know if they make different scales for the Tac Tool, but I know they make different scales for the short Becker BK16. They look like they'd fit a Becker TacTool since the grip seems to be about the same size.

Here's the link to them on Knife Center.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KABK16HNDL/ka-bar-bk16hndl-short-becker-canvas-micarta-handle-slabs-knife-not-included

Yep, either those micarta ones or the G10 from TKC is where my head went. I have an OD pair of TKC scales on an RTAK that I really like.

Not sure what color for this though. Black or blue with a hi-viz paracord lanyard was my first thought.

You might be able to dye those micarta scales with RIT Dye or something similar.

[Lodewijk]

I don't know if they make different scales for the Tac Tool, but I know they make different scales for the short Becker BK16. They look like they'd fit a Becker TacTool since the grip seems to be about the same size.

Here's the link to them on Knife Center.

https://www.knifecenter.com/item/KABK16HNDL/ka-bar-bk16hndl-short-becker-canvas-micarta-handle-slabs-knife-not-included

Yep, either those micarta ones or the G10 from TKC is where my head went. I have an OD pair of TKC scales on an RTAK that I really like.

Not sure what color for this though. Black or blue with a hi-viz paracord lanyard was my first thought.

You might be able to dye those micarta scales with RIT Dye or something similar.

Yeah I did think about that. The TKC scales are $20 more but I'd have to buy dye... price is kind of a wash.

Ka-Bar used to sell black micarta scales but I haven't seen them in a while.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

I remember those black Ka-Bar scales, but yeah, it's been awhile since I've seen any as well.

Ka-Bar may have discontinued them for some reason.

[Rednex]

I wonder if the new KaBa /Becker aftermarket handle scales fit the old Camillus/Becker BK knives.