Cutting Edge Adventure: Top Knives for Your Next Journey

Knives for All Your Adventures

CRKT Ritual Compact

The Alan Folts’ designed Ritual Compact from CRKT combines unique style and practical function with a 3.33-inch blade of Swedish 12c27 Sandvik stainless steel that has a Persian, upswept scimitar-style profile. It opens with one hand with its flipper mechanism, IKBS ballbearing pivot, and assisted opening mechanism. Lockup is through a liner lock, which allows the knife to also be closed with one hand. A pocket clip setup for tip-up, right-hand carry makes it easy to take with you, too.

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SPECS

Blade Length: 3.33″
Handle Length: 4.01″
Overall Length: 7.25″
Blade Thickness: 0.126″
Blade Material: Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel
Blade Finish: Black stonewash
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: Brown burlap Micarta with stainless steel bolsters
Locking Mechanism: Liner lock
Pocket Clip: Tip-up, right-hand carry
Weight: 3.80 ounces
Designer: Alan Folts
Assisted IKBS Pivot
Country of Origin: China
MSRP: $94

www.crkt.com

Benchmade Mini Bushcrafter

Like the name implies, the new Mini Bushcrafter is a smaller version of the company’s Bushcrafter knife, and it’s one of those “just right” pieces for carrying around on the trail, at camp, or when off-roading. The Mini is designed by custom knifemaker Shane Sibert and packs a 3.3-inch blade of premium CPM-S30V stainless steel on a full tang platform with a satin finish. Green Micarta handles with red spacers add a pop of color to the otherwise sleek, but workmanlike design.

SPECS

Blade Length: 3.3823″
Handle Length: 4.1977″
Overall Length: 7.58″
Blade Material: CPM-S30V stainless steel
Blade Thickness: 0.164″
Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC
Blade Style: Drop point
Blade Grind: Flat
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: Green G10 with red spacers
Handle Thickness: 0.925″
Sheath Material: Leather
Designer: Shane Sibert
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $380

www.benchmade.com

Case Roland RW 100 Hunter

Sometimes you more than a pocketknife, and that’s where the Case RW 100 Hunter comes in. It’s co‑designed by Roland Welker, winner of Season 7 of the survival show ALONE and made by Case Knives of Bradford, Pennsylvania. The RW 100 has a 6 1/4-inch modified Tanto blade and full-tang construction for strength. It has an extended pommel for use as a striking or scraping tool as well as a lanyard hole. The RW 100 is big and robust enough to build a shelter but still can take on camp kitchen duties, too.

SPECS

Blade Length: 6.25″
Handle Length: 5.37″
Overall Length: 11.62″
Blade Material: 1095 carbon steel
Blade Style: Modified Tanto
Blade Finish: Dark Caswell finish
Handle Material: Natural Micarta
Sheath Material: Fitted leather w/ Kydex sheath
Weight: 9.50 ounces
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: $196.99

www.caseknives.com

Gerber DoubleDown Folding Machete

Sometimes space is at a premium but you still want a tool capable of big work. That’s when the Gerber DoubleDown folding machete comes in handy. It has a 6.75-inch blade, and its two-piece handle folds around it, safely covering the blade. When opened, the big handle gives it an overall length of just over 15 inches. The Quadlock and handle design of the DoubleDown give it the strength to use just like you would a fixed-blade machete.

SPECS

Blade Length: 6.75″
Overall Length: 15.1″
Blade Material: 0.1875″
Blade Material: 420HC stainless steel
Blade Style: Recurve drop point
Blade Finish: Stonewash
Handle Color: Black
Locking Mechanism: QuadLock
Weight: 18 ounces
Country of Origin: USA
MSRP: Starting at $160 depending on finishes and options

www.gerbergear.com

Spyderco Para 3 Salt Lightweight

Spyderco’s Salt series of knives are made with the most rust resistant materials possible that still allow them to perform efficiently as a knife. In the case of the Para 3 Salt Lightweight, that means a CPM Magnacut blade. It is a compact but quite usable 2.92 inches and opens easily with Spyderco’s trademark Spyderhole. It locks open with the excellent spine mounted compression lock and is housed in lightweight, textured FRN handles.

SPECS

Blade Length: 2.92″
Cutting Edge: 2.58″
Closed Length: 4.29″
Overall Length: 7.21″
Blade Thickness: 0.145″
Blade Material: CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel
Blade Style: Clip point
Blade Grind: Full flat
Blade Finish: Satin
Handle Material: Yellow FRN
Locking Mechanism: Compression lock
Pocket Clip: Deep-carry wire (tip-up, left/right carry)
Weight: 2.4 ounces
Country of Origin: USA

www.spyderco.com

Liong Mah Eutektik EFD

Liong Mah is a knifemaker worth knowing. Many of his pieces are functional art that carry hefty price tags. However, he recently released the Eutektik EFD, a version made with less expensive, although still excellent, materials. The blades are of Swedish 14c27 Sandvick stainless steel. They are a drop-point design and open either with a front flipper or an opening slot on the blade. Handles are of G10, and the open frame design makes it less likely to hold pocket crud. The EFD is a knife that just feels right in your hand when you pick it up.