11/7/2024 Net-Affordable, Quality Knives from Lesser-Known Makers

[Jeff-OAUSA]

#1

Introduction

The goal of the net tonight is to introduce net participants to several affordable, quality knives from lesser known knife makers.
The makers I will introduce tonight are all micro to very small companies located throughout the world.

I will not introduce makers that are based in, or manufacturer their products in, countries that are hostile to American values. One might note that one of the makers I introduce tonight manufacturers some of their knives in Taiwan, and with Taiwan being in China, what gives?

China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and has vowed to reunify it with the mainland, by force if necessary. However, Taiwan maintains it is an independent country, although it has never formally declared independence. It seeks to maintain its de facto sovereignty and democratic way of life.

The US and Taiwan share common values and interests, including democracy, human rights, and a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The US provides Taiwan with military aid and arms sales under the Taiwan Relations Act. This legislation commits the US to maintaining peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.

Because of the Taiwanese shared common values coinciding with many American values, it seems reasonable to include Taiwanese manufactured products in the discussion tonight.

Definition of Quality and Affordable
When a product is both high quality and affordable, it means that it offers excellent value for the price.

Format for the Net

I will introduce a knife maker and show a few examples of the knives they make.

I will then pause and invite participants in the Net to talk about their favorite, lesser known, quality and affordable knife makers.

Lather, rinse, and repeat until our net time runs out or the radio becomes quiet.

[Jeff-OAUSA]

#2

Maker:
Koi Knives

Origin(s):

• Koi Knives are designed and assembled in Adelaide, South Australia.
• Steel for the blades is imported from Japan
• Handles are crafted from Australian timbers.

Knives Offered:

• Folding EDC
• Fixed-blade field knives
• Fixed-blade kitchen knives

Price Range: Folding EDC, $165 to $200. Sweet spot, $170.
Price Range: Fixed Blade, $130 to $190. Sweet spot, $190.
Price Range: Kitchen Knives, $130 to $250. Sweet spot, $195. More affordable in sets.

Buying Tip: Watch for Koi Knife releases on KickStarter and buy knives pre-production for 40-50% below the future retail cost.

Website:
https://www.koiknives.com/

Why acquire a Koi knife?

• Fusion of Cultures: They combine the renowned sharpness and precision of Japanese steel with the aesthetic appeal of Australian timbers.  
• High-Quality Materials: Koi Knives utilize premium Japanese steel for their blades, ensuring exceptional cutting performance and durability.  
• Beautiful Handle Designs: The Australian wood-resin handles offer a comfortable grip and a visually striking appearance, often featuring unique grain patterns and colors.  
• Precision Craftsmanship: Each knife is meticulously crafted, paying attention to detail and ensuring optimal balance and weight distribution.  
• Versatility: Koi Knives are suitable for a wide range of pocket carry, field, and culinary tasks.  
  Affordable Luxury: They offer high-quality performance at a competitive price point.

Magpie (Part of the Aviary Series), EDC featuring Swedish 14C28N steel CNC cut, hand sharpened and honed blade, and wood and resin scales, liner lock. $160.


Kookaburra (Part of the Aviary Series), EDC featuring Swedish 14C28N steel CNC cut, hand sharpened and honed blade, and wood and resin scales, liner lock. $167.


Wedge Tailed Eagel (Part of the Aviary Series), EDC featuring Swedish 14C28N steel CNC cut, hand sharpened and honed blade, and wood and resin scales, liner lock. $201.


Galah (Part of the Aviary Series), EDC featuring Swedish 14C28N steel CNC cut, hand sharpened and honed blade, and wood and resin scales, liner lock. $167.


Bushman's Knife, Bush knife featuring Sandvick 12C27N steel from Sweden heat treated to 58-59 HRC, G10 scales, full tang, concave cutting edge, serrations for sawing, and a bottle opener. $201 with a Kangaroo leather sheath, $188 without a sheath.


Osaka 6 Knife Kitchen Set, featuring VG10 steel, 33 layers, 15 degree angle on edge, and hammered ripples to help separate foods from the blade while slicing. $881 for the set ($147 each). Individually, the Osaka's run from $155 to $225 each.

[Jeff-OAUSA]

#3

Maker:
Demko Knives

Origin(s):

• New Castle, PA, USA: This facility produces high-end, custom folding and fixed blade knives, including the MGAD20 and MGAD20S models.  
• Taiwan: This location produces the AD20.5 series of folding knives, which are made with premium materials and offer a variety of handle materials like G10, Carbon Fiber, and Titanium.

Knives Offered:

• Folding EDC
• Fixed-blade field knives

Price Range: EDC Folders, $150 to $900. Sweet Spot $190.
Price Range: Fixed-blades, $20 to $125. Sweet Spot, $75

Website:
https://demkoknives.com/

Why acquire a Demko knife?

• Innovative Design: Demko is known for its innovative designs, such as the Shark-Lock mechanism, which offers a smooth and reliable deployment.  
• High-Quality Materials: Demko uses premium materials for its blades, handles, and hardware, ensuring durability and performance.  
• Precision Craftsmanship: Each Demko knife is crafted with precision and attention to detail, resulting in a high-quality product.  
• Ergonomic Design: Demko knives are designed to be comfortable and easy to use, with ergonomic handles and well-balanced designs.
• Customization Options: Demko offers a variety of customization options, allowing you to personalize your knife to your preferences.  
• Limited Editions: Demko frequently releases limited edition knives, making them highly sought-after by collectors.
• Models like the AD20 series have an incredibly satisfying "fiddle factor."

AD20.5. Features D2 steel, DLC coating on the blade, Shark Lock mechanism located on the spine, ball bearing pivot pins, and Grivory scales. $160. WARNING...this knife has an incredible fiddle factor with the flipper and Shark Lock. Your teacher will take this thing away from you and keep it for themself (OK, that was if we were back in Junior High in the late 1960s) Having Band Aids on hand is recommended. Also available in Carbon Fiber (+$35), S35VN (+$90), 3V (+$90). Milled Titanium (+$230), or Timascus (+$740).


Armiger 4 Clip Point. Features 80CrV2 steel, powder coated full tang and a thermal plastic rubber handle. Comes with a Kydex sheath.

[Jeff-OAUSA]

#4

Maker:
Anza Knives

Origin(s):

• Anza Knives manufactured completely by hand with sanders and belt grinders in El Cajon, California

The small, but skilled team at Anza. The very small store is worth visiting if you are ever in the San Diego area.


Charlie (Owner) and Chana (Charlie's daughter). Chana will handle your order. NEVER call Chana, text her and she'll get back to you.

Knives Offered:

• Fixed-blade field knives.
• Filleting knives.

Price Range: $50 to $600, very rarely, to $3000. Sweet Spot: $125 to $150

Website:
https://anzaknives.com/

Why acquire an Anza knife?

• Unique Material: They are primarily made from repurposed files, giving each knife a distinct character and history.
• Handmade Craftsmanship: Each knife is handcrafted in the USA, ensuring high quality and attention to detail.
• Durable and Sharp: The high-carbon steel from the files makes for exceptionally sharp and durable blades.
• Beautiful Patina: Over time, the blades develop a unique patina, adding to their aesthetic appeal.
• Variety of Styles: Anza offers a range of styles, from practical working knives to more refined collector's pieces.
• Affordable Luxury: While they are high-quality handmade knives, they are often more affordable than other custom knife makers.
• Attention Getter: Anza knives have a strong, nearly magnetic attraction to anyone who appreciates useful, practical, and beautiful handmade tools.

Charlie's Wicked Upsweep. Features a blade hand-ground from a file, orange bone with polished brass handle, and comes with a nice leather sheath. $220.


8F JH-2 Curvetooth File. Features a blade hand-ground from a file and polished rosewood handle. $149.


(468) 14 Curvetooth. Features a blade hand-ground from a curve-tooth file and red and black wood laminate handle. Comes with a nice sheath. $174.


(609) SF. Features a thin, flexible blade made from 1095 carbon steel, adn Dumalux wood. Comes with a nice sheath. $106.

[Jeff-OAUSA]

#5

Maker:
Montana Knife Company

Origin(s):

• Knives are Made in the USA.
• The company is committed to sourcing materials and manufacturing their products domestically.

The company is growing to meet demand and reduce backlogs.

Knives Offered:

• Fixed-blade field knives.

Price Point: $200 to $500. Sweet spot, $225 to $300. These knives push the limit on "affordable", but given MKC's support of conservation organizations and the quality of their product, they made my list (but have not yet entered my collection!).

Website:
https://www.montanaknifecompany.com/

Why acquire a Montana Knife Company knife?

• American-Made Craftsmanship: MKC is committed to producing high-quality knives entirely in the USA, supporting domestic manufacturing.  
• Innovative Designs: The company is known for its innovative designs, often collaborating with outdoor experts and enthusiasts to create functional and stylish knives.  
• Premium Materials: MKC uses high-quality materials, such as premium steel for blades and durable handles, ensuring long-lasting performance.  
• Versatility: The company offers a wide range of knives suitable for various outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, camping, and everyday carry.
• Limited Editions and Collaborations: MKC frequently releases limited-edition knives and collaborates with other brands, making their products highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts.  
• Exceptional Edge Retention: The high-quality steel used in MKC knives provides excellent edge retention, making them ideal for demanding outdoor tasks.
• MKC supports worthy conservation organizations such as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

GOAT 2.0, Desert Camo cordage handle (other colors available). Features MagnaCut steel and is light weight due to the skeletonized handle. Comes with a Kydex sheath. $225.


Super Cub - Drop Point Hunter. Features 52100 high-carbon ball bearing steel and G-10 handle scales. Orange and black G-10 shown, other color combinations available. $325.

[Jeff-OAUSA]

#6

Maker:
Bear Forest Knives

Origin(s):

• Bear Forest knives are manufactured in Palm Desert, California.

Knives Offered:

• Fixed-blade field knives

Price Range: $120 to $350 for production knives. Sweet spot, ~$180
Price Range: $100 to $600 for custom shop knives. Sweet spot, $200

Website:
https://www.bearforestknives.com/

Why acquire a Bear Forest knife?

• American-Made Craftsmanship: All Bear Forest Knives are proudly made in the USA, ensuring high-quality standards and supporting domestic manufacturing.  
• Customizable Options: You can customize your knife by choosing from a variety of steel types and handle materials, allowing you to create a truly unique piece.  
• Durable Materials: Bear Forest Knives use premium steel and durable handle materials, ensuring long-lasting performance and resilience.  
• Functional Design: The knives are designed with practicality in mind, offering excellent cutting performance and ergonomic handles.
• Unique Aesthetic: The combination of high-quality materials and skilled craftsmanship results in visually appealing knives with a distinctive style.
• Affordable Luxury: Bear Forest Knives offer excellent value for money, providing high-quality knives at reasonable prices.

Bear Forest Knives


The Yukon featuring 52100 high-carbon steel and a Saber grind with a Swedge. $249.99


The Simple Custom featuring 52100 high-carbon steel and a true zero Scandi or Saber grind. $179.99

[lrsrngr]

#7

Aligning sights without sending rounds ($$$ money $$$) down range.

Shootin' Shack White Mountains, AZ Shadow 640.jpg (185.82 KiB) Viewed 8937 times

Bore Sighting with/without Aiming Aid

• Tools, first and foremost the components need to be installed properly with the appropriate bit set and in/lbs torque driver.

• Next, it is very important to have the right hardware, ensuring the base or rail will properly matchup with the action/receiver/slide/frame, the rings are the proper diameter/height for the objective bell so that the optic does not ride on anything other than the ring set.

• Additionally, the hardware chosen will need to provide the proper "eye relief" (the distance between the eye and eye piece/ocular so that there is no shadowing in the scope through the entire power range of the scope (correlating with "eye relief" and the "eye box."

• Proper "cheek weld" is also very important and the more precise the requirements of the system, the more important it becomes to have all the pieces come together at that final point of "trigger break."

• Steady rest/position and solid shooting fundamentals.

Traditionally bore sighting can be very simple:

• For example, a bolt action rifle or an AR 15/10 upper receiver can be stripped of their bolt and you can look down the barrel (keeping the platform steady is the most important piece to this technique).

• Determine the distance you wish to sight your rifle to or your "point blank range" distance.

• Once you look down the bore and you have equal inside-barrel taper and the item you are sighting in centered; without moving the platform; look through the optic and move the sights to the center of the target you have chosen (if there is an offset for "point blank" range figure that in).

• Once your bore is aligned with your bore, you should be ready to go to the range.

Product Spotlight, Real Avid Viz Max Laser Bore Sighter.

Avid Viz-Max Laser Bore Sighter 1024.JPG (267.27 KiB) Viewed 8910 times

• This assumes the crown that the laser attaches to magnetically is truly perpendicular to the bore axis.

• This technique is a little more forgiving when adjusting sights because the whole system moves not just the platform and that saves time and effort.

• Knowing how to do a traditional bore sighting technique will definitely apply to your adaptation of the laser tool here.

• Adjusting for "point-blank-range" can be very important.

Example of a generic point-blank-zero.

Point Blank Range 4 Inch Diameter Generic.jpg (117.04 KiB) Viewed 8907 times

[lrsrngr]

#8

Nothing like a well-built knife with a little personalization as a gift consideration...

Kershaw 1024.JPG (121.99 KiB) Viewed 8908 times

Take a look at the small print when purchasing a knife. Companies often provide (laser) engraving that elevates a "solid gift" to "great gift" status! If they can put logos as well as personalized lettering even better! This is a personal EDC Kershaw that has worn very well except for the tip that someone helped me break off. It sees use almost daily for the past 3.5 years.

[Diesel4x]

If there is a net tonight please check in Randy KF6KOC and Becky KF6RGR. Thanks!

[Geoff]

Please check me in tonight. If this is still allowed.