I’m big on knives and I really like a good number of Spyderco products, but one in particular stands out as just the most bad ass. The Spyderco Civilian is that bad ass knife. It reminds me of another Spyderco product, the Harpybut the Civilian is longer and more wicked looking. Spyderco was actually approached in the 1990s by a specialized branch of U.S. law enforcement about making a knife for their undercover agents, allowing them to carry weapons in situations where a gun would have been too noticeable. Read the rest of this entry »
The San Mai Gurkha Kukri: No, it’s not a gypsy curse, it’s a great big old pitbull of a knife. The Kukri blade, easily distinguishable by it’s unique blade shape, is an iconic symbol of the Gurkha Warriors from Nepal, fearless mercenaries who employed this knife in the service of the British empire for over 150 years and were known to jump into trenches armed only with their blades and still send the enemy troops packing. That is quite the reputation and the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri does that reputation justice. Inspired by Cold Steel president Lynn Thompson’s close association with a Dr. Maung Gyi, who was chief instructor for the American Bando Association. Bando is a Burmese martial art and it’s from this standpoint that Thompson was able to really harness the potential of this singular blade. The Kukri is pretty much a cross between an axe and a knife, with all the chopping and stabbing power that implies. It’s still used on a daily basis in South Asia for a whole plethora of tasks, from building furrows, cutting meat and vegetables, cutting down trees, to plain old self defense from wild animals and hostile humans.
Currently employed by the U.S. Navy Seals, this particular kukri retains all that versatility, from chop and stab to slash and smash. It’s multipurpose magic stems from some minor tweaks Cold Steel have added. The point is longer and narrower and has a distal tapering to the spine, giving it more piercing power. Cold Steel boasts that the San Mai is the heaviest kukri on the market. The San Mai apparently makes an efficient bludgeon using the back of the blade .The blade is almost an inch wider near the tip than at the handle. This pushes the balance of the blade forward, the same concept behind a leather sap, so you can land a substantial blow with minimal effort. A blow from this baby can break bones or even become fatal if you land one on your assailants skull. This is a great all-purpose knife for any outdoor activity and if you’re an avid hunter this should definitely become part of your arsenal. I love knives and would add this to my collection in a heart beat.
Watch the Gurkha Kukri in action as it cuts through meat, bone, metal, concrete, and even a coin like butter. Even more impressive is the lack of damage to the blade. I haven’t seen cutting power like this in swords twice the size of this powerful knife.
If you’re looking for a great everyday carry tool that has everything you need, and nothing you don’t– look no further than the new Leatherman Cx Skeletool. With a pair of needle-nose pliers, wire cutters/strippers, external bottle opener/carabiner, bit driver, and amazing super-steel serrated blade that opens one-handed even when closed.
It has carbon fiber inserts, and the thing just looks awesome. I personally carry it all the time, and always get compliments and inquiries about it. It even includes a removable belt clip so you can wear it in your waistband and forget about it–that is until you need to crack open your next beer.
