The majority of folding knives are OTS folders, either with an assisted opening mechanism, or else with some feature that facilitates deployment, like a thumb stud or flipper tab.
There is, however, a subset of folding knives known as “out the front” or OTF knives, which have a blade that deploys right out the front, rather than out the side.
Many OTF knives are automatics,...
If you’re looking for a rainbow butterfly knife, one thing for you to remember is that while you can collect knives like these, they are about much more than just aesthetics.
As it turns out, they actually offer some significant benefits over traditional pocket knife patterns. Here are just a few of the best ones.
1. There’s no “lock” to fail.
Except for...
Knowing how to handle your axe safely is one thing, and it is critical to safe and effective use. But once you master that, if you really want to consider yourself a woodsman, you should learn the proper terms for the parts of your axe. You will sound more authoritative once you learn them.
The head of an axe, broadly speaking, is the steel component that is hung on the haft or helve,...
There are many different sword patterns, some of which are recognizable by or referred to by more than one name. There are great swords, bastard swords, claymores, hand and a half swords, rapiers, sabers, cutlasses, falchions, and so on and so forth.
Another such pattern is called a battle cleaver. Here’s what that means.
The Definitive Attributes
A battle cleaver is,...
Cosplaying, especially if you participate in conventions, can be a great way to meet like minds and an even better way to get creative.
And, sometimes, swords or other mock weapons are a part of the costume. But not all cosplay medieval swords are created equal. Here are some things to look for in one, as well as how to take care of it.
What to Look
There are four main things...
A ninja sword, also sometimes called a ninjato, is a relatively short, single-edged sword with a tanto point, very similar to a katana except that the blade lacks a katana’s signature curve.
That being said, maintenance (and appropriate use) of these two sword patterns is effectively the same. Here’s what you need to know about keeping the edge of your ninjato in slicing...
An automatic stiletto can be quite a fidget-friendly tool, and it can be a practical tool to carry as well, if only for defensive applications. Of course, you need to know how to maintain it as well, if you expect it to last. Here are some high-level notes.
Keep it sharp. They say a sharp knife is a safe knife because it takes less force to use it to cut something. The same is...
There are arguably a lot more out-the-side knives out there than there are out the front knives, especially in the realm of automatic knives, or autos.
With that concept being broached, here are 5 reasons an automatic OTF knife might be a better match for you than an equivalent OTS, or out the side, knife.
They’re Just As Fast If Not Faster
Automatic knives get a lot...
One of the most distinctive attributes of traditional Japanese swords is the “hamon” or “hamon” line, which is a wavy line at the edge of the blade that shows where the clay tempering process took place.
This is not just cosmetic, it is a mark of quality if it is authentic. Here’s what you need to know.
What Clay Tempering Does
When a Japanese...
Traditionally, Japanese swords have been made with a type of steel called tamahagane, which is derived from iron sand, then forged and tempered using a process known as yaki-ire, or clay-tempering, which produces a harder edge, a softer, more shock-resistant spine, and a characteristic, wavy hamon line near the edge.
Today, some modern katanas and other Japanese swords are made with Damascus...
Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy, like The Lord of The Rings, has a loyal fanbase, and there is a strong market for replicas from the movies, especially swords from The Hobbit.
Yet not all replicas are made to the same level of quality and authenticity. This short guide will break down some of the details associated with that, and how to determine you’ll be putting your...
There is a very famous scene in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit after Gandalf assists Bilbo and Thorin’s Company in their escape from the trolls, in which the hobbit, the dwarves, and the wizard raid their treasure store in the cave in which the trolls were living.
This is where Bilbo found Sting, Thorin found Orcrist, and Gandalf found Glamdring. Here’s a little more to know about...
Arabic
French
Spanish
Portuguese
Deutsch
Turkish
Dutch
Italiano
Russian
Romaian
Portuguese (Brazil)
Greek
