Our second Dmitry Sinkevich design to hit our best pocket knives list,
the Drunken is another brainchild of one of the most famous custom knife
makers in the industry today. Named for the intricate and meticulously
machined texture on the handle, the Drunken has a matching
color-anodized backspacer, pivot assembly, and pocket clip. The entire
design of this knife is well-thought out (of course, this is no shock
considering the source) and ridiculously ergonomic. The handle isn't
just for looks - that curve makes it feel like it belongs in your hand
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The scales are ‘webbed' to reduce weight, as well, so that comfort
factor transitions from hand to pocket easily. They really upped the
ante with the steel, too - that S90V blade is going to give you some of
the best (if not the best) edge retention in the biz.
Why we picked it: Another great collaboration with Spyderco and a custom
knife maker, how could it not make the list? We really love the
CPM-S90V steel, and it's just a really clean looking knife.
The Impinda was born when Chris Reeve decided he wanted to make a modern
slipjoint that outranked and outclassed all the other non-locking
folders on the market. He wanted sleek lines, a functional blade that
could tackle outdoor tasks, a smooth opening, and a safer closing action
than old-school jack-knives. Chris worked with William Harsey to get
the Impinda out into the knife world, and ever since that day this
slipjoint has been noted to be one of the best non-locking folders money
can buy. Its patent-pending spring design applies pressure to the blade
at a single point of contact as it glides along the varying thicknesses
of the spring interface, producing a smooth, one-pound draw tension
with a safer five-pound closing tension
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The stonewashed S35VN blade and titanium handles give it a simplicity
that belies its strength.
Why we picked it: This slipjoint revolutionizes what we thought we knew
about them and is a huge breakthrough for the knife industry. The
Impinda shows, if nothing else, the innovation for which Chris Reeve is
always searching.
If you've been holding off on getting a Kershaw Natrix because you want
USA-made quality, say hello to the 7777 Bareknuckle. Just like the
Natrix, this folder is inspired by the award-winning Zero Tolerance
0777. The 14C28N stainless steel used for the blade was originally
created through a Kershaw-Sandvik partnership formed to produce a
high-performance steel that had excellent corrosion-resistance and could
be hardened to 58-60 on the Rockwell scale. The anodized aluminum
handle scales come in a beautiful matte gray, and the Sub-Frame Lock
lightens the weight to a mere 3.4 ounces.
Today we're taking a look at some of our favorite Case knives of all
time. When it comes to classic American pocket knives there is no
company out there more closely tied with this tradition than Case.
They're primarily known for their non-locking slipjoint pocket knives
but they also make modern folders and even fixed blades as well.
However, we're gonna focus on their best folding knives and we'll show
you a few of their classic patterns to illustrate.
One thing you'll quickly see is that each of their patterns are
available with a wide variety of different handle materials and
embellishments and you'll see some of the highlights as we go through
the models. This variety not only makes them fun to collect, but Case
Knives make great, affordable user knives too
Best Folding Knife.
With such a breadth of options, it's easy to find one perfectly suited
to your preferences. Most of their pocket knives use their proprietary
Tru-Sharp stainless steel but some can still be had in CV or chrome
vanadium steel for those who like a traditional carbon steel blade.
We'll start small with the Peanut, a knife with a special place in the
hearts of many. This knife may seem tiny (and it certainly is) but with a
small clip point blade and an even smaller pen blade, it's still
capable enough to get most people through the day with ease.
This model has a nice half stop in the travel of the blade, which is one
of those nice features that not all traditional pocket knives have, and
even among Case knives it's a nice stand out. The material on the knife
pictured above is smooth chestnut bone. As with any natural material
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each one is going to look a little bit different and that's all the
better for collecting or using, by virtue of knowing you have a knife
that's uniquely yours and unlike any other one out there.
Next up is the Barlow, which was typically a very blue-collar option for
working folk. Nowadays they've become highly collectible and they're
subject to just as many fancy variants as anything else. They typically
have either one or two blades and they come with an oversized bolster at
the folding end of the simply shaped handle. Traditionally this was to
impart enough strength to the knife pivot even if the handle material
was not of the highest quality. That is no longer the case today. Rather
it simply makes for a stunning look and it's a great place for
engravers to really show off their work.
The version pictured features wood handles - gorgeous curly maple with a
nice turquoise dye. The blades on this model also feature half stops
and some also feature a secondary pen blade although not all Case
Barlows are fitted with this one. The main blade is available with a
clip point or a spear point blade to cater to different preferences.
Now for the three-blade Stockman model. Shown above in one of Case's
classic materials - jigged amber bone. The Stockman is a versatile
pattern that's great for EDC, wood carving and even for small game or
farming. The main clip point blade is an all-around workhorse and a
secondary sheepsfoot blade is great for scoring or for aggressive cuts.
The small spey blade on the other side was traditionally used for cattle
castration with a tip that was designed to resist puncturing.
Case offers several sizes of Stockman so you have plenty of options to
suit your desires. What's great about having three whole blades on your
pocket knife is you can set them up for different uses and you know you
will always have a razor-sharp edge when you need it.
Next up is the Trapper, and as the name suggests, it's a pattern that's
useful for small game and hunting needs. This design features two blades
of roughly equal size that open from the same end - typically a clip
point and a spey blade.
The same qualities that make the spey blade great for ranchers mean that
it's ideally suited for efficient skinning. Because that tip is not
likely to dig in you'll be able to get long sweeping cuts with ease.
Especially with the longer length on the Trapper pattern
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the spey blade makes a great option for rescue operations as well. If
you ever need to cut yourself, or someone else, out of a seatbelt or
remove clothing from around an injury, the blunt tip can help avoid any
accidental secondary injuries.
Available in several different handle variations, the knife pictured
features a yellow synthetic material. This shade has become quite famous
over the years and is now considered a classic color for not just Case,
but other manufacturers too. In addition to these great slipjoints,
Case have also branched out over the years into locking models. The
CopperLock series is perhaps the most famous and is available in a few
different sizes. With a solid, mid-mounted lock back, the standard size
Copperlock pictured above features fence row jigged olive-green bone. If
you don't like the feel of the smooth versions, jigging patterns go a
long way to adding grip to the knife, especially with a style as deep as
we can see on this CopperLock.
The clip-point blades on these knives are quite useful and they open
nicely thanks to the long pull that runs the length of the straight
spine. If you like the way a classic pocket knife looks but want the
added safety of a lock then the CopperLock is going to be a great
choice.