This fine set of four stamped stainless steel steak knives in the TWIN Gourmet style from J. A. Henckels is a serving pattern that will harmonize with many modern table settings. The dark handle slabs and triple riveted full tang construction is far stronger than is necessary for ...

Does organic food really taste better?

At CooksDen, we decided to apply the scientific method to that important question. We brought in an unbiased test subject -- one who has superior taste buds, is unaffected by marketing hype, and is unafraid to express her opinions publicly.

Meet Hammy the Hamster. Hammy was kind enough to participate in hours ...

This Schrade Old Timer from Taylor Cutlery is a full sized pocketknife in the simple and reliable pattern of traditional American pocket folders. Four inches in length closed, the Old Timer holds three carbon steel blades in the most needed patterns of farm and workplace. The main blade, at ...

Instead of a heavy multi-tool with a host of options no fisherman needs, consider the Pro Guide Camp Combo from famous lure maker Rapala the next you head for the lake or stream. This kit places a 5" (closed length) surgical steel filet knife and an 8" pair ...

Victorinox makes the classic Swiss Army Knife in a multitude of forms--on their website you can even design your own, choosing the features you want from a list of tools and blades. Nearly any combination is now a named product. The Hercules (4 3/8" closed length) is a pocket toolset more ...

In some ways the Gerber Torch II (4.6" closed length) rivals much more expensive military folders, offering many of the same features like non-reflective coating, tanto blade, and assisted opening. The economy of the Torch II results from cost cutting in places that are not obvious, but which will show ...

Gentlemen's pocket knives are usually lightweights suited to light work. What has made Buck knives of this pocket class stand out above the rest is their practice of scaling down size without scaling down quality. The Buck 501 Squire, only 3 3/4" in closed length, holds a single 2 3/4" ...

From Boker Knives of Solingen, Germany, this Mini Lockblade is a perfect pocket size with a closed length of only 2 1/2". The high carbon stainless blade, flat ground for added strength, packs full sized quality into a 2" long drop point style that has the width of many larger ...

The Spyderco Byrd Wings G-10 tackles one of the most common modern knife problems and finds a good answer. The 4 3/4" handle enclosed two blades, not one, returning to the style of a traditional gentleman's pocketknife but with modern blade choices and perks.

Both blades are knife quality high ...

If you're looking for pure function, the Buck Omni Hunter ought to be of interest. The Omni 397BK gives full size features in a folding lockback with ergonomic grip, and it comes with a belt sheath. For rough country use, a belt sheath beats a clip any day.

The ...

In this gift set from Smith & Wesson, the well established manufacturer of police and military equipment, you get a good quality tactical folding clip knife and a tactical watch built for extreme conditions. This combination works well for anyone who spends time in rough places, whether work ...

It's pretty easy for me to talk about the Buck 112 Ranger, because it's just like the big brother version (the Buck 110) that I have about three inches away from my hand right now. The only difference between the two is size, and the only complaint I've ever ...

For spotting game or judging the results of a target shot, there's nothing quite so handy as a good pair of binoculars; and having a reliable knife at the ready makes good sense no matter what you do. In either case it's easy to buy something that doesn't live up ...

The tactical version of the well known Blur by Ken Kershaw, this black anodized and non reflective combo edged tanto is also one of the most efficient alternatives to an automatic police knife.

Only 4.5" long closed, the aluminum based handle contains generous insert of Trac-Tec, for a non slip grip ...

Kai USA, the Japanese producer of this American design by Ken Kershaw, makes some good choices in this utility camo knife--as well as some that aren't so good. Intended as an everyday companion for work or field use, features that we've come to see as standard in modern folders ...

Usually when you look at a knife that is stepped down in size, to the 2.625" folded length of the Kershaw Grant County knife, you find that many of the features and strengths of the larger versions have been trimmed out. Surprisingly, the Grant County is just smaller--it hasn't lost ...

The smallest of Spyderco's folders, the Ladybug packs the same versatility and solid construction as the big boys in the line. With this small package, only 2 7/16" closed and 4 3/8" open and locked, you get a V10 knife quality stainless steel serrated blade a hair under 2" long, ...

One of the very economical foreign knives inspired by American designs, the Mtech Linerlock G-10 looks better than the usual lot of bargains. The 440 stainless steel blade is of the same alloy used for many utility and display knives of higher quality. The 4 1/2" ...

To a novice the classic variations of the American pocketknife must look much the same. Except for the obvious differences of size and number of blades, this tried and true tool always has the same basic form. But, look closer and you'll see many subtle differences that ...

Working from the same Titusville, Pennsylvania, factory that housed their predecessor, Schatt and Morgan Cutlery, Queen still uses many of the old manufacturing processes and holds firmly to the old standards of craftsmanship. Their extensive product line includes many varieties of the American classic pocketknife, with handle slabs of rare ...

For a very low price Mtech knives will offer many of the features of knives that are way above them in cost. You'll get a 4.5" (closed length) stainless steel lockblade folding clip knife with a black epoxy blade coating and a flame design, if you choose the "Live to ...

The Amazon, a side opening automatic knife from Piranha Knives, shows a little of the company namesake's influence in the shape of the striking black on white handle. The slender fish shape and scale pattern give this knife a solid grip and a unique look.

The Amazon releases 3.45" of ...

Inspired by the Italian made blades of wiseguys and "made men," the American engineered Protech Godson brings the practical beauty of this efficient European classic to American pockets. If the laws governing the use of automatic knives were relaxed, they'd overwhelm the marketplace; as it is, only a select few can ...

An upgrade of the stiletto switchblades made famous by the gangster movies of the 1950's, the knives of the Protech Godfather series, including this beautiful version with black elder burlwood inlay, are a refined evolution of a battlefield mainstay. Dating back to Renaissance battles against fully armoured knights, the stiletto design originally ...

The Mountain Man Lockback from Queen Cutlery is nearly big enough to match the simple functionality of a small sheath knife, but folds in pocketknife style for easy carry. Built with the strength for heavy work, the lockback function provides security under load, eliminating that extra thought (reminding yourself it can ...

For decades the knife industry has been built around the legal length limit, which in most countries allows unlicensed carry, concealed or otherwise, of any knife with a blade length of 3.5" or less. That means that pocket knives are that size and below, and unless companies come up with a gimmick ...

At first it seems a little like a souvenir, reminding me a bit of the fake pistols that turn out to be cigarette lighters when you pull the trigger--but there's nothing fake about this tactical folder from Lone Wolf Knives. In fact, it makes good sense to build a ...

One of the best military quality folding knives available, the Microtech SOCOM Elite offers details others ignore. The 4" tanto style blade, ground with a wide but strong bevel, is forged from high carbon stainless steel chosen for its edge holding abilities rather than corrosion resistance alone. The ...

When a small team of Gerber employees made up their minds to follow their own dreams and start up their own business -- Lone Wolf Knives -- they enlisted the well known engineer and knifemaker Paul Poehlmann for their design team. This beautiful and unusual modern pocket folder, the Paul Perfecto, ...

Darrel Ralph designed this tactical switchblade for law enforcement and military use, so if you're a civilian don't expect to own one yourself (unless you qualify due to disability--switchblades are legal for one armed users to carry). There are other great Meyerco tactical knives available to the general public, though, so check ...

Designed by William Harsey, Jr., for the semi-custom makers at Lone Knives, the tactical folding clip T2 Ranger is a perfect size for a lightweight folding hunting knife. The 3.9" high carbon stainless steel blade, with a functional drop point design, is well designed for skinning game as well ...

I love stockman knives. I grew up in a small western town and used to watch the old ranchers carving pieces of pine with their stockmans at church picnics. And, when I was in boy scouts, the ranch kids all had stockman knives of their own, handed down from their ...

Developed by Texas knifemaker Allen Elishewitz, the Horus is named after an Egyptian hawk-headed lord of the sky. Indeed, when the blade is deployed, the shape is very reminiscent of a hawk's profile. Much of this look is added by the choiled handle which is shaped with a pistol grip ...

There are a lot of rescue knives out there. There are some with all the bells and whistles - oxygen tank wrench and torque bits and special seat belt cutters.. There are some no bells and whistles - just a serrated blade and that's it, which hardly makes a knife ...

The epitome of western heroism has long been John Wayne. Generation after generation of Americans grew up watching the Duke on the silver screen - always a character of grit, courage, honesty, hard work, and determination. He wasn't always a cowboy, but it was his roles in Western ...

Spyderco's Rescue 93mm knife is great, if you've got hands big enough to match the 4 5/8-inch handle. For those with smaller hands, there is the incredibly similar Rescue 79mm, which equals to a 3 1/8-inch blade and a handle length just over 4-inches. Spyderco claims that "for every design to ...

Designed by Colonel Rex Applegate and greatly influenced by the scientific fighting style of William Fairbairn, this sturdy dagger type folding clip knife adds modern convenience to a dependable and efficient classical fighting blade. The double edged stainless steel blade, 4.48" long, adapts for one handed opening with either hand. ...

Most of us who hike today carry quite a bit of gear with us. The necessary modern philosophy of "pack it in, pack it out" requires that. Instead of building shelters on the spot, for example, we carry tents, and those as well as the many other essential pieces of our packloads ...

With so many new knife designs and ideas now on the market it's easy to forget that the most popular is still the one that's most familiar--the classic American folding pocket knife. The Baby Butterbean series from the famous American knife manufacturer W. H. Case is a fine example of what that ...

Nothing about the Mantis MK-2 is traditional except the unconditional lifetime warranty. Now listed in Mantis's product directory as the Cinq II, the style of this knife brings to mind the "hook and pull" technology of Ka-Bar's TDI series, but with the engineering of a pocket folder.

The stainless steel black ...

Everybody's pocket knife used to look like this, back when small differences in style and quality were the most dramatic choices we had. There was a time, oddly enough, when a pocket knife didn't need a built-in flashlight, fire starter, or anti-reflection coatings to be handy. Although the extra ...

Knifemaker Ed Halligan, designer of the popular K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) knife series, offers a smaller and more utilitarian version of his simplified engineering in the P.E.C.K (Precision Engineered Compact Knife). The PECK knife, less than one ounce light and only 2.625 inches in closed length, unfolds a 1.75" ...

A modern folding knife that has suddenly become the legacy of a once great American knife maker, the Camillus Sizzle and the rest of the Camillus line are the last we'll see of the real Camillus products. The company went bankrupt in 2006 and closed its doors, the victim of ...

Victorinox's 5.1" folded length Ranger, with a main knife blade almost 4" long and forged from high carbon stainless steel, ranks as an all around camp knife as well as the usual pocket tool kit. The clip point blade locks in place when fully extended. The 7 tool, ...

Obviously I'm in favor of carrying knives, but not only for self defense. We all constantly run into circumstances that require tools. Knives are among the first implements that humans invented. Leaving your knife behind is like leaving your teeth behind.

In modern circumstances our needs are ...

Ken Onion's Speed Safe system offers a couple of advantages over the prettier (and blade weakening) one handed designs of other companies. The thumb studs that provide opening leverage can be installed from either side, hand friendly for lefties as well as righties. The holes required for mounting ...

Special alloy CPM-S30V knife steel promises to give the 4" blade of Spyderco's tactical knife the edge holding capability of traditional high carbon alloy plus the corrosion resistance and low maintenance of high carbon stainless. Many quality stainless steels originally were designed for special purposes in aerospace or industrial applications and subsequently ...

This featherweight folding clip knife from Spyderco is more than you'd expect from the modern Chinese foundries. The design of this elegant David Boye knife is futuristic and efficient, making use of top of the line modern materials. Seven and 7/8" open and locked, the Flight G-10 comes with the ...

A top quality and reliable folding clip knife, the Recon 1 with 4" tanto blade forged from high carbon stainless steel and coated with nonreflection and nearly frictionless black Teflon is more than enough knife for serious work. Light weight (5.6 ounces) and a folded length of only 5 1/3" ...

A knife with a blade just over 2" really isn't much more than an office tool unless you're MacGyver. Still, I'd rather have any knife than none at all. This mini lockback pocket knife is fine for light work like peeling an orange for lunch or opening the mail--actually ...