Fixed blades are often associated with hunting, bushcraft, or larger outdoor knives, but compact fixed blades have carved out a place in everyday carry. Without a pivot, lock, or moving parts, they offer simple, dependable construction while still being small enough to carry comfortably on a belt, in a pocket, around the neck, or attached to gear. Modern EDC fixed blades also offer a wide range of styles, from lightweight utility knives and compact workhorses to refined gentleman’s designs built with premium steels and handle materials. The best...

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Böhler K390 is one of the more wear-resistant steels used in production knives today, particularly among users who prioritize edge retention. Knives, however, had nothing to do with its creation. K390 was developed as an industrial cold work tool steel for punches, dies, forming tools, and other components subjected to repeated abrasion, high pressure, and mechanical stress. Its move into the knife industry came later, when knifemakers recognized that a steel engineered to keep industrial tooling working through severe wear could offer many of the same advantages at the edge of a blade...

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As August winds down, this week’s new releases are anything but quiet. Jack Wolf Knives starts things off with a traditional pattern dressed in enough different materials to suit just about any taste, while Kizer goes tiny, playful, and just a little bit collectible with an SMKW exclusive that feels ready to be caught. Case follows with another exclusive that looks good enough to make breakfast, bringing a smoky twist to one of its most familiar patterns. Victorinox closes out the week with a Tinker that trades the usual Swiss Army styling for something a little...

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Böhler K340 ISODUR is a steel some knife users know for its combination of toughness, edge retention, and chipping resistance, but knives were not the reason it was created. K340 was developed as an industrial cold-work tool steel for demanding applications where wear resistance alone was insufficient. The steel had to remain hard and stable while also tolerating repeated mechanical stress without cracking or failing prematurely. K340 ISODUR belongs to a group of tool steels containing approximately eight percent chromium. Böhler developed it for applications where conventional...

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