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Puukko Knife Pattern
Long before the puukko became a defined knife pattern, it existed as a practical necessity in the daily lives of people living across what is now Finland. The landscape shaped everything. Dense forests, long winters, and a way of life built around wood, hunting, fishing, and travel meant that a cutting tool was never far from hand. Archaeological finds dating from the late Iron Age, roughly between 800 and 1050 AD, show small fixed-blade knives carried in leather sheaths, worn at the belt, and used constantly. These early knives were not ceremonial or specialized. They were tools worn smooth by...
Recent Articles
Knives of 2025 Part 2
(July - December)
As the second half of 2025 unfolded, the knife industry settled into a steady rhythm of purposeful releases, limited exclusives, and thoughtful updates to proven designs. Rather than chasing novelty, many makers focused on refining familiar platforms with modern steels, restrained finishes, and small details that reward long-term use. From traditional slip joints and collectible annual editions to hard-use fixed blades and compact automatics, the latter half of the year offered a wide cross-section of what today’s knife market does best...
New Knives of the Week: December 26th, 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s hard not to look back at just how many strong releases this year delivered across the knife world. From thoughtful updates to long-running platforms to bold exclusives that pushed materials and finishes in new directions, it’s been a year full of knives worth paying attention to. As the final week of the calendar settles in, new releases naturally slow down, but they don’t come to a stop. This week’s entry is a focused one, led by a single standout from Heretic Knives that arrives just before the year turns...
Wicked Wax
Wicked Wax traces its beginnings to the early 2020s inside DiPrete Forge, where bladesmith Fred DiPrete routinely taught hands-on knife-making classes. After finishing their first blades, students inevitably asked how to protect carbon steel and natural handle materials without resorting to petroleum oils or chemical treatments. Many existing products required heating, weren’t food-safe, or left behind residues unsuited to kitchen use or fine tool care. Rather than default to options that didn’t meet those needs, DiPrete began developing his own wax-based protectant. The formulation grew...
Knives of 2025 Part 1
(January - June)
The first half of 2025 shaped up to be an interesting period across the knife industry, with manufacturers taking familiar platforms in new directions and revisiting patterns that haven’t seen the spotlight in years. Benchmade, Microtech, Case, Buck, Kershaw, Leatherman, CRKT, Queen, Jack Wolf Knives, and more all introduced models that showed clear shifts in materials, finishes, and design priorities. MagnaCut and S90V appeared in more production runs, Cerakote and unique anodized treatments became increasingly common, and several companies...
Expert Reviewed
T.C. Barnette
T.C. Barnette is a dynamic media personality and the esteemed spokesperson for SMKW (Smoky Mountain Knife Works), where his passion for knives intersects with his captivating on-screen presence. With a magnetic charisma and deep expertise in cutlery, T.C. has become a beloved figure in the knife community.