Knives

Turkey season has arrived which means we are packing up our gear in preparation to hit the field. In addition to our tried and true turkey essentials, it’s not too late to make a few additions of some great new products, just in time for turkey season.

All that put together gives the knife a vibe. Like it talks to you when you hold it, which is a rarity among weapons. The feel from this one is all primitive.

Emerson is a knife company founded on a reputation for hard use blades. They expect you to beat and batter them, which is largely why they don’t come cheap.

As a defensive tool, the size plays a factor. While I don’t think this is for everyone, it would be the weapon of choice if you had to use a folder in a life or death situation. It has a size and a reach that is well outside anything else in its class.

Intended as an everyday working knife, this update to the 0393 has a hard finish and a solid, hold-able design. Glow in the dark fibers are interwoven with the carbon fiber and it glows green. It’s made of CPM 20CV with a durable finish and Hinderer customizable parts.

But an excessive amount of steel isn’t exactly fun to carry and is often frowned upon by polite society. Much like guns, for discreet carry purposes, smaller is better.

The new Genzow is a work of art. The name is taken from Martin Genzow, a German outdoor enthusiast and historian. His life’s work has made him an expert on axes and tomahawks, and the subtle design differences that affect cutting performance.

What first drew me to the Spartan was its unique blade shape, like a tiny copy of a Greek kopis sword. It looked cool enough that I was willing to buy one to try.

The idea behind Clay’s Budget Blades is to review products that are a good value, but not necessarily cheap. No gas station knives will be presented here, nor anything from QVC.