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Monday, February 28, 2011

KA-BAR Black Tanto Fixed Blade Knife Review





Tanto blades look just plain dangerous, all angles and points and edges. They remind me a little bit of shark's teeth. It's a cultural thing, a remnant of old Japan in the blade style. An American fighting blade is nearly always a modern version of the Bowie style, part short sword and part skinning tool, but Tanto blades aren't designed for butchering game. Tanto blades penetrate armor.

Combine that with the Ka-Bar insistence on rugged quality and you have a knife that says yes to most modern challenges. Need to smash a car window? The butt doubles as a hammer. Need to open up a steel drum? The KA-BAR Tanto will go right through it. The American style would do that as well, but with more chance of damage to the point.

 

The overall length of 12 7/8" of full tang high carbon steel, 8" of that a thick combo edged blade coated with non-reflective black epoxy, is plenty of knife for both tactical and survival purposes. Knife enthusiasts will appreciate the old style carbon steel for its superior edge holding qualities.

No brass in this knife--even the cross guard is high carbon steel. Construction is so simple, the full length of it forged from one blank, that there's very little to go wrong. The black Kraton handle offers a secure grip under all conditions, in theory more durable than the classic stacked leather disc style.


Just holding the KA-BAR Tanto you can feel the excellent quality and balance. The handle is very comfortable and the blade is razor sharp. The KA-BAR Black Tanto Fighting Knife is a beautiful knife and I highly recommend it!


To buy or get more information on the KA-BAR 1245 Tanto Fighting Knife with 8" Combo Blade, Kraton G Handle and Kydex Sheath, click the link below.


 


All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.


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Friday, February 25, 2011

Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle Review



The Benjamin Marauder with the CenterPoint 8-32X56 scope is an impressive air rifle!

When I first saw the Benjamin Marauder air rifle I remember being very impressed by just the appearance of the rifle. This is no Discovery II. It’s a full-fledged sporting rifle that makes no excuses to any European PCP. In fact, it has design features that are ahead of many of the most popular and expensive European guns.

The Marauder is a 10-shot repeating air rifle that comes in either .177, .22 and .25 caliber. I tested the .177. The gun operates on a fill of 2,000 psi air or CO2, using the same Dual Fuel approach that made the Discovery famous. But the Marauder has a special additional feature. You can CHANGE the fill level yourself–from the outside of the gun! Why you would want to do this and how it’s done I will get to in a moment.

A second remarkable feature is the ability to adjust pellet velocity, but once again the Marauder does it differently. This feature isn’t the power adjustment wheel or switch found on the side of many sporting PCPs today. No, it is a much more precise means of EXACTLY adjusting the velocity of a particular type of pellet. You adjust and leave the gun set that way. More on this later.

Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle by Benjamin

You will have to scope the rifle because it doesn’t have open sights. As accurate as it is, it’s doubtful whether anyone would ever use open sights even if they had them.

Other features you will like are the Foster quick-disconect fill adaptor, the micron-sized particle filter that prevents dirt from entering the gun, the built-in pressure gauge that tells you the status of the charge, and the barrel.

What about the barrel?

Well, for starters, the 19.5-inch barrel is made by Crosman in New York. And it is CHOKED, my friends! Yes, Crosman is CHOKING this barrel to give you the same advantages as the respected Lothar Walther barrels from Europe. A choked barrel has a constriction in the bore near the muzzle so the pellet skirt squeezes down to a uniform size before exiting. Choked barrels are more accurate, as a rule, and Crosman wanted to make sure the Marauder was as accurate as it could be. I have tested the rifle out to 50 yards and I will show you just how good it is, but for this first report please trust me that few European PCPs are able to do any better.

And this barrel is free-floated. So when the pressure changes in the reservoir, there is no effect on the barrel, because it isn’t touching the reservoir in any way.

With the shroud removed you can see the floated barrel clearly.

The final comment I will make about the barrel is the one everyone has been waiting for. It’s quiet.

Huh?

I SAID IT’S QUIET!

How quiet?

Shooting a Crosman 10.5-grain pellet at 920 f.p.s., the rifle sounds about like a ballpoint pen dropped on a deep-pile carpet! That’s how quiet! This rifle is so quiet that you hear the sound of the hammer spring, but not the sound of the report. It is so quiet that a person shooting 50 feet away will likely never be heard. This is the answer to you dreams for a quiet, powerful, accurate pellet rifle, because…

Drum Roll

This one will cost under $500! Yep, you heard that right. You are getting all the features of a thousand-dollar European pellet rifle for under $500, and on top of that you get some very important features that none of the expensive guns even have! More on that in a moment, but for now let me describe the wood and metal parts.

The stock and metal

The stock is fully ambidextrous, with a palm swell on both sides of the pistol grip. The high comb rolls over to both sides of the butt, so lefties will feel quite comfortable holding this rifle. And the extra-long bolt that cocks it and feeds the next pellet is quite smooth–something else those European rifles don’t always give you.

The checkering on the pre-production rifle is extremely generous, but the production gun is slightly different. The wood is a beech, stained medium brown with a subdued shine to the finish. It is attractive and conveys the look of elegance.

The metal wears a charcoal matte finish that I inadvertently put to the test at the range. The day was misting heavily and all the blued firearms I took rusted by the time I got home. They all had to be sprayed with Ballistol and wiped down carefully. And then I came to the Marauder. It hadn’t a mark on it! It looked like it had never left the house. So, after two hours of saving rifle finishes, it was nice to finally have one that didn’t need a thing. I wasn’t prepared for that. Hunters will love the tough finish.

Adjusting the fill pressure

You adjust the fill pressure for how you want to rifle to operate. If you want to use both air and CO2 (but not at the same time) you need the fill pressure to stop at 2,000 psi. If you want to run on air exclusively and you want a few extra shots in the useful string, you adjust the rifle to a 3,000 psi fill. The fill pressure determines the amount of air in the rifle–not the velocity, which is adjusted separately.

The fill pressure is adjusted by two Allen screws accessible from outside the gun. They are located in the rear of the receiver. One adjusts the striker length and the other adjusts the tension on the hammer spring. The hammer/striker is an assembly and they work together to open the firing valve. The owner’s manual will have detailed instructions on how the adjustments are to be made.

The two Allen screws for the fill pressure adjuster are inside a small hole at the back of the receiver.

Adjusting the velocity

The velocity is adjusted by a screw that intrudes into the air transfer port. The more it intrudes the less airflow there can be and the slower the rifle will shoot. To adjust the screw the action is removed from the stock, and then the locking screw is removed from the adjustment hole. This adjustment isn’t some sloppy setting that gives you “whatever” velocity it happens to give. It is a precise way of arriving at exactly the velocity you desire, within the limits of the rifle’s capabilities.

The small Allen screw inside the hole is removed, giving access to the velocity adjustment screw behind it. Screw it in to slow the pellet; out to speed it up.

To use this adjustment you should find the most accurate pellet for the rifle, and then shoot only that pellet. You will be like a buffalo runner of 1872 who used just one bullet and powder charge for all his shooting.

The Marauder is for beginners and advanced shooters, alike!

You can just start shooting the rifle right out of the box and never suffer one bit. It is a lovely beginner’s airgun. But–for those who want to experiment to find out just how far an air rifle can go, there has never been a more flexible rifle than this one. You need a chronograph to do this and you need to understand that, as the fill pressure changes, it DOES affect the velocity, though there isn’t room in this report to discuss that relationship properly.

Tell me about the trigger
Well, in this case, it’s true. This trigger on this rifle is sublime. It’s the same unit they put in the Challenger PCP target rifle, and when I tried that one on a sample rifle at the 2009 SHOT Show, they had it set to break at way less than a pound.


The trigger is an adjustable unit with a two-stage pull.


This is a trigger you can warm up to and with practice it will become an extension of your will. The accuracy of the rifle needs a good trigger like this, and this one should please most shooters.

The safety is manual (Yes!) and butter-smooth to engage/disengage. You do it with your trigger finger. Back towards the trigger blade to put on and forward to take off. You can put it on regardless of whether the rifle is cocked or not.


The magazine

Here’s how it works in a nutshell. You first wind the magazine spring, then you advance a little bit more and insert the first pellet–which is actually the last one. The clear cover can then be rotated around the mag and you drop in pellets every time the cover aligns with a pellet chamber. It’s quick to load, very positive (as in it doesn’t spill pellets all over the place) and it advances to the next pellet positively every time. As in it NEVER jammed in hundreds of shots! Best of all, after shot 10 the mag blocks the bolt from going forward, so there is no chance of shooting a blank–the great fear of every field target competitor who shoots a repeater.

The scope and base


The Marauder comes without sights, as any good PCP does, so plan on scoping yours immediately. I purchased a CenterPoint 8-32 scope, which is ideal for the accuracy potential of the rifle. The scope adjusts for parallax from 10 yards to infinity and goes from 8 power for general shooting all the way to 32 power for precise rangefinding ability out to 40-45 yards.

The scope base on the receiver is a standard 11mm dovetail, but because of the magazine that intrudes from the side, you must use two-piece scope rings. I found that the barrel drooped a bit, so I also had to mount the scope in B-Square adjustable rings, so the rear ring could be positioned higher than the front.

A CenterPoint 8-32X56 scope is the perfect sight for an accurate rifle like the Marauder. This one has sideweel focus that runs down as close at 10 yards, and an illuminated mil-dot reticle to help you on both ends of the hunting day.


So, whether you are just starting out with airguns or you are ready for the big leagues, the Benjamin Marauder is the right air rifle for you. If you have been waiting for the best PCP, the wait is over.



To buy or get more information on the Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle in .177 calibre, .22 calibre or .25 calibre, click the link below.

Benjamin Marauder Air Rifle

To buy or get more information on the Centerpoint 8-32x56 air rifle scope, click the link below.

CenterPoint Power Class 8-32x56AO Rifle Scope, Illuminated Mil-Dot Reticle, 1/8 MOA, 30mm Tube




All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.


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Monday, February 21, 2011

KA-BAR Large Heavy Bowie Knife Review

KA-BAR 14-1/4" Large-Heavy Bowie with Leather/Cordura Sheath
KA-BAR 14-1/4" Large-Heavy Bowie with Leather/Cordura Sheath

If you need a knife heavy enough for chopping wood, the KA-BAR Large Heavy Bowie could be a match. The tactical black high carbon 1085 steel blade is flat ground and tempered to Rockwell 55 to 57 -- it's a strong edge that will even hold up to rocks without serious damage. If you try skinning a deer with it, you may miss a lighter knife's hollow ground razor edge. This KABAR Heavy Bowie is better at the rough work.

With a Kraton grip formed securely to the rat tail tang, this big Bowie knife has more of the feel of a machete, which Ka-Bar makes in a very similar pattern. Both styles of knife use the same materials and are produced by the same suppliers in Taiwan. Standards are set pretty high for the Bowie, at least in terms of durability. You can treat it much like an axe without doing it harm, since the blade is a full quarter-inch thick. It probably will come in most useful as a substitute for a light camp axe and work well for the same chopping and trimming chores.

Amazingly enough, the KA BAR Bowie Knife only weighs 8 ounces due to the rat-tail handle build and the Kraton grip. You could get a stronger knife in a heavier full-width tang -- but with the KA-BAR Bowie, there's no reason to be concerned. Ka-Bar has been building prybar strong knives with rat-tail tangs for a very long time.

A black leather-backed nylon sheath comes with the Bowie and includes a ring at the tip so you can strap it to your thigh like Rambo. In this case, it makes sense to do that.

Overall the KABAR Heavy Bowie gets an 8 star rating because despite being a beast that can handle big jobs when you need it most, it is also comfortable to use and well-balanced. The downside is the size. You won’t be using this as the survival knife for smaller jobs and probably wouldn’t want to tether this to your leg due to its length. But if you need a bigger knife for bigger jobs, then you can’t beat Ka-Bar quality and the ruggedness of the KA-BAR Large Heavy Bowie Knife.


To buy or get more information on the KA-BAR 14-1/4" Large-Heavy Bowie with Leather/Cordura Sheath, click the link below.

KA-BAR 14-1/4" Large-Heavy Bowie with Leather/Cordura Sheath



All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.

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Thursday, February 17, 2011

Cold Steel Double Agent Knife Review





Cold Steel's Double Agent knives, designed by Zach Whitson, are available in two blade styles. Either the karambit or the clip point version may be safely worn as a last resort neck knife.

Built light and intended for suspension from a dogtag chain, the Double Agent weighs only three ounces including the blade sheath. In that small form, there's a surprising amount of emergency utility. Neck knives are built small for easy concealment, and that's usually the reason they aren't much good -- small size makes them impractical unless there's nothing else available. Heavier than many, the Double Agent version is at the upper end of what can be comfortably worn from a neck chain and provides enough strong blade to actually use.


The unique handle allows insertion of forefinger and little finger into two built-in rings. Middle fingers go over the padded section of the handle. This does have some advantages over straight handle styles, since it's difficult to disarm someone who has their fingers wound through the rings and over the grip. Even if you fall unconscious, the knife should be in hand when you wake up.


Potential problems lie in the handle, not in the three-inch AUS 8A high carbon stainless steel blade. That secure grip requires two hands to mount, and removing it from your hand is equally slow. Owners with oversized fists may find the construction too cramped, and there's no way anyone will ever accuse this knife of being comfortable in use. In spite of that, it may be one of the better neck knives available. That applies as much to the sheath as the knife. A low profile retention button on the Kydex sheath snaps into the forefinger hole of the Double Agent, ensuring that this neck knife won't wind up floating loose in your shirt.



To buy or get more information on the Cold Steel Double Agent I knife with a Plain Blade, click the link below.

Cold Steel Double Agent I Karambit 3" Plain Blade, Grivory Grip


To buy or get more information on the Cold Steel Double Agent I knife with a Serrated Blade, click the link below.

Cold Steel Double Agent I Karambit 3" Serrated Blade, Grivory Grip


To buy or get more information on the Cold Steel Double Agent II knife with a Plain Blade, click the link below.

Cold Steel Double Agent II Clip Point 3" Plain Blade, Grivory Grip


To buy or get more information on the Cold Steel Double Agent II knife with a Serrated Blade, click the link below.

Cold Steel Double Agent II Clip Point 3" Serrated Blade, Grivory Grip



All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.

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Monday, February 14, 2011

Kershaw Skyline Folding Knife Review

Kershaw Skyline 3-1/8" Flipper Damascus Steel Plain Blade, G10 Handles
Kershaw Skyline Flipper 3-1/8" Damascus Steel Plain Blade, G10 Handles

The Kershaw Skyline 1760 is an excellent knife for every day carry. The first thing you notice is how solid it feels in your hand despite the slim and lightweight design of the knife. The grip on the handle is secure and the blade opens with ease with only one hand. In addition, the Skyline is manufactured in the US with quality materials and with an excellent finish. Overall, a great value for the price.

The blade material is Sandvik 14C28 a stainless steel with a stone-washed finish that has a good retention of the edge. The blade is sharp thanks to its deep hollow grind. The resistance to rust without being outstanding is good enough for a knife of this price and edge retention capacity.

Kershaw Skyline 3-1/8" Plain Edge Blade with G10 Handles
Kershaw Skyline Flipper 3-1/8" Plain Edge Blade with G10 Handles

The knife features a flipper opening system that allows a fast deploying of the blade with only one hand. With a firm pull of your index finger on the blade protrusion, the knife opens smoothly and locks securely into position.

The handle is made of textured G-10, a material similar to fiberglass that is extremely durable and hard, but at the same time very light. A good thing about G-10 handles, besides the secure grip, is that it does no€™t become cold in winter or hot in summer like more conventional aluminum or stainless steel handles. The Skyline design features an index finger groove to further secure the grip.

In addition the Skyline features a locking liner to keep the blade in open position, a welcome safety measure. And a removable and reversible pocket clip to fasten the knife to your pants.

On the whole, the Kershaw Skyline is a recommendable knife for every day carry: lightweight, high quality, ergonomic handle, a serviceable blade and all that at a very reasonable price.



To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Skyline knife with a Damascus Steel Blade, click the link below.

Kershaw Skyline Flipper 3-1/8" Damascus Steel Plain Blade, G10 Handles



To buy or get more information on the Kershaw Skyline knife with a Sandvik 13C26 Blade, click the link below.

Kershaw Knives Skyline Flipper 3-1/8" Plain Edge Blade with G10 Handles






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Friday, February 11, 2011

KA-BAR Becker Necker Knife Review


The 6-3/4-inch Becker Necker, now produced by Ka-Bar, seems a bit much to hang around the neck. Though it's better suited for fixing to gear or hanging on the belt, the BK11 outshines many neck knives by simply being enough knife to actually use.

The Necker's 3-1/4-inch flat ground blade is set for a fine cut with a fifteen-degree edge bevel that's easy to keep razor sharp. The one-piece knife with skeletonized tang weighs only 0.15 pounds but provides enough steel handle for a strong hold. You could rig this knife with handle slabs if you're a craftsman and like to tinker, but the real draw of the Necker is the minimalist package. Chrome vanadium 1095 tool steel is the only material used in the Becker Necker, apart from the black powder coating. The Becker Necker BK11 might be a functional Last Ditch Knife or Boot Knife for the tactical user, but it also deserves some consideration if you're an ultra-lite hiker interested in truly practical gear. With the Becker Necker you'll put 2.5 ounces of payload into a knife that's worthwhile. One extra perk for Necker owners is the useful gap in the butt of the handle, capable of breaking (not cutting) wire or even prying loose bottle caps.

In partnership with Ka-Bar, the Becker Knife and Tool Company of Olean, New York, still manufactures this quality neck knife. The knife's sheath is the only part produced outside the U.S. and is manufactured in Taiwan to Ka-Bar specifications. The Necker comes with a Kydex sheath which can be strung to carry handle-up or down. The notch at the rear of the handle is both a wire/fence breaker, and a bottle opener.



To buy or get more information on the Ka-Bar Becker Necker Neck Knife, click the link below.

KA-BAR Becker Necker Neck Knife with 3-1/4" 1095 Cro-Van Carbon Steel Blade



All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Zero Tolerance Model 0350 Knife Review

This is the Zero Tolerance Model 0350 knife. It's a Black colored devil in disguise, poised for the attack, ready and willing to work with you.

This model is 10% smaller than the ZT 0300 which is a chunkier more commanding knife. It is just as powerful though, just as menacing, just as powerful, yet it is more agile and works just as well in smaller hands, so it becomes more usable, and can be held for longer periods of time without any unnecessary fatigue coming into play.

Zero Tolerance Model 0350 Assisted 3-14 S30V Plain Blade, Black G10 Handles

It features the Speedsafe deployment mechanism – and utilizes a thumb stud, as well as an extended tang to allow you to open the knife with one hand.

The blade has been made from S30V DLC coated stainless steel and measures 3.5 inches. From this there is 3.25 inches of cutting edge available.


The handle measures approximately 4.5 inches and benefits from a machined G-10 Black scaling to ensure a nice contoured grip is maintained that helps to keep hands cool.


To buy or get more information on the Zero Tolerance Model 0350 knife with a Plain Blade, click the link below.

Zero Tolerance Model 0350 Assisted 3-1/4" S30V Plain Blade, Black G10 Handles


To buy or get more information on the Zero Tolerance Model 0350 knife with a Combo Blade, click the link below.

Zero Tolerance Model 0350st Assisted 3-1/4" S30V Combo Blade, Black G10 Handles




All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.
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Friday, February 4, 2011

Lanksy Knife Sharpening System Review


Lansky Professional Knife Sharpening System

If you're a junkie for sharp edges, as I am, you've probably tried nearly every tool or technique chasing the perfect edge.

The Lansky is one of the few products I've used which has withstood the test of time. Using a design which features a simple fixture into which the knife is clamped and stones guided by rods at preset angles, the Lansky offers tremendous precision that even the most advanced freehand sharpeners would find hard to match.

The preset angles take all the guesswork out of sharpening. Even a relative newbie can confidently return a dull knife to sharpness with a minimum of fuss. Although I'm primarily a dedicated freehand sharpener, I use mine on occasion for resetting bevels and other special sharpening tasks where absolute precision is the key to success. I'm still consistently impressed with the performance.

It's an excellent tool to have in your sharpening kit and one which is easy on the wallet compared to the cost associated with assembling a full kit of waterstones. The kit comes with four standard stones (coarse, medium, fine, ultra fine) and one triangular stone designed for use on serrated knives. Running up through the four grits, it's easy to produce a refined edge. For someone looking for an edge with a higher level of polish and refinement, the optional sapphire honing stone is highly recommended, providing a finish comparable to lower grit polishing waterstones.

The multiple preset angles built into the fixture provide a wealth of precision options for fine tuning and customizing edges. Generally speaking, the system works best on shorter knives, as it is necessary to move the clamp along the spine of longer knives in order to sharpen different sections of the blade. Although somewhat inconvenient, this doesn't affect the performance of the system one way or the other.

The results are well worth the effort.


To buy or get more information on the Lansky Standard Knife Sharpening System, click the link below.

Lansky Standard Knife Sharpening System

Lansky Standard Knife Sharpening System



To buy or get more information on the Lansky Universal Knife Sharpening System, click the link below.

Lansky Universal Knife Sharpening System

Lansky Universal Knife Sharpening System

To buy or get more information on the Lansky Deluxe Knife Sharpening System, click the link below.

Lansky Deluxe Knife Sharpening System

Lansky Deluxe Knife Sharpening System

To buy or get more information on the Lansky Natural Arkansas Knife Sharpening System, click the link below.

Lansky Natural Arkansas Knife Sharpening System

Lansky Natural Arkansas Knife Sharpening System

To buy or get more information on the Lansky Professional Knife Sharpening System, click the link below.

Lansky Professional Knife Sharpening System

Lansky Professional Knife Sharpening System

To buy or get more information on the Lansky Standard Diamond Knife Sharpening System, click the link below.

Lansky Standard Diamond Knife Sharpening System

Lansky Standard Diamond Knife Sharpening System

To buy or get more information on the Lansky Deluxe Diamond Knife Sharpening System, click the link below.

Lansky Deluxe Diamond Knife Sharpening System

Lansky Deluxe Diamond Knife Sharpening System





All Comments are Welcome and Appreciated.

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Support the fight for our freedoms with a Knife Rights t-shirt, mug or any of the other clothing or accessories from the new Knife Rights Online Market Place. 100% of the profits go to support Knife Rights.



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