The overwhelming majority of hunters in this country use compound crossbows. They are faster and more powerful, given the same draw weight rating, than recurve crossbows. But they are also a lot more complex and they are generally considerably more expensive than recurve models.  With that said, here are some of the best reasons your first crossbow should be a recurve, not a...

A bowie knife, with its distinctive and imposing clip-point blade, is much more than just a historical weapon that was made famous at the Sandbar Fight.  In fact, it’s a very practical knife pattern that has a lot of uses. Here are 7 of the best of them that most outdoorsmen can appreciate.  Clearing Trails and Brush  While it might not be as effective for this...

Benchmade Knives really upped the ante in the knife world when they introduced the AXIS Lock. Not to mince words, this is the best knife lock out there, period. That’s why it’s been imitated and duplicated countless times, which is evident to anyone that’s paid any sort of attention to trends in the world of folding knives for the past ten years or so. Every big knife...

There are few bayonet patterns as recognizable as the M98 Seitengewehr bayonet, also known as the “butcher” bayonet, the bad publicity of which plagued Imperial Germany through the propaganda disseminated during the First World War. Here’s what you should know about it.  The “Butcher” Bayonet More properly known as the M98 Seitengeweher (sidearm),...

Let’s just say you’re in the market for a new knife, but aren’t sure if an assisted opener, a push button automatic knife, or some typical folder with no deployment mechanism is for you.  Well, if any of the following 5 conditions applies to you, you might be a good candidate for a push button automatic knife.  You have had trouble with the learning curve...

Whether you’re looking for an anime sword from Bleach or something from Demon Slayer, there is an important question you should ask yourself: “Am I going to actually use this sword, or am I just going to display it or use it for cosplay?” This is a very important question, because swords are not like knives in the sense that you can use them pretty much for anything...

Before you spring (no pun intended) and buy an assisted opening knife, make sure you fully understand the differences between these and conventional pocket knives that don’t have assisted opening mechanisms. Conventional Pocket Knives  There are many different types of conventional pocket knives, ranging from multi-blade traditional pocket knife patterns like stockman and barlow...

BUDK is a name you should know if you like to collect (or use) edged tools. It’s a knife store that sells a massive range of fixed and folding blades, including stilettos, automatic knives, assisted opening knives, and much more. They carry a bunch of unique brands and patterns that you won’t find elsewhere, and also represent some of the top brands in the industry such as...

There are many self defense weapons out there that can be shockingly effective even if they don’t really seem practical, but for obvious reasons sometimes it is not possible (or legal) to carry a knife or a gun. That being the case, here are 7 alternative self defense weapons along with why they can be effective.  Brass Knuckles Brass knuckles are basically a fortification...

It’s impossible to see Rambo II and not remember the knife the titular character carries throughout much of the movie. It’s a huge bowie knife with a sawback spine, carried primarily as a fighting knife.  But is this type of knife really an effective tool in the field, or is it just something that collectors of famous movie props should pursue? Let’s peel back the...