Category: YouTube Videos

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Last Week’ Knife Thoughts 2026-3-2

Why Choose a Slipjoint?

I recently posted an article outlining 4 things a modern knife enthusiast should know before purchasing their first slipjoint, but that begs the question ‘Why choose a slipjoint in the first place?’. I think this question probably deserves its own full article, and in a way this recent article on Fountain Pens and Traditional Knives goes into depth on one reason. That said, here I want to give you two other good reasons why it’s worth owning, carrying, and using a slip joint knife.

4 Things Modern Knife Enthusiasts Should Know Before Buying Their First Slipjoint

Legality

The sad fact is that some places have laws against locking knives. Several nations in Europe and even some localities in the United States ban locking knives. Slipjoints are both legal to carry and seen as less threatening in many places.

Walk & Talk

There’s nothing quite like the “walk and talk” of a good slipjoint. Walk and talk is the sound and feel of the knife opening and closing. Of course, modern knives have their own sounds and action, but there’s something particularly satisfying about the experience of opening and closing a good old fashioned back spring slipjoint.

Why Do YOU Choose to Carry a Slipjoint?

Reach out below to let me know!



    Every Day Kara’s Basik Bolt Action Machined EDC Pen Review Video

    Great Eastern Cutlery Hunter & Filet Knife Set Video

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    Last Week’s Knife Thoughts 2026-2-23

    The Leatherman ARC; Father’s Helper?

    I recently got a Leatherman ARC, and have found it to be even more useful than I expected. The ARC is certainly geared at least somewhat toward enthusiasts, with its fancy Magnacut blade steel. However, it also seems suited to serious work like might be done in the trades: it has all one hand opening and locking tools, a wide toolset including a saw and file, and solid pliers with wire cutters. However, I’ve found it to be most useful in my role as a father.

    It really struck home to me that having a multitool on my person is useful as a dad the other day. My elder son absolutely NEEDED to have a toy fixed right away while I was feeding my younger son, and the one hand opening came in clutch. I also have used the scissors to cleanly cut lots of Pedialyte Popsicles open when my son was sick. The inclusion of both a large and a small phillips/flathead bit has come in handy when my son’s various trains and other toys have run out of batteries. There have been lots of other uses for my ARC related to parenting, but suffice it to say it’s a great tool to have at hand.

    I plan to do a thorough review of the ARC once I’ve put it to a good stretch of use and get my thoughts together on it, so make sure you’re subscribed to my YouTube at this link!

    Olight Oknife Otacle EDC Utility Knife Review Video

    Hoffner Snap Tactical Folding Knife Review Video

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    Last Week’s Knife Thoughts 2026-2-16

    Keychain EDC

    One of the classic ways to carry your EDC tools is on your keychain. It makes sense, since you likely carry your keys with you all (or most) of the time anyway. There’s a whole world of keychain sized tools out there; everything from flashlights, to pens, pry bars, and of course knives.

    I have carried a full keychain EDC before, but don’t currently. I find that it becomes cumbersome quickly, and isn’t such a great look to have a big tangle of metal clinking and swinging around. Still, I do keep a few things other than keys on my keychain:

    • Barlow Bearcat Club Copper Coin
    • Rough Ryder Cross Slipjoint (bone scales removed)
    • Apple AirTag

    I used a simple dangler hook for years, but recently have been using a Nite Ize G-Series clip.

    That said, I do have two keychain kits setup currently. One I keep on my backpack (… sometimes) and the other I keep next to my door at home. Do I use them much? No, but it’s fun to put together intentional setups and can be useful to have them around.

    Left (black) setup:

    • Olight iMini 2
    • Mini Sharpie
    • Spyderco Manbug Leaf
    • Nextool Mini Sailor Lite

    Right (silver, USA made) setup:

    • Christy Companion
    • Maratac Widgy Pry Bar
    • TEC Accessories PicoPen
    • MagLite Solitaire LED
    • ASP Palm Defender

    Do you carry a knife or any other EDC tools on your keychain?

    Jack Wolf Knives Gunslinger V3 Unboxing

    These will be available on 2/26/26. Get yours at Traditional Pocket Knives (affiliate link).

    Honey Badger Arsenal V4 Bolt Action Machined Titanium EDC Pen Review Video

    GEC made Waynorth Bison Belly Video

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    Last Week’s Knife Thoughts 2026-2-9

    Sharpening System in Your Pocket; DMT Credit Card Diamond Stones

    This past week one of my Jiu Jitsu training partners asked me to sharpen their knife, but in the bustle of getting ready for the day I forgot to put my knife maintenance kit in my bag. Thankfully, I keep a Coarse-Medium-Fine trio of DMT Credit Card Diamond Sharpeners in a tool pouch in my car. With just those three unobtrusive tools I was able to get his knife respectably sharp in just a few minutes.

    I have been using DMT’s Credit Card stones for years, and think they’re some of the most convenient and useful sharpening tools available. They are literally the same dimensions as a credit card, maybe a bit thicker than plastic cards but similar to metal cards, and can actually fit in a wallet. They can be held securely with one hand as you hold the knife with the other – no table needed. Like any bonded sharpening tool they will wear out, the grit is just applied to a metal card rather than throughout like on a traditional stone, but I’ve found them to last remarkably well. Whether on the road, in the outdoors, or just at work you can keep them close by anytime.

    Of course, any unguided sharpening stone requires that you learn how to sharpen freehand. While it takes more care and work than a guided angle sharpener or pull through sharpener, I think freehand sharpening makes up for it mainly in the satisfaction it brings. Freehand sharpening can be meditative, bringing you into the process in a fulfilling way. It’s similar to what I described about Fountain Pens and Traditional Knives in this article:

    Intentionality Over Practicality: Traditional Knives and Fountain Pens

    Anyway, these DMT Credit Card stones have served me well and I recommend them if you want a convenient portable freehand sharpening system. If you’d like to get some for yourself, you can find them at the link below (I am not sponsored by DMT and have purchased all the stones I use. The link is an Amazon Affiliate link).

    https://amzn.to/3Zo8Iw9

    Great Eastern Cutlery 2025 #25 Watch Pocket Barlow Full Run Review Video

    Cold Steel Ranch Boss Review Video

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    Last Week’s Knife Thoughts 2026-1-26

    Color Coordinated Carry

    I remember when orange was the cool color in the EDC community. Everything came in various shades of orange, and people posted matching carries with knife, flashlight, pen, pouch, and trinkets all in orange. Not to say orange has exited the zeitgeist of EDC entirely, but the community seems to have in some ways moved on. Not me! I still enjoy throwing a bunch of orange stuff in my pockets often, and have been carrying some this week. Namely:

    • Hinderer XM-18 3.5 Skinny Slicer
    • Everyday Kara’s Basik 004 All Hallows Eve
    • Katahdin Packs Small Accessory Pouch

    Now, while I have carried my orange GEC #71 Bullnose a bit, I’ve mostly carried two traditional knives gifted to me by fellow Barlow Bearcats. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying both the Great Eastern Cutlery Gunstock Jack SFO #25 Watch Pocket Barlow (thanks Austin!) and GEC made Waynorth Bison Belly (thanks Charlie!); they’re not orange, but they sure are classics! I also don’t have an orange flashlight currently and, truth be told, don’t carry one that often.

    Do you coordinate what tools you carry? If so, how?

    SOG PowerPint Review Video

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