Generally speaking, I’m content with a 4- to 5-inch field knife when I go into the woods. I can usually do whatever I need to do with a knife that size. I’ll concede, though, that there are definitely some tasks that you can do faster or better with a big blade.
This may not be a big deal in temperate weather, but when you’re cold and wet, and snow is on the ground or falling, things such as shelter building and fire prep take on a bit more urgency. That’s when being able to work faster and more efficiently with a big blade becomes important. With that in mind, a big blade to me needs to be rugged and capable of withstanding a lot of abuse, be able to stand up to harsh conditions, and be able to chop. Those criteria fit the Chop House from CAS Iberia perfectly.
MEET THE CHOP HOUSE
The Chop House may not be what you think of when you think of a foul weather survival knife, but it works quite fine in that role. At first glance, you’ll see a lot of cleaver influence in the Chop House. Upon closer look, you’ll see those lines are really that of the Chinese Dao sword, taken down to a more compact, yet still formidable size.
Esta historia es de la edición March-April 2021 de Knives Illustrated.
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Esta historia es de la edición March-April 2021 de Knives Illustrated.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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TIP TALK
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLADE TIP SHAPES AND WHY IT MATTERS
HOLDING FIRM
GETTING A GRIP ON KNIFE HANDLE BENEFITS, MATERIALS, AND FUNCTIONALITY
EDGE UP
TIPS, TRICKS, AND TECHNIQUES TO SHARP WHEN ADVENTURING FAR FROM HOME
THE COMBAT KITCHEN
SLICE, DICE, CHOP, AND CUT: FOOD PREP WITH BLADES FROM POPULAR TACTICAL KNIFE COMPANIES
MORAKNIV Classics
THESE TIMELESS BUSHCRAFT KNIVES HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND ARE BETTER THAN EVER
ONE FOR THE ROAD
CHOOSING AN “EVERYWHERE KNIFE” CAN BE DIFFICULT DUE TO COMPLICATED KNIFE LAWS
TRAVELING LIGHT
SOMETIMES, INEXPENSIVE UTILITY BLADES YOU PICK UP AT YOUR DESTINATION CAN GET THE JOB DONE
MATCHED PAIR
JB KNIFE WORKS LAYMAN KNIFE AND GAMBIT HATCHET COMBO: ONE PICKS UP WHERE THE OTHER LEAVES OFF
WHEN BIGGER IS BETTER
THE CAS IBERIA CHOP HOUSE IS A MACHETE THAT PROVIDES BIG BLADE CUTTING POWER
KITCHEN KNIVES DON'T HAVE TO BE DULL
I have a confession to make. See if this sounds familiar. I take meticulous care of the knives I use for everyday carry, hunting, and general woods wandering. I wipe them down with an oily cloth after use and I never let them get too dull. Seldom do I have to restore a damaged edge. Most of the time I simply touch up the edges of my pocketknives with a few careful strokes across the rough bottom of a ceramic coffee cup. That’s usually all that’s needed. I don’t use my knives as screwdrivers or pry bars. As a matter of fact, I still have the very first knife I ever owned, an old Boy Scout knife that was handed down from my older brother. The blades have a deep patina that comes with using carbon steel over the years, but the knife is very usable still.
