CRKT Batum

I just got the CRKT Batum (large version) and this thing is a TANK. I had the compact Batum, and liked it so much I thought I’d get the big brother. The Batum and Batum compact are designed by Jesper Voxnaes.

My first impression of the Batum was “man, this thing is heavy”. Like pull your shorts down heavy (if you’re not wearing a belt, of course).  Because of the weight, the action on this knife is much smoother out of the box than you would find on most CRKT knives.

The blade is made from 8Cr13MoV and measures just over 3”. It weighs in at 7oz. To give you a comparison, the Boker F3 only weighs 6.55oz. The handle is made from stainless steel and black G-10.

The handkerchief pictured is from Hitch & Timber, though I believe they are sold out and I’m not sure when they will have more.

The bottle opener/pocket tool is the Culprit by Koch Tools. Justin makes awesome tools and knives in very limited runs, so they tend to be quite elusive. You can check out his work on his website in the link above.

As always, thanks for looking!

Titanium Pioneer X

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, been on a nice long vacation in Switzerland.

Today I wanted to share one of my newest Swiss Army knives (and probably my favorite). This is a Pioneer X by Victorinox, which I reviewed in an earlier blog post. But this one is a bit different – this Pioneer has full titanium scales, and all of the tools have been etched and stonewashed. The handkerchief pictured is made by Alienated Supply Co.

John from Brasswerx put this one together for me, and he did a fantastic job. He recently got into modifying Swiss Army Knives, and this one was actually a part of his first batch. Serial number 003 to be exact..

The titanium scales add such a solid feel to the knife. Even more than the aluminum scales add compared to the cellidor scales. One side has the cross cut out (which is an awesome touch), and the other has a ¼” hex cut into it. I also love the darkened stonewashed look to the tools. It really changes the look of the knife completely.

I’m really glad that I was able to grab one of the knives in the first batch. It will definitely not be my last. You can check out more of his work on his website here, and his Instagram here.

Thanks for looking!

Custom Victorinox Spartan

This awesome looking knife is the Spartan by Victorinox with custom textured brass scales. This knife was customized by Robert Lessard (take a look at his website here). Robert makes some incredible custom swiss army knives. He may be the best SAK modifier out there in my opinion.

I have several Spartans, and even though it may not be my favorite Swiss Army Knife model, it is probably the most widely known and used. The Spartan is the model that kind of “commercialized” the Swiss Army Knife to the world. Whether you’re in the office all day, or spending time camping outdoors, the variety of tools on this model make it useful for everyone.

The Spartan features a large blade, a smaller blade, a can opener with a small screwdriver, a bottle opener with a larger screwdriver, a reamer/punch, a corkscrew, tweezers, and  a toothpick. (This custom version only has tweezers on the opposite side)

Ursa Minor

This shot features the Ursa Minor by Kizer Cutlery, the Bottle Scalper by Tony Nicholl, and handkerchief by Cranky Hanky Co.

Ursa Minor – This knife is designed by Ray Laconico and produced by Kizer Cutlery. The knife is a frame lock folding knife with “flipper” opening style. The action on the Ursa Minor is probably the smoothest of any knife that I own. The blade is made from CPM-S35VN stainless and measures 3.125”. The handle and clip are both titanium. The hardware comes in a blue color, but I have had some customization done to mine. The hardware and clip have been anodized to a bronze color, and the handles have been stonewashed. The blade has also been acid washed, etched, and sharpened to a mirror finish. One thing I really love about the blade is the “harpoon” style grind that gives it a little more character.  

Bottle Scalper – This simple bottle opener/pry bar is designed and made by Tony Nicholl (@nichollknives on Instagram). I like the simplicity of this small tool. It’s thin and lightweight, but sturdy enough to be used as a light pry bar or flat screwdriver. Not to mention the ability to open an ice cold beer! Tony makes these in different thicknesses and metals. Mine is made from a stainless steel.

Plaid Handkerchief – This is another one of my many handkerchiefs from Cranky Hanky Co. These usually measure 10.5”x 10.5” and are double sided made from cotton.