Hello from the SHOT Show exhibit hall floor. Today it was 9.1 miles of walking, including the stroll to and from my hotel. SHOT 2025 is a high-mileage endeavor.
Garmin was at the show today, and I give the company credit for my ability to record my workouts and steps. I use a Tactix 7. For those who want a Garmin for duty, the Instinct 3 is out -- both the AMOLED and Solar models. This is the most perfect duty watch that has come out in decades. It’s tough enough for patrol and it provides wireless health monitoring. They finally put a built-in utility light on this model.
However, I digress. This article is about knives.
CRKT Twist Tighe Compact
I looked at dozens of knives, but the patrol duty knife for the MOLLE vest is the CRKT Twist Tighe Compact. This USA-made OTF is made in conjunction with Hogue. It has a “twist” patterned carbon fiber grip and, get this, a Magnacut blade. Magnacut is one of the newer “super steels,” and I have some great experience with Magnacut. It is tougher than most of the products out there, and it has edge retention that goes on and on.
I am not usually a double action OTF user, but this product has balance and a hand feel that has changed my perspective. It comes in various colors, and you’ll have to try the action to believe it.
Spyderco’s Para 3 Salt
Spyderco has expanded its Salt Series with a Para 3 Salt. If your duty assignment requires wearing a flotation device, this knife is for you. The Para 3 Salt has Spyderco’s original Caribbean Bi-directional yellow and black scales in G-10 and, get this, a Magnacut blade. Here’s a fun fact about Magnacut: It can be used in a salt-water-resistant application and Spyderco is the only one to my knowledge that does it.
The scales on the Para 3 Salt are made from alternating black and yellow G-10 layers. The looks and the textured pattern stand out in the knife world.
Making a folding knife salt-water resistant is no small feat. First, the steel in the blade cannot possibly be the same type of steel in the springs, liners, or even pins of the knife. These steels must have different properties because of their different functions. If you know anything about the principles of galvanic corrosion, placing two different steels together in salt water often causes one steel to attack the other. Spyderco has a proprietary method of protecting its knife construction, and the result is amazing. The Para 3 Salt is a beautiful version of this knife, with a smooth action and a non-slip grip.
Case Knives Crossroads Sod Buster Jr
I like slip joint (non-locking) knives for utility work. The one I saw at Case Knives made me nostalgic. First, why does Lindsey like slip joints? Have you ever sat around a campfire and whittled on a piece of wood? I believe that people who whittle satisfy something that words cannot explain. Whittle more, stress less.
Ordinarily, I like trapper-style knives, and Case Knives has plenty of them. However, my first whittling knife was a Sod Buster. Today, I looked at the new Crossroads Sod Buster Jr, with black burlap and Dayglow G-10 scales. This is a single-blade design. It is light, and the burlap texture gives it great grip. The steel is S35VN.
I’m not a good whittler, but I sure like to practice. I have had great conversations over nothing more complicated than sharpening a stick. I’m going to get a Sod Buster for this purpose.
