Classification, types and types of knives
When choosing a knife, you need to understand one thing: no one will give you a magic recipe on how to choose a knife that can solve all your problems. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to enter and exit this river on your own. You will re-read a mountain of literature, spend a lot of time on Internet forums, buy one “rat”, then another, then definitely “buck 110”, then you will painfully choose between “Emerson” and “zero tolerance” ...
And one day everything will fall into place:
in the kitchen for all tasks there will be a series of knives from Hattori,
in a business briefcase an elegant folder from Mcusta,
and in a fixed backpack from Fallkniven.
And the one who decides to go to the very end will one day find that all tasks are easily covered by a simple and reliable higonokami.
The note: The purpose of this article is to try to help a suffering child and an experienced husband and all those who are lost in the modern variety of types of knives and manufacturers. This material does not claim to be universal, but we will try to clear the grain from the chaff, the real from the evil one and help the reader make the right choice - correctly determine the type and choose a knife for solving their problems.
So, where to start choosing a knife and how to correctly understand what the knife you plan to buy is intended for.
Homework: Ask yourself - why do I need a knife, what tasks will I solve with my knife? In most cases, the type of knife is directly related to its functional purpose. If you do not go into details and do not argue about the terms, then by general purpose, knives can be divided into several types:
knife - a weapon (a knife is used for defense and attack);
a knife for long-term use (or survival) in the wild;
work knife (electrician's knife, lifeguard's knife);
household knife (the whole range of tasks in everyday life);
knife as an element of social status (sea dagger, national knife);
decorative knife (interior item).
The combination of various functional purposes (that is, some kind of versatility) is of course possible, but think about it, do you need it? The combat knife of a swimmer-saboteur looks very cool on the outside, but at the same time it is practically useless in the kitchen. A naval officer's dagger will perfectly decorate an empty bookshelf, but it is completely useless as a utility knife. That is, the more accurately you determine the purpose of your knife, the more accurately you will select the type of knife you need. And here we smoothly approach what usually causes great bewilderment among mothers, wives and colleagues in office life:
It's okay to have a knife!
Having several types of knives to solve various tasks is right!
And if you are reading this material, it means that you, one way or another, thought about it.
Surely you are familiar with the situation when at work you need to cut a cake and open wine - and at the same time none of the men has a knife or a corkscrew? Strange, right? Realize this - not a single male has a knife with him.
Or, for example, at a picnic in a big company, there will always be one or two "tough guys" who have a machete and some other outrageous "cool" with a blade of complex shape. But there is no normal knife that can easily cut meat, tomatoes and lemon into thin slices.
Do the people with whom you go rafting on the Karelian river know how to carry out rescue work on rough water? If someone gets stuck in the threshold under a pile of water, does anyone have a serrated blade knife to cut wet synthetic rope?
If a cabinet door breaks in an office, what do you do? Will you call the supply manager or take out a multi-tool with a screwdriver from the table and screw the door into place? What will your colleague do? And which of you is a real man, and who is an office plankton?
There is another aspect to consider when choosing the type of knife. It may sound trite, but often the type of knife can be determined by how it is positioned by the manufacturer. I.e:
Tourist knife - for tourism;
Hunting knife - for hunting;
Combat knife - for fighting.
There are only small differences. Fallkniven F1 knives are being tested in the tundra beyond the Arctic Circle, while the Ontario Rat was born in the Amazon jungle. In the Arkhangelsk region it is cold most of the time, on the Karelian Isthmus it is cold and humid, and in the southern Volga steppes it is hot and very dry. Where do you plan to use your knife? The answer to this question will allow you to choose the right type of steel that will most effectively solve your problems in the climatic conditions where you spend most of your time. Anyway, now it's time to talk about the types of knives in the form in which they are described in the literature or in the manufacturer's technical documentation.
The main types of modern knives:
Consider now each type of knife in more detail.
Combat knives (definition) - combat knives, as the name of this type of knives implies, are designed for combat use. That is, to inflict defeat on enemy manpower in close combat when performing offensive or defensive actions. Combat knives are melee weapons in every sense:
historical;
Legal.
In a historical sense, a combat knife should stab and chop. And before my eyes immediately there are frames of films where sworn enemies are engaged in a long and beautiful knife fight. Any specialist in contact martial arts will immediately say that most hand-to-hand fights end with a fight in a prone position. That is, each of the opponents has only one chance: to inflict the most powerful stabbing blow along the shortest trajectory. If one doesn't make it, the other will. The weapon that was born in the Russian criminal environment of the 19th century - the so-called "sharpening" - was created according to the same principle. There is no other way to hit a man in thick winter clothes made of tanned skins, as soon as inflicting a penetrating wound on him with a thin and narrow blade. And that is why, in the legal sense, the Russian legislative tradition initially restricts everything that has a piercing-penetrating effect. If you have a dagger-type blade in your hands and the handle is equipped with stops-limiters (in the colloquial language “guard”), then without a doubt it is a melee weapon.
Important: sale of chemical weapons on the territory of the Russian Federation without a license is prohibited.
Combat knives (description) The most prominent representatives of combat knives, which are known to any person familiar with history, are soldier's trench (trench) knives. Before and during the First World War, artillery crews of the armies of different countries were equipped with them. The reason is very simple. The war proceeds in a positional way: the soldiers attached their bayonets and went on the attack in a row, and if the chain reaches the positions of the artillery battery, then the artillerymen will have nothing to defend themselves with. And the advancing soldier, who jumped into the trench, is also unable to wield a long rifle with an attached bayonet in a narrow space. Gradually, infantry trench knives came into service in many armies of the world. The Soviet army did not have regular trench knives, so our soldiers were well aware of two types of weapons for hand-to-hand combat: a reconnaissance knife and a small infantry shovel.
In different countries, different combat knives were adopted. In America, this is the well-known KA-BAR, in Finland the traditional puukko with a metal bolster and an emphasis, and in Nepal, of course, kukri. In each country, combat knives are made taking into account national characteristics, the combat experience of units and the equipment of a possible enemy.
There is also one point to be noted here:
if a tactical knife (which we will talk about below) has its main purpose - a protective function (you were grabbed from behind, you took your tactician out of your pocket, inflicted a cut on the attacker's hand, freed yourself from the grip and run away);
then a real combat knife has two main functions: attack and defense. This, it seems to us, is the main difference between these two similar types: combat and tactical knives.
Brief historical background: Different countries have different approaches to the phenomenon called "cold weapons". The Russian Federation has its own traditions of creating and using edged weapons, which, no matter how strange it may sound, are reflected in the current law "On Weapons". Everyone who is just starting to be interested in this topic mistakenly believes that all the "cool" and "advanced" models of edged weapons came to us from the West or from the East. This is not true. With a more thorough study of the issue, it becomes clear that Russian edged weapons have absorbed the best that was in neighboring civilizations:
Technologically pragmatic approach to weapons, characteristic of the West;
The craving of Eastern warriors for light models of edged weapons, with which both foot and mounted warriors can fight as efficiently as possible.
It was thanks to this alloy that, for example, the Russian boot knife and the Cossack checker were born.
Tactical knives (definition) It should immediately be noted that there is no clear definition of what exactly is a tactical knife and what is not. Everyone argues: manufacturers, sellers and buyers. Here we will take the liberty of giving the following definition: a tactical knife is a fixed or folder (folding knife), which, according to Russian law, does not belong to melee weapons, but at the same time has design features that allow it to be used for tactical purposes.
The main characteristics of tactical knives that are allowed for sale in Russia include:
Possibility of fastening the sheath or the knife itself on clothes using "tactical" devices (molle loops, clips and scabbards made of kydex, etc.);
Handles made of materials (or with a relief), which allow you to confidently (injury-safely) hold the knife in your hand with a different grip. (At the same time, the shape of the handle itself, according to the current legislation, remains traumatic: there are no stops or subdigital recesses less than 4 millimeters);
Single-handed, semi-automatic or automatic opening for folding knives;
The characteristics of the blade are within the legal limits, but the blade is shaped to deliver short and quick thrusts (tanto, American tanto);
The presence of percussion elements on the back of the handle, allowing you to deliver strong blows.
The note: here it is worth reiterating that this list is not exhaustive or sufficient. On almost every point, the same disputes are being waged: does the presence or absence of some element make the knife a “tactician” or does it not.
As they say, it's up to you. Everything that is not prohibited by the law on weapons is allowed.
Tactical knives (description) Since most of the readers of this material are definitely not soldiers of super-secret tactical special forces, here one must put one bullet over the “i”. And tell about one taboo. Which is actually not taboo at all, but many prefer to treat this issue that way. So what are we talking about here?
The average citizen has only one tactical reason - self-defense. And here we immediately find ourselves in a legal collision, which everyone who carries a tactical knife permitted by law for tactical purposes must be aware of. The fashion for tactical knives, as an option for possible use for self-defense, came to us from America. Here we will omit long explanations of why it is possible there, but we better not. Briefly, the issue is as follows. Our gun law has a section on civilian guns. There are traumatic pistols, gas cartridges and stun guns. And now attention - there are no knives! None. Neither touristic nor tactical. That is, it is possible by law to carry civilian weapons for the purpose of self-defense. You can also carry any “not cold” knife. The only question is whether it is possible to carry a knife (attention again!) For the purpose of self-defense? Now it’s clear why you need to have a few simple and understandable reasons in response to the question - why do you carry a knife with you?
Well, from the above, it should be clear how not to answer this question. And you also need to understand that ensuring personal security is, first of all, a set of measures and following some simple rules. If you are walking with a girl and there are several drunken young men standing in your way, will you cross the street? And if the girl laughs and says that you are a coward? if the short road through the square is not lit, but the long one is lit, which one will you take? If a “gop company” in the area presses and asks for an expensive phone, what will you get out of your pocket, a tactician or a phone?
The note: any object that is perceived as an additional element of self-defense (gas cylinder, injury, tactics) in an unprepared person causes two main states:
dulling of natural vigilance (Son, do not walk along the dark streets. No, I now have protection and I am not afraid of anything!);
“cowboy complex” (Son, lay out this piece of iron for God's sake! No, now I have weapons and if anything, they will get everything from me!).
Well, if everything is studied, worked out and the decision to purchase is made, then of course, we buy and wear it. Because if it’s an adult, then it’s certainly better to have Pohl Force Alpha in your pocket.
Hunting knives (definition) The traditional type of hunting for Russia is the extraction of small and large fur-bearing animals: hares, foxes, arctic foxes and wolves. A hunting knife should provide a puncture and primary cutting of the skin, further skinning of the carcass and the subsequent division of the carcass into pieces. In the process of this work, the hunter has to deal with materials of various densities: skin, film, pulp, tendons, bones, horns. To perform all these operations, the blade of a hunting knife must have a well-defined shape. As a rule, this is a blade with a straight butt, which has a curved drop to the tip, a sharp tip and a straight cutting edge. Traditionally, hunters performed all operations with one knife. A Yakut can easily butcher a deer with his “Yakut”, a Karelian hunter can handle a fox with a finka, and an Arkhangelsk Pomor could skin a fox with a simple round-handled knife.
Now, many hunters prefer to have several knives for butchering prey, as a rule, these are:
skinning hook;
saw for bones;
straight knife.
Hunting knives (description) At the word hunt, a modern person imagines “tough guys” who, in cars with a 4x4 wheel formula, crawl along a bad road to the nearest hunting ground, where they beat the beast from the targeted positions, which the huntsmen are chasing. The huntsmen are freshening the animals, and the “tough guys” at this moment are arguing which “hunting knife” is better to take: from damask steel or Damascus? In the original sense, a hunter is a person who tracks down an animal in the wild, sets up an ambush for it, and then can follow the wounded animal for a long time in its wake. The hunter will never take with him what he does not need. This specificity makes special demands on the knife.
Hunting knives are one of the few types of knives that have survived to our time almost unchanged. This type of knives includes Russian northern knives, Finnish puukko, Sami tundra knives, Yakut-type knives and many other national knives. The main purpose of a hunting knife is to cut prey. A hunting knife is a clumsy knife that must be made from a single piece of metal. Mounting type through or flush. If the handle of the knife is damaged during work, then it can be easily made in the field. At the same time, the handles of most northern peoples are made of local wood species, which makes it possible to hold them in the cold with a bare hand. The shape of the handle of a traditional hunting knife should also be held equally well by a bare hand and a hand in a thick mitten. It is better to choose a knife with a blade made of soft types of steel, which is easily dressed and sharpened in natural conditions using any smooth stone. It is desirable that the scabbard have a free suspension of the northern type, when the knife dangles freely on the belt. Such fastening of the knife allows you to pass through bushes or thick undergrowth without catching the knife on branches and trunks.
Interesting fact: Northern hunters (Pomors, Sami, Karelians) often used a combination of two knives:
a long taiga knife with a straight blade and a non-sharp tip;
classic finnish style knife.
The long knife was intended for heavy work and partially served as an ax. A short knife did all the small work and was used when skinning prey. Such a combination was worn in one common scabbard.
Throwing knives (definition) Throwing knives are designed to hone the skills of throwing knives at a target. There are several distinguishing features that distinguish a throwing knife from a regular knife:
a metal knife is made from a solid piece of metal, usually forged. This manufacturing technology allows you to withstand blows of great force so that the knife does not break or bend during the throwing process;
a throwing knife, as a rule, does not have overlays on the handle, since it is not supposed to be used for cutting. Plus, when hitting a target, there is always a chance that the handle will crack;
the throwing knife has a balance that is shifted towards the blade, as this improves the ballistic characteristics of the knife;
the handle of the knife, as a rule, has cuts to reduce weight. The same cuts can be used to fix the winding of synthetic cord;
the throwing knife has no cutting edge.
Throwing knives (description) When choosing a throwing knife, it should be remembered that, in principle, any knife can be thrown. But when it comes to throwing a knife that is not designed for throwing, there is always the possibility of damaging or breaking the knife. Therefore, for those who are just starting to master the science of throwing knives, it is recommended to use special throwing knives that help hone their initial skills. It is also important to remember that there should be several throwing knives, from 3 to 5. In this case, the development of the skill will go much faster. It is advisable to use a case for storing, carrying or transporting throwing knives. Using a sheath will allow you to conveniently place the knives on the body and concentrate on the training process.
There are two main types of knife throwing:
reverse knife throwing;
relentless knife throwing.
Reverse knife throwing is the most common variant that allows you to throw knives over long distances. A feature of this method is the need to correlate the strength, speed and distance of the throw. It is better to start reverse knife throwing at a short distance of 3-5 meters, gradually increasing the strength and speed of the throw. It is important to remember that in the process of training, a habit arises of throwing a knife at one familiar distance and the transition to another distance requires some getting used to.
Throwing knives without recourse is a more difficult method that requires some physical skills to be developed. Throwing a knife occurs due to the so-called "wave" that forms the whole body, and the hand with a knife is just a continuation of this process. However, mastering this skill brings excellent practical results. In the process of a wave throw, the knife in flight is always in one position - with the tip forward. The increase in throwing distance occurs due to the increase in the applied force. Even if you have been practicing for a long time to make wave throws at the same distance, then increasing or decreasing the distance is easier than with reverse throwing.
The note: There is one more feature of non-recourse knife throwing - after gaining a confident skill, you can use any clumsy knife with the right balance to throw in a wave way.
If we talk about the practical side of throwing knives, then this skill can be used to develop your ability to survive in the wild. At a short distance, with a confident throw, it is quite possible to hit a hare or a large bird. That is why many experienced survivalists prefer to have a skeletal type knife wrapped with cord or paracord as an additional knife. Such a knife can be used for ordinary work, it can be used for throwing, or you can attach it to a pole and get a finished spear or palm tree.
Outdoor knives (definition) The type of knife that can be called a tourist knife depends on what is called "tourism". For some, a road trip to nature with a tent is a complex event that requires detailed preparation. And for someone, a two-week solo hike along the Kola Peninsula is an easy and pleasant walk.
Usually, it is customary to refer to tourist knives as clumsy and folding knives that have:
blade of medium length 90-120 millimeters,
butt within 2-3 millimeters,
wide blade and high descents;
grippy handle;
the scabbard and handle are made of plastic or polymeric materials.
The main purpose of a tourist knife: cutting products, opening canned food, cleaning fish, planing soft woods, cutting bushes, cutting ropes and fabrics. Outdoor knives usually have a stainless steel blade to resist corrosion. In the manufacture of tourist knives, standard alloys are used so that the cost of the knife is low.
Tourist knives (description) Any type of knives that help a person to ensure a comfortable and safe stay in the conditions of hiking activities can be safely attributed to tourist knives. Perhaps this is too broad a definition, but first we need to decide what exactly we mean by the word "tourism"?
Western knife makers tend to distinguish several basic types of knives for use outside the city:
expedition (bushcraft) knife.
camping (recreation) knife;
Let's take the liberty of asserting that if a manufacturer classifies its products into one of these categories, then the knife can be safely considered "tourist".
Let's try to draw parallels for the Russian tradition of determining the types of outdoor activities:
Camping - picnics in nature and short hikes (with one or two overnight stays and the ability to quickly return to civilization);
Outdoor - tourist trips in organized groups up to 10-14 days (the route is determined, drop-off points are determined, group members have experience, there is a common equipment for life support);
Expedition (bushcraft) - group trips lasting more than 14 days and single trips lasting more than 3 days. An important sign is a large distance from civilization and the impossibility of quickly calling for help or leaving the route.
Knives from the camping and outdoor categories can be unambiguously classified as tourist knives. What tasks have to be solved by a person who plans these two types of activity? As a rule, this is cooking, lighting a fire, setting up a camp. It is worth remembering that tourists often use canned food in all its manifestations, so the presence of a can opener is almost mandatory.
As experience shows, many tourists end up with this combination:
folding knife with can opener;
fixed blade knife for light camp work.
A folding knife is actively used for throwing and throwing, and during the trip it is carried along with kitchen utensils and is used only during meals. A knife with a fixed blade is in the backpack for throwing and throwing, and is always at hand during the trip. Many tourists appreciated the convenience of tactical sheath suspension, making it easy to place the knife on the straps of a backpack or on a chest strap. As for the characteristics of a tourist knife with a fixed blade, here everyone decides for himself based on his experience and tasks. Someone prefers to take an ax, a hacksaw and a knife will be just an addition to this set. And someone prefers to use a machete with a saw on the butt for all tasks.
Bushcraft knives (survival knives) (definition) Most often, when people talk about "bushcraft" they mean survival in the wild far from civilization.
For these purposes, the knife must have several characteristics:
The blade of the knife is made from a single piece of steel, the shank runs through the entire handle;
Blade steel multilayer or single layer, hardness 59-64HRc;
The balance is closer to the tip of the knife:
The handle of the knife has sub-finger recesses and stops-limiters;
One of the edges of the blade has a chamfer for carving sparks from the flint;
Blade shape "drop point" or "bowie";
A survival knife should perform the functions of a regular knife, a small ax and a machete. Quite often, bushcraft knives have a saw on the butt. The sheath is also a useful accessory for this type of knife. The sheath should tightly fix the knife, excluding the possibility of losing it. Often, manufacturers equip scabbards with additional pockets in which you can put a steel, sharpener and other useful little things.
The note: The main quality of a survival knife is indestructibility!
Bushcraft knives (survival knives) (description) With bushcraft knives, everything is simple. This is a type of knife that is designed for survival. For example, a man walked his own way, did not touch anyone, lost all his clothes and equipment, and with one knife he had to get out to people. The question is who this person is - a tourist or a hunter, in what area he was, and what obstacles he may encounter on the way to civilization.
In order to protect yourself from danger, you need to clearly understand what it comes from and how to avoid it. In order to determine what a survival knife is, you need to clearly outline the conditions under which it is planned to use such a knife.
A northern hunter could spend many nights in the tundra and at the same time he could easily manage with two knives: large and small. Such a situation was habitual for a person, and the influence of technogenic factors of civilization on nature was minimal. If anyone could chase him, it was a wild beast, and the most difficult obstacle in his path was a swamp or a beaver dam.
Now, when it comes to survival, we increasingly imagine the consequences of various man-made disasters or the facts of illegal interference in someone's life.
Previously, the list of actions for survival in the wild came down to a simple algorithm:
provide shelter and food;
conduct orientation on the ground, determine the direction and go out to people.
Now survival instructors teach how to overcome man-made obstacles:
when driving along the forest belt, there is a high fence made of metal mesh. The direction is determined correctly, and there is no way to climb over the fence. How and with what to make a hole in the grid to get to the other side?
moving through the ruins of the building, a person falls into the basement. There is no way to get out through the gap. There is a door, but it is closed from the outside. Old hinges are nailed to the jamb with rusty nails. How and with what to cut nails to open the door?
A man who finds himself in an extreme situation accidentally goes to an abandoned base of geologists. There are several sealed iron barrels, presumably with provisions and equipment. How and with what, you can open such a barrel?
Answers to such questions show that in the modern world, the requirements for a survival knife are different from those that were made for similar knives in the last century. And for some reason, I immediately remember the standard bayonet-knife for the AK-47, which, together with the scabbard, could bite through the steel wire.
Do you still think "batoning" is the most important test for a bushcraft knife?
Camp (bivoch) knives (definition) Any equipment that an experienced hunter or tourist takes with him should always meet his tasks. As experience grows, people prefer to take the minimum necessary equipment with them on field trips. One of the important elements of group equipment at a tourist camp or in a hunting camp is a camp (bivouac) knife. In any well-coordinated team in the camps, duty is organized when one or two people remain in the camp and are engaged in maintaining order, cooking, maintaining the fire, and so on. And it is here that the bivouac knife is in the right place.
The main characteristic of this knife is its versatility. The bivouac knife should provide a wide range of tasks:
cutting bushes and branches;
splitting wood chips and sharpening stakes for tents;
cutting large and small prey;
cooking and opening cans;
cutting materials of various densities.
Camp (bivouac) knives (description) When choosing a bivouac knife that will be used by people with different levels of physical fitness and different skills, you need to proceed from two simple rules:
safety in use;
"Fool Protection"
The camp (bivvy) knife is usually an element of group equipment and all members of the group have access to it. It is important that its use is as safe as possible. It is normal practice for tourist groups to leave a guy and a girl on duty. The guy is engaged in a fire and the arrangement of the camp, the girl acts as a supply manager and prepares food for the whole group. If a guy needs to plan the pegs, sharpen them and put up a group tent, then a camp knife comes to his aid. If you need to clear a path among tall bushes and grass, the camp knife comes to the rescue again. If the girl who stayed behind the head chef needs to cut a large amount of food, she uses a camp knife. If you need to cook fish and meat for smoking - again the camp knife is in a hurry to help. Based on such tasks - the camp knife should not be large and heavy. And also must have a handle that a girl can hold.
The second rule is "protection from the fool." It is based on the fact that with a common camp knife they will try to chop and cut materials for which one usually feels sorry for one's own knife. We need to shorten the plexiglass rod - where do we have the camp knife? There is no can opener - we take a camp knife. The camp knife can be forgotten in wet grass or snow, the butt of the camp knife will be beaten with a stick or stone, it will be thrown into trees, and it will be tested for strength in all sorts of other ways. He must endure everything.
Based on this - choose a stainless steel camp knife with a wide butt and a handle made of synthetic material.
The note: The camp knife is, first of all, a knife. No matter how they ask for kukri and machetes in this category, they have completely different tasks. The goals of each group of hunters or tourists can vary greatly, but there is no doubt that in every organized group that spends its holidays far from civilization, there must be a set of group equipment.
Such equipment usually includes:
-
camp knife.
Machete (definition) The machete originated in Latin America, where this tool is used as a tool for harvesting various crops, including sugar cane. The machete is also actively used by the local population and hunters to organize hiking trails through the tropical jungle.
The main purpose of the machete is cutting tropical shrubs and soft-bodied woods. That is, the classic machete is an agricultural tool that has nothing to do with edged weapons. Approximately, as in Russia an ax or a scythe. Of course, it is possible to inflict damage on a person, but if there are more than one rivals, then a heavy chopping object turns into a burden rather than a means of defense or attack.
Based on the main tasks, the shape of the machete blade becomes clear. As a rule, it is a straight butt or a butt rising to the tip. A long and wide blade, the widest possible point, which is often closer to the tip. In most cases, the blade has no descents or has smooth descents from the butt, which sharply turn into a cutting edge. This form of the machete blade is due to the requirements for the safety of the worker. A bebut or saber will easily cut down sugar cane or similar vegetation. But when using this type of weapon, there is always a risk that an unprepared person will injure himself. A machete does not have the task of cutting down the thick trunk of a tropical plant with one swing. A machete is needed to cut down such a trunk in two or three swings with a short range of motion.
Machete (description) Speaking about the machete, you should pay attention to one important thing. In fact, this is the only long-bladed "tool" that an ordinary person can buy. Here, as they say, everyone draws his own conclusions.
When choosing a machete, you need to understand that the range of tasks that this tool can perform in the middle zone of the Russian Federation is very limited. A machete will not replace an ax or a bivouac knife. A machete will not cut down a tree or clean a fish. However, if you are planning to go fishing, where you will have to wade through long thickets of reeds or cattails to the shore, a machete will do the job perfectly. If your path lies through a swampy area, where the main plants are young growths of willow and aspen, here the machete will come to your aid. If you need to quickly prepare a large number of poles, the machete will perfectly cope with the chopping of branches and help remove the bark from the trunks, acting as a boning knife.
When choosing a machete for yourself, you should pay attention to two important factors:
budget machete options presented on our market (for example, a machete from Tramontina) are made of mild steel, have a classic sharpening for this type of knife: high descents, thick approach to the cutting edge;
while there are more thoughtful options, for example, machetes from Cold Steel, which have a chopping weight distribution. But at the same time they have slopes from the butt and a thin approach to the cutting edge.
In the Russian tradition, for most of these tasks, either a heavy knife or an ax is used. But there are crafts where historically tools are used that are functionally close to the machete.
So, for example, in Russia, long knives similar to machetes are actively used for cutting willow bushes when harvesting vines. The willow bush has a circular structure, many branches grow from the center, which stick out in different directions. The bush or part of it is clasped with hands, folded in one direction, and leans. Further, the collector is faced with the task of quickly cutting down all the branches. The ax is not suitable for this task, as it has a large weight and a short cutting edge. Long knives are also not suitable for this task, as they are not suitable for cutting and their center of gravity is shifted towards the handle. Usually, the harvesting of the vine occurs with the help of a wide and long “knife”, which, as a rule, is made in a handicraft way from a quick cutter. Descents on such a knife are not displayed, and sharpening is performed by analogy with an ax. With the advent of machete knives on the Russian market, professional vineyard harvesters prefer to use industrially produced machetes.
Kukri (definition) The traditional Nepalese kukri knife stands apart among the national knives. This is perhaps the only type of knife that has survived from ancient times to the present day almost unchanged. The Nepalese National Museum has kukri dating back to the 14th century. Kukri is a knife with a "reverse bend". This form of edged weapons is traditional for the Eastern weapons tradition and is most likely due to the fact that agricultural tools were originally used for defense and attack.
For any person who picks up a kukri for the first time, the knife makes an indelible impression. Indeed, the original Nepalese knife has a forged blade of an unusual shape for a European, a handle made of natural wood, a large fuller in the upper part and a figured notch on the blade at the junction with the handle. You hold such a knife in your hands and feel like a primitive hunter.
Kukri (description) The kukri blade has a "reverse bend" and sharpening on the concave side. The butt of the blade is quite thick at the handle and gradually tapers towards the tip. The sharp side of the blade closer to the hilt has a figured notch "cho", which has a practical and religious purpose. The practical thing is that "cho" protects the blade from fractures and chips at the junction with the handle. The distribution of force during chopping is such that knives that do not have such a notch often break in this place. In a religious context, this notch symbolizes the trident of Shiva - the main weapon of this god.
Blades with a reverse curve have been known for a long time. Some historians give interesting hypotheses that until a certain time, this form of chopping weapon was characteristic of the Indo-European peoples. Traditionally, the handle for kukri is made of rosewood and has some important features. In the middle of the handle there is a thickening in the form of a ring designed to prevent the knife from slipping out of a wet hand. The back of the handle has a metal insert, thanks to which the knife can be used as a hammer or deliver strong breaking blows. Kukri scabbards are made of wood, covered with buffalo leather on top and have a forged metal element at the bottom that strengthens the entire structure. They wear kukri either on a rigid suspension, or simply behind a belt. Many Nepalese wear kukri on the back of their belt, but such a suspension is very inconvenient for a European, as it does not allow you to quickly remove the knife from its sheath. A convenient option for the location of the kukri is on the left side on the belt, similar to the Caucasian dagger, when the back of the handle is in the middle of the abdomen.
When choosing a kukri, pay attention, first of all, not to the external surroundings, but to the weight distribution and how the knife fits in your hand. The main purpose of this Nepalese knife is cutting. Rigid and ruthless. The center of gravity should be in the widest part of the blade, it is then that the kukri strike will reach its target and cause serious damage. When testing a kukri knife, one should be as careful as possible, since the blade has strong inertia and an unusual bend for an unprepared person.
Interesting fact: Along with the kukri, as a rule, there are two more auxiliary knives. One is called "karda" and is used for chores. Another knife is called "khakma" and is an unsharpened piece of metal with a handle, which is usually used as a flint and flint when making a fire.
If you have never held a kukri in your hands, be sure to do it. Is he really mesmerizing?
Folding knives (definition) Folding knives are any type of knife that has a blade that retracts into the handle. The opening of such a knife occurs by removing the blade from the handle and fixing in the open position. The main advantage of a folding knife is its compactness. Folding knife is the most convenient for daily carrying in urban environments. Even a small, awkward knife requires the use of a sheath. The scabbard should be placed on a belt or suspension. A clumsy knife is difficult to place in a small bag or purse.
For urban concealed or open carry, a folding knife is undoubtedly more convenient and practical. Even on a hot summer day, the right folding knife will not weigh down the pocket of light shorts. For urban EDC use, folding knives have another advantage over non-folding knives - versatility. If in order to feel confident you need a minimum set of tools for all occasions, then feel free to choose a folding multi-purpose knife.
Folding knives (description) Folding knives have been known to man for a long time. As the excavations of the cities of the Roman Empire show, folding knives already existed at that time. The history of the appearance of the folding knife is part of the general evolution of knives, which went in two directions:
ease of use;
bypassing various restrictions on the use of edged weapons in everyday life.
Most people use knives for simple household tasks that a folding knife can easily handle. A compact folding knife is much more comfortable to carry around than a clumsy knife with a sheath. The regular use of a folding knife made a person wonder if it is possible to use it to solve more complex tasks, including to protect one's own life. If the first folding knives did not have a fixation in the unfolded position, then from the middle of the 19th century the next stage in the evolution of the folding knife began - the appearance of locks of various types that fix the folding knife in the open position. You can read more about the types and types of folding knife locks.
The advent of locking on folding knives has made it possible to use this type of knife for more complex work, for which only clumsy knives were previously used. Currently, folding knives are actively used:
rescuers and firefighters;
special forces soldiers;
the rank and file of many European armies;
workers of various construction and industrial specialties.
We can say that we are currently experiencing the "golden age" of the folding knife. The range of folding knives is able to impress even the most brutal male who is not prone to shopping. In the creation of folding knives, the most modern technologies are used, as well as materials that are used in aircraft construction and the space industry. Russian manufacturers originally focused on the creation of non-folding knives (Kizlyar, Vorsma) now have several models of folding models in their product line. Folding knives are gradually replacing their clumsy counterparts from store shelves and from the pages of online catalogs. A folding knife for a city dweller becomes an element of style and social status. This trend cannot but rejoice, as it allows a man to carry a useful and important item that increases brutality and muscularity.
Folding knife is light, compact and convenient. There are several practical options for carrying a folding knife in urban areas:
folding knife fits in a bag of any size;
most folding knives fit in a lighter pocket on jeans;
if the knife is equipped with a clip, then it is easily fixed in any pocket or on a waist belt.
EDC - knives (definition) The passion for EDC (Every day carry) items came to us from the West. Literally translated, this term means "to wear every day." Someone cannot do without an mp3 player, someone without a Phillips screwdriver, and someone without their favorite folding knife.
EDC knives generally need to meet a few simple requirements:
compact dimensions;
light weight;
non-aggressive appearance;
the presence of a clip or a cover for fastening on a belt;
the ability to open or close with one hand.
EDC knives are folding knives (or small fixed-blade knives) that are convenient to carry with you all the time and can easily cope with all household tasks.
The reasons why people carry EDC knives are always very different:
even in ordinary life there is always something to cut or cut;
someone even in a cafe or in a public dining room prefers to use his personal knife;
someone just not used to doing without a knife.
EDC - knives (description) Quite often, you may encounter a situation where you need to cut a thread on clothes or cut food, and none of those present have a knife with them. This is due to the fact that the stores sell packaged portioned products, most cans or bottles are opened without the help of a can opener or a regular knife. If someone, driven by his desire, begins to regularly carry an EDC knife with him, then quite often you may encounter a misunderstanding of friends or colleagues, but at the same time he also often finds a use for the knife, gradually everyone gets used to what “Petya” or “Vasya » There is always a knife and, if necessary, it can always be borrowed for a while. And you first have to regularly answer the questions “why do you need such a knife?”, And then get your favorite “bokers” or “benchmaids” out of your pocket so that someone can cut sandwiches or a cake. For those who regularly carry an EDC knife, there is no question why they need it. Even in ordinary life, there are many tasks that are much easier to solve with a knife, but quite often we do not realize this.
Remember how many times lately you have come across what you need:
open the envelope or package;
cut a knot that cannot be untied;
pry off a transom or cabinet door, which is very tightly closed and does not want to open;
make another hole in the belt;
cut the tag off the clothes.
If this situation occurs at home, then most likely you go to the kitchen, take a knife and or scissors and perform the desired action. If such a situation finds you outside the walls of your home, then a smooth and beloved, time-tested EDC knife comes to the rescue, which for the time being lies in a trouser pocket or in a bag.
The tasks for which people carry EDC knives are always different. It is important for someone to have with them not only a tool, but also a certain element of status and style. And someone may well get by with the simplest folding knife, in which the main tools are a can opener and a corkscrew. Someone uses an EDC knife exclusively for everyday tasks, while someone prefers to use a tactical knife as an EDC.
Any knife that is comfortable to carry around with your urban attire can easily be categorized as an EDC knife. It is important to remember here that the less aggressive and socially harmless the knife looks, the less questions it will cause for law enforcement officers when passing through metal detectors when attending various events.
And of course, it is important to know the signs by which your knife is not a melee weapon, and to have several ready-made answers to the question “why are you carrying a knife with you”?
Multitools (definition) A multitool (or multitool) is a compact folding set of tools that are most often made in the form of folding pliers or a folding knife. If the multitool is made in the form of folding pliers, then additional tools are placed in the handles. If the multitool is made in the form of a folding knife, then the tools each fold into their own plane, like ordinary blades.
The main convenience in using the multitool lies in its versatility. If you don’t have a multitool in your office, then to disassemble a regular system unit you will need:
set of interchangeable bits.
straight and Phillips screwdriver;
pliers;
If you regularly have to perform similar tasks outside your office, then you have to carry all these tools with you. Or you need to get a multi-tool that has all these functions. It is much more convenient to carry one compact multi-tool with you than all these tools individually or combined.
Multitools (description) Multi-tools are a mixed class that includes folding pliers with additional tools and folding multi-tool knives. Each person individually selects for himself the set of tools that he needs to work at home, in the office or at their summer cottage.
Modern multi-tools can be divided into several main types:
multi-tool key rings;
small pocket multi-tools;
full size power multitools.
When choosing a multitool, it is important to imagine a list of tasks for which it will be used. For example, in most cases, you can start from the following list:
unscrew or tighten a screw with a straight or face slot;
unscrew or tighten the bolt with a hex (or torx) slot;
cutting synthetic materials (ropes, thin plastic tubes or plates);
the need to bite or cut wires or thin metal fittings;
the need to perform woodwork (planing, sawing, making grooves and holes);
work with metal fasteners (hinges, corners, drywall profile, etc);
For example, to work on a garden plot, you need a multitool that has wire cutters, a wood saw, a plain blade, a straight and Phillips screwdrivers. For finishing work around the house, it is good when the multitool has wire cutters, a hacksaw for metal and a stripping tool. For mechanical repairs of various equipment, you first need a bit holder, straight and Phillips screwdrivers, and round-nose pliers. In the car glove compartment there is always a place for a multi-tool with powerful pliers and an adapter for socket heads. If you plan to buy a multitool for daily use in urban environments, then it is desirable that it contains scissors, can openers and a corkscrew.
More recently, a new class of multi-tools has appeared in the pry bar format. This is a flat strip of metal that has protrusions or curly cutouts and can be used as:
micro crowbar;
straight or Phillips screwdriver;
wrench;
end bit holder.
Most likely, the old bicycle keys, which were made according to a similar principle, served as an analogue of such multi-tools. If you have grandpa's bike in the garage, look in the bag that hangs under the seat, it might still be there. A flat piece of metal that has variously shaped holes punched into it and that works as:
spoke, pedal and wrench;
carriage puller;
straight and Phillips screwdriver.
If every wobbly piece of furniture in your office gives you a natural masculine desire to tidy it up, maybe you should consider buying a practical multi-tool.
Work or special knives (definition) To work or special knives, as a rule, include knives that are designed to solve various specialized tasks. These knives can have one or more blades and can be equipped with additional tools. Often the blade of a special knife can perform several other functions in addition to cutting. For example, the blade may have a chisel-type sharpening for cutting through medium-density materials. Or, for example, the blade may have a combined blade with straight and serrated sharpening.
Among the special (working) knives, the following are known in Russia:
knives for woodworking;
breadboard knives;
electrician's knife;
"shoe" knives;
knives for construction work;
knives for divers (knives for combat swimmers, knives for civilian divers);
lifeguard knives.
This list is by no means exhaustive and does not cover all possible types of special knives that are used by professionals in various industries. When choosing a knife for any kind of activity, it is always useful to familiarize yourself with existing experience and choose a knife that will best suit your tasks.
Work or special knives (description) Among special knives, several types are known, which are worth dwelling on in more detail.
Knives for woodworking are perhaps one of the most ancient types of working knives. With the help of these knives, you can cut dishes, household items and children's toys from wood. Knives of this type are made, often from soft carbon steel, which is well dressed and the cutting edge can be easily shaped.
Dummy knives are a special type of knives that are used for fine work on paper, plastic or wood. These knives are often shaped to look like medical scalpels. They are made of the most durable stainless steel, as they often have a convergence of edges at an acute angle, which must withstand heavy loads when the cut is made.
Electrician's knives are a separate type of knives that are designed to remove insulation from wires of various thicknesses. There are two main types of such knives:
a knife with special notches on the blade, which are used for cutting and stripping;
a knife with a short blade, the cutting edge of which ends in a ball-shaped protrusion called the "heel". The main name of this knife is long longitudinal cuts of insulation.
The category of "shoe knives" includes knives that are designed to work on leather, linoleum and other medium-density materials. The knife often has the form of a chisel with a beveled end edge. As a rule, only the end edge is sharpened. Depending on the type of work, it can have both chisel and symmetrical sharpening.
Construction knives are designed for cutting medium to high density materials. The cut is made with a sharp tip, the blade often has a "warncliff" profile. As a rule, the blade has special transverse cuts that allow it to be easily broken off to form a new sharp tip.
Diver knives are a special type of knife used by civilian and military scuba divers. The main purpose of a civilian knife for divers is to perform the function of a micro-crowbar, which is convenient for lifting and picking out objects. As a rule, such a knife does not have a tip, it has a dagger-shaped blade, as well as a saw on one of the edges.
Rescue knives are a type of knife that is relatively recent. They do not have a clear classification. As a rule, the main purpose of such a knife is to cut seat belts and other synthetic materials. The main distinguishing feature of such a knife is the presence of a sereytor sharpening or a sling hook.
Kitchen knives (definition) Kitchen knives are a separate category of knives that are used for cooking. The most common type of kitchen knife is the German-style chef's knife. This is a wide-bladed knife that is shaped like a drop-point blade and has an average length of 15 to 30 centimeters.
Such a knife perfectly cuts products of any density, easily copes with large volumes. By swinging such a knife on the cutting edge, you can finely chop the greens, and when pressing with the other hand on the butt, you can cut frozen foods. Kitchen knives can be conditionally divided into two large groups:
basic kitchen knives;
auxiliary kitchen knives.
Basic kitchen knives are usually utility knives of various lengths with a drop-point blade. Auxiliary kitchen knives are knives designed for auxiliary operations: peeling vegetables, slicing cheese, slicing soft yeast bread, and so on. Often auxiliary knives are not suitable for other cooking operations.
Kitchen knives (description) There are several types of specialized knives that make working in the kitchen easier:
General purpose chef's knives. A separate group of knives used for most operations in the kitchen. There are several main types of chef's knives: Japanese santoku, French chef's knife, German-style chef's knife, Chinese kitchen hatchet. The shape of each of these knives is maximally adapted to create dishes of national cuisine.
Knives for baking and bread. As a rule, these are long knives without a sharp tip, having a wavy cutting edge. The main purpose of such a knife is cutting hot pastries or bread. The knife saws rather than cuts, due to which even edges are formed.
Fish cleaning and thinning knives. Thin and long knives with a smooth narrowing towards the tip. The tip itself is thin and sharp. Some knives may have a fine wavy edge. The purpose of such knives is to clean the fish from scales and films, followed by the separation of the loin parts.
Cheese and butter knives. A class of knives that do not have a sharp cutting edge, but have a thin and narrow blade. The main task of such a knife is not to cut, but to crush.
Knives for peeling vegetables. As a rule, short knives with a reverse curve, sharpened on the concave side. The knife has a sharp tip. The main purpose is cutting vegetable skins and curly cutting vegetables.
Cleavers and hatchets for meat or frozen foods. The main purpose of this class of knives is cutting bones or cutting frozen foods.
Japanese traditional kitchen. Japanese cuisine traditionally contains a large number of fish dishes. The Japanese love and know how to cook. When creating knives, Japanese craftsmen use the oldest steel processing technologies, which gives an excellent result. The quality of Japanese kitchen knives sets them apart from European competitors.
The use of special knives greatly facilitates the life of an amateur cook, as it allows you to cook your favorite dishes with less effort. In addition, in the home kitchen, you have to complete the entire cooking cycle from start to finish: peel potatoes and apples, cut potatoes and apples, butcher duck, stuff duck with apples and cut the finished dish into portions. And of course, each guest should have their own table knife. A skilled person can easily cope with these tasks with a single utility knife, but a real knife lover will get real pleasure from using different types of knives. A set of knives in the home kitchen can say a lot about the owner of the house.
Souvenir knives (definition) Souvenir knives usually include several types of knives:
real samples of edged weapons made of expensive steels and richly decorated with precious metals and precious stones. Functionally it can be used for its intended purpose;
replicas of edged weapons, in essence not related to edged weapons, made in the form of premium samples and decorated with expensive materials. Unsuitable for its intended use;
hunting and tourist knives, not classified as edged weapons, made of expensive steels and richly decorated with precious metals and precious stones. Functionally it can be used for its intended purpose;
This classification does not claim to be complete and is compiled according to the criterion of classifying knives as souvenir items that are often bought as a gift.
Souvenir knives (description) Each country has its own traditions of creating souvenir knives and models of edged weapons. So, the birthplace of souvenir weapons and knives in Russia is the city of Zlatoust, which is located in the Chelyabinsk region. The craft of creating premium weapons has existed there for more than a hundred years. It is there that real samples of edged weapons are mass-produced, made of expensive steels and richly decorated with precious metals and precious stones. Currently, this is one of the rarest categories of souvenir weapons. To purchase and store this type of souvenir knives, a hunting or Cossack ticket is required. Samples of knives that belong to this category often cost more than 100 thousand rubles. It is an honor and status to have such a knife. Buying such a knife can be a good investment, or the beginning of a great family tradition.
The most popular category of souvenir knives are hunting and tourist knives, not classified as edged weapons, made of expensive steels and richly decorated with precious metals and precious stones. Due to the fact that the turnover of these knives is not limited in any way, almost every Russian manufacturer has products of this type in the product line. It is quite possible to buy such a knife for your collection, or give it to a good friend.
It is always a pleasure to pick up a heavy knife, with a Damascus blade with cupronickel casting on the rim and butt plate. And if the back of such a knife is made in the shape of a roaring bear's head, then the self-esteem of the owner of such a knife rises sharply. Bears, as you know, are our everything. Such knives are bought, as a rule, to brag to friends on a hunt or a field trip, but then for the most part they receive a well-deserved lodgment with a glass door and become a decoration at home or office.
replicas produced by famous craftsmen and brands;
Souvenir knives on pedestals with blades of complex shape, produced in the Middle Kingdom.
For example, if there is a desire to purchase a Caucasian dagger, but there is no desire to start with obtaining permission, you can buy a replica produced, for example, by the Kizlyar plant. But here it is important to consider one point. The weapon warms the soul of a real man. And even if the dagger hangs on the carpet solely for beauty and entourage, then the edge of consciousness knows that if something happens, the dagger will be removed from the carpet and used to protect the house. When a high-quality and beautiful replica hangs on the carpet, you will not have such an opportunity.
2015 www.site
Reprinting of the material is possible only with the written consent of the site administration.
A tool such as a construction knife is designed for cutting cardboard, cables, and a variety of finishing materials.
Types of construction knives
- folding;
- Pocket;
- with replaceable blades.
The main task of such knives is to solve issues during construction and installation work, finishing and even gardening. It all depends on the type of instrument. It can cut fabric, plastic, paper as well as wood, drywall, wires and thick cables. In addition, wallpaper, floor coverings are easily cut, wires and leather products are cleaned. And thanks to the variety of cutting parts, patterns on linoleum are easily cut out when laying it. Blades are made of stainless steel or alloyed. They are very easy to sharpen and, if necessary, replace. The handle is mostly plastic and covered with insulating materials such as rubber. Otherwise, it is possible to use rubberized plastic.
Types of knives by purpose:
- cutting wallpaper, leather products, linoleum and curly cutting of materials - a corner knife with replaceable round blades;
- cutting a special coating (carpet) - a special knife;
- wire or cable cleaning - folding or mounting knife.
Criteria for choosing knives
First you need to choose the size of the cutting part, for the convenience of cutting materials. Then pay attention to the ability to sharpen or change blades. The strength of the knife directly depends on the thickness of the cutting parts (the recommended width is 25-30 millimeters). It is also better if the tool is equipped with guides that allow you to use knives for cutting very thick or layered materials.
There are blades coated with titanium, which provides a fairly long life of the cutting parts. A plastic handle with a thermal insulating property will ensure safety when working with electrical wires. The blade has markings that allow you to adjust the cutting depth. Or there are segments that can be broken off. For example, if one part of the blade becomes dull, it can be broken off, and the next part will be very sharp. The blades are sharpened with a special method to cut deeply and smoothly.
A construction knife based on a replaceable segmented blade is quite popular in construction and repair work. Moreover, the blades of such knives do not need to be sharpened, but only broken off and replaced with the next segment.
A technical knife is useful to any master during repair and construction and installation work for cutting cardboard, plastic, drywall and other materials. A quality tool can last more than one year, while a high price is not necessarily a criterion for reliability. A durable and convenient construction knife can be found even in a modest price category, having understood the main parameters of the tool.
Frame
The body of a construction knife can be plastic or metal. The first is easier to carry, but less impact resistant. Both materials are available with a rubberized finish that reduces tool slippage in the hand.
The main difference between a construction knife and a clerical one is the presence of a metal guide “peeping out” from the body. It fixes the blade, so that it does not cut into the body when handling dense materials. In addition, the guide can be used to hold the tool with your index finger for greater cutting precision.
Pay attention to the thickness of the guide and the play of the blade relative to it. Many suppliers began to make such elements for "decorative purposes". The guide should work - be strong and securely hold the blade.
Structurally, construction knives are divided into mechanical and "automatic". The latter are equipped with an automatic replacement blade feed system, thanks to which you can replace a worn element at the touch of a button. Many knives have special compartments for storing replacement blades: this makes the tool more mobile to use, and also allows you to store additional items without fear that they will be lost or become unusable.
Blade
A feature of construction knives is the absence of the need to sharpen them. The blade blade consists of segments that are easily broken off with pliers if the knife becomes dull. Segmented blades can be updated in this way from 7 to 13 times, trapezoidal - designed to work with the most dense material - only 2 times.
There are three types of steel traditionally used for construction knife blades:
CS - tool steel, which is designed to work with paper, wallpaper and cardboard. Blades made of this material break the fastest.
SK5 - professional steel for working with plywood, linoleum and drywall.
SK2 is the strongest and most expensive steel.
In some cases, the blades are blued to prevent corrosion of the metal. Such material can be easily distinguished from standard steel - the blades are black. So, as an experiment, a line of burnished construction knives was launched by the Russian brand of hand tools VIRA.
Retainer
Intermediate fixation of the blades of construction knives can be carried out in several ways: automatically (auto-lock), twisting (twist-lock) and by pressing a button (push-lock).
The most convenient is the automatic type of lock, when using which you do not need to perform additional actions, however, professionals prefer construction knives with a twist-lock blade feed, considering this type of lock to be the most reliable. Button knives are the golden mean between convenience and reliability.
13 Apr. - New Kuban. A technical knife is useful to any master during repair and construction and installation work for cutting cardboard, plastic, drywall and other materials. A quality tool can last more than one year, while a high price is not necessarily a criterion for reliability. A durable and convenient construction knife can be found even in a modest price category, having understood the main parameters of the tool.
The body of a construction knife can be plastic or metal. The first is easier to carry, but less impact resistant. Both materials are available with a rubberized finish that reduces tool slippage in the hand.
The main difference between a construction knife and a clerical one is the presence of a metal guide “peeping out” from the body. It fixes the blade, so that it does not cut into the body when handling dense materials. In addition, the guide can be used to hold the tool with your index finger for greater cutting precision.
Pay attention to the thickness of the guide and the play of the blade relative to it. Many suppliers began to make such elements for "decorative purposes". The guide should work - be strong and securely hold the blade.
Structurally, construction knives are divided into mechanical and "automatic". The latter are equipped with an automatic replacement blade feed system, thanks to which you can replace a worn element at the touch of a button. Many knives have special compartments for storing replacement blades: this makes the tool more mobile to use, and also allows you to store additional items without fear that they will be lost or become unusable.
A feature of construction knives is the absence of the need to sharpen them. The blade blade consists of segments that are easily broken off with pliers if the knife becomes dull. Segmented blades can be updated in this way from 7 to 13 times, trapezoidal - designed to work with the most dense material - only 2 times.
There are three types of steel traditionally used for construction knife blades:
CS - tool steel, which is designed to work with paper, wallpaper and cardboard. Blades made of this material break the fastest.
SK5 - professional steel for working with plywood, linoleum and drywall.
SK2 is the strongest and most expensive steel.
In some cases, the blades are blued to prevent corrosion of the metal. Such material can be easily distinguished from standard steel - the blades are black. So, as an experiment, a line of burnished construction knives was launched by the Russian brand of hand tools VIRA.
Retainer
Intermediate fixation of the blades of construction knives can be carried out in several ways: automatically (auto-lock), twisting (twist-lock) and by pressing a button (push-lock).
The most convenient is the automatic type of lock, when using which you do not need to perform additional actions, however, professionals prefer construction knives with a twist-lock blade feed, considering this type of lock to be the most reliable. Button knives are the golden mean between convenience and reliability.
Hello everyone and good mood!
As soon as such knives are not called: stationery, painting, wallpaper, construction with breakable blades ... all the names are, in principle, correct. BUT jokes aside, here is a review of the "9mm automatic four-loading knife."
What do you think, what tools are most in demand for the interior decoration of a wooden house (yes, I think, and most repairs)? Saw, hammer, screwdriver? Of course, you can’t do without them, BUT the personal practice of two years of self-finishing has shown that in fact, the most important tools (and the most-most-most lost at the right moment) are a pencil and knife with interchangeable blades. Everything is clear with pencils: “measure seven times ...” But such a knife can come in handy anywhere: working with insulating materials (vapor barrier, waterproofing, etc.), working with drywall, working with sandwich panels, wallpaper, clapboard, electrics and many other things. many other applications ... To confirm this, here is a photo of about 30% of my "park" of such knives, accumulated over a couple of years (the rest were lost somewhere): 
Accordingly, since this is the most lost used tool, I treated it as a “consumable”, although I perfectly understand that you need to work with a good tool - this saves time, effort, and sometimes health. In addition, working with a bad tool often affects the result of the work.
Therefore, when I was offered to choose a product for the review, I decided without hesitation to take a knife from Workpro, whose hand tool I had been eyeing for a long time.
As they say: a person is greeted “by clothes”, but the goods are packaged.
Package
The outer packaging, in bubble wrap, protects the box: 
Brutal: 
In the box lies the knife itself packed, for some reason, already in two pimply bags: 
There is no waste paper, although, in principle, a small manual on the automatic blade change function would be useful, because. I didn't think of it right away.
Knives with breakable blades come in three sizes: for a blade with a width of 9mm, 18mm and a completely exotic 25mm (somehow they didn’t come across).
Before the arrival of the reviewed tool, I thought that knives for 9mm blades were positioned more like stationery. When ordering, I did not pay attention to the type of blades, and then, when I discovered that I was going under a 9mm blade, I was somewhat upset. However, as it turned out, I was worried in vain, the knife is well adapted specifically for construction. Why, read on.
Weight as much as 124g:
The body of the knife is made of metal, and the main weight of the tool falls on the part of the knife handle that is gripped by hand, which allows more precise control of its movement.
The dimensions of the knife, even taking into account the fact that it has a 9mm blade, cannot be called small in any way. The handle is thickened, made specifically for a full grip with the hand. A rubberized pad is attached to the handle so that the knife does not slip in your hand. Thickness at the widest point of the handle: 16mm
In addition, thrust protrusions are made under the thumb and forefinger at the end of the body on the side of the blade, which adds to the reliability of the grip during operation.
A very important component of a good multifunctional knife is the presence of a metal tip, from where the working surface of the blade comes out:
It is needed for the following:
In general, an important thing. In this knife, the tip is also reinforced by the fact that it is put on a special body element: 
Blade movement button, self-locking, i.e. pressing it moves the blade forward or backward. When it is released, the blade is fixed in the place of the body trunk where the button was released. Probably, it would be possible to make an additional blade lock, in the form of a lever or a twisting lamb, in order to have an additional blade lock.
The knife is equipped with a cassette for several blades (3 blades are included):
I managed to put 4 cassettes into the store. In principle, even more breaks, but then 2 blades can be captured at once. The blades are loaded almost instantly, immediately as a set, unlike cheap knives, where when replacing the blade, it must be put on a special pin every time. The cassette is removed from the knife only when the corresponding button is held down, which eliminates its accidental slipping.
Well, the most awesome feature of the knife is the automatic change of blades loaded into the cassette.
Process video
It works like this: use the blade to the very last working segment, then push the rest of the blade forward until it stops, until it clicks. After that, calmly remove the non-working residue of the used blade. Next, we take the button back to the end, and when we start moving it forward again, it automatically picks up the next blade from the cassette. Thus, continuous work with a knife increases several times.
The mechanism for picking up a new blade cartridge is as follows: in the cassette, the blades are put on a special ledge with a hole, and the button has a stamping on which the working blade is put on and held.
When the used blade is removed, the stamping on the button is released, and when moving in the opposite direction, when aligned with the hole in the upper blade in the cassette, the button “picks up” it and the knife is ready for work again. From below, two springs press on the blades in the cassette so that the upper blade always fits snugly against its guides:
Time will tell how reliable such a mechanism is, while it works without “misfires”, although if you wish, of course, you can break the iron scrap :) "Stuck together" are picked up badly.
Now for the blades. Whatever a good multifunctional knife is, bad blades will negate all its advantages.
Good Blades:
- should not be very thin,
- must be suitably hardened (hardening gives an increase in the hardness and strength of steel with a decrease in its ductility). This is necessary so that the blades do not quickly become dull and do not bend,
- spent segments must break off strictly along the notches and without fragments.
Blades for this knife are needed with a hole displaced from the center of gravity, this is important, because. I came across blades with a hole located strictly along the longitudinal axis - these will not work. Complete blades are good in thickness and quality, do not bend and break off strictly by segments, but of course there are few of them: 
How to choose blades
Choosing normal blades is quite simple. Boxes of blades are usually the same size, the number of blades in the boxes is also the same - 10 pieces. Therefore, in most cases, those that occupy a larger volume in the packaging box are better. Just put them side by side and compare, where the bunch of blades is "thicker", those are (usually) better. I didn’t find frankly bad sets of blades, but it clearly looks like this (boxes with 18mm blades): 
Do not take those where the blades occupy less than half the height of the box, they are almost guaranteed to bend or break not along the notches and with the scattering of fragments.
Of course, it's good if you can measure with a tool. Here I also found in my stash, several boxes with 9mm blades: 
I measured the thickness. I think it's better to measure a bunch of 10 blades right away, so the error is less.
Stayer (price approximately 90 rubles): 
And also break: 
Vera (price about 100 rubles): 
Sparta (price about 35 rubles), so-so: 
In general: sawing-cutting is, in principle, normal for all three sets, but cheaper blades have thinner steel and they do not break along the lines of the notches of the sectors. Predictable. Well, at least there are no fragments.
By the way, I decided to measure packs with blades 18mm wide, I thought they should be thicker than 9mm. And here are the figurines. Almost all are the same: 
But there was a "champion": 
more than 5mm for 10pcs: 
I measured the 9mm blade that came with the knife, it turned out to be the same thickness as my best set of blades of this size (see the spoiler above, 0.4 * 10pcs):
On a break, by sectors:
Like no disassembly.
Complete parts:
in "disassembled" form:
One screw secures the casing (in the photo, the second piece from the bottom), into which the blade cassette is inserted and along which the button moves. The need for two small self-tapping screws, which allegedly attract a rubberized handle to the main body, remained a mystery. But firstly, this handle is glued, and I could not remove it, and secondly, the length of the self-tapping screws is too small, although “they do not affect the speed” and will not be superfluous.
In the end, how it works. If not biased, then super, if according to clause 18, then nothing too :)
At first, the handle is unusually thick compared to cheap knives, but in the end it is very convenient.
What was enough imagination to check
Three-layer cardboard:
Sandwich panel, plastic:
Also drywall...
From my previous review, where I made a stand to test the lamp: I still have some drywall left, which before that, in turn, was left unnecessary after the construction. In general, drywall is such a thing that a lot can remain after construction and repair, and it becomes like a suitcase without a handle: it’s no longer needed, but it’s a pity to throw it away. 
Moreover, throwing it away is also problematic, because. in its original form, it occupies a very large area - and it is difficult to drag and does not fit in the "trash can". In general, how to get rid of it after all, reducing the occupied area - my short video:
Of the minuses:
in the process of testing, the inscription with the name of the company from the pen completely peeled off :)
The store provided a coupon: sum810018 giving 8% discount
That's all.
All the best!!!
The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review is published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.
I plan to buy +10 Add to favourites Liked the review +26 +51Or they call it stationery - this is a real find. After all, it is practical and needed everywhere: needlewomen, designers, builders, household appliances repairmen and the like. Initially, as soon as such a knife was developed, it was intended for cutting paper, but very soon its scope expanded significantly. Now the construction knife is used for cutting cardboard, paper, foam, leather, thin plastic, stripping wires and the like.
Today, there are many different variations of knives on the market, but among specialists there are two main types and they are divided according to two parameters:
According to the material from which the body is made.
Why these settings? The answer is simple, it is these two parameters that most of all pay attention to when choosing a construction knife.
- knife with 18 mm blade.
During repair work, a knife is used, in which the blade width is 18 mm, it is he who is called a construction knife. The remaining two types are used more for home or design work.
construction knife is very popular, and it is in the bag of every specialist. And this is no accident, because a construction knife has a number of advantages that you need to know about:
Versatility and wide scope of application;
It does not require sharpening, as most knives have a blade that breaks off, and in those knives where the blade cannot be broken off, it simply changes to a new and sharp one;
Safety in use. It has a special lock on the body that securely holds the blades in the installed position. In addition, you yourself adjust the length.
What to look for when buying a construction knife:
We decide on the material of the case;
It is imperative that the knife fits well and comfortably in the hand;
It is better to choose a knife with metal fasteners and buttons for adjusting the blade, since plastic is not very durable, especially if the knife is used for repair work;
Pay attention to the quality of the blade, it is desirable that it be made of high-quality stainless steel.
At an affordable price, you can in the Master Plus online store. We work for you! Enjoy the shopping!