As a dedicated office commando, I jump at the chance to pit my high-end blade steel against the boxes and blister packs that cross my desk every day. There’s something satisfying about a blade cleanly and effortlessly gliding through cardboard, that I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with sharpness. But today’s wonder steels with their 60+RC hardness ratings, come a cost that is not just monetary. Sharpening them can be a major PITA.
I suck at freehand sharpening. Give me a fine Arkansas stone and a few hours to work on it, and I can turn a Sebenza into the worlds most expensive butter knife. Over the years I’ve accrued a hodgepodge of stones and clamps from Lansky, DMT and Spyderco to make up for my shortcomings. With these implements, I manage to keep all my knives hair popping sharp and my forearms as smooth as a baby’s butt. The Spyderco Sharpmaker is my go-to system for quick touch ups. It’s quick and simple to drop the ceramic rods into the guided base. A few swipes against the rods and my semi-dull blades are easily returned to razors as long as the grind angle of the edge matches the preset 30 or 40 degree angles of the sharp maker. BUT, take a new blade with a greater edge angle, or heaven forbid, an edge that’s been chipped or damaged, and it might take hours, even days, of wrist-cramping agony to re-profile the steel on even the most aggressive of the Sharpmaker’s stones. To regrind an edge to a thinner angle so that it can be maintained on the Sharpmaker, I turn to a clamping system with diamond stones. Enter the “Wicked Edge.”
When Ernest Emerson placed his newest knife in our hands, it was evident the “Roadhouse” is destined to be a classic.
If you are in the market, take a little advice: Forget all the cheesy blade designs and grips that have become all too common. This is a practical and tactical fighting knife.
Roadhouse comes with Emerson’s patented Wave feature which opens and locks the blade for you as you pull it out of your pocket. It has a Double V Ground Blade but a Tanto-type design, which provides two types of grind. A key feature is that the 3.8-inch blade is under slung but its cutting edge sweeps up. This maintains the centerline through the middle of a very ergonomic 5.1-inch handle. This design offers optimal thrusting and stabbing balance.
And this thing is just plain cool.
Ernest Emerson described the Roadhouse like a chopped Harley, low slung and ready to roar. “If a chopper could be a knife it would be the Roadhouse. This is a bad to the bone fighter with a rebel’s soul and a Rock ‘n’ Roll attitude that cannot be tamed. Pick it up and you can just about smell the whiskey.”
‘Nuff said.
The first run of The Roadhouse sold out in 24 hours. But don’t worry, there are more in stock. And you can get yours for just under $250. You can find Emerson Knives and local dealers at www.emersonknives.com. Emerson Knives offers a military a law enforcement discount.
As a personal testimony, I’ve owned an Emerson Super Commander for many years, and it never let me down. I recently gave it to a friend headed to the ‘Stan. I’m not sure whether I miss him or my Emerson more.
Again, ’nuff said.
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Clockwise from Bottom, RMJ, American Tomahawk, Sayoc Winkler, SOG
Referenced by the U.S. military back as far as 1757 in the 28 orders of Robert’s Rangers, the tomahawk has seen a resurgence in popularity as an effective weapon and a useful battlefield tool. They are decent breaching tools, outstanding weapons and are replacing knives as the last-ditch CQB weapon of choice by some of America’s elite forces.
While many are sold as breaching tools, this belies the ‘hawks best and bloodiest use. No other weapon of the same size can generate as much force with a short stroke in an enclosed space. Period. If a bad guy gets in your entry stack, you can’t shoot him without endangering your teammates; and a knife is a slow kill. If you really want to get someone off your teammate in a hurry, there’s nothing deadlier than the spike of a tomahawk to the head. Small and short might not look as cool, but they do the bloody job better than a knife in a confined space. Now, if you want to get through a wooden door, rake some glass or punch in a door lock, the longer handled tomahawks fit the bill.
Looking at the range of ‘hawks in today’s posts, you’ll see everything from budget-minded quality all the way up to exotic-looking designs. One of the keys to a tomahawk’s durability is the way the shaft is connected to the head. Nylon handles attached to steel heads will bend back into shape after a hit, but the head could eventually separate. Full tang designs mean the head and shaft are made from a single piece of material with no chance of head separation. Another factor to consider is the type of steel. Each of the ‘hawks below use different grades of steel and you get what you pay for in weight, durability and edge retention.
SOG Fusion Tactical Tomahawk $62.00
Some times it’s about the value. Manufactured overseas and based on the Vietnam Tomahawk, the SOG Fusion Tactical Tomahawk is an update of the battle axe optimized for breaching operations, excavation, obstacle removal, extraction, and other utility applications. The 420 stainless steel head is mounted to the fiberglass reinforced nylon handle with heavy-duty bolts and a steel ferrule for stability. Just under 16″ and 24 oz, the Fusion ‘hawk can get you though some tough spots without breaking the bank. Comes with a simple nylon sheath.
PRO: Value, no tears if 1st Sgt takes it away
CON: Two piece design, may come loose someday
American Tomahawk LaGana Tactical Tomahawk (“VTAC”) $129.95
The LaGana Tactical Tomahawk is also based on the Vietnam era ‘hawk. Peter LaGana’s axe-head design has served the United States in every major conflict since the Vietnam War. AT’s update lightens the weight to 16 oz and adds an unbreakable Nylon handle and manufactures them in the US. The 1060 steel head is heat treated and weighted for throwing. The edge bevel is utility ground to retain its edge during breaching operations, so don’t expect it to pop the hair off your forearm. The included sheath will mount up to MOLLE gear for safe transport on your pack or vest. The army found them useful enough to make them standard equipment in the Stryker combat vehicle to support 3am door knocking ops.
PRO: Intermediate sized, wicked strong handle, light, USA made
CON: Two piece design, may come loose someday
RMJ Tactical Shrike Hammer Forged Tomahawk $360.00
Stepping up to a hammer-forged chrome-moly 4140 steel RMJ Tactical has taken the tomahawk into the new millennium. Forging the entire axe from a single piece of steel covered by an electrically insulated grip give you two things. First, the head can’t fly off, and you’re protected when you accidentally hack through a power line while making entry into UBL’s cabana. The handle is ST801 Super Tuff Nylon overmolded onto the 8″ tang. The butt cap unscrews to reveal an enclosed sharpening stone. The long spike is designed for serious penetration and the heads narrow profile rakes glass with ease. The sleek head shape contains an extra cutting surface, called the beard, that is used on the pull stroke like a shroud cutter; a very nasty, appendage rending shroud cutter. The included bottom-eject Kydex scabbard works with PALS and holds the ‘hawk securely until you need it. It’s probably the most seriously engineered ‘hawk holster in the group.
PRO: Full tang (One piece) construction, several cutting surfaces, insulated grip, long reach, USA Made
CON: Big, impractical for IBA mounting
Sayoc/Winkler R&D Hawk F/S
$555 military/$840 civilian w/sheath
The R&D is the child of two tomahawk titans. Rafael Kayanan of Sayoc Tactical Group and Daniel Winkler, an accomplished bladesmith. This hand machined hawk is designed for combat and features 2 hand hold areas. A traditional grip at the end of the handle provides considerable swinging leverage and a second just under the head is ideal for close quarters work. This distinctive axe starts with 3/8″ 5160 steel and features a full tang that is skeletonized and tapered to maximize the weight, and impact force, at the head. The blade angle isn’t a typical utility axe grind. It’s a knife grind, optimized for damage.
This isn’t a breaching tool. The spike on the blade serves two purposes; its got looks to intimidate and it’s designed to cause maximum soft tissue damage on a slash. Pain is the point here. A slash with a razor sharp knife might not even register during an adrenaline fueled fight, while a rip with the jagged nastiness of the R&D F/S is going to get some attention. Overall length is just over 13″ with a weight of 1 lb 6 oz. Available with light curly maple, durable black Micarta or grippy recycled rubber scales.
PRO: Most deadly in close quarters, light and small enough to consider IBA carry, full tang construction, USA made, looks awesome in a deployment shadow box with your ear collection.
CON: Price, knife grind on blade makes edge a bit too delicate for breaching.
Gerber has finished work on what they hope is the Army’s next generation combat knife. We saw a prototype of the L.H.R. (Larsen, Harsey, Reeve) last year and were impressed with the combat specific features. Unlike many tactical knives on the market, the knife is pedigreed from it’s inception for CQB right down to the retention scabbard. The thumb operated quick-release makes it easy for you to draw, but nearly impossible for an adversary to use against you.
Changes to the knife since we last saw it include a grippier scale material, called TacHide, improved placement of the scale attachment screws, and a black non-reflective coating. The knife will come ready for drop-leg wear and include a PALS compatible option for placement on body armor. Between now and the time you see it in the PX early next year, Gerber may offer it in other colors.
Straight from the spec sheet: The knife is made from 420 high carbon steel and with a blade length of 6.87″ and an overall length of 12.25″. It weighs 11.20 oz. Made in the USA. MSRP $200
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