Mobile – Versatile – Vital
WE Knives occupies an interesting space in the hobby. They’re generally attractive, well constructed, and moderately overpriced. Such were my thoughts upon receiving this new model, the 715 “Ignition.” It’s one of the few debuts clinging to their star-drive fasteners, a known enemy of disassemblers. So, can a $126 knife armed with nothing more than VG-10 ignite my passion? Spoiler: The answer is “Yes.”
Ready for something different? Out of a catalog filled with steel framelocks and G-10 comes the CRKT Sketch, a plastic-clad powerhouse featuring a utility-minded wharncliffe and surprisingly solid construction. CRKT touts it as being “blue collar through and through…just like you.” Color of my collar aside, this black-on-red budget blade has been an interesting companion. Here’s my full review of the CRKT Sketch.
Truth be told, I’m a terrible gift giver. But just because I put off my shopping until the last moment doesn’t mean I can’t make a few recommendations. Here are six items for the burgeoning outdoors/EDC enthusiast that I feel offer the best bang for your buck.
Just how accurate does a watch need to be? If you’re like me, the answer is “As perfect as possible.” But perfection tends to be pricey, and it’s often paired with an aggressive, overwrought design. That’s what makes Casio’s WVA-M640 model so intriguing. Its classic look masks a stunningly modern feature set, without the broad-shouldered bragging found in many contemporary timepieces.
Picture this – You’re at a neighborhood barbecue when someone asks you to cut some potatoes. But, oh no! They forgot to bring a knife. No problem – You pull out your fixed blade, the potato salad gets made, and no one is freaked out by your trusty tool. Yeah, that’s not this knife. The SOG Pillar is more about living in the wild, slaying prey with your bare hands, and building a shelter out of their hides.
Honestly, I thought I was finished with mechanical watches. Between my disappointing experience with the Seiko 5 Series and the crazy price of higher-end automatics, my appetite had shifted entirely toward quartz. But then, like a shark scenting its prey, I caught a whiff of the Orient Mako 2. I circled it for months before finally taking a bite. And let me tell you – It tastes really, really good.
Journeywind Junk 