Preparing meals that are a cut above the ordinary may be easier if you start with the right cutting tools.

Well-designed cutting tools are engineered with style, safety and performance in mind. A smartly constructed knife is fashioned of forged high-carbon stainless steel and chromium for optimum rust and stain resistance.

For example, Insignia2 cutlery has fully tapered blade edges that are engineered with Chicago Cutlery’s signature Taper Grind™ Edge for extreme sharpness, performance, edge retention and resharpening ease.

When choosing a knife, look for heavy forged bolsters between the blade and the handle. These bolsters provide greater balance and safety by preventing fingers from riding up on the blade. A full tang blade, extending from the tip of the knife to the end of the handle, provides additional strength, balance and control.

A good knife collection features patented ergonomic polymer handles for exceptional durability and handling. Triple compression stainless steel rivets should secure the handles to the blades.

Available in 18-piece and 12-piece slanted hardwood block sets, the Insignia2 collection contains a four-piece forged steak knife set, a three-piece set with paring, utility and chef knives, and a two-piece Asian set featuring a seven-inch Granton-edge Santoku and a 3.5-inch paring knife.

A new concept in cutlery is the collection’s Partoku™, a five-inch knife that delivers the versatility of a Granton-edge Santoku with the convenience of an easy-handling paring knife. It’s designed for chopping, dicing, slicing and mincing and works well as a cleaver, slicer and chef’s knife. The five-inch version can accomplish kitchen tasks that would be unwieldy with a larger knife.

After stocking your kitchen with the best, most ergonomic knives, you may want to use them to reward yourself by preparing these delicious recipes:

Braised Chicken

in Wine Sauce

Serves 4

5 slices bacon, diced

1 cup onion, roughly chopped

1 31/2-lb. chicken, cut into eighths

1/4 lb. mushrooms, diced

8 small new potatoes, cut in large pieces

1 clove garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1 cup chicken broth

3 cups Burgundy wine

Chopped parsley

With a Chicago Cutlery Insignia™ Partoku, dice uncooked bacon and mushrooms; roughly chop onions and cut potatoes and chicken into pieces. In a large skillet, sauté diced bacon with half the onions until bacon is crisp. Remove and drain well. Add chicken pieces to skillet and brown on all sides. Remove chicken and set aside.

Put remaining onions, mushrooms, potatoes and minced garlic in skillet. Add browned chicken pieces, bacon and onion mixture. Add salt and pepper, thyme and enough chicken broth and wine to nearly cover chicken. Cover and simmer on low heat for 45 minutes or until chicken is tender and juices run clear when pricked. Serve sprinkled with chopped parsley.

Easy Scalloped Eggplant

Serves 4

1 medium eggplant, peeled and cubed (about 3 cups)

1 Tbsp. parsley, finely chopped

12 ounces grated cheddar cheese; reserve a few tablespoons for topping

2 eggs

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup cracker crumbs

Salt and pepper to taste

Butter

Peel and cube eggplant. In a medium saucepan, boil eggplant until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well. In a lightly buttered baking dish, combine eggplant, parsley, cheese (reserve some for topping), eggs, onion and cracker crumbs. Sprinkle with remaining cheese, salt and pepper and dot with butter. Bake at 350º F for 25 minutes or until firm. Serve immediately.

Medieval swords and daggers add just the right finishing touch to Renaissance costumes.

Whether you’re dressing for a medieval wedding or completing your Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) garb, medieval swords and daggers add just the right finishing touches to an outfit. Yet there are so many different types of weapons that it’s sometimes hard to choose. Here is some information that will help you find just what you need.

Swords

When it comes to swords, the options are virtually endless. Whether you’re outfitting your SCA armor or finding accessories for pirate costumes, it’s important to recognize that some swords are constructed for appearance, while others are forged for combat. In other words, you need to know whether you want a sword that is purely decorative, or one that will be effective in competitions and exhibitions.

Beyond that, there are a number of distinctive sword styles. Scottish Claymore swords, for example, are both heavy and long, and are usually stored in sheaths and carried over the back. The Claymore was initially a straight, double-edged sword featuring a cross hilt with the guards turned downward, but is also the name used for a basket hilt sword with a single edge.

Japanese samurai swords, on the other hand, feature curved blades and grips that are wrapped in silk. Held in lacquered scabbards, both the katana and tachi are long and single-edged, while the wakizashi is a shorter sword.

When it comes to medieval swords, many people prefer legendary swords, designed after those carried by Joan of Arc, Richard the Lionhearted, Robin Hood, and others. Other people are inspired by mythic beings and fantasy warriors, and thus are drawn to fantasy swords, while those who want to be impeccable in their SCA armor choose accurate historical reproductions of swords that can cut through planks.

Daggers

When selecting daggers to complete your costumes, there’s a wide variety from which to choose. For example, there are stilettos, which were carried by the upper class in the 17th century, and the main gauche, which was used in the Renaissance as a left-handed weapon to defend oneself and which features an ornate hilt guard. In addition, there are eating daggers, which typically incorporate black antler or white bone handles, and bodice daggers, which are sewn into the bodice or corset. English-style daggers usually have a blade length of about ten inches, and often feature wire-wrapped handles.

Buying Swords and Daggers

When it comes to purchasing swords and daggers, it’s best to find a source that has a wealth of experience in Renaissance costumes, pirate costumes, and medieval swords. The best selection and greatest knowledge base can be found online, most likely from a company that specializes in costumes and chivalry sports. There, you will find the best selection at all price points, ranging from economical decorative weaponry to authentic replicas of period pieces. These specialty sites often have a wealth of information, such as a Renaissance Faire finder and links to other resources, that will enable you to get the most enjoyment from your costumes and weaponry.

Of all the tools and utensils used in the kitchen today, it is probably the knife that rewards the most careful selection. When you consider it, a knife is an extension of your hand. To fillet, slice and chop requires manual dexterity. If a knife allows you to move and handle your ingredients in a natural and easy way, this will add to your cooking enjoyment and mastery.

There are a wide variety of cooks knives available today. In addition to the quality traditional European brands such as Henckels, Wusthof and Sabatier, there is a fascinating array of Japanese and oriental brands, such as Global, I.O. Shen, Tojiro and Kai. These Japanese brands tend to be made of harder steel and have thinner blades. They hold their edge for longer and are sharper, making them ideal for precision and accuracy. However they do take longer to sharpen and maintain than their European counterparts, which are generally considered to be easier to look after, more sturdy and great for chopping for example.

But how do you choose which is right for you? First and foremost, you should consider the tasks that you perform most regularly and choose accordingly. Here are a couple of things that you may like to bear in mind:

Material: High carbon steel is generally considered the best performer, but can discolor with use, although this is purely cosmetic. High carbon stainless steel is a popular choice, will look great and will take and maintain a sharp edge. Stainless steel is generally less expensive, will retain its good looks but is not hard enough to maintain the best possible edge. Ceramic blades are so hard that they will maintain a sharp edge for months or years with little maintenance. However, they are more expensive to buy and may require diamond-sharpening.

Handles: The next material choice to consider is for the handle. Handles generally fall into three categories; wood, stainless steel or composition. Some chefs prefer the feel of wood although wood is not allowed in many commercial kitchens. Composition handles help ensure a safe grip on the knife when handling wet items, and are generally preferred over more slippery stainless steel. However, both are sanitary and virtually maintenance-free.

Types of knives: There are some tasks in the kitchen which, if performed regularly, warrant having a special knife for the job. However, there are three knives that will probably see the most wear and tear; a chef’s knife, a paring knife and a serrated knife.

A good chef’s knife will typically have a blade 6″ – 12″ long. It will be used for slicing, dicing, chopping and mincing. I can even be used for boning large cuts of meat if you do not have a cleaver. The side of the blade is great for crushing garlic etc.

A paring knife will have a 3-4″ long blade and will be used for peeling and paring fruit and vegetables and for trimming where a larger blade would be cumbersome.

A serrated blade is used for cutting through bread, bagels, baguettes etc and should have a blade log enough to cut through a large loaf or a sandwich cake.

These three kitchen work-horses will serve you well and, if you’re on a tight budget, will serve most purposes.

If chosen wisely, a quality set of cooks knives will increase your cooking enjoyment and be a valuable investment for a long time to come.

Bowie has long stood as a name one can trust for a quality hunting knife. This article describes why Bowie knives are so popular and how their construction makes them an ideal piece of outdoors equipment.

A Bowie knife today refers to almost any large, wide-bladed knife with a curved and sharpened tip. The fancy presentation blades often carry some reference to Jim Bowie who was famous as the designer of the original knife. Not only are such knives decorative in nature and appearance today, but they are an efficient and comprehensive tool for the outdoorsman, hiker, camper or anyone who hunts recreationally or for food.

A number of features help to make this knife style perhaps the most famous of any type of knife in the history of the United States, at least. The first element is the size of the knife. It typically has a blade that is at least six inches in length and may extend to a foot or more in length. In fact, at this size, it resembled a short sword more than a knife. The length of the knife is matched by the width of the blade – usually from one and a half inches to two inches in width. The wide blade makes it usable as a small hatchet or machete for the hunter who needs to chop some wood to get a fire going or to clear a spot for a tent or other shelter for the night.

For those who hunt, a Bowie knife’s curved tip is ideal for the more delicate work of skinning out the animal while the guard protects the hands. Anglers use the curved tip for cleaning fish and preparing the fillets for a quick dinner over a campfire. Hiker’s and backpackers appreciate the fact that the Bowie knife is multidimensional in its uses so that additional tools are unnecessary, thus reducing the weight of the backpack or hiking pack. At the same time, the fact that the knife is not double-sided provides for more safety in carrying and using the knife.

Another positive feature of today’s Bowie knives, just as in the originals made during the 1800s is the quality of the steel used in the blade. These knives typically use a high carbon steel that provides both the ability to not require repeated sharpening in order to maintain the cutting edge and the flexibility to not snap with the stress of everyday use.

While the qualities of the steel are critical in the reputation of the Bowie knives throughout their history, this is one area where modern science has not yet caught up with the secrets of the original makers. Black, the blacksmith who is credited with producing the original knife carried by Bowie and made famous during his lifetime, died before sharing his secrets for the blade strength, and his process has not been duplicated even with modern means.

Today’s Bowie knives tend to have more elaborate handles and decorative touches, but the balance and clean lines have not changed much since the originals. High carbon stainless steel blades are joined with composition handles, or sometimes bone, wood or metal handles in order to create a beautiful and utilitarian product. Handles are even embellished with brass, silver or gold decorative elements.

There are several companies out there who produce both inexpensive and high-end bowie knives for collectors and users alike. Bowie is a name outdoorsmen can count on for quality and usefulness no matter what the need.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Pocket knives are convenient tools that can come in handy for most anyone. Men and women alike can benefit from the convenience of having a pocket knife. They are useful for occasional use and for emergencies. If you are an avid camper or traveler, a pocket knife that has multiple uses can be especially convenient. When faced with an emergency situation, the pocket knife can be used to saw wood, kill fish and prepare meals. For convenience, you can have a handy bottle opener and corkscrew which may not be readily available in all situations.

How to choose the right pocket knife will depend on your needs. If you want something to carry around with you at all times, a smaller, multipurpose pocket knife might be best. For professionals, a nice engraved pocket knife that has a knife and possibly a few other tools will be perfect. They can be purchased at home improvement stores, accessory stores and knife stores. Executive pocket knives can fit into a purse or briefcase easily and look elegant as well. They retail between ten and fifty dollars and can be personalized as well.

For more practical knives, such as a kind you may keep in your automobile or for use on camping trips, go for the multi tool pocket knives. The Swiss Army knives are the most popular and there are a variety of sizes available. These tools range from approximately thirty dollars to two hundred dollars. There are multiple tools that will go with them such as different sized blades, nail file, scissors, saw, corkscrew, screwdriver, can opener, toothpick, tweezers and magnifying glass among other options. The multi tool pocket knives are a little thicker than smaller knives but they still are small enough to fit into a pocket, purse, briefcase or backpack. Choose the pocket knife that is best for you by considering use and price.

Camping is a fun, relaxing vacation that many families enjoy year round. However, the cost of camping equipment and the amount of stuff seemingly needed to go inhibits many from ever trying.This article describes how any family can go camping using some simple budget-friendly strategies for planning and packing.

Life’s like a MasterCard commercial and so is camping. This means everything costs something but memories made are priceless. Memories can be made in a cost effective manner. Maximizing the fun and minimize the money spent is possible if you know some ways to reduce costs. The most effective way of having a memorable camping vacation is to create a budget and follow these tips and tricks for camping efficiently. The key is to have some key pieces of equipment that can be used in a variety of ways and that will last a long-time. This will allow you to enjoy the benefits of the equipment without worrying about the long-term effects of the cost.
It is frustrating trying to put together a quality set of camping supplies on a limited amount of money but it is very possible. First off, develop a list of equipment priorities. The camp site location and the fuel to get there is a primary necessity. Food and water to last for the length of your stay would come next. Other important tools to include in your camping equipment list are a long-lasting flashlight or lantern, multi-purpose knife, extra batteries, a first-aid kit and matches to build a campfire. Camping supplies such as tents, sleeping bags, and chairs will make camping comfortable and will keep you warm and dry. The secondary list of camping items would include hobby tools and equipment like those for boating, cycling, or fishing.

Camp Site Location and Getting There
Campground prices usually weigh in a $12 to $25 per night. Call the campground ahead of time to determine prices at your local state or national parks. Also, consider whether the campground you are going to has running water, bathroom and shower facilities, charcoal grills and trash disposal areas. Depending on whether the grounds have these you may need to add or take away items from your camping list. Additionally, estimate gas money ahead of time to ensure you are prepared.

Food and Water
Include in your camping list the coolers, water jugs, paper or plastic plates, and cups you may need while camping. Investing in reusable camping dishes is a benefit for families that camp often and saves on the environment as well. Purchase enough food to last the course of your camping vacation and be smart about buying non-perishable foods wherever possible. About $200 should be allotted for food and gas. This should cover your needs for about a 2-3 day trip, depending on how many people you are feeding and how far you plan to travel.

Camping Tools and Equipment
There are several items that are camping essentials. A multi-purpose tool or knife is essential for safe and effective camping. A multi-purpose survival knife will come in handy for cutting string or twine to hold down tents or hang tarps during rainy weather. It can also be used for opening canned food, gutting fish, and fixing other camping equipment should it break. There are a number of brands and styles of survival knives available. Find a good, quality one and keep it with your camping equipment at all times.
Quality lights are also important camping equipment. The most cost effective light for camping is a LED flashlight or LED lantern. They last longer than the usual fluorescent or incandescent bulb and are more resistant to breaking. This is very important if you are camping deep in the forest where it will get darker quicker or if you will be hiking to your destination. Having a long-lasting, dependable LED lantern or flashlight will give families extra reassurance of safety. LED lighting products are sometimes more expensive than regular camping lights but their longevity and bright light make them a smart investment.

Altogether, it is estimated that the cost of camping will be approximately $300-$400, making camping and spending time in nature a relatively inexpensive alternative vacation. Planning out your camping vacation: a quality, well-stocked campsite, food and water, tents and sleeping bags, survival knife, and long-lasting flashlights will help you spend a budget wisely and even save money in the long-term. This means more memories that last a lifetime.

~Ben Anton, 2007

The knife has come to symbolize to the modern men the essence of survival and the ability to provide all that is needed for survival with one simple and lethal tool. A good knife is indeed better than most material things, it can provide protection and the ability to hunt and prepare food, it can also help in building a shelter and creating small objects that are vital for survival.

A few generations ago, maybe even less than a hundred years ago, men would not leave their house without a proper knife, it was only common sense to take a knife with you wherever you went, you never knew into what situations you will run into, if you will get lost and will need to survive for a couple of days in the wild or if you will be surprised by some enemy or thief and will need to protect yourself.

For those of us that know knives it is a simple fact that no one knife can have all the features in it, every knife has its advantages and anyone using a knife will have to make his own decision as to what kind of things are important for him to have on his knife. It is not only the extra features of the knife that matter, it is also the way the knife itself is crafted and what it is made off.

Today most people are looking for a knife to serve them when they are away in natural for a few days, or sometimes a few weeks, they need something that is very basic and that will provide them with the safety that it could potentially help them in case something goes wrong.

Not long ago I read in the paper that a diver had to use his knife to protect himself against a shark, he did not stab the shark as it was trying to attack him, but simply hit the shark on his nose with the blunt side of the knife, this did the job and the shark run away, even though he didn’t use his knife as it was planned to be used, this diver had the right instinct, and he went for his knife.

In any case, when you are out camping, hiking, fishing or diving you will probably consider buying yourself a knife, and you should think about what you need before you even set foot in the shop. Try and think of the environments you are going to be in, and your needs, sometimes someone does need to hunt with his knife, but does not need to prepared the food from the hunted animal, in some cases you will be walking through a jungle and you might want to use the knife to carve your way out of some thick bushes.

If you do your research and spend some time thinking of what you need you will have a better starting point, try and use the internet for information about different kinds of knives, I am sure you will be surprised from the wide verity of products out on the market. Happy hunting.

Hunting knives, tactical knives and pocket knives are the type of tools that every hunter needs at some point or another. When it comes time to prepare your game for transport off the mountain or to take care of some camping basics like cutting or chopping, it is important to have a sturdy, reliable hunting knife that you can count on to last for several hunting seasons. If the tactical knife or pocket knife is perpetually dull or flimsy it is very unlikely that you will enjoy your time hunting and may in fact result in a lack-luster hunting season. That is why it is important to make sure to always have the right blade on you at all times, and to choose the right blade. Many people do not know that there is more than one blade type, when really there are three main blades that a person can choose from, depending on their individual needs.

Drop Point Blade Hunting Knives

The drop point blade is the most popular type of tactical knife blade on the market today. The drop point has a sharp curve to the blade and it is forged of a thick, durable steel blade that can stand up to just about anything. The edge of the drop point blade makes it one of the most utilitarian of the three knives mentioned here. It can be used to jab or point as well as slice, and it is very useful for efficiently skinning game after it has been killed.

Clip Point Blade Hunting Knives

The clip point blade is another one of the more popular types of hunting knives out there. Although the clip point is not nearly as popular as the drop point blade, the clip point blade is made of thinner steel and the blade is flat, with a point to it. The clip point blade is perfect for skinning game as well, but the clip point blade is also perfect for other uses that are not related to hunting, like cutting ropes or branches or other things of that nature. The clip point blade is a useful knives for hunters to have, and is one of the most commonly used and carried types of hunting blades out there.

The Skinning Knife

Skinning knives are other popular hunting knives, although they are not nearly as multipurpose as some of the other tactical knives on the market. Skinning knives are just for that, removing the skin of a game animal from the meat. Skinning takes a certain type of blade in order for the meat to be as well preserved as possible. If you find that you lose a lot of your game during the skinning process, you may want to consider purchasing a skinning knife in addition to a more tactical blade.

Having reliable hunting knives is an important element of successful hunting, whether you are a big game hunter, waterfowl hunter or fisherman. By knowing the various blade types available you can determine which best fits your needs and your use level. Remember that there is more to a knife than the style of its handle or its price. The craftsmanship and style of the blade are the fundamental elements that will make the hunting knife a valuable addition to your hunting equipment.

~Ben Anton, 2007

Getting straight to the point may be the best way to handle conversation, but it’s not the ideal way to sharpen a knife. Knives are invaluable tools around the kitchen and other areas of the home, but if they aren’t sharp, they are useless – and dangerous.

Whether you buy expensive knives or cheap knives, they all get dull with use. You can have your knives serviced by a professional, or you can learn how to sharpen your knives yourself. A word of caution: learning to sharpen your knives takes time and practice; don’t begin by trying to sharpen your best knives on your own as you could damage the blades.

Although your knives may seem sharp, a practical test can tell you whether your knives need to be sharpened. Slice a ripe tomato – if you can slice the tomato easily, you’re knife is sharp; if the tomato squishes down and is difficult to slice, then it is time to add your knife to the ‘to-be-sharpened’ drawer.

Knife blades are essentially tiny saws, complete with teeth. With use, these teeth get worn, bent or twisted. Knives made of harder metal don’t get dull as often as those made of soft metal, but when they do get dull, they are more difficult to sharpen. It is necessary to find a substance harder than what your knife is made of to sharpen that knife. Metal sharpeners called steels are often used by professionals like butchers, but for most people who own stainless steel knives, a ceramic sharpener may be a better choice.

Using a Ceramic Sharpener to Sharpen Your Knives:

• Begin by placing the heel of your knife blade at the tip of the sharpener and then sliding the entire length of the blade down the sharpener. Keep the pressure and angle constant; you should feel the abrasion between the cutting edge and the sharpener.

• Plan your stroke so that you will finish with the point of the knife’s blade near the base of the ceramic sharpener. Repeat this move on the other side of the sharpener to sharpen the other side of your knife.

Steel Sharpeners:

• If you choose to use a steel sharpener rather than a ceramic one, begin with the heel of the blade at the base of the sharpener (rather than at the tip as with the ceramic sharpener) and work your hands away from each other while maintaining the contact between the knife blade and the sharpener at an angle of 25 degrees.

Depending on how often you use your knives, they will require periodic grinding to create a new cutting edge. If you have a sanding wheel or a large grinder with stones of varying coarseness, you can carve a new edge on your knives, but if you lack this equipment, skill or confidence, it may be a good idea to have a professional handle the grinding as it could damage your knives and possibly your fingers.

Case knives are well known and regarded as being American classics. This company has been around for a long time, and many people, both young and old, know the quality and craftsmanship that goes into these fine items.

But quality and craftsmanship are not things that come overnight. It has taken the company years of dedicated research and development to master this craft, and that mastery is reflected in each and every item that they produce. It is because of this dedication that Case knives have become world renowned as some of the finest cutlery available.

Of the many models currently available, the pocket models are still some of the most popular and sought after. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has investigated all that this company has to offer. From smaller versions that are very easy to carry and useful for day-to-day activities, to the more high-tech and creative models that are current on the market, all Case knives are made to last. This is accomplished by using some of the very best materials available and by ensuring a level of quality control during the manufacturing process that is second to none.

While there are many other companies that offer their wares for less money, the simple truth is they cannot compare to the high level of quality that Case knives offer. It is for this reason that so many older models produced by this great company are still in use today. It is also for this reason that so many of these items are purchased and given as gifts. This is truly one of those gifts that will last from generation to generation and is very well suited for passing along from parent to child.

In short, this company has earned the right to be called an American classic. This is an honor that they have worked long and hard for, and their constant and reliable stream of top-quality products is proof that they know what they are doing. When it comes to the best in cutlery, this is one of your best options.

If you are looking for a great gift idea, consider purchasing one of these products from any of the brand’s lines. The company has a huge selection of models, and each one is made of high-quality materials to ensure that your choice will last for years and years to come.

A fantastic place to begin your research into the many available models is with Knife & Supply Company LLC at http://www.knifesupplycompany.com. You can quickly and easily view a wide range of products in various price ranges. This particular company offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee that makes buying from them safe and enjoyable, and their online catalog is one of the easiest to use and most informative on the Internet. They also offer detailed product descriptions so you can make the best choice possible for your individual needs and desires.