Subscribe / Back Issues
Yes, it’s that time again. Time to start picking out gifts for the holiday season. If you’re a gear geek, like us, you probably want a gift guide or some hints along those lines. Luckily, we’ve got a few.
The December issue of Knives Illustrated has a whole gift-giving guide for knife enthusiasts, and here are a few more items we wanted to fit in, but just couldn’t. So, for even more gear, be sure to pick up the latest issue, due on newsstands (and digital download) on October 25th. Or subscribe for a full year’s worth!
On to the gift guide!
By: Tim Stetzer
Work Sharp E2 Kitchen Knife Sharpener
Probably one of the most-used knives most of us own is a kitchen knife, and it sees duty on a regular basis. Keeping a good edge on a kitchen knife is important, but sometimes is easier said than done. Why do you think restaurants use professional knife sharpening services?
Work Sharp has a better answer for you than sending your knives out to be sharpened with the E2 Kitchen Knife Sharpener. This electric sharpener uses grinding belts, much like factory and custom knifemakers use for sharpening, and a clever guide system that makes it simple to use. I had my sample out of the box and was touching up my Victorinox kitchen knives in under 5 minutes. If I can manage this one, anyone can. The directions are simple and the sharpener is very easy to use.
Don’t get it confused with some of the electronic sharpeners that use grinding stones that chew away your blades, either. The belts work just like those a custom maker would use and work efficiently without damaging your blade.
If you don’t like sharpening your kitchen knives, or just aren’t good at it then this is definitely a tool to check out. It makes quick and easy work out of it and ensures you can keep your tools in top condition with minimal effort, and at an affordable price too. For a slight upcharge you can get an upgraded model with a two-speed motor suitable for thicker blades and with a guide for use on pocketknives, so you can keep your regular EDC well-tuned too.
MSRP: $49.95
WE Knife TP-04 Syrinx Titanium Pen
Titanium has taken the EDC world by storm and we’re seeing it used in more and more items that benefit from its light weight and superior strength. WE Knife has a perfect EDC pen in their TP-04 Syrinx that takes advantage of the benefits of titanium in a unique bamboo, styled form factor.
The Syrinx comes in black, gray or blue anodized versions and ships with a stainless steel keyring and two extra ink refills. At just under 3.5 inches the Syrinx is handy enough to ride on your keychain or in your pocket and be at hand for jotting down notes on the run, or important phone numbers.
Specs:
Overall Length: 3.40 inches
Thickness: 0.43 inch
Body Material: 6Al4V titanium
Keyring Material: Stainless steel
Ink Color: Black
Ballpoint Refill Length: 2.75 inches
Weight: 0.6 ounce
Made in China
MSRP: $29.40
… or you might like this one …
Tuff Writer Retro Click Pen
When most people think tactical pens they think big, burly, serrated kubaton looking things that also happen to be able to write. Tuff Writer’s Retro Click pens take a bit of a different approach and provide you with a pen that also happens to be extremely durable. A Retro Click isn’t going to raise any eyebrows if you have it in your shirt pocket at work, or pull it out to fill out a deposit form at the bank.
The pen’s body is made of rugged 6061-T6 Aluminum and the pens are Cerakoted in a variety of colors with a black spring steel clip. The Retro is a high-class pen and it uses Tuff Writer’s 416SS Swiss-machined advancing mechanism with a chrome steel ball-bearing cam design for smooth and nearly silent operation. The Retro comes with an installed #SPR4 Fisher Space pen black refill that can write upside-down and will accept an extremely long list of other refills.
Anyone who uses a pen on a regular basis, whether they’re a nurse, a police officer, or have an office job, will appreciate a quality pen like the Retro Click, especially knowing that it’s tough enough that it can still be used for all the things its bigger, burlier tactical brothers can do. Tuff Writer pens are available either directly from Tuff Writer or through a number of online vendors.
The Retro Click has limited availability and will only appear at Tuff Writer when in stock. Be sure to check out their other excellent models, as well.
Specs:
Overall Length: 5.4 inches
Thickness: 0.430 inch
Weight: 1.1 ounces
Color: Various Cerakote with black hardware
Material: 6061-T6 aerospace-grade aluminum
Clip: Stamped spring steel
Finish: Proprietary non-reflective/non-marking surface treatment and hard anodized to Mil-A-8625 “F” specifications
Fittings: Stainless steel bolts and chemical welding
Mechanism: Tuff-Writer stainless steel machined bearing-cam mechanism
Made in the USA
MSRP: $95.00
UCO Gear Utility Spork or Switch Spork Set
We covered the UCO Gear Mess Kit in our issue, but the matching Sporks need their own love.
The Utility Spork (provided with the mess kit) is available for only $2.99 or in a two pack for only $4.99. If you want something even sturdier you can get a titanium version for $14.99.
For those that like a few more options, the Switch Spork gives you a two-piece utensil with a fork and knife combo on one side and a separate spoon on the other. The utensils can be combined to create a longer double-ended spork that can easily reach the bottom of a backpacker meal.
MSRP: $2.99 – $14.99
For many, many more gift giving ideas, pick up our December issue!
What’s your favorite gear-head gift? Let us know in the comments!
Be sure to check out Knives Illustrated on Facebook @KnivesIllustrated and on Instagram @KnivesIllustratedMagazine and subscribe to our print and/or digital issues here.