I got a chance to see some excellent knives at SHOT Show this year. From folding knives to fixed blades and mutli-tools, here are my three favorites from the tradeshow floor.
1. Hoffner Flatline Folding Knife
I’m not sure how to even describe the Hoffner line of knives without talking about Brian Hoffner, a 30-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, who says the knives he designs are part of a system. He has produced an instructional DVD which shows why the design is unique: this folder allows a grip that extends its reach without sacrificing a rigid grip. It is symmetrical and balanced for rapid grip changes. It also can be put into play while still folded.
Hoffner has various knives that are integrate into the system, including the Hand Spear and the Hoffner Chiseled Folding Knives, but told me “This is the one I run with…” when he showed me the Flatline.
All of the Hoffner knives are bargain priced, considering their generous reinforcement and quality build. The Flatline is 440C with a 3.5" matte finish blade.
Customizable options include a combo or smooth edge, a satin or black blade, and a wide variety of handle art.
MSRP is $59.
Hoffner Flatline Folding Knife (PoliceOne Image)
2. Spyderco Ronin 2 fixed blade
When Michael Janich designed Spyderco’s original Ronin, users immediately recognized the usability of the chiseled blade, flat profile and inherent strength.
The Ronin 2 is made of CTS BD1, which has great characteristics when it comes to harness and edge retention. It has a blade length of 4.12" and an overall length of 7.88".
As a retired officer, I rely on input from active officers to keep up with current trends. At SHOT, I actively solicited the opinions of active officers. I picked the brains of two officers about why they gravitated toward the Ronin 2. They both told me that their assignment on a team meant that if they ever needed a knife, for whatever reason, they really needed it to perform. The Ronin 2 felt good to them.
Other features include a wharncliffe-style blade, hollow grind, and satin blade finish. It weighs 3.9 oz.
MSRP is $149.95.
Spyderco Ronin 2 fixed blade (PoliceOne Image)
3. Emerson EDC-2 Multitool
The EDC-2 is similar to the EDC-1, except the external tools that were attached outside such as the wrench feature are no longer part of the package, leaving a slimmer, lighter version.
Let me back up a bit. This tool is the answer to the question, “What if Ernest Emerson was told he could only carry a couple of knives?” This Multitasker-made knife has an AWL punch, scraper, and Phillips #1 screwdriver. The Commander style 440C blade is 2.7" and it has tan or OD green G10 scales.
It weighs 5.3 oz. and has plain edge and partially serrated versions.
MSRP is $134.95.
Emerson EDC-2 Multitool in OD Green (Photo courtesy Emerson)
