Rough Edge EDC: Exploring world of fixed-blade knives
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – One of the best things about this crazy everyday carry hobby is I have made friends from all over the country.
I also learn something new from them almost every week, sometimes everyday.
Right now, my latest “kick” is exploring fixed-blade EDC knives. There is something really cool, convenient and sturdy about having a fixed blade to do your daily cutting tasks.
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I am fortunate that one of my new friends – Jesse McJames, known as the Alien Outlaw on YouTube – reached out and sent me a pretty cool fixed-blade knife to check out.
Jesse has recently been doing multi-part reviews on different knives and flashlights on his channel. He really puts gear through their paces, tests them out and gives them an honest assessment. His channel is one of my faves. If you haven’t checked him out, you should give him a look-see.
Anyway, one of those reviews was on the Anza Knives’ 10F Boddington with wood “camo” handles.
I mentioned in an online comment on one of his videos that I liked the looks of the knife.
The next thing I know: Jesse was asking for my address and I soon had the Anza 10F Boddington in my mailbox as a loaner.
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First, a little background on Anza Knives. The company is based in California and its knives are completely handmade in the U.S. In an interesting twist, the blades are made out of repurposed carbon steel files.
“We have used the same techniques for 40+ years, using belt sanders and grinders. Anza Knives are completely handmade and no two knives are exactly the same,” Anza said on its website.
Here are some initial thoughts after carrying it around everywhere for nearly a week straight.
First of all, it was smaller than what I was expecting. The knife measures 7 ? inches from tip to pommel. (Note: The full-tang knife has a metal pommel at the end that can be used as a glass breaker or as non-lethal option in a self-defense situation).
The blade is 3 ? inches long with a cutting surface of 3 ? inch.
While the knife was smaller than I was expecting, it does have a sturdy feel and feels comfortable in hand.
I’ve used it for some light duties around the house and yard. I have been carrying it on my side almost nonstop since I got it in the mail.
The blade is super sturdy and very slicey. I get the impression that this would be a good work knife that you can really beat up if you wanted to. But you wouldn’t want to do that, considering the craftsmanship that went into making it.
The one negative and – other people have voiced this criticism – is the sheath.
The knife, when carried in the leather sheath it came in, rides a little high on your hip and the pommel sometimes digs into your side.
Anza does say it has two other types of sheaths you can order with its knives besides vertical sheaths. They have pancake and cross-draw sheaths as options, the website said. Not sure what the difference is on those two, but they have some options.
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Jesse, Mr. Alien Outlaw, suggested that if you are interested to reach out to Anza and have them send you some photos of the knife you want in its different sheath configurations. A nice pragmatic approach.
Besides the sheath, I really do like the knife.
The Anza 10F Boddington is currently listed on the Anza website for $119.98. Here is a link to the knife and to the general website.
Just to be transparent: Anza reached out to YouTuber Jesse McJames to check out the knife and review it. He then sent it to several other EDC-related channels – BigJ’s Knives and Randy’s WSG – before it was sent to me to check out.
I also want to give Randy’s WSG (Wasteland Survival Guide) a shout-out. He was the one who actually mailed me the Anza 10F Boddington after he was finished with it.
He included one of his handmade leather knife slips. It’s red with black ink skeletons silhouetted on it. I have been using it to carry my Ocoee River Cutlery “Dirt Buster,” a budget version of the iconic Case Sod Buster.
I will find a more permanent use for this awesome little slip eventually, but for right now the Dirt Buster knife seems like a nice fit for it.
Here are some YouTube channels dealing with EDC gear that I enjoy, starting off with those that were mentioned in this column:
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