I have wanted to have TM Hunt on the podcast for a long time.  Not only is he a nice guy and a hell of a knife maker, but his M18 is probably one of the most intriguing knives I have ever laid eyes on.  The massive blade, unusual shape, and classic handle have piqued my fancy for many years.  But this is a fixed blade for woodsman masters and so, before I venture into the world of the M18, I thought I’d have the man himself on to breakdown the blade in almost microscopic detail.  If you ever wanted a piece by piece tour of a knife and the chance to hear its designer tell you why everything is the way it is, this is a podcast for you.

You can find TM Hunt at the following places:

His website

His Facebook page

USA Made Blades

Smokey Mountain Knife Works

VPD:

Todd: Wedding Ring, Hubertus Auto, ZT 630, and a Leatherman Skeletool

TM Hunt Brassback

Spetznaz Machete

01 Tool Steel

Ver Steeg Imp

Podcast: Download

Jon Stokes came back and while we pretended to talk gear for a while, things quickly got off track when Jon discussed his recent bare-handed boar hunt.  Suffice to say: listener discretion advised and trigger warnings…blah, blah, blah…

VPD:

Jon’s Carry: Bond Deringer .410, Leatherman Skeletool CX, Filson Field Boots

Tony’s Carry: Vanishing Point, Mnandi, Aeon Mk. III

Our first real knives: Victorinox Super Tinker (me) and Victorinox Huntsman (Jon)

Sendra Boots

Hanks Belts

SHWAT

Jon Post Boar Hunt:

Podcast: Download

It was a grab bag of topics here with lots of different things that came up in a fascinating conversation with custom tactical collector and raconteur Justin Laffer.

VPD:

Justin: Scott Cook Lochsa

Me: Mnandi and Aeon Mk. III

Robert Hayes Flipper in a Blade Forum post (we referenced the USN post, but it is behind a pay wall)

Johann Winckelmann

Sir Joshua Reynolds

Philosophy Bites podcast on Art and Evolution

Nick Rossi

Billy Cho Knives

Shayne Carter

Scott Hanson (not Stan Hansen)

David Santiago

Sam Johnson (couldn’t find a link for this one, Justin is so ahead of the curve)

Atlas Obscura

Podcast: Download

This is probably one of the episodes I feel best summarizes the podcast.  Michael Walker was one heck of a get.  Not only is probably the most famous knifemaker alive, he is also one of the coolest people.  He is basically a monk–working one 3-4 knives a year and riding his mountain bike and that’s it.  What a cool episode, if I do say so myself.

VPD:

Michael: Klotzli Sailor Walker

Me: really?  Do you care what I carried?

Walker Liner Lock

Zipper Blade

Podcast: Download

Jim Cooper, also known as Sharp by Coop, the most famous and prolific cutlery photographer in the world, joins us for a great discussion about blades, the uber high end, how to take great pictures, and where the market is heading (and it ain’t custom tacticals folks…).

Honjo Masamune

VPD:

Coop: GEC Congress and a Tim Wright custom

Me: AG Russell Lightnin’ Bug and the MBI HF-R

The King Tut Dagger by Buster Warenski

Coop’s Top Five Living Custom Makers:

Loerchner

Walker

Lake

Steinau

Kramer

The guy (Lloyd Hale) that was an in-house maker for a single collector.

Coop’s set up:

Canon DSLR, Mono Strobes, NO FUCKING TRIPODS

Van Barnett’s 2013 AKI knives

Best Engravers:

Barry Lee Hands

Jon Robyn

Tercolli

Ray Cover

Sharp by Coop on Blade Forums

Sharp by Coop on IG

Super Insane Loveless Subhilt

Podcast: Download

Derrick Bohn from Knives Ship Free joined the podcast for an overview of 2016 and a preview of 2017.  It was an excellent conversation with a great explanation as to why Amazon is bad for the gear world.  Oh and he announced a new Indian River Jack, possibly with M4.  Yes, please.

VPD:

Derrick: GEC 61, Benchmade 943, Prometheus Beta QR, Fisher Space Pen

Tony: Small Shamwari and Muyshondt Aeon Mk. III

Other Topics:

Bamba Forge

Todd Begg Knives

Zoe Crist Knives

Jesse Hemphill Knives

Spyderco problem on Amazon (and why I hate Amazon)

Podcast: Download

Nikki Reese aka Yeti Rage on Instagram comes by to talk to us about fixed blades, teaching young girls how to be self-sufficient, and a bunch of random topics.

VPD: Small Shamwari, Mk. III Muyshondt Aeon

Nikki: Delica 4 in ZDP-189, KaBar Becker 24 with TKC scales

Stuff we have been looking at:

Enzo Necker 70

Ochs Peregrine

Grimsmo Norseman

Removing a Large Person from a Fire

Ethan Becker

Podcast: Download

Dan and I chit chat about the new Spyderco catalog. I think you know that I think it is awesome because, well, its awesome.

Spyderco 2017 catalog

Review of the MK-1 Barry Wood knife

Axial Lock

Podcast: Download

Grayson, the Picky Bastard, joins us for a rambling 100% off topic discussion of the Enthusiast Mindset.

Virtual Pocket Dump:

Parker: ZT0900, GEC Beagle, Tactile Turn Shaker, Timex Weekender, Aeon Mk. III

Me: Caly3 ZDP-189, Surefire Titan Plus, Prometheus Alpha Pen, 3D Printed Spinner

Community and the Enthusiast Mindset

Richard Kearney

Mike Stewart

Experience Experts in Legal Settings (Kumho Tire v. Carmichael)

Lying About Hitler

Bob Bakker

Anker

Monoprice

Podcast: Download

Nick Shabazz (YouTube and Instagram) came on and we chatted gear and gear reviews.

VPD:

Nick:

Small Sebenza Insingo Micarta

Kaweco Lilliput

Citizen’s Quartz Watch

Tony:

ZT0450ZDPCF

Olight S1R Baton

Sinn 556i

Pilot Vanishing Point

Sigil Video

Podcast: Download