BHK's Maverick Colt

Merry Christmas to each of you! 

Christmas arrived a few days early for my wife.  She asked L.T. Wright from Blind Horse Knives to make her a little kitchen knife. 

I really like the way they worked BHK into a logo of a horse.  It’s a little bit of pizzazz!

My wife and I found ourselves sitting back to back with L.T. and his wife at the OGCA show in Cleveland and business was slow.  Of course this meant we spent a lot of time talking and handling the knives on both of our tables.  My wife really fell for BHK’s short bladed Maverick Colt.  The blade was right, the handle length right and the balance was right.  It should have been an easy sale.  But she wanted it in blaze orange!

I like the tight, compact look to this sheath.  The knife fits well and feels secure. 

Why blaze orange?  We like get-away weekends in state park cabins, but the kitchen cutlery at most public cabins is from hunger.  Dull, bent blades and broken handles are the unfortunate reality of most state park kitchens.  Long ago we learned to take can-openers, sharp knives, ladles and serving spoons with us.  Oh, sure we could make do, but I never want a get-away weekend to turn into survival camp.  A sharp knife and a serving spoon isn’t that much of a luxury.

To make sure we leave with the same number of knives we arrived with, my wife realized that colored handles made for an easy spot check.  After packing up for the trip home, a quick look in the kitchen drawers told you if you missed anything.

L.T. was more than happy to make one for her.  We opted for a Kydex sheath.  I like the protection it gives a knife blade and a belt sheath clip because it gives you options.  Because L.T. knew it would be a kitchen knife he made the blade from stainless steel.

The orange handle makes it easy to find.  My wife and I think it's a winner!

The blade is flat ground and is almost 2 ¾ inches long.  The G-10 handle is just over 3 ½ inches long and is decorated with 3 two-tone metal pins he calls fisheyes.  The knife weighs in at 80 grams or 2.8 ounces.   It’s a nice knife, well made and sharp.  I like a little more weight in the blade, but it isn’t my knife.  My wife, who knows what she wants, likes it and I’m overjoyed to have a Blind Horse in the house!

Blind Horse Knives has made a name for themselves with quality knives and reasonable prices.  To no surprise a cadre of followers has formed.  BHK is very astute in utilizing the internet and social media.  And while I hope they aren’t insulted, their gains come from hard work, quality and an eye for functional knives and not their internet savvy.

You can visit them at http://www.blindhorseknives.com/index.htm .

FreeHand by Meyerco

I just got a FreeHand.  That’s different from a glad hand or a hand out.  My FreeHand is a small pocket knife designed by Blackie Collins.

I met Walter Wells Collins, also known as Blackie, at the first SHOT Show I attended.  I stopped by the Meyerco booth and they introduced him.  He was gracious, warm and put up with me asking questions and posing for photos.  He had a true love of knives and knife making.  

As most of you know he died when he crashed his Triumph motorcycle July 20, 2011.  He was 71 years old.

I recently decided I needed wanted a Collins so I bought a FreeHand.  Blackie Collins designed the knife exclusively for Meyerco and I’ve always liked its looks.  The button release, matte silver blade and round silver medallion containing a BC set in shiny black handles has always appealed to me.

It could be the right size to carry just about anywhere you go.

The 2.5-inch blade is made from 154CM steel and is housed in a glass filled nylon 3.5 inch handle.  A button releases the blade and your index finger can flick the blade out. 

Yes, it took a little practice, but not much.

With a little practice you can open the knife with one continuous finger pull or walk it open with several shorter pulls.

 Push the button again and you can close the blade with your index finger or simply wipe it closed.

The blade is too light for a wrist flip to open the knife, but I’ve read that people are converting these to auto-knives with a little work.  I wasn’t able to find a spring kit or video but I really didn’t look that hard.  I did find you can take the clip off.  The knife is set up to be carried tip down and the knife handle doesn’t look like you can reverse it.  Without the clip you can drop it in your pocket and go about your business.  Not every knife has to be a hide-in-dark-shadows-tactical knife.

I’m not going to change this little guy.  I just want to keep the knife as it is to remember Blackie Collins.