From the bench
Knife Guides
The questions we answer across the counter on North Lamar, written down. Prices, laws and steel, without the sales pitch.
2 min read
Spyderco Para Military 2 vs Para 3: Which One Should You Carry?
The PM2 and Para 3 share a lock, a blade shape and a reputation. The difference is size. How to choose between them, which steels to look for, and where to handle both in Austin.
Read the guide2 min read
Pro-Tech Malibu vs Godfather: Flipper or Automatic?
Two of the most asked-about Pro-Tech knives in our case, and they work completely differently. The Malibu is a manual flipper; the Godfather is a push-button automatic. What that means for carry and shipping.
Read the guide2 min read
Choosing a Hunting Knife for Texas Deer Season
Drop point, gut hook or skinner? Fixed blade or folder? A practical guide to picking a hunting knife before Texas deer season, from the fixed-blade case at Austin Blade Co. — plus sharpening before you head out.
Read the guide2 min read
Buying a Vintage or Used Knife: What to Check Before You Pay
How to judge a vintage pocket knife or used fixed blade: blade wear, walk and talk, loose joints, cracked handles, and when a restoration is worth it. From the vintage case at Austin Blade Co.
Read the guide4 min read
Knife Sharpening in Austin: What It Costs, How Long It Takes, What We Actually Do
Quotes, turnaround and the process for getting a knife sharpened at Austin Blade Co. on North Lamar, from kitchen knives to Japanese gyutos.
Read the guide5 min read
Choosing Your First Everyday-Carry Knife: Size, Steel, Lock and Three We'd Hand You
A plain guide to picking a first EDC pocket knife, from a shop that sells and sharpens them in Austin: what size to carry, which steels matter, how locks differ, and what to spend.
Read the guide4 min read
Can You Ship an Automatic Knife to My State? Our Rules, State by State
Where Austin Blade Co. will and won't ship OTF and side-opening automatic knives, the blade-length caps in California, Connecticut and North Dakota, and why the checkout says no.
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