The Haute Spot

The San Mai Gurkha Kukri: No, it’s not a gypsy curse, it’s a great big old pitbull of a knife.  The Kukri blade, easily distinguishable by it’s unique blade shape, is an iconic symbol of the Gurkha Warriors from Nepal, fearless mercenaries who employed this knife in the service of the British empire for over 150 years and were known to jump into trenches armed only with their blades and still send the enemy troops packing. That is quite the reputation and the Cold Steel Gurkha Kukri does that reputation justice. Inspired by Cold Steel president Lynn Thompson’s close association with a Dr. Maung Gyi, who was chief instructor for the American Bando Association. Bando is a Burmese martial art and it’s from this standpoint that Thompson was able to really harness the potential of this singular blade. The Kukri is pretty much a cross between an axe and a knife, with all the chopping and stabbing power that implies. It’s still used on a daily basis in South Asia for a whole plethora of tasks, from building furrows, cutting meat and vegetables, cutting down trees, to plain old self defense from wild animals and hostile humans.

Currently employed by the U.S. Navy Seals, this particular kukri retains all that versatility, from chop and stab to slash and smash. It’s multipurpose magic stems from some minor tweaks Cold Steel have added. The point is longer and narrower and has a distal tapering to the spine, giving it more piercing power. Cold Steel boasts that the San Mai is the heaviest kukri on the market. The San Mai apparently makes an efficient bludgeon using the back of the blade .The blade is almost an inch wider near the tip than at the handle. This pushes the balance of the blade forward, the same concept behind a leather sap, so you can land a substantial blow with minimal effort. A blow from this baby can break bones or even become fatal if you land one on your assailants skull. This is a great all-purpose knife for any outdoor activity and if you’re an avid hunter this should definitely become part of your arsenal. I love knives and would add this to my collection in a heart beat.

Watch the Gurkha Kukri in action as it cuts through meat, bone, metal, concrete, and even a coin like butter. Even more impressive is the lack of damage to the blade. I haven’t seen cutting power like this in swords twice the size of this powerful knife.

BUY IT San Mai Gurkha Kukri $649.99

Popularity: 46% [?]

The Swiss Army Knife is an iconic image, the mere mention of which conjures up images of the of all the little doodads that can be pulled out. The spirit and essence of that multitasking pocket knife has been captured in the Spirit Multitool, created by Victorinox, the same company that began producing the original Swiss Army knife over a century ago. The Spirit is the successor to the original Swisstool, keeping all the versatility, functionality, and manageability while being a little more ergonomic and a few grams lighter. This little puppy has about 27 different tools, which means that the owner of a fine tool such as this is a little more prepared than your regular Joe Schmoe with a regular multitool. Some of the different tools included are needle-nose pliers, 2mm screwdriver, 3mm screwdriver, a wire cutter, crate opener, metal file, metal saw, scissors, wood saw, can opener, Philips screwdriver, and a chisel. In theory, there isn’t much I couldn’t do with this thing. This is something that every guy should keep nearby, in the glove compartment or in a desk drawer at the office.

This is the MacGyver of knives.

BUY IT Swiss Army Spirit Multitool from Victorinox $62.95

Popularity: 10% [?]

For everyone who wasn't born with a giant claw.

I’m big on knives and I really like a good number of Spyderco products, but one in particular stands out as just the most bad ass. The Spyderco Civilian is that bad ass knife. It reminds me of another Spyderco product, the Harpy, but the Civilian is longer and more wicked looking. Spyderco was actually approached in the 1990s by a specialized branch of U.S. law enforcement about making a knife for their undercover agents, allowing them to carry weapons in situations where a gun would have been too noticeable.

The Civilian is Spyderedged(serrated in the Spyderco pattern) and is really great at slicing. This type of knife is perfect for slicing through fishing line, rope, netting, giant spiderwebs, seat belts, things like that. It rides deep in the pocket thanks to a custom curved black clip and is mounted for tip-down carry. We also can’t overlook that the overall design of the blade is scary as hell. It looks like a demon eagle talon or something along those lines. And intimidation is half the fight. Visually, its also beautiful. I really enjoy the very deep curves and the fullness at the belly. I also like the classic little Spyderco hole in the blade, which makes it much easier to open the blade without taking away from the aesthetics. The blade is usually available in limited quantities and costs around $270. I would advise anyone who purchases this blade to handle it very carefully because it can really leave a nasty cut.

Buy it here.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Every self-respecting man deserves a knife he can depend his life on. If the Zombie Apocalypse struck tomorrow, you know that with your one trusty knife, you could camp out in the woods, for days-even weeks, until Will Smith fashions a cure. We loved the Gerber LMF II when it was $140 bucks, but now at $70, there’s no reason not to buy it. Even if the only jungle you’ll ever see is that monstrosity you look at every time you’re in the bathroom.

Go to amazon if you want to hear all the gritty details and some reviews from real men in Iraq who use this knife on the daily, including one sniper team that cut a live wire with this bad boy. It shut down the lights in the city, left a gash in the blade, but the sniper suffered no electrical shock because of the insulated handle.

It has a steel butt on the handle to hammer glass for helicopter escapes (something we at THS do daily), an aggressive serrated blade for cutting brush and rope, and three holes in the handle so you can attach it to a pole and use it as a spear for catch fish, fighting boar, and preforming your best John Locke impression.

As if that wasn’t enough it has a carbine sharpener in the sheath, so it sharpens the blade every time you pull it out. This knife is always ready for action, even if you aren’t

BUY IT Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife $69

Popularity: 9% [?]

If you’re looking for a great everyday carry tool that has everything you need, and nothing you don’t– look no further than the new Leatherman Cx Skeletool. With a pair of needle-nose pliers, wire cutters/strippers, external bottle opener/carabiner, bit driver, and amazing super-steel serrated blade that opens one-handed even when closed.

It has carbon fiber inserts, and the thing just looks awesome. I personally carry it all the time, and always get compliments and inquiries about it. It even includes a removable belt clip so you can wear it in your waistband and forget about it–that is until you need to crack open your next beer.

BUY IT Leatherman Skeletool CX $96

Popularity: 6% [?]