The Knife Junkie Podcast

On this episode (656) of The Knife Junkie Podcast, Bob DeMarco speaks with Christopher Adelhardt of Pariah Knives, a maker who brings a unique background to the craft.

Before Christopher ever ground his first blade, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and taught ceramics at the Erie Art Museum for more than five years. He also worked as a finish carpenter for nearly a decade, learning precision and craftsmanship from his father. This combination of artistic vision and hands-on building skills created the perfect foundation for what would become Pariah Knives.

Christopher creates Japanese-inspired knives that blend traditional designs with modern materials. His work features distinctive geometric details and hand-shaped wooden handles that reflect his sculptural training. Each knife comes with a custom sheath, often using traditional Japanese saya construction with his own signature touches.

His background in Kendo, a Japanese martial art he practices in Austin, Texas, gave him hands-on knowledge of traditional blade forms and how they should feel and move in the hand.

The name Pariah Knives reflects his experiences growing up. He felt like an outcast—someone who chose art school while others played football. He describes himself as a late bloomer and a socially awkward kid who never quite fit the standard mold. This philosophy runs through every aspect of his work, creating pieces that stand apart from mainstream production knives and honor the past while pushing into the future.

Listen to the full episode to hear Christopher discuss his journey from ceramics and carpentry to blade making, his techniques for creating hamons in high-carbon steel, and how he uses social media to connect with customers worldwide. Bob and Christopher also talk about the similarities between sculpture and knife making, the evolution of his style from fantasy blades to Japanese-inspired designs, and what it means to create modern interpretations of ancient blade patterns.

Find Christopher Adelhardt and Pariah Knives online at https://www.pariahknives.com and follow along on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pariah_knives.

Learn more at https://www.theknifejunkie.com/656.

Be sure to support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details.

You can also support The Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives.

Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also email theknifejunkie@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions.

To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use our podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

In Episode 655 of The Knife Junkie Podcast, Bob DeMarco shares his top 10 outdoor fixed blade knives, each tested through years of real-world use. From budget Moraknivs to the legendary Cold Steel Trailmaster he has carried for nearly three decades, this lineup represents knives that actually perform when you need them most.

Bob walks through his current pocket check featuring the Emerson Zero Tolerance 0620, Jack Wolf Knives Timber Jack, TKell Nightstalker, and Cold Steel Desperado.

The episode covers the February 2026 Gentleman Junkie giveaway from Knives by Nuge, the ongoing 3 Dog Knife affiliate partnership offering 25% off Alaska-made outdoor knives, and recent releases from Defiant 7, Civivi, and LionSteel. Bob also takes a historical look at the Japanese Kiridashi utility knife and shares his thoughts on the new Off-Grid Knives Polaris XL with Vanax steel.

The main event features 10 outdoor fixed blades that have seen serious use: the Condor Hudson Bay knife that took down an entire hedgerow, the classic Morakniv Number 2, the TOPS Tex Creek, 3 Dog Knife MAK, Knives by Nuge Bruin, Bark River Boone 2, L.T. Wright Small Northern Hunter, Off-Grid Tracker, BPS Knives MP5, and the Cold Steel Trailmaster that has been batoning logs since 2008. Bob also shares honorable mentions, including additional models from BPS, Knives by Nuge, Morakniv, and Off-Grid Knives.

Whether you need a knife for weekend camp chores, serious wilderness adventures, or everyday outdoor tasks, this episode provides real-world recommendations based on actual experience. Bob shares the scars, chips, and reprofiles that prove these blades work when it counts. Join host Bob DeMarco for honest talk about outdoor knives that deliver performance beyond the hype.

TKJ affiliate links for knives in this episode:

• 3 Dog Knife (25% off hardcore Alaskan-made knives with coupon code: knifejunkie): https://theknifejunkie.com/3dogknife

• Off-Grid Knives: https://www.theknifejunkie.com/offgrid

• T.Kell Knives: https://theknifejunkie.com/tkell (Get 10% OFF with coupon code: knifejunkie)

Find the list of all the knives shown in the show and links to the Knife Life news stories at https://theknifejunkie.com/655.

Support the Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives. You can also support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details.

Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also email theknifejunkie@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions.

To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use our podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

Welcome to The Knife Junkie Podcast, Episode 654. This week, Bob DeMarco sits down with John Curran of Curran Blades, a custom knife maker from Vero Beach, Florida, who builds bold, one-of-a-kind tactical folders and fixed blades.

John began making knives about 20 years ago after he could not find a specific hunting knife in stores. That first rough blade, built with a torch and motor oil, sparked a passion that eventually became a full-time career. Three years ago, John caught what he calls 'the bug' for building folders, and it has become an obsession driven by the search for perfection.

In this conversation, John discusses the technical challenges of building custom folders, why attention to detail matters most, and how he creates knives that look bold yet remain rooted in real-world function. He shares his thoughts on building a sustainable knife-making business without trying to become the next big production company, and why repeat customers mean more to him than anything else.

You will also hear about the materials John works with, including CPM-154 steel and high-carbon options like 1095 and O1. Plus, John reveals his dream project: a big, beautiful Damascus Bowie knife that he plans to build when the time is right.

Check out the full episode at TheKnifeJunkie.com/654.

Find John Curran and Curran Blades at CurranBlades.com, on Instagram @curran_blades, and on Facebook.

Be sure to support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details.

You can also support The Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives.

Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also email theknifejunkie@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions.

To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use our podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

Episode 653 of The Knife Junkie Podcast takes a deeply personal turn as host Bob DeMarco shares the knives that hold the most meaning in his collection. This episode goes beyond steel types and blade geometry to explore the emotional connections that make knife collecting a lifelong passion. From family heirlooms nearly 100 years old to custom collaborations that mark personal milestones, Bob presents thirteen blades that represent different chapters in his life and collecting journey.

The episode opens with Bob\'s practical pocket carry during the 2026 ice storm, featuring the robust Demko Knives AD20, the new Jack Wolf Knives Timber Jack designed by Tracy LaRock, the Knives By Nuge Bruin fixed blade, and a vintage USMC KA-BAR from 1990 that his brother gave him decades ago.

Bob explains his emergency carry philosophy and why he chooses non-titanium handles in extreme cold. The Knife Life News segment covers exciting developments from Kombou and Bestech, Jared Price and Boker Plus, and new innovations from WE Knife Company.

The heart of the episode focuses on thirteen nostalgia knives that tell the story of Bob\'s life. Family treasures include his grandfather\'s 1937 Jean Case Cutlery Co. hunting knife, with \"Robert Tinnirelli\" carved into the handle, and an L.F.&C U.S. 1918 Trench Knife that fulfilled a childhood dream shared with his brother.

Production classics like the SOG Stingray, Cold Steel Tanto, Emerson Commander, Microtech SOCOM Elite, and Spyderco Sage 2 represent different eras and innovations in knife design. Design collaborations, including the Hogtooth Knives NoVA-1, TKell Knives Agent 001, and the 50th-birthday Hogtooth sub-hilt fighter, showcase Bob\'s work with talented makers such as Matt Chase and Tim Kell.

The 50th birthday sub-hilt fighter stands out as perhaps the most meaningful knife in the collection. Inspired by Bob Loveless patterns, this double-edged fighting knife features a Damascus blade made from 15N20 and 1095, wrought iron reclaimed from Boston\'s Longfellow Bridge, antique black Micarta spacers, and beautiful stag. With 27 individual components perfectly balanced for its purpose, this knife represents not just exceptional craftsmanship but also the love of Bob\'s parents, who insisted on purchasing it as a birthday gift and handled all the arrangements with the maker, Matt Chase.

Bob invites listeners to reflect on their own nostalgia knives and share the stories behind the blades that mean the most to them. This episode reminds us that the best knives are not always the most expensive or technologically advanced. The best knives are the ones that were present during important moments, given by people we love, or represent personal achievements and milestones in our collecting journey.

Find the list of all the knives shown in the show and links to the Knife Life news stories at https://theknifejunkie.com/653.

Support the Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives.

You can also support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details.

Let us know what you thought about this episode, and leave a rating and a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also email theknifejunkie@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions.

To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use our podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.

Bob DeMarco returns with another year-end roundup on The Knife Junkie Podcast, counting down his favorite folding knives from 2025. After covering his top fixed blades last week, this episode focuses on the folders that earned the most pocket time throughout the year. From tactical self-defense designs to classic patterns with sentimental value, this list covers the full range of what makes a great folding knife.

The episode begins with community feedback and a pocket check featuring the Cuda Maxx 5.5, Jack Wolf Knives Timber Jack, Brock Blades Magni XL, and Work Tuff Gear Steadfast L. Bob also discusses the classic Case Trapper. He shares his experience finally putting his MoraKniv carbon steel fixed blade to work. The Knife Life News segment covers new releases from Sencut, the return of the Bareknuckle, and the Stealth Fighter-inspired Zero Tolerance ZT0117.

The main event features folders that stood out in 2025. The list includes the Cold Steel Rajah 3, Kansept Bison, JW Kollab Tango, DC Blades Sting, Buck Range Elite, North Mountain Blade BBMN, Kansept Deadite, Manganas Steel Aurelia, a vintage Buck 112 Ranger with serious history, and the Cold Steel Mayhem. Each knife earned its spot through real-world carry and use, not just initial impressions.

Bob shares honest thoughts on what worked and what surprised him throughout the year. Some knives delivered exactly what he expected, while others exceeded all predictions. The Manganas Aurelia claimed top honors as his favorite folder of the year, while the vintage Buck 112 from his friend Mike carried emotional weight that goes beyond materials and design. Whether you prefer tactical folders, classic patterns, or modern designs, this list offers something worth considering.

Watch the full video to see all these knives in action and hear detailed discussions about blade grinds, materials, and what makes each folder special. This episode demonstrates that the most reliable knife reviews come from actual use over time, providing viewers with the information they need to make informed decisions about their next purchase.

Find the list of all the knives shown in the show and links to the Knife Life news stories at https://theknifejunkie.com/652.

Support the Knife Junkie channel with your next knife purchase. Find our affiliate links at https://theknifejunkie.com/knives. You can also support The Knife Junkie and get in on the perks of being a patron, including early access to the podcast and exclusive bonus content. Visit https://www.theknifejunkie.com/patreon for details.

Let us know what you thought about this episode and leave a rating and/or a review. Your feedback is appreciated. You can also email theknifejunkie@gmail.com with any comments, feedback, or suggestions.

To watch or listen to past episodes of the podcast, visit https://theknifejunkie.com/listen. And for professional podcast hosting, use our podcast platform of choice: https://theknifejunkie.com/podhost.