Hey everyone, I was wrong about the name of the TJ Schwarz knife-it’s the Confidante, not the Compadre. My bad! Sorry TJ 🤦‍♂️ In my defense, it was my fixed blade compadre of choice for 2023.

It's always good to see Homer and Ned together.

I’m always surprised by what Seth picks up. Such unique and creative choices. Great job both of you, and Thomas too, for all you’ve brought us in 2023!

If you guys were ever so inclined, you’d make two of the most knowledgeable, fair, and thoughtful knife reviewers on KZfaq. I love that you both search out treasures both within and outside of what’s hot and new for knives and materials. There are very few reviewers on this platform with as complete a perspective on knives. Hats off. You’re the real deal.

Of the ten folders I purchased this year (WAY down from my "normal"), here are the top five (in no particular order): 1. Petrified Fish Beluga 2. Spyderco Manix 2 XL 3. KA-BAR Dozier 4. Cold Steel 4-Max Scout 5. Spyderco Centofante Due to the sad state of our economy over the past couple years, I've had to seriously scale back all purchases (not just knives) in favor of those things that are needed versus wanted. I'm hoping and praying that things will get much better for us all within the next few years. Thanks for all you guys do for the community. I sure appreciate your efforts. Happy New Year! 🥳

Thanks for the very kind words about the bread knife! That is an awesome group of knives to be a part of!

I probably say this every year. DCA (and Seth now) are my go to guys for knife info. Much respect to you both. I purchased my last knife of the year last night using my knife rewards 😊 Spyderco Sage 5 LW in Maxamet!! Keep it up in 2024!

I appreciate the love of knives from knife lovers.

I believe this is the 3rd one of these end of year knife expert videos I have seen from knifecenter now and this is the best one of them yet. I am truly satisfied with this content. I really think Seth and I are on the same wave length as far as our collection journey this year. I too have focused on collecting some of the more iconic knives that I had not yet gotten in hand yet, this year. I also really felt this time like DCA was really impressed by Seths collecting choices this year. They both seem to really appreciate each others perspectives. Thanks for the vid KnifeCenter team

your videos are great, nice closing and wishing you a great year full of more knives forwarded and helpfully we all find the finial ultimate best knife we are all looking for :)

Yay Thomas for the firework and party audio!! Wow, nice purchases guys! I always loved the Spyderco military and carried one for years in my trade as an industrial electrician. It was an early version w/ S60V (CPM440V) heat treated harder than the following versions (abuse caused some tip breakage). After years of hard use and sharpening there was not much left of the blade so i decided to try a Para 2 W/ camo G10 and S30V. It took a while to get used to the compression lock but i loved the design/ergonomics. Unfortunately while pulling a bundle of keys out of my waistband the para2 came flinging out, flicked open and the tip hit the concrete floor. A couple hours later after re profiling the blade and handle i had a knife the size of a Para 3. After Watching one of your "new knifes" vids i saw the exclusive Para 2 w/ teal G10 and S90V so back to KnifeCenter i go and now wish a had bought two because it is the perfect knife for me.

I got a 2x72 Ameribrade for Christmas. I'm finishing up a batch of 14 blanks to send off for heat treat and a buddy sent me 6 heat treated culinary blades to practice grinding on. New life goal is making a fixed blade for DCA!

Thanks guys! Love the content. Happy New Year!!!!!!

Sorry DCA, but I gotta go with Seth on this one. For being a fixed blade guy, you really dropped the ball here! WAY TO GO SETH!!!😊

It’s about time channels started giving microtech their due. Thanks for including them, I love their knives. Expensive, but worth every penny.

Great year end, cutting edge wrap-up review. Happy New Year!

You guys are great. Thanks for the video!

This year I only bought/ received 3 knives, since I don't have the money to buy more (which I'm completely fine with). The first knife I bought was the Civivi Elementun II Button Lock. The second knife I bought was the Vero Engineering Axon fixed blade. I've never had a pocket fixed blade before and saw a bunch of reviews online about it and was drawn to it so I picked one up and have to say I am starting to fall in love with pocket carrying a fixed blade. The third knife I got was the Civivi Vision FG, which I got for Christmas. Of the 3 knives I got this year, The Axon fixed blade is my favorite.

Totally agree with everything you said about the Kershaw Heist, I put a bit of extra gimping on the short thumb ramp portion behind the thumbs stud which has made it absolutely perfect for me. Wish I would bought two dozen of them while they were under the 50 dollar mark. Great stuff guys.

I love the fact that you make your own bread. I'm from Austria and we have VERY good bread here. I've heard bread in the US really sucks. So I really like you making your own bread. I have no question, I just wanted to say how much I love the content you make! I wish I could get all the things you get in the US. I always have problems getting stuff made in the US and/or are sold in the US. Knifesantools seems to be the way in Europe. Maybe there's a market for you here?

Microtech MSI, Spyderco Native Chief, Tops Alaskan Harpoon, and a 2 for 1... Mora Garberg mated to the sheath of my new choppy Terävä Skrama.

Every knife owner or collector should have a Microtech Socom Elite They are pound for pound, one of the best folding knives ever made.

I always like seeing what you two pick. Mine was surprising this year. Spyderco Military 2, Cold Steel 4 inch Talwr, Cobra Steel OTF, and I just 10 minutes ago got the Civivi Paxtis button lock.

My favorite purchase in the past year is the QSP Penguin (green micarta & 14c28n). Only change I made to it was removing the thumbstuds, so it's button/flipper only. Using a field sharpener & strop, I can get it hair whittling/popping sharp, and have it glide through paper towel. Also really like the sheepsfoot blade. It's difficult to explain how sharp and keen this knife can get, just know it is amazing.

my favorite was from you guys at knife center, picked up the 1-Spartan SHF Plague Doctor. 2-Something Obscene J-Cape V4 3- Sypderco Subvert Sprint with CF 20 cv 4-Microtech Stitch manuel 5- Medford 187 DP full ti s90

Enjoyable video, TYFYS. Happy New Year...

I wasn’t able to buy as many knives as I wanted to this year. But, I scored an amazing deal on an Automatic Benchmade Presidio ll. I more or less picked it from a local shop that was going out business. Out the door I paid less than $200. I love that knife.

*My 2023 Top 5 Knife Purchases:* Arcform Knives Geoff Blauvelt Slimfoot Flipper Damasteel Sheepsfoot w/ Mars Valley FatCarbon and Titanium Handles Spartan Blades - Spartan-George Raider Dagger Spartan Blades - Spartan-Harsey Kukri Hogue EX-F01 Combat Knife G10 Green G-Mascus Handles GiantMouse GMF4 Fixed Blade w/ Black Canvas Micarta Handles *Honorable Mentions:* Zombie Tools The Belmont Viper Knives Tommaso Rumici Basic-2 MagnaCut Sheepsfoot w/ Marbled Carbon Fiber Handles DOVO Straight Razor 6/8" Full Hollow Ground Carbon Steel w/ Ebony Handles Columbia River CRKT 4037 Jon Graham Razel Fixed Blade D2 Chisel Blade

Not sold on the Leatherman ARC. I don't feel a need to change up my Charge Ti. Thanks for another great year of videos DCA. HAPPY NEW YEAR

My top two favorites are 1) QSP canary in 14C28N sandvik & green OD Micarta... And my favor #2 is a folder... The Kaiser drop bear in S30v stonewashed finish with custom Dark matter shattered carbon fiber grips.. Just love the shape for edc tasks... But may get a Kizer Sparrow EDC Knife 2.99 Inches 154CM Steel Folding Knife Green Micarta for the more utility shape for when I'm working... I'm usually a fixed blade guy always have been but been trying to find a couple of folders that are worth my time that don't cost too much.. Before I hot these knifes.. I've been rocking the giant mouse with El Max Steel and had a OD Green grip made for it and formed the leather sheath that usually comes with to accommodate the handle grips.. Ty steam machine 😋... Anyways, thanks for your time and the video 😎✌️

I am fairly new to the knife world. I own about a dozen knives so far. My two favorites so far are my Kershaw Livewire and my Cold Steel SR1 tanto blade.

Great for this to be a longer video, couple of bros talking about their favourite buys Would be great if leather man made tools in the SOG PowerPoint size...

LOVE that Almar handle material.

Great video. Happy new year. ☘

Happy 2024 Thomas, DCA, Seth and the whole Knife Center crew. I picked up a new Hogue Deka v2 in magnacut in 2023, enjoying it very much. Lightweight, nimble and slicy! Cheers!

Hi guys, Whatdayaknow, I also bought a knife last year For the last 3-4 decades I've made and used my Bushwhacker style knife, and decided to "retire" it to use as a garden "spade" rather than a knife. I no longer make knives so I decided to buy one, and indulge in a fantasy I've had for many, many years! I just love large knives, and made quite a number on order. But, the years have intervened and I no longer do that. All that time I've looked at, read about, commented about (on KC as well), and finally decided to take the plunge! I bought it! It being a Cold Steel Trail Master (San Mai III version). What finally decided me was a KZfaq video comparison between the TM and the Fallknviven Modern Bowie (done by Rob Evans, Bushcrafter, Wales). The TM came out on top, just. When it came I was blown away, as it was everything Rob had said, and then some. The sheath, however, was a disappointment, so I asked the same Rob Evans to make me a custom leather sheath for it, and it's a doozy! Now, my fantasy has been fulfilled! Cheers guys!

I never sell my old knives. Still have them all. I am very very poor now.

thanks for showing me the knives. Happy new year.

26:00. "What are those things you use to cut paper?" 😂

The Leatherman Arc was my top choice as well. I got the parts and modified my P2 so that comes to work with me and the Arc I use for everything else.

It was a big year for me as far as knives goes. Tops camp creek. It works great as a Skinner and small camp knife . Lion steel m7 . Now that's a knife . We kitefin button lock Christmas present from my wife . And Kunwu orian 3 . Not a top 5 but still a great year . Love all of them . Hope you guys have a great new year love from Australia. 😊

After watching this I immediately purchased that new large freek. It’s such an awesome knife.

I'm pretty new to collecting fixed-blade & folding knives, but I'm highly knowledgeable about working kitchen knives. I was, in my 20s (about 50 years ago), a sous chef trained by a chef de cuisine (an old, old friend) who, in turn, learned his craft at a Michelin 2-star restaurant in France. He gifted me with a set of top-of-the-line professional-grade Zwilling/Henckel knives sized 4", 6", 7", 8" and 10" blades (top Wusthofs are comparable). All are cast, not stamped or milled with sloped bolsters, perfectly balanced for professional technique & the 10" feels so weightless when you learn the pro's way to hold it, you can easily flute a mushroom with it. I have never cared about the aesthetics of a full-time working knife (11 hours a day, 6 days a week!), but other elements are critical. The first, of course is the steel and the second is the balance. If you ever watch a professional chef wield a classic European chef's knife, you will note that the index finger extends past the bolster (the flared end of the blade that mates with the handle) onto the start of the spine & the thumb also extends onto the blade on the other side (Imagine pinching the blade at the very back of the blade barely forward of the bolster). Don't ever put your index finger forward over the spine, the knife can slip & flop to either side! You will often see a distinctive diagonal callus on the underside of the index finger near where it joins the hand of a professional chef. The point at the front of the bolster is the balance point of a chef's knife. You don't want a knife that is too handle-heavy or blade-heavy or it will strain your wrist muscles & make your arm, not the knife, do all the work. To test balance, pinch the knife just where the bolster joins the blade at the back of the blade. It should be level & weightless. That said, cleavers should be blade-heavy because they do heavy chopping & filleting knives should be handle-heavy with thin, flexible blades for long delicate cuts. When choosing a chef's knife, look for one where the blade's bolster is as wide as the handle at the top & tapers down to the width of the blade (sometimes called a "semi-bolster") as it lets you use (and sharpen) the entire blade easily. My 50+ year old knives can still be sharpened to hair-cutting edges (European knives are usually sharpened to a 20 to 25 degree flat angle because they generally use steel not as hard as Japanese knives (HRC), but Henckel recommends you can go down to 17 degrees, closer to a Japanese knife. After 6 months cooking, my boss gave me a birthday present of a hand-crafted Japanese Usubu knife (like the westernized 2-angle Nikiris, but flat on one side) made of ultra-high-carbon-steel that comfortably takes a 12 degree angle. It is a chisel blade & takes training & practice to sharpen correctly. It is my go-to knife for the most delicate chores. You can slice a tomato or onion thin enough to read the paper through with one single slice feeling NO resistance. I never asked him what it cost, but even then in the early 70's it was not hard to spend over $500 to $1,000 '70s dollars for a top hand-crafted Usuba. I just saw a used one offered online for $1,350! You should do a couple of videos on how to sharpen knives to hair-splitting edges. Edge retention and ease of sharpening are in opposition to each other on most steels. Horses for courses. I've seen a $1.25 Walmart special sharpened to where you can shave the sides of a human hair (though it wouldn't hold the edge through a full day of use). I use a course soak stone of between 220 & 320 for touch-ups to nicks & stuff, but my go-tos are Japanese Shapten 1000 & 5000 grit ceramic splash-&-go stones for my western knives, where I use a 15 degree angle & add an 8000 grit for the Usubu & thin angled pocket knives. A final polish by stropping on strips of good leather (use the unfinished side of the leather, it absorbs the compound better) with a compound appropriate to the sharpness you honed gives an edge like a double-edge razor bade. For pocket knives, depending on steel, I've been successful going down to 10 to 12 degrees, but usually stick with 15. You talk about all of the collectors' points of interest & the benefits of different blade sizes, handles, actions, & deep-carry clips, which are what I have to learn more about, but really should add to your series more on techniques of use of the knives & the art of sharpening them (and why you NEVER use an electric sharpener or a pull-through, no matter how much it costs). If you love knives, you will find that mastering the use of whetstones is a form of Zen that will fit right in with your love of good blades. I've been known to dull a knife just to resharpen it! And, you'll have a knife even sharper than it came from the factory. BTW, I'm looking to add a Kershaw Iridium next week as a new EDC, but haven't decided to go for the standard silver D2 tool steel blade or the black version with the 2 or 3 micron PVD coating on the blade. It looks a bit menacing (which may be a GOOD thing under the right conditions), but does protect the blade a tad from moisture & scratches I'm told. Any opinions?

If I had to go back and start collecting all over again, I would go with the Civivi Bulltusk. The action is amazing, the blade shape is perfect for most everyday tasks, and the it comes in one of my favorite colorways, OD green and black.

When I first got into knives and learned about the high end, the Socom was what I wanted. Must have watched every KZfaq video and written review I could. What sold me was a dude who built custom shooters was asked if he carried a knife.. he’s all like “yeah a Socom.. had it 20 years” and showed it and I was like yep.. one day I will have one.

Good video David and Seth, always fun to hear you guys discuss. My top three most carried/favourite knives of 2023: Manly Wasp S90V (carried 182 times) Cold Steel Lucky (carried 122 times) Victorinox Bantam (carried 104 times) All slipjoints, and I have a few more slipjoints on the wishlist for 2024; the Knifecenter exclusive Alox Bantam and Pioneer X, the ANV Z050 and the Spyderco UKPK Magnacut (I don't own a Spyderco yet and can't decide on which one to get). Luckily for my wallet, none are in stock (except the Z050 in silver where I would prefer black, but the silver is on sale...) Also 25:58 it's called a guillotine.

I got so many Spydercos this year! 3 versions of the PM2, the Military 2, Spydiechef, a PM3, and one of those neat pakawood Endlas y’all have! Definitely looking fwd to the MagnaCut pm2 salt.

I love the moon engraving on the handle of the bread knife

No particular order fave 5: Nordsmith Pilgrim LT, Bark River Bushcrafter 2, Microtech Socom Elite, Civivi Sokoke, Spartan Harsey Folder

Have wanted a Al Mar Ultralight Eagle for a long time, never got one when they were being made because I thought they were overpriced for what you get. I wanted one though because they look like the perfect pocket paring knife for peeling and cutting up apples, etc when in the orchard, garden, field. Also, I got my 1st Leatherman in 1984 as a present to myself after graduating basic training. I carried it for years and then they started becoming popular and I bought more and more different multitools. Right now, my favorite is the Leatherman 300 Supertool with an older version of the Wave coming in a close 2nd.

great video,,,,thanks i'll be getting in touch to purchase a couple,,,,,great looking knives,,,,,thanks again

I love my M4 Freek, I definitely get the “it sits in the hand so well” vibe

What a great concept for a video!

Great video. I love the passion and the way you present your top choices. I recently purchased my favorite edc fixed blade, possibly of all time. The model 1 by White River. For me the S35VN is perfect. Opening the box, the knife was so sharp it would cut your eye if you looked at it wrong. Feels amazing in the hand and its style and curves are very pleasing to the eye.

This is a really nice collection of knives. Almost every choice looks like something I would really enjoy.

Your Sebenza scales, if held vertically, reminded me of the Matrix scrolling screen of black and green ;-)

Great video guys and nice choices.

With you on the Heist, my current favorite is their Blade HQ Iridium with the black washed blade

Great to see Seth in the frontline. Cheers from Australia.

Damn DCA I love the green micarta and magnacut on that CRK it’s no wonder it’s $700 it’s gorgeous 😂

LOVED the fixed 100 Pacer! Excellence indeed! In my top 3 favorite Spydercos in their version. It was my favorite on the table here. My top 5 purchases this year Midgards Messer the Fenris, Tops Knives Wolf Pup XL, Vosteed Raccoon button lock, Dawson Knives Mountain Man Bowie and TRC 😅Mille Cuori.

That was a fun one guys. Thank you.

Favorite knife of the year is Giant Mouse Ace Iona V.2 Happy Knife Year!

I want that green sebenza with a black manacut blade. Hope DCA can push to make it happen. Keep up the great work. HAPPY NEW YEAR🎉.

Nice selections !

Great to see Kershaw getting some well-deserved love.

That bread knife is the shizzle!

Agree the socom elite is awesome. I picked up 2 this year myself! Cheers!

Al Mar eagle is a very nice classic!

Would love to hear your feedback back on the Toor Darter knife, I like the size the fact you can carry with pocket clip and would love to get your feedback back on some comparable knives to contemplate between

Before the proliferation of powder steel, D2 and M4 tool steels were considered exotic and desirable steel during the time where ATS-34, 154CM, CPM440v, and VG-10 ruled the roost. Very few knives under $200 used D2 or M4 tool steels because they were expensive to obtain. In particular was D2 enhanced (D2e) which I believe (but could be wrong) was co-developed and tested by Darrell Ralph. So knife noobs should be grateful that they can now get D2 in $50 knives. It's as if you could now buy a Ferrari for the price of a Ford Focus.

That Almar is lovely

Hey Dave, great video. I haven’t seen anything, since I’ve been waiting this channel, on neck knives. Can you help with some options or recommendations?

Love the passion

DCA please explain this “when it speaks to you, buy it.” Concept to my wife please 🙏 😂

Ha, DCA, I've carried an 80s Model Vic. Super Tinker - slightly different from the current models - as my back up and still constant EDC - since the 80s. Had a thirty year career in a factory when I carried and used 4 knives, 6 days a week. Everything else has changed, but I still carry this! Loved your comment there! As the LORD does know, if they'd make that model [modify all of my second little cutting blades to a clip point for splinters] with a Magnacut blade... Uh my!!! then I could sell everything else like an expensive pearl [in this world] for one of those ... Saving up for a Magnacut blade as my "heavy" EDC knife companion! Wish Esee would make an Izula II in Magnacut. That is my other EDC blade!!! After almost 60 years of carrying knives... Tinker, Ezula 2, Magnucut, Endura Magnacut... and maybe a BK16 in CPM3V... Then I could complete the quest and die... or be blade happy! Quite enjoyed the vid!

Thanks for the review guys, can you explain the difference in reliability when it comes to washers vs bearings?

16:20 I owned the Kershaw Heist for a little bit and probably need to give it another chance. I like the washers instead of bearings and grip texture but can't get on board with D2 (14c28n or 12c27 would be great). The Kershaw feels original enough in its design and I agree it feels like a blue collar version of the Bugout. Great video gents! Happy Knife Year!!

Love that custom bread knife. You should make a deal with them and sell it as the DCA edition!😊

2:51 love seeing people using the socom as an EDC. My most carried was hands down the spartan blades Pallas. Seems like when someone says something is a good EDC knife , it means it's small and usually has a deep carry clip. 🤦🏽‍♂️

That Al Mar is a lovely looking knife.

Topic pitch: David only talks about Nessmuks and Seth only talks about obscure/vintage knives. It could be “Expert fixations”. Mostly I’m just trying to get more Nessmuk options… still looking for my Goldilocks

2 other knives Al Mar made that were very good knives were the Sere 2000 and one of my favorites the Nomad.

Hard to beat my 710 and mini Barrage. They were my first Benchmade's, probably not my last, but two 'good' knives have served me well for 10 years now. Got a few other liner locks, but after the bar lock style, it's really hard to go back.

I think the Kershaw Heist works so well design wise due to its similar design to the both the Ritter Hogue and Benchmade Grptilian. Its a good lookin knife for sure. Got one on my wish list.

The socom elite truly is a unicorn and probably the best folding knife there is. The only other folding knives I have bought after the socom have been more socom elites.

Schrade+ 60t USA made. I've hammered nails with the brass bulster.

Some highlights this year (year of Magnacut): -Bark River Bravo 1 LT MagnaCut -Chris Reeves Backpacker (magnacut) -Spyderco Salt (MagnaCut) -pro-tech runt (MagnaCut) -spyderco para 3 (10v)

All the best for the new year, Mr. Andersen, Seth, and Thomas! My Top 5 Most Enjoyed knife purchases this year vary WILDLY in size, purpose, and price. In no particular order: 1) WorkPro Folding Utility Knives (3-pack for $18). Or the DuraTech Folding Utility Knives (2-pack for $13). Ridonkulous value - button lock, super slim, lightweight, deep carry pocket clip, but allows full-handed grip when open. I have one on me at all times. 2) Imacasa 127 Classic 14" machete. Super thin, lightweight, injection-molded plastic handle, distal tapering. I've cleared SO much vegetation with this thing. I loved it so much I got a bigger brother last month - an 18" version. 3) Kizer Yorkie in M390 and Black micarta. Small, subtle, super slicey, and very utilitarian, whether for office or 5th jeans pocket. 4) Cold Steel Large G-10 Espada. I got it for fun but discovered it was functional. It ended up getting a LOT of EDC time. 5) Mora Heavy Duty Companion. How come I have never had one among my Moras, I cannot say, but I was so impressed with the ergos that I bought another. So now I have a black one for my EDC bag and an orange one for the bush.

My favorite new knife has to be the Ocaso Strategy. The G10 feels like it melts into your hand with no hot spots no matter how hard you handle it

I know maybe I was wrong, but I hadn't seen a friend of mine for years, he has a family like I have, and after many years we decided to spend Christmas together, I have children who are the same age as his, they played together it was fantastic, he works for the special forces and I decided to give him a kershaw heist, and a leatherman arc with bit kit and screwdriver extensions, I just hope I made a good impression, and that I made the right choice, I was undecided whether to get kershaw iridium or heist, but I like heist more in terms of design even if they say it has lower performance than iridium so I bought kershaw heist sorry for the long message, have a nice day!!

The Quietcarry Drift Large is my personal knife of the Year.

Manix 2 in CPM M4 upgraded with Applied Weapons Technology Scales and Flytanium Ball Cage with Ceramic Ball and Spring, Spyderco Yojumbo with DNA Lasering Scales, Endura LW Wharncliffe in K390 likely will get DNA Lasering Scales for it. AD20.5 added Flytanium G10 scales and Demco standoffs.

Socom elite 🔥 one of my all time favorites.

26:10 I'm not sure what they're called in America, but in primary school I'm Scotland my teachers always called those paper cutters a guillotine, even though by my time in the early 2000s they'd been replaced by the much safer sliding versions!

I gave my Benchmade 940 to my brother for Christmas think I might swing by and pick up one of those freaks

The Presidio is my main knife too. Got the shot show version in CPM M4. Sadly that means I got a lot of wear on a limited edition.

That AlMar is beautiful.

Quick question fam.! Would you take the Kershaw heist over CJRB’ pyrite? Which one and why ? Peace and blessings!

Good to know at least someone is running their magnacut hard. All these companies flooding the market with soft magnacut. Even my two favorite companies run theirs 60-62. Which is fine for S45VN, but if I'm going for tough and stainless then LC200N and 14C28N are both tougher than magnacut and in the same neighborhood of stainless. I'm buying magnacut to get edge retention along with the other two properties. I hope more companies do what Chris Reeve is doing