My Brother Just Sent Me a Time Machine! (And It's Sharp!)
This Legendary Blade Kicked Off the Tactical Folder Craze—See the Historic Knife That's Now in My Hands!
This took me back to where the tactical folder game started!
My brother just outdid himself again when gifting me a new knife. He is my connection to the past with the amazing historical knives he gives me at Christmas time, on my birthday, or whenever he finds something cool at a gun show.
He is responsible for my two genuine knuckle trench knives (1917 & 1918), my WW2-era KA-BAR, my Fairbairn-Skykes Commando knife, and many others, but he just got me something I've always wanted... my favorite folder from history... a Spanish Navaja!
With a 10-inch horn-shaped handle, my new/old Navaja has faux mother-of-pearl covers and brass fittings, complete with a ratcheted steel locking leaf on the spine and tang.
When you swing the 8.5" Spanish clip point blade open, the ratchet lock creates a menacing racket sound, a warning to the beefing Spaniards on the streets of Seville. When gripped near the curved pommel, this antique Navaja gives me a reach of 14 inches, which will certainly do when swords are prohibited!
This antique Navaja is slightly larger and more solid than the Cold Steel Espada XL, which is inspired by the Navaja, but its ratchet lock is less robust than the Tri-Ad lock.
With its traditional compound-ground Spanish clip point blade and stylish swagger, I am very excited to have this bit of Sevillian steel in my collection, and I feel the need for more swelling within me.
The modern tactical fighting folder originated from this locking fighter, so perhaps it's worth exploring further and adding more Navajas to The Knife Junkie collection? Only time will tell.
Knife Junkie Out!
Eddie of OEG EDC: The Knife Junkie Podcast (Episode 604)
The latest episode (#604) of The Knife Junkie Podcast showcases one of the most inspiring success stories in modern knife making. Eddie from OEG EDC has achieved an impressive feat in just three years, transitioning from a novice to a respected maker.
Eddie began with simple EDC accessories, such as his Pennsylvania-themed Keystone bottle opener, during the pandemic and leveraged his background in titanium anodizing to create increasingly sophisticated pieces. His Good Luck pry bar demonstrates a personal problem-solving approach that defines his work, as it was specifically designed to help his wife scratch lottery tickets due to hand numbness.
Now creating both fixed blades and folders that rival makers with decades of experience, Eddie’s rapid progression showcases the power of combining traditional craftsmanship with modern CAD and manufacturing partnerships. His Windsor folder features sophisticated engineering with ceramic bearings and interchangeable scales, while his Pike fixed blade offers maximum utility in a compact package.
Perhaps most impressive is Eddie’s innovative approach to marketing and community building. Eddie’s booth at Blade Show, inspired by an East Coast pizza shop, doubled his foot traffic and perfectly embodied his philosophy of standing out through creativity rather than just competing on product alone.
Find Eddie and OEG EDC online at www.oegedc.com as well as on Instagram at www.instagram.com/oegedc.
Knife Tip
Starting last week, patrons of The Knife Junkie began receiving “knife tips” as part of their support. One of last week’s tips was about the Kukri. If you’d like to receive these regular knife-related tip articles, with images and graphics (like below), just join The Knife Junkie Patreon group at any PAID level. All paying members of the TKJ Patreon group will receive these informational items on a regular basis.