Reviews America 250 Celebrating American- Made Blades (Part 2): The Southwest Mike Searson October 9, 2026 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Read our affiliate policy. Find out more about how we test products. The United States Semiquincentennial, also called the Bisesquicentennial, the Sestercentennial, or the Quarter Millennium, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States signed on July 4, 1776. In this issue, we continue our theme of highlighting American-made blades in celebration. Part one featured a smattering of knives from the Northwest, this time we’re checking out some steel from the Southwest. (Our usual “Knives by Theme” lineups will return in 2027). The Southwest has a rich culture of custom knifemakers and production knife factories stretching from Texas to California. Whether you’re into a fixed blade that can be discreetly carried in the pocket like Tracker Dan’s Bloodshark or a folder that is instantly deployable while drawn from the pocket like Emerson’s award-winning CQC-7, the Southwest has something for everyone. It reflects the working heritage of craftsmen who make their own tools by hand and leans into that “tool’s first” mentality with hardworking knives by companies like Spyderco, Auxiliary Manufacturing, Dawson Knives, and Knives of Alaska to works of art by companies like Tactile Knives. TRACKER DAN BLOODSHARK EDGE AND HALF Tracker Dan is a U.S. Navy SEAL, Kali instructor, and survival instructor who once trained with the legendary survivalist Tom Brown. The Bloodshark is his design for an ideal tactical EDC fixed blade that can be carried in the front pocket for quick access. The Bloodshark Edge and Half is a slight variation on this idea. The handle is gutted 550 paracord wrapped in a Japanese style over hemp and then resin coated for a non-slip grip and durability. The Kydex sheath is designed to ride in the front pocket and features a deep carry clip designed by Dan. He has pioneered this mode of carry in recent years, making it easy to pack a fixed blade over a folding knife. Tracker Dan’s all-American designs have become some of the hottest tactical fixed blades on the custom knife scene. PROS: Classic design reminiscent of a Scottish Sgian dubh or Viking-style dirk. Shaving sharp with a MagnaCut blade, this one is a real-world performer for self-defense and basic survival. The sheath setup is ingenious for discrete pocket carry. Dan pioneered this trend. CONS: A few jurisdictions frown on carrying a concealed fixed blade — know your laws. At first it felt a little small in the hand, but as you get used to it, you see how it aids in retention when working with it. SPYDERCO NATIVE 5 SALT Spyderco was founded in 1976 by Sal and Gail Glesser in Golden, Colorado, as a manufacturer of knife sharpening tools. Since then, the company has grown to become one of the leaders in the cutlery industry with manufacturing resources in the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, Italy, and China. Spyderco may have been one of the first manufacturers to use MagnaCut in an entire line of knives: The Salt Series. These knives are specifically developed for use in maritime environments. Made for people who are constantly around water either for work or for pleasure. The Native designation signifies that the knife is made in Golden, Colorado. It is tapped for left- or right-hand carry for tip-up or tip-down use. These features, along with being made in the United States, make these knives very popular among users and collectors. Spyderco Native 5 Salt Folding Knife 2.95" CPM-MagnaCut Satin Plain Blade, Yellow FRN Handles $161.25 KnifeCenter $161.25 Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure. PROS: MagnaCut is tough, easy to maintain, and strongly resistant to corrosion. The FRN handle scales keep the weight down and are very comfortable. This is a knife you can work with all day long. Opening is quick with Spyderco’s trademarked opening hole in the blade. CONS: As with any high-in-demand knife, availability and long wait times can be an issue. As strong as the lock back is, a puzzle lock might be handier on this model in a wet environment. DAWSON KNIVES CONTRACTOR WILDFIRE Dawson Knives has a story that’s as American as apple pie. Founded in 1973 in a storage unit in the great state of Texas, the Dawson family has been turning out knives ever since. From a dilapidated barn to a two-car garage, then a converted automotive bay, and finally, in 2023, to their current location in Prescott, Arizona. They’ve been a regular fixture on the gun show circuit in the Southwest for as long as I can remember. The Contractor is a stout drop-point blade that is probably the main heavy duty of their EDC line. The G10 handle provides a non-slip grip, and the Kydex sheath is designed to ride securely on the belt. This particular version has the Wildfire heat treatment, which yields unique gold and bronze tones over the base metal color. This is one of those designs that lends itself to many purposes from hunting and field use to all your typical EDC tasks. Dawson Knives come across as indestructible. PROS: 80CrV2 is a high-carbon steel prized for its exceptional toughness and durability in hard-use applications. The milled G10 handles are comfortable in the hand. This blade has a perfect natural balance. CONS: 80CrV2 is not a stainless steel and you must clean and maintain the blade to resist corrosion. The edge is a little on the thicker side. KNIVES OF ALASKA BADGER Knives of Alaska was founded in 1992 by Charles Allen in Alaska as a seasoned master guide for many years in the remote backcountry of Alaska where the knives are still tested to this day. You might find it out of place in a “Southwest” category, but their factory is located in Denison, Texas, within the walls of a repurposed World War II parachute factory. The Badger was designed to be an introductory hunting and field knife for a young person but can make for an effective EDC fixed blade with its short drop-point blade of D2 steel. It rides in a well-crafted USA-made leather sheath, and the knife has a lifetime warranty. Knives of Alaska Badger Fixed Blade Knife 2.64" D2 Bead Blast Blade, Black Santoprene SureGrip Handles, Brown Leather Sheath $111.79 KnifeCenter $111.79 Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure. PROS: The blade is D2 high-carbon tool steel, known for its edge retention and toughness. The rubberized Sure-Grip handle provides a firm, slip-resistant grip, in all conditions. The blade’s cutting edge is set further away from the handle to keep hands away from the sharp edge. CONS: D2 steel can rust if not cared for properly. Emerson Knives CQC7 The Emerson CQC7 is perhaps the most iconic tactical folding knife ever made in the United States. Incorrectly described as a tanto blade, it was originally designed as a chisel-ground straight-edge blade with a tip designed to chop and shear in the manner of a guillotine. Based on Emerson’s custom CQC6, this design was originally licensed for manufacture by Benchmade in 1994 to mass produce it. It made G10 handles The Standard scale material in tactical blades as well as the tip-up blade position. Emerson took back the design in 1999 after opening his own production factory two years prior in Torrance, California. Like most Emerson designs, this one features Emerson’s trademarked Wave Shaped Opening Device allowing the knife to open as it is drawn from the pocket. Pro-Tech Knives Pro-Tech Emerson CQC-7 Automatic Blasted 154CM Tanto $171.99 True Shot Ammo $171.99 Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure. PROS: The chisel-ground edge eliminates parasitic drag when cutting and slicing. 154CM steel is very tough, and this one came incredibly sharp. The handle is very comfortable and could be its best feature. CONS: Some users do not care for the chisel-ground blade regarding slicing or sharpening. Tactile Knife Co. Maverick (Titanium) The Tactile Knife Co. is a true American success story. Rather than a guy starting out grinding blades in his garage and graduating to become a master craftsman, the folks at Tactile were all brilliant and talented machinists and craftsmen in a state-of-the-art shop who decided to make their own knives one day. Every part they make — from the blade, handle, clip to the screws and pivots — are made in-house. The Maverick came about as a design from noted custom knifemaker, Richard Rogers. This is Tactile Knife Co.’s first crossbar lock, and they knocked it out of the park. The blade steel is MagnaCut; a premium stainless blade steel with high toughness, high-wear resistance, and high-corrosion resistance. Tactile Knife Co. Maverick MagnaCut Crossbar Lock Knife $349.00 Blade HQ $349.00 Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure. PROS: The Maverick is an exquisite-looking knife. This version boasts machined titanium handles, but a slightly cheaper Micarta version is available for $249. MagnaCut steel is an incredible stainless steel that’s tough, corrosion resistant, and holds an edge well. Every part on this knife was made in-house. A true rarity in today’s manufacturing age. This gives the company a better degree of quality control. CONS: Two minor cons are the lack of a reversible clip and no lanyard hole. The only way to improve this model might be the addition of a flipper or assisted opening mechanism. Auxiliary Manufacturing KTK Tanto REV Former Executive Chef Michael Jarvis is another American success story who struck out on his own as a full-time custom maker of fixed blade knives. Jarvis builds a huge array of cutting tools in his one-man shop out of Reno, Nevada, as Auxiliary Manufacturing. Auxiliary’s KTK Tanto REV is very capable of stabbing, slashing, cutting, and prying. Its origin came from an entirely different type of knife. Jarvis primarily makes Kwaiken-type blades (hence KTK means Kwaiken Type Knife). A customer asked for a Reverse Tanto style of blade and the knife remained so popular it became a regular part of his lineup. The textured Micarta handles are incredibly comfortable to hold. PROS: AEB-L is a very versatile knife steel; it’s tough, offers very good corrosion resistance, and can be heat-treated to a wide range of hardness. In this case, it sports a 61.5 HRC. The handle is textured perfectly without being overdone. This is a very comfortable piece to use and carry. CONS: There is no lanyard hole for this one. While the Micarta is comfortable, this one begs for a traditional Japanese cord wrap. Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. 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