Knife Rights filed an Appellants' Reply Brief challenging the constitutionality of the Federal Switchblade Act under the Second Amendment. The organization argues the DOJ's defense fails under Heller and Bruen precedents, contending switchblades are commonly used arms deserving constitutional protection and that historical analogues do not justify the broad federal ban.
The Ninth Circuit panel ruled against Knife Rights in their appeal challenging California's ban on switchblade knives with blades 2 inches or greater on Second Amendment grounds. Knife Rights argues the court rewrote the law to uphold an unconstitutional statute and is evaluating further review options.
Washington's SB 5098 knife ban bill has passed the Democratic-controlled Senate 29-20 and moved to the House. Knife Rights, with support from Representative Mari Leavitt, will work to restore an amendment protecting hunting, fishing, and food preparation knives on public lands.
WE Knife Co. will exhibit at the 2026 NBS Spring Semi-Annual Market in Oklahoma City, February 10-13, showcasing its latest outdoor, hunting, and fishing knives to dealer members. VP of Marketing Seth Ercanbrack highlighted the opportunity to connect with retailers and demonstrate how WE Knife's products support outdoor enthusiasts.
WE Knife will showcase its latest innovations in EDC, tactical, hunting, and outdoor knives at the 2026 Great American Outdoor Show, February 7-15 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. VP Marketing Seth Ercanbrack highlighted the company's excitement to share new designs at booth #440.
The Cold Steel Republic is a fresh take on the general-purpose field knife genre. The Republic is made in the USA, with quality materials and features intelligent design choices. It’ll get everything done from the kitchen to the camp. Designed to be a knife that’s ready to be pressed into whatever service comes it’s way, it’ll handle anything you throw at it. Let’s dive in and take a closer look.
The Republic is made entirely in the USA. Cold Steel partnered with White River Knives, and they produce the Republic in their Fremont, Michigan facility.
Everything about the Republic is quality. The 5” blade is S45VN stainless steel and came shaving sharp out of the box. The blade has a saber grind, with the flats going a little more than halfway up the blade width. The jimping on the top of the spine runs about half the blades length, and I found this feature especially helpful when cleaning and processing mule deer.
The handle is very nicely contoured natural brown micarta, affixed to the full tang with removable hardware. The tang extends slightly past the end of the handle, where the lanyard hole is located. This extended portion is also textured a bit, which should help provide some traction when it’s used as a light weight ‘persuader’ for tent pegs or an adventurous way to hang a picture.
The sheath is exceptional. I am of the mindset that if the sheath isn’t worthwhile, I won’t bother with the knife. In the case of the Republic, the sheath is one of the best leather sheaths I’ve had in a production knife in a long time. The leather is nicely molded, and the Republic ‘clicks’ in just as well as a Kydex sheath. The Republic’s sheath is nice enough to make you want to carry it, just to show it off.
I received the Republic in late summer, and I’ve been taking it along on camping trips and outings. I really like the handle shape. It’s shaped just right, with contours near the index finger area that don’t seem too specific to hand size. In long term use, I was able to use various grip positions without any fatigue. The micarta cleans easily as well; I’ve had it caked in everything from deer blood to fish guts, and a warm soapy water bath cleaned it every time.
I’ve been using the republic while working on my bow-drill skills lately. Basically, this is my feeble attempt to rub sticks together to get hot enough to be interesting. If you’re ever in the market for self-induced frustration, give the bow-drill a try. On one family camping trip, I found some large oyster shells I thought I might be able to use for the bearing block. Using the Republic, I split out some mystery driftwood, and made the hearth board, spindle, and bow. The tasks of carving the divot with the tip and cutting the notch on the hearth board were easy work for the Republic. Building the set took about 30 minutes but I never got that arrangement to produce anything more than smoke.
The Republic was on my side during opening day of a mule deer hunt. My oldest son drew his first tag this year, so we endeavored to find two deer. Our first success came at 6:59am, with my son dropping a nice doe at about 110 yards. She was relatively easy to get to, and we had her hung from a tree in no time.
The Republic sailed through removing the hide. I don’t cut or break the pelvis. Instead, I work in from the inner crease of the leg, and separate the hip ball from the socket and cut the hind quarters out from the inner thigh towards the top of the pelvis. This is hard on a knife, since it inevitably requires getting the blade into the hip socket to separate it cleanly. I feel this method yields easier hind quarter separation, if the knife is up to the task.
I didn’t have a single issue with the Republic. I cleaned, quartered and removed backstraps and tenderloins without a need for sharpening. Once done, I avoided putting the knife back into the leather sheath since it was caked in all manner of goo. I just dropped it into the ice chest, and washed it back at camp.
The cards were in our favor that day, and I filled my tag with a heavy 10-point muley that afternoon. I hadn’t sharpened the Republic, but set to work on our second deer in the same day. By the time his hide was coming off, the Republic was just barely starting to drag in the cut, and the temps were dropping into the mid-20’s. The boys took turns cutting while I pulled tension on the hide, and we had him ready to quarter just as the sun set.
I finished that deer in cold temps, with my boys taking turns staying warm in the truck. I never felt the Republic was going to slip or slide in my blood-covered frosty hands. In all manner of grips useful in processing game, the Republic was comfortable. We filled three large ice-chests with meat that day, and besides a saw for hoof and antler removal, the Republic was all that was used. After a good sleep that night, I sharpened it up on a ceramic rod. It came back to shaving sharp without much fanfare, and no noticeable chips or rolls to the edge.
The Cold Steel Republic falls squarely in the ‘general camp knife’ category. It’ll build fires, prep dinner, and clean game just fine. It’s well built with quality components, and quite frankly, is very pleasant to use. I’m planning to gift it to my oldest son for his birthday, so he can have the knife that cleaned his first deer. I’m genuinely looking forward to seeing it hanging off his belt.
If you’re in the market for a quality field knife that’ll do just about anything you ask of it, give the USA Made Cold Steel Republic a serious look. When it’s below freezing, and you’ve got half a deer to finish cleaning, you’ll be glad you did.
