By David E. Petzal

The world is positively awash in survival knives these days, and some of them, I’m sad to say, appear to have been cooked up by people who never got farther outdoors than the parking lot at industrial arts school. The SK-5 does not come under this heading. It’s designed by a fellow named Paul Scheiter, and while I’m not familiar with his credentials, he knows his s**t.

This is a knife that is not too big while being big enough, made of 154-CM steel, has a terrific and more or less indestructible canvas micarta handle held in place by three stainless-steel bolts, and an excellent MOLLE-compatible sheath that’s made of coyote-colored Cordura nylon. The blade is 5” long, spear-pointed, and tempered to Rc58-60. Mine came just short of razor-edged, and once I put a shaving edge on it (30 seconds on the Crock Stick) it held that edge like Grim Death.

A more useful, simple, and well-designed all-around knife you will not find. If I were taking one to the Sand Box, I might want to have the blade bead-blasted to kill the shine, but aside from that, it’s perfect.

By David E. Petzal

By David E. Petzal

Reading the comments to our Best of the Best tests on the website, I noted that people were pissing and whining that some of what we tested cost way too much for those who can barely afford a Happy Meal, and that I did not shoot enough to draw accurate conclusions about whether rifles shot well or not.

My fellow Americans: If you can’t afford expensive stuff, tough. This is the land of opportunity. Go out and manage a hedge fund instead of what you’re doing. We test what comes in, regardless of price. As for not shooting enough, one of the things I’ve learned over decades of testing rifles is that the good ones shoot well from the get-go and the bad ones disgrace themselves immediately.

One good group is not enough to tell you anything for sure. I’ve shot many factory rifles that came with a single sensational test-target group which I could never duplicate. If you get two good, or bad, groups it can still be coincidence. But with three, there’s very little doubt. You can go on and shoot two more groups, or ten more, and you’re going to keep getting the same thing.

By Philip Bourjaily

by Phil Bourjaily

Regular reader Jim in NC recently suggested I write more about buckshot, adding that I should not dismiss buckshot deer hunters as “a bunch of knuckle dragging rednecks who should be shooting driven pheasants with Holland and Hollands.” Hardly. One of the best features of the shotgun is its versatility. With a 12 gauge shotgun and a selection of ammo from 9s to buck and slugs you can shoot anything on Earth that walks or flies.

Coming from a “slugs only” state I have shot plenty of deer with shotguns but none with buckshot. But, I have always been intrigued by buck shot and have a shot a bunch at paper to see how it acts. Here is what I have observed:

By Philip Bourjaily

Fortunately for me I am not a baseball fan, or I would be digging deep in my pockets for Joe DiMaggio’s shotgun, which will be auctioned at James D. Julia’s in Maine this October. See, it’s a Winchester Model 21, which is the American double I yearn for – although I’m not sure why I want a 21 instead of a Fox or a Parker. I just do.

But there’s more: this isn’t just any Winchester Model 21 belonging to Joe DiMaggio. It’s a gun presented to him in recognition of his feat of hitting safely in 42 consecutive games during the 1941 season. Forty-two broke the old mark of 41, and of course, even I know that Joltin’ Joe went on to hit in a untouchable record 56 straight games. 

The floorplate reads: “To 'THE YANKEE CLIPPER' Joe DiMaggio From Capt. Jos. Cocozza Essex County Prosecutors Office Newark, NJ June 30, 1941." June 30, 1941 was the day after DiMaggio’s record setting base hit. The gun was made for duck hunting, with 30-inch barrels, and a tight (.029) choke in one barrel and a tighter (.032) choke in the other. It was used for duck hunting, too, and the stock was damaged when a blind caught fire. The old stock was replaced in 2007 by the gun’s current owner.