Take the Edge Off: Replaceable-Blade Knives Five

The popularity of the replaceable blade knife has boomed over the last several years. Originally the darling of the backcountry, hunters of all stripes have come to appreciate its utility in recent seasons. l've skinned, caped and cut up moose, sheep, mountain goats, brown bears, black bears, and wolves with them and rarely do I go into the field without one. 

The Razor Blaze has a great rubber handle and the weight and heft of a good folder. Its proprietary blade is much larger and more heavy duty than the 60XT blades employed by Havalon and Gerber, and the long blade retainer essentially serves as the spine of the blade itself. A simple push-button release makes for fast, safe, and easy blade swapping. This knife doesn't have a pocket clip but it comes with a nylon sheath with a belt loop. This knife is ideal for skinning and butchering; however, it's less than ideal for finer tasks. Also, be sure to wipe the knife clean before changing blades because built-up fat and tissue can gum up the works. This is a solid knife that will be popular with hunters who aren't worried about shaving ounces.

Total 90.5/100

• Ergonomics 9.5
• Safety 8.5
• Blade Utility 10
• Edge Retention 9
• Resharpenability 9.5
• Blade Strength 9
• Blade Replacement 9
• Butchering 10
• Skinning/Caping 7.5
• Value 8.5
• Weight 3.6 oz
• Lenght (Open/Closed) 8 in ./4.5 in.