The folks at JOKER refer to this knife as a tactical blade, although we do not. It is an ideal "sidekick" knife for a hunter, backpacker or camper. That is saying a lot.

There are lots of sheath knives on the market and over the years we have carried a wide variety of them on our excursions. However, this one is about as good as it gets. It is small enough that it never gets in the way when we move about or sit down, yet its (approximately) three inch long, drop point blade is large enough for almost any task in the field, except maybe chopping tree limbs or logs. There are serrations on the back of the blade to allow for extra thumb pressure on the blade, if needed for heavy cutting.

The Micarta handle is tough as nails and will stand up to any environmental hazard you might encounter. It fits comfortably into your hand for a solid grip, making it easy to use.

An on-board magnesium stick and striker is attached to the sheath. This ensures you should always be able to get a fire going when needed.

We will be taking this knife with us to Texas on our fall deer/pig hunt and have no doubt that the 440C, hollow ground stainless blade will make quick work of dressing and skinning our game.

The bull hide leather sheath that comes with this knife should last a lifetime. It is almost as thick as the leather on our saddles, not the thin flimsy stuff so common on the market today. It is stitched with very thick nylon thread to insure many years of wear.

Features and Specifications

• Type: Hunter/skinner
• Blade type: Fixed, drop point, high hollow ground
• Blade length: 2.92 inches
• Blade width: 1.18 inches
• Blade thickness: 0.154 inches
• Blade material: 440C stainless steel
• Edge: Plain
• Sheath: Bull hide leather
• Handle: Full tang Micarta scales
• Overall length: 6.43 inches
• Weight: 4.80 ounces
• Magnesium Fire Starter & Striker
• Country of origin: Spain
• 2015 MSRP: $128.95

If I had any suggestion for this knife it would be to add a couple of rivets to the sheath for extra durability. No, I am not worried that the nylon stitching will come loose under normal wear, but for a hardcore survivalist or mountain backpacker, who may face multiple hazards on a daily basis, a couple of rivets would provide an extra measure of protection to the sheath. For the rest of us, this blade and sheath are very well designed for their intended uses.

If you are looking for a good, handcrafted field blade, or just a backup sheath knife for emergencies, this is one you should consider. The CM80 is available from Amazon, multiple online knife retailers, as well as several big box stores across the country. You can also buy it and all of the other JOKER knives on their website: www.jokerknives.com