CAMPSITE COMPANION

BY TIM STETZER

Let’s face it, knives have been around for a long time, and there are only so many blade and handle styles out there. The key is to find the right combination that works best for you, and sometimes the only way to do that is to design it yourself.

Such was the case with David Andersen’s Canteen Knife, which ended up launching a new business and a complete line of knives. The Canteen is a blade that came about through purpose and trial and error. The final product was a truly capable tool, one that not only suited the needs of the designer, but also numerous others who experienced the quality and power of this incredibly designed outdoorperson’s tool.

CREATIVE CONSTRUCTION

The knife is 11 inches overall with the length evenly split between a 5.5-inch handle and a 5.5-inch blade. The 9.5-ounce weight leans slightly handle-heavy, with the balance point right at the forward bolt. The blade is 1/8-inchthick Swedish AEB-L stainless steel with a high saber grind and convex edge. If you aren’t familiar with AEB-L steel, it’s a tough, stain-resistant steel often used in razor blades. It features excellent edge retention, while maintaining a user-serviceable degree of resharpening.