A CLOSE LOOK AT NORDSMITH KNIVES’ PILGRIM LT AND LAPWING

BY JIM COBB

David Andersen comes by his knife knowledge honestly. He’s been carrying and using blades since he was a wee lad in the Boy Scouts. Several years ago, he began writing for a very popular knife blog, which afforded him the opportunity to network with, and learn from, some of the top names in the knife world. He was also able to test numerous blades, seeing what worked and what didn’t.

Over time, he developed his own ideas and designs. Prototypes were made and extensively tested, then refined. From the outset, the goal was, and still is, to produce knives that hold up to real-world use and last a lifetime. The focus has been on designing blades that look great and perform well.

The finger guard is a great addition to the design, helping to keep the user safe from stupid mistakes. Photo from NordsmithKnives.com

The Pilgrim LT and the Lapwing from Nordsmith Knives cover your needs in the kitchen, at the campsite and beyond.

In 2016, David formed Nordsmith Knives and began designing and producing knives professionally. The Lapwing was one of his first knives, and the Pilgrim LT is a refined version of a previous model. Both are stellar examples of form following function.

PILGRIM LT

The Pilgrim LT is intended to be the basic go-to knife for most camp chores. From shelter building to processing firewood, this knife will handle it. The original Pilgrim design had a slightly thicker blade, but the LT version is no lightweight.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The Pilgrim LT stretches just shy of 9 inches in overall length, with a blade that’s a hair less than 4 inches. That might be important to some folks, as 4 inches is a common delineator as to blade length for legal carry. When you’re out in the sticks, that’s not usually an issue, but if you’re looking for a fixed blade you can carry as an EDC (every day carry) knife, you need to make sure you’re complying with all applicable laws in your area.