Turkeys make a tough target. They are difficult to see and even harder to harvest. The head and neck are the only vital areas that ensure a fast, clean hunt, but this will only happen if your shotgun throws a tight, dense shot pattern.
The best shotgun choice for turkeys is a 12-gauge magnum, though the 10 gauge is gaining some ground among turkey hunters. The best shot sizes are No. 2, 4, 5, or 6. The best shotgun chokes are Full, Extra Full, and Super Full.
Patterning your shotgun for turkey hunting is simply a matter of shooting your shotgun with various shot sizes at different ranges to determine the most effective combination.
To pattern your shotgun, you will need two loads of each shot size and six targets that show the full-size head and neck of a gobbler. Start by taking one shot at each target at 15, 25, and 40 yards.’
With each load and choke combination, count the number of pellets in the vital area of the gobbler’s head. Opinions vary on the number of pellets you will need in a vital area to put a turkey down, but you will need at least six to harvest a turkey. Some experienced hunters, however, claim that a turkey hunter will need up to 30 pellets in a vital area to harvest a gobbler quickly and cleanly.
After you have tried all the different loads at 15, 25, and 40 yards, analyze your targets and count the pellets in the vital area. Determine which load gives you the densest pattern in the gobbler’s head and neck. That’s the load to use.
Remember that 40 yards is about the maximum shotgun range on gobblers, regardless of your choke and load combination. Any turkey farther than 40 yards is not in pursuing range and you should not take the shot.
Check out this Turkey Chokes Tip From NWTF
Wild turkeys are tough animals to harvest and a tight-patterning shot to the head and neck area is required to seal the deal.
Turkey Hunting Safety Reminders
There was a time when duck hunting was considered the most dangerous form of hunting. That’s no longer true. Turkey hunting now accounts for most accidents. There are some good rules for turkey hunters to keep in mind:
Never wear red, white, black, or light-blue clothing that could be visible to other hunters. These are the colors of a spring gobbler. Wear full camouflage, but avoid white socks or T-shirts, which might look like the white part of a gobbler.
Use your turkey call in terrain where you can see at least 50 yards in every direction.
Keep your back against a tree trunk, stump, or boulder that is higher than your head.
If you see another turkey hunter approaching, stay still and whistle or shout loudly.
Never sneak in on a turkey that is gobbling, and avoid using a call when hunters are nearby.
If you use a decoy, position it so that you are not in any possible line of fire with it. Position the decoy so it can be seen from the sides, not from in front of or behind you. Use only hen decoys, never a fake gobbler.
About the Author: Vin T. Sparano is the author of Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia as well as three other guides for Rizzoli.
He has been an outdoor editor and writer for more than fifty years. He is editor emeritus of Outdoor Life, and has written and edited more than fifteen books about the outdoors. In 2013, he was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.
Special thanks to StepOutside.org for providing this insightful content.
If you’re looking for new big-game, waterfowl, target, or self-defense loads, you’ll find all this and more on the floor of the 2025 SHOT Show.
There are thousands of new products on display at SHOT Show each year, but some of the most exciting new products for the new year come courtesy of ammunition manufacturers. Never willing to settle for the same old cartridges, propellants, and projectiles, ammo brands are forever improving upon their products, and that results in better options and improved performance for hunters, shooters, and LE professionals. This year a number of noteworthy new ammunition products will debut during SHOT Show 2025, and these include everything from lead-free hunting and target shotshells to new defensive handgun ammunition and several new cartridges. Perhaps the most noteworthy of these is the launch of a brand-new rimfire round from Winchester that is set to take on the oldest established cartridge in existence, the .22 LR. But regardless of your favorite platform or shooting application, there are new loads to get excited about on this list.
Apex Ammunition
For 2025, APEX Ammunition is adding a 3-inch 20-gauge load to their popular TSS/S3 family of blended waterfowl ammo. The new 20-gauge load combines ⅞-ounce of premium No. 2 steel with ¼-ounce of No. 7.5 TSS. This blended load offers maximum versatility and value by combining steel shot, which is affordable and highly effective for close shots over decoys, with TSS pellets that are extremely dense and carry more energy at extended ranges than non-toxic pellets. TSS pellets have a density of 18.3 g/cc, which is 56 percent denser than lead, and this allows companies like APEX to add smaller No. 7.5 TSS pellets to their blended loads, filling out the pattern while still retaining outstanding downrange energy and improving penetration thanks to the smaller surface area of TSS pellets. The steel pellets in this load are zinc-coated to reduce friction and improve patterning.
APEX TSS/S3 waterfowl ammunition is loaded with their tungsten-grade wads, and these blended loads offer the benefits of both steel and TSS shot, making them a great option for serious waterfowlers.
This year CCI’s Blazer is adding hollow-point options to the affordable Blazer Brass line of training ammunition. Four new Brass HP options—9mm 115-grain JHP, .40 S&W 180-grain JHP, 10mm Auto 180-grain JHP, and .45 ACP 230-grain JHP—round out the company’s line of FMJ brass ammunition and offer an affordable and reliable training option with improved terminal performance over traditional FMJs. The new Brass HP loads will be sold in 50-count boxes and come with reloadable brass cases.
CCI has a reputation for offering some of the most reliable, accurate, and innovative rimfire products on the market each year, and for 2025 they’re adding a couple of new products to their lineup, including Suppressor MAX .22 LR ammunition. With a muzzle velocity of 970 fps, Suppressor MAX is safe for use in suppressors and yet it will reliably cycle semi-auto .22 pistols and rifles. The 45-grain segmenting hollow point provides excellent terminal performance at low velocities, and that will make this new CCI load extremely appealing to anyone who runs a can on their rimfires. CCI is also offering a new .22 WMR load specifically designed for personal defense, Uppercut .22 WMR. This .22 WMR load features a 40-grain hollow point bullet that is engineered to offer the optimal blend of penetration and expansion, providing the best possible performance from .22 WMR handguns, but it will also work in .22 WMR rifles. The .22 WMR is certainly on the light side for personal defense, but having the right bullet like CCI’s Uppercut makes a major difference in downrange performance. Booth #11838
Federal has been offering ammunition for hunters, shooters, and law enforcement professionals for over a century, and this year they’re adding a new .44 Remington Magnum load to their HST line of personal-defense ammunition. These 240-grain HST loads offer more energy than 10mm Auto, .357 Magnum, and .44 Special loads yet they produce less recoil than Federal’s full-power .44 Magnum hunting and bear-defense loads. In addition to premium HST bullets, these rounds come loaded with quality propellants and primers and feature nickel-plated cases.
Other new additions to Federal’s handgun ammunition lineup include the addition of .45 Colt and .32 H&R Magnum Hydra-Shok Deep offerings. Both loads come with nickel-plated cases and sealed primers, and both are designed to balance bullet expansion and penetration. The .45 Colt load comes with 210-grain HSD JHP bullets while the .32 H&R Magnum features 80-grain HSD JHP bullets. Also new this year for .32 H&R Magnum fans is Federal’s 85-grain American Eagle JSP practice load, an ideal choice for those who carry a .32 H&R revolver, and a light, affordable practice load for .327 Federal revolvers. Handgun hunters will be happy to hear that Federal is offering a new 10mm Power-Shok load with 200-grain JHP ammunition, a load that is suitable for a variety of game, including deer and hogs.
Perhaps the biggest news this year from Federal, though, is the launch of their new 7mm Backcountry hunting cartridge. There are plenty of 7mm cartridges currently available, but because the 7mm Backcountry utilizes a Peak Allow steel case, chamber pressure can be increased to levels well above what could be sustained using brass cases. The result is increased performance, especially with shorter barrels. With 170-grain bullets, the 7mm Backcountry achieves roughly 3,000 fps from a 20-inch barrel, which is about 150 fps faster than a 7mm PRC from a barrel of the same length. The Peak Alloy steel is far better than the cheap steel alloys used in imported ammunition, and Federal nickel plates the cases for durability and smooth cycling. Because the cartridge diameter is smaller, it will fit one additional round in the magazine compared to other modern 7mm cartridges. Because it works well in rifles with relatively short barrels, the 7mm Backcountry is well-suited for use with suppressors. Federal will also offer 7mm Backcountry ammunition loaded with 155-grain Terminal Ascent bullets as well as 168-grain Barnes LRX bullets, 175-grain Fusion Tipped, and a whopping 195-grain Berger Elite Hunter bullet with a G1 ballistic coefficient of .755.
Though the 7mm Backcountry is certainly big news, it’s hardly the only new rifle ammunition available from Federal this year. There’s a new 6mm ARC load available in the Gold Medal target line this year, and that round is loaded with an 108-grain Berger boat tail bullet with a very high BC. There are also some exciting cartridge additions coming to the Terminal Ascent, Barnes TSX, and Barnes LRX ammunition lines this year as well, and Federal is adding a new .22 LR load to their HammerDown family. The new 40-grain .22 LR Hammer down ammunition features a copper-plated hollow-point bullet that is designed to operate flawlessly in .22 lever guns and offers lethal downrange performance on small game.
Federal has been driving shotshell design and development for decades, and this year the company is offering a long list of new and innovative shotshell products. Most notable, perhaps, is their Master Class line of sporting clay shotshells. Designed specifically to improve your score at clay games, these shells offer a new Podium design wad that is optimized for use in Federal’s straight-wall hull. These shells feature a new, stylish look and feature premium wads, hulls, shot, and other components that are suitable for high-level sporting clay and FITASC shoots. Three 12-gauge loads (two 1-ounce, one 1⅛-ounce) will be available initially, but you can expect the Master Class family to continue to expand over the coming years. Also new from Federal is their 16-gauge BLACK CLOUD load that comes with a blended ⅞-ounce load of premium zinc-plated steel and Flitestopper shot (60/40, respectively) and Flitecontrol wads. There are also four new 16-gauge Ultra Steel loads this year, but for those who like to hit their birds with the heaviest steel payloads possible Federal is also adding a 3½-inch 12-gauge and 3½-inch 10-gauge loads to their Ultra Steel line. Both will come with 1½-ounce loads, and there are blended 10- and 12-gauge loads available as well. There are new HEVI-Bismuth loads available in 16 and 28 gauge this year, and fans of the 28-gauge will be happy to hear that in addition to the HEVI-Bismuth load Federal will also be offering a Heavyweight TSS 28-gauge load as well as a 28-gauge Rob Roberts 28-gauge Custom Shop TSS turkey load as well.
HEVI-Shot is offering some new additions to their line of hard-hitting turkey loads for 2025. First up is HEVI-Bismuth Turkey, which is being offered in both 12- and 20-gauge loads. This ammunition mixes both No. 4 and No. 5 HEVI-Bismuth shot for a lethal non-toxic load. There are four new HEVI-13 Turkey loads this year, all of which are loaded with HEVI-Shot’s 12 g/cc tungsten pellets, which offer 20 percent more knockdown power than comparably sized lead pellets. HEVI-13 Turkey will be available in 12-gauge or 20-gauge 3-inch loads this year, and shooters can select loads with either No. 6 or No. 7 tungsten. There’s a new addition to the company’s Magnum Blend Turkey loads: for 2025 HEVI-Shot is adding a 28-gauge 2¾-inch Magnum Blend offering that features 15/16 ounce ounce of blended Nos. 5, 6, and 7 12 g/cc tungsten pellets. There are also two new 2 ¾-inch 28-gauge turkey loads joining the HEVI-18 Turkey lineup this year, one with 1 1/16 ounces of No. 7 shot and the other with 1 1/16 ounces of No. 9 shot.
In addition to HEVI-Shot’s new turkey loads they’re also offering HEVI-Hitter Waterfowl loads this year that offer 20 percent tungsten pellets over 80 percent steel pellets. These layered loads are available in 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge and combine the affordability and short-range effectiveness of steel pellets with the heavier (12 g/cc) punch of tungsten. There are four new HEVI-Steel layered offerings this year, including 12-gauge 2xBB and 2x4 and 20-gauge 2x4 and 3x5. Also new is a 1 1/8-ounce HEVI-Steel 16-gauge 2¾-inch load that is available in 2, 4, 6, and BB. There’s also a new 16-gauge, 2¾-inch load in the HEVI-Metal Longer Range lineup that also comes with 1⅛-ounce payloads. Lastly from HEVI-Shot are new 100 packs of popular HEVI-Steel and HEVI-Hammer loads in both 12 and 20 gauge.
The big news from Hornady is the .338 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). This unique round was designed to function in AR-15 rifles. The 307-grain SUB-X bullet at 1,050 fps offers 1.6 times more energy than the .300 Blackout subsonic for improved terminal performance. There’s also a 175-grain HP that offers a muzzle velocity of 2,075 fps. With an overall length of 2.260 inches, this cartridge will function flawlessly in AR-15 rifles and is also a great option for lightweight micro bolt-action guns. Hornady designed the .338 ARC to be cleaner than other subsonic rounds, and it functions with a 1:8 twist barrel for both supersonic and subsonic loads. It is also engineered to provide reliable subsonic and supersonic operation with the same gas settings.
Also new this year is Backcountry Defense handgun ammunition, which is designed to offer threat-stopping straight-line penetration against large, dangerous predators. The heart of this ammunition is Hornady’s new DGH (Dangerous Game Handgun) bullet that features a protected point design that locks the core to the jacket for straight-line penetration without deflection—key features when selecting a bear-stopping bullet. Because it uses a heavy-for-caliber jacketed bullet instead of a hard cast bullet there’s no lead smoke for improved awareness and faster follow-ups. Seven new Backcountry Defense loads are offered this year, ranging from a 138-grain 9mm+P load to a 500-grain .500 S&W Magnum. Hornady is also expanding their existing ammunition lines this year as well. The popular .22 ARC cartridge will now be available loaded with a 70-grain CX monolithic bullet as well as an 80-grain ELD-X hunting bullet. A bit of good news for fans of the 6mm GT as well: factory ammunition will be available for this cartridge from Hornady starting in 2025.
Nosler is taking aim at America’s most popular big-game animal with the launch of their new Whitetail Country centerfire rifle ammunition. Whitetail Country is available in a variety of popular cartridges like .270 Winchester, .30-30, .308 Winchester, and .30-06, and there are also two straight-wall offerings: .350 Legend and .45-70. The .350 Legend and .45-70 loads feature Nosler’s straight-wall jacketed soft point lead-core bullets which are engineered to expand reliably at extended ranges, and the bullet’s ogive is optimized for reliable feeding. Non straight-wall cartridges come with Nosler’s Solid Base jacketed lead core bullets that offer an accuracy-enhancing boat-tailed bullet profile and offer consistent, reliable performance at a variety of ranges. This American-made ammunition is optimized for whitetails and comes loaded in high-quality brass with superb propellants for a very affordable price point.
Remington has continued to expand their classic Core-Lokt line of hunting ammunition, and for 2025 the company is offering Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun ammunition. Building on the rugged and time-tested Core-Lokt design, these bullets are optimized for lever-action rifles and feature a flat polymer tip. Ballistic coefficients are also improved for better downrange performance. For example, Remington’s 180-grain Core-Lokt Tipped bullet features a BC of .212, which is considerably better than the soft-point 180-grain .360 Buckhammer load that offers a BC of .163. This translates to better downrange performance with flatter trajectories, more energy, and less wind drift. Six new Core-Lokt Tipped Lever Gun loads are available for 2025: .30-30 Winchester 150-grain, .35 Remington 200-grain, .45-70 300-grain, .444 Marlin 240-grain, .32 Winchester Special 170-grain, and .360 Buckhammer 180-grain.
There are other new additions to the Remington Core-Lokt family this year, too: Remington is working with Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat and adding an 150-grain Core-Lokt .300 Ham’r load. Also new for 2025 is a .300 Remington Ultra Magnum 180-grain load to their Core-Lokt Tipped line.
Remington’s new shotgun products include their Premier Royal Flush line of upland hunting ammunition. These loads feature plated lead shot for consistent patterns. With shot sizes ranging from No. 4 to No. 6, you can find the right load for hunting everything from preserve birds to wild-flushing late-season roosters. Also new this year is Remington Duck Club, an economical steel load available in both 12- and 20-gauge offerings that’s ideal for a variety of situations.
Fans of steel shot should also check out Remington’s new Nitro Steel Duplex 20 gauge. Available in three different 3-inch, 1-ounce loads, Nitro Steel Duplex comes with a blend of 2x4, 2x6, or 4x6 shot, making it a versatile, affordable non-toxic load for your sub-gauge duck gun.
Remington’s rimfire line is extending in 2025 with the introduction of Wheelgun 22, a 39-grain truncated-cone lead .22 LR bullet optimized for use in revolvers. Wheelgun 22 is low velocity and low noise, making it the optimal choice for plinking. Remington is also releasing Standard V, a 38-grain lead round-nose .22 LR bullet made for the economical shooter. Also new for 2025 is Remington’s revamp of the .22 Short. These will be offered in both a 29-grain plated round nose and a 27-grain plated hollow point. All of these new loads, as well as the existing offerings from Remington, will include new technological advances and can be identified by the “R” head stamp.
Winchester is changing the rimfire game with the launch of their new 21 Sharps, and in doing so they’re taking on the oldest and most popular cartridge available today—the .22 LR. The .22 LR has been popular since the 1800s, and it’s estimated that there are around 2.5 billionrounds of .22 LR produced annually. However, despite its popularity and longevity the .22 LR is not without its issues. Foremost among those is the use of a heeled bullet that restricts bullet design. Faced with the option to change the .22 LR cartridge or bullet, Winchester wisely opted to redesign the bullet profile to eliminate the need for a heeled bullet. The new .210-inch .21 Sharps bullet can be loaded into .22 LR-sized cases. This offers Winchester the flexibility to use a wider variety of bullet designs than are available with the .22 LR. Winchester will initially offer four .21 Sharps offerings: a 34-grain JHP, a 37-grain copper-plated lead bullet, a 42-grain FMJ, and a 25-grain lead-free Copper Matrix bullet. The Copper Matrix is groundbreaking because it offers a rimfire option in areas where lead ammunition is banned. Velocities range from 1,300 fps for the 42-grain FMJ to around 1,750 for the 25-grain Copper Matrix bullet, and that translates into excellent terminal performance on small game. Winchester claims that the 34-grain bullet expands to an average of 173 percent of its original size while retaining 99 percent of its original weight and penetrating nearly three feet of gelatin. All of which means it performs appreciably better than the .22 LR. The design requires nothing more than a barrel swap to change .22 LR rifles to .21 Sharps, and the ability to use new, modern, and easy-to-manufacture bullets could potentially help mitigate periodic rimfire ammunition shortages that have plagued shooters.
Also new from Winchester is Last Call, a brand-new waterfowl load that utilizes 18 g/cc TSS shot for improved lethality on ducks and geese. TSS will be available in 12-, 20-, and 28-gauge offerings as well as .410.
Because it utilizes high-density TSS pellets, Last Call ammunition is loaded with pellets that are smaller in diameter (No. 5 to No. 9), and this allows for more pellets per shot. TSS’s incredibly high density makes it lethal on birds, reducing cripples and resulting in cleaner, faster kills.
February 7, 2025
Moose population growth, ice skating turkeys and more! Here are some of the top trending social media posts:
1).
Cheers to the incredible women of #SCINashville who made the Women Go Hunting Mix & Mingle unforgettable! 🥂 From once-in-a-lifetime auction items to @LDWF's Madison Sheehan’s inspiring message and a global gathering of women - this event truly had it all. Here’s to celebrating… pic.twitter.com/TdgsHMsT3P
Shiras’ moose now roam Nevada, thanks to effective wildlife management! 🌿 Sustainable hunting supports conservation and habitat health. Curious to learn more about this success story? Visit here: https://t.co/xr0tpG5J3N
Ducks Unlimited and its Conservation Programs Committee congratulate the winners of the 2024 Excellence in Conservation Awards. @DUConservehttps://t.co/lYx1qmyziS
(1/2) RESCUE STORY! ⛑️ When Wildlife Manager Matthew Binney got a call about an elk that fell into a ditch, Matt quickly hatched a plan. After chemically immobilizing the elk, he used a few vehicle tow straps and a nearby excavator to pull the elk back to safety. pic.twitter.com/GcY4PiR4Mo
Year after year, the knife industry continues to evolve. And 2025 is going to be no exception. One of the biggest changes seen while browsing the knife booths at SHOT this year was subtle, but possibly profound. Everyday carry knives continue to be among the most prominent products in most knife companies’ offering, but the style of those EDCs is slowly turning away from the utilitarian to one that is distinctly more tactical. While these EDC knives can still pull everyday duties, more and more they’re also complementing consumers’ personal protection gear. This new trend doesn’t mean, however, there is a shortage of hunting, fishing, and traditional EDC knives that you’ve come to expect from these prominent knife manufacturers. So, make sure you make your way to each of their booths, and you can be sure you’ll find a wide selection of the knives your customers have been asking for.
5.11
5.11 will be featuring its Pryme Double Duty DP folder in 2025. Featuring a 3.25-inch blade made from 420J stainless steel, the Pryme Double Duty has a rugged, sturdy construction, which allows it to tackle nearly any job thrown its way. Adding to its versatility, the Double Duty has a built-in pry bar extension of the tang. Designed as an alternative to a multi-tool on law enforcement officers’ belts, the Double Duty has a robust G10 handle and a deep, reversible pocket clip. SRP: $80.
The Bear OPS model MC-1000-ALBK-B has a 3.25-inch blade made from 14C28N steel with a black carbide finish and quick-release thumb stud. The drop-point blade is housed in a black aluminum handle with a slide-lock release mechanism. The U.S.-made knife weighs in at 3.1 ounces. SRP: $90.
Benchmade continues its commitment to quality with several new knives set to release in 2025. Among them is an upgrade to Benchmade’s popular Bugout knife. The new Bugout has a chassis built with premium blade steel and a bolstered/onlay design. As part of its new Blue Class offering, the Bugout has a 3.24-inch CPM-S90V stainless-steel blade and an Ash Gray aluminum handle with Redstone Richlite Onlay. (SRP: $400).
Benchmade is also expanding its Water Class collections with the Adira (SRP: $260) and Mini Adira (SRP: $240). Both knives feature MagnaCut steel blades housed in Benchmade’s Grivory handles, which offer a sure grip even with wet hands. The Adira has a 3.9-inch blade while the Mini Adira has a 3.2-inch blade. Both have the saltwater blue finish that has come to define Benchmade’s Water Class Collection.
Buck is expanding its EDC offering in a big way for 2025 with several new knives covering a wide range of price points. At the top of the list is the 791 Range Elite (SRP: $220) with a 3.4-inch MagnaCut drop-point blade. For those looking for a slightly smaller option, Buck is also releasing the Mini Range Elite with a 2.6-inch MagnaCut blade (SRP: $210). Both knives have anodized aluminum handles and are available in gray, olive green, or black. Adding to the prestige of the Mini Range, these are the first knives in Buck’s offering to feature a Cross Bar Lock mechanism.
Buck is also releasing the Range Pro (SRP: $125) and Mini Range Pro ($115). Both of these knives also feature the Cross Bar Lock and are available in the same colors as the Range Elite knives. To meet a lower price point, the blades on the Range Pro knives are made from 154CM steel instead of the MagnaCut and feature glass-filled nylon handles. The Range Pro has a 3.4-inch blade while the Mini has a 2.6-inch blade.
The new Founder’s Series of knives pay tribute to Coast founder Henry W. Brands, who was always a proponent of knives that are as functional as they are stylish. And the Founder’s series certainly checks both those boxes. All of the knives in the line feature a slim design not much wider than a fountain pen to make it easy to carry unnoticed in anything from work jeans to a three-piece suit. The line includes two different knives and five different styles and price points. Both styles of the Founder’s Series Select feature 3-inch tanto-style blades that deploy with a flip tab. While the standard Select ($50) has a micarta handle, the Select Titanium ($90) features a titanium handle. The Origin and the Origin Damascus both have a 3.35-inch stiletto-style blade made from 9Cr18Mov steel. The Origin ($50) has a stainless-steel handle with a flat finish while the Damascus ($100) has a stainless-steel handle with a Damascus-style finish. Rounding out the offering is the Origin Tanto that features the same design as the other two Origin knives but features a tanto-style blade ($50).
Cold Steel is adding to its EDC selection with the new Frenzy II folder. The Frenzy II features a 3.5-inch sheepfoot blade made from 3V steel with a solid black PVD finish. The G-10 handle has finger indentions all along its length providing for a much surer grip on the knife. Designed to be suitable for a wide range of everyday uses, as well as an ideal outdoor or survival knife, the Frenzy features Cold Steel’s popular Tri-Ad locking mechanism. SRP: $170.
Columbia River Knife & Tool is launching its first OTF knife. Designed by innovative knifemaker Brian Tighe and made in the U.S. in collaboration with Hogue Knives, the CRKT Twist Tighe Compact is a formidable knife with the stylish looks to match. The Twist Tighe Compact features a 2.65-inch MagnaCut steel spear-point blade that is released with the simple slide of the double-action lever, which also retracts the blade. The blade is housed in a carbon-fiber handle with a stylish Twist camo pattern that’s as distinctive as the knife itself. Available in three models, the Twist Tighe Compact weighs a mere 1.6 ounces (SRP: $300).
CRKT is also launching a new version of one of its most popular EDC knives. The M16-03XK is based on the body and blade shape of other members of this iconic collection, but this latest version features the Cross Bar locking mechanism with the IKBS ball-bearing pivot deployment system for even smoother and easier one-handed opening. The spear-point blade is made from D2 steel and the handle is made from Grivory—an aircraft-grade thermoplastic that provides a sure grip in any condition. SRP: $110.
The Razor APX takes advantage of Outdoor Edge’s popular RazorSafe platform and incorporates it into a fixed-blade hunting knife. Available with either a 3- or a 2.5-inch blade, the Razor APX features removable silicone scales on the handle that allow hunters to store up to five interchangeable blades to make it easy to have replacement blades readily at hand. The 2.5-inch model ($60) comes with five black oxide-coated drop-point blades. The 3-inch version ($80) includes three black oxide-coated drop-point blades, two caping blades, and one stainless-steel blade as well as a 3-inch bone saw blade. The skeleton handle is made from titanium-coated stainless steel with anodized aluminum honeycomb webbing.
SOG is adding to its impressive repertoire of tactical knives with the new Gambit XL fixed-blade knife. Forged as a single solid piece, the Gambit is made from Cryo AUS10A steel with a black stonewash finish. The Karambit talon-shaped blade is 4 inches long, and the handle is wrapped in survival paracord. The Gambit features a large finger hole at the butt of the handle and pronounced finger choils on the spine. SRP: $130.
Case is launching its new Baby Doc collection in 2025. The collection includes 13 different styles with various handle materials. These limited-edition knives feature a 2.2-inch blade and a 2.25-inch blunt-ended spatula. The Baby Doc knives are a smaller version of the knives that doctors once carried as a tool to do everything from cutting bandages and sutures to crushing pills and mixing medicine. The blades are from Tru-Sharp surgical steel. SRP: $64-$115, depending on the handle material.
Case is also releasing its new Crossroads Series Sod Buster Jr. knife this year. Reminiscent of the folding knives carried by early settlers, the Sod Buster Jr. is outfitted with the latest in handle materials to give a practical application to a timeless design. The 2.8-inch blade is made from S35VN steel with a stonewash finish. Available with either wood laminate or G-10 handles. SRP: $85. caseknives.com
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