A DIFFERENT “ ANZA “ 10 DEC.05      In late August this year I obtained one of the NEW knives that Anza has introduced. When I say new, I don’t mean a departure from their award winning patterns. I mean a different steel for the blade material. ‘All reference to new in this review concerns Anza’s use of materials and not NEW as in new to science’. That out of the way, the new knives are manufactured using 1095 High Carbon Spring Steel for the blades. The full tang pattern and the laminated wood handles are the same as before. Upon receiving this knife, it was immediately clear that it was definitely different from what I was used to handling from Anza. The weight of the knife is minimal compared to the rugged file steel that is normally used. My knife is classified as the ‘Large Skinner’, currently there are only two sizes. The blade length is 3 3/8 “ and the overall length is 7 ¾ “. The blade width is approx one inch at its widest point. The knife balanced beautiful in my hand as I examined it, thinking this might be a ‘good thing’. About that time the wife mentioned my dinner preparation and I washed the new knife and set out to cut up vegetables for a stir fry that was in progress. Sharp as can be and a blade thin enough for great kitchen work. The thickness of these spring steel blades is .060. This may seem thin but I assure you there is no sign of weakness with this blade. It still allows a certain amount of flexibility for the most sensitive skinning jobs. I have used this knife daily since it arrived. I carry it everywhere and it stays in the top drawer of my computer desk when not in use. I have cut vines, trimmed insulation off DSL wire and opened numerous cardboard boxes, which is a real quick way to dull the best of blades. I had the knife about 6 weeks before I actually was forced to sharpen it. I was very pleased and surprised at the edge retaining properties of this blade. The knife required minimal effort to sharpen and perhaps the easiest to re-sharpen of any blade I can recall. I no longer trap, hunt or pursue wild game due to physical problems like I have done since a child in the wilderness areas of South Eastern Oklahoma and then all the way through the Sierra and Yosemite Country of California ending in the mountains of North Central Idaho. I have to admit that I was not expecting this knife to impress me like it has. It fits in the hand like an extension of your fingers and the balance makes it so easy to use. You can ask any Pork Roast or Broiler Chicken that has had a run in with this knife. Now I must warn you. Unless you have the expertise of a professional you will not be able to completely finish off all the quartering of that big bull elk with just this one knife…..but…it will do more for you with less effort than most any knife you can buy. The biggest problem, at first, was because of its lighter weight. I kept forgetting it was attached to my belt. I have always been a large knife fan as well as an Anza fan since my first Anza about 15 yrs ago. Although I have several custom and high end skinners, I challenge you to try one of these new Spring Steel Knives from Charlie Davis and the talented gang at Anza, and see how it stacks up to what you normally use. This has been one of the most useful knives I have had for so many different applications, not to mention its great edge holding and its ease of sharpening. Be it meat, vegetable, Opossum or Elk, you will not be disappointed in the knife nor the price. For those of you that are image conscious, I should advise that this is a darn good lookin’ knife too. Give the folks at ANZA Knives a call at 619-561-9945 or contact them via e mail at sales@anzaknives.com. Their website is www.anzaknives.com. You will be surprised to see what a bargain all their knives are. The folks at Anza have always been a delight to work with and I urge you to look into this particular knife as well as the rest of Anza’s line. Jerry Tisdale, Apache, Oklahoma About the author: Gerald Tisdale (Jerry or Tis) was born in a remote area of South Eastern Oklahoma in 1944, where they never had running water and didn’t get electricity until 1953. Under the supervision of a part Cherokee great Uncle, ran his own Trap Line starting in the 5th grade . He has always been an avid hunter, fisherman, amateur Naturalist and outdoorsman. After 4 yrs in the Air Force in Nuclear Weapons security, he spent 27 yrs in a Law Enforcement career that spanned three states. Louisiana, California and Idaho before having to medically retire a few years back. He doesn’t profess to be an expert in knives or the great outdoors but he has been there first hand and always gives his honest opinion whatever the outcome. He has written other reviews on knives at Amazon.com under the title Tiz_1 or Knife Nut_1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------