In the December 2022 issue of Knives Illustrated, we feature a special section on big blades. Small, light, and concealable are great qualities, but when you’re talking about knives, there are times when only a big blade will do the job. A good length of steel can be a comforting companion, whether you must blaze a trail, defend your life, build a bushcraft camp, butcher an elk, or improvise other tools you need to stay alive in a survival situation. Articles in this section include a review of the Mountain Predator from Stroup Knives with design input from E.J. Snyder. Editor Steven Paul Barlow gives us a close look at the Helle Nord, while world traveler and bushcraft expert Reuben Bolieu takes to the mountains of the Philippine islands to show us how forged bolo machetes are made. Closer to home, Bolieu puts the Expat Knives Darien Machete to the test. In other articles, regular contributor Jim Cobb provides some insight on how to choose a child’s first knife. There’s an article comparing three woods-ready small fixed blades, a review of the Talon and Badger from Tavern Hill Blades, and a closeup of the South Pole from TRC Knives. Looking for a rock-solid EDC folder? Check out our review of the Cold Steel Engage. And to keep these razor sharp, we compare two Vipersharp sharpening systems.