AXIAL'S ALPINE GEN 2

A Fixed Blade That Delivers

- BY COREY DECKER

Let's get something straight right out of the gate: most fixed blades are either too big to carry or too dainty to do anything worth a damn. The Alpine Gen 2 from Axial hits the sweet spot.

Made from start to finish in Utah, USA, this compact beast isn't just a pretty blade to toss in your gear photo; it's a workhorse that's built for the real-world grind. Whether you're slicing cord, prepping kindling, or gutting open another Amazon package you don't remember ordering, the Alpine shows up ready to raise hell.

Not Your Typical Fixed Blade

Let me be honest for a second. I'm not a big fixed-blade guy when it comes to EDC. I think they've got their place at camp, survival, and the occasional truck console, but most of the time they're just too bulky or obnoxious to carry on the daily.

But the Alpine Gen 2? This thing changed the game for me.

It's compact without being laughable, light without feeling cheap, and rugged without being a boat anchor on your belt. It fits the hand like it was made for it because it was, and the knife seals up clean in the sheath without adding a bunch of bulk to your waistband or pocket. You don't feel like you're strapping on a sword just to run to the store or chop up cardboard.

And that's the magic here: it's not overwhelmingly large like most fixed blades, but it still gets the job done, especially the ones you probably shouldn't be doing with a folder.