William Newsom / San Francisco, California
When I was about 10, the family went on a road trip. While camping in Montana, we saw some bears during the day within a mile of our campsite. That night, we were awoken in our tents by a loud rustling in the campsite. My dad woke up around 3 am, convinced there was a bear, and we were in danger. He woke my mom, sister, and I up, and instructed us to run to the van when he opened the tent flap. Trusty Gerber in hand, he jumped out of the tent screaming and flailing his arms while we all rushed to the van... No bear to be seen, but three mule deer glanced at him brandishing the knife, then casually returned to licking the barbecue. Dad's gone now, but I will always remember his bravery, and keep the knife with me always (except on the plane).

John M Hazlett / Corpus Chrisit, Texas
I wasn’t sure what it was--three inches of metal jutting from the rocks, twenty feet under water off the coast of South Padre Island. I reached for it. It didn’t budge. I returned to the surface, lungs burning. On my fifth attempt, the water was getting rough. Using what strength I had left to return to the buried object, I yanked on it. Again nothing. My lungs exploding, I persisted. It finally moved. My lungs were screaming, and things went dark. The next thing I remember, I coughed and looked around. It was in my right hand! A combat knife, about eight inches long, a little beat up and corroded, but it was mine now. It still serves as a reminder of my own limitations and that something, somewhere, watches over me.

Robert Schell / Jackson City, California
As a boy in Idaho I found a heavy, rusty, broken bowie knife near a long abandoned cabin with my metal detector. My dad took me into his shop, and together, we made a stainless steel handle for it with a brass hilt. I later carried that bowie with me in the 82nd Airborne Division, where its indestructible blade chopped wood, cut brush in Jungle School and Recondo School, pried open countless objects and did everything I ever asked of it. Now as an attorney, I used it as a trial prop while defending an innocent man. Thanks, Dad.

Mick Flanigan / Beaverton, Oregon
While diving near Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia, my fin strap broke in very fast current. I had to grab my knife, cut off the strap while 80 feet down against a reef wall (with tiger sharks in the area!) and cut a piece of nylon cord off my tank. I managed to make a new fin strap out of it and safely made it back. Swimming with one fin in that current would have been impossible, and since it was a shore dive, no boat was coming to get me! I always carry a couple knives when diving, an absolute must!

Jenny Dengler / Costa Rica
Pura Vida with a Machete is a philosophy we have just introduced to our boys. Living on an organic farm in the Costa Rican jungle, we have enjoyed many adventures as a family. The jungle life has introduced us to the true magic of the machete--an amazing knife that is used for pruning the trees, cutting down bananas, opening coconuts, slicing pineapple, and survival. Nearly every local man is wearing a machete on their belt, not a cell phone! Knives will always be a part of our outdoor kit, as they are much needed for survival. It’s nice to see a knife put to use daily that is needed for everything from food production to self-protection.