Introducing the Black Flag Outdoor Academy Line of Knives by Knives by Nuge

By Nick Italiano

We are incredibly excited to announce that the Black Flag Outdoor Academy line of fixed blades are finally here! We are currently offering three different styles of fixed blades designed for use in the great outdoors and even one perfect for everyday carry. These knives are hand-crafted in New Jersey by the very talented Tom “Nuge” Nugent, who is the owner of Knives by Nuge and the academy’s co-founder. Like all Nuge Knives, the academy knives feature a purpose-driven design and are crafted from premium materials sourced from reputable U.S. companies.

The Wicket

The Wicket is one of the most popular models Knives by Nuge currently makes, and for very good reason; this small fixed blade has proven to be a versatile companion for everyday carry, hiking, and as a backup to a larger fixed blade. Coming in at 5 inches overall with a 2.25-inch blade, the Wicket is easy to carry and won’t slow you down. The Black Flag Outddor Academy version of the Wicket features a full flat grind 1095 or Nitro-V steel blade that is cerakoted neon green for visibility and corrosion protection. The handle is black paracord wrapped for a comfortable grip which is also great in a pinch for emergency cordage. The sheath is neon green kydex and is set up for neck carry, but can be easily adapted for scout or clip carry. The Wicket is a daily driver for me, I carry it around the house, into town, and into the woods. The full flat grind makes it an exceptional slicer making it ideal for opening boxes, cutting through plant materials in foraging tasks, gutting small game, and even some light tinder processing. 

The Puukko

The Puukko is a traditional design that has been around for about 2000 years, originating with the Sami people found Lapland region of Finland.  This design has become popular globally thanks to its utilitarian design and function. The Black Flag Outdoor Academy version features an overall length of 8 inches with a 3.75-inch scandi ground Nitro-V blade making it ideal for wood processing and carving. The 4.25-inch handle is made from black micarta with neon green liners and tubes. The neutral broomstick-style handle makes the Puukko incredibly nimble in the hand, and the pinch grips towards the front of the handle provide even more control in fine carving situations. The Puukko comes standard with a JRE Industries leather dangler sheath giving you unparalleled access to your knife while wearing it on your belt. Each sheath also has a loop for your ferro rod, so you always have the ability to get a fire started!

The Bushcrafter

Are you looking for an all-purpose outdoor knife that is big enough to handle the most rugged tasks? If so the Bushcrafter is the right choice for you! The Bushcrafter is a full-sized knife with a 4-inch Nitro-V saber ground blade and a 4.75-inch handle. The handle design allows for a solid full-hand grip that allows for some serious hard use. Like the Puukko, the handle features black micarta with green liners, pins, and tubes. The saber grind blade is an excellent all-purpose grind allowing for wood processing and batoning, food prep, foraging, and just about anything else you can think of. The Spine is sharpened to 90 degrees to allow for material and ferro rod scraping. The Bushcrafter comes with the same style JRE sheath that the Pukko does!

Why Nitro-V?

Nitro-V is a type of stainless steel that has toughness and edge retention similar to many carbon steels and is relatively easy to sharpen but boasts excellent corrosion resistance which will greatly reduce the chance of harmful rust buildup. All of our Nitro-V is expertly heat treated by Paul Bos, who also does the heat treating for a “little” company called Buck Knives. Nitro-V is a proven steel for both everyday use and in the great outdoors. I have used it extensively and have been incredibly happy with the performance.

Where can you get one?

All these knives will be available on the Knives by Nuge Website. Supplies will be very limited, these are all made by hand by Tom in his shop in New Jersey. Part of the proceeds of each sale will go to help fund the Black Flag Outdoor Academy and allow us to continue to produce free educational content!