If you caught my review of Skallywag Tactical’s knife, The Wanderer, last month, you might remember me geeking out over becoming their affiliate. You might also recall how pumped I was when they asked if I’d review more of their gear. What I didn’t spill then was that I cheekily asked for their BBQ set—fully expecting a “nah, fam” in response. But they didn’t shut me down. So now I’ve got a story to tell y’all about it.

First, let’s get the relationship disclosure out of the way. I think it’s worth airing this stuff upfront so y’all can read with whatever skepticism you deem fit. Sure, the small cut I get from sales helps keep the lights on, but earning and keeping your trust outweighs any quick buck. Yes, Skallywag Tactical tosses me a little change if you buy through a link on this blog, but I’m still gonna lay down my unfiltered take for all to see.

Now, you might be scratching your head, wondering, “Zo, what’s a BBQ set got to do with shooting?” Fair point. Here’s my logic: We shoot guns. Sometimes that shooting’s for hunting. A good hunt means meat for the table. Before it hits the plate, we’ve gotta cook it. And if you bagged a deer last season like I did, you’ve got freezer meat begging for the grill. So why not do it in style with something slick like Skallywag’s BBQ set instead of some yawn-worthy $30 Home Depot special?

If that reasoning feels like a stretch, you’re not wrong—I thought so too. But it was the best pitch I could muster to convince the Skallywag crew to send it my way after I spotted it on their site. Stretch or not, it worked.

Two things hooked me when I was browsing their lineup. First, that sweet leather knife roll—there’s just something about leather, straps, and buckles that gets me every time. Second, the Damascus pattern on the chef knife. I’ve got a hardcore crush on Damascus steel. I rarely splurge on it, but that doesn’t stop me from drooling over it like a kid at a candy store.

Now that you know how I snagged this bad boy, let’s dive in.

What’s in the Set

Skallywag Tactical’s BBQ set is a nine-piece, $375 bundle that comes neatly packed in a leather knife roll that’s both easy to tote and easy on the eyes. Here’s the lineup:

• A chef knife
• A basting brush
• A meat fork
• Tongs
• Shears
• A spatula
• A combo bottle/wine opener
• A meat temperature probe

Everything but the temp probe sports the Skallywag logo—a nice touch if you’re into that Jolly Roger skull-and-swords vibe. Except for the probe and bottle opener, each piece rocks pinned rosewood handles. Leather and rosewood together? Damn fine combo.

Next up, I’ll break down each item. I debated lumping them together since some don’t need much yakking about, but separate sections with headings make skimming easier for y’all. Let’s kick off with what I think steals the show: the knife roll.

Skallywag Tactical Leather Knife Roll

I wish Skallywag sold this leather roll solo—it’s that good. I’ve got a stash of knives I could bundle into a custom set for other gigs, like a hunting roll with skinning knives, a couple capers, and a boning knife. Maybe even a camp knife if there’s room. Roll it up, chuck it in the truck, and roll out. Sure, this roll’s a bit oversized for that, but I’d make it work.

The roll’s got a rugged charm. The leather’s stitched tight, and the rivets, zipper, and hardware look built to last. Two thick tie-down straps keep it secure, the carry handle feels comfy, and the detachable, padded leather shoulder strap’s a nice bonus. The stitched-on Skallywag logo seals the deal. It looks sharp, smells like heaven, and gets the job done. 10/10—would buy another for the uses I mentioned if they offered it standalone.

Chef Knife

It’s a chef knife.

Yeah, I know I can ramble forever about knives in reviews, but this is a chef knife, and I’m no culinary guru.

Fine, fine—I’ll give it a little more juice.

This 8” beauty’s forged from full VG10 110-layer Damascus steel and arrives sharp as hell, like any decent chef knife should. If I’ve got my patterns right, it’s rocking a subtle raindrop Damascus design—intricate and easy on the eyes. I dig it. The Skallywag logo’s etched near the handle on the left side.

Pretty as it is, it’s no wallflower. I’ve used it steady over the past couple months to prep and plate meals. Hell, I even sliced my first-ever Picanha into steaks with it—grilled ‘em up with other tools from this set and watched my hungry family demolish ‘em.

Tongs

The knife and roll might be the headliners, but the tongs are a strong contender for second place.

Beyond the logo and rosewood handles, they’re not flashy. Still, they’re my runner-up because they log more grill time than anything else in the set.

Shears

Like the tongs, these are just shears with a logo and rosewood handles.

That said, I’m a fan. They’re long enough to cut grilled skirt steak or chicken thighs into fajita strips—my go-to plating method. I crank out fajitas at least twice a month, if not weekly. And if you’re making chicken fajitas with breast instead of thighs, shame on you—thighs are where the flavor’s at.

Spatula

I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but it’s inevitable. This is a rosewood-handled, logo-stamped spatula.

I’m glad they went with a long-form design, though. It flips burgers as quick as any shorty, but it shines on a flat iron griddle. Makes working food a breeze and doubles as a scraping champ during cleanup.

Fork

This ain’t a fork. Ain’t even a threek. The internet says it’s a twok.

Basting Brush

It bastes.

Combo Bottle and Wine Opener

I’ve got no reason to doubt it’ll pop bottles or uncork wine, but I haven’t used it and probably never will.

Meat Temperature Probe

This battery-powered probe (batteries not included) feels like a sub-$5 Walmart clearance afterthought stuffed in the roll’s zippered pocket. It’s a cute bonus if you don’t own a probe, but any grill nut eyeing a set like this likely has a better one already.

I ditched it and swapped in my own. Bet most folks buying—or getting—this set will do the same.

Is the BBQ Set Worth it?

I dig this set a lot. It’s stylish, functional, and gets the job done. It’s also pricey.

Would I buy it for myself? Tough call. At $375, it’s hard to justify when a $30 Home Depot special does the trick. Sure, it’s not as swanky, but it works.

Then again, I grill and BBQ enough that I could see splurging on it to celebrate a personal win or cashing an unexpected bonus check. I wouldn’t regret it—especially when company’s over and I catch a buddy eyeing it with envy.

More likely, I’d gift it to a grill-loving friend or relative who’d appreciate a baller BBQ set. Could even see it as a killer wedding present.

As I’m writing this, it’s marked down to $262 on Skallywag’s site—probably Spring sale pricing, since outdoor gear often drops this time of year. Could also mean they’re phasing it out. It’s their only “culinary” offering, and I’ve got no clue how it sells. Take that tidbit for what it’s worth.