Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2026 i Blade

G.W. Stone It is a pure travesty that none of your so-called BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® members who were/are knife-makers have ever nominated for the Hall of Fame one of the founders of The Knifemakers’ Guild, G.W. Stone from Richardson, Texas. It’s absolutely pathetic that one of the greatest knifemakers and influencers of the knifemaking industry is not in the Hall of Fame. G.W. was there in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1970 for the Guild’s founding. Here is the complete list of the 11 founding/charter members of the Guild at its establishment in 1970, based on off-cial Guild records and historical sources: John Applebaugh; Walter “Blackie” Collins; John Nelson Cooper; Dan Dennehy; T. M. “Ted” Dowell; Chubby Hueske; Jon Kirk; Bob Loveless (pages 10 and 68); John Owens; Jim Pugh; and…

Imagine our surprise when custom knife purveyor John Denton contacted us about the daughter of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Loveless wanting to have a story in BLADE® on her relationship with her famous father. Were her memories of growing up Loveless something BLADE readers would be interested in? Could she supply the kinds of images and information that would make such a story worthwhile? We think you will agree that the answers are yes and yes. Son of J.W. Denton, a long-time purveyor of Loveless and other knives, John assisted his father buying and selling Loveless knives for many years. They worked closely with Loveless and knew him well. After J.W. passed away in 2010, John continued the business and today is one of the most knowledgeable authorities…

The hole in the handle or blade, or anywhere in knife construction, has something to tell the user. But what is it trying to say or do? It is eye catching but the hole and/or ring and the science that goes along with it complement the visual and the practical in knife use. Aesthetics, mechanics and utility are factors. After all, the essence of the knife is in its use as a tool, and who wouldn’t mind a prettier profile at the same time? The story of the hole in the blade cannot be told without including Spyderco and its legendary leader, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Sal Glesser. In the decades since Spyderco introduced its iconic hole in the blade, the company has produced countless folders that characterize the…

“WITH THE JAPANESE GUYS EVEN IF YOU ARE FRIENDS, THERE ARE STILL SECRETS.”—DAVID GOLDBERG Editor’s note: Long-time BLADE¨ subscriber and knife collector Rick Royster wrote us wondering how the swords of the ancient Japanese samurai warriors would compare to today’s modern swords. Did all the steps the ancient Asian swordsmiths used really make a difference? “Employing special quenchants, some clay, some of this and that—is it science or mystical?” Rick asked. While we couldn’t test an ancient sword vs. one of today’s, we did go to the sources themselves for answers—some of today’s top swordsmiths. The traditional Japanese sword blade is revered for its performance, perhaps even more than its beauty and ties to an uber-rich heritage in the world of cutlery. Combined, these elements make the classic Japanese sword something unforgettable,…

Asmall bushcrafter/EDC knife, the Exodus 3 by White River Knife & Tool can be very useful. Also known as the Adventurecraft, this lean cutter has a thin, super-sharp blade that does all the chores that a larger knife can’t do easily, from skinning small game to whittling firesticks to removing splinters. It’s a great little companion blade to add to your gear. Does it cut? Let’s see. Slicing regular lined notebook paper went very fast. The Adventurecraft cut smoothly and aggressively. As I warmed up to its thin shape, the cuts were faster. The flat-ground blade is easy to index in use. Next up, it sliced single-walled cardboard very quickly with a slight curl to the cut pieces. The blade’s width and full flat grind pulled the curl as the…

It was intimate and distant. It was warm and aloof. It was youth, adulthood, hope and memory—all at the same time. Robin Askew is 70 years old now. She lives a quiet life in Sacramento, California, and her recollections of growing up as the daughter of a legend offer insights into years of experiences that few could imagine. Her father, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Loveless, was and remains one of the titans of the custom knife industry. He has been gone more than 15 years, but his imprint on the past, present and future of custom knives is unmistakable and not about to wane. Likewise, those who knew him remember his unforgettable, often larger-than-life persona. Creative genius, irascibility, generosity and unique perspective came together in Loveless, the man…

Admiral Steel www.admiralsteel.com sales@admiralsteel.com Widest Range of Stock for Blade Needs Adams International Knifeworks - AIK www.adamsknifeworks.com adamsknifeworks.com@gmail.com (618) 656-9868 Automatic & Customized Knife Specialists ADV Tactical Andre de Villiers www.advtactical.co.za Facebook - Andre de Villiers Facebook Group - ADV SOB BADNESS IG - advtactical adv44sales@gmail.com Butcher SOB folders and button lock flippers Artknives.com www.artknives.com fred@fredeisenleather.com BladeGallery.com www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.com Make Your Mark Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands Cutlery Specialties www.restorationproduct.com dennis13@aol.com Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax/Polish, Dennis Blaine Ed Fowler Knives www.edfowler.com eafwb@wyoming.com High Endurance Performance Knives Farina Fine Arts www.farinafinearts.com studio@farinafinearts.com One of a kind, fine art, collectible knives Knife Center www.knifecenter.com info@knifecenter.com RECON 1 www.Recon1.com sales@Recon1.com Your number one source for Custom Knives, Shirogorov Knives, and WingManEDC Knives Red Hill Cutlery Home of…

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.BLADEMAG.COM TO: • Sign up for our free newsletter. • Renew your magazine subscription. There’s a subscription link in the nav bar. • Comment on our site stories written by BLADE® staff members and others. LOOK FOR BLADE MAGAZINE ON: SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Visit us on the web at www.blademag.com or call 877-485-6426. BOOK SALES: Visit us at www.gundigeststore.com or call 920-471-4522. BACK ISSUES FOR SALE: Subject to Availability. Call 920-471-4522. ADVERTISING: Contact Lori McDaniel at 715-498-3768 or lori@gundigest.com, or request a media kit by writing to: BLADE, 5583 W. Waterford Ln., Suite D., Appleton, WI 54913. LETTERS OR ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS: Steve Shackleford, Editor BLADE Magazine 5583 W. Waterford Ln., Suite D Appleton, WI 54913 or email steve@blademag.com.…

Tomahawks are interesting tools. They’re not knives but can cut like them. Though not full-blown axes, they can chop like them. Similar to knives, hawks are both tools and weapons. Like knives, they come in all price points, materials and features, as well as sheath styles/materials. Finally, they find wide acceptance in both the tactical and outdoor/hunting communities. Let’s take a deep dive into a quad of top factory examples of the genre. The Ridge Line from Winkler Knives is a hatchet that embodies elements from years of hatchet and hawk making, incorporating some of the more notable improvements made along the way into one piece. The head is 80CrV2 carbon steel for toughness and edge-holding ability. Stock thickness is ⅜ inch, giving the Ridge Line good balance while remaining…

“ONE OF THE FIXED BLADE’S MOST SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES IS FULL-TANG CONSTRUCTION, PROVIDING ADDED STRENGTH AND DURABILITY.” When most blade fans talk everyday carry (EDC) knives, they usually mean folders. The two main EDC advantages of folding knives are they are convenient to carry and, except for that pesky pocket clip, easy to conceal. Of course, while many overlook the clip, others know it indicates you are carrying a knife. Folders are designed primarily for smaller everyday chores—opening a box, peeling fruit and so on. This is especially true of slipjoints, which rely on you cutting away from yourself—which you should always do with all knives—and a half-stop as a safety device. Granted, when slipjoints were popularized long ago, lockback, linerlock and framelock folders were unavailable. The problem with both slipjoints…

“THE KNIFE SHOP HAD A 15-BY-15-FOOT SALES AREA THAT SOMEHOW ALSO FOUND ROOM FOR A CIGAR STORE INDIAN.” A knife shop in an airport is not exactly something you would expect to see today, but such was not always the case in 1976. It was then that Darlene and Don Couchman operated The Knife Shop in the El Paso International Airport. Airline passengers on their way to parts unknown could stop and avail themselves of knives of almost “every major brand of commercial household and sporting cutlery,” antique knives, straight razors, sharpeners, cutting boards and various knife displays, along with a full line of custom knives that included Don’s custom models. Of course, as writer/then The American Blade editor L.V. Baker noted in his story “Knife People,” how Don found time…

An RMJ Tactical collaboration with Andrew Bawidamann, the Dvalinn (page 12) is a compact, concealable, full-tang tomahawk in Nitro V stainless blade steel. At 10.25 inches overall and under a pound, it can be “stashed where some large fixed blades can’t.” The handle butt features a small pry bar. The Toor Knives Phantom Grey Cortano (page 24) features a 3.18-inch wharncliffe blade of CPM M4 tool steel in a KG Gunkote finish, and a G-10 handle with an integral finger ring that provides enhanced ambidextrous retention and maneuverability. ABS apprentice smith Justin Harrington’s sub-hilt fighter (page 48) sports an 8.5-inch recurve blade of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels in a random-pattern damascus. The scales are African blackwood and the guard and subhilt are mokumé gané. SharpByCoop photographed the Harrington…

SPEC CHART MODEL TYPE: Short spear BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE MATERIAL: Damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE: Ash w/burnt and oiled finish FURNITURE: Bronze and copper OVERALL LENGTH: 18.5” KNIFE TO KNOW: Jean-Pierre Potvin created the texture for the blade steel by forging damascus and using a rotary tool to accentuate the details … he “wanted the texture to be similar to the flint spearheads that existed long ago”; he has been making knives for 36 years MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR PIECE: $2,500 MAKER: Jean-Pierre Potvin 514-771-7864 jppotvin@hotmail.com (SharpByCoop image) SPEC CHART KNIFE NAME: DoudleStreetfighter Bowie BLADE LENGTH: 7.1” BLADE MATERIAL: W’s pattern damascus in 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels BLADE GRIND: Flat SCALES: Western myall, an Australian hardwood GUARD: Wrought iron OVERALL LENGTH: 12.6”…

“I LIKE TO INCORPORATE JAPANESE INFLUENCES WHEREVER I CAN.”—ANDREW MEERS There is no consensus as to the origin of the sub-hilt knife, though most agree the sub-hilt fighter was popularized by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Loveless (page 68) in the 1970s, if not earlier. Some believe the sub-hilt design was for hunting as well and that the main purpose for the added hilt was for greater leverage when a surer grip was needed. A few have even postulated that the additional hilt was for use as a brace in pulling the knife out after being stabbed into bone or another hard material, a use that it would no doubt accommodate most effectively. Many knife enthusiasts think of a sub-hilt fighter as being a heavier edged companion—and in many…

A good knife requires a handle that not only feels right in the hand but also complements the blade’s intent. For daggers especially, few embellishments capture both technical skill and aesthetic elegance like a spiral-fluted handle paired with inlaid twisted wire. Fluted, wire-inlaid handles trace their lineage to medieval Europe, where 9th-to-12th-century knives were often bound with spirals of wire for both decoration and basic grip enhancement. By the Renaissance, Italian and French artisans had refined this into a sophisticated embellishment. They carved shallow, evenly spaced flutes into hardwoods, stone, ivory or other materials, then inlaid twisted wire into the channels in a demonstration of their mastery of contrasting textures and precise tool control. The grooves not only trimmed handle weight for better balance but also improved the gripping surface so…

Note: Entries with an asterisk (*) include knives and knife accessories as the main/sole focus. Entries with two asterisks (**) include knife seminars or symposiums, cutting or balisong competitions, auctions or other knife-related events. JANUARY JAN. 23-26 LAS VEGAS, NV The NSSF SHOT Show, Venetian Expo + Caesars Forum. For the trade only. Visit shotshow.org. JAN. 30-FEB. 1 LAKELAND, FL The 48th Annual Gator Knife Show, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Contact Alan Weinstein 954-609-6485 TLViking@aol.com or John Conte 954-579-5662 TTS451@aol.com and/or visit Gatorknifeshow.com.* FEBRUARY FEB. 6-7 JERSEY CITY, NJ The 46th Annual New York Custom Knife Show, Westin Jersey City Newport. Visit www.nyckshow.com and/or fiftyfiftyproductions.net.* FEB. 20-21 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Oklahoma’s Largest Knife Show 2026, Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. Visit oklahomaknifegroup.com.* FEB. 26-MARCH 1 NUREMBERG, GERMANY The IWA Outdoor Classics…

An unforgettable setting for a memorable event celebrating an American hero—all complemented by a beautiful knife by Brian “Rocco” Nawrocki—completed a tribute to USMC Sergeant Scott Bunker during last year’s 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps. Assigned to Lima Company in 2005 during the Iraq War, Sergeant Bunker took multiple machinegun rounds at point-blank range in house-to-house fighting, resulting in the loss of an eye, half a lung, several ribs and soft-tissue damage to his left arm. He was the guest of honor at The Battleship Ball 2025 on November 1 held on the deck of the vintage World War II Battleship USS North Carolina in Wilmington, North Carolina. The handsome fixed blade Rocco made for Sergeant Bunker includes steel from the North Carolina for the blade and…