Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Blade

Blade|September 2018

READERS RESPOND

Safety First, Foremost and Always I am writing concerning “Teach Your Children” on page 98 of the June BLADE®. I am impressed with the story’s writer, ABS master smith Wally Hayes, and his daughter Charlotte. To teach young people to make knives is encouraging, and especially with the emphasis on shop safety—which is the point of my letter. I am familiar with the design, construction, testing and manufacture of Whizard gloves, the ones made with yarn consisting of stainless steel wire covered with two layers of Kevlar. The high tensile strength of Kevlar fiber—which makes personal body armor “bulletproof ”—is what makes the gloves cut resistant. Kevlar gloves should never be worn around revolving equipment or power-saw blades such as circular, table or band saws. If a blade snags the…

4 min

Blade|September 2018

CHALLENGES OF CHANGE

There were two changes of note at BLADE Show 2018 (see page 12): 1) the expansion to the new John A. Williams Ballroom and 2) the reduction in additional exhibitor badges sold to exhibitors. Let’s examine both: 1) With the number of exhibitors growing to a record 950+ this year, the show hall simply ran out of space. Expansion was the most viable option, thus the move to add exhibitors in the adjoining John A. Williams Ballroom. While a number of exhibitors complained about the move due to it separating them from the show hall and how it required more walking for patrons to get to the exhibitors’ tables and booths, the ballroom was extremely busy most of the weekend. Whether it was a real success or not will have…

3 min

Blade|September 2018

BLADE SHOW 2018 KNIFE DISPLAY WINNERS

The winners and their displays: Best In Show: Buck Factory Production Knives of the 1960s, by Larry Oden; Judges Award: How Do You Handle A Buck Knife … very carefully … beautifully and … with an eye toward function, by Brent Schindewolf; Judges Award: Buck 110 50th Anniversary Folding Hunters, by Ed Cooper; and Youth Award: Rusty’s Cutting Horse Remuda Buck Model 700’s “Under New Management,” by Connor Danskin.…

1 min

Blade|September 2018

GOLDEN STATE GOLDEN BOYS

Two of the best friends of the knife community and long-time contemporaries entered the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© this year with the inductions of Dan Delavan and Phil Lobred. While the selections were announced on blademag.com this past April, as is the custom the formal inductions had to wait until the BLADE Show at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta June 1-3. Conducted during the BLADE Magazine Awards Banquet the Saturday night of the show, the new Hall Of Famers were inducted by friends before an international gathering of family members, more friends and knife industry professionals. The artist known as Dellana inducted Lobred, who passed away in 2017 after a long illness. Known for her outstanding art knives and a participant in Lobred’s landmark Art Knife Invitational in San Diego,…

7 min

Blade|September 2018

THE BAR IS RISING

The BLADE Show is not only the world’s largest and most important knife event, it’s also the melting pot of the knife industry. For proof look no further than the winners of the custom knife judging competition at this year’s show. Sweden’s Anders Hogstrom won both Best of Show and Best Fixed Blade. Jean-Louis Regel of France captured Best Art Knife and Best Bowie. Jimmy Chin of Taiwan copped the award for Best Damascus. Japan’s Toshiaki Michinaka won the Yvon Vachon Best Miniature Knife Award. Gustavo Cecchini of Brazil captured Best Folder. Russia’s Maxim Soltamuradov won Best Tactical Folder. And Corrado Moro garnered Most Innovative Design. Of course, that’s not to say the American makers who took home the balance of the awards are chopped liver, but the international trend…

6 min

Blade|September 2018

IN SEARCH OF THE REAL JAMES BLACK PART II

Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre, a French artist, discovered a way to record, develop and fix an image. Commonly known as a daguerreotype, the mirror or reverse image was on a polished silver-plated sheet of copper. This process was revealed to the world in the fall of 1839. On page 61 is a daguerreotype taken in 1842 of a man with a double-breasted vest with the buttons on the left lapel, thus showing a reversed image. The buttons on a man’s shirt, vest and coat should be on the right lapel. On page 62 is a daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln taken in 1846 when he was a congressman from Illinois. As late as 1846 the daguerreotype lens was taking reverse images so that the buttons on the vest appeared on the left lapel.…

6 min

Blade|September 2018

WHERE TO GET ’EM

WERE YOU THERE? BladeSports International, Inc., POB 205, Dept. BL9, Waxahachie, TX 75168 662-907-0322 bladesports.org; Brous Blades, attn: Jason Brous, Dept. BL9, 558 Pine St., Solvang, CA 93463 805-717-7192 jbrous@live.com, www.brousblades.com; Michael Donato, knifepurveyor.com; Jerry Fisk, Dept. BL9, 10095 Hwy 278 W, Nashville, AR 71852, Phone: 870-845-4456, jerry@jerryfisk.com; Web: www.jerryfisk.com or Facebook: Jerry Fisk, MS Custom Knives; Cliff Parker, Dept. BL9, 6350 Tulip Dr., Zephyrhills, FL 33544, Phone: 813-973-1682, cooldamascus@aol.com Web: cliffparkerknives.com; Tim Ploppert, Dept. BL9, 1407 2nd Ave. SW, Cullman, AL 35055, Phone: 256-962-4251, tomploppert3@bellsouth.net; Recon 1, attn.: Sako Rouchanian, Dept. BL9, 19425 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, CA 91356 888-473-2661 recon1.com, @recon1; Les Robertson, c/o Robertson Custom Cutlery, customknives@comcast.net, www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com; Bill Ruple, Dept. BL9, 201 Brian Dr., Pleasanton, TX 78064, Phone: 830-569-0007, bknives@devtex.net; Southern Grind, attn: A. Goodman, Dept. BL9,…

5 min

Blade|September 2018

SOLVE THE SERRATION EQUATION

A common debate in the knife community is serrated vs. plain edges. All it takes is for one person to say he carries a serrated blade and the debate begins. Fortunately, this story does not tackle that issue. No matter what edge style of knife you carry, it must be sharpened. In the case of serrated blades, you need specialized tools. No matter the blade, you are still polishing surfaces. It is just that serrated blades need specific tools to polish scalloped surfaces. Our lineup of four sharpeners consists of the GATCO Scepter 2.0, Smith’s Diamond Retractable Sharpener, DMT Diafold serrated sharpener and Accusharp Diamond Compact Sharpener. I had a number of knives with different serration patterns on which to test the foursome of new models. SHARP MULTI-TOOL Of the…

5 min

Blade|September 2018

Please Reach Out to Us!

Visit us online: www.blademag.com • Sign up for our free newsletter. • Renew your magazine subscription domestically, Canadian, internationally or digitally at blademag.com. There’s a subscription link in the nav bar. • Comment on our site stories written by BLADE® staff members and others. • Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/blademag, Twitter at https://twitter.com/blademagazine, Pinterest at pinterest.com/blademagazine and Instagram at instagram.com/blade_magazine/. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Visit us on the Web at www.blademag.com or call 920-471-4522. BACK ISSUES, CDs, DVDs and CALENDAR SALES Toll-free USA and Canada: 855-278-0406 Outside USA: 920-471-4522 Or write BLADE, 5600 W. Grande Market Dr., Appleton, WI 54913 BLADE publishes 13 issues per year, including BLADE’s Complete Knife Guide in November. CUSTOMER SERVICE: For customer service on blademag.com orders, visit http://www.blademag.com/contact-us/ or call 920-471-4522. ADVERTISING: Contact Lori McDaniel at…

1 min

Blade|September 2018

WERE YOU THERE?

Most knife enthusiasts who were at BLADE Show 2018 June 1-3 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta seemed to love it, and knife enthusiasts who weren’t there probably wished they were. Meanwhile, thanks to the show’s ever-growing status as the one annual knife event you can’t afford to miss, the bet here is many card-carrying and potential knife enthusiasts who have never been are no doubt planning to be there next year (though how someone can be a card-carrying knife enthusiast without ever having attended a BLADE Show is open for debate). Record attendance (10,000+) and numbers of national and international exhibitors (950+)—the latter requiring an expansion to a new ballroom—rollicking knife sales, mega amounts of knife fun and more made the 37th annual rendition of the world’s largest…

6 min

Blade|September 2018

THE KNIFE I CARRY

“I carry a Benchmade Mini Freek. The handle fits very well into my small hand. I also like the Axis™ locking mechanism because it allows for easy opening and closing, especially with one hand. For me this is the perfect EDC knife, and I’m very impressed with Benchmade’s new quality control.” Colin Hershberger, a letter via e-mail “My pocketknife is my Boker Carver’s Congress Whittler. It’s a whittlin’ wonder.” Bruce James, a letter via e-mail “I carry a Gerber Gator and have for years. I love the soft grip and the matte-finish blade.” Jerome Culpepper, a letter via e-mail To read about the latest knives, knife news and more, visit blademag.com .…

1 min

Blade|September 2018

They Hit the JACKKNIFE POT

The world’s premier knives made by the world’s most innovative manufacturers hit the jackknife pot at the 37th Annual BLADE Show in Atlanta June 1-3, with the best of the best winning the BLADE Magazine 2018 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards. Thirteen awards in all—Overall, American Made, Imported, Most Innovative American Design, Most Innovative Imported Design, Best Buy, Manufacturing Quality, Knife Collaboration, Investor/Collector, Kitchen, Accessory, Publisher’s and Industry Achievement—recognized the year’s sharpest knives and knife enthusiasts. All were feted during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception in a ballroom of the Cobb Galleria Centre show Saturday night. The first 11 awards were determined in a vote by BLADE Show booth exhibitors, who examined the entries in each category all could see in the Knife-Of-The-Year Display in the show lobby of the Cobb Galleria. The…

9 min

Blade|September 2018

FACE-OFF: FACTORY VS. CUSTOM

The blades of both the MOTAC by Doublestar and We The People by Brad Mock have somewhat of a triangular appearance. This provides a very sharp tip for fine work and a wider base for heavier jobs. I decided to start at the tip of each blade and work my way back. First up was a quick edge check by slicing 20-pound bond copy paper. Brad’s knife sliced great at the midway point to the tip. From midway to the start of the cutting edge it has a thicker edge geometry unsuited for slicing. The Doublestar knife was smooth and aggressive along the whole edge, giving me nice slicing sounds. It was time to thin out the cardboard pile. The MOTAC sliced smoothly and was very controllable. The thickness of…

3 min

Blade|September 2018

WHERE TO NET’EM

A.G. Russell Knives, Inc. www.agrussell.com ag@agrussell.com Adams International Knifeworks - AIK www.adamsknifeworks.com Customized Automatic Knife Specialist Admiral Steel www.admiralsteel.com terry@admiralsteel.com Widest Range of Stock for Blade Needs Alaska - Northern Knives www.northernknives.com A Real Store & Working Knife Shop! Andre de Villiers - Facebook email - adv44sales@gmail.com www.advtactical.co.zaButcher SOB folders. Arizona Custom Knives www.arizonacustomknives.com sharptalk@arizonacustomknives.com Arkansas Made Dozier, Inc. www.dozierknives.cominfo@dozierknives.com Artknives.com www.artknives.comfred@fredeisenleather.com BladeGallery.com www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com BladeJunkee www.bladejunkee.combladejunkee73@gmail.com BladeOps, LLC www.bladeops.comtrevor@bladeops.com Bocki Custom Knives www.bockiknives.comeshword@aol.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.com Stamps@BuckeyeEngraving.com Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands Martin Butler Engraver martsart81@gmail.com one-of-a-kind engraver CRKT www.crkt.com…

2 min

Blade|September 2018

KNIFE DEBUT Dream Come True

There’s no place like the BLADE Show to debut new knives. Unlike other of the world’s most notable events that include knives, only the BLADE Show gathers hundreds of knife-specific factory and custom knifemaker exhibitors to service thousands of enthusiasts who attend the event for one thing and one thing only—knives. There’s nothing else like it. This year’s show June 1-3 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta had more knife exhibitors and attendees than ever before, and the factory knife companies that debuted their new knives for 2018 were glad they did. A few of those knives are on this and the following pages. Have some fun! SPEC CHART KNIFE NAME: Bold Action IX COMPANY: Bear OPS BLADE LENGTH: 2 3/4” BLADE STEEL: Sandvik stainless BLADE GRIND: Taper BLADE…

6 min

Blade|September 2018

SHARPENING SERRATION KEYS

There are a couple of key points on sharpening serrations. As with a plain edge, you are polishing a surface. In the case of serrated blades, there are two geometries to work. One is the gullet. The gullet is the internal section that normally has a curved shape between the points of a serrated edge. Since sharp gullets are necessary, many people mistakenly focus too much on the gullets and not enough on the teeth of the pattern. The teeth do the initial entry into the material and begin the cut. Hence, when sharpening serrated blades you not only polish the gullet of the serration but also re-point the teeth at the same time. Much like sharpening a saw, you reform the teeth and restore the geometry of the teeth…

1 min

Blade|September 2018

COVER STORY

The SURU cover piece by FOX Knives is the BLADE Magazine 2018 Overall Knife Of The Year® as selected by a vote of booth exhibitors at BLADE Show 2018 June 1-3 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The highlight of the gentleman’s folder is its all-one-piece carbon-fiber handle with the lock side configured into a framelock. While a non-steel framelock has been tried before, few if any have manufactured it so that it does its job as solidly and crisply as the carbon-fiber rendition by FOX. Designed by custom knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes, the compact folder has a 2.32-inch blade of M390 stainless steel with a satin finish and a flat grind. Weight: 2.04 ounces. Closed length: 3.5 inches. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $265. Available: October. For more information see…

1 min

Blade|September 2018

UNGER & WARDEN: BLADE SHOW WORLD CHAMPS

Nicole Warden captured her third straight women’s title and Dwayne Unger notched his first men’s title in the 16th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition. BladeSports International conducted the championships the Saturday of the BLADE Show in The Courtyard—the parking lot of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly. The results: WOMEN’S DIVISION: 1) Nicole Warden; 2) Jonni Jo Carothers; 3) Robin Berry; 4) Shanna Kemp; 5) Krystal McMillion; 6) Terry Lynn; 7) Chandee Smith. MEN’S DIVISION: 1) Dwayne Unger; 2) Dan Keffeler; 3) James Clifton; 4) Donavon Phillips; 5) Christopher Berry; 6) Gary Bond; 7) Andy Blanchard; 8) Jo Smith; 9) Brad Stallsmith; 10) David Barnes.…

1 min

Blade|September 2018

FRESH TAKES ON FOLDING ANCIENTS

The friction folder dates back to ancient Europe circa 500-600 BCperhaps even earlier. It operates on a simple principle, folding open and closed by relying on the friction of the handle against the tang to keep the knife open without the tension of a backspring, linerlock, or lockback. Still, in its simplicity the friction folder has found a following across generations. For everyday carry, easy access, an unobtrusive look and overall utilitarian appeal, it’s hard to top the friction folder. Therefore, the old standby is regularly being reinterpreted. New friction folders are hitting the market and finding their own niches with frequent users and collectors of varied knife styles and materials. SHARP VARIETY The FOX Knives Dragotac friction folder is available in a variety of blade lengths, handle materials and…

7 min

Blade|September 2018

BY GUT HOOK OR BY CROOK

A gut hook on a knife blade is a highly specialized feature designed to open the belly of a downed deer, elk or other critter, the notion being the gut hook will make the single purpose easier. After opening the belly the hunter would then use the primary edge to dress out the animal. During more than a half-century of hunting on three continents, I have taken more deer, elk and other large game than I can count—often with a bow or other primitive weapon. I have dressed my game with whatever knife I had at the time, folder or fixed blade, and sometimes with flint or obsidian blades. I have never used a gut hook. When I was assigned to review four knives with gut hooks I thought of…

6 min

Blade|September 2018

SPEC CHART

KNIFE NAME: We The People MAKER: Brad Mock BLADE LENGTH: 5” BLADE STEEL: 1095 carbon BLADE THICKNESS: 3/32” BLADE GRIND: Full flat HANDLE: Synthetic with the words “We The People” EXTRAS: Acid-etch pattern OVERALL LENGTH: 9 5/8” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $400 KNIFE NAME: MOTAC MAKER: Doublestar BLADE LENGTH: 4.25” BLADE STEEL: 1095 carbon BLADE THICKNESS: 3/16” BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE: Textured G-10 AUTHOR FAVE: Deep choil OVERALL LENGTH: 9 5/8” MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $209.99…

1 min

Blade|September 2018

WHAT’S NEW

SPEC CHART PATTERN: Fighter BLADE LENGTH: 9” BLADE LENGTH: W2 core, wrought-iron cladding and pure nickel shim sheet forged by Steel Pig Forge HANDLE MATERIAL: Turkish walnut burl BOLSTER: Wrought iron PORKY’S PICKS: The blade and guard are coffee etched; the knife was an auction piece for the Cattleman’s Ball of Nebraska OVERALL LENGTH: 14” MAKERS’ LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR PIECE: $1,650 MAKERS: Garrett and Mike Elting, c/o Steel Pig Forge, Dept. BL9, 2020 Ranger Cir., Lincoln, NE 68521 402-613-0783 steelpigforge@gmail.cim , steelpigforge.com , Facebook/ Instagram: steelpigforge/ Steel Pig Forge MODEL: Petrichor PATTERN: Dress tactical folder BLADE LENGTH: 4” BLADE MATERIAL: Bacon-pattern damascus forged by Chad Nichols HANDLE MATERIAL: Mammoth tooth HANDLE FRAME: Titanium BOLSTER: Carbon fiber UNSEEN STUFF: SM100 backspacer CLOSED LENGTH:…

4 min

Blade|September 2018

BSHOW CALENDAR

Note: Events with an asterisk (*) have knives and knife accessories as the main/sole focus. Events with two asterisks (**) are knifemaking seminars or symposiums, cutting competitions, auctions or other knife-related events. JULY JULY 27-29 WASHINGTON, MO The AIK Knife Show, Elks Lodge. Contact Crystal 618-656-9868 adamsknifeworks.com@gmail.com , aik-knifeshow.com.* AUGUST AUG. 4-5 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA The 2018 Sydney Knife Show, Rosehill Racecourse. Contact sydneyknifeshow.com.au.* AUG. 4-5 CROSSVILLE, TN Cumberland County Gun & Knife Show, Cumberland County Complex. Contact Donnie Moody 931-250-1981 gkshow@charter.net, gkshow.org. AUG. 10-11 FINDLAY, OH Old Barn Auction/ Knife & Gun Auction. Contact 419-422-8531 oldbarn.com or auctionzip.com ID #4807.** AUG. 11-12 MISSOULA, MT The 22nd Annual Montana Knifemakers’ Association Custom Knife Show and Sale. Contact Nancy 406-728-2861 or Bob 406-827-4754 crowder@blackfoot.net.* AUG. 17-18 LEXINGTON, KY The 35th Annual Central…

5 min

Blade|September 2018

TIM’S TUXEDO

The Tuxedo Fighter by Tim Steingass is a takedown combat utility knife the maker quipped is for guys “who like Tinkertoys®”—those who enjoy taking their knives apart and putting them back together. As for the Tuxedo name, Tim said he got the idea for it from one of his customers for whom he made repros of three Bob Loveless small fighters. “He got one with an ivory Micarta® handle and liked it so much he wanted a black-handled one,” Tim recalled. “I imagined he was going to wear it under his tuxedo and that gave me the idea for the Tuxedo Fighter.” The fact that the fighter is small and fancy also seemed to fit the Tuxedo moniker. “It’s not tactical, it has a shiny blade and beautiful, shiny handle,…

1 min