Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2019 i Blade

How To Join The Guild My name is Calvin Robinson and I am the former Knifemakers’ Guild director in charge of membership. I would like to encourage anyone interested to pursue membership in the Guild. The Guild is constantly adding new members, mostly knifemaker members both Voting and Probationary, though we also have other membership categories: Youth, Honorary, Associate and Knifemaker Emeritus. All are explained in detail on the Guild website www.knifemakersguild.com. I would like to explain some new requirements for Probationary Membership that seem to have caused confusion with longtime members and applicants alike. Two new forms are now required along with the Application: a Comments Sheet and a Score Sheet. The same four voting members who sign the Application must make the observations about the applicant’s knives on…

Fit and finish is bandied about so often in cutlery circles it’s almost become one word, pronounced something like fittenfinnish. A newbie collector who hangs around seasoned custom knifemakers, purveyors and collectors soon learns the “fit-and-finish thing” is a mighty nice trait for the knives in his or her stable to have. All that being said, is fit and finish the key to a knife being all it can be, or does a knife exhibiting it simply look nicer and cost more? Or does the answer lie somewhere in between? We recruited a panel of authorities to help sort through it all, including purveyors Neil Ostroff of True North Knives, Dave Ellis of Exquisite Knives, Dan Delavan of Plaza Cutlery, and seasoned custom maker Tim Britton. We started by asking…

I have done a number of articles on throwing cutlery over the years but one category I seem to have missed is that of throwing axes. True, I have covered a number of tomahawk articles but not every axe you throw is a tomahawk, whereas every tomahawk is an axe. Anyway, this time let’s do throwing axes! All of them are axes but only some are tomahawks. Confused yet? Well, let me try harder (just kidding). I have three offerings for review: the SOG Specialty Knives & Tools Fasthawk, Condor Tool & Knife Francisca and Southern Grind Wasp throwing axe set. The primary chore of these axes is to be hurled across a distance and hopefully stick, so that is the No. 1 concern for me in the story. If…

Karambits are interesting due to their intended purpose and the distinctive curved shapes of the blades and handles. Since I’m not versed in karambit design history, I consulted custom knife-maker Ernest Emerson, who also is founder and owner of Emerson Knives, Inc. Under the EKI banner, Emerson offers several karambit designs. As many are aware, he is also an avid martial arts enthusiast. In his younger days he trained and learned martial arts under Richard Bustillo and Dan Inosanto, two noted legends. Bustillo and Inosanto introduced Emerson to Pencak Silat, a form of Filipino martial arts that employs the rather strange knife with a hook-shaped blade and specially designed handle that promotes spinning the knife to switch grips rapidly and instinctively. “I’d never seen anything like it before and was…

FIT AND FINISH 101 Mark Bartlett, Dept. BL1, 102 Finn Cir., Lawrenceburg, TN 38464, Phone: 931-477-5444, moosetrax@live.com; Tim Britton knifemaker, Dept. BL1, 5645 Murray Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. Ph- 1(336) 923-2062. Web- www.timbritton.com; Greg Cimms, Kayne Custom Knife Works, Dept. BL1, 2297 Rt. 44, Ste. B, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569, Phone: 845-475-7220, cimms1@aol.com; Exquisite Knives, attn.: David Ellis, Ph- 760-945-7177 or 760-310-4078.Web- www.exquisiteknives.com; Steve Filicietti 417260702, sfilicietti@gmail.com, Facebook/ Instagram: Filicietti Knives; Evgeny Khokhlov, c/o Sterkh Knives, Dept. BL1, N. Bazhana 7v Prospect, Kiev, Ukraine 02121 +380988615970 sterkh87@gmail.com, Facebook/Instagram: sterkhknives; Marcus Lin, Dept. BL1, 26825 Morena Dr., Mission Viejo, CA 92691, Phone: 310-720-4368, marcuslin7@gmail.com; Web: www.linknives.com; David Mirabile, Dept. BL1, PO BOX 20417, Juneau, AK 99802, Phone: 907-321-1103, dmirabile02@gmail.com; Web: www.mirabileknives.com; Plaza Cutlery Inc., Dan Delavan. Ph- (714) 964-0816. Web- www.plazacutlery.com;…

Easy to carry, quick to deploy, reasonably priced and inconspicuous, knives with blades under 2 inches are popular choices among consumers—and the reasons vary. In a time when less can actually be more, short-yet-sharp examples fulfill the function of a necessary tool while offering several other positives. The CRKT Snicker debuted at BLADE Show 2017 and exemplifies the growing trend. “It serves a niche for those looking for a small blade that will tackle a variety of tasks and is a solid performer for CRKT,” explained company spokesperson Mike May. “Ease of use and ‘approachability’ are two key factors that make blades of this size popular. In areas with strict knife laws, the sub-2-inch blade can also help alleviate any concerns. In the case of the Snicker, its style and…

ABS master smith Aaron Wilburn’s mosaic damascus bowie won both Best Fixed Blade and Best In Show at the 2018 BLADE Show West (page 34) and is this issue’s cover knife. The handle of mammoth ivory sports domed nickel-silver pins, nickel-silver trim and filework. The guard, spacer and frame are Morovian Turkish twist damascus. Blade length: 12 inches. The maker’s list price of $5,000 for a similar piece includes a horsehide-lined sheath of 9-ounce leather boasting basket-weave tooling and alligator skin trimmings. “The guard, spacer and frame are Morovian Turkish twist damascus.” For more information contact Aaron Wilburn, Dept. BL1, 2521 Hilltop Dr., #364, Redding, CA 96002 530-215-9911 Wilburnforge@yahoo.com, wilburnforge.com, or see the story on page 34. Bladegallery.com photographed the cover knife. The inset image of the Cold Steel…

Wayne Goddard, loving husband and father, member of the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame®, American Bladesmith Society (ABS) master smith, BLADE® field editor emeritus, book author and so much more, passed away Nov. 14. He had just turned 80 five days before. Perhaps best known to BLADE readers for his long-running “Q&A” column (June 1991 to the December 2013 BLADE) and also his “Steels” column, as well as his books $50 Knife Shop, The Wonder of Knifemaking and Wire Damascus Hunting Knife: How To Do It, Wayne was a mentor to many bladesmiths, knifemakers and people in general. Among other sobriquets he was known as the BLADE Answer Man and the Dean of Northwest Bladesmiths. Year-in and year-out he was selected as the most popular BLADE writer in BLADE’s…

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.com info@dozierknives.com Artknives.com  www.artknives.comfred@fredeisenleather.com BladeGallery.com  www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com BladeJunkee www.bladejunkee.com bladejunkee73@gmail.com BladeOps, LLC www.bladeops.com trevor@bladeops.com Bocki Custom Knives www.bockiknives.com eshword@aol.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.com Stamps@BuckeyeEngraving.com  Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands Martin…

Jamie Lundell’s War Axe came about rations, from the classic Viking axe t damascus patterns in the steel. The the curve in the haft and the knot work all ha The spike doesn’t but it was something the “I was lucky enough to have a client wh and gave the reins over to me to design it, ” tage of that is we got to go ahead and expe further the craft that way. It’s hard if you get Experimenting and exploring is how I cam Maumasi’s woven chevron pattern in crushed W’s damascus for the axe head. For more information contact Jamie Lundell, Forge, Dept. BL1, 10 Swiss Ln., Wolcott, CT 20 onsbreathforge@gmail.com , dragonsbreathf  book/Instagram: Jamielundell/Jamie Lundell. For the latest knives, knife news,…

Much has been written and reported on all fronts—pro and con—about the import tariffs instituted by the administration of President Donald Trump. At the recent BLADE Show West (see page 34), Mike Vellekamp, headman of V Nives, predicted the tariffs are going to result in a “shift” in the factory knife market that will create a new “made-in-America force.” Here’s how he sees it going down. Manufacturers in Asia, especially China, have been able to make better inexpensive knives than U.S. manufacturers for years now due in no small part to low labor, advertising and other costs. Largely as a result, Chinese manufacturers have dominated the market for “price-point” or inexpensive knives in America. However, as a result of the tariffs, Mike opined, in order to maintain profits the Chinese…

PATH 1: It’s hard to resist t using knife, and hunters lead the way due to their sheer numbers and relative economy of price. Landon Robbins outfits his drop point in 1084 carbon steel with a handsome hamon and desert ironwood. Overall length: 8.5 inches. His list price for a similar piece: $450 (includes a custom leather sheath). (Chuck Ward image) What puts a collector on edge? It can be a single attribute of a custom knife such as a stag handle or a blued guard. For others it can be the combination of materials, design/style and/or the maker. For most collectors it is about deciding what is in and what is out of their collections. They control the direction of their avocation. What is it that turns someone into…

JANUARY JAN. 4-5 HELSINKI, FINLAND The 10th International Knife Show, Old Student House. Visit helsinkiknifeshow.com or Helsinki Knife Show/ on Face-book.* JAN. 25 LAS VEGAS Tactical Knife Invitational, Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel. Show not open to the public. Admission granted through advanced registration only. Call 417-866-6688 for reservations or visit fiftyfiftyproductions.net for more details.* JAN. 25-27 LAS VEGAS, NV The Las Vegas Invitational Knifemakers Show in conjunction with the Antique Arms Show, Las Vegas Westgate Resort and Casino. Call 951-970-9669 or visit antiquearmsshow.com . JAN. 26-27 ST LOUIS, MO Gateway Area Knife Show, Carpenters’ Hall. Contact Steve Markus 314-795-4262 smarkus@gakc.org, gakc.org.* JAN. 26-27 LAS VEGAS Las Vegas Custom Knife Show, Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Call 417-866-6688 or visit fiftyfiftyproductions.net.* JAN. 26-27 KINGMAN, AZ Pioneer Country Events Knife &…

SPEC CHART KNIFE NAME: Hecate PATTERN: Fixed blade DESIGNER: Alessandra De Santis BLADE LENGTH: 5.5” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel BLADE THICKNESS: .24” ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-61 HRC cryogenically heat treated HANDLE MATERIAL: 3D-textured G-10 WEIGHT: 15 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 11.02” SHEATH: Kydex w/belt-loop adapter and clip MOLLE adapter MSRP: $246.37 COMPANY: Hydra Armaments, design@hydra-armaments.com , hydra-armaments.com KNIFE NAME: Queen’s Companion KNIFE PATTERN: Lockback folding dagger BLADE STEEL: 324-layer ladder-pattern damascus HANDLE MATERIAL: Carved mother-of-pearl w/14k-yellow-gold “Dellana Dots” BOLSTERS: 150-layer nickel damascus OPEN LENGTH: 7 7/8” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $11,000 MAKER: Dellana, Dept. BL1, Starlani Int’l Inc., 1135 Terminal Way, Ste. #209, Reno, NV 89502 304-727-5512 or 702-569-7827 1dellana@gmail.com , DellanaKnives.com KNIFE PATTERN: Fighter BLADE LENGTH: 6”…