Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Blade

There are knives more American in terms of historic origin but none more American in terms of being persecuted by the federal government than automatics (page 50). As such, the effort underway by Knife Rights and its fellow plaintiffs challenging the constitutionality of portions of the Federal Switchblade Act should be of special interest to knife enthusiasts. Originally enacted in 1958 with the help of Sen. Estes. Kefauver (TN) and other elected leaders apparently more interested in suppressing rights than upholding them, the Act restricts the introduction into interstate commerce of common automatically opening knives, popularly known as switchblades. It also bans the knives’ possession on Native American reservations and in U.S. territories and on U.S. lands. The Act’s definition of a “switchblade knife” includes gravity knives and butterfly knives/balisongs,…

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 Appleton, WI 54913 or email steve@blademag.com.…

Ever wonder why some custom knifemakers decide to take the leap from the rarified air of being a sole artisan to the crowded arena of factory fare? Sometimes the answer is easy. For instance, in 1999, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Chris Reeve switched his custom shop over to a micro-manufacturing outfit in Boise, Idaho, simply because he couldn’t supply enough of his popular Sebenzas to a thirsty knife-buying public. That one move catapulted Chris Reeve Knives (page 26) into a successful American manufacturer of folders and fixed blades. We thought the practice of switching from shop-to-factory, and the reasoning behind such a move, to be an interesting one, so we sought out a couple of like-minded makers from two different genres to bring you an inside look at such…

The slogan “Made in the USA” carries a specific meaning across the globe. American knife manufacturers tout that aspect of their operations with justifiable pride. Still, they face challenges in the arena of worldwide competition, constantly seeking methods and management that offer the best opportunities for success. In addition to the inherent competition related to the actual quality of their finished products—the attributes that compel the buyer to choose their knives over that of a competitor—American cutlery manufacturers often find themselves up against a foreign-government-subsidized or bankrolled competitor. Trade barriers may prevent their products from reaching a broader customer base, and the shifting costs of labor, materials and production demand attention. “One major challenge is the cost of distributing products overseas, particularly to the European Union,” related Curtis Iovito of…

At first, it’s an item of curiosity. The fuller, the symmetrical groove that runs along the partial or full length of a knife or sword blade, might function simply as an aesthetic touch. It could have some utilitarian purpose. Or maybe it’s a bit of both. Makers of knives and swords have included the fuller with their work for centuries, and today it remains a focal point in the process. Its presence is often prominent but its purpose is at best somewhat obscure. Why, then, is it common among the work of accomplished makers? “The primary purpose of the fuller is to lighten a blade without compromising strength,” explained award-winning custom knifemaker and swordsmith Vince Evans. “Many cultures incorporate a decorative aspect into the fullers on their blades. Italians are…

SPEC CHART MEANSTREAK COMPANY: Sharps Bros. KNIFE TYPE: Flipper folder BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: CPM S35VN stainless BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE FINISH: Non-glare PIVOT: Brass and ceramic bearing system LOCK: Button lock HANDLE: Titanium and stainless POCKET CLIP: Titanium, deep carry HARDWARE: Torx WEIGHT: 5 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25” MSRP: $200 Relatively new to the knife arena, Sharps Bros. made its original mark in the gun world. The company team used their machining know-how to produce some well-built fixed blades and folders. The Meanstreak 3-inch Button Lock Folder is one of the latter. It’s a button lock—to unlock the blade, simply depress the logo button on the bolster. The blade opens manually via a flipper. The machine work on the titanium frame is superb. Opening and closing the knife…

FEBRUARY FEB. 15 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Oklahoma’s Largest Knife Show, Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. For more info visit oklahomaknifegroup.com.* ** FEB. 22 HUNTSVILLE, TX Rocket City Knife Show, Huntsville Jaycee Building. Contact Kevin Abernathy 256-653-7073 kevinknives@hotmail.com. FEB. 22 BREA, CA California Knife Expo, Brea Convention Center. Email info@calknives.org or visit calknives.org.* FEB. 28-MARCH 1 TROY, OH The Spirit of the Blade Custom Knife Show, Miami County Fairgrounds. Contact Joel at maplewoodforge@gmail.com.* FEB. 28-MARCH 2 INEZ, KY Inez Kentucky Knife Show, Roy Collier Community Center. Contact Mason Fitch 606-626-6108 masonfitch@outlook.com. MARCH MARCH 7-8 FORT WORTH, TX The 4th Annual BLADE Show Texas, Fort Worth Convention Center. Visit bladeshowtexas.com.* ** MARCH 7-8 GODFREY, IL Bunker Hill Knife Club Knife Show, Alton-Wood River Sportsmen’s Club. Contact Scott Longnecker slongnecker69@gmail.com 618-779-9773. MARCH 14-16 PIGEON FORGE, TN Spring Spirit of…

“What I do is go back to the Stone Age,” Pat Antuzzi says of his knapped obsidian knives. He has been knapping blades for almost a quarter century. In that time he has found the best of the best obsidian to be the royal Mexican variety from the state of Jalisco in Mexico, a variety that’s basically been mined out. He used the material for the blade of his straightedged fixed blade, as well as Portoro marble from Italy for the handle. But it’s the royal Mexican obsidian itself and how it’s knapped that are the keys. “Every indentation you see on the blade is one flake removal from [the obsidian], and if it’s done right, you’re going to see it one flake after the other, just like the ancients…

A collaboration between Pro-Tech and Vero Engineering, the Synapse (page 50) automatic offers up Pro-Tech’s snappy auto action, CPM MagnaCut stainless blade steel and a half-and-half hybrid handle of black Micarta® and hard-coat-anodized aluminum. Cowboy Szymanski’s M4 reproduction consists of reclaimed materials from the USS Texas World War I dreadnought class battleship, including a blade of battleship blister-plated 15N20 carbon steel and a handle of turned deck wood/longleaf pine from the ship’s deck. For more on the knife and the effort to refurbish the USS Texas, see page 22. The Sharp Bros. Meanstreak is an all-steel button-lock folder with a 3-inch blade of CPM S35VN stainless steel and a handle of stainless and titanium. See how it fares in MSG Kim Breed’s “Spec Sheet” test on page 60. The image of…

Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina, East Tennessee and other states this past fall. Among those damaged was the Winkler Knives shop in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Daniel Winkler estimated the monetary loss to his business from $500,000 to $600,000, though the biggest setback was the death of one of the company’s long-time employees, Steve Limbacher. “He could not handle the stress and his heart just gave out,” Winkler wrote. “Steve is missed every day at Winkler Knives.” Up to 15 inches of water flowed through the Winkler shop from a creek adjacent to the structure, leaving behind one to 6 inches of mud. The company lost several machines, computers, printers, cabinets and shelves, carts and other daily use tools. Materials for handles, sheaths and other shop supplies…

“THIS FOLDING KNIFE TAKES THE COMPANY’S LIL’ NATIVE BACK LOCK PLATFORM AND LIGHTENS IT BY 40 PERCENT WITH FIBERGLASS-REINFORCED-NYLON SCALES.” 1. TALON / HAWK KNIFE DESIGNS KNIFE TYPE: Tactical/EDC DESIGNER: Gavin Hawk BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE STEEL: M390 stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 63 HRC BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE PATTERN: Modified drop point BLADE FINISH: Tumbled SCALE MATERIAL: Black Dunes (Fatcarbon®) FRAME MATERIAL: Titanium FURNITURE MATERIAL: Titanium (button, clip, backspacer) LOCK: Hawk Lock, toggle detent PIVOT: Bearings WEIGHT: 4.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.8” MSRP: $2,000 AVAILABLE: NOW 2. 0044 COMPANY: Zero Tolerance KNIFE TYPE: EDC flipper folder DESIGNER: ZT original BLADE LENGTH: 3.2” BLADE STEEL: CPM S45VN stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-61 HRC BLADE FINISH: Two-tone SCALE MATERIAL: Titanium w/bead blast finish LOCK: Button lock PIVOT: Ceramic bearings WEIGHT: 3.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH:…

When it comes to a truly original American knife, it’s hard to top the auto. Unfairly maligned over the decades as the “weapon of street gangs” and other inaccurate smears, the knife still known to many as the switchblade is enjoying a renaissance in popularity due to the reversals of many statewide auto bans spearheaded in large part by the two leading pro-knife legislative action groups: Knife Rights and the American Knife & Tool Institute. With autos now legal to many thousands of enthusiasts in dozens of states, one of the results has been a boom in factory-made autos by a growing number of knife companies. If you’re into OTF (Out The Front) autos, Texas-based CobraTec Knives should be of interest. The small, family-owned operation offers entry-level, midgrade and high-end…

I have carried a Spyderco Dragonfly for many years and multiple iterations of the knife. Its size is usually not threatening to people but the knife is still very useful for daily chores. The wider blade makes it more versatile. I have carried the key knife for almost as long. It’s very handy.” Jim Flynt, a letter via e-mail WIN A KNIFE! Tell us what knife you carry. Add a little history or an anecdote. Try to include a photograph—if digital, at least 600 KB but no larger than 2 MB—of you with your knife. We will publish your comments in an upcoming “The Knife I Carry.” Your name will then be entered in a drawing to win a free, high-quality, name-brand knife. The drawing will be May 15. Mail…

A.G. Russell Knives, Inc.www.agrussell.comag@agrussell.com A.G. RussellThe Cutting Edge®www.cuttingedge.comce-asst@cuttingedge.com Admiral Steelwww.admiralsteel.comsales@admiralsteel.comWidest Range of Stock for Blade Needs Andre de Villierswww.advtactical.co.zaFacebook - Andre de VilliersFacebook Group - ADV SOB BADNESSIG - advtacticaladv44sales@gmail.comButcher SOB folders and button lock flippers Arizona Custom Kniveswww.arizonacustomknives.comsharptalk@arizonacustomknives.comLargest selection in the world of new and consigned knives on the internet.Let us help you find the perfect knife Artknives.comwww.artknives.comfred@fredeisenleather.com BladeGallery.comwww.bladegallery.comwww.bladeconnection.comwww.epicedge.com Buckeye Engravingwww.BuckeyeEngraving.comMake Your MarkManufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands Cutlery Specialtieswww.restorationproduct.comdennis13@aol.comRenaissance Micro-CrystallineWax/Polish, Dennis Blaine Ed Fowler Kniveswww.edfowler.comeafwb@wyoming.comHigh Endurance Performance Knives Emerson Knives, Inc.100% Made In The USAhttps://emersonknives.com310-539-5633 Farina Fine Artswww.farinafinearts.comstudio@farinafinearts.comOne of a kind, fine art, collectible knives Knife Centerwww.knifecenter.cominfo@knifecenter.com New Graham Kniveswww.newgraham.commdye@newgraham.com Plaza Cutlerywww.plazacutlery.comdan@plazacutlery.comReeve, Randall, Rockstead, ADV, Spartan, ProTech, Olamic and Others RECON 1www.Recon1.comsales@Recon1.comYour number one source for Custom Knives, Shirogorov Knives, and WingManEDC Knives Red Hill CutleryHome…