Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Blade

Sniper & NBS Partner Up Sniper Bladeworks has inked a partnership with Nation’s Best Sports (NBS), a Sniper press release reported. Founded by former SWAT sniper Lance Abernathy, Sniper is a premium tactical and outdoor knife brand that has been recognized for its “bold designs and functional innovation”—including its distinctive pistol-grip ergonomic knife handles. A leading buying group of sporting goods, NBS was founded in 1956. It supports over 450 independent retailers nationwide through strategic buying power, exclusive vendor programs, and in-market opportunities to foster lasting vendor-dealer partnerships. According to the release, the partnership demonstrates Sniper’s momentum in the independent retail sector and its mission to deliver field-tested, uniquely hard-working blades to dealers who serve law enforcement, outdoor and blue-collar professionals nationwide. For more information on Sniper Blade-works, visit sniperbladeworks.com.…

The day before Veterans Day, November 10 is the 250th anniversary of some of the most storied combat fighters in world history—the United States Marines. The Marines have a special aura that almost transcends their many exploits. And when it comes to American military exploits, the Battle of Iwo Jima is in the top two or three all time. The raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi is America personified, and the United States Marine Corps War Memorial across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., celebrating the event is about the most awesome monument anywhere. As for those in the knifemaking community, Marine veterans are well-represented and include two BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® members, Don Fogg and Joe Keeslar. Other Marine vets who make knives are Tim Brit-ton, Matt Chase,…

Food is life, and cooking is a vital part of your daily routine. Having the right tools can transform your kitchen experience, and kitchen utility knives are among the most essential. With the right one, even the toughest tasks can become a breeze. The Vero Engineering Utility 5 doesn’t just show up—it sharpens your kitchen game with precision and style. The fixed-blade slicer offers excellent corrosion resistance and edge retention, making it a reliable workhorse for a wide range of tasks, from citrus to sirloin. The drop-point pattern and full flat grind give it slicing versatility, while a milled pocket on the blade adds grip and control for those who favor the pinch-grip life. At just 4.75 ounces it’s light in the hand but heavy on performance. The handle options—black…

“A DAGGER’S PROMISE, AFTER ALL, IS MEASURED NOT BY EXTRAVAGANCE BUT BY THE SHARP INTEGRITY OF ITS POINT.” In part two of our look at dagger design, we move beyond history and symbolism to the structural realities of geometry and construction. From the curve of the edge to the presence—or deliberate absence—of a fuller, each feature serves the dagger’s singular purpose: to deliver a clean, decisive thrust and to endure long enough to do so again. PROFILE & POINT GEOMETRY A dagger’s profile is its outline when viewed from the flat side; its point geometry is the shape of its cross-section near the tip. Mastery in dagger design comes when the two elements merge into a seamless conduit for force, guiding energy from the wielder’s hand into the target. One…

Custom/factory collaboration knives long have been popular sellers. A custom knifemaker designs the knife and the company either makes or has it made, providing cutlery consumers with a knife at a lower price point and readier availability than almost always is the case when ordering a custom version directly from a custom maker. A long-time example of the genre is the collaborations between KA-BAR Knives and veteran knifemaker Bob Dozier. The original Dozier Folding Hunter series consists of midsized lockbacks with manufacturers’ suggested retail prices south of $50 offering plenty of bang for the buck. The knives provide ease of portability combined with the high utility of a drop-point blade. The series proved such an excellent seller for KA-BAR that the company decided to also market it in a higher-grade…

“THE GRIND IS A STOUT SCANDI AND IT ARRIVED WORK READY RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.” It’s a crisp, early winter morning. You wake and need to start a fire to get breakfast underway. As you exit your hut, your warm breath clouds the air. While you gather wood, you gaze out over your reindeer herd. At least this story would be yours if you were a Sami, a traditional reindeer herder of Finland’s Lap-land region. And a traditional Sami tool is the Finnish puukko-style knife, three versions of which are our test subjects this time. Though called a puukko, the blade profile of the Condor Tool & Knife Survival Puukko follows more the pattern of a leuku, a bigger Scandinavian chopper. The grind is a stout Scandi and it…

A.G. Russell Knives, Inc. www.agrussell.com ag@agrussell.com A.G. Russell The Cutting Edge® www.cuttingedge.com ce-asst@cuttingedge.com 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…

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.…

The Japanese influence in kitchen knives is more or less a given. Those who work in food preparation, an art form unto itself, appreciate the style and utilitarian feel that the Japanese culture exerts on their vocation. The kitchen knife has seen a wave of custom makers taking that context a step further. The knife is an extension of the hand and that extension starts with the handle. So, here again the ergonomics of Japanese influence emerge. The wa handle brings comfort and confidence to the kitchen user while also providing a sense of form, function and artistic expression for the custom maker. According to maker Jacob Anstaett, the name itself is rooted in the Japanese language. “Wa comes from the Japanese language and broadly translates as ‘harmony’ or ‘balance,’”…

A kitchen utility knife is a versatile tool designed for a variety of food preparation tasks. Typically, it features a blade ranging from 4 to 7 inches, making it larger than a paring knife but smaller than a chef’s knife. It’s ideal for slicing, dicing and chopping a wide range of foods, such as vegetables, fruits and meats. The utility strikes a balance between precision and strength, allowing it to handle chores that require both detail and some heft. It’s a great all-around option for anyone looking to tackle everyday kitchen jobs efficiently.…

As seasoned readers of BLADE® know, we avoid stories on how to use knives for self-defense, in combat, etc. It’s not that we oppose such uses of knives; after all, the right to protect yourself from attack is one of the most cherished rights, not only of Americans, but of people every-where. Rather, we prefer to promote knives as utilitarian tools, collectibles, art, etc., and leave combative how-to’s to magazines and formats that specialize in such things. However, in the case of the dagger—a knife made for one purpose and one purpose only—we felt it necessary to allow the author to explain exactly what the best ways are to design and make one to achieve that purpose. After all, BLADE is about knives that, above all else, cut and perform…

Puukkos are great work knives. The design is born from practicality. One thing to keep in mind, though, is when you get a knife with a Scandiground blade remember to strop it first. Remove the burr that so often comes on a new Scandiground edge. The burr is a wire that, if not removed, will jam back into the edge and ruin it. One of my favorite pieces in my collection is a leuko/puukko father-son set. I find it so useful I bought a backup set to ensure I would never be without one. If you don’t already have a traditional Scandinavian knife in your collection, get one.…

A half-century ago, the November-December issue of The American Blade recognized the 200th birthday of the United States Marine Corps with a special commemorative KA-BAR U.S.M.C. fighting/utility knife on the cover. Paired with the iconic image of U.S. Marines inching their way up the beaches of Iwo Jima during the titanic struggle to take the island from the Japanese during World War II, the cover knife featured a blade with “gold accents” that included the Corps’ founding date of 10 November and 1775-1975, oak leaf patterns and 200th Anniversary under United States Marine Corps in script. The commemorative’s “top quality leather handle” was an exact duplicate of the handle on the original 1941-45 issue knife. The commemoratives were made in a limited edition of 2,500 with individual MSRPs of $300…

Jacob Anstaett outfits his santoku in a wa handle of stabilized Tasmanian blackwood and a brut-de-forge-finished blade of Hitachi 1085 carbon steel. Decipher his approach to wa handles for household cutlery and those of other top custom knifemakers in the story beginning on page 12. The Utility 5 by Vero Engineering has a Nitro-V stainless blade with a milled pocket to enhance pinch grips for dicing and slicing, and comes in a selection of synthetic handles. It and other utility kitchen knives are the focus starting on page 26. BLADE® field editor Dexter Ewing describes the Spyderco Nand designed by Paul Alexander as “sort of the Cybertruck of folders.” See why in Dexter’s story on the latest factory/custom collaboration knives commencing on page 48. SharpByCoop photographed the Anstaett santoku and the Lonnie…

I came across Mike Bradshaw’s knives thanks to a recommendation by a knifemaker friend, R.W. Fred. The knifemaking community always helps other knifemakers—call it the “Brotherhood of the Blade.” After visiting his social media account for a quick look, I messaged Mike and he sent me his Large Hunter to test. Up first: the paper slice to check the original edge. This is the best way to show slicing in the still-image format of publications. The Large Hunter zipped through drafting paper in a jiffy, making a nice zipping sound on each cut. The edges of the slices were smooth with no tears. I had a hard time keeping my fingers out of the way, nicking one fingernail in the process. Skiving 8-ounce leather was next on the agenda, and…

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. OCTOBER OCT. 24 WOODLAND HILLS, CA Friday Night Blade Affair - Warner Center Marriott. Visit RECON1.com OCT. 25 LAS VEGAS, NV Art Knife Invitational, Palms Casino Resort. Visit aki.show.* OCT. 25-26 WOODLAND HILLS, CA California Custom Knife Show - Fall, Warner Center Marriott. Visit RECON1.com. OCT. 26-27 MINNEAPOLIS, MN Twin Cities Knife Show, Midwest Knifemakers Guild, Bloomington Armory and the Minnesota Army National Guard. Visit www.midwestguild.com. * OCT 31-NOV. 2 PIGEON FORGE, TN Spirit of Steel Fall Pigeon Forge Knife Show. Contact J. Bruce Voyles Auctioneers 423-238-6753 knifeauctions@gmail.com, jbrucevoyles.com.* NOVEMBER NOV. 2 ANTIQUE/MODERN FIREARMS AUCTION Carol…