Innehållsförteckning för December 2018 från Blade

From Wet North Carolina During our shut-in time due to Hurricane Florence, I took the time to read the article about the knife laws in Canada (“Inside Canada’s Knife Ban,” page 22, August BLADE®). It’s amazing how a small group of idiots with very little or no common sense can tell the rest of us what we can and cannot have and do. There seems to be no end to these happenings. Making knives and guns extinct, some seem to think, would correct all wrongs. Some of us know that the ones who intend to be evil will be evil regardless of what they have access to for a tool of destruction. A chisel or a screwdriver can do a lot of damage. I am in the eyes of some…

What do professional chefs look for in a chef ’s knife? At least two pro chefs use the chef ’s knives of knifemaker Don Nguyen, author of this issue’s cover knife (page 7). He was industrious enough to ask them what they like about his chef ’s knives for use in BLADE®. Their answers are instructive not only on Nguyen’s chef ’s knives but chef ’s knives in general. Kolter Livengood is a chef at Brightwok Kitchen, “a veggie-focused, Asian inspired restaurant” in Chicago. Detail and aesthetics, with an equal emphasis on testing, are some of Livengood’s requirements in a chef ’s knife. “A great deal of consideration is given to the ‘knife life’ or how the blade will be sharpened away over time,” he observed. “How the knife tapers…

Working in the restaurant industry for years, I developed some set practices for speed and effi - ciency. I found the paring knife the most useful piece of household cutlery, though that’s not to say I did not need other knives to get the job done. Over time, I’ve added a few cleavers to my collection. The cleaver is a tool that has always impressed me. In the right hands it can be used for brute-force chores like a chainsaw—chainsaw carvers forgive the expression—or with the accuracy of a scalpel. To master a tool like a cleaver, practice is mandatory. For this review, I tested three cleavers: the ESEE Expat Knives Cleaver, TOPS Knives El Chappo and Benchmade Nestucca. Along the way, I will cover some introductory techniques. Read on.…

CHEF’S KNIVES ARE COOKING! p. 12 Harbeer Chahal/HSC Knives, Dept. BL12, 900 Rabbit Run, Clarkdale, CA 86324 hsc3knives@gmail.com; Ken Hall, Dept. BL12, 606 Stevenson Cove Rd., Waynesville, NC 28785 828-400-7815 kenhallknives.com; Andreas Kalani, Dept. BL12, 23742 Brasilia St., Mission Viejo 92691 949-682-8282 andreaskalani.com; Don Nguyen, Dept. BL12, 14559 E. Yellow Sage Ln., Vail, AZ 85641 520-730-3256 donnguyenknives.com; Mert Tansu, Dept. BL12, 17 Spring St., East Branxton, NSW, Australia 2335 tansuknives@yahoo.com; Michael Zieba, Dept. BL12, 95 Commercial St. #4, Brooklyn, NY 11222347-335-9944 ziebaknives.com DO THEY GRAB YOU? p. 24 Nathan Carothers, carothersknives.com/contact/, Carothers Facebook; Scott Gallagher, Dept. BL12, 335 Winston Manor Rd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 850-865-8264 scottgallagher04@gmail.com; Jordan LaMothe, Dept. BL12, 1317 County Rt. 31, Granville, NY 12832 518-368-5147 jordanlamothe.com; Cass Stanford facebook.com/cass.stanford.1 LEAVE IT TO CLEAVERS p. 40…

NOVEMBER NOV. 2-4 PIGEON FORGE, TN Spirit of Steel Knife Show, Smoky Mountain Convention Center. Contact Bruce Voyles 423-238-6753 knifeauctions@gmail.com or jbrucevoyles.com.* NOV. 3-4 MOUNT VERNON, IL The 36th Annual Mt. Vernon Knife Show, Roland Lewis Community Building, Mt. Vernon Veterans Park. Contact Nancy Hancock, Dept. BL12, 12193 E. Turner Dr., Mount Vernon, IL 62864 618-242-4514 jcckc1982@yahoo.com.* Nov. 4 MARLBORO, MA The NCCA Marlborough Show, Holiday Inn at I-495 exit 24A. Contact Lynn Cain 978-249-6070 ncca.info.* NOV. 10-11 TULSA, OK Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show, Expo Square (Tulsa fairgrounds). Contact 918-492-0401 tulsaarmsshow.com. NOV. 16-17 JERSEY CITY, NJ The 41ST Annual New York Custom Knife Show, Newport Ballroom, Westin Jersey City Newport. For more visit fiftyfiftyproductions.net.* NOV. 30-DEC. 2 ROCK ISLAND, IL Rock Island Auction Co. Premiere Firearms Auction featuring collections of…

New laws in three states target mammoth ivory—ivory of an animal that has been extinct for several millennia—elephant ivory or both for bans, according to the Elephant Protection Association. “Illinois and New Hampshire are the most recent states that will enact bans,” noted the association’s Sandra Brady. “This follows Nevada, which enacted their ban, including mammoth and fossil ivories, earlier in the year.” The Illinois ban includes both elephant and mammoth ivory, while the New Hampshire ban is on elephant ivory only. Brady said the latter two bans go into effect Jan. 1, 2019. According to the latest lists BLADE® was able to obtain, states that ban the sale of mammoth ivory in addition to Nevada include California, Hawaii, New Jersey and New York. States with proposed legislation in process…

Price Gouging? I am a knife collector and enjoy reading your magazine (the print edition on real paper, that is). I’m older, so I guess I’m somewhat old school. I found Mike Haskew’s article about Instagram very interesting (“Brave New World of Knives,” page 28, July BLADE®). His interviews with people in the business of making knives for a living tell me Instagram is a new and very effective tool for selling knives. However, I have to agree with him that this platform for sales is not very personal at all. Have all the younger people lost touch with reality? Do they no longer care about quality vs. quantity? The makers talk about how Instagram is an almost free way to sell their wares, and yet the price of knives…

For the mother of all blades, the grand belle of the ball, the king of custom knives, something that transcends just being a tool, you’ve got to have a user-friendly handle design. Now a good, comfortable handle doesn’t mean it has to be wrapped in some fancy cushiony material—leave that to the mattress hucksters—but there are some principles to making a handle that both acts and looks the part like it means it. Maker Cass Stanford, who describes himself on Instagram as a “river rat and fishin’ freak,” says a well-designed handle is key to a custom knife worth the money, with bonus points if the handle catches people’s eyes. “A well-built knife with a proper handle will be a pleasure to use,” he began. “Someone buying a custom knife…

MODEL NAME: W2 Chef’s Knife MAKER: Baron Cutlery BLADE LENGTH: 9.75” BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel HANDLE: Burl wood w/G-10 bolsters CONSTRUCTION: Full tang EXTRAS: Hamonand mosaic pin OVERALL LENGTH: 15” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR PIECE: $550 MODEL NAME: Damascus Chef’s Knife MAKER: Matthew Parkinson BLADE LENGTH: 7.5” BLADE MATERIAL: Chaos Flow damascus HANDLE: Burl wood CONSTRUCTION: Hidden tang EXTRAS: Brass bolster w/black and red spacers OVERALL LENGTH: 12” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR PIECE: $1,250…

Not all of the cleavers in the review are big enough for chopping chores. Therefore, I needed a way to test the edge and the nimbleness of each design. I often read or hear comments on how if a review does not include cutting something tough like plastic, wood or leather, it is no test for a blade. I hate to bust the commenters’ bubble but cutting softer materials can be a bigger challenge that cutting tough ones. Hard-ridged materials provide resistance. Softer materials will recoil or be pushed away from a cut. That’s why I test woodworking tools on the cross grain of pine. If the tools are not sharp enough, they will tear the grain and leave a finish like a 5 o’clock shadow. If they’re sharp, though,…

DMT Simple-Sharp DIMENSIONS: Cylindrical, 3.6” wide, 4.4” tall TYPE: Pull-through, single slot MAIN BODY: Plastic/rubber FUNCTIONS: Sharpens plain edges GRIT TYPES: 600 mesh diamond MOUNT: Rubberized base WEIGHT: 9.5 ozs. MSRP: $26.99 COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: USA/China Chef’sChoice ProntoPro DIMENSIONS: 9” wide, 2” deep, 2.2” tall TYPE: Pull-through, three-slots MAIN BODY: Metal/rubber FUNCTIONS: Sharpens plain edges GRIT TYPES: Medium/fine diamond wheels MOUNT: Rubberized base WEIGHT: 5 ozs. MSRP: $49.95 COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: USA Lansky Master’s Edge DIMENSIONS: 11” wide, 2.5” deep, 2” tall TYPE: Ceramic rods MAIN BODY: Plastic/rubber FUNCTIONS: Sharpens plain edges, serrations, awls and fishhooks GRIT TYPES: Medium 800/1,000 fine MOUNT: Rubberized base WEIGHT: 14.5 ozs. MSRP: $59.99 COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China Spyderco Golden Stone DIMENSIONS: 5” wide, 1” deep, 5” tall TYPE: Ceramic stone MAIN BODY: Alumina ceramic…

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…

Ankaa is the name of the brightest star in the Phoenix constellation, and is a most fitting name choice for the cover chef ’s knife by Don Nguyen. The piece represents in microcosm the maker’s philosophy on chef ’s knives—a straight blade, thin edge profile with specific intent, proper steel and heat treatment, cross-sectional geometry that balances between reduced sticking and wedging, and ergonomics to promote extended use. The blade is water-quenched W2 tool steel—along with 52100 carbon steel, the maker’s favorite—with a high hamon, and the Honduran rosewood scales envelop an Elforyn integral frame inspired by ABS master smith Mike Quesenberry. Overall length: 15.5 inches. For more information see the story on page 12 or contact Don Nguyen, Dept. BL12, 14559 E. Yellow Sage Ln., Vail, AZ 85641…

According to Michael Zieba, former White House assistant chef Sam Kass bought several Zieba custom chef’s knives from a knife dealer in Washington, D.C. “[Kass] is still using my knives,” Zieba observed. Kass worked at the White House from Jan. 20, 2009 to Dec. 19, 2014, serving as President Barack Obama’s Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition Policy, as Executive Director for Michele Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign, and also as an assistant chef. Kass and Zieba became acquainted in 2013, when Kass bought his first Zieba chef’s knives. Zieba said Kass is on the board of directors of Shinola Detroit. “I was the first knifemaker that made a kitchen set for Shinola,” Zieba observed. “Sam made the approval for it as far as design.” Shinola specializes in assorted high-end gifts for…

In combat situations, soldiers need to be able to hold their knives two ways: the saber and reverse grips. The saber grip is forward and across the hand at an angle to project reach. The reverse, aka icepick, grip is upside-down and edge out. It is the reverse grip that requires a handle design a little different than a standard knife. As a result, the grip on a modern tactical fighter should be designed to accommodate being held both ways.…

Avoiding safety complications in a knifemaker’s shop is essential. BLADE® polled some key players in the knife supply industry to see if there are any trends in motion in the area of shop safety. While everyone can agree that common sense is a good thing, and that certain stand-by items as fire extinguishers and safety glasses will always be among knife shop essentials, there has been somewhat of an evolution in this area. “I think the biggest advance is really progress in bringing safety awareness to the knifemaking community,” observed Shanna Kemp, marketing manager at Jantz Supply. “For example, we see a marked increase in the use of respirators as makers come to understand that breathing in even small amounts of wood dust might not seem like a big deal,…

Slip joints were the first knives used for EDC purposes. They may have changed in design, materials and variety but remain a widely accepted knife genre that transcends time as well as generations of users. For many, including this writer, they are the gateway to the world of knives. Here are four to open your door. OUTDOOR WORK KNIFE The Chris Reeve Knives Impinda was voted the BLADE Magazine 2018 American Made Knife of The Year® at BLADE Show 2018 (page 37, September BLADE®). The knife blends the forward thinking of CRK, the design prowess of custom knifemaker Bill Harsey and modern materials. “The Impinda is based on the knife I built for my son to carry at his day job as an engineer at SpaceX,” Harsey notes. Bill’s son…

SPEC CHART MODEL NAME: F2 KNIFE PATTERN: Linerlock folder APPROXIMATE BLADE LENGTH: 3.25” BLADE STEEL: Cryogenically heat-treated CPM 154 stainless BLADE THICKNESS: 1/8” HANDLE MATERIAL: Mammoth ivory BOLSTERS: Stainless steel LOCK: Linerlock LINERS: Jeweled titanium SPECIAL STUFF: Gold bead set in thumb stud APPROXIMATE CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR PIECE: $735 MAKER: Jamin Brackett, Dept. BL12, POB 387, Fallston, NC 28042 704-718-3304 jaminbrackett@bellsouth.net , brackettknives.com SPEC CHART MODEL NAME: Fantasy Blade CUTTING EDGE LENGTH: 4 7/8” BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 spring steel HANDLE: Linen Micarta® w/ stainless steel bolts OVERALL LENGTH: 8 3/8” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR PIECE: $350 (in any blade steel except damascus) MAKER: R.V. Alverson, Dept. BL12, Clearwater Knives, 209 Spring Rd. SE, Arab, AL 35016 256-200-8031…

The Swordfish II by Adam Balkovic is the most evolved stage of the original version of the maker’s fixed fighter, including his first attempt at a fullered blade. “The fuller makes a big difference in the knife. It moves the balance around,” the full-time maker with six years of knife-crafting experience noted. “The fuller eats out that flat material which is most of the weight of the blade. It provides zero resistance and disburses the geometry. It’s one of my more refined pieces.” A notable feature is the trigger/guard with a deep choil forward of it. “Technically it’s a quillon for a traditional fighting-style knife,” he said. The blade is CPM 3V, which he calls the most stain resistant and most wear resistant of any carbon steel he’s worked with.…