The right angle for users to learn freehand sharpening.
If you’ve given a hand to freehand sharpening, you’ve likely come across Alex Garland’s YouTube channel—Outdoors55. Building a niche in keeping folks sharp on proper bench stone usage, he has become the go-to resource for many acquiring or honing the skill. His talents haven’t gone unnoticed. Work Sharp has collaborated with Garland to create the OD55 Series Dual Grit Diamond Sharpening Stone and Base.
Starting from the bottom up, the core of the system is a cast aluminum base, designed not simply to hold the stone fast, but also to give sharpeners a clear workspace to sharpen blades. Work Sharp accomplishes this by elevating the base’s surface, allowing plenty of hand clearance so users can achieve a more consistent angle and pressure on each pass. This clears a big hurdle many struggle with when first endeavoring to learn the skill.
Next, the company designed the base as an open platform; that is, the base accommodates any standard 3-by-8-inch stones as well as smaller 1-by-6-inch formats. This is a nice touch, allowing more versatility and allowing it to adjust to personal sharpening systems, not simply cast users into a new one.
Finally, the system comes with Work Sharp’s dual-grit diamond plate, with coarse and fine abrasive options. Further, OD55 incorporates removable magnetic angle guides set at 15, 17, and 20 degrees. The great part of this, for freehand sharpening beginners, is that it helps build muscle memory of the appropriate angles before attempting to wrestle with the angles unguided.
The system is a solid starting point for novices and a worthwhile addition to veteran sharpeners’ workbenches. And with an MSRP of $140, it doesn’t break the bank.
Graceful and majestic as the beast from which they originate, stag is a timeless material that, as a handle, enhances knifemakers’ sculpted steel. Be it the crown forming the butt of a hunting knife or a carefully selected section for a slip joint’s scale, stag racks up points with collectors. And we have a herd of knives with handles of stag and other antlers that are truly gripping.
Lin Rhea Scagel-Style Hunter
William Scagel was no stranger to stag in his work, so it makes sense that ABS master smith Lin Rhea’s interpretation of his work would include the material. Featuring a light selection of stag on the handle, it matches up well with the classic bronze guard, plate and hardware, as well as the clean lines of the hunter’s 6-inch AEB-L main blade and folding blade at the butt.
Daniel Olsen Bowie
The prince of the high desert makes an appearance on Daniel Olsen’s 12-inch bowie with a main beam of a mule deer antler, complete with its burr line. Olsen boosts the ergonomics of the hand by flattening the top section to gracefully mate with the mild-steel bolster and a 7-inch clip-point damascus blade—201 layers of 1084 and 15N20 over a 52100 core.
Shayne Carter Two-Bladed Trapper
The stag scale gives master smith Shayne Carter’s two-bladed trapper an enduring and classy look, making it comfortable in the corral or at a church picnic. Integral 416 bolsters frame the stag and an arrowhead shield of the same stainless steel gives it some pop. The blades, a clip main and spey second, are a wispy feather pattern that fountains from the handle.
Scott Gallagher Bowie
Plenty is happening with master smith Scott Gallagher’s 6-inch blade bowie, not the least its ample and absorbing, amber-dyed stag handle. Crowning the handle is a beautiful 416 guard with leaf engraving running its circumference and split down the middle by a fine loop of 24k gold inlay. The blade is 80CrV2, with a fine tip formed by a pronounced swedge.
Bobby House Axe-Handle Slip Joint
Bobby House gives his take on Texas Slip Joint Cartel member Bill Ruple’s axe handle slip joint. Featuring Bill Poor’s River of Fire feather damascus for its 3¼-inch blade, the knife features 416 integral-with-the-liner bolsters and a hound’s tooth shield. As to the handle, House delivers with natural red stag that has incredible light and dark contrast to give the work character.
Jeff Schafer Tinker Bowie
Jeff Schafer brings impressive scale to the workbench with a towering 12-inch flat-ground 1084 carbon steel blade, stretching to an 18-inch overall length. The Tinker Bowie is anchored by a stag crown handle that swells toward the butt. A nice touch, a copper spacer at the base of the antler.
Adam Shorts Scagel-Style Fixed Blade
At just 11 years old, Adam Storts proves talent has no age limit with a highly traditional take on a classic Scagel-style fixed blade. The young maker anchors the 10-inch overall build with a rugged stag antler handle, seamlessly transitioning into stacked leather and liberty wood spacers.
As the dust settles from summer show season, September’s new arrivals spotlight the full spectrum of modern knife making, blending production innovation with hand-crafted custom artistry. Headline releases hitting the market this fall capture everything from precision-engineered factory folders built for low-profile carry to one-of-a-kind custom fixed blades tailored for serious collectors. Featuring standout designs from established industry veterans and rising makers alike, these September drops highlight the cutting-edge materials, refined edge geometry, and field-ready performance defining today’s cutlery landscape.
Spartan Blades SPARTAN-HARSEY T4
Designer: William W. Harsey Jr. Blade Length: 5” Overall Length: 11.125” Weight: 10 oz. Blade Steel: Elmax Handle Material: G10 Locking System: Lockbar Hardware: Blue hardware on initial release Knife Type: Large-format folding knife Country Of Origin: USA MSRP: $565 spartanbladesusa.com
Maserin Dagga
Designer: Attilio Morotti Overall Length: 6.89” Blade Length: 3.15” Blade Material: Elmax Hardness: 60-61 HRC Blade At Its Thickest: .13” Opening Mechanism: Flipper Lock: Frame lock Blade Finish: Satin Handle Material: G10 Knife To Know: Comes with a soft black leather pouch Available: Now MSRP: $225 maserin.com
Blade Length: 2.8” Blade Steel: Damascus Blade Grind: High flat Blade Profile: Drop point Blade At Its Thickest: .125” Blade Finish: Damascus Frame Material: Matte black 6061-T6 anodized aluminum Scale Material: Smooth kingwood inserts Clip Material: Black oxide stainless steel Lock: Button lock Opening Mechanism: Thumb stud Pivot Materials: Thrust bearings Clip: Deep Carry, Right-handed, tip-up Special Features: Bronze anodized titanium thumb studs Weight: 2.5 oz. Closed Length: 4.0” Overall Length: 6.8” Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $500 hogueknives.com
Buck 110 Crossbar Elite
Blade Length: 3.75” Blade Steel: MagnaCut Blade Grind: Hollow Blade Profile: Clip point Blade At Its Thickest: .120” Blade Finish: Satin Frame Material: Cobalt Cerakoted aluminum Scale Material: Macasser ebony Liner Material: Stainless steel Clip Material: Stainless steel Construction: Screw Opening Mechanism: Crossbar Pivot Materials: Washers Clip: Steel, reversible deep carry Special Features: Sharpening choil, removable thumbstuds Weight: 3.5 oz. Closed Length: 4.875” Overall Length: 8.625” Country of Origin: USA Available: September MSRP: $250 buckknives.com
Winterblade Draven
Blade Length: 4” Blade Steel: M390 Blade Grind: Flat Blade Profile: Dagger Blade At Its Thickest: .095” Blade Finish: Black mirror DLC Handle Material: 7075 aluminum Clip Material: Milled titanium Lock: Standard/typical OTF locking gates Opening mechanism: OTF automatic Knife To Know: Automatic blade guards, extending and retracting when opening and closing. Also, a proprietary internal blade firing mechanism. Weight: 5.3 oz. Closed Length: 5.3” Overall Length: 8.3” Expected Release Date: Late 2027 MSRP: TBD winterbladeco.com
QSP Baby Viper
Blade Length: 2.80” Blade Steel: 10Cr15MoV Blade Grind: Flat Blade Profile: Clip point Blade At Its Thickest: .114” Blade Finish: Black Scale Material: Tortoise resin Construction: Full tang Special Features: Comes with 360-degree rotating Kydex sheath, designed for EDC, backup survival, or tactical neck carry Weight: 3.24 oz. Overall length: 6.06” Country of Origin: China Expected Release Date: September MSRP: $56 qspknife.com
Knafs Capcom
Overall Length: 7.39” Closed Length: 4.22” Blade Length: 3.15” Blade At Its Thickest: 4.22” Weight: 2.95 oz. Blade Profile: Sheepsfoot Grind: Hollow Blade Material: M390 Handle Material: 6063 aluminum Lock: Button lock Clip: Titanium with steel ball bearing Pivot Material: Ceramic ball bearings Opening Mechanism: Flipper Country Of Origin: China MSRP: $225 knafs.com
Witharmour Dracula
Overall Length: 9.21” Blade Length: 4.65” Blade Thickness: .20” Handle Length: 2.99” Handle Thickness: .18” Blade Steel Type: Damascus steel Grind: Scandi Blade Finish: Satin and acid-pickling Blade Hardness: 59-61HRC Handle Material: Black SCFG10™+ red G10 and steel handle Handle Finish: CNC-machined Sheath: Black Kydex sheath with steel clip Knife To Know: Comes with a crystal holder with 3D inner carving MSRP: $200 witharmour.com
CJRB Spud
Blade Steel: AR-RPM9 Blade Grind: Full flat Blade Profile: Spear point Blade At The Thickest: 0.1” Blade Finish: Stonewashed/black PVD coated Scale Material: Aluminum Liner Material: Steel Clip Material: Steel Lock: Liner lock Opening mechanism: Flipper/thumb studs Pivot Materials: Ball bearings Pocket Clip Material: Steel deep carry Special Features: Spring-loaded removable backspacer and lanyard loop Weight: 1.69 oz. Closed Length: 3.25” Overall Length: 5.5” Country Of Origin: China Available: Now MSRP: $53 cjrb.com
Jack Steed might not have set out to write a history lesson, but he did a fine job of documenting the transitory nature of knife innovation. What’s hot one day is nearly forgotten the next.
Such was the case of Marble’s Knives, which Steed shows were all but forgotten in his article “Marble’s: No, Not The Kind You Shoot,” which appeared in the September-October 1976 issue of The American Blade. A collector of the knives produced by the Marble Safety Axe Company of Gladstone, Michigan, he was inspired to pen the piece because of their nearly unknown status 50 years ago.
Six Marble folders from the article. Note how the guard extends from the handle to make the knives safe to carry in the pocket.
He marveled, “Only about thirty years have passed since Marble’s knife ads graced the pages of nearly every sports equipment catalog in our country; yet, more people than not don’t even know that company existed.”
The knives are dandies for those who get a kick out of mechanical novelty. Essentially, the knives were full-sized folding hunting knives that could safely be carried in the pocket thanks to a guard extending from the handle. When the blade opened, the guard swung back to fit flush inside the handle channel; when it closed, the guard deployed to cover the tip. Clever and seen in some modern big-bladed folder designs.
As Steed observed, there was good reason for the unusual engineering: “Many early outdoorsmen preferred pocket knives over sheath knives. Sheathed knives sometimes caught on branches and were lost, or were sat upon—much to the discomfort of the sitter. Other hunters preferred even a longer blade than large pocket knives came with, so problems of satisfying divergent tastes were perplexing.”
With the blade deployed, the knives’ guard retracts into the handle channel, ensuring the knives are wieldy.
Losing favor by the later part of the 20th century didn’t mean Marble’s Knives were hard to come by. From Steed’s telling, they sold well in their day, so they could be found—if the finders knew what they were looking for.
“Believe me, plenty of old Marble and M.S.A. knives are still out there—waiting to be found,” he wrote. Chances are that there are still some Marbles waiting to be discovered today.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Marble still produces its safety knives along with a catalog of other blades.
The ring-knife fixed blade is meant to offer a light and nimble option.
Toor Knives and Silencer Shop have given knife fans something to make noise about. Teaming up, the tactical knife maker and suppressor retailer release the Hendrix, a limited-edition compact fixed blade. Built as the right-sized EDC option for belt or gear bag, the fixed blade is manufactured in San Diego.
The Hendrix boasts a 2.5-inch tanto blade ground from CPM MagnaCut steel and heat-treated to a hardness rating of 62–64 HRC. Developed specifically for cutlery, MagnaCut offers high corrosion resistance alongside strong edge retention and toughness, making it well-suited for a low-maintenance field or range tool. The blade measures .155 inches thick, providing structural support despite its shorter profile.
The Hendrix’s overall length is 7.875 inches, with a total weight of 2.9 ounces. The size and weight not only make it nimble in the hand, but also ultralight on the beltline. Adding to its strength, the knife features full-tang construction; adding to this are ergonomic and rugged black G10 handle scales fitted to the knife with stainless steel hardware. Toor tops it off with an integrated rear retention ring to aid in quick retrieval and control. Each knife ships with a two-piece Kydex sheath designed for modular mounting options on chest rigs, belts or boots.
According to Toor Knives founder and CEO Connor Toor and Silencer Shop vice president of marketing Matthew Pompa, the project was designed to offer an American-made, lightweight backup blade with tactical and EDC uses in mind. Fans will have to be quick if they dig the fixed blade. The Hendrix is available directly through both the Toor Knives and Silencer Shop websites as a single-run production. Once current inventory is exhausted, the model will not be re-entered into standard production.
Hendrix Specs Overall Length: 7.875” Blade Length: 2.50” Blade Thickness: .155” Blade Steel: CPM MagnaCut (62–64 HRC) Handle Material: Black G10 Hardware: Stainless Steel Sheath: Two-Piece Kydex Weight: 2.90 oz. Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $295
Garra Fixed Blade expands on BLACKHAWK’s popular karambit design.
Look out tactical fans! Blackhawk expanded its tactical lineup with the release of the Garra Fixed Karambit. Manufactured in Taiwan, the fixed-blade design builds on the ergonomics of the brand’s popular Garra III folder, using nearly the same wicked blade profile and the earlier model’s finger ring, but in a full-tang, fixed option.
At the center of the Garra is its 3.25-inch blade ground from D2 tool steel. A high-carbon tool steel, the alloy is widely recognized for wear resistance and edge retention and is a time-tested knife steel. These properties allow the Garra Fixed to resist chipping under heavy stress, though users should remember its high carbide content makes it somewhat more demanding to sharpen. Blackhawk finishes off the blade with a non-reflective black finish, which not only reduces glare but inhibits corrosion.
Measuring 8 inches overall, the knife features textured Zytel handle scales, available in black or tan. The rear finger ring is a love-hate feature for most knife fan. It facilitates quick grip transitions between forward and reverse holds and gives positive retention during hard utility or defense work. But some find rings get in the way and create the potential for a broken finger in hard use. It’s a matter of opinion and taste.
Weighing 7.5 ounces, each Garra ships with both a conceal-carry and a removable Kydex sheath designed for belt or gear integration. The Garra Fixed Karambit carries an MSRP of $160.
Garra Fixed Karambit Specs Manufacturer: BLACKHAWK® Overall Length: 8.00 in. Blade Length: 3.25 in. Blade Steel: D2 Tool Steel Handle Material: Zytel (Black or Tan) Sheath: Kydex sheath and conceal-carry holster Weight: 7.50 oz. Country of Origin: Taiwan MSRP: $160
Batson was an aerospace engineer, master bladesmith, author and educator.
James Lucian Batson Jr., an aerospace engineer, master bladesmith, author and educator, passed away June 5, 2026, after a brief illness at the age of 90. He was born Feb. 2, 1936, in Steubenville, Ohio, the son of James L. Batson Sr. and Bertha Mae (Cummings) Batson.
Batson spent 33 years as an aerospace engineer at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, working on several key defense and rocket programs. He earned his master’s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn University in 1967 and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1972.
Outside of his engineering career, Batson was a pioneering figure in the knifemaking and blacksmithing communities. An American Bladesmith Society (ABS) master bladesmith, he co-founded the Alabama Forge Council, served as president of the Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America and founded the Batson Bladesmith Symposium, now in its 38th year. His extensive contributions to the craft earned him inductions into both the ABS Hall of Fame and the BLADE® Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame®. Additionally, in the February 2014 BLADE Magazine issue, he was ranked No. 9 among the top 13 knifemakers from 1989 to 2000.
An active researcher of historic cutlery, Batson authored numerous articles and books, particularly focusing on the history of the bowie knife and the material science of bladesmithing, publishing his final book at age 90.
His other accomplishments included sailing the Olympic-class sailboat called the Flying Dutchman in the pre-Olympic trials in 1967. He skippered a cruise sailing across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas five times in 1972. He also earned the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts as a youth and continued to lead Troop 400 as an adult, hiking part of the Appalachian Trail with the Scouts.
Following his passing, ABS Chairman and President Kevin R. Cashen paid tribute to Batson’s immense legacy and humble nature in the organization’s newsletter: “It was always a fun pleasure to point out to people that this down to earth, very approachable, guy in bib overalls, was an actual rocket scientist! That was the first thing I admired about Jim, his unpretentious and humble demeanor that had him working beside anybody to get the job done … In sorting old, and yellowed, papers one thing became noticeable about halfway through the years spanning the ABS timeline. Suddenly the volume and organization of the documents exploded … I saw one man single-handedly remake the ABS, setting it on a climbing trajectory as if it were the rockets he had worked on in his other career.”
Batson is survived by his wife, Barbara, two children, two stepchildren, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A memorial celebration is planned for this fall in Huntsville.
Remembering Others The Knife Industry Has Lost:
Betty Dowell, Driving Force Behind Knifemaker Ted Dowell, Passes
B. R. Hughes, Pioneering Writer And Bladesmithing Teacher, Passes Away
