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2024 BLADE Show West Preview: The West’s Largest Knife Show

BLADE Staff
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2024 BLADE Show West Preview: The West’s Largest Knife Show

Ready to rock in the Rocky Mountains!

A larger show hall, more exhibitors, some of the world’s best makers and knives, entertaining seminars, awards and other sharp stuff beckon you to attend BLADE Show West Oct. 4-5 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

A move to the Salt Palace’s exhibit hall No. 4 adds 15,000 square feet to this year’s show, and along with the added space come 30 more exhibitors to join the hundreds of knifemakers, bladesmiths, knife companies, knife suppliers and other knife professionals at the third annual rendition of the BLADE Show West held in Utah.

Blade Show West Tickets

Among the top custom makers set to exhibit is an unbridled posse of South Texas Slipjoint Cartel members that includes BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple, award-winning makers Luke Swenson, Enrique Pena and Tim Robertson and others. An all-star list of ABS bladesmiths features Bill Burke, Shane Taylor, Steven Koster, Seth Lopez, Shayne Carter and Trevor Morgan, to name a few. Other top award-winning makers include Johnny Stout, Princeton Wong, Mick Strider, Duane Dwyer, Evan Nicolaides, Mike Tyre, Jared Oeser and Brian Nadeau. There are many more.

2024 BLADE Show West Classes And Demos

Let The Pro Critique Your Knife

While the full seminar slate had not been set at press time, the popular Let the Pros Critique Your Knife session was set to return, with some of the leading custom maker show exhibitors expected to examine and critique knives made by assorted show attendees. As usual, it will be a limited-seating event and attendees can bring one knife only.

Luke Swenson inspects a patron’s knife at last year’s show.
Select show attendees will have their knives examined by the world’s best custom makers in the popular “Let The Pros Critique Your Knife” seminar. Luke Swenson (right) inspects a patron’s knife at last year’s show. The makers participating in this year’s seminar were being assembled at press time. See the free BLADE Show West program at the show for more info.

Basecamp Essentials

Basecamp Essentials by Survival University will be a 30-to-45 minute demonstration designed to introduce essentials of wilderness living. “We will demo how to create various camp comforts such as benches, chairs, and other useful camp tools, using materials found in the natural environment,” a company spokesperson wrote. “This demo goes beyond the basics of survival, focusing on enhancing comfort and fostering a sense of community in the wilderness.”

West Coast Flipping Championships

Also set to return is the West Coast Flipping Championships hosted by Squid Industries. It will be the fifth annual version of the championships, with head-to-head/live balisong flipping matchups in an elimination/bracket-style competition. Awards and prizes will go to the top finishers. For the complete seminar schedule, see the free BLADE Show Program distributed at the show.

2024 BLADE Show West Awards

The show’s best custom and factory knives will be determined by a panel of judges assembled by the BLADE Show West staff. This year’s custom knife categories: Best in Show; Best Hunter; Best Kitchen Knife; Best Damascus; Best Slip Joint; Best Fixed Blade; Best Folder; Best M.A.C.K. (Machine Assisted Custom Knife); and Best of the Rest.

Winner of Best Fighter at BLADE Show 2024, bladesmith Seth Lopez
Winner of Best Fighter at BLADE Show 2024, bladesmith Seth Lopez will showcase his curvaceous creations. His recurve fighter boasts a compound-ground blade of a damascus of 1080 carbon and 15N20 carbon steels. Handle: desert ironwood burl. Overall length: 8.75 inches. (SharpByCoop image)

On the factory side, the award categories are Best American Made, Best Imported, Best EDC, Best Fixed Blade, Best Folder and Best in Show.

For the times and locations for the judging, signs and schedules will be prominently placed in and around the show hall. Also, see the free BLADE Show West Program distributed at the show for updates.

The winners will be announced and presented their awards in a special ceremony the Friday night of the show. See the free BLADE Show West Program for the time and venue.

2024 BLADE Show West Hidden Gems

The factory knife section is always a beehive of activity at BLADE Show West, and this year’s rendition promises more of the same. Leading exhibiting knife companies include CRKT; Emerson Knives, Inc.; Fox Knives; GiantMouse; Heretic; Hogue; Lionsteel; Pro-Tech; SOG; Spyderco; Squid Industries; McNees Knives; Suprlativ Knives; Tactile Knife Co.; TOPS Knives; WE Knife; White River Knife & Tool; and others. For the complete exhibitor list, visit bladeshowwest.com.

CRKT Blade Show West knife booth
CRKT will host custom knifemaker/designer Richard Rogers and his wife Sally to answer questions about Richard’s latest CRKT designs. CRKT’s Doug Flagg (center) talks knives with Cutlery Shoppe’s Jeff Loffer (right) and two patrons at BLADE Show West 2023.

One of the hidden gems of the factory section is you never know who might show up, including custom makers who engage in collaborations with select companies. For example, the CRKT booth will feature award-winning custom knifemaker Richard Rogers, along with his wife Sally, to answer questions about Richard’s latest CRKT designs. Other CRKT maker/designers exhibiting at the show will be Eric Ochs, TJ Schwarz and Princeton Wong. Ochs will exhibit under Ochs Worx, Wong under Prince Customs and Schwarz under Schwarz Knives.

Danish knifemaker Jens Anso, along with fellow Danish maker Jesper Voxnaes the design team behind most if not all of GiantMouse knives, will be stationed at the GiantMouse booth. Knife designer Tony Sentmanat will be based at the WE Knives booth. WE maker/collaborators Ben Petersen and Zac Whitmore also will attend the show and may appear at the company’s booth at times.

While TOPS Knives won’t have any custom knifemaker designers on hand, it will have headman/head knife designer Leo Espinoza in attendance, as always. Case will continue showcasing its first Bill Ruple collaboration, and Bill will have a table at the show, too, so chances are he will make an appearance at the Case booth as well. There no doubt will be other company booths serving as the destination of custom makers/designers, custom makers in general, and more.

More On BLADE Show West:

Cool Custom: Rhidian Gatrill’s Safety Hunter Reproduction

BLADE Staff
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Cool Custom: Rhidian Gatrill’s Safety Hunter Reproduction

Rhidian Gatrill reproduces the folding Marble’s Safety Hunter in grand style.

Rhidian Gatrill not only satisfied a personal goal of reproducing the classic Marble’s Safety Hunter but also parlayed it into Best Hunter and Best of Show at the 2024 Oregon Knife Show.

He said he had always wanted to reproduce the clever old pattern with the folding catch piece that covers the tip of the closed blade. Not only does the catch piece enable the folder to have a blade longer than the handle, it also locks the blade of the slipjoint knife open. As Rhidian noted, “I just thought the mechanism was really cool, and it’s a big knife. I like big knives, but mostly it’s just the mechanism.”

He found a copy of the original Marble’s patent drawing dated May 19, 1903, on the internet and used it as a reference to make the knife. ABS master smith Tommy Gann forged the damascus specifically for the repro. “Tommy and I discussed a collaboration, and I figured if a master smith was going to make some damascus for me then it should be for a big bad knife, and so the Safety Hunter was definitely it. I sent him my drawing,” Rhidian wrote, “and he forged the steel to fit the blade and parts.”

Gatrill Safety Hunter Specs
Knife: Marble’s Safety Hunter reproduction
Maker: Rhidian Gatrill
Blade length: 5”
Blade steel: A lower-layer, four-bar Turkish twist damascus forged by ABS master smith Tommy Gann
Swing guard: Same material as the blade and sculpted by Rhidian
Action: Slipjoint construction w/half stop; blade tip catch piece doubles as a lock to lock the blade open
Handle material: European red stag in a Coke bottle pattern
Bolsters: Stainless steel fluted by the maker
Closed length: 4.75”
Rhidian’s price for a similar knife: $5,000 ($3,500-$4,000 if in straight stainless or carbon blade steel)

See More Custom Knives:

2024 BLADE Show Debuts: New Knives Launched In Atlanta

BLADE Staff
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2024 BLADE Show Debuts: New Knives Launched In Atlanta

In the conclusion, consider the balance of the BLADE Show’s factory knife debuts

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost three months since BLADE Show 2024 blew the doors off the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. With all the commotion and introductions of new knives, even if you were there you couldn’t help but miss many.

Previously we featured some of the factory knives that debuted in the Cobb but, as those of you who were paying attention know, we didn’t have enough room for the balance of the few we were able to assemble. Ergo, the conclusion this time. We think you will enjoy them all.
As for the many we are unable to publish in this two-part story due to space and other limitations, stay tuned to future issues of BLADE® for a goodly number of them.

Kershaw Tilt 50th Anniversary

Kershaw Tilt 50th Anniversary

Knife type: Folder
Blade length: 3.65”
Blade steel: CPM CruWear, 14C28N
Rockwell hardness: 60-62 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @ thickest: .156”
Blade pattern: Composite
Blade finish: Bead-blasted
Blade opener: Flipper tab
Handle material: Titanium
Lock: Sub-Frame
Pivot materials: KVT ball-bearings
Pocket clip material: Titanium
Weight: 5.7 ozs.
Closed length: 5.8”
Knife to know: Carbon fiber inlay front and bank; hidden hardware
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $500
Available: NOW

A.G. Russell Knives Premium Scout

A.G. Russell Knives Premium Scout

Model type: Traditional slipjoint pocketknife
Designer: A.G. Russell
Main blade length: 2 5/8”
Blade steel: VG-10 stainless
Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @ thickest: .09”
Blade pattern: Spear point
Blade finish: Satin
Blade opener: Nail nick
Handle material options: Stag and red saw-cut bone
Weight: 3.5-3.7 ozs.
Closed length: 3 3/4”
Special features: Can opener, screwdriver, caplifter & leather punch
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $74.95-$94.95
Available: NOW

CobraTec Koonsman

CobraTec Koonsman

Knife type: Fixed-blade hunter
Designer: Chad Cochran
Blade length: 4”
Blade material: D2 tool steel
Rockwell hardness: 61 HRC
Blade grind: Convex
Blade @ widest: 1.125”
Blade pattern: Drop point
Blade finish: Satin
Construction: Full Tang
Handle material: Micarta® in color options of black, green and tan
Weight: 5.7 ozs.
Overall length: 8.4375”
Sheath type and materials: Belt/pouch and leather
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $79.99
Available: NOW

Bradford USA Gatsby

Bradford USA Gatsby

Knife type: Specialty steak knife
Blade length: 4.5”
Blade steel: N690 stainless
Rockwell hardness: 61 HRC
Blade grind: Full height flat
Blade @ thickest: .11”
Blade finish options: Stonewash and high polish
Handle material options: Maroon, wheat, ivory canvas Micarta® and carbon fiber
Overall length: 8.5”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $199
Available: NOW

Spyderco Techno 3

Spyderco Techno 3

Knife type: Folder
Designer: Marcin Slysz
Blade length: 2.64”
Blade steel: CTS XHP stainless
Blade grind: High flat
Blade @ thickest: .127”
Blade pattern: Drop point
Blade finish: Satin
Blade opener: Flipper
Handle material: Titanium
Lock: Reeve Integral Lock (R.I.L.)
Pivot material: Ball bearings
Pocket clip material and type: Titanium, right-handed, tip-up 
Weight: 3.3 ozs.
Closed length: 3.7”
Country of origin: Italy
MSRP: $400
Available: To be announced

Boker Plus Cutweazle

Boker Plus Cutweazle

Knife type: Utility 
Designer: Ben Logan/Turnback Knife Co.
Blade length: 1.18”
Blade steel: Standard replaceable stainless utility blade
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @ thickest: .03”
Blade finish: Satin
Handle material: G-10/stainless steel 
Lock: Button lock
Blade opener: Thumb slide
Pocket clip material and type: Stainless steel, deep carry, right-handed, tip-down 
Weight: 1.38 ozs.
Closed length: 3.7”
Special features: Push button on slide lock allows the blade to be pushed forward in stages or in a single movement and locked in the predetermined recesses; retracts into the handle when pushed again w/a sliding movement
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $56.95 
Available: September 2024

Browning Primal Scalpel 2-Blade

Browning Primal Scalpel 2-Blade

Main blade length: 2.75”
Blade steel: 420-J2 stainless
Rockwell hardness: Scalpel 50-55 HRC, drop point 55-59 HRC
Blade openers: Thumb stud and nail nick
Lock: Linerlock
Handle: Synthetic in orange or black
Pocket clip: Tip-up
Closed length: 4 1/8”
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $59.99
Available: NOW

Stroup Knives MK2

Stroup Knives MK2

Knife type: Fixed blade
Designer: Unnamed active-duty Tier 1 Operator
Blade length: 4”
Blade material: 1095 carbon steel
Rockwell hardness: 58 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @ thickest: 3/16”
Blade pattern: Spear point
Blade finish: Acid etched & rock tumbled
Construction: Full Tang
Handle material: G10 & nitrile
Pocket clip: Designed by Discreet Carry Concepts, Inc.
Weight: 4.2 ozs.
Overall length: 8”
Sheath material: Kydex
Knife to know: The nitrile in the handle provides extra grip, especially when wet
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $279.99
Available: NOW

Lionsteel Twain

Lionsteel Twain

Model type: EDC folder
Blade length: 3.15”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade grind: Flat
Handle material: Titanium + carbon fiber or Micarta®
Lock: Button lock
Pocket clip type and material: Bent steel
Special features: Double Solid construction (integral frame and integral handle)
Weight: 3.03 ozs.
Closed length: 4.14”
Country of origin: Italy
MSRP: $380
Available: NOW

KME Precision Control Plus/Professional Knife Sharpening System

KME Precision Control Plus/Professional Knife Sharpening System

Abrasive type: Diamond-coated stones
Grit assortment: 140, 300, 600, 1,500
Dimensions: 13” x 12” x 8”
Construction materials: CNC-machined, anodized aluminum components, laser-cut, powder-coated steel base, CNC cherry hardwood grip, stainless-steel-backed diamond stones
Weight: 2 lbs., 13.9 ozs.
Blade sizes sharpened: Maximum-blade-thickness saber grind 3/8” or more and full flat grind 3/16”
Angle range: 10 to 45 degrees per side
Special features: Smooth friction-drive angle system w/micro adjustment feature; operates w/one hand and absolute angle control; rod end guide w/360° rotation; threaded Monopod brace provides rock-solid sharpening platform; adjustable stone carrier w/magnetic plate for angle cube sharpening uses any stone between 4” and 6”; full line of accessory stones, strops and diamond lapping films in both 4” and 6” lengths
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $474.95
Available: NOW

CIVIVI Biophase

CIVIVI Biophase

Knife type: Folder
Blade length: 3.48”
Blade steel: Nitro-V stainless
Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade @ thickest: .12”
Blade finish: Black stonewash (satin finish and black stonewash w/satin flat and damascus are optional)
Handle material: Aluminum & G-10
Lock: Button lock
Blade opener: Flipper tab
Pivot materials: Stainless steel pivot w/caged ceramic ball bearings
Pocket clip material and type: Stainless steel, tip-up, ambidextrous
Weight: 2.61 ozs.
Closed length: 4.67”
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $98.70 at press-time exchange rate
Available: Late summer

RoseCraft Clinch River Button Lock

RoseCraft Clinch River Button Lock

Model type: Modern/traditional pocketknife
Blade length: 3.125”
Blade material: M390 stainless
Blade grind: Flat
Handle material: Micarta® or Ultem w/titanium bolster & liners
Lock: Button lock
Pocket clip material: Titanium
Knife to know: Modern take on the Clinch River Swayback that won BLADE Magazine 2023 Imported Knife of the Year®; opens and closes via a button lock
Weight: 2.8 ozs.
Closed length: 4”
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $129.99
Available: NOW

CRKT Nucleus

CRKT Nucleus

Knife type: Folder 
Designer: Princeton Wong
Blade length: 3.19”
Blade steel: 12C27 stainless
Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @ thickest: .13”
Blade pattern: Reverse tanto
Blade finish: Bead blast
Construction: Screw
Handle material: Stainless steel w/G-10 overlay
Lock: Framelock
Blade openers: Front and rear flipper tabs & blade hole
Pivot material: Ikoma Korth Bearing System (ball bearings)
Pocket clip material and type: Stainless steel; tip-up
Weight: 3.1 ozs.
Closed length: 4.19”
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $113
Knife to know: The knife opens three ways: front and rear flipper tabs and via the blade hole
Available: NOW

Halfbreed MIK-04 SOFMAK

Halfbreed MIK-04 SOFMAK

Knife type: Fixed blade
Blade steel: K340 stainless
Rockwell hardness: 59-60 HRC
Blade finish: PVD coat
Blade style: Drop point
Blade length: 5.31”
Blade @ thickest: .25”
Handle material: G-10
Weight: 11.14 ozs.
Overall length: 10.31”
Sheath material: Injection molded plastic
Mounting: Belt & PALS/MOLLE (DOTS)
Country of origin: Comprises Australian & Taiwanese make
MSRP: $285
Knife to know: The knife is a collaboration between Halfbreed and Joseph Teti, Force Recon Marine and Army Special Forces Green Beret veteran and former operative with the CIA Special Activities Division/Special Operations Group; MIK stands for medium infantry knife and SOFMAK for special operations forces multi-purpose assault knife
MSRP: $285
Available: September 2024

ESNYX Silver Line Beer Buster Jr.

ESNYX Silver Line Beer Buster Jr.

Knife type: Slipjoint
Blade length: 2.63”
Blade steel: M390 stainless
Blade @ thickest: .125”
Blade grind: Flat
Blade pattern: Drop point
Blade finish: Handrubbed satin
Blade opener: Nail nick
Handle: Blasted titanium
Weight: 2 ozs.
Closed length: 3.5”
Country of origin: China
Knife to know: Slipjoint has half stop; bottle-shaped handle shield; bottle opener in butt
MSRP: $265
Available: NOW

Rough Ryder Reserve Whiskey Ryder

Rough Ryder Reserve Whiskey Ryder

Knife type: Swayback doctor’s knife slipjoint
Designer: Brian Wilhoite
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade material: D2 tool steel
Blade @ thickest: 3/16”
Blade pattern: Wharncliffe
Blade finish: Brushed satin
Handle material: Black burlap Micarta®
Weight: 3.2 ozs.
Closed length: 4.5”
Special features: Slipjoint features half stop
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $54.99
Available: NOW

Warthog V-Sharp A4 Model

Warthog V-Sharp A4 Model

Sharpener Type: Patented V-Sharp spring-loaded pull-through
Abrasive Type: Diamond-coated
Grit selection: 325 grit natural diamond hone & hardened hone steel for finishing the edge (270, 325, 600, 1,000 and ceramic hones available)
Dimensions: 8.75” x 8.25” x 2.25”
Construction Materials: Lightweight zinc-cast metal frame, non-slip rubber base and durable powder coat finish
Weight: 1.1 lbs.
Special Features: Four adjustable sharpening angles: 15, 20, 25 & 30 degrees
Types of blades sharpened: All plain-edge knives; serrated knives can be sharpened w/the ceramic hones
Country of origin: South Africa
MSRP: $109.99
Available: NOW

SOG Knives Bulwark

SOG Knives Bulwark

Designer: Mikkel Willumsen
Knife type: EDC flipper folder
Blade length: 3”
Blade material: D2 tool steel
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade @ thickest: .14”
Blade finish: Black PVD coat
Blade pattern: Drop point
Blade openers: Flipper tab and blade hole
Handle material: Micarta® in blue and OD green color options
Pocket clip: Tip-up
Lock: Framelock
Weight: 6.25 ozs.
Closed length: 4.2”
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $134.99
Available: Late summer 2024

Cold Steel Recon M1

Cold Steel Recon M1

Knife type: EDC folder
Blade length: 4”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade finish: Stonewash
Blade pattern: Clip point
Handle material: G-10
Lock: Tri-Ad
Pocket clip: Yes
Weight: 5.2 ozs.
Closed length: 5.5”
Country of origin: Italy
MSRP: $259.99
Available: NOW

Check Out More Buyer’s Guides:

Best Honing Rods: A Complete Buyer’s Guide

BLADE Staff
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Best Honing Rods: A Complete Buyer’s Guide

Honing Rods. Honing Steel. Sharpening Steel. Here are our top picks.

Whether it’s in your knife block or you saw Gordon Ramsay using it on TV, you’ve probably seen a honing rod. While it’s a ubiquitous piece of kit in the kitchen, it’s a bit of an enigma. Many think that this long steel rod is meant to sharpen your knives, but that’s not the case. Beyond that, contemporary rods are made from materials other than stainless steel like ceramic and diamond-coated steel.

It isn’t known when honing steels were first invented, but there are records from the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire making honing steels in Sheffield, UK as far back as the early 1600’s.

With such a long history of use by knife owners, it’s important to know what a honing rod is, how to use it, and how to find the right one for you.

What Is A Honing Rod?

While many people call it a sharpening rod, a honing rod or steel hones your blade rather than sharpens it. With regular use, your knives will start to lose their edge. Standard wear and tear such as cutting through fibrous meats or knicking the cutting board will eventually bend your knife’s edge at the microscopic level.

By using your honing rod, you fix those small deformations to keep your knife’s edge like new. It’s important to note that you’re not removing material like you do when sharpening on a stone. A honing rod won’t help you if a knife has a totally blunt edge.

The best way to think about it is that your honing steel should be used a few times a week, or even daily, while a proper sharpening of your knives should be done once or twice a year.

Honing Rod Vs. Kitchen Sharpener

Traditional honing steel will help keep your knives sharper longer. Newer honing rods made from ceramic and diamond-coated steel do remove a minimal amount of steel when honing, usually tiny bits hanging onto your blade by a thread. No matter what material rod you use, it is healthier for your knives to use them regularly to maintain the edge for as long as possible.

Popular YouTuber Ethan Chlebowski goes in-depth on honing and how to hone to keep your knives fit for daily use.

Best Honing Rods

Whether they’re made from steel, ceramic, or even coated in diamond, honing rods come in all sizes, materials, and even shapes. These stand out from the rest.

Best Honing Rods Comparison

RodWeight (Ounces)Rod MaterialHandle MaterialCountry of OriginMSRP
Wusthof 9-Inch Classic Ikon Honing Steel11.6Stainless SteelPolyoxymethyleneGermany$200
Zwilling 12-Inch Professional Oval Sharpening Steel14.4Stainless SteelPolyoxymethyleneGermany$60
JB Prince Mac Black Ceramic Honing Rod With Grooves 10.5-Inch13.4Ceramic, Steel CorePolypropyleneTaiwan$64
Opinel 10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod24Diamond-Coated Stainless SteelWoodChina$60
Green Elephant Ceramic Sharpening Rod7.2White CeramicPolypropyleneTaiwan$30
Friedr Dick 10-Inch Honing/Polishing Rod4.9Stainless SteelPlasticGermany$83
Kuma Kitchen Knife Sharpener8.6Stainless SteelPolyoxymethyleneJapan$48
Friedr Dick Multicut Steel15Stainless SteelPlasticGermany$150

Wusthof 9-Inch Classic Ikon Honing Steel

wusthof honing rod
Wusthof 9-Inch Honing Steel

A classic honing steel by any measure, the Wusthof 9-inch steel is a great honing rod to have in your kitchen. Made of stainless steel, this is everything you want from a honing rod. It’s light and tough and made by a company with more than two centuries of history making knives.

A strong, robust honing rod is what every knife owner should be looking for, and this one checks the boxes.

Classic Ikon Honing Steel Specs
Weight: 11.6 ounces
Rod Material: Stainless Steel
Handle Material: Polyoxymethylene
Country of Origin: Germany
MSRP: $200

Zwilling 12-Inch Professional Oval Sharpening Steel

Honing Steel
Zwilling 12-Inch Professional Oval Sharpening Steel

Sometimes you just need something a little bigger and heartier. This steel from Zwilling is up to the task. Its oval shape and longer length make it great for bigger knives. The chrome-plated steel is hard enough to hone most types of steel with ease and is easy to clean.

The loop at the end lets you hang it up easily too. Weighing in at just under a pound, don’t let that fool you. This is a heavyweight rod that will withstand years of use in your kitchen.

Professional Oval Sharpening Steel Specs
Weight: 14.4 ounces
Rod Material: Stainless Steel
Handle Material: Polyoxymethylene
Country of Origin: Germany
MSRP: $60

JB Prince Mac Black Ceramic Honing Rod With Grooves 10.5-Inch

JB ceramic honing rod

With a fine 1200 grit, this ceramic rod from JB Prince is incredibly hard and durable. Its black ceramic coating is harder than both white ceramic and steel, and it’s also resistant to breaking so it can handle whatever you throw at it. Since it’s ceramic, it has the benefit of being completely rust-resistant, unlike traditional steel rods.

Most knife blocks that come with a honing rod will have a steel varietal, but looking beyond the block can lead you to quality rods like this one that can last a lifetime.

Mac Black Ceramic Honing Rod With Grooves 10.5-Inch Specs
Weight: 13.4 ounces
Rod Material: Ceramic, steel core
Handle Material: Polypropylene
Country of Origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $64

Opinel 10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod

Opinel 10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod
Opinel 10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod

When it comes to rods that also sharpen, you can’t go better than diamond steel. This Opinel rod has a coating embedded with diamonds that sharpens as it hones. It’s good for both kitchen and pocket knives so you sharpen your EDC with it as well.

With a beechwood handle, and weighing 21 ounces, this rod feels good in the hand and will leave a pristine edge on your knives. Worth the price in every way for the discerning knife owner.

10-Inch Diamond Steel Sharpening Rod Specs
Weight: 24 ounces
Rod Material: Diamond-coated stainless steel
Handle Material: Wood
Country of Origin: China
MSRP: $60

Green Elephant Ceramic Sharpening Rod

Green Elephant ceramic honing rod

Yes, there are many ceramic rods on the market today, but you’d have a hard time finding one as robust and durable as this one from Green Elephant. With a grit of 1500, the rod is fine enough to lightly sharpen along with honing and realigning your blade. It’s also suitable for Japanese knives which may come with only one cutting edge instead of a Western, or German, style double-edged knife.

The silicone seal between the rod and the handle is designed to absorb vibrations and the whole construction is built to withstand being dropped without cracking. Lightweight and fairly-priced, this 11-inch rod is worth a look.

Ceramic Sharpening Rod Specs
Weight: 7.2 ounces
Rod Material: White ceramic
Handle Material: Polypropylene
Country of Origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $30

Friedr Dick 10-Inch Honing/Polishing Rod

Friedr Dick 10-Inch Sharpening Steel

It is almost impossible to chip this rod thanks to being coated in diamond dust. From German maker Friedr Dick, this 10-inch rod is diamond-coated steel is designed for the heavy knife user in mind.

An oval shape allows more of the blade to contact the rod with each pass which means each knife takes less passes to hone. The ergonomic, dual-density polymer grip keeps everything safe and secure when passing the blade down the rod.

The catch-22 is the diamond itself. Yes, it will return your knife’s edge quicker, but use the rod too often and it’ll scrape off material far faster than other types of rods.

10-Inch Honing/Polishing Rod Specs
Weight: 4.9
Rod Material: Stainless Steel
Handle Material: Plastic
Country of Origin: Germany
MSRP: $83

Kuma Kitchen Knife Sharpener

Kuma Kitchen Knife Sharpener

Some rods are designed for only one type or knife or are too short to properly hone long chef’s or slicing knives. This honing steel from Kuma is the consummate all-arounder. The steel reliably restores your knife’s edge thanks to its carbon steel construction. The triple-riveted ergonomic handle is slip resistant so even honing wet knives (although you shouldn’t do that on a honing rod) can be done safely.

Unlike most of the other rods on this list, this steel will need more hands-on maintenance due to its carbon steel construction otherwise it will rust.

Kitchen Knife Sharpener Specs
Item Weight: 8.6 ounces
Rod Material: Carbon Steel
Handle Material: Polyoxymethylene
Country of Origin: Japan
MSRP: $48

Friedr Dick Multicut Steel

Friedr Dick Multicut Steel

Another entry on this list from the German maker, this honing steel looks unlike anything else out there today. At first glance it’s easy to think this is a misplaced paddle, but in reality it’s a multi-dimensional honing steel.

The flat 11-inch blade has six parallel grooves running through it. Slide your knife down the main body of the steel and it’ll hone like any other rod. However, slide down one of the grooves and you can more precisely remove burrs and imperfections from the blade.

This is far and away the priciest honing steel on the list so you’ll need to determine if it’s worth the investment or if you would be better served using one of the other rods to hone your knives.

Multicut Steel Specs
Weight: 15 ounces
Rod Material: Stainless Steel
Handle Material: Plastic
Country of Origin: Germany
MSRP: $150

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.

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2024 ABS Award Winners And New Master & Journeyman Smiths

BLADE Staff
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2024 ABS Award Winners And New Master & Journeyman Smiths

Fabulous forged knives, new smiths, new chairman top ABS annual meeting.

Some of the finest forged knives of the year, the newest American Bladesmith Society master and journeyman smiths and a brand new chairman helped highlight the annual meeting of the ABS held during BLADE Show 2024 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

ABS master smith Kevin Cashen officially began his first term as ABS chairman at the annual meeting, succeeding ABS master smith Steve Dunn who passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. It was a bittersweet transfer of the office for all concerned, though a sparkling array of award knives and an impressive group of new master and journeyman smiths that includes those from Brazil, Europe, China, New Zealand and the USA were an appropriate way to greet the new chairman and pay tribute to the former one.

ABS Annual Awards

Award Winners

  • W. W. Scagel Award: Butch Sheely 
  • Paul Burke Award: Robert A. Wilson
  • Distinguished Service Awards: Karen Cashen, Joel Worley 
  • W. F. Moran Award: Matthew Parkinson
  • Antique Bowie Award, JS: Mace Vitale
  • Antique Bowie Award, MS: Karis Fisher
  • Joe Keeslar Award: Jason Chen
  • B. R. Hughes Award: Fabio Barros 
  • Chairman’s Awards: Kevin Cashen, James Rodebaugh

Fabio Barros

It was a weekend Brazil’s Fabio Barros probably will never forget. Not only was he the sole applicant to gain the coveted rating of ABS master smith, he also won the B. R. Hughes Award for the best knife submitted by such an applicant. In the eyes of some, that he was the only successful MS applicant might have detracted from his Hughes Award—if not for the fact that the same knife also won Best Art Knife at the concurrent BLADE Show.

B. R. Hughes Award Winner
B. R. Hughes Award Winner

B. R. Hughes Award
Winner: Fabio Barros
Knife name: Leidi Barros Dagger
Maker/designer: Fabio Barros
Blade material: Apricot pattern mosaic damascus w/four-sided roughing
Construction: Take down
Handle: Fluted ebony with gold-braid wire wrap Guard, shim and pommel: Black oxidation with gold appliqué
Pommel stone: Onyx
Sheath: Shark leather w/gold inlay
Display: Ebony case w/exquisite finish
Knife to know: The knife is named in honor of Leidiana Barros, wife of Fabio Barros; the handle design is inspired by the queen in a chess set

Karis Fisher

Karis Fisher added to her trophy case by winning the Antique Bowie Award for the best bowie in a 19th-century style by an ABS master smith. It was another feather in the cap of the young smith, who won for a reproduction of the Searles/Fowler bowie—with it being her first attempt at a repro to boot. Added Karis, “I’ve always wanted to try and make a reproduction, and I was drawn to the Searles bowie due to the mix of complexity and clean and timeless design.”

Antique Bowie Award, MS Winner
Antique Bowie Award, MS Winner

Antique Bowie Award, MS
Winner: Karis Fisher
Knife: Searles Reproduction
Blade length: 9.25”
Blade material: 52100 carbon steel
Blade width: 2”
Blade @ thickest: .25”
Blade grind: Double ground
Guard material: Stainless steel
Handle material: African blackwood
Ferrule and butt material: Stainless steel
Ferrule and butt embellishment: Coined liners
Overall length: 14.5”
Special features: Half-moon cutout in blade and raised checkered panels on handle
Knife to know: The knife is based on the Searles-Fowler bowie made by Daniel Searles in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1828
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,500

The Challenge: “The most challenging part of this build was definitely the planning of the knife and trying to stay true to the original while building it solely off pictures.” 

Matthew Parkinson

ABS journeyman smith Matthew Parkinson won the W. F. Moran Award for the best knife in the Moran style for his interpretation of a Moran fixed blade. “It wasn’t based on any one knife of his but more a general sort of impression of his body of work,” Matthew wrote. “That is to say, it is my design trying to work within his style—an interesting challenge!”

W. F. Moran Award Winner
W. F. Moran Award Winner

W. F. Moran Award
Winner: Matthew Parkinson
Blade length: 7.25” 
Overall length: 12”
Blade material: 1084 carbon steel 
Blade @ thickest: 3/16”
Blade width: 1.125” 
Guard and pins: Bronze 
Handle: Maple 
Inlay: Sterling silver 
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,100

Maker’s remarks: “The Spanish Notch is just a detail to the choil rather than a plain rounded choil. I saw several similar examples on a knife that Mr. Moran had made and thought it might be a nice touch. The groove at the base of the handle is a carved molding. This is a detail I use frequently in knives that don’t have stabilized wood handles, as inlaid handles normally are. It helps keep a clean, even fit but still allows the wood to move, at the same time adding a nice visual feature that adds to the overall design.” 

The Challenge: “I think the most challenging part of doing these is working within another maker’s aesthetic, especially one like Mr. Moran who has a huge and varied body of work. That’s the part that teaches you the most, I think. I find building one of these can give you insight into why another maker chooses one feature over another, or why a line or form is there. Those design ideas become incorporated into your own style and help you grow as a maker.” 

Mace Vitale

Mace Vitale captured the Antique Bowie Award for the best bowie in a 19th-century style by an ABS journeyman smith for a knife inspired by an antique piece made by Otto & Koehler of New York around 1850. The unusual knife features a markedly upturned blade tip and an ever-so-slightly downturned handle with a modified coffin-style butt featuring two carved lines and two rows of individually carved oblique divots that run its length. “The carving on the handles I’m positive were for extra grip. The knife has an excellent feel in the hand,” Mace observed. “There has been a bit of discussion as to the purpose of the original. As a knifemaker it was pretty clear to me when I picked up the original that it was very purposefully built to be a fighting knife.”

Antique Bowie Award, JS Winner
Antique Bowie Award, JS Winner

Antique Bowie Award, JS
Winner: Mace Vitale
Knife: Inspired by an antique fixed blade from New York makers Otto & Koehler from around 1850
Blade length: 6.5”
Blade material: W2 tool steel
Blade width: 1.25”
Blade @ thickest: 3/16”
Blade grind: Flat
Fittings and pins: Nickel silver
Handle: Mammoth ivory
Overall length: 11”

The Challenge: “The most difficult part of building this knife was trying to keep all the parts going the way I wanted. When making a knife like this, it is put together and taken apart many, many times, and I found myself constantly putting the handle or guard on upside down. I was glad once it was done.”

Jason Chen

Newly minted ABS journeyman smith Jason Chen of YunNan, China, won the Joe Keeslar Award for the best knife submitted by a successful JS applicant for a spotless reproduction of a bowie not unlike the antique L. Kimball knife. The fact Jason prevailed over the best knives of 13 other successful JS applicants adds to the difficulty of his winning this year’s Keeslar Award. He is to be congratulated—as are all of those receiving top honors at the annual ABS meeting.

Newly minted ABS journeyman smith Jason Chen won the Joe Keeslar Award for the best knife submitted by a successful JS applicant for a bowie not unlike the antique L. Kimball knife.
Newly minted ABS journeyman smith Jason Chen won the Joe Keeslar Award for the best knife submitted by a successful JS applicant for a bowie not unlike the antique L. Kimball knife.

New ABS Masters & Journeymen

Five applicants presented for ABS master smith and one passed. Twenty-four applied for ABS journeyman smith and 14 were approved. The panels of judges were chosen by the ABS. The smiths who made the grade were:
ABS master smith: Fabio Barros, Brazil;
ABS journeyman smiths: Cameron Alarcio, California; Jason Chen, China; Pieter-Paul Derks, Netherlands; Zane Dvorak, Ohio; Robin Gagchian, France; Chris Gardner, Nevada; Aidan Garrity, Connecticut; Erik Greiner, Texas; Tony Lewis, Arizona; Dan Lewis, New Mexico; Tony Severio, Louisiana; Warren Thacker, Tennessee; Thiago Vidotto, Washington; and Liam

More On ABS:

Cool Custom: Ryan Breuer’s Relic Dagger

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Cool Custom: Ryan Breuer’s Relic Dagger

Breuer’s Relic Dagger is Bronze Age solid gold.

While it may appear to be an alien looking back at you, the Relic Dagger by ABS journeyman smith Ryan Breuer is inspired by Egyptian daggers from the Bronze Age that were made over 6,000 years ago.

The pommel on the originals are believed to have been made of hippo ivory.
The pommel on the originals are believed to have been made of hippo ivory.

“There’s such a striking shape to it,” Ryan said. “It very clearly looks like a human form in the handle holding up either a head or maybe the sun. It’s as if those who made the daggers thousands of years ago are looking back at me. It’s almost spooky.”

The damascus blade is a collaboration between Ryan and bladesmith Jason Morrissey, though Ryan gives Jason most of the credit for the steel. The blade is a composite mosaic damascus, with twisted mosaic edge bars of Jason’s steel and Ryan’s “eyes” mosaic in the core.

Ryan Breuer
Ryan Breuer

Ryan ground, heat treated and finished the blade. The hilt is cast bronze made with the lost-wax process. The pommel is pattern-welded wrought iron and pure nickel, manipulated to imitate layers of organic ivory. Ryan drilled the two holes for the “eyes.”

Breuer Relic Dagger Specs
Maker: Ryan Breuer
Blade length: 7.5”
Blade material: Composite mosaic damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels
Blade width @ base: 31/8”
Overall length: 12.75”
Maker’s price: $3,000

See More Custom Knives:

New Fixed Blades That Set The Heart Aflutter

BLADE Staff
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New Fixed Blades That Set The Heart Aflutter

Fantastic custom and factory fixed blades just hitting the market.

There’s just something about a solid fixed blade knife. At once, these knives are simple yet elegant—especially when crafted by a master. We’ve scoured the globe—or at least three continents—to bring you a dozen excellent fixed specimens. They range from fillet knives to fighters and everything in between, and each is certain to induce the expansion of wish lists.

Jeremy Yelle Fighter

Jeremy Yelle Fighter

Blade length: 7.5”
Blade material: Feather damascus forged of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels
Blade grind: Convex w/an unsharpened clip
Handle material: Stag
Furniture: Blackened 416 stainless steel
Knife to know: Jeremy Yelle is a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,700
Maker: Jeremy Yelle (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Nate Carper Custom Knives Acid Rain

Nate Carper Custom Knives Acid Rain

Blade length: 7.25”
Blade material: “I call this my Acid Rain pattern. I made a seven-layered billet using an 80CrV2 carbon steel core, 1084 carbon steel for the next two layers, nickel shim for two layers and followed up with 300 layers of a Raindrop pattern on the outside.”
Blade grind: Full flat w/a tapered tang and distal taper
Handle material: Dyed and stabilized maple secured w/Loveless bolts
Overall length: 12”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact Nate Carper for more information
Maker: Nate Carper Custom Knives (SharpByCoop image)

Tom Haslinger Damascus Kissaki-Moroha Tanto

Tom Haslinger Damascus Kissaki-Moroha Tanto

Blade length: 6.7”
Blade material: HCK damascus forged in 320 layers of 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels
Rockwell hardness: 58 HRC
Handle: Stainless steel wire wrap
Tsuba (guard) material: Stainless steel
Kashira (buttcap) material: Textured stainless steel
Overall length: 12.65”
Weight: 13 ozs.
Saya (sheath): Lined cowhide w/koi leather overlay
Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,490
Maker: Tom Haslinger

Michael West Silver Lining

Michael West Silver Lining

Knife type: Fixed blade
Blade length: 3.93”
Blade material: Damasteel twist damascus
Blade grind: Freehand hollow
Furniture: Argentium silver
Handle material: Ebony and argentium silver
Overall length: 9.6”
Sheath materials: Leather and argentium silver
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,100
Maker: Michael West (SharpByCoop image)

Mille Blades Fillet Knife

Mille Blades Fillet Knife

Blade length: 8”
Blade material: Damascus forged of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels
Handle material: Stabilized tiger maple
Overall length: 13”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact Adam Mille for more information
Knife to know: Adam Mille is an apprentice smith in the American Bladesmith Society
Maker: Mille Blades (SharpByCoop image)

Andrew Bonavia Gyuto

Andrew Bonavia Gyuto

Blade length: 8.5”
Blade material: Forged 1084 carbon steel
Blade grind: Full flat
Blade @ widest: 2”
Handle material: Dyed spalted maple
Overall length: 14”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $531 at press-time exchange rate
Knife to know: Andrew Bonavia is a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild
Maker: Andrew Bonavia (Rod Hoare image)

Brad Millman O-Tanto

Brad Millman O-Tanto

Blade length: 11.75”
Blade material: 120-layer 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels w/nickel cladding and an 80CrV2 carbon steel core
Blade grind: Flat to convex near the edge
Handle: Raffir poplar burl
Bolster: Forged-finished stainless and copper
Overall length: 16.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200
Maker: Brad Millman (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Blacks Blades Mosaic Damascus Bowie

Blacks Blades Mosaic Damascus Bowie

Blade length: 13.5”
Blade material: Mosaic damascus
Blade grind: Flat
Blade thickness @ ricasso: .236”
Handle material: Tassie blackwood
Furniture: Hot blued mild steel
Overall length: 19.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: Contact Shane Partridge for more information
Maker: Blacks Blades (Rod Hoare image)

Aimee’s Forge Boot Dagger

Aimee’s Forge Boot Dagger

Blade length: 4”
Blade steel: Nitro-V stainless
Blade grind: Flat
Construction: Full tang
Handle material: Black and red G-10
Handle pins: Black G-10
Overall length: 8.75”
Sheath: Leather w/belt clip
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $431 at press-time exchange rate
Knife to know: Aimee Conte is a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild and an apprentice smith in the American Bladesmith Society
Maker: Aimee’s Forge (Rod Hoare image)

Zane Dvorak Integral Hunter

Zane Dvorak Integral Hunter

Blade length: 4.25”
Blade material: Black Edge mosaic damascus forged from 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
Blade grind: Flat to convex
Blade pattern: Clip point
Handle material: African blackwood
Overall length: 9.25”
Sharp stuff: Forged integral single guard; carved handle groove matches the one in the bolster
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,400
Maker: Zane Dvorak (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Jeroen Knippenberg Integral Chef’s Knife

Jeroen Knippenberg Integral Chef’s Knife

Blade length: 6.7”
Blade material: A multi-color Feather damascus pattern forged from 15N20 nickel alloy and O2, O1 and 115W2 tool steels
Blade grind: Convex
Handle material: Desert ironwood
Overall length: 11”
Knife to know: Jeroen Knippenberg’s Integral chef’s knife won Best Chef’s Knife at the Dutch Knife Exhibition
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,600-$2,140 at press-time exchange rate
Maker: Jeroen Knippenberg (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Dragon’s Breath Forge Period Piece

Dragon’s Breath Forge Period Piece

Blade length: 18”
Blade material: 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels
Handle material: Bronze and Elforen
Bolster: Silver, bronze and garnet
Overall length: 24”
Maker’s price for a similar knife and scabbard: Contact Jamie Lundell for more information
Maker: Dragon’s Breath Forge (SharpByCoop image)

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