The father of modern sporting knives was busy making them a half century ago.
A pioneering writer and photographer, Sid Latham chronicled his visit to the Orlando, Florida, shop of Randall Made Knives in the May-June 1975 issue of The American Blade to detail how Bo Randall and his staff made knives.
As Latham noted, Bo believed in the Cutlery Hall-of-Famer William Scagel theory that every blade shape should have a purpose and be practical—and the Randall utility, hunting, combat and survival patterns reflected the Scagel approach. The most popular Randall knife in ’75 was the Model 3 hunter. It was a Model 3 that pilot Francis Gary Powers was carrying when his U-2 spy plane was famously shot down over Russia in 1960.
Bill Platts was closing out his career as Randall shop foreman.
Latham wrote of what Bo considered his proudest achievement of specially designing knives for the astronauts of the Project Mercury NASA space mission. The final design was worked out by Major Gordon Cooper, who took one along on his 22-orbit flight. The knife was subsequently offered as the Model 17.
Latham also covered most of the Randall staff, including shop foreman Bill Platts, who was in the process of retiring and being replaced by Pete Hamilton, to Bo’s son Gary and more. Bo Randall had already been making knives for 37 years at the time—and Randall Made Knives (randallknives.com) continues turning them out to this day.
Editor’s note: Beginning with this issue, “50 Years Ago in BLADE®” journeys back in time to recall what was happening in the early days of BLADE—formerly The American Blade—and the world of knives. This time: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bo Randall and Randall Made Knives.
Hone your cutlery acumen at the 12th Annual BLADE University
How to make and design knives, how to determine which steel for which knife, what to look for in proper damascus patterns and how to enhance their appearance and other incisive knife subjects will highlight the class schedule of the 12th Annual BLADE University. Held in conjunction with the 44th Annual BLADE Show June 6-8 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, BLADE University will be sponsored by Work Sharp. Classes begin the Thursday before the show, June 5, and will run through Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7. All courses will be taught in the Cobb Galleria except one—Fundamentals of Grinding—which will convene under the tent in The Courtyard, aka the parking lot of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.
BLADE University assembles some of the world’s best knifemakers, bladesmiths and other cutlery and steel professionals to teach a wide range of subjects for the knife user, knifemaker, knife hobbyist, knife entrepreneur, knife designer, and knife aficionado and novice alike. If you love knives or are just beginning to, BLADE University has a topic for you. The complete course schedule, with subjects, teachers, times and venues:
Thursday, June 5
In “Level Up Using Lasers, Ninjas and Other Cool Tools,” ABS master smith Neels van den Berg dives into how tools like laser engravers, digital design, and jigs and process design can streamline your workflow and enhance your work.
Material Conservation for the Forging Smith, Mareko Maumasi, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 104—Award-winning bladesmith Mareko Maumasi shares techniques and approaches he uses to reduce guesswork and material waste in the workshop. His approaches not only help the knifemaker’s material go further but also save time and money.
Friday, June 6
In “Elevating Your Handle Appearance: Spine Filework, Handle Shapes and Pin Placement,” knifemaker Kyle Daily shares his preferred files and specialized equipment for crafting his five most popular filework patterns, ensuring your knife not only looks exceptional but also feels comfortable and functional. (Jocelyn Frasier knife image)
Fundamentals of Grinding, AmeriBrade and guest grinders, 8 to 9:30 a.m., The Courtyard—AmeriBrade and guest makers provide a general overview on grinds, techniques and different equipment. The class is interactive and the team answers questions and demonstrates suggestions for common issues.
Deep Dive into Culinary Knives, Mareko Maumasi, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Room 103—Mareko Maumasi returns to help collectors and makers better understand the nuances of high-performance culinary knives. The class covers design aspects from blade tip to pommel, aiding collectors in making more informed knife-buying decisions, and makers in creating higher-quality and higher-performing culinary knives.
The Tom Brown Tracker Experience, Mathew Williams, 1 to 2 p.m., Room 107—Experienced woodsman and tracker Mathew Williams discusses the iconic Tom Brown Tracker knife, including the blade’s notable features, how the knife’s function can be of benefit to the user and more. Mathew even dispels some Hollywood myths concerning the TBT. This one’s for old-time fans and newcomers alike.
Take Damascus Etching to the Next Level, Baker Forge, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Room 103—Greyson Weltyk of Grey Blades and Jordon Berthelot of JB Blades teach step-by-step processes on how to enhance intricate patterns in damascus with Gator Piss etchant, including in-person demos with damascus knives. Subjects include proper cleaning prep, temperatures, stacking oxide techniques, sealing oxides and more. Receive in-depth looks at new product offerings from Gator Piss for etching stainless damascus and properly sealing damascus with nano-ceramic technology. Have the opportunity for Q&A with authorities about damascus etching.
Hands on Sharpening, Work Sharp, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Room 113—What happens when a knife goes dull? How do you know when to sharpen it? Bring your own knife or borrow a demo model and learn the progression of shaping a bevel, sharpening and edge maintenance from the team at Work Sharp. You get hands-on practice and experience sharpening your blade using a variety of sharpeners and abrasives, from whetstones to belts. (See under Saturday’s classes for an encore presentation.)
Leather Sheath Making Tips, Tricks & Tools, John Dennehy, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Room 107—Classes on sheath making are conducted at knife shows, social media and elsewhere. Unfortunately, some of the online demos are by those giving the wrong advice. John Dennehy shares the sheath-making tips he’s learned after working leather for almost 50 years, including leather selection, the tools he uses and why he uses them. He also covers the construction details he employs that experienced leather workers recognize immediately as the ones needed to produce a professional sheath.
Saturday, June 7
In “How to Select the Best Steel for Every Knife,” steel metallurgist Dr. Larrin Thomas talks about the factors that are important for different types of knives, such as cost, toughness, edge retention, sharpenability and corrosion resistance.
Elevating Your Handle Appearance: Spine Filework, Handle Shapes and Pin Placement, Kyle Daily, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Room 113—Enhance the appearance of your knife with distinctive features that go far beyond standard production models. Knifemaker Kyle Daily from KHDaily Knives guides you through the intricate art of filework on the spine, while also sharing insights into handle design and pin placement on the handle. Discover Kyle’s preferred files and specialized equipment for crafting his five most popular filework patterns, ensuring your knife not only looks exceptional but also feels comfortable and functional. From laying out your pattern to a step-by-step tutorial, this class provides the essential knowledge to achieve a professional and eye-catching finish. A Q&A session at the end ensures you leave with the skills and knowledge to take your knifemaking to the next level.
Demystifying Damascus, Mareko Maumasi, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Room 104—Mareko Maumasi completes his third straight day of teaching BLADE University classes with a most challenging one. He breaks the subject down in a way to help collectors gain a better appreciation for the knowledge and skill required to make unique damascus patterns, and to deepen the makers’ understanding of pattern design and composition.
The Cutting Edge, Nick Italiano, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Room 107—Nick Italiano, seasoned outdoorsman and host of the Raise The Flag Podcast, discusses the nuances of various blade grinds. From common everyday uses to survival situations, Nick covers several common grinds and their real-world function.
Level Up Using Lasers, Ninjas and Other Cool Tools, Neels van den Berg, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Room 113—Step up your knifemaking game with cutting-edge technology, unconventional techniques and insider secrets from ABS master smith Neels van den Berg. In this high-energy session dive into how laser engravers, digital design, and jigs and process design can streamline your workflow and improve your work. Plus, explore the mindset and discipline—the “ninja skills”—that separate good makers from great ones. Packed with real-world examples, practical insights and a touch of humor, this is a must-attend for makers looking to work smarter, not harder.
Designing Knives: Philosophy, Tools and Inspiration, Jens Anso, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Room 104—Award-winning knifemaker Jens Anso shares his approach to knife design, including how he thinks about form and function, the tools he uses and where he finds inspiration. With decades of experience in the industry, he’s developed a clear design philosophy that balances aesthetics, ergonomics and real-world usability. He explains his workflow, from sketching and CAD modeling, to prototyping and refining details. His goal is to provide insight into the design process and share practical takeaways for makers and enthusiasts who want to push their work further.
Hands on Sharpening, Work Sharp, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Room 113—What happens when a knife goes dull? How do you know when to sharpen it? Bring your own knife or borrow a demo model and learn the progression of shaping a bevel, sharpening and edge maintenance in this encore presentation from the team at Work Sharp. You get hands-on practice and experience sharpening your blade using a variety of sharpeners and abrasives, from whetstones to belts.
How to Select the Best Steel for Every Knife, Larrin Thomas, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 104—Both the makers and buyers of knives have many options for steels, but how do they know which ones to choose? Steel metallurgist Dr. Larrin Thomas talks about the factors that are important for different types of knives, such as cost, toughness, edge retention, sharpenability and corrosion resistance. Which steels are more optimal for a large chopper, a kitchen knife or a folder? For makers, the topics of forgeability, grindability, polishability and ease of heat treating are covered to choose steels that perform well and fit the knifemaking setup.
More classes were being determined at press time. For more information on them and on how to enroll in one or more of BLADE University’s classes, see our course offerings. There will be additional information on BLADE University in the June BLADE® and also in the BLADE Show Program, copies of which will be distributed for free at the BLADE Show.
The great ancient knife designs aren’t history as they top-notch reproductions prove.
The ancient history of knife design is long, storied and colorful. From Bronze Age daggers to 19th-century dress bowies alone, vintage configurations capture the imagination like a gladiator’s net from the early days of the Roman Coliseum. Tour the classics with these remarkable reproductions.
Colton Arias Scylla
Named after an Etruscan-era mythological monster, Scylla is a repro of an Etruscan Bronze Age dagger by Colton Arias. The 7-inch blade with tapering fuller is a triple feather mosaic damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels. The spiked-pommel handle is a goat leather wrap and the bolster is mild steel with brass accents. Overall length: 12 inches. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Dane Standen Cinquedea
Dane Standen outfits his modified cinquedea with a three-fullered blade in multiple welds of 1084, cu-mai, 1084, cu-mai and 1084 carbon steels. Blade length: 8.27 inches. The handle of a takedown construction is stabilized black palm and the fittings are mild steel, copper and nickel damascus. Overall length of the centuries-old Italian design: 14 inches. (Rod Hoare image)
Nick Bachtel Dress Bowie
A 7-inch blade of wrought-iron in a san-mai construction and a handle of elk antler and curly ash highlight a repro of a 19th-century dress bowie by Nick Bachtel. Overall length: 12 inches. The guard is steel and bronze and the knife comes with a traditional bronze sheath (not shown). (SharpByCoop image)
Ken Hall Scottish Dirk
A 12-inch fullered/fileworked blade of an absorbing mosaic damascus and a handle of stained stabilized cherry carved to symbolize a thistle distinguish a stunning Scottish dirk by ABS journeyman smith Ken Hall. Pommel stone: amethyst crystals. Overall length: 17.5 inches. Sheath (not shown): tooled leather. (SharpByCoop image)
Matthew Berry Edinburgh Skean
The Edinburgh Skean by Matthew Berry is a reproduction of a knife by the same name from 1677. The originals were combat knives of Ireland. The blade is 1075 carbon steel and the intricately carved handle is boxwood. Blade and overall lengths: 15.25 and 19 inches. The form-fitting sheath (not shown) is highly detailed leather with a wrap strap. (SharpByCoop image)
J.J. Simon Samuel Bell Dirk
ABS journeyman smith J.J. Simon forged the 12-inch flat-ground blade with Spanish notch for his repro of a 19th-century Samuel Bell dirk from bloomery steel. The handle is blackwood with silver pins and the fittings are nickel silver. Overall length: 17 inches. (SharpByCoop image)
Vincent Soriano Mainz-Pattern Gladius
ABS apprentice smith Vincent Soriano goes full Roman with his Mainz-pattern gladius. Called the Proeliator, it boasts a 14-inch damascus blade of 1075 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels and pure nickel. The handle is curly maple and the guard and pommel are eucalyptus. Overall length: 22.5 inches. Sheath (not shown): leather. (SharpByCoop image)
Great friends to the knife community, Hughes, Klotzli and Rexroat leave a hole publishing, sales and knifemaking.
The knife community lost three great friends with the recent passing of Carolyn Ann Hughes, H.P. Klotzli and Kirk Rexroat, all three of whom were extremely well liked and well respected within the knife fraternity.
Widow of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member B. R. Hughes, Carolyn served as editor of The ABS Journal, the official publication of the American Bladesmith Society, for many years. She won several ABS honors, including the Margaret Moran Silver Slipper Award. Inseparable at various ABS and other knife events, Carolyn and B. R. helped lead the Society for almost 60 years, as B. R. was one of the four original ABS founding members. He passed away September 17 and Carolyn joined him on February 22. She was 86.
For many years H.P. Klotzli was the headman of Klotzli Messerschmiede of Switzerland, a wholesaler/distributor of Spyderco, CRKT, M-Tech and Fallkniven knives, as well as hi-tech knives made in Switzerland, scissors and more. He took over the business from his parents in 1972 and ran it until 2019. He was among the first to use carbon fiber for factory knife handles, including on a linerlock folder based on a design by Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Michael Walker. H.P. worked on several other custom and factory collaborations as well.
An ABS master smith, Kirk E. Rexroat forged fixed blades and folders part time out of his shop in Banner, Wyoming. He made his first knife in 1981 and did his own engraving. His stag-handle/damascus Rendezvous Bowie was the cover knife for the May 1999 BLADE®. He also designed and built knife prototypes for Al Mar Knives, one of which, the Havana Clipper, was the BLADE Magazine 1998 Most Innovative Imported Design. He passed away February 27 at the age of 67.
Vagueness of bill could have potentially banned the carry of all but a few knives.
Hawaii Knife Ban bill SB 433, which would have banned all carry of most knives and all knives in many public places in Hawaii, has been stopped. The stoppage occurred because the bill failed to receive a hearing by the stated deadline.
According to Knife Rights, one of the worst aspects of the bill was its vagueness. The bill added “bladed weapons” to the state’s sweeping firearms bans, which would have been expanded in SB 433.
“As written, nobody, not a resident, not a police officer, not a prosecutor, could possibly look at the proposed statute and know for sure what a ‘bladed weapon’ is that is being banned,” KR reported. “This is fundamentally unconstitutional and leaves the law open for law enforcement and prosecutorial abuse. Terms that capture everyday tools carried daily by the public for perfectly lawful uses should be defined crisply and clearly to provide fair notice as required by longstanding law.”
The bill banned all undefined “bladed weapons” everywhere in Hawaii except for switchblades and butterfly knives.
“So,” KR noted, “a not at all unreasonable interpretation of [‘bladed weapons’] would have banned carry of a common pocketknife in Hawaii, except for [switchblades and butterfly knives]! Who decides whether it’s a ‘bladed weapon’? Certainly not the average resident or visitor.”
In other examples, fillet knives used for recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing and hunting knives used for boar hunting—a popular means of reducing feral hog populations on the islands and a popular tourist business—could have been banned, as could a box cutter carried to work by a warehouse worker.
The Jose Santiago-Cummings BBQ Knife will rock your brisket.
Among Jose Santiago-Cummings’ growing ranks of customers are those he describes as “foodies,” and he built his second BBQ Knife expressly for them.
Not unlike a pirate boarding cutlass in appearance, the long, curved blade is designed for the rocking slices needed to cut meat and brisket. It’s similar to how a slicer is used as opposed to, for example, a nakiri for chop cuts.
Jose Santiago-Cummings
Jose, 62, used a cylindrical drum-sander-like attachment on a Ram tool to carve the grooves in the long, upswept handle. Jimmy Floyd forged the clip-point blade of damascus clad in wrought iron.
BBQ Knife Specs Maker: Jose Santiago-Cummings Blade length: 8.5” Blade steel: Damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels clad in wrought iron Blade grind: Flat Handle: Black and orange G-10 resin Overall length: 13.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $450-$475
Today’s pocketknives come in assorted locks, no locks, blades, handles and more.
Eyes always peeled, we’re on the look out for the latest and the greatest. We think we’ve found a bevvy of them this March. So, with out further adieu, here’s our latest round of new knives.
Stanley Buzek Single-Blade Slipjoint
Blade length: 3 3/8” Blade steel: Feather damascus forged by ABS journeyman smith Mike Tyre Blade grind: Hollow Blade pattern: Clip point Blade opener: Nail pull Scales: Mammoth ivory Liners/bolsters: 416 stainless in an integral construction Engraving: Alice Carter, including 24k-gold inlay Knife to know: Fileworked liners and acorn shield Closed length: 4.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,800 Maker: Stanley Buzek, sbuzekknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Michael Zieba Nine Silver Kois
Knife type: Side flipper Blade length: 4.126” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 62-63 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade @thickest: .159” Pivot: Ceramic ball bearing washers Handle & pocket clip: Titanium w/24k-gold koi, lotus and moth inlay Weight: 5.07 ozs. Closed length: 5.5” Knife to know: Air pockets for weight reduction; ceramic detent; white brass skull spacer Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,300 Maker: Michael Zieba, (SharpByCoop image)
Curt Zimmerman Flipper Folder
Blade length: 3” Blade steel: Feather damascus Blade grind: Flat Blade pattern: Clip point Lock: Linerlock Scales: Ancient walrus ivory Bolster: Stainless steel engraved by Alice Carter w/24k-gold inlay Liners: Titanium; fileworked and anodized Screws: 24k-gold plated Closed length: 3 15/16” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,500 Maker: Curt Zimmerman (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Rothman Knives Backpocket
Knife type: Dress slipjoint Blade length: 3.25” Blade steel: Feather damascus forged by Adam Deville Blade grind: 14” hollow Blade pattern: Clip point Scales: Interior mammoth Bullet shield: Dark mammoth Frame: 416 stainless in an integral construction Closed length: 4.75” Knife to know: Fileworked liners and embellished backspring; Michael Rothman is a member of the Knifemakers’ Guild Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500 Maker: Rothman Knives, rothmanknives.com (SharpByCoop image)
Jeremy Marsh Mini Assassin
Knife to know: A collaboration between Jeremy Marsh and Jonathan Quill Blade length: 3.5” Blade steel: Damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels forged by Quill and finished by Marsh w/a dark, deep etch and “a great deal of hand finishing” Scales: 10,000-year-old bog oak from Ireland w/a coarse-grained, oily look Liners: Feature a distressed rock finish along the edges applied by Marsh and traditional vine filework applied by Quill Bolsters, thumbstuds and hardware: Zirconium toned lightly bronze and burnished for highlights Embellishment: Quill engraved the bolsters and pocket clip in a Celtic/Norse theme Closed length: 4.5” Make’s price for a similar knife: $8,000 Maker: Jeremy Marsh (Mitchell Cohen image)
Maverik Knives Dress Slipjoint
Blade length: 3” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade grind: High flat Blade pattern: Clip point Scales: Black paper Micarta® Frame: Brass Bolster: Straight twist damascus Hardware: Titanium Closed length: 4” Knife to know: Maverik Murdock is an ABS apprentice smith Maker’s price for a similar knife: $750 Maker: Maverik Knives, maverikknives.com (SharpByCoop image)
WE Knife High-Fin XL
Designer: Gavko Knives Blade length: 3.48” Blade steel: Hakkapella damascus by Damasteel Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC Blade grind: Hollow Blade pattern: Reverse tanto Pivot: Caged ceramic ball bearings Handle: Satin-polished 6Al4V titanium in a diamond-pattern texture Pocket clip: Crystallized gray 6Al4V titanium; blade tip up, right-handed Lock: Framelock Weight: 4.03 ozs. Closed length: 4.67” Country of origin: China MSRP: $740 Company: WE Knife, weknife.com
David Kulis Spectre XL
Knife type: Dress tactical flipper folder Blade length: 3.5” Blade steel: Dragonskin damascus forged by Bertie Rietveld Blade grind: 8” hollow Blade shape: Recurve Handle: Purple/orange/green burl Liners: Titanium Knife to know: All titanium hardware anodized to match the Timascus pocket clip Closed length: 5.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500 Maker: David Kulis (SharpByCoop image)
Knife type: Rescue folder Blade length: 3.4” Blade steel: AUS-8 stainless Blade mechanism: Assisted opening Handle: 6061 aluminum Lock: Linerlock Pocket clip: Low carry Weight: 4.4 ozs. Closed length: 4.6” Knife to know: Belt cutter and glassbreaker in the butt; spare blade for the belt cutter stores in the handle Country of origin: China MSRP: $54.95 Company: SOG Knives, www.sogknives.com
Jerry Fisk Saddlehorn-Style Slipjoint
Blade length: 3.33” Blade material: Damascus Blade pattern: Clip point Blade opener: Nail pull Scales: Wood from one of the last walnut trees planted by President George Washington Bolster: Spring steel engraved by Jerry Fisk Maker’s price for a similar knife: $5,900 (includes a bottle of whiskey from George Washington’s Distillery) Knife to know: In 1999, Jerry Fisk was named a National Living Treasure by the Museum of World Cultures at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington Maker: Jerry Fisk (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Chris Richardson Lockback Folder
Blade length: 3.25” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade grind: Flat Blade pattern: Modified wharncliffe Handle inlay: Mammoth ivory Thumbstud inlay: Angelskin coral Bolster: 416 stainless in an integral construction Closed length: 4.75” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $850 Maker: Chris Richardson (Jocelyn Frasier image)
