BLADE Staff

Samuel E. Polk, former CEO of LATAMA (Latin American Import Export Company), passed away Nov. 5.

With his father, they revived the switchblade knife traditions of Italy through the development of LATAMA. Polk took over as CEO of the company in 1947, and set up shop in New York City. The move brought the classic Italian stiletto switchblade to American shores.

Knife Showcase member Walter Halucha, who heads the LATAMA brand now, sent this Polk tribute to Knife Showcase. (Polk is third from right with the glasses, Polincovsky is to the left of him with the black jacket.)

Click here to visit Latama.net.

In case you missed it several issues back in BLADE®, Manhattan, New York, district attorney Cyrus Vance recently banned just about all sporting knives, knife carry and just about anything else with an edge from his jurisdiction. As a result of this heinous act, Stephen D’Lack was forced to move the New York Custom Knife Show from New York City to Secaucus, New Jersey.

Well, this coming weekend is D’Lack’s show, and this is the chance for all good New Yorkers, New Jersey-ites and others to show Vance and his minions that no simple D.A., or any usurper of citizens’ rights, for that matter, can keep us knife enthusiasts from our appointed rounds at knife shows.

As a result, if you live anywhere near Secaucus, please attend the 33rd Annual New York Custom Knife Show, one of the world’s oldest custom knife shows, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. For more information contact Stephen D’Lack, Dept. BLKS, POB 313, Turners, MO 65765 417-866-6688 hg_inchotmail.com.

Click here for complete show information.

A number of restaurants and other businesses reportedly are offering free meals and/or special discounts to military veterans in observance of Veterans Day.

Applebee’s (http://www.applebees.com/vetsDay/default.aspx), Golden Corral (http://www.goldencorral.com/military/), McCormick & Schmick’s (http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx), Outback Steakhouse (http://www.outback.com/pressroom/pr_101018.aspx), Home Depot and Lowe’s (http://themilitarywallet.com/home-depot-lowes-10-military-discount/) all are offering some kind of free deal or discount in connection with veterans and/or Veterans Day.

Visit any or all of the websites listed above for more details.

We will be at the NY show that is being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in SECAUCUS NJ. November 19,20,12 2010.
We will have a good seldction of knives. If you can drop by and say hello.
Pat and Wes Crawford

Granger Knives is the Knife Showcase Knifemaker of the Week for Oct. 31, 2010.

Paul Granger has been turning out pieces since 1998 as Granger Knives and Pale Horse Fighters.

Despite fate’s best efforts to keep him from doing so, Granger said he sees no end in sight for his knifemaking.

“I’ve been shot, paralyzed from the neck down twice, almost died from meningitis and gone through a windshield backwards. So I know God loves me and isn’t through with me yet.”

Click here to visit the Granger Knives page on Knife Showcase.

POST FALLS, IDAHO– When a 110 Folding Hunter rolled off the production line at Buck Knives on Friday, Oct. 29, it was the millionth knife made this year.

“We’re breaking records,” said Phil Duckett, Buck’s chief operating officer. “It’s awesome, and we still have two months to go.”

Another positive sign of growth has been the addition of 40 new employees this year, bringing Buck’s total workforce to 250 in their Post Falls, Idaho, plant.

“This is a testament to our commitment to making our products in America,” Duckett said. “The troops on the floor worked hard to get us to these impressive numbers.”

Pictured: Buck employees with the millionth knife produced in 2010.