The May-June 1975 American Blade covered the CIA-forerunner’s knives.
Editor’s Note: BLADE Magazine is celebrating more than 50 years of bringing the knife community sharp coverage of the knife world at large. Given a more comprehensive picture of where the industry comes from—thus, where it’s going—we’re running a series of vignettes on important articles marking milestones in the knife design, knife making and knifemakers from 50 years ago.
Adrian Van Dyk was the military knife guru for The American Blade at the dawn of the magazine’s era, and OSS knives were one of his specialties.
Five World War II-era OSS gravity knives, from left: a trial piece with George Ibberson blade markings; one with a variation of an Ibberson marking; unmarked issue specimen; German-issue take-down model; and a German-issue non-take-down model.
In “Knives of the OSS” in the May-June 1975 issue, he wrote a comprehensive story on a number of OSS knives, including, among others, the smatchet, stiletto, escape knife and gravity knives. The smatchet is of particular interest here because APOC/Cas Iberia offers a new iteration that it will debut at the BLADE Show (see our 2025 BLADE Show Knife Debuts post).
According to Van Dyk, the smatchet was designed for heavy chopping and brush clearing.
World War II OSS knives, from top: an OSS stiletto with a pancake-flapper sheath and a standard-issue OSS escape knife, completely blued and unmarked.
“The name apparently derived from its intended use since it could serve both as a machete and a hatchet,” he wrote. “The knife was probably a design derivation of the Welsh machine gunner’s sidebar,” illustrated in A Primer of Military Knives by Gordon Hughes and Barry Jenkins. “It was also designed as a fighting weapon and techniques for using it in combat are described in the book Get Tough by William Fairbairn,” one of the designers of the famed Fairbairn-Sykes commando knife.
Van Dyke added that OSS-issued versions of the smatchet were manufactured by Case and were completely unmarked. Some variations have British military proof marks and are thought to have been issued to British commandos.
Have the yen to build our your collection? Just need a sharp new blade? Check out these new knives for May and build out your wish list.
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 May. So, with out further adieu, here’s our latest round of new knives to add to your wish list.
Pearce Richardson Silver Swan
Model type: Chef’s knife Blade length: 8” Blade material: Mosaic damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Blade grind: Flat Scales: Turkish olive wood root burl Bolster: Mild steel Overall length: 13.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $6,500 Knife to know: The maker’s mark on the blade is brass inlaid; Pearce Richardson is an apprentice smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker: Pearce Richardson, icarusforge.com (SharpByCoop image)
Daniel Keown Big City Fighter
Knife type: Slipjoint Blade length: 3.5” Blade steel: AEB-L stainless Blade grind: Hollow dagger Handle frame: 416 stainless Scales: Mammoth ivory Bolsters: 416 stainless Liners: Integral Closed length: 3.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,800 Maker: Daniel Keown, (SharpByCoop image)
Josh Hults Camp Knife
Blade length: 4.5” Blade material: 1085H carbon steel Blade grind: Flat-ground integral Scales: G-carta Bolster: Forged integral Overall length: 9.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $500 Knife to know: Josh Hults is a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker: Josh Hults, southern-forge.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Josh Wisor Dress Slipjoint
Blade length: 3” Blade material: Feather damascus Blade grind: Flat Handle frame: Stainless steel Scales: Mammoth ivory Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,300 Knife to know: Josh Wisor is a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker: Josh Wisor, wisorforge.com (SharpByCoop image)
Erik Greiner Hunter
Blade length: 4.25” Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon steel w/hamon Blade grind: Flat w/secondary edge bevel Scales: Dolf wood Spacers: Oryx horn and warthog tusk liners Guard: Antiqued brass Overall length: 8.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $450 Knife to know: Erik Greiner is a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker: Erik Greiner, greinerblades.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Rudy Dean Fighter
Blade length: 11.75” Blade material: 136 layers of colored damascus Blade grind: Full flat Scales: Stag Guard material: Nickel silver Spacer: Nickel silver Overall length: 17” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,750 Knife to know: Rudy Dean is a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker: Rudy Dean, rudydeancustomknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Honoré Vilain No. 7 Slipjoint
Blade length: 3” Blade steel: RWL-34 stainless by Damasteel Blade pattern: Clip point Handle frame: Z40 stainless Scales: Vintage rag Micarta® Liners: G-10 Bolsters: Integral Closed length: 4.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for pricing Maker: Honoré Vilain (SharpByCoop image)
Jason Coy Clip-Point Hunter
Blade length: 4.5” Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon steel Blade grind: Flat Scales: Walnut Handle pin: Bronze, domed Guard material: Bronze Spacers: Black fiber and copper Overall length: 9.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $500 Maker: Jason Coy, jasoncoyknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Gary Langley Subhilt Fighter
Blade length: 6.25” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Scales: Mammoth ivory Guard & subhilt: 416 stainless Overall length: 11.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for pricing Knife to know: Gary Langley is a voting member of The Knifemakers’ Guild Maker: Gary Langley, gllangley.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Bubba Crouch Trapper Skinner
Knife pattern: Trapper skinner Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: Copper san-mai by Baker Forge Blade grind: Hollow Scales: Barky mammoth ivory Bolster: Integral Liners: 416 stainless steel Backspring: Heat-colored CPM 154 stainless Closed length: 4.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,200 Maker: Bubba Crouch (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Eliot Maldonado Folding Fighter
Blade length: 3” Blade material: Mosaic damascus by Curt Zimmerman and Kelly Vermeer Vella Blade grind: Hollow Blade pattern: Clip point Blade opener: Flipper Bolster material: Same as blade Bolster design: Double keyhole Scales: Koa Handle hardware: Titanium Lock: Linerlock Closed length: 4” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,200 Maker: Eliot Maldonado (Jocelyn Frasier image)
William Zermeno Folder
Blade length: 3.5” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade @thickest: 3/16” Blade grind: Hollow Handle frame: 160 titanium milled out Scales: FatCarbon® Handle screws: Titanium Lock: Framelock Lock stabilizer: Titanium Pocket clip: Titanium Closed length: 5.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $550 Maker: William Zermeno, wdzknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Only at the BLADE Show do the continents come together so well.
With the possible exception of Antarctica and a stray archipelago or two, knife fans and knifemakers from every continent and beyond will come together as one for the 44th Annual BLADE Show.
Sponsored by Smoky Mountain Knife Works, the BLADE Show June 6-8 in Atlanta’s Cobb Galleria Centre is where more knives—custom, factory, antique, classic collectibles, etc.—are exhibited, played with, bought and sold than at any other knife event. Nine-hundred-fifty exhibitors from 35 countries will showcase their newest, coolest knives and examples of most every edged tool extant, accessories, knifemaking supplies and equipment, and more. Knife purveyors, pro-knife legislation entities, knifemaking teachers and other cutlery outfits too numerous to mention will display their wares as the world knife community undertakes the yearly pilgrimage to Georgia.
WHAT: BLADE Show WHERE: Cobb Galleria Centre, Atlanta WHEN: June 6-8 DAYS and TIMES: Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (early bird ticket holders can enter at 10 a.m.) Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Factory knife debuts, the educational knife instruction of BLADE University, and informative, entertaining and action-packed demos are among the sharp goodies awaiting show patrons. The BLADE Magazine 2025 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards and the custom knife judging competition are others. The American Bladesmith Society (ABS) will name its latest master and journeyman smiths, and some of the best knives the ABS and The Knifemakers’ Guild and unaffiliated makers offer will be on display in all their sharpest glory.
And don’t forget The Pit, the after-hours meeting place in and around the sunken bar of the host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, where show patrons and exhibitors will party into the wee hours beginning the night before the show through the end of the weekend to compare knives, swap lies and otherwise celebrate the year’s most momentous cutlery weekend.
Liong Mah Knives will debut the Warrior 3 framelock folder in a 3.5-inch hand-ground traditional tanto blade of Bohler M390 stainless steel. Handle: titanium. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $420.
Among the outstanding makers from a potpourri of countries who will be exhibiting:
Argentina
CAS Brothers
Mauricio Daletzky
Javier Vogt
Australia
Bruce Barnett
Belgium
Jean-Louis Regel
Veronique Laurent
Samuel Lurquin
Brazil
Franco de Souza
Rodrigo Sfreddo
Fabio Barros
Gus Cecchini
Denmark
Jens Anso
China
WE Knife
Reate
Ketuo
Italy
Lionsteel
Alfredo Faccipieri
Fox Cutlery
Maniago Knife Makers (MKM)
Maserin
Japan
Kiku Matsuda
Koji Hara
Norway
Helle Knives
Portugal
Carlos Queiros
Russia
Sergey Shirogorov
South Africa
Bertie Rietveld
Theuns Prinsloo
Henning Wilkinson
Neels van den Berg
Sweden
Damasteel
Michael Andersson
United Kingdom
Grace Horne
Some of the leading American exhibiting makers will be BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® members Bill Ruple and Steve Schwarzer; ABS master smiths Harvey Dean, Mike Quesenberry, Shane Taylor, David Lisch, Jordan LaMothe, Josh and Karis Fisher, and Andrew Meers; slipjoint makers Stanley Buzek, Tom Ploppert, Luke Swenson and Tim Robertson; Allen Elishewitz; Les George; Walter Brend; Murray Carter; Strider Knives; Hawk Knives; Vince Evans; Vladimir Kolenko; Owen Wood, a transplanted South African who now calls Texas home; factory companies Spyderco, Case, TOPS Knives, Chris Reeve Knives, Spartan Blades, Pro-Tech, Microtech, Kershaw, Squid Industries, KA-BAR and Heretic Knives; and many more.
Knives Of The Year Revamp
The BLADE Magazine Awards Reception (page 61) will be the Saturday night of the show on the second floor of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel at the top of the escalators above The Pit. ABS master smith Harvey Dean (right) accepts his award for Best Fixed Blade at last year’s reception.
The BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards are the factory knife industry’s premier honors. In its ongoing effort to maintain the awards’ preeminent position in the knife industry, the BLADE Show is changing the way the winners are determined. Instead of being exhibited in the BLADE Show lobby display case for judging, this year the knives will be judged in a private room. In this way, BLADE Show officials believe, it will be much easier for the judges to fully examine the knives minus the hustle and bustle of onlookers and passersby that engulfed the display case area in past years.
In another change, a new category, Best Of The Rest, has been added to address entries that do not fit any of the existing award categories. Moreover, the Automatic Knife Of The Year sponsored by PVK.com that debuted last year returns.
As in the past, the entries are limited to BLADE Show factory booth exhibitors, all of whom received the rules well before the show outlining the new changes. Like last year, the winners will be announced and presented during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception Saturday at 8 p.m. in the room on the floor above The Pit. The winners will be listed on BLADE’s blademag.com after the awards reception, and a list will be posted outside the show entrance Sunday morning.
Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards Categories:
Overall Knife of the Year
Most Innovative American-Made Knife of the Year
American-Made Fixed Blade of the Year
Most Innovative Imported Knife of the Year
Imported Fixed Blade of the Year
Best Buy of the Year
American-Made Folder of the Year
Investor/Collector of the Year
Imported Folder of the Year
Manufacturing Quality Award
Automatic of the Year
Accessory of the Year
Kitchen Knife of the Year
Collaboration of the Year
Best of the Rest Award
BLADE University
BLADE University classes will run the Thursday before the show through show Saturday. Neels van den Berg—here giving a class on quillon daggers at last year’s show—will conduct the class “Level Up Using Lasers, Ninjas and Other Cool Tools.” For the full BLADE U.
Get current on the latest knifemaking techniques and other trending sharp subjects during the 12th Annual BLADE University on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Sponsored by Work Sharp, BLADE University has the most extensive schedule of knife, knifemaking and other instruction held at any knife show.
Thursday, June 5
Material Conservation for the Forging Smith, 4-5 p.m., Room 104. Award-winning bladesmith Mareko Maumasi shares techniques and approaches he uses to reduce guesswork and material waste in the workshop.
Friday, June 6
Material Conservation for the Forging Smith, 4-5 p.m., Room 104. Award-winning bladesmith Mareko Maumasi shares techniques and approaches he uses to reduce guesswork and material waste in the workshop. FRIDAY, JUNE 6
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.
Deep Dive into Culinary Knives, 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.
Brakimo: Forged for the Field, Room 107. Nick Italiano, Recoil OffGrid associate editor and host of the Raise The Flag Podcast, interviews knife designer Joe Flowers on the untold story of how the TOPS Knives Brakimo knife was crafted for survival and other uses.
Take Damascus Etching to the Next Level, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Room 103. Baker Forge & Tool’s Greyson Weltyk of Grey Blades and Jordon Berthelot of JB Blades teach step-by-step processes on how to use Gator Piss etchant to enhance intricate patterns in damascus, including in-person demos with damascus knives.
How To Steal Designs (But Not from Other Knifemakers) and Make Them Your Own, 2 to 3 p.m., Room 113. Drawing inspiration from such sources as Byzantine-era cathedrals, Art Deco and Art Nouveau and others, Jason Knight shows you how to take your knife idea and make it uniquely yours without copying anyone else’s work.
Hands on Sharpening, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Room 113. Bring your knife or a borrowed one and learn the progression of shaping a bevel, sharpening and edge maintenance from the team at Work Sharp.
Leather Sheath Making Tips, Tricks & Tools, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Room 107. 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.
Saturday, June 7
Elevating Your Handle Appearance: Spine Filework, Handle Shapes and Pin Placement, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Room 113. Knifemaker Kyle Daily shares how to embellish your knife with distinctive features that go far beyond standard production models.
Demystifying Damascus, Mareko Maumasi, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Room 104. Mareko Maumasi helps collectors gain a better appreciation for the skill required to make damascus patterns and deepens the makers’ understanding of pattern design and composition.
The Cutting Edge, Nick Italiano, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Room 107. Nick Italiano returns to discuss 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, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Room 113. Join Neels van den Berg and 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.
Designing Knives: Philosophy, Tools and Inspiration, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Room 104. 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.
You Can’t Make Knives! 2:30-3:30 p.m., Room 107. Jason Knight returns to explain why he ignored the warnings and made knives anyway—and how you can survive, flourish and establish yourself as a timeless, classic knifemaker.
How to Select the Best Steel for Every Knife, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 104. Steel metallurgist Dr. Larrin Thomas covers which steels are more optimal for a large chopper, kitchen knife, folder and more, covering cost, edge retention, forgeability, grindability and other factors.
The judges will have their hands full during the custom knife judging competition.
Leading industry authorities will pick the best custom knives by BLADE Show exhibitors in the annual knife judging competition, with the winners announced during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception Saturday at 8 p.m.
The categories are:
Hugh Bartrug Best Of Show
Best Fixed Blade
Best Damascus
Best Kitchen Knife
Best Miniature
Best Art Knife
Best Fighter
Best Bowie
Best Handle Design
Best Tactical Folder
Best M.A.C.K. (Machine Assisted Custom Knife)
Best Utility Hunter
Best Folder
Most Innovative Design
Best Knife Collaboration
Best Sword
Best New Maker
Best Of The Rest
The competition is open to the show’s custom knife exhibitors only. The winners will be announced on BLADE’s blademag.com website after the awards ceremony, and a list will be posted outside the show entrance Sunday morning.
World Championship Cutting Competition
The BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition will be conducted by BladeSports International (BSI) and held in The Courtyard, the parking lot of the host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Attendance is free to BLADE Show ticketholders.
Returning to defend their titles in the men’s and women’s divisions are the first-ever same-year husband-and-wife champs: Mr. and Mrs. James and Michael Clifton. While the BSI Nationals (April 26) were still to be held at press time, 16 men and 14 women had qualified for the BLADE Show World Championship.
Men’s Qualifiers
David Moore
James Clifton
Ben Propst
Anthony Stovall
Mike Eubanks
Gary Bond
Eldon Johnson
Daniel O’Connor
Hunter Eubanks
David Barnes
Chris Berry
Ben Leyder
Donavon Phillips
Jayson Pilosi
Daniel Thompson
Aaron Tarone
Women’s Qualifiers
Jo Carothers
Sara Maly
Terri Lynn
Kenda Speaks
Sue Ann Propst
Michael Clifton
Robin Berry
Juli Coon
Lindsay Zehrung
Rhiannon Sibley
Lauren Kalns
Cindy Pilosi
Katie Adams
Jamie Doung
Bali Grand Master
Top balisong flippers will vie for the title of “Grand Master” in the 9th Annual Battle for Bali Champion sponsored and conducted by Blade HQ.
BLADE Show ticketholders are invited to watch the competition on the floor above The Pit of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel on show Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. Competitors will start flipping knives at 12:30 p.m.
The top three finishers will receive prizes and all participants will get swag bags. Steven Ash was crowned Bali-Champion last year, with Corbin Lovins finishing runner-up for the second year in a row and Seiji Brown third.
Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame
The BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® inductions (page 61) will be the Saturday morning of the show. William “Bill” Harsey, Jr., was inducted by his friends at last year’s ceremony. From left: U.S. Army Special Forces (retired) Col. Joseph Osborne; Tim and Anne Reeve (holding Bill’s Hall-of-Fame plaque) of Chris Reeve Knives; Mark Carey, Spartan Blades; Dean Felides of Old Yankee Cutting Boards; and Curtis Iovito, Spartan Blades.
The BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame® will formally induct its new members at 8 a.m. show Saturday in the Kennesaw Room of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel. Tickets are required ahead of time for the ceremony, which includes a breakfast. Seating is limited. For ticket information, email [email protected].
Hall of Fame inductees includes:
Harvey Dean
Rick Dunkerley
Stanley Fujisaka
Dr. James R. Lucie
Alfred Pendray
James Schmidt
Daniel Winkler
Karen Shook
Classroom Seminars
Classroom seminars are held inside the Cobb Galleria. Admission is free to BLADE Show ticketholders:
The History, Mystery, and Meaning of Emerson Knives: Emerson Knives has always been more than just a knife company. Don’t miss this opportunity to spend an hour with Ernest Emerson as he pulls back the veil to give you the history and the reasons Emerson Knives has come to represent more than just knives. You’ll also get a chance to ask questions about all things Emerson from Ernest himself.
The Unadulterated Story of Knifemaking: High-Endurance Performance Knife master smith/BLADE® field editor Ed Fowler will examine what made the great makers great. They could have gone into other occupations—why didn’t they? Are today’s knife goals different than they were then? What are the ways to price your knives? What can makers do to gain their markets? Ed will examine the topics as only he can.
Saturday
8 a.m.: BLADE Magazine Cutlery-Hall-Of-Fame Inductions, Kennesaw Room, Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel (tickets required in advance; contact [email protected])
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: The Unadulterated Story of Knifemaking, High-Performance Endurance Knife master smith/BLADE® field editor Ed Fowler, Room 107
Noon to 2 p.m.: 9th Annual Battle for Bali-Champion, conducted by Blade HQ, on the second floor at the top of the escalators of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel (flipping starts at 12:30)
Noon to 3 p.m.: Buck Collectors Club, Room 103
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: The History, Mystery, and Meaning of Emerson Knives, Ernest Emerson, Emerson Knives, Inc., Room 104
4:30 p.m.: BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competitions, conducted by BladeSports International in The Courtyard
Knife For A Novel
Author Tom Marshall designed the Colonel Blades Contingency dagger (left) for his debut novel, Close and Destroy.
Colonel Blades will showcase the Contingency dagger designed by military veteran and author Tom Marshall specifically for his debut novel, Close and Destroy, at the BLADE Show.
While training and researching for the book, Marshall realized he hadn’t found an EDC fixed blade that did quite what he wanted for the characters in his story. He shared his vision with Colonel Blades, who brought it to life with the no-frills, EDC-friendly Contingency in AUS-8 stainless steel and G-10. The author will be at the Colonel Blades table signing copies of the novel that inspired the knife.
Colonel Blades also will display the BRB, a new breaching tool done in partnership with Good Dude Concepts, a company with deep roots in tactical law enforcement. The BRB is a compact, lightweight breaching tool for residential structures and vehicle extrication. It is especially equipped for vehicle work with its glass-ripping profile, a feature that allows it to literally saw through laminated safety glass such as the kind used in car windshields.
Colonel Blades will display its latest knife, the Yoru push dagger, as well. Made by Fox Knives, the compact, sturdy push knife features an oversized finger hole and thumb gimping to maximize the ergonomic experience.
What’s Next?
The final BLADE Show-sponsored event for 2025 will be BLADE Show West, Oct. 10-11 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. For details, visit bladeshowwest.com. BLADE Show Texas 2026 will be March 20-21 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Visit bladeshowtexas.com for more on it. And, of course, it’s never too late to start thinking BLADE Show 2026 June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. For details, visit bladeshow.com.
Editor’s note: Smoky Mountain Knife Works is the official sponsor of BLADE Show 2025. WE Knife is the floor plan sponsor. Rosecraft Blades is The Pit sponsor. Work Sharp sponsors BLADE University. Nottingham Tactical is the lanyard sponsor. Hogue Knives is the housing sponsor. EKnives is the concessions sponsor. Kizer Cutlery is the Wi-Fi sponsor. The other sponsors are Heretic Knives, TOPS Knives, Reate Knives, QSP, Artisan Cutlery, McNees Knives and Ketuo/Rike Knives.
Blade-o-philes from far and wide converged to cut in Fort Worth.
Knives and knifemakers with a worldly flair, a strong contingent of domestic cutlers, and makers and knife enthusiasts with a nod toward a promising future helped make BLADE Show Texas another entertaining way to start off the new knife show year.
Sweden’s Anders Hogstrom, South Africa’s Bertie Rietveld and Brazil’s Franco de Souza were among the overseas headliners, and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple, Harvey Dean and Evan Nicolaides led the American charge, while 10-year-old Adam Storts of Duncan, Oklahoma, brought his special kind of fixed blades to the Fort Worth Convention Center March 6-8.
Knife fans and knives go wall-to-wall at BLADE Show Texas.
Adding to the youthful mix was knifemaker Tom Overeynder—not because he’s young but because he gave a knife to a happy 10-year-old knife enthusiast. (No word on whether the youngster gave Tom a penny in return; check out this story to learn more about the penny for a knife tradition). Meanwhile, the factory section was a beehive of activity throughout the show, drawing patrons of all ages.
Knife sales, the barometer of any show, were a mixed bag. Most of those who didn’t sell as well as they would have liked attributed much of it to an economy that was still in the throes of a downturn caused by inflation and lingering high prices for standard consumer goods and services. As a result of the economic uncertainty, many folks were understandably cautious about making large purchases. Exhibitors who did sell well, though, were upbeat.
FACTORY BEST IN SHOW/BEST IMPORTED The Poikilo Blade VK-Zen framelock folder has a 3.25-inch blade of Bohler M398 stainless steel with a “V” grind. Handle and pocket clip: titanium. Designer: Vulpex Knives. Closed length: 4.25 inches. Country of origin: China. It comes in four different configurations with MSRPs ranging from $380 to $700.
“I had a great show,” noted Jared Oeser. “I brought eight custom knives along with some productions and sold them all.” Business also seemed good for members of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel, with Phil Jacobs selling 10 of the 14 knives he brought and Toby Hill selling eight of nine.
It was the first BLADE Show Texas for David Lisch and he liked what he saw. “It’s a great location and the size was good.” He brought 13 knives and sold 11, though only two to collectors. “The rest went to purveyors,” he noted, adding with a wink, “I was glad to have them there.” So was Paul DiStefano. “I brought eight knives and sold seven,” he wrote, “all of them to dealers and not individual collectors. I’m definitely not complaining about that.” Overeynder brought seven knives, selling four of his handmades and three out of his collection. “I also sold one a few days after the show to a guy who couldn’t be there,” he stated.
BLADE Show Texas Attendance
Sweden’s Anders Hogstrom appears pointedly pensive.
Show attendance graded out very well overall. “I think Saturday had more people than Friday. It seems like the local attendance in Texas is good,” Oeser observed. “I did meet new customers and friends, which was really great.” Overeynder indicated there was a “pretty constant flow of people,” agreeing with Oeser that Saturday had the most traffic, though noting it seemed to slow after 2 p.m. Considering the high number of exhibitors, Lisch said attendance was “just OK.” Added Andy Wang of Poikilo Blade, “Friday was moderately busy for us but Saturday we were packed almost the entire day.”
Josh Taylor brought seven pieces and sold two, including his award-winning sword cane and a fluted dagger. “I love BLADE Show Texas,” he wrote. “It was the first show I did in the BLADE Show world and I have been back four years in a row. Attendance seemed pretty solid considering the cold and the rain. My table was covered up with people for both days.”
“The attendance was all right. It seemed to be the same at what most shows are at, which from when I started going to shows seven years ago is slightly less,” DiStefano observed. Nonetheless, he indicated he enjoyed himself. “I thought the show was run extremely well and everyone involved was incredible! I for sure plan on coming back every single year. It was a great time.”
BLADE Show Texas Awards
The custom and factory knife judging competitions recognized an array of outstanding work. The custom knife judges were Michael Vagnino, Lin Rhea and Bill Burke, while the factory judges were Tom Krein, David Carver and Clayton Ensigner.
The custom winners were: Best in Show and Best Fighter: Franco de Souza; Best Folder and Best in Show Contender: Tom Overeynder; Best Art Knife: Paul DiStefano; Best Bowie: David Lisch; Best Damascus: Pedro Fornari; Best EDC: Evan Nicolaides; Best Hunter: Josh Fisher; Best Kitchen Knife: Luke Dellmyer and Richard Patterson; Best Slipjoint: Evan Nicolaides; Best M.A.C.K.: Jared Oeser; and Best of the Rest: Josh Taylor.
CUSTOM BEST ART KNIFE Paul DiStefano won for Megachiroptera with an 11.5-inch blade in a “mosaic damascus of with leaves,” a theme that carries over to the African blackwood handle carved as a eucalyptus tree abundant with eucalyptus leaves. Overall length: 17.5 inches.
The factory winners: Best in Show and Best Imported Knife: Poikilo Blade VK-Zen; Best American Made Knife: Dauntless Manufacturing Clifft; Best EDC: Dauntless Manufacturing Moss; Best Fixed Blade: QSP Viper; Best Folder: Pro-Tech/Vero Engineering Synapse Auto; and Best of the Rest: Vero Engineering Vortex TI Maintenance Kit.
Knife companies will debut their latest at BLADE Show 2025.
Knives and plenty of them, the BLADE Show is the Mecca for anything that cuts, hack or chops. It’s also a launching pad.
Many companies wait for the big dance in Atlanta’s Cobb County Convention center to release their latest and greatest, making the June 6-8 shindig the perfect place to pick up a brand-new, nobody-else-has design. While we’re certain there some makers have some rabbits they’ll pull out of their hats at the show, we’ve got a sneak peek of a few factory blades set to go on sale at the show.
So, without further adieu here are a bevvy of 2025 BLADE Show knife debuts you should keep an eye out for at gathering!
Work Sharp throws its hat into the knife ring with its first-ever knife: the RMX EDC folder. The 3.2-inch reverse tanto blade of full-flat-ground CPM 3V carbon steel button locks both open and closed. Comes with both a manual and auto pivot to allow you to switch between whichever mode of operation suits your needs. The magnesium handle has a reversible, tip-up, deep carry clip. Weight: 2.4 ounces Closed length: 4.3 inches Country of origin: Designed, assembled and quality checked in Ashland, Oregon, using foreign parts MSRP: $139.95 Available: BLADE Show 2025
McNees Knives MAC2 3.5
McNees Knives MAC2 3.5
Titanium scales with a honeycomb look and a 3.5-inch tanto blade of hollow-ground CPM MagnaCut stainless distinguish the MAC2 3.5 tactical folder by McNees Knives. Blade opener: thumb stud. Lock: Reeve Integral Lock (aka framelock) Clip: bent titanium Weight: 26 ounces Closed length: 4.25 inches Country of origin: USA MSRP: $625 Available: BLADE Show 2025
Condor Tool & Knife K-Night Panabas
Condor Tool & Knife K-Night Panabas
The K-Night Panabas from Condor Tool & Knife boasts a 14.29-inch blade of convex-ground 1075 carbon steel and Micarta® scales. Weight: 32.98 ounces Overall length: 25.35 inches Sheath (not shown): Kydex with leather belt loop Country of origin: El Salvador MSRP: $174.98 Available: NOW
Rick Hinderer Knives Bowie
Rick Hinderer Knives Bowie
The Aluminum Automatic XM-18 3.5-inch Bowie from Rick Hinderer Knives features a 3.5-inch blade of CPM S45VN stainless steel. The aluminum handle with titanium half liners is anodized turquoise and inlaid in Arctic Storm FCF. Lock: button lock Clip: Chaos Horsehead model in stonewashed titanium Weight: 5.12 ounces Closed length: 4.75 inches Country of origin: USA MSRP: $495 Available: Late 2025
Fox Knives Pacifico EDC
Fox Knives Pacifico EDC
Designed by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola, the Pacifico EDC flipper folder by Fox has a 3.74-inch blade of Thor pattern damascus by Damasteel. The handle is black camo carbon fiber by FatCarbon®. Clip: titanium PVD-coated black Lock: linerlock Weight: 3.88 ounces Closed length: 5.31 inches Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $583 Available: July
Big Idea Design Signal
Big Idea Design Signal
Designed by ABS journeyman smith Mak Kelsay, the Signal utility from Big Idea Design has a 3.5-inch blade of flat-ground Nitro-V stainless steel and G-10 scales with custom pass-through titanium hardware. Weight: 3.4 ounces Overall length: 7.67 inches Sheath (not shown): taco-style Kydex w/titanium pocket clip Country of origin: USA MSRP: $275 Available: May/June
Queen/Smoky Mountain Knife Works Mountain Man Trapper
Queen/Smoky Mountain Knife Works Mountain Man Trapper
The Mountain Man Trapper from Queen/Smoky Mountain Knife Works sports a 3 3/8-inch blade of CPM MagnaCut stainless steel and Lava Flow FatCarbon® scales. Blade pattern: Clip Action: slipjoint Weight: 2.93 ounces Closed length: 4 1/8 inches Country of origin: USA MSRP: $299.99 Available: July
GiantMouse GMP13
GiantMouse GMP13
A 2.4-inch blade in a distinctive modified hawkbill pattern of flat-ground CPM S90V stainless and zirconium scales highlight the GiantMouse GMP13 “defense folder.” Lock: crossbar Clip: ambidextrous Weight: 3.7 ounces Closed length: 3.67 inches Country of origin: China MSRP: $435 Available: NOW
Lionsteel ACHA
Lionsteel ACHA
A contrasting combo of a 4.21-inch blade of M390 sintered steel in an “old black” finish and a burlap Micarta® handle in an integral construction set the Lionsteel ACHA outdoor knife apart. Blade grind: V flat Guard: titanium Sheath (not shown): Leather Weight: 6.24 ounces Overall length: 9.17 inches Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $252 at press-time exchange rate Available: NOW
Spyderco Chaparral
Spyderco Chaparral
Dark Matter Red FatCarbon® scales and a 2.77-inch blade of full-flat-ground CTS-XHP stainless steel highlight the latest iteration of the Spyderco Chaparral back-lock folder. Clip: wire Weight: 2.2 ounces Closed length: 3.6 inches Country of origin: Taiwan MSRP: To be determined Available: To be determined
Ocaso Lucent Automatic
Ocaso Lucent Automatic
The Ocaso Lucent Automatic is a dual-action out-the-front with a 3.5-inch blade of flat-ground Bohler M390 stainless and a 6061-T6 aluminum handle with an ambidextrous deep-carry pocket clip. Weight: 2.2 ounces Closed length: 4.4 ounces Country of origin: China MSRP: $274.99 Available: July
Halfbreed Blades SOFMAK
Halfbreed Blades SOFMAK
Scales of an electric G-10 and partially double-serrated blade of PVD-coated K340 ISODUR tool steel stand out on the MIK-04 SOFMAK from Halfbreed Blades. Blade length: 5.31 inches Weight: 11.14 ounces Overall length: 10.31 inches Designer: Jonathan Loftes in collaboration with Joseph Teti Sheath (not shown): Belt and PALS/MOLLE Country of origin: Comprises Australian and Taiwanese make MSRP: $275 Available: NOW
CobraTec CNC OTF Pen Knife Generation 2
CobraTec CNC OTF Pen Knife Generation 2
The CNC OTF Pen Knife Generation 2 from CobraTec sports a 1.75-inch blade of stonewashed stainless steel. The dual-action out-the-front has a handle of 6061 T6 aluminum with a titanium pocket clip/switch and a safety lock. Includes a replaceable black ink cartridge. Weight: 1.4 ounces Closed length: 5.875 inches Country of origin: China MSRP: $89.99 Available: NOW
Emerson Knives, Inc. Tanto A-100
Emerson Knives, Inc. Tanto A-100
The Tanto A-100 Flipper by Emerson Knives, Inc., cuts with a 3.6-inch blade of CPM MagnaCut stainless in a conventional “V” grind. Handle: G-10 with a hole for a lanyard. Lock: linerlock Closed length: 4.8 inches Additional blade opening option: thumb disc Country of origin: USA MSRP: $295 Available: NOW
Benchmade Mini Crooked River
Benchmade Mini Crooked River
Benchmade’s Mini Crooked River folder sports a 3.4-inch clip-point blade of CPM MagnaCut stainless in a Battlewash finish. The handle is black canvas Micarta® with aluminum bolsters anodized a burnt copper. Lock: AXIS Weight: 3.2 ounces Closed length: 4.5 inches Country of origin: USA MSRP: $320 Available: July
QSP Hyena
QSP Hyena
The Hyena flipper folder from QSP has a striking grip of anodized aluminum and copper-foil G-10 inlay and a 3.25-inch blade of flat-ground Bohler N690 stainless that pivots on ceramic ball bearings. Clip: Titanium, tip up. Closed length: 4.53 inches. Country of origin: China. MSRP: Contact maker for pricing. Available: September.
Maserin Pulse
Maserin Pulse
Black/orange FatCarbon® scales serve as the steering wheel for the 3.149-inch blade of flat-ground CPM MagnaCut stainless on the Maserin Pulse. Blade finish: stonewashed. Lock: W-Lock Clip: Stainless, reversible Weight: 3 ounces Closed length: 4.5 inches Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $219 at press-time exchange rate Available: NOW
Reate PL-7
Reate PL-7
A 3.5-inch upswept blade of Nitro-V stainless in a belt-satin finish and a Micarta® handle top off the PL-7 from Reate. Weight: 4.5 ounces Closed length: 4.5 inches Country of origin: China Knife to know: The PL stands for Pivot Lock MSRP: Pending Available: Pending
CRKT Padawan
CRKT Padawan
An EDC flipper/framelock folder, the CRKT Padawan has a 3.01-inch drop-point blade of hollow-ground 14C28N stainless. Blade finish: nitride coated Pivot: Ikoma Korth Bearing System Handle: stainless steel with carbon-fiber overlay Pocket clip: low profile, stainless Weight: 3.1 ounces Closed length: 4.14 inches Country of origin: China MSRP: $100 Available: NOW
APOC/CAS Iberia Wallace Smatchet
APOC/CAS Iberia Wallace Smatchet
Designed by Mike Wallace, the Wallace Smatchet from APOC/CAS Iberia is a “historically inspired bushcraft” knife based on the classic World War II combat model. The 9 5/8-inch blade is flat-ground D2 tool steel in a titanium coat. Scales: G-10 Weight: 1 pound, 10 ounces Overall length: 15.5 inches Sheath: Kydex with drain hole Country of origin: China MSRP: $175. Available: NOW
Consider handy custom knives ideal for outdoor & indoor use.
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 April. So, with out further adieu, here’s our latest round of new knives.
Lin Rhea Puukko
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 4.5” Blade material: Damascus Blade grind: Chisel Scales: Desert ironwood, stacked Micarta®, antler Overall Length: 9.5” Sheath (not shown): By Joshua Rhea (Instagram, @rheas_leather), a Finnish traditional leather pouch model w/carry loop Knife to know: Lin Rhea is an ABS master smith Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,200 Maker: Lin Rhea, rheaknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Chris Jones Vizsla EDC
Knife type: Fixed-blade EDC Blade: 3” Blade steel: Nitro V stainless Blade grind: Flat Scales: TruStone, copper resin, Turkish walnut Liners: G-10 Overall length: 7.25” Sheath (not shown): Leather pouch Knife to know: Integral single guard Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $400 Maker: Chris Jones, steeldogknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Kieren McNeilly Bird & Trout
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: W2 tool steel Blade grind: Flat/convex Blade finish: 600-grit satin Blade thickness @ricasso: .157” Blade pattern: Clip point Scales: Blackwood w/416 stainless pins Overall length: 7” Sheath (not shown): Leather belt model Knife to know: Heirloom-fit handle; tapered tang; high-polished clip point, choil and spine; Kieren McNeilly is a probationary member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild Maker’s price for a similar knife: $300 Maker: Kieren McNeilly, (Rod Hoare image)
Gooball Knives Wombat
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 1” Blade material: 1084 carbon steel Blade grind: Flat Blade thickness @ricasso: .118” Scales: Ringed gidgee Overall length: 3” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for pricing Maker: Giuseppe “Joe” Brunetta, Gooball Knives, (Rod Hoare image)
D.P. Brodziak Custom Knives Fighter
Blade length: 8.5” Blade material: Mosaic damascus of 80CrV2 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels forged by Mark Doyle Blade grind: Double hollow Blade thickness @ricasso: .197” Guard material: 416 stainless steel Scales: Banksia nut and gold fleck in resin Overall length: 13.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,600 at press-time exchange rate Maker: David Brodziak, D.P. Brodziak Custom Knives, brodziakcustomknives.com (Rod Hoare image)
Bison Blades Tatanka
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: W2 tool steel w/hamon Blade grind: Flat Scales: Ironwood, bog oak and G-10 accents Liners: G-10 Overall length: 7.75” Sheath (not shown): By Letney Head, a leather pouch model w/color artwork Knife to know: Named Troup 36 Scout Favorite at the 2024 Texas Select Custom Cutlery Event Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for pricing Maker: Eric Gubser, Bison Blades, bison-blades.com (SharpByCoop image)
Shawn Shropshire Neck Knife
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: 1084 carbon steel Blade grind: Full flat Scales: Ancient walrus ivory artifact and opal Guard: Bronze Overall length: 8” Sheath (not shown): Elaborate frontier period style of leather w/beads, tassels, etc. Knife to know: The blade is hand finished Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,000-$1,300, depending on pricing of the ancient walrus ivory artifact Maker: Shawn Shropshire, sdsknifeworks.com (SharpByCoop image)
Charles “Chuck” Gedraitis Dr. Strange
Model: Swiss-Army-knife-type automatic Blade lengths: 3.25” and 2” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade patterns: Clip main and screwdriver/can opener Lock: Linerlock Knife to know: The knife is the maker’s tribute to Dr. Stephen Strange, the Marvel Comics fictional superhero; the main blade opens automatically by depressing the smaller tool blade; a tweezers and toothpick insert into slots in the handle butt a la SAK types; has lanyard w/key ring Scales: Combo blue (represents Dr. Strange’s clothing) and red (his “magic cape”) G-10 w/leather (his belt) and brass (belt buckle) accents; the brass ellipse holds an emerald, which represents the “Time stone,” one of the “six infinity stones” in the Dr. Strange saga Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,500 Maker: Charles “Chuck” Gedraitis, (SharpByCoop image)
Will Stelter Hand Axe
Axe type: Poll Blade/head material: Damascus Blade steels: 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy Haft: Carved African blackwood Pommel: Damascus Knife to know: Will Stelter is an ABS journeyman smith Maker: Will Stelter, willstelterbladesmith.com (SharpByCoop image)
Peter Bald Lockback Folder
Knife type: Lockback folder Blade length: 3.15” Blade material: Feather damascus forged by Rian Doodle under the supervision of ABS master smith Bill Burke Blade grind: Flat Blade thickness @ricasso: .098” Blade @widest: .748” Scales: Stabilized red mallee wood Frame: Nickel silver Bolster/liners/guard: Nickel silver Closed length: 4.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $630 at press-time exchange rate Maker: Peter Bald, (Rod Hoare image)
Matthew Parkinson Medieval Knife
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 4” Blade material: 1084 carbon steel Blade grind: Full flat Scales: Stabilized koa Bolster/pommel material: Sterling silver Overall length: 8.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $850 Knife to know: Matthew Parkinson is an ABS journeyman smith Maker: Matthew Parkinson, (SharpByCoop image)
Alfred Faccipieri Big Mama Chef
Knife type: Cleaver Blade length: 6.7” Blade material: Damasteel Bjorkman twist damascus Handle Material: Buckeye Overall length: 13.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,400-$1,600 Maker: Alfred Faccipieri, faccipieri.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
The father of modern sporting knives was busy making them a half century ago.
Editor’s Note: BLADE Magazine is celebrating more than 50 years of bringing the knife community sharp coverage of the knife world at large. Given a more comprehensive picture of where the industry comes from—thus, where it’s going—we’re running a series of vignettes on important articles marking milestones in the knife design, knife making and knifemakers from 50 years 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.
