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)
See who took home the hardware from the BLADE Show Texas Custom Knife competition.
With deep roots in fine custom knifemaking, BLADE Show Texas consistently attracts the top names in the industry, making its Custom Knife Awards a true showdown of elite craftsmanship. The 2025 competition, held March 7-8 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, was no exception.
The judging hall overflowed with exceptional entries in 12 categories, pushing the three-judge panel to their limits. After intense deliberation, the judges selected the finest blades of the year—including Best of Show and Best Fighter, awarded to Franco for his stunning fighter that felt as good in the hand as it looked to the eye.
Best In Show & Best Fighter: Franco
What The Judges Said: “We felt his had the best technical aspects with the gold inlay and engraving. It’s a very long blade but has a short feel and is very [wieldly], easy to maneuver.”
Best In Show Contender & Custom Folding Knife: Tom Overeynder
What The Judges Said: “The fit and finish, the action… there is nothing wrong with this knife. It’s an awesome knife that’s super clean.”
Best Art Knife: Paul Distefano
What The Judges Said: “It has a cohesive vision, executed with no flaws. It’s color, texture and finish all tie together.”
Best Custom Bowie: David Lisch
What The Judges Said: “The organic flow of the guard and fittings and the complication of doing the subhilt all flow into one. The damascus is well executed and the knife has near perfect fit and finish.”
Best Damascus: Pedro Fornari
What The Judges Said: “It’s an eight-bar Turkish twist that’s nearly perfect in execution. It’s difficult to make and it’s an integral.”
Best Custom EDC: Evan Nicolaides
What The Judges Said: “It’s light, elegant, deploys quickly with little movement and it’s efficient.”
Best Custom Hunting Knife: Josh Fisher
What The Judges Said: “We all think this is a differentially etched damascus blade with the damascus showing on the spine of the blade. It’s lightweight with a great blade length for a hunter.”
Best Custom Kitchen Knife: Luke Dellmyer/Richard Patterson
What The Judges Said: “The blade shape is spot on. It doesn’t have any undergrinds or overgrinds. The heel doesn’t rock, it’s balanced and feels lightweight.”
Best Custom Slip Joint: Evan Nicolaides
What The Judges Said: “The action is great, everything lines up and it’s beautifully well made.”
Best M.A.C.K.: Jared Oeser
What The Judges Said: “Overall it has clean lines, operates smooth as silk and technically it’s perfection.”
Best Of The Rest: Josh Taylor
What The Judges Said: “It’s a very cool piece. The blade is dead-nuts straight and the carving is good. Very stylish use of the natural contours of the wood.”
See which factory knives took home the coveted hardware from the BLADE Show Texas Factory Knife Awards.
The BLADE Show Texas, held March 7-8 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, saw an intense factory knife competition. With an excellent turnout of competitors and a high-level of execution on the knives, it was most definitely a showcase of the top-tier production knives at the show.
With such an impressive lineup, the three-judge panel faced a tough challenge in determining which blade best represented each of the seven categories. In short, competition was hot. With the dust settled, here are the winners who claimed top honors, including Best in Show.
Best In Show & Best Imported Knife: Poikilo VK Zen
What The Judges Had To Say: “It’s a well thought out knife in both design and function.”
Best American Made Knife: Dauntless Manufacturing Clifft
What The Judges Had To Say: “The details and craftsmanship in [the Clifft], you don’t expect to see that in a factory knife.”
Best EDC Knife: Dauntless Manufacturing Moss
What The Judges Had To Say: “It’s the entire package. The company has an attention to detail and the knife has one of the best sheathes [we’ve] seen.”
Best Fixed Blade: QSP Viper
What The Judges Had To Say: “It comes with an excellent and functional sheath. It’s ergonomics and carriablity come together to create a complete package.”
Best Folder Knife: Pro-Tech/Vero Engineering Synapse Auto
What The Judges Had To Say: It won, “Because it’s badass!”
Best Of The Rest: Vero Engineering Vortex TI Maintenance Kit
What The Judges Had To Say: “Far too many bit drivers have thin handles. This one is made to fit the hand and torque down on.”
Robert Young reinvents a classic Loveless fixed blade in flipper form.
Robert Young reproduces BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Loveless’s New York Special fixed blade in a flipper folder format, and it’s something that would probably please even Bob himself.
Young also makes a standard fixed-blade repro of the knife. He holds it and the folder—when the folder’s open, both knives are the same size—side by side at shows to see if customers can tell which one’s which, and nine times out of 10 they can’t. Around 1976-77 when he was 16 and a California resident, he learned a man making knives lived three doors down from a friend’s grandfather’s house. Robert visited the man and it turned out to be Loveless. He had no idea who Bob was until later and then visited him about a dozen times.
Robert Young, 64, has been making knives off and on since 1976 and has been full time for two years now. He moved from California to Arkansas in 1993. He’s made about a dozen of the New York Special flippers and also reproduces Loveless City Knife, Junior Bear and Big Bear fixed blades, the latter with a 1-inch-wide sub-hilt. At press time he was working on a folding version of the City Knife and a less expensive version of the New York Special folder. Loveless, of course, never made a custom folder. (Jocelyn Frasier knife image)
“He taught me and I improved a lot real quick,” Robert said. “I wished I’d stuck around there more than I did but I was kind of embarrassed once I found out who he was. I didn’t want to bug him a whole bunch, but he did teach me quite a bit.”
New York Special Flipper Specs Blade length: 3” Blade steel: RWL-34 stainless Rockwell hardness: 62 HRC Blade grind: Double hollow on a 3-inch wheel Blade pivot: Ceramic bearings Scales: Stag Liners: 416 stainless, integral Closed length: 4.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500
