The BLADE Show is the perfect place to spotlight a new release. Here are 13 knives that debuted at the 2018 event.
P.S. We hope to see you at BLADE Show West this October!
Atlanta, Georgia (June 2, 2018) – Awards recognizing the highest achievement in the custom and factory knife industries were bestowed the evening of Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the BLADE Show in the Cobb Galleria.
Representatives from BLADE (www.blademag.com) distributed BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® awards in 13 categories. Two of the awards—Industry Achievement and Publisher’s—went to a retail knife store and a knife-related organization, respectively, for their contributions to the world of knives.
All entrants in the Knife of the Year® competition were judged on a number of factors, including utility, design, creativity, materials, aesthetics, feel and other traits.
BLADE editor Steve Shackleford and Cutlery-Hall-of-Fame® member Ron Lake checked out this knife before the official show start. Here is a quick video of that chance encounter.
Not an uncommon sight. BLADE’s Steve Shackleford (yellow shirt) inspects the latest from Fox Knives. #bladeshow2018 #bladeshow18 pic.twitter.com/PhCEvE3eY2
— BLADE Magazine 🔪 (@BladeMagazine) May 31, 2018
Note: the Caligo is also the official knife of BLADE Show 2018, and is available as a commemorative through BLADE‘s online store. That designation is separate from this award. BLADE does not vote in the Knife of the Year awards.
The Knife of the Year Awards recognized achievements in knives at the personal and professional levels in the following categories:
The 2018 BLADE Show Custom Knife Award Winners were also announced on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.
Best Fixed and Best in Show: Anders Hogstrom
Best Sword: Matthew Parkinson
Best Damascus: Jimmy Chin
Best New Maker: Ed Cope
Best Art Knife: Jean Louis Regent
Best Knife Collaboration: Ben Breda & Ben Seward
Best Folder: Gusatvo Cecchini
Best Utility Hunter: Haley Desrosiers
Most Innovative Design: Corrado Miro
Best Fighter: Josh Fisher
Best Handle Design: Steve Rapp
Best Bowie: Jean Louis Regel
Best of the Rest: Thomas Ward
Best Miniature: Toshiaki Michinaka
Best Tactical Folder: Svarn II by Cultrotech
About BLADE Show
The BLADE Show is the world’s largest, most important knife show, and has taken place every year since 1982 and in Atlanta since 1992. Upwards of 1,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries display their knives and knife-related items over a three-day cutlery celebration that also features BLADE University knife seminars, knife auctions, custom knife awards, celebrity appearances and much more.
About BLADE
BLADE® Magazine (www.blademag.com) is the world’s No.1 knife publication. It is also the world’s oldest knife magazine, publishing its first issue in 1973. In conjunction with the BLADE Show, it has sponsored the Knife of the Year® Awards annually since 1982. The awards are the most coveted honors in the factory knife industry and are voted on by the booth exhibitors at the BLADE Show, who this year number more than 200. Only BLADE Show booth exhibitors are eligible to enter.
The BLADE Show and BLADE Magazine are the properties of Caribou Media LLC.
BLADE collected the very best factory and custom knives into two digital collections to showcase the blades that changed the edged world forever. Click a cover to grab yours today.
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The 2018 Custom Knife Awards were handed out on Saturday, June 2, at the BLADE Show in Atlanta. Here are the winners.
Best Fixed and Best in Show: Anders Hogstrom
Best Sword: Matthew Parkinson
Best Damascus: Jimmy Chin
Best New Maker: Ed Cope
Best Art Knife: Jean Louis Regent
Best Knife Collaboration: Ben Breda & Ben Seward
Best Folder: Gusatvo Cecchini
Best Utility Hunter: Haley Desrosiers
Most Innovative Design: Corrado Miro
Best Fighter: Josh Fisher
Best Handle Design: Steve Rapp
Best Bowie: Jean Louis Regel
Best of the Rest: Thomas Ward
Best Miniature: Toshiaki Michinaka
Best Tactical Folder: Svarn II by Cultrotech
BLADE Show 2019 kicks off June 7 in Atlanta. In the hurry to get everything ready, don’t forget these considerations.
Pack comfortable shoes for all that standing and walking.
If you’re flying in, figure out how you’re getting from from the airport to your hotel. Most people opt for a taxi (available right outside the doors of the airport), a ride-sharing service or a shuttle (if your hotel provides one).
Then figure out how you’re getting from your hotel to the Cobb Galleria.
If family/friends traveling with you are less interested in knives than you are (hey, it happens), check out this list of family-friendly attractions.
The BLADE Show is huge, and it grows every year. Make an itinerary of exhibitors and activities you want to hit so that you don’t get too far into the weeds.
On the other hand, casually browsing the show has benefits, too. You never know what surprises you might find.
Learn proper knife show etiquette so you stay sharp.
How will you get the new knives you purchased home? The most popular way is with a courier service, like UPS or FedEx. Scout out locations ahead of time. Don’t wait until the last minute!
If you plan to make purchases with cash, it’s a smart idea to arrive with it in hand rather than relying on ATMs. There are ATMs located on-site, but if there’s a run on cash, they might be empty.
On that note, how will you keep your cash secure as you walk the show floor?
How will you keep your knives and cash secure in your hotel room?
Have you set a budget for yourself about how much to spend on knives? It’s easy to get carried away on the show floor.
Last, but certainly not least, safety is important. How you carry every other day is different from how you carry at a crowded knife show. Please don’t be this guy:
Msg. Kim Breed (retired), a long-time field editor for BLADE best known for his knife reviews, will partner with DoubleStar Corp. to produce knives for that company’s Edged Weapon line.
There’s no doubt that Breed’s 18 years of experience in the United States 5th Special Forces Group will inform the designs that come out of the collaboration, as well as his time as the owner of Breed Custom Knives. Although DoubleStar has not announced specific models, a release from the company suggests that Breed’s custom work will be adapted for affordable price points.
“Kim is a legend within the custom knife community and we are very excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with him, turning his custom design into something that is accessible to a wider audience. Adding Kim to our already impressive roster of collaborators only strengthens our commitment to the edged weapon market, and we look forward to unveiling his designs soon,” stated Rob Cabrera, director of Edged Weapon, in a DoubleStar release.
The following are examples of Breed’s custom knives:
Here’s Breed working in his shop:
BLADE congratulates Kim on this new adventure and wishes him the best of success. Follow him on Instagram for the latest.
Making knives can be gratifying, but it can also be dangerous, dirty labor that requires proper precautions. Here is a selection of gear that can make the knifemaking experience safe and more enjoyable.
If you need a reminder of what can happen if you don’t take safety seriously, read these knife shop horror stories here and here.
Breathing in fine metal particles and wood dust can do serious damage to your lungs over time. While disposable respirators are good products, anyone who grinds and sands frequently needs a higher level of protection. As result, Jantz offers the 3M 7500 series Reusable Respirator.
“The biggest complaint we hear about respirator use is comfort and heat,” Jantz’s Shanna Kemp noted. “3M’s 7500 series solves these problems with a combination of comfort and durability.”
MSRP for both medium and large sizes: $33.95 each. The MSRP for a combination cartridge to complement the unit is $14.95.
Hawkins Knife Making Supplies offers the Bader B3 Belt Guard, which features an adjustable front hood that minimizes the risk of injury if an abrasive belt should break while in use. Order by phone only. MSRP: $170 (plus shipping and handling).
David Kayne of Blacksmiths Depot says the Didymium Glasses are the company’s best-selling safety item.
“They will save the eyes of anyone who regularly works at temperatures above 2,000°F,” he noted, “forge welding of billets for damascus in particular.” MSRP: $75.
According to Shannon Edgington of Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies, K&G’s model no. WT12 magnet comes in a 5-inch size and is more than strong enough to hold small pieces of steel against a disc or belt sander.
“The magnets are great ‘finger savers’ for removing the bark or just flattening the surface of steel,” she wrote. MSRP: $19.95.
Texas Knifemaker Supply’s heat-treat technician wears the company’s heat-resistant denim work apron to shield himself from the oven’s radiant heat, as well as from the red-hot blades as he checks them for straightness before air quenching.
The heavy-duty denim is nice and thick and has a waistband cord to tie behind the back. One size fits all. The apron also protects clothes from dirt and grime. A handy pen pocket is ideal for telescopic magnets, safety glasses, etc. MSRP: $12.95.
Last week on social media, Benchmade announced two new folders: the 756 mPR (micro pocket rocket) and the 486 Saibu.
Introducing the latest Benchmade/Nakamura collaboration, the 486 Saibu! #mybenchmade #staylifesharp #nakamura
— Benchmade Knife Co. (@BenchmadeKnives) May 18, 2018
Introducing the latest Benchmade/Nakamura collaboration, the 486 Saibu! #mybenchmade #staylifesharp #nakamura
— Benchmade Knife Co. (@BenchmadeKnives) May 18, 2018
That was followed by a live video featuring the newbies:
The knives will be available for your inspection at the Benchmade booth (#8) at BLADE Show 2018. If you can’t make the show, here are the specs.
Benchmade 756 mPR
Benchmade 486 Saibu
Designer Ryan Johnson’s latest tomahawk, a new spin on the Woods Chogan T-Hawk released in 2014, will only be available through CRKT.com. This new version sports a “black magnesium phosphate coating on the head for corrosion resistance and an aesthetically cool firewood-burned handle,” per CRKT.
Why not?
Zero Tolerance’s new 0095TS offers a step up from its 0095 with premium steel and tactical aesthetics. The “TS” in the model name comes from the tiger stripes design on the blade.
