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Holiday Gift Guide for Knife Collectors, Enthusiasts and Makers

BLADE Staff
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Holiday Gift Guide for Knife Collectors, Enthusiasts and Makers

The best gift ideas for knife collectors, enthusiasts and makers can be found at ShopBlade.com. If you’re not familiar with the world of knives and aren’t sure where to start, this is the guide for you. And if you are, we at BLADE won’t cut you short with these suggestions for your own gift list.

For New and Established Knifemakers

Christmas ideas make knives
Want to learn how to make knives, or how to make them even better? This book is a great place to start.

Many books claim to show readers how to make knives, but only one is trusted enough to have three editions with full-color photos. BLADE’s Guide to Making Knives, 3rd Edition is new for 2016, and it’ll be a sure hit with any knifemaker, from the garage tinkerer to the knife show pro.

Get BLADE’s Guide to Making Knives, 3rd Edition from ShopBlade.com at a terrific price.

* Also recommended: 101 Knife Designs.

 

 

 

 

For Casual or Experienced Knife Collectors

Best price best knife book about knives
Knives 2017 is a great gift idea for someone who collects knives.

For 37 years, knife collectors have looked forward to the latest editions of Knives, the annual book published by BLADE. Knives 2017 is the newest in this long tradition, and it’s can’t-miss material for the knife collector on your list.

While the in-depth features are interesting to read, and the custom knifemaker directory is second to none, it’s the beautiful photography that makes this book stand out year after year. Vibrant, full-color photos of the hottest custom knives on the planet receive the white glove treatment in this handsome tome. It’s as at home in the shop as it is on the coffee table.

Get Knives 2017 from ShopBlade.com here. 

* Also recommended: Collecting Case Knives, 2nd. Ed. Identification and Price Guide for Pocket Knives.

For the Armed and Prepared Person

Knives can mean many things to many people, but their use as self-defense tools is undisputed. If the knife enthusiast on your list takes being prepared for the unthinkable seriously, there’s only one DVD you need to consider.

Make Ready with James Williams: Continuing Solutions to Edged Weapons is simply one of the best guides on self-defense with a knife available. Williams is a regular presenter at the BLADE Show, and his insights are second to none.

Get Make Ready with James Williams: Continuing Solutions to Edged Weapons here for 56% off the regular price.

* Also recommended: Build the Perfect Bug Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit.

For Someone You’re Unsure About

Book about whittling with knives
Learn how to whittle.

It happens. The knife nut on your list either has everything already or doesn’t seem to need to anything in the first place. Fortunately, there’s a book that fits the bill.

Whittling Twigs & Branches is an unexpected find that cracks open the world of whittling with knives. There’s a surprising amount of information to learn about this topic. This includes how to carve roosters, herons, pheasants, roadrunners, flowers, trees and letter openers from ordinary twigs and branches.

Get Whittling Twigs & Branches here from ShopBlade.com for less than $10.

* Also recommended: Knife Laws of the U.S.: Loopholes, Pitfalls & Secrets.

For the Person with Too Many Knives

Best gifts for knife collectors
Here’s how to store your knives.

After conducting extensive and highly scientific research, 10 out of 10 knife experts agree: there’s no such thing as too many knives. However, there is such a thing as not having enough storage.

That’s why BLADE‘s exclusive 18-pocket knife roll is the perfect gift. Not only does it keep folding knives secure, it rolls up for efficient storage. Its strong yet flexible material keeps out dirt, moisture, light, pollutants and more.

The only place to get BLADE‘s 18-pocket knife roll is at ShopBlade.com.

Also recommended: Quick Release oil and applicator.

For Someone Just Starting Out in Knives

Christmas Holiday Gift Guide Knives
The CRKT Endorser is a great gift for someone new to knife collecting.

That knife collection isn’t going to build itself. Help a new collector along with this terrific CRKT Endorser folding knife. It’s the right mix between price (it’s a bargain for you) and features (it’s a respectable knife for them).

Dimensions

  • Open Overall Length: 7.31 inches
  • Closed Length: 4.17 inches
  • Weight: 3.2 ounces

Blade

  • Length: 3.18 inches
  • Thickness: 0.1 inches
  • Material: 8Cr14MoV
  • Blade-HRC: 58-59
  • Finish: Satin
  • Grind: Hollow
  • Style: Drop Point
  • Edge: Plain

Handle

  • Material: G10

Lock

  • Type: Locking Liner

Get the CRKT Endorser from ShopBlade.com for just $24.99.

* Also recommended: CRKT Swindle, designed by Ken Onion.

For the Ultimate Knife Collector

Best knife gifts
A top-of-the-line gift for a top-of-the-line knife collector.

If the collector on your list is serious about knives, make a big impression with the Famars Piccolo Aluminum Black Model A with Damascus Blades knife. From the description:

The world’s first pinless sidelock knife. Anodized aluminum body. Standard blade and tanto blade in 416 layered damascus steel.

This is one knife that your lucky recipient won’t soon forget. Get it here from ShopBlade.com.

* Also recommended: Klecker Knives Titanium KLAX Lumberjack.

Best Knives for Hunting: Deer & Deer Hunting Clip Point Knife

BLADE Staff
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Best Knives for Hunting: Deer & Deer Hunting Clip Point Knife

Note: Click this link to purchase the knife, available only at ShopBlade.com. The knife is no longer available at ShopDeerHunting.com.

Best knives for deer hunting
Deer & Deer Hunting knows what makes the best deer hunting knives. When it found one that met the criteria, it put its name on it. Then it made three versions of it.

BLADE‘s media sister over on the deer hunting side is Deer & Deer Hunting, and you can imagine that it knows a thing or two about knives. Deer & Deer Hunting editors recognize how a dependable blade makes all the difference. When you need a knife, you need a knife.

That’s why BLADE was thrilled to hear that Deer & Deer Hunting partnered with the American Knife Company to produce an exclusive line of hunting knives. Here are the must-know details straight from the editors themselves:

Emblazoned with the DDH logo right on the blade, this classic design puts a modern twist on an old favorite of deer camps across North America.

Micarta handles offer a firm grip in slippery conditions common to bad weather, field dressing, butchering and the rugged demands of the hunt. A healthy dose of chromium in the A2 steel blade means it’ll stand up to the worst you can throw at it. The clip point blade design is as versatile as it comes, ready to make any task at deer camp a treat.

That sounds like the makings of the best deer hunting knives around. Whether you’re a collector or a hunter, click here to get the best knife for deer hunting you can shake an antler at.

Featured Knife: Mako Folder by MacGray & Co.

BLADE Staff
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Featured Knife: Mako Folder by MacGray & Co.
Best folding knives featured BLADE magazine
In addition to being a fine example of a modern folder, the Mako Folder from MacGray & Co. is made in the U.S. from domestic materials.

Specs

  • Company: MacGray & Co.
  • Knife: Mako Folder
  • Designer: MacGray & Co.
  • Length: 8 1/2 inches
  • Blade: CPM 154, saber grind, modified drop point design
  • Lock: Titanium Liner Lock
  • Handle: Black Micarta Handle
  • Ambidextrous thumbscrew
  • Stainless steel variable clip

An All-American Knife

The MacGray & Co. Mako Folder knife is made in San Marcos, California, with quality materials from small American suppliers. The frame is milled from Grade 5 titanium for an excellent combination of strength, weight reduction and corrosion resistance.

The Mako sports a tried and true locking liner, which is self-adjusting to wear and prevents the blade from closing on the user’s hand as it grasps durable Micarta or G-10 handles.

The Steel: Two Great Choices

The blade is ground from your choice of two steels.

D2 is a high carbon, high chromium steel that offers excellent resistance to wear and abrasion, holding an edge very well. It is often referred to as “semi-stainless” due to its high resistance to corrosion.

The other option, CPM-154 stainless steel, is created in a process that produces a uniform distribution of the carbides. This provides material consistency, greater resistance to breakage and toughness. It’s an excellent stainless steel with high wear resistance.

The Blade: Strong and Sturdy

The satin-finished blade has a sabre grind for additional strength and sturdiness. MacGray & Co. harden, cryo-quench and temper blades in house.

No Detail Left Untouched

The Mako sports a stainless steel, .25-inch pivot with a bronze pivot bushing. It features a stainless steel pocket clip, hardware and ambidextrous thumb screw.

A Lifetime Guarantee

Each MacGray & Co. knife is made by three guys who love what they do. It’s no surprise that they stand behind their work with a lifetime guarantee and are committed to giving the highest level of service to knife enthusiasts.

Where to Get This Knife

The Mako Folder from MacGray and Co. is available here and ready to be added to your knife collection. Don’t miss it!

Featured Knives: Oz Knives

BLADE Staff
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Featured Knives: Oz Knives

Oz Knives 1

Image 1 of 13

125+ layers of 1095 carbon steel and 15N20 Nickel steel
Fold: TWIST
Handle Material: STAG / BROWN MICARTA
Guard/Butt Cap: NICKEL SILVER
Style: DROP POINT

As the creative force behind Oz Custom Knives, Jim Ort made a name for himself with his signature 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel damascus blades. From tip to pommel, his fixed blade knives offer a classic look that recalls a time when no one left home without a knife. Ort puts his own twist on these timeless favorites by working in modern materials to offer the performance and curb appeal 21st century collectors crave.

Originally hailing from northern Wisconsin, Ort moved into full-time knifemaking in 1996 after retiring to Arizona. In addition to knives, Ort is also an accomplished sheathmaker.

Find more of Ort’s creations at Oz Custom Knives, visit Copper State Cutlery. For direct inquiries, e-mail Ort at ort [at] cox [dot] net.

BLADE Honored for Stance Against Counterfeit Knives

BLADE Staff
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BLADE Honored for Stance Against Counterfeit Knives

BLADE Show anti counterfeitFrom the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI)

The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) presented its inaugural Integrity Award to BLADE and F+W for contributions to work against counterfeit knives. The presentation took place at the recent BLADE Show awards reception in Atlanta.

The BLADE Show is world’s largest annual knife event; F+W is a media and e-commerce company headquartered in New York City.

Rod Bremer, chair of AKTI’s Anti-Counterfeiting Committee and CEO of CRKT, along with John Sullivan, AKTI Vice President and W.R. Case’s Vice President of Marketing, made the first presentation of the evening to BLADE editor Steve Shackleford.

“AKTI was proud to partner with BLADE to develop a policy to fight the growing number of counterfeit knives damaging our industry,” said Rod Bremer. “The BLADE Show will now be a safer place to display products and for our customers to buy branded knives and tools with confidence they are genuine.”

“BLADE Magazine and F+W are most humbled for being recognized with the first AKTI Integrity Award. The fact that it salutes us for our integrity in fighting the worldwide problem of counterfeit knives and that it’s the inaugural presentation of the honor makes it doubly humbling. On behalf of both BLADE and F+W, I thank you,” said Steve Shackleford.

The BLADE Show policy on counterfeiting, trademark infringement and intellectual property can be seen on their website www.bladeshow.com and is incorporated into the rules for the 2017 show on June 2-4 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

The BLADE Show provides a forum for members of the knife community to gather and focus on knives. Designers, makers and manufacturers can showcase their efforts. Consumers, collectors and users can meet firsthand with those on the supply side and conduct hands-on comparison and evaluation of much of what comprises the knife. The protection of intellectual property, including trademarks and trade dress, is critical to preserving a dynamic and innovative knife industry. The BLADE Show is, accordingly, committed to an anti-piracy policy. Exhibitors who are found to be offering counterfeit or “pirated” knives may be subject to any or all of the following:

  1. Removal by law enforcement of items proven to be counterfeit or pirated.
  2. Legal action by the affected parties, including removal from the Show by law enforcement.
  3. Banned from exhibiting at future BLADE shows.

The BLADE Show will work with law enforcement, private anti-piracy consultants retained by various exhibitors and all involved to arrive at the most equitable solution to issues involving counterfeit and pirated knives. All exhibitors are encouraged to exercise care to avoid counterfeit and pirated knives. Know the source and integrity of the knives you display.

The effects of counterfeits are devastating. In addition to the loss of sales revenue, manufacturers and custom knifemakers incur other costs such as increased customer service issues, legal fees, monitoring counterfeiters, and erosion of their brands.

AKTI works to provide information to the knife community on how to protect their intellectual property, brand and how to fight against counterfeits on the market.

Featured Knife: CRKT Homefront – 2016 Most Innovative Imported Design Award Winner

BLADE Staff
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Featured Knife: CRKT Homefront – 2016 Most Innovative Imported Design Award Winner

The CRKT Homefront: A Hit Before It’s Even Out the Door

What I enjoy the most about knife shows is the hidden gems I’ll find among the blades. Whether it’s a unique spin on a classic design, a different type of steel or handle material, a peanut-butter-meets-chocolate pairing of knifemaking pros or a radical new approach, nothing beats finding that diamond in the rough. The 2016 BLADE Show was no exception, and that’s where I first encountered this:

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the new Homefront from Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT), and it went down as one of my top finds at the world’s foremost knife event. Straight from the brain of Ken Onion and sporting patent pending features, I could tell this was a game changer right from the beginning. The awards ceremony at the BLADE Show proved me right. The Homefront took home the award for 2016’s Most Innovative Imported Design, and it’s not even on shelves yet.

What Makes the CRKT Homefront Special? Field Strip Technology

CRKT Ken Onion Homefront Best Knife Award Winning
“The new Field Strip Technology is great and all, but have you tried NOT burying your knife in mud?” (CRKT photo)

The Homefront is to knives what takedown rifles are to firearms. The Homefront’s wickedly simple Field Strip Technology allows the user to disassemble and reassemble the knife in mere seconds. Just flip a switch and turn a screw as shown in the video above. It’s as simple as that.

That same video shows the knife being cleared of dirt and debris in a stream after use outdoors, which is a great application of the Field Strip Technology. But you know what I’m most excited about? Pocket lint.

“The Easier a Knife is to Clean, the More Likely it is to be Cleaned”

Pocket lint is the bane of my everyday carry folders. The sorcery of fuzz, residual heat and repetitive motion that comes with slipping an EDC into the pocket can form a gooey mess we knife scientists like to call, “gunk.” (I’m sure there’s a Greek root word in there somewhere.) This gunk builds up in hard-to-reach places and eventually requires disassembly, because there’s a limit to what all those gallons of knife oil can do.

With Field Strip Technology, cleaning up no longer requires a set of tools and a magnet to find those tiny screws when they inevitably roll onto the floor. The Homefront comes apart in seconds, then reassembles just as quickly. The result is an simple-to-maintain folding knife that will last. The easier a knife is to clean, the more likely it is to be cleaned.

I fully expect CRKT to use Field Strip Technology on other models in the future. I wouldn’t put it past CRKT to come out with add-ons to the Homefront to take full advantage of this tech, such as alternative blade and handle designs. To that end, the Homefront would be more like the AR-15 of knives, where the appeal is in a platform that allows customization specific to the end user. That level of personalization is obvious in trends outside of knives, too, and the Homefront could mark the beginning of a wider evolution of the consumer knife market. If this is the bandwagon, I’m hopping on.

Where to Get the CRKT Homefront: ShopBlade.com

Ken Onion award winning knife 2016 blade show
The CRKT Homefront before and after, and before and after again, and again, and again and again. Click to order yours today from ShopBlade.com.

ShopBlade.com is one of the first outlets anywhere to carry the CRKT Homefront, and it does so with pride. Here are the specs:

  • Overall Length: 8.313 inches
  • Closed Length: 4.728 inches
  • Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Blade Length: 3.502 inches
  • Blade Thickness: 0.133 inches
  • Blade Steel: AUS 8
  • Blade HRC: 57-58
  • Blade Finish: Brushed Steel
  • Edge: Plain
  • Handle Material: 6061 Aluminum
  • Lock: Locking Liner

Click here to order your CRKT Homefront today!

Winners List: BLADE Show 2016 Knife of the Year® Awards & Custom Knife Awards

BLADE Staff
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Winners List: BLADE Show 2016 Knife of the Year® Awards & Custom Knife Awards
Lionsteel Metamorphosis
Lionsteel Metamorphosis

Atlanta, Georgia (June 4, 2016) – Awards recognizing the highest achievement in the custom and factory knife industries were bestowed the evening of Saturday, June 4, 2016, at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) in the Cobb Galleria.

2016 BLADE Show Knife of the Year® Award Winners

Representatives from BLADE Magazine (www.blademag.com) distributed Knife of the Year® awards in 15 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.

• Overall Knife Of The Year®: Lionsteel – Metamorphosis
• American-Made Knife Of The Year®: Spartan Blades – SHF
• Imported Knife Of The Year®: Dragon Claw – SUPER HITMAN47
• Most Innovative American Design: Mike Vellekamp Knives & Designworks – CDHK (Cold Dead Hands Karambit)
• Most Innovative Imported Design: CRKT – Field Strip Homefront
• Best Buy Of The Year: CRKT – Tighe Tac Two
• Kitchen Knife Of The Year®: KAI-USA – Shun Hikari
• Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year®: Pro-Tech – BR-1 Ultimate Custom
• Knife Collaboration Of The Year®: Florian Knives & Russ Kommer – Sniper
• Manufacturing Quality Award: Chris Reeve Knives
• Accessory Of The Year: Work Sharp – Combo Knife Sharpener
• People’s Choice Knife Of The Year®: Schrade – SCHF52
• Industry Achievement Award: The Delavan Family and Plaza Cutlery
• Publisher’s Award: Forged in Fire
• BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© Inductee: CJ Buck

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.

2016 BLADE Show Custom Knife Winners

The 2016 BLADE Show Custom Knife Award Winners were also announced on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.

  • Hugh Bartrug Best of Show: Mike Quesenberry and Saign Charleston
  • Yvon Vachon Best Miniature: Shigeru Tozaki
  • Best Folder: Gus Cecchini
  • Best New Maker: Michael Zieba
  • Best Bowie: Brian Thie
  • Best Handle Design: Jean-Louis Regel
  • Best Fighter: Bill Luckett
  • Best Art Knife: Bertie Rietveld
  • Best Collaboration: Mike Quesenberry and Saign Charleston
  • Best Damascus: Dionatam Franco
  • Best Fixed Blade: David Broadwell
  • Best Tactical Folder: Kirby Lambert
  • Best Sword: Ron Chen
  • Best Utility Hunter: Josh Fisher
  • Most Innovative Design: Phil Booth
  • Best of the Rest: CAS

About BLADE Show

The BLADE Show is the world’s largest, most important knife show, and has taken place every year since 1981 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 People’s Choice Award is open for voting to all visitors of blademag.com.

The BLADE Show and BLADE Magazine are the properties of F+W of Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

See 40 Years of Knives that Changed the World

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.

 

Best Factory Knives BLADE Magazine Best Custom Knives BLADE Magazine
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