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Elwood Shelton

BLADE Tactical Recap: A Peek At What You Missed In South Carolina

We take a gander at some of the knives that showed up at the first BLADE Tactical at CANCON Carolina.

Sun, guns and a whole bunch of knives—BLADE Tactical was a whole new twist on BLADE Show. And a heck of a marriage between it and one of our sister events, CANCON Carolina.

Held Nov. 7-8 at South Carolina’s Clinton House Plantation range, the inaugural BLADE Tactical brought together some 25 knifemakers to show and sell their wares, all of the blades with a definite tactical bent. The knife show ran the first day, on the periphery of the shooting events. It had a different feel than any of our legacy shows, given it was outdoors and had the constant report of suppressed gunfire as background noise. But it wasn’t too far off our big three with some knife enthusiasts spending the night in the parking lot so they could be the first to the BLADE Tactical pavilion.

With that sort of enthusiasm, we’ll chalk the event down as a success.

For those who were unable to make the BLADE Tactical show or have their interest piqued, we’ve put together a recap of some of the knives that made their way to central South Carolina. Take a gander at what was up for sale and start planning now for next year’s B-Tact extravaganza. For anyone looking to pick up a hot new knife and burn some powder at the range—consider the gathering your Valhalla!

Krein Knives

Krein Knives

Tactical doesn’t preclude good looks, which is certainly the case with this Krein Knives Alpha. The blue thumb studs add a nice flare to this top-end framelock.

Carver Knives

Carver Waif and brass knuckles

Carver Knives‘ Waif has it going on. Up front is a titanium handled-model, in the back a dark Ti handle. Both are thin as a minute, particularly when measured up the knucks in the middle.

Pro Tech Knives

Pro-Tech Godfather

Pro-Tech came to BLADE Tactical with an offer you couldn’t refuse, like a number of these thin and wicked Godfather autos.

Pro-Tech Blaze Orange Inset

The company also offered a nice bit of custom bling for the show, a CANCON blaze orange G-10 insert on several of it’s knives buttons.

Elishewitz Custom Creations

Elishewitz Custom Creations Ek Intergral

With the Ek Integral, Elishewitz Custom Creations combined class and performance in a light and functional package. A nice dagger-style blade deploys in the wink of an eye via a thumb stud.

McNees Knives

Agent and Stalker

Some hefty debuts from McNees Knives at BLADE Tactical. In the rear, is the Ringed Agent and up front the Stalker. Par usual for McNees, both feel like their built to beat the world.

McNees Truck

Somewhat from the neighborhood (Alabama), the McNees crew drove to BLADE Tactical. Needless to say, they did so in style… nice wheels.

Nicholas Nichols Knives

Certainly, the Guppy is no small fry. Nichols Knives drop point has plenty of size to get nearly any job done, but stays light in the pocket thanks to a titanium handle.

Spartan Blades

Spartan Blades was right at home at BLADE Tactical—no surprise there. But the belle of the ball was the company’s Ronin-Torii, a traditional tanto, which few would want to find themselves on the wrong end of.

Nottingham Tactical

Notingham Tactical Carbon-Fiber Pen

Believe it or not, you’re looking at six-years of development. Nottingham Tactical was game for a carbon-fiber model, but it took a ton of work to get it to come together, from finding the carbon-fiber up to the abuse to getting the right adhesives to get the metal parts to stay.

Vero Engineering

Joseph Vero

It wasn’t all fixed blades and folders for the knife side of the show. After BLADE Tactical closed, the knifemakers hit the range at CANCON for some therapeutic trigger time. Here’s Joseph Vero of Vero Engineering getting on one of Maxim Defense’s shorties.

CANCON Video Recap

If your interest has been piqued, check out upcoming BLADE Tactical and CANCON events.

Check Out More BLADE Shows:

First Look: True Knives Berm Cleaver Flipper

A budge-priced EDC cleaver that is priced for rough use.

Cleavers have broken out of the butcher shop and kitchen in recent years to become a sought-after EDC. Seems counterintuitive, but there’s a method in the knife-buying world’s madness.

One of the more interesting conversations I had at BLADE Show West 2024 came with a crane rigger who favored this style of blade.  With the flat cutting edge that makes mincemeat of heavy-duty rope and a muted tip, he didn’t have to worry about perforating himself, the knife class is highly practical in the pocket.

This is all a long way to say, there’s a new pocket cleaver in town with True Knives dropping the Berm Cleaver Flipper.

Part of the brand’s new Berm series, the knife offers a budget option most users won’t shy away from rough use. Yet, for its price, the knife offers a nice profile, though it might lack some in the steel True Knives uses for the blade.

Berm Cleaver Flipper Blade

To that point, the Berm Cleaver Flipper is constructed of 7Cr17MoV, a popular choice in budget knives. While the metal does take a good edge and has respectable hardness and excellent corrosion resistance, it has a few hitches in its giddyap. In particular, its toughness—particularly in thinner blades—is wanting, and edge retention is not among the best.

Still, this is a budget EDC we’re talking about.  Despite the steel’s drawback, True Knife has come up with a fairly spiffy blade profile. The knife has a fairly traditional cleaver look, though the 2.5-inch blade boasts a slight belly and does have a bit of a tip. The tip is welcome, making the knife more useful for everyday tasks where a puncturing point is required.

The brand includes generous jimping on nearly the entirety of the spine, offering extra purchase on chopping tasks. Additionally, there is a good choil on the blade, which helps in making sure you can sharpen the entire blade.

Berm Cleaver Flipper Handle

The grip is where the cleaver shines, with a relatively nice affair laid out. First off, I’m a sucker for the translucent green G-10, it gives the knife a modern look without being too audacious. Plus, particularly on a build at this price point, the G-10 is a solid material choice—textured nicely to make it stick to the hand.

Also appreciated, the cleaver’s clip is not only reversible but can be situated for tip-up or down carry. A versatile bonus on the knife.

Berm Cleaver Flipper Action

As its name suggests, the Berm Cleaver Flipper, though it’s a front flipper offering both index finger and thumb deployment. Additionally, it has a prominent thumb hole.

Smartly, True Knives has cut away some of the handle to offer access to the deployment mechanism, allowing users plenty of leverage options to get the blade to work. Caged bearing aids in a smooth and fast opening.

Final Cut

With an MSRP of $30, the Berm Cleaver Flipper is made for heavy use and abuse. The best part, if you put it through the wringer you won’t cry over a broken knife.

Check Out Our Knife Reviews:

2024 BLADE Show West Custom Knife Award Winners

See Who Took Top Honors In Salt Lake City For The 2024 BLADE Show West Custom Knife Awards.

The 2024 BLADE Show West, held October 4-5, once again brought the knife community together at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. Now in its third year in Utah, the show attracted custom makers, manufacturers, and collectors from across the U.S. and beyond.

One of the highlights was the Custom Knife Awards, where makers competed in nine categories. A panel of anonymous industry experts carefully judged each entry, evaluating factors like design, creativity, materials, utility, and craftsmanship. The competition was fierce, showcasing a wide range of impressive talent and innovation.


Best Fixed Blade And Best In Show: Pearce Richardson

Best Fixed Blade And Best In Show: Pearce Richardson
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best Damascus: William Porto

Best Damascus: William Porto
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best Folder: Evan Nicolaides

Best Folder: Evan Nicolaides
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best Hunter: James Rodebaugh

Best Hunter: James Rodebaugh
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best Kitchen Knife: Corey Dunlap

Best Kitchen Knife: Corey Dunlap
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best Slip Joint: Jim Dunlap

Best Slip Joint: Jim Dunlap
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best M.A.C.K. Contender: Jared Oeser

Best M.A.C.K. Contender: Jared Oeser
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best M.A.C.K.: Princeton Wong

Best M.A.C.K.: Princeton Wong
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best Of The Rest: Seth Lopez

Best Of The Rest: Seth Lopez
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Past Custom Knife Award Winners:

2024 BLADE Show West Factory Knife Award Winners

See Who Took Top Honors In Salt Lake City For The 2024 BLADE Show West Factory Knife Awards.

Over its short history in Salt Lake City, the BLADE Show West Factory knives competition has become very heated. Likely none have been as hot as the 2024 field.

Held during the Oct. 4-5 show at the Salt Palace Convention Center, the event drew its largest field of entrants yet, with companies worldwide bringing their best for the coveted hardware. The undisclosed panel of judges more than had their work cut out for them in choosing the top knives out of five categories.

As a side note, the folder section—which also produced the Best In Show knife—was particularly tense. The judges started in this category and spent the better part of 30 minutes deciding the winner.

Check out what these industry experts picked as the best of the best in the last BLADE Show of the year.


Best Folder And Best In Show: Poikilo Orca

Poikilo Orca
JFRASIER PHOTOGRAPHY

Best Fixed Blade Knife: MKM Pocket Tango

MKM Pocket Tango
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best EDC Knife: GiantMouse Sonoma V2 Titanium

GiantMouse Sonoma V2 Titanium
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best Imported Knife: CRKT Persain

CRKT Persian
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Best American-Made Knife: ProTech Redencion Prototype Chaves Auto

ProTech Redencion Prototype Chaves Auto
Photo: J. Frasier Photography

Past Blade Show Award Winners:

CRKT Drops Five New Knives At BLADE Show West

Knives showcase Richard Roger’s design prowess.

BLADE Show West hasn’t only grown to become one of the largest knife shows in the West, it’s also become a prime venue for late-season knife drops. With a bevy of new designs, CRKT has a bevy of new blades it plans to unveil to the public in Salt Lake City.

In all, the Oregon-based company will release five knives at the Salt Palace Convention Center, fittingly coming from a premiere Western knifemaker. Richard Roger’s prime gig New Mexico cattleman, but over the years has become a well-known custom maker whose designs perfectly combine clean lines, practicality, as well as eye-catching use of materials.
The folder specialist’s knives are meant for use, but dang, if they aren’t pretty enough to show off.

Here’s a gander of what Rogers and CRKT have cooked up for BLADE Show West.

CRKT Q

CRKT Q Open

The limited-edition Q—based on Roger’s custom knife of the same name—has everything you want in a small-batch knife—chief among them, top-notch materials. The frame lock marries a titanium handle with carbon fiber inlay with a 3.31-inch MagnaCut steel blade. The lines on the drop-point knife are positively dialed in, with the point of the blade directly aligning with the pocket clip when deployed. The blade is put into action via a kicker. Topping off the Q is a floating backspacer that adds a splash of detail and hints at the knife’s premium nature, but otherwise, the Q remains perfectly understated. MSRP: $225.

CRKT Q Compact

q compact

Dang near identical to the Q, the compact model is simply scaled down for easier EDC carry. At 4 inches closed and only 2 ounces in weight, it fits the bill as an easy-to-tote option. The materials are different from the full-sized model, with an S35VN blade and a lightweight aluminum handle with G10 inlay. As well as, the small fry is also a liner lock. MSRP: $195.

CRKT Persian

CRKT Persian

Building on a fan-favorite Rogers classic, the upgraded Persian takes all the great features of the original and cranks them up a notch. The blade’s new “harpoon Persian” shape is eye-catching, and it’s crafted from tough MagnaCut steel, known for its superior strength, wear resistance, and corrosion protection. The titanium handle is lightweight, with a cool milled pattern inspired by Richard’s custom design. Made in Italy by Lionsteel Knives, this limited-edition folding knife is a must-have for collectors. MSRP: $275.

CRKT Pup

CRKT Pup

After the success of his CEO folding knife, Richard Rogers is back with the Pup, a compact everyday carry with smooth, rounded edges that slip easily into a pocket or purse. Built for modern life, it’s unobtrusive but ready to perform. The Pup comes in two models: a flipper with IKBS™ bearings, an AUS 10 steel blade, and a glass-reinforced nylon handle, or an Italian-made slip joint with a Super Dense Twist™ Damasteel® blade and a titanium handle with carbon fiber inlay for strength and style. MSRP: $70 and $275 respectively.
 

Check Out Our Knife Reviews:

Massachusetts Supreme Court Strikes Down Switchblade Ban

Nearly 70-year-old automatic-knife ban meets its demise in a 5-0 decision.

Massachusetts hasn’t been a haven for arms rights since the shot that was heard around the world, but things are changing in the Bay State.

In a rather shocking 5-0 decision on Aug. 27, the Massachusetts Supreme Court struck the state’s nearly 70-year-old prohibition of the carry of automatic knives with blades greater than 1.5 inches. This is an enormous win for knife rights, given the state is among the most hostile to the carry of any weapon. And, with other recent cases, the decision shows a softening toward the possession and carry of automatic knives.

Canjura Switchblade Case

The Massachusetts ruling stemmed from the arrest of David E. Canjura in 2020 in Boston, in response to an altercation between him and his girlfriend. Upon searching Canjura, police found what they described as an “orange firearm-shaped knife with a spring-assisted blade” or in popular parlance, a switchblade.

Canjura subsequently challenged the constitutionality of the charge, arguing the knife was an arm and was protected under the Second Amendment. The Massachusetts Supreme Court agreed.

Justice Serge Georges Jr. authored the court’s 24-page written decision, drawing heavily upon landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions of Bruen and Heller. Despite both cases pertaining to the Constitutional rights of possessing and carrying firearms, the opinions have carried over to the lawful possession and carry of other arms.

Pertinent to the Massachusetts ruling was the historic test laid out in the Bruen ruling, which requires historical precedent from when the Constitution was ratified in 1791 to maintain a prohibition on arms. Georges found this sorely lacking in Massachusetts’ ban on carrying switchblades.

Georges wrote in the decision, “Given the long history of folding pocket knives generally and switchblade knives in particular, switchblades constitute “bearable arms” within the protection of the Second Amendment.”

Massachusetts Ban

Like so many switchblade bans, Massachusetts dates back to the time of patent leather jackets and witch-trial-like panic over the supposed corruption of the nation’s youth. The state law was passed in 1957, several years after the publication of the anti-automatic knife article, The Toy that Kills. Despite being cinema classics, Rebel Without A Cause and Blackboard Jungle didn’t help out the switchblade’s reputation.

Massachusetts was a year ahead of the curve in pushing autos to the fringes of society, with the federal government passing the Switchblade Act of 1958. Drawing upon the federal government’s interstate commerce power, it act prohibited the purchase, sale, and trade of automatic knives between all 50 states.

Yeah, But…

Despite a good outcome for knife rights and following other wins for automatic knives nationwide, there are points Massachusetts enthusiasts should be aware of before throwing an auto in their pocket.

The potential stands the case may be appealed and the decision stayed. Furthermore, as pointed out by Knife Rights, there are some wrinkles knife owners to keep in mind to state on the right side of the law still.

  • Carry of any double-edged blade—including switchblades—is still prohibited.
  • Knife law preemption does not exist in Massachusetts, so cities and counties may have or might pass auto bans (check your local laws).
  • The state’s ban on the manufacture and sale of switchblades remains on the books.

Even with these prohibitions, Bay Staters should be pleased with the recent ruling.

More On Auto Knives:

First Look: Boker Plus Modern Gentleman

Hitting the right notes as a gentleman and EDC knife, the Boker Plus Modern Gentleman offers the best of both worlds.

Not every situation—or person’s routine—calls for a decked-out and oversized blade. Though, in some cases, EDC knives have trended this way. However, the pendulum may be returning to a more refined and aggressive design for a do-all tote around.

Case in point, Boker Plus’s Modern Gentleman.

As the name suggests, the flipper/folder has the lines of a knife you wouldn’t be afraid to use among polite company or button-down business associates. However, it is proportioned right and ruggedly constructed to tackle heavier chores in which a true gentleman’s knife might falter. A hybrid of sorts, the Modern Gentleman offers the best of both worlds.

The knife features a relatively understated drop-point blade that at 2.95 inches offers plenty of utility. Constructed from Nitro-V, a nitrogen-enhanced steel with a reputation for good toughness; it’s a material that’s been picking up steam in recent years. As for the blade’s profile, it has just enough belly to enhance slicking duties, with a nice long straight section back to the choil for substantive push cuts. It comes to a pronounced tip, making it fairly capable of punctures and perforation.

Boker Modern Gentleman Closed

Adding a touch of class to the Modern Gentleman’s design is a steel bolster, coated black—titanium—like the blade. The dark overtones of the steel components are offset by a canvas Micarta scale—a very fetching two-tone effect. While thin, the handle offers plenty of real estate to get a grip on the knife, measuring in at just a few ticks of the tape under 4 inches. Yet, its overall svelteness keeps the Modern Gentleman at a very carry-friendly 2.26 ounces.

Other points of interest, the knife has and low-key kicker that does its best to avoid deploying out of the pocket, yet with a tuned detent is quick to deploy. Though there is likely a sticky point in the liner for some—the clip is non-reversible. OK if you dig front-pocket, tip-up carry and you’re a righty, not so hot for others.

Overall, Boker prices the Modern Gentleman to move, listing it at $59.95 on its website. At that price, certainly, many knife enthusiasts will find the gentlemanly EDC the perfect companion, for work or play.

Modern Gentleman Plus Specs
Overall Length: 6.69 in
Blade Length: 2.95 in
Blade Thickness: 0.09 in
Weight: 2.26 oz
Blade Material: Nitro-V
Handle Material: Micarta
Opener: Flipper
Opening: Manual
Lock Type: Linerlock
MSRP: $59.98

More On Boker Knives:

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