Joe Kertzman, Author at BLADE Magazine

Now That’s one Far-Out Flipper Folder!

Joe Kertzman

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October 12, 2012

The temper line alone on Michael Burch’s flipper folder is enough to catch the old knife enthusiast eye, not to mention a Samurai warrior, that, thanks to Jody Muller color engraving, emerges from the gold, copper and stainless steel bolsters of the 1095 folding tanto.

The Samurai remains partially concealed by a crosshatching of mammoth ivory, as well as that smoky temper line. The handle treatment gives it an exotic, bamboo-like look that fits the engraved subject matter, as well as the blade style, and all taken together propels the knife to the status of an “Editor’s Favorite from the Knives 2013 book.” (SharpByCoop.com is responsible for the photography.

Kickin’ Up a Couple Fixed Blades Colt Style

Joe Kertzman

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October 9, 2012

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When Mickey Yurco set out to fashion a pair of 440C fixed blades with colt-style pistol grips, even the accomplished knifemaker couldn’t have foreseen how sweet the twosome would turn out to be. With wooden handle slabs and gold-colored Colt logo shields, they are shaped like the grips of a .45 ACP Colt Pistol.

And they qualify as Editor’s Favorites From the Knives 2013 book.

The clip-point blades, one with a steeper clip than the other, sport integral finger guards and full, thick-to-the-butt tangs. These are hefty little fixed blades meant for use and accompaniment, no doubt, for a favored Colt pistol. Terrill Hoffman took the photo.

Heft & Freestyle Form Define Hossom “Tanto”

Joe Kertzman

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October 5, 2012

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Unusual? Yes, it would be no stretch to say that Jerry Hossom’s “Vengeance Tanto” takes an unbeaten path from pointy tip to pointed pommel. But all along the way it’s so groovalicious! Check out the handle half, or third, in this case. Integrated into the design of the black-canvas-Micarta® grip there’s a place for the palm, all the fingers, and a sweet guard that angles just a little back toward the butt. The knife is featured in the “Fiery Fighters” chapter of the Knives 2013 book, but it is actually tough to categorize.

And oh, yeah, the blade. Let’s see, the CPM-3V blade is high-hollow ground, ends in what could be the world’s most modified tanto tip, has a swedge along the spine, and a line stretching horizontally along he length of the blade where the hollow grind ends, the flat starts, and the swedge eventually meets. Don’t forget the finger notches just North of the handle, on the spine of the blade, for extra traction. Mosaic pins round off the piece.

It’s an “Editor’s Favorite from the Knives 2013 Book,” by the way. SharpByCoop.com is credited for the photo.

Who Doesn’t Love A Mermaid … Sculpted Into A Knife?

Joe Kertzman

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October 3, 2012

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Some of the finest artists in the world would have trouble achieving the mermaid scene carved and sculpted into the titanium grip of the Arpad Bojtos fixed blade. For that reason alone it is one of the “Editors Favorites from the Knives 2013 Book.” The carved and sculpted grip is inlaid with gold, silver and mother-of-pearl, the latter also creatively carved, and attached to a Damasteel blade.

The knife image, by SharpByCoop.com, ran in the “High-Art Handle Work” chapter in the “State Of The Art” section of Knives.

Horseman’s Knife is One Gorgeous Affair

Joe Kertzman

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October 1, 2012

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Featured in the “Take It To Your Graver” chapter in the “State Of The Art” section of the Knives 2013 book, C. Gray Taylor’s horse knife exhibits an antique-tortoise-shell handle, and at least 18 implements, such as a hoof pick, bleeding blade, main blade, file, saw, tweezers, cork screw, punches, awl, toothpick, and a tiny swing-handle folder, also with what looks like a tortoise handle.

The centerpiece of the handle comes in the form of a gold horse carved and engraved by Lisa Tomlin, and it is the coup de grace of an already astounding art knife. Bravo! The photo is by Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios.

Period Bowies Make Best Of Knives 2013 List

Joe Kertzman

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September 27, 2012

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These period bowies by Robert L. Appleby Jr. make my “Editors Favorites from the Knives 2013 Book” list because they scream early American knife renaissance. The clip- and spear-point bowies parade hand-rubbed, satin-finished 440C blades with fileworked spines, and cast white-bronze guards and pommels.

The sambar stag handle scales are inspired choices, particularly with nickel escutcheon plates and domed nickel pins. Each comes with a wet-molded leather sheath dyed ox-blood red with gold embossing and an antiqued nickel throat and tip. Getting excited yet? Me, too. The photo is by Chuck Ward.

Queen Cutlery Sold to Daniels Family Cutlery

Joe Kertzman

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September 25, 2012

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Servotronics, Inc. announced today that it has completed the sale of the assets of its subsidiary, Queen Cutlery Company, a Pennsylvania facility located in Titusville, Pennsylvania, to Kenneth R. Daniels of Daniels Family Cutlery Corporation that will be doing business as Queen Cutlery Company.

The sale of assets was part of a previously reported long-term strategic effort to enhance profit margins through the elimination of certain select components/products. The Company is in the process of further evaluating existing product lines and the consolidation of facilities.

The contact person at Queen is Jennie Moore, Telephone: 814-827-3673; Email: [email protected].

Servotronics, Inc. is composed of two groups – the Advanced Technology Group (ATG) and the Consumer Products Group (CPG). The ATG primarily designs, develops and manufactures servo controls and other components for various commercial and government applications (i.e., aircraft, jet engines, missiles, manufacturing equipment, etc.). The CPG designs and manufactures cutlery, bayonets, pocketknives, machetes and combat, survival, sporting, agricultural knives and other edged products for both commercial and government applications.

Joe Kertzman

Now That’s one Far-Out Flipper Folder!

Kickin’ Up a Couple Fixed Blades Colt Style

Heft & Freestyle Form Define Hossom “Tanto”

Who Doesn’t Love A Mermaid … Sculpted Into A Knife?

Horseman’s Knife is One Gorgeous Affair

Period Bowies Make Best Of Knives 2013 List

Queen Cutlery Sold to Daniels Family Cutlery

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