Steve Shackleford, Author at BLADE Magazine

Tomorrow’s Knife Trends Today

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March 9, 2016

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Adventure Flipper by Williams. — The Adventure Flipper by Lee Williams features a “pivot-less” build. Closed length: 5 inches. (Dave Stark image)

Thorburn's L46. — The L46 flipper in Bohler N690 stainless steel and an earth-brown G-10 handle is hot from Andre Thorburn. (BladeGallery image)

If you’re looking for what the knife trends are in custom blades or what the knife trends are going to be later on in the factory cutlery industry, some of today’s hottest custom folders is a great place to start.

Just about every current knife trend in both the custom and factory industries can be traced to a custom folder. LinerLocks™? BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Michael Walker revamped the design circa 1980 and has continued to improve it and build evermore creative folding mechanisms ever since, but it was his LinerLock design that revolutionized the custom knife industry in the late 1980s and the factory industry followed, with the locking mechanism appearing on scores of folders worldwide ever since. Flipper folders? BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Kit Carson popularized them in the 1990s and flippers seem to be appearing in droves in both the custom and factory industries to this day.

Walker still going strong. — Michael Walker is still going strong after all these years and his folders remain hotter than ever. (Dave Ellis image)

Augustus by Kirby Lambert. — Kirby Lambert named his flipper folder after his son, Augustus. (SharpByCoop image)

Nadeau's Cyclones. — Brian Nadeau’s “Cyclone” appears here in three different versions. (SharpByCoop image)

The Machine by Bharucha. — Tashi Bharucha’s “Machine” features a 3 5/8-inch blade of CPM 154 stainless. (Dave Stark image)

McNees' Copper Baby Bolt Flipper. — Johnathan McNees makes the Copper Baby Bolt Flipper. Closed length: 4 inches. (Andrew Delavan image)If you’re looking for what the knife trends are in custom blades or what the knife trends are *going* to be later on in the factory cutlery industry, some of today’s hottest custom folders is a great place to start.

These are but two examples. There are many more. There are also some really cool custom folders on today’s market, some of which no doubt will inspire other custom and, later, factory makers to emulate them in some form or fashion. A few of those sharp studies in standout steel would include:

•John Arnold’s Tactical Front Flipper. “He creates some of the most elegant daily carry folders, yet with collector-grade quality, that I have come across,” noted Daniel O’Malley of BladeGallery;

•The Copper Baby Bolt Flipper in CPM 154 stainless by Johnathan McNees;

•The Adventure Flipper by Lee Williams with Lee’s “Kick Stop” flipper mechanism;

•Kirby Lambert’s “Augustus” flipper, named after the Lamberts’ newborn son;

•Brian Nadeau’s “Cyclone,” termed by custom knife purveyor Les Robertson as “a great EDC, compact and lightweight”;

•The aforementioned Michael Walker and his large folder in Damasteel damascus;

•Andre Thorburn’s L46 flipper. “Of all the knives that I open and close each day,” O’Malley noted, “Andre Thorburn’s have the most consistent, smooth action of any”;

•Tashi Bharucha’s “Machine” with frames of blasted titanium and a blade-tip-up pocket clip.

Also Check Out:

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What Makes a Knife Sexy in New BLADE

Steve Shackleford

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February 23, 2016

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Learn what makes a knife sexy, why select makers of custom folders are crossing over to making different styles, whether James Bowie was an orator, rowdy or some of each—and more—in the latest BLADE®, on newsstands now!

You hear it all the time: “Man, what a sexy knife!” or “That knife has sex appeal!” So what makes a knife “sexy”? Part of it is what our special story identifies as the “feminine factor”—which includes knives that look and feel good and perform well. But there’s more to it than just that. Get the details in the story on page 74.

While tactical folders have been king in the knife industry for many years, some top custom makers have resisted making them—until now. Some award-winning makers of custom slip joints are trying their hand at tacticals or even hybrid tacticals, as are some makers of high-end custom folders. Les Robertson takes you on a tour of those who are doing it and why, and what it means for the present and future of custom knives in “4 Unintended Consequences of Tactical Folders.”

BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member James Bowie has been portrayed in any number of ways in recent years, including as a brawler, a drunkard and other unflattering descriptions. However, what did those who served with him before and during the Alamo siege think of him? In part five of “James Bowie Legend: Fact or Fable?” Jeffrey Dane shares what some of those who served with Bowie wrote about the famed frontiersman. See what they had to say in the story on page 30.

Also: Learn how you can enroll in J. Neilson’s special class at BLADE University on how to qualify for the hit TV show, Forged In Fire (BLADE University will be held in conjunction with the 35th Annual BLADE Show); see how four new Asian-style blades perform, as well as two of the latest skinning knives; immerse yourself in the latest of quick blades in “Golden Age of Autos?”; discover how bone remains at or near the top of handle materials in terms of popularity in “Bone in the USA!”; join in BLADE‘s salute to the late Warren Osborne in “‘Good Enough’ Wasn’t Good Enough For Him”; and much more in the latest BLADE.

ICCE Changes Knife Show Dates

Steve Shackleford

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February 9, 2016

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, the 2nd Annual International Custom Cutlery Exposition (ICCE) has had to change the dates for its 2016 knife show from early to late September, show officials announced.

Originally slated for Sept. 9-11, the new dates are Sept. 23-25.

The show will be held in the same venue—the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to ICCE officials, the event-hosting hotel, the Downtown Marriott, notified the ICCE’s organizers, the Knifemakers’ Guild and the American Bladesmith Society (ABS), that there would be several events scheduled for the original show dates. Due to the events scheduled in downtown Kansas City, some streets will be blocked, parking will be a hassle, and the downtown will be overcrowded the weekend of Sept. 9-11. The hotel management had other available dates that would make the show far more enjoyable for those who will attend, thus the change to Sept. 23-25.

Held for the first time this past September at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City, the initial ICCE represented the first-ever knife show held in cooperation between and coordinated by both the Guild and the ABS, the world’s oldest and most important groups of custom knifemakers. Adding to the historical significance of the cooperative effort is that the show was held in the same room as the 1973 Guild Show where BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Bill Moran introduced his knives with damascus steel blades. It was the first time modern damascus steel knives were exhibited at a knife show and it caused quite a stir, and eventually sparked the creation of the ABS in 1976. Most of the knifemakers and bladesmiths from both organizations who exhibited at the 2015 ICCE appeared very pleased with it, and a number of them and other industry observers seem optimistic about the show’s future potential for success.

For more information visit knifemakersguild.com/show, facebook.com/events and/or facebook.com/knifemakers.guild.

His/Her Knives for Valentine’s Day

Steve Shackleford

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February 2, 2016

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Clip and pen blades — Saddle up for Valentine’s Day with the Case John Wayne peanut.

Whether you’re spoken for or not, the Kershaw Spoke will cut it for you and/or your sweetie-pie.

Valentine’s Day is a heartbeat away and there’s no better gift than his/her knives. These knives especially fit the bill because they are smallish folders that work well for both men and women. Featuring blades under 3 inches, they make the ideal everyday carry knife in most any venue.

Boker’s Damascus African Thuya is just such a knife. Boasting a 2.25-inch blade of Chad Nichols ladder-pattern damascus, it has a handle of tight-grained African thuya wood. MSRP: $299.

The Buck Apex is a sporty little folding knife with a 2 5/8 blade of 420HC stainless and a carbon fiber handle with carabiner, pocket clip and integrated bottle opener. Weight: 1.7 ounces. Closed length: 3.75 inches. MSRP: $45.

African Thuya Damascus — Boker’s Damascus African Thuya makes a great Valentine’s Day gift.

If you’re into the Duke—John Wayne for you tenderfoots—Case’s John Wayne peanut pattern should be your cup of cattle-drive coffee. Sporting clip and pen blades—the former with Wayne’s signature—the Red River “D” shield and “The Duke” inscribed on the bolster, this one is made for Wayne fans everywhere.

The black-oxide-coated Spoke from Kershaw is an assisted-opening flipper folder with a 2-inch blade of 4Cr14 stainless and a forged steel handle. Closed length: 2.8 inches. MSRP: $27.99.

Finally, yet another great small knife for Valentine’s Day is the SOG Cash Card. The 2.75-inch blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless and full-metal construction make this minimalist’s dream knife come true.

His/her knives—you can’t beat ’em! For more on these classics and other great knives, stay tuned to blademag.com and the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication, BLADE®.

BLADE Picks Hottest Custom Knives

Steve Shackleford

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January 26, 2016

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The hottest custom knifemakers’ hottest knives, a field test of four of the latest factory fixed blades sold for under $50 each, and how factory knife companies and custom makers arrive at collaboration knives are but a sample of the stories in the new BLADE®, on newsstands now!

Factory/custom collaboration knives go back at least as far as BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Blackie Collins’s collaborations with Smith & Wesson’s knife line in the late 1960s. However, the explosion in such knives occurred circa 1990 with the C15 collaboration between Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bob Terzuola and Spyderco. Since then, collaborations have come by the train load. How has the process evolved and how have collaborations changed in terms of how they are viewed by both sides in the collaboration equation? Find out in “Deal Makers & Heartbreakers” by BLADE field editor Mike Haskew.

To fulfill reader requests for the best in economy knife buys, the new BLADE introduces “Budget Knife Buyer,” the first in a regular series of stories on quality knives obtainable from one or more retailers for $50 or less. First up are utility fixed blades. Join Abe Elias as he puts the CRKT Sting 3B, Condor Tool & Knife Tarpon, Gerber Ghostrike and Puma USA Badlands through the paces.

Twice each year, BLADE canvasses leading custom knife purveyors for the hottest custom makers’ hottest knives. The latest rendition of “What’s Hottest” features some of the world’s leading makers’ best recent efforts. Many of the makers’ names remain the same but the knives are hotter than ever. Check out which ones are sizzlin’ in “Sharp Studies in Standout Steel” by BLADE editor Steve Shackleford.

Also this issue: Join Michael Janich as he visits his friend, Fred Perrin, perhaps the most revered maker of tactical knives in France, in “Blademaker of Burgundy”; ABS master smith Larry Fuegen details his one-of-a-kind forged scroll folder in “Mad About Max”; the latest in straight razors and the secrets to keeping them sharp in Pat Covert’s “Razor Blades by a Whisker”; Zoe Crist’s hot stainless san mai steel and the knives that have it; James Morgan Ayres’s field test of four of the latest tactical folders, including this issue’s cover knife, the Browning Vanquish Pocket Deploy, in “Tactical Folder Field-Test Fest”; and much more, all in the latest issue of the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication, BLADE.

Pro-Knife Effort Will Be Increased

Steve Shackleford

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January 19, 2016

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Increased lobbying efforts to pass knife law reform on both the federal and state levels will be a major focus of the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) in 2016, the AKTI announced in a press release.

At the top of the list of reforms the AKTI will pursue are the Knife Owners’ Protection Act (KOPA), repeal of restrictions on automatics/switchblades, and Knife-Law Preemption.

To increase its pro-knife effort, AKTI is enlisting the services of ADS Ventures, a government and public affairs firm specializing in national security and defense issues with offices in Washington, D.C., and Boston, Massachusetts. ADS has worked with AKTI for several years. The new contract calls for increased efforts to pass KOPA and overturn still-existing bans on autos and pass Knife-Law Preemption in areas that don’t have it.

Patchwork laws related to the ownership and possession of knives, laws that are inconsistent from state to state, county to county and even town to town, are the bane of law-abiding knife owners. AKTI’s efforts will be redoubled to make laws consistent and Constitutional in these areas. “We support reasonable, responsible legislation and measured non-partisan efforts to resolve issues,” said David Fee, AKTI’s legislative chair. “We’re excited to see how we can further this objective in this and coming years.”

“We are confident that through AKTI’s leadership and the work of ADS Ventures, it will be a successful year for the organization as we further our mission to ensure [law-abiding citizens’] right to own, carry, and use knives and edged tools,” observed CJ Buck, president of the AKTI board of directors.

Along with Knife Rights, AKTI is your go-to service for questions concerning any and all knife laws. In terms of laws concerning elephant and ancient ivories, a specialist in such matters is the Elephant Protection Association. For more information, visit akti.org, kniferights.org and elephantprotection.org. To know your rights if arrested for carrying knives, to know what to say and not say in such situations and more, get your copy of Knife Laws of the U.S. by Evan Nappen.

Warren Osborne Passes Away

Steve Shackleford

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January 5, 2016

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Long-time knifemaker Warren Osborne passed away Jan. 4 after a long illness. His death comes almost 13 months to the day after his good friend and fellow maker Joe Kious was killed in a truck accident.

A native of Australia, Osborne moved to Texas, where he resided in Waxahachie for many years. He was a full-time knifemaker and sold his first custom knife in 1980. In his trademark cowboy hat and cowboy boots, Warren was a fixture at knife shows and BladeSports International (BSI) cutting competitions. Despite failing health, he exhibited at the recent International Custom Cutlery Exposition in Kansas City, the first-ever knife show coordinated by both the Knifemakers’ Guild and the American Bladesmith Society.

He was known for his high-end custom folding knives, many of them interframes ornately engraved by some of the industry’s leading embellishers. He joined the Knifemakers’ Guild as a probationary member in 1985. He later became a voting member and served on the Guild’s board of directors for a number of years. His knife designs may be best known among the largest number of people through his many collaborations with Benchmade Knife Co.

More recently he was instrumental in the founding of BSI, the world’s leading association of those who compete in knife-cutting competitions. He competed successfully on the BSI circuit for several years and designed and made his own competition knives. He was among the first to use CPM M4 carbon steel for the blades of his competition cutters, a steel that takes a great edge and is tough enough so that M4 blades can be ground very thin without damage to the edge or chipping while in use, great traits for competition cutters to have. He was also among the first to use horse-stall-mat rubber for the handle of a competition cutter. The material excels in enhanced purchase and non-slip qualities. His knives were recognized by many BSI observers for high performance in the competitions. The BSI coordinates the BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition at the BLADE Show each year. This year’s event will be held during the BLADE Show June 3-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

As he noted on his website, Warren was fascinated by “anything with a blade” from early childhood in his native Australia, and made knives from crosscut saws, chainsaw bars and anything else he found “laying around.” “Bladed weapons were a family thing, so between three brothers and myself, we had quite a collection,” he noted. Later on during his work as a ranch hand in Australia and as a horse trainer in the USA, sharpening and making knives became a spare-time endeavor.

In the March 2014 BLADE® he tied for No. 13 with Shane Taylor and Jason Knight among the top custom makers of the years 2001-2012. As Larry Connelley of KnifeArt.com noted in that issue of BLADE, “Warren’s knives exhibit extremely clean workmanship, combined with outstanding design and a solid business ethic.” The story went on to note, “From art knives to utility and higher-end designs to competition cutters, Osborne’s work has covered as many bases as just about any other maker.”

As good friend and fellow award-winning maker Tom Overeynder observed, “What a great friend and craftsman Warren was. He will be missed by all who ever met him.” Added BSI Executive Director Donavon Phillips, “Warren was a friend and mentor to so many. I feel like I should say more but the words won’t come to me right now.”

Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Wayne Boze Funeral Home on 1826 W. Hwy. 287 in Waxahachie. Instead of flowers, please make any donations to The Wounded Warrior Project.

Steve Shackleford

Tomorrow’s Knife Trends Today

If you’re looking for what the knife trends are in custom blades or what the knife trends are going to be later on in the factory cutlery industry, some of today’s hottest custom folders is a great place to start.

Also Check Out:

What Makes a Knife Sexy in New BLADE

ICCE Changes Knife Show Dates

His/Her Knives for Valentine’s Day

BLADE Picks Hottest Custom Knives

Pro-Knife Effort Will Be Increased

Warren Osborne Passes Away

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