Steve Shackleford

Russian Premier Vladimir Putin made world news today when he pulled Excalibur from a rock in Vladivostok.

The controversial Russian leader, who has ruffled international feathers lately with his taking of Crimea and bullying of the Ukraine, was salmon fishing near the ancient Russian city when he reportedly spied a flash of light from a river bank. “I rowed my kayak to the bank and there, stuck in a rock, was this beautiful sword,” Putin said. “I got out of my kayak, walked to the rock, grabbed the sword by the hilt and it practically slid out by itself.”

International reaction was swift.

“This guy has got to be kidding. First he rides a grizzly bear and now he’s pulled Excalibur from a rock?” an incredulous President Barack Obama observed. “The next thing you’re going to tell me is he’s drawn a red line with the sword tip!”

Those in the knife industry scoffed at Putin’s assertion.

“Putin pulled Excalibur from a rock?” questioned ABS master smith and BLADE® field editor Ed Fowler, Excalibur champion and proponent of the multiple quench heat-treating method. “I think King Arthur is doing backflips in his grave over this one.”

Meanwhile, sword manufacturers scrambled to see if they could get images and/or drawings of the sword from Russian officials to make a reproduction of the legendary blade.

“We’ve been in touch with the Kremlin and they tell us Putin can’t be bothered with such requests at the moment, that he’s being fitted for a suit of armor to go with the sword,” said Lois Southwick of Camelot Sword Makers. “We will continue to press for the images and drawings. After all, this sword belongs to the world, not Mr. Putin.”

Long before now, you’ve probably figured out that this story is completely bogus. After all, it’s April 1. Happy April Fool’s Day!

The new BLADE showcases the hottest knives of the SHOT Show—including the new Kershaw/Emerson CQC-6K on the cover—the inside scoop on knife lotteries, field tests of the latest skeleton knives and more.

Held this past January at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, the SHOT Show is the annual coming out party for the latest in knives, guns, deer stands, sharpeners and everything that has to do with shooting and hunting. The movers and shakers of the cutlery industry were there to present the newest in tactical, outdoor, kitchen, sporting, bushcraft and just about any knife you can think of. BLADE was there to scope it all out and you can be too in the pages of the June issue.

Knife lotteries are one of the hottest tickets in the industry. Knife enthusiasts who normally can’t even sniff buying the knives of some of today’s hottest makers due to long waiting lists have an equal chance at the makers’ new knives through the lotteries. But are the lotteries really all they’re cracked up to be? Find out the good and the bad of an industry juggernaut in the new BLADE.

Bare-bone cutters, skeleton knives are cool tools that offer a minimalist approach to design but maximum cutting output for blades their size. Find out how some of the newest models perform in this issue.

The Buck 110 is one of the icons of the knife industry and this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. Get the lowdown on the history of the famous folding hunter and all the various sweepstakes surrounding the knife’s golden anniversary in the new BLADE.

Open through June 22, “A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife In America” is a celebration of perhaps the world’s most famous American knife. Held at the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock, the exhibit features some of the world’s oldest and most valuable antique bowies from the 19th century. Read all about it this issue.

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Purveyor Michael Donato was one happy man earlier this week when all but three of approximately 150 stolen knives were returned.

The three knives that remain missing are the Shin by Rockstead and two John W. Smith folders, all of which are pictured at right.

“This has been the craziest roller-coaster ride of my life,” the owner of KnifePurveyor.com said. “The support of the custom knife world between collectors, dealers and others has been incredible.”

How the alleged thief was caught is a story in itself. Video surveillance captured him stealing Donato’s pelican case containing the knives at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport that services Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina. Law enforcement was able to identify the man from the video and later used it to identify him among the passengers coming off a flight from Indianapolis, Indiana. Officials determined the suspect’s next flight destination and were waiting for him when he got off the plane. He was even wearing the same clothes he had on when he allegedly stole the knives. Detectives watched as he apparently tried to steal another piece of luggage and nabbed him. He confessed and is being held on $100,000 bond. He led detectives to the knives, which he had stashed in his hotel room. Donato said the man had separated the knives by maker and had prices by each. “He must have seen my business card, visited my website and guessed at the values from it,” Donato said. “He was pretty spot on with the prices.”

Unfortunately, the man apparently was able to sell the three knives that are still missing before he was apprehended.

If you have any information concerning the stolen knives, contact Donato via www.knifepurveyor.com.

For the latest knives, knife trends and more, visit www.blademag.com.

Approximately 150 custom knives valued at over three-quarters of a million dollars were stolen recently from KnifePurveyor.com, according to KnifePurveyor.com.

Michael Donato, owner of KnifePurveyor.com, said the knives were stolen from his luggage at the Raleigh-Durham International (RDU) Airport that serves the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. He was returning from the East Coast Custom Knife Show held Feb. 28-March 2 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Custom knives by some of the world’s best knifemakers were included in the luggage. For a complete list of them all, contact Donato at [email protected] or call him at 646-872-0476.

According to Donato, his original flight after the show was cancelled. Meanwhile, as his luggage was stored at the airport, someone stole the pelican case containing the knives. He said the area where the knives were stolen had video surveillance and the authorities have footage of the theft and a picture of the suspect, which is being circulated. If you have any information concerning the theft, contact Donato or Detective Charles Shelton at 919-840-7556 or 919-702-2556 (cell).

“We have suffered a major blow,” Donato noted. “This theft occurred at RDU Airport when United Airlines left my transportation case of knives unattended at the baggage area. The crook simply walked off with the entire case.

“Several law enforcement agencies and the Collectible Insurance company are hot on the case. Due to the magnitude of this loss, my staff and I have our hands full with this investigation. Clients whose knives are involved in this loss have already been notified.”

Meanwhile, contrary to any rumors that may be circulating the knife industry, KnifePurveyor.com is not out of business as a result of the theft.

“It is my honor and pleasure to be part of the custom knife community,” Donato continued. “I look forward to fulfilling your future knife needs and would like to thank you for your continued friendship, patronage and support.”

For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.