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Steve Shackleford

How Do You Open Your Knife?

Thumb studs are the mode of opening for the Timberline SOC folding knife.
The Timberline SOC folding knife uses thumb studs to open the blade.

So which do you like best to open the blade on your folding knife? Are you a fan of the “Spyderco hole” or do you prefer the thumb studs of such knives as the Timberline SOC Folder? How about a disc atop the blade? Or do you simply grasp the blade between thumb and index finger and snap the knife open? Do flippers do it for you or are you one of those rugged individualists from the 1960s who can open your Buck 110 folding hunter one-handed by the nail nick? Or do you go back even further and prefer opening your traditional slip joint with two hands? Or do you shun all folders and use fixed blades only?

Opening folding knives is one of those things that seem to galvanize Americans everywhere. From the anti-switchblade hysteria of the 1950s caused by Hollywood’s sensationalizing the knife through such film fantasies as The Blackboard Jungle, Rebel Without a Cause and West Side Story to today’s assisted openers, methods for opening folding knives have been miscast as the root of all evil, the means of corrupting our nation’s youth and other social pariahs. Meanwhile, those who use knives for 99.9 percent of what most are used for—cutting—have hailed them for their convenience, utility and, at times, ability to save lives in situations where the user had only one hand to open his blade and cut his way out of danger.

Yes, the one-hand folder is one of the most sensible tools on the planet, and we want to know what your favorite version is. Tell us in words, pictures or however you want to do it. Here’s your chance to set the record straight and maybe even convert some poor miscreant who really thinks one-hand knives are the modern equivalent of the apple in the Garden Of Evil.

Click here for more on the Timberline SOC Folder in coyote tan in our store.

A Cool Lady’s or Gent’s Knife

The Spyderco Ambitious is advertised as a small (3.5 inches closed) palm-sized workhorse offering big performance in a compact knife package. It definitely fits in my palm—in fact, with my hand being perhaps a tad larger than medium-sized for an adult male, it swallows the G-10 handle completely. Ergo, fully grasped, the butt is a good inch shy of the end of my palm. This is a tad small for my tastes, but then the Ambitious comes as advertised.

Looking for a cool lady's or gent's knife? The Spyderco Ambitious fills the bill.
The Spyderco Ambitious makes a cool lady’s or gent’s knife.

The edge of the 2.25-inch, flat-ground, 8Cr13MoV stainless blade is razor sharp out of the box, effortlessly slicing stationery, shaving hair and cutting cardboard with authority. It also digs into wood aggressively and makes a handy pencil sharpener if you’re in need of one, the small handle ideal for a three-finger grip that enables you to exert cutting pressure in the “little whittles” needed to sharpen something as small as a pencil. Though short, the blade is wide enough (1.25 inches at its widest) to handle larger cutting jobs, with a jimped area on the ramp to place your thumb for cuts that might take more bearing down.

The blade opens and closes off a Michael Walker LinerLock™ that, despite the knife’s small size, operates smoothly and securely after a little practice. A reversible clip runs about two-thirds the length of the small contoured handle. An integral guard offers some protection from the hand running onto the blade, though I would like to see a bit more downward lip on it to enhance that protection.

One of Spyderco’s models made in China, the Ambitious is yet another example of just how good the Chinese are getting at making quality knives that cut extremely well. Though compact, the Ambitious is solidly built and makes a great gent’s knife, backup piece or lady’s knife. ShopBlade’s price: $35.96—you save 35 percent! For more, visit http://www.shopblade.com/ambitious-black-g-10-plainedge-w8477?lid=ssfbbl082013.

Hot Knives at Denver Custom Knife Show!

Jerry McClue, maker of "Wild Thing," will be among the exhibiting makers at the Denver Custom Knife Show. (SharpByCoop.com photo)
The Denver Custom Knife Show will include the custom knives of such makers as Jerry McClure, author of “Wild Thing.” (SharpByCoop.com photo)

The 21st Annual Denver Custom Knife Show will feature some of the world’s finest custom knives, knifemakers, custom knife purveyors and knifemaking supply companies this Friday through Sunday, Aug. 16-18, at the Crowne Plaza-DIA in Denver, Colorado.

 Bring in the flyer from page 25 of the October BLADE® (www.blademag.com) or page 11 of the November BLADE and receive $2 off on the admission price.

Sponsored by the Professional Knifemakers Association (PKA), the show will include custom folding, hunting, fishing, tactical, kitchen and art knives. Demonstrations will be given on forging and grinding. PKA members’ knives will be presented through a special raffle and door prizes will be given out daily.

The PKA is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious organizations of custom knifemakers, and the PKA Show is among the best knife shows in the Western USA.

Exhibiting knifemakers will include Eddie Baca, Mardi Meshejian, Wayne Hensley, Al Warren, John Bartlow, Eddie Stalcup, Mike “Whiskers” Allen, Mike Mooney, Harvey King, Mike Irie, Don Bell, Steve Rollert, Pete Truncali, Chuck Fraley, Jerry McClure, Mike Tyre, Olamic Cutlery, Fred Ott, Terry Schreiner, Mike Miller, Albert Trujillo, Craig Steketee and many more. Knifemaking supply companies will include Culpepper & Co., Lonestar Knifemaker Supplies, Pop’s Knives & Supply, Fine Turnage Ivory and others. Knife photographer Bob Glassman also will be an exhibitor.

 

Show hours are 12 to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Regular admission is $7 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and children under 12 are free. 

 

The host hotel room rate is $104 per night. Be sure to mention PKA for the rate single or double. Call 303-371-9494 for reservations.

 

For more information contact Whiskers or Denise Allen at [email protected] or call 903-489-1026.

 

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

 

New BLADE Hits Newsstands TODAY!

Get all the poop on the 2013 BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com)—including the BLADE Magazine 2013 Knives Of The Year® and the show’s other hottest knives—Steven “MeatEater” Rinella’s assessment of the SOG Huntspoint hunting knife and more in the latest BLADE® (www.blademag.com), on most newsstands TODAY!

 Highlights include:

The Microtech D.O.C. Kill Switch—the BLADE Magazine 2013 Most Innovative American Design—is on the cover of the new BLADE®, on newsstands today!
The latest issue of BLADE® hits newsstands today!

 •Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Ken Onion and CRKT each were involved in three Knife Of The Year Awards: Onion and CRKT on the Most Innovative Imported Design for the Swindle and Accessory Of The Year for the Survival Para-Saw, CRKT for Best Buy Of The Year with the Endorser/Matthew Lerch design, and Onion and Chef Works for the Kitchen Knife Of The Year (the Ken Onion “Rain”);

 •Wayne Goddard became the 50th inductee into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame©;

 •In the BLADE Show’s custom knife competition, John White won three awards and E. Scott McGhee two: White for Best of Show and Best Damascus for his Side-Shell Hunting Dagger and Best Bowie for his feather/stag model, and McGhee for Best Handle Design for his Puma model and Best Fighter for his Cottonmouth Blackout fixed blade;

 •BLADE Show factory breakout introductions included the HEST/F Mr. DP Ti from DPx Gear, Bear & Son’s “Undead” folding stiletto on a Zombie theme, Maxpedition’s first-ever knife line and many others;

 •The final installment in BLADE’s 40th anniversary series on the top 40 factory knives of the past 40 years, with the Kershaw/Ken Onion Leek finishing Numero Uno for the years 2001-12;

 •A critique of four of the latest factory hunting knives, including the aforementioned MeatEater appraisal of the SOG Huntspoint;

 •The favorite knives of 19-year-old Fifty Caliber Shooters Association two-time junior world champion Michelle Chestnut;

 •A special trio of damascus knives made by three of the Knifemakers’ Guild’s top female makers that will be auctioned at the 2013 Guild Show; and much more, all in the latest BLADE.

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

 

Buck Collectors Observe 25th Anniversary

David Yellowhorse enters the Buck Collectors Club during the Buck Collectors Silver Anniversary gala. From left: Larry Oden, David Yellowhorse, Gene Merritt and John Foresman.
During the Buck Collectors Silver Anniversary, David Yellowhorse is inducted into the Buck Collectors Club Hall Of Fame. From left: Larry Oden, David Yellowhorse, Gene Merritt and John Foresman.

 

Hundreds of Buck knife collectors converged on Spokane, Washington, and Post Falls, Idaho, last week for the Buck Collectors Club International’s 25th Anniversary Gala.

 

A celebration of Buck knives, seminars on Buck knives, tours of the Buck manufacturing plant just across the border in Post Falls, and much more highlighted the event, which drew collectors from all over the country.

 

Such Buck VIPs as Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Chuck Buck, Lori Buck, CJ Buck, David Yellowhorse, Wilde Bill Cody, Leroy Remer, Mike Prater, Fred Wilson and many others mingled with Buck collectors throughout the festivities.

 

The event kicked off with a banquet Tuesday night, and included the induction of four into the BCCI Hall Of Fame: knifemaker Jerry Bodner, Jane Davie and the aforementioned Mssrs. Yellowhorse and Wilson. BLADE® (www.blademag.com) Magazine Editor Steve Shackleford served as the banquet keynote speaker and was presented with a special plaque in recognition of his work with the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) and support of the BCCI over the years.

 

Wednesday included a complete slate of seminars and factory tours. The seminars included one on Buck Yellowhorse knives by award-winning Buck Yellowhorse collector Gene Merritt. The day was capped by a sunset dinner cruise on the nearby Lake Coeur d’Alene. Thursday featured seminars by CJ Buck on what’s on the horizon at Buck Knives and on Buck Customs by John Foresman, Leroy Remer and Wilde Bill Cody, among others. A “Knife Swap Plus” was held Thursday evening and included Russ Donoghue signing his new BCCI History Book, raffles, auctions, artist demos and more. The event concluded with more seminars Friday, including one on the Buckmaster/M-9 and Buck Tactical Knives by Rich Neyman, and a Buck Knife Survival Seminar by Karen Hood. A picnic at the home of Chuck and Lori Buck was a fitting end to the extravaganza.

 

For more information on the BCCI, visit www.buckcollectorsclub.org.

 

For the latest knife news, stay honed to www.blademag.com.

 

Video: Knifemaker Jay Hendrickson on Bill Moran

In this video from the American Bladesmith Society (ABS), master smith Jay Hendrickson gives some insight on ABS founder Bill Moran. His story offers a fascinating look at important pieces of knifemaking history.

Hendrickson is just one of the many knifemakers influenced by the legendary Bill Moran. Other than his highly-coveted originals, Moran’s work lives on through styles emulated by a number of other makers and companies, including this excellent Spyderco Bill Moran Drop Point Blade at ShopBlade.com.

The “Iron Waitress” Bowie

Steve Hill dubbed his eBay bowie find the "Iron Waitress."
Steve Hill found the “Iron Waitress” on eBay.

One of the many things that make knives so fascinating is the unusual pieces that turn up from time to time. Such is the case with a bowie knifemaker Steve Hill (www.stevehillknives.com) dubbed the “Iron Waitress” as a play-on-words salute to the famous “Iron Mistress.”

He found the Iron Waitress on eBay a few years ago. He and I had been emailing back and forth about the upcoming Bowie Knife Show in Natchez, Mississippi, and he emailed pictures of the knife and gave me a brief history.

“It was listed as a World War II theater handmade knife,” he wrote. “It’s for sure inspired by the ‘star’ of the Alan Ladd flick—or is that vice versa? Perhaps the designer of the movie knife remembered seeing this back in ‘The Big One’?

“I have fitted it with a brass spine since acquiring it. Joe Musso [the leading authority on knives from the Iron Mistress movie] thinks it’s most likely a Korean War theater knife. It’s an impressive piece of work with a sharpened false edge and cool stacked-leather handle with an escutcheon plate engraved Normand(y?). There’s good steel in the blade and it even has a tight radiused and sharpened point so it keeps on cutting through a slash maneuver without hanging up like a needle point could.

“To paraphrase Nez Coupe, the fictional Cajun friend of Jim Bowie in Paul Wellman’s Iron Mistress book, ‘This knife, she is death!’ Of all the knives in my collection,” Steve noted, “this one does seem to intimidate those who see it.”

According to Steve, the knife made the front page of a Vidalia, Louisiana, newspaper with a close-up of Knife World Editor Mark Zalesky looking cross-eyed—“Too funny!” Steve added—at it during a previous Bowie Knife Show.

For the latest knife news, stay sharp with www.blademag.com.

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