Steve Shackleford, Author at BLADE Magazine

BLADE Show Focus: The Future of Knives

Steve Shackleford

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May 3, 2013

The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) will embrace the future of knives with the special seminar “SharpKidz: A Cool Knife Club For Kids.”

The BLADE Show will host the seminar "SharpsKidz: A Cool Knief Club For Kids." — The BLADE Show will host a special SharpKidz seminar geared toward teaching young boys and girls the importance of knives and their safe use.

The BLADE Show will be May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The SharpKidz seminar will be conducted by Pete Cohan show Sunday, June 2, at 11 a.m. in Room 109 of the Cobb Galleria. The seminar will stress basic knife knowledge, including newsletters and other giveaways, displays of kids’ knife collections, question-and-answer sessions and more, all on a level pre-teen boys and girls can relate to.

Former curator of the National Knife Museum and a long-time board member of the National Knife Collectors Association, Cohan is one of the most respected names in knives. His ability to communicate the importance of knives in today’s society is easily understandable on all levels. If you’re coming to the BLADE Show and bringing the kids, this seminar is a must-see for both you and your children.

Nathans Knife Kit — Another way to get kids into knife enthusiasm is with a CRKT Nathan’s Knife Kit. It’s easy and fun to work together to make a wooden knife. Click the image for purchasing information.

Sponsored by Smoky Mountain Knife Works, SharpKidz teaches young boys and girls how to handle and learn about the history and usefulness of pocketknives, including all about safety tips, how to sharpen, how to maintain and otherwise relate in a responsible way to man’s oldest tool.

It provides a carefully structured and fun-filled opportunity for all youths to experience the joy of having their own knife while becoming conscious of how, why and what a knife is for in today’s fast-paced world. Your kids do not need any batteries, solar or wind power, or an app—just their eyes, hands and imagination.

SharpKidz members receive a bi-monthly newsletter that features historic knife information, safety tips, age-appropriate cartoon presentations, enrollment information and the promotion of special SharpKidz events.

For more free SharpKidz membership info, call 800-251-9306 or e-mail [email protected].

See the BLADE Show Japanese Sword Demo

Steve Shackleford

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May 1, 2013

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The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) will welcome the action-packed Japanese sword demonstration of James Williams May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Williams will perform his demo at 1:45 p.m. the Saturday of the show in The Courtyard, aka the parking lot of the host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly.

Williams will present a number of Japanese sword methods, including the tameshigiri—the cutting of bundles of straw mats, bamboo and other media.

Williams uses both one- and two-hand techniques to cut 4- and 5-inch bundles of straw mats. Especially popular are his multiple cuts in rapid succession, including cutting already severed chunks of the mats before they can hit the ground after he cut them the first time.

President of Bugei Trading Co., a specialist in Japanese swords and their accouterments, Williams has been conducting his sword demos at the BLADE Show for many years. He has studied the martial arts since 1960 and taught them since 1975. He also teaches close quarters combat to military and law enforcement and his “The System of Strategy” is based on the skill set of ancient warriors. He is known worldwide as a trainer of special ops unit and government agencies, domestic and foreign. He has taught such agencies and their personnel as the Naval Special Warfare Combatives Instructors, Brazilian National Police, U.S. Army Special Operations, U.S. Navy Special Warfare, U.S. Marine Recon and others. He has appeared on such television programs as National Geographic’s Force Recon, Discovery Channel’s The Ten Greatest Weapons and the Outdoor Network’s Shooting Gallery.

He is also a knife designer, designing CRKT’s Hissatsu, Hisshou, Shinbu, Sakimor, and Otanashi Noh. According to Williams the goal of the Hissatsu folder was not to replace the fixed-blade knife but “to offer the best alternative possible when circumstances demand other options.”

BLADE Show Will Feature Steampunk How-To

Steve Shackleford

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April 25, 2013

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BLADE Show Will Feature Steampunk How-To

The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) will feature a seminar by ABS master smith Wally Hayes on how to make a steampunk tanto.

Slated for May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show is the world’s largest and most important knife show. Hayes, meanwhile, is one of the world’s hottest makers, and his Steampunk knifemaking how-to will be the Sunday of the show, June 2, at 11 a.m. in Room 103 of the Cobb Galleria Centre.

Steampunk knives are inspired by the science fiction genre that features steam-powered machinery from such novels as 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne. “I first saw a Steampunk knife made by Van Barnett and talked to him about it at the 2012 BLADE Show,” Hayes writes in his how-to story in the May BLADE®. In fact, Barnett’s Steampunk folder won Best Art Knife at last year’s BLADE Show and was voted one of the top 14 custom knives of the 21st century in the current July BLADE. A number of other makers have made the style as well.

An accomplished guitarist as well as an award-winning knifemaker, Hayes made a Steampunk tanto for Richard Fortus of the rock band Guns N Roses. Fortus requested it as a gift for a friend. A similar model served as the cover knife for the May BLADE.

In addition to his upcoming Steampunk seminar, Hayes has conducted a number of BLADE Show seminars in the past, including one of his most popular on how to wrap a Japanese knife handle. He will have a table showing his knives at the BLADE Show, and so will Van Barnett, among scores of others.

For the latest in BLADE Show and other knife industry news, subscribe to BLADE

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World Championship Cutting Competition at BLADE Show

Steve Shackleford

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April 24, 2013

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World Championship Cutting Competition at BLADE Show

Defending champ Ted Ott and a host of challengers will compete for the 11th Annual World Championship Cutting Competition at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

The World Championship will be conducted by BladeSports International (BSI) the Saturday of the show at 4:15 p.m. in “The Courtyard”—the parking lot of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly. Current qualifiers include Ott, past champ Gary Bond, Donavon Phillips, Jim Cottingham, Michael Eubanks, Dwight Schoneweis, Dan Keffeler, Bud Robbins and Chris Rowland. Whether more will qualify by the time of the competition, including at least one international contestant, remains to be seen.

Speed, power, technique and a good knife are all important ingredients to winning the competitions. All certified beforehand by BSI, the knives must be no longer than 15 inches overall, with a blade 10 inches or shorter and no more than 2 inches wide. There are no thickness or weight limits. The majority of the knives are custom made, with the balance being factory.

The contestants perform a number of cuts, all of which are timed. Points are deducted from the total time for successful cuts, and the low score wins. While some cuts such as slicing through hanging ropes, water-filled plastic bottles and chopping 2x4s are standard fare, there are usually a couple of surprise cuts for which the competitors cannot prepare. The knives are inspected after each round and disqualified if the blade is damaged.

For more on the BLADE Show, subscribe to BLADE® www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042413

New BLADE On Most Newsstands NOW!

Steve Shackleford

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April 23, 2013

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Fallkniven’s SK1 Jarl midsize hunter is the cover knife for the new BLADE®, on most newsstands NOW!

What are the top 14 custom knives of the 21st century? What features make a perfect tactical folder? Do you know why lightning strike carbon fiber got its name and why it’s in such demand among custom and factory knifemakers? What are the five most oppressive knife jurisdictions? What are the ultimate knives for Mother’s Day? Get the answers to these questions and much more in the latest issue of BLADE.

While the TSA announced yesterday that it will delay its new policy allowing passengers to carry small pocketknives and multi-tools on board commercial airliners, there was much that went into the creation of the original policy. Find out what happened behind the scenes, which knives qualified for the new policy and which ones didn’t, what industry leaders have to say about the new policy and much more in the new BLADE.

In other stories, find out how the cover knife performs in retired 5th Special Forces Master Sergeant Kim Breed’s “Spec Sheet” knife test; let Dexter Ewing show you how the latest serrated knife sharpeners do their duty; read Ed Fowler’s conclusion to his multi-part how-to on sheep horn handles; check out ABS master smith Rick Dunkerley’s Bear Tracks in “Cool Custom”; read part two of Wayne Goddard’s “Question & Answer” on the material that’s the most difficult to use for knife handles; enjoy mini-profiles of J.D. Smith, Tobbe Lundstrom, Glen Mikolajczyk, Libor Tobolak, Ronald Blystone and Tim Steingass in “Knifemaker Showcase”; and get up-to-date on the latest knives and knife accessories, knife show dates and much more in the latest BLADE.

For subscription information click on

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042313

TSA Delays New Small Pocket Knife Policy

Steve Shackleford

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April 23, 2013

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TSA Delays New Small Pocket Knife Policy

A policy change by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allowing passengers to carry a small pocket knife or multi-tool on commercial airliners beginning April 25 has been delayed, federal officials reported.

The TSA indicated the delay is so it can consider a report on the subject from an advisory committee comprised of aviation, consumer and law enforcement officials. The TSA gave no time frame for how long the delay will last.

The delay has no effect on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s policy, which already allows certain small pocket knives and multi-tools on flights in a number of other countries.

The new TSA policy has been attacked from many corners. Some family members of people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks said they were outraged by it. At least one major airline official objected to the change, and the 90,000-member Flight Attendants Union Coalition has lambasted the policy.

Meanwhile, anti-knife politicians such as Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass) say all knives should be banned from flights.

The new policy would allow certain small pocket knives and multi-tools with blades 2.36 inches long or less and a half inch wide or less. No knives with locking blades or fixed blades would be allowed, among others.

For more on the TSA ruling, see the July issue of BLADE®, on most newsstands today. For subscription info click on

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042313

Begg on Discovery Channel’s Blade Brothers Tonight

Steve Shackleford

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April 19, 2013

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Begg on Discovery Channel’s Blade Brothers Tonight

Award-winning knifemaker Todd Begg will star in the premiere episodes of the Blade Brothers on Discovery Channel tonight at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. EDT. (Check local listings for the times in your area.)

Todd becomes the latest knifemaker to join the ranks of television stars. Larry “The Hammer” Harley is the other, achieving newfound fame as one of the stars of National Geographic’s Lords of War. Both makers will exhibit knives at the 2013 BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) and Living Ready Expo May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Winner of a number of awards for his custom knives—including Best Of The Rest at the 2010 BLADE Show for his fantasy cleaver—Begg will be joined by his brothers on the show as he tries to teach them how to help him run the knife business. Since none of Begg’s brothers have ever made a knife before, plenty of hijinks ensue as they learn the ropes in the always challenging business of custom knifemaking.

As he notes on his website, Todd’s interest in knives began at a young age while hunting and fishing with his brothers in the Great Northwest. He later used knives in the military as an NBC Recon team member, where he learned just how important and lifesaving they can be.

Based out of Petaluma, California, Todd specializes in high-grade tactical folders and fixed blades. His patterns include folders, integrals and fighters. He specialzies in flipper folders using the Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS), and his list prices range from $400 to $15,000 per knife. He exhibits his knives at a wide range of knife shows, including the BLADE Show, and has appeared in BLADE Magazine (www.blademag.com) on any number of occasions.

For more information on Todd and makers like him, subscribe to BLADE at

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl041913

Steve Shackleford

BLADE Show Focus: The Future of Knives

See the BLADE Show Japanese Sword Demo

BLADE Show Will Feature Steampunk How-To

World Championship Cutting Competition at BLADE Show

New BLADE On Most Newsstands NOW!

TSA Delays New Small Pocket Knife Policy

Begg on Discovery Channel’s Blade Brothers Tonight

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