Steve Shackleford, Author at BLADE Magazine

Hunter’s Edge: 3 EZ-Carry Field Hones

Knife Collecting

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October 11, 2012

Keeping your hunting knife sharp at all times is a must in the field. One of the best ways to do it is to touch the edge up after each time you use it—and the easiest way to do that is with a portable field sharpener.

The Spyderco ProFile Fine/Medium Sharpener (pictured at top) offers a medium-grit stone for very dull edges and a fine-grit stone for edge finishing and/or touch-ups. A convenient pocket carry leather case is included. For more, click on www.shopblade.com/profile-finemedium-w8595?lid=SSfbbl101112

The GATCO Diamond Stix Sharpener (second from top) features a solid brass knurled handle for easy gripping and which contains a monochrystalline diamond rod that sharpens serrated blades as well as hunting knives, shears and more. For more, click on www.shopblade.com/gatco-diamond-stix-sharpener-50ds1?lid=SSfbbl101112

The GATCO Edgemate Carbide Pocket Sharpener (bottom) is designed to sharpen your hunting knife in four to five gentle strokes via its long-lasting tungsten-carbide replaceable blades. For more, click on www.shopblade.com/gatco-edgemate-carbide-pocket-sharpener-40001?lid=SSfbbl101112

Veteran Knifemaker Ted Dowell Passes Away

Steve Shackleford

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October 10, 2012

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Ted Dowell, long-time knifemaker, past Knifemakers’ Guild president and popularizer of the integral knife design, passed away Oct. 5.

In a statement, Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member and current Guild president Gil Hibben noted, “It is with a heavy heart that I report the passing of my friend and Knifemakers’ Guild Founding Member and Past President, Ted Dowell. Our hearts go out to his family and especially to his beloved wife, Betty. As soon as I know the arrangements and details I will post them. Ted was a true pioneer of the KMG and a great master knifemaker. He will be deeply missed.

Also known for his “Funny Folder” design, among many others, Dowell was the only Guild member to exhibit at every Guild Show—40 in all—until the streak came to an end in 2010, Betty always by his side, smiling and flying the “Dowell banner.”

According to Hibben, the family of Ted Dowell has requested that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Knifemakers’ Guild (www.knifemakersguild.com) in Ted’s memory. “Ted truly loved the Guild, and the Dowell family’s request reflects that love,” Hibben added.

To stay abreast of the latest in knives and knife information, subscribe to BLADE at http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?lid=SSfbbl101012

Viking “Ulfberht” Sword Stars on Nova Tonight

Steve Shackleford

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October 10, 2012

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Watch Nova on PBS tonight as Ric Furrer takes you through the creation of the legendary Viking sword known as the “Ulfberht.”

Specializing in the forging/making of steel via the ancient methods, Furrer has conducted seminars and demonstrations on how to make steel from sand at a number of venues, including the Batson Bladesmithing Symposium at the Tannehill Ironworks in McCalla, Alabama.

Little is known for sure about the legendary Ulfberht sword. Believed to have been made somewhere around the 10th century, the Ulfberht is described thus by the late Hank Reinhardt (pictured above in a photograph by Patrick Gibbs at a past DragonCon event) in his The Book of Swords:

“Sometime early in the 10th century, the ability to produce a large enough bloom of steel to make a full sword was developed … [The resulting] steel swords also had a slightly different shape [than their predecessors]. Instead of the edges being parallel, there was a defined slope to the point. The point was still rounded but the slope put weight closer to the hand, thereby making them somewhat quicker on the stroke and on the return. These new swords all had the name ‘Ulfberht’ engraved on the blades. It’s fun to speculate how this sword was developed and who this person was.”

For more on tonight’s program, click on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/secrets-viking-sword.html

For more on the latest in everything that cuts, subscribe to BLADE®. For subscription info, click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?lid=SSfbbl101012

NEW BLADE ON NEWSSTANDS TODAY!

Steve Shackleford

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October 9, 2012

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What do many of today’s custom tactical folders have in common? Find out in the latest issue of BLADE® Magazine, on most newsstands TODAY!

Featuring the DMF tactical folder by Sniper Bladeworks on the cover, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication covers the globe’s sharpest knives from all angles, including:

•A special 25th anniversary salute to the Sebenza by Chris Reeve Knives, one of the most influential folders in modern knife history;

•Part one of a two-part story on how to polish a Japanese sword by sword guru Leon Kapp;

•The top annual knives of the American Bladesmith Society as determined at the 2012 BLADE Show (www.blademag.com);

•A rundown of the latest and greatest factory hunting knives;

•A profile of one of Brazil’s hottest knifemakers, Gus Cecchini;

•BLADE field editor and ABS master smith Wayne Goddard’s four shop tips and quick fixes covering grinders, drill-bit sharpening, holes in hard tangs and more;

•A short history of the K.I.S.S., the knife that helped make Columbia River Knife & Tool a major player on the world knife stage;

•And all the latest in everyday carry knives, the results from the 10th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition, a test of A.G. Russell’s “Super Storm Knife” and much, much more.

For information on how to subscribe to BLADE, click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?lid=SSfbbl100912

The Hunter’s Edge: 3 Hot Fixed Blades

Steve Shackleford

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October 8, 2012

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You can’t beat fixed blades for down-and-dirty, heavy-duty hunting knife use, and three hot factory examples from ShopBlade are more than ready for the woods.

Designed for fish and small game, the Buck 102BR Woodsman (second from top) boasts old-time Buck styling in an affordable ShopBlade price of $39.99. Overall length: 7.75. inches.

For more click on www.shopblade.com/buck-102br-woodsman-knife-y4511?lid=SSfbbl100912

The Medium Hunter “O” Style (third from top) by Scagel Knives features a 5.5-inch blade of A2 tool steel heat treated to 58 HRC. Sporting the convex grind—the favorite grind of Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Bill Moran—the blade is designed for all types of hunting uses.

For more click on www.shopblade.com/scagel-design-knives-medium-hunter-o?lid=SSfbbl100912

Speaking of Moran, Spyderco’s Bill Moran upswept hunter (top) boasts a VG-10 stainless blade and a comfy palm swell handle of fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) at a ShopBlade price of $99.96. For out-of-the-box sharpness, this one is hard to beat.

For more click on www.shopblade.com/bill-moran-black-frn-w-kraton-inlay-upswept-plainedge-w8522?lid=SSfbbl100912

Win a Young Knife at Cal Knife Show Oct. 6-7

Steve Shackleford

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October 5, 2012

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Meet some of the world’s leading custom knifemakers at Dan and Pam Delavan’s California Custom Knife Show tomorrow and Sunday, Oct. 6-7, in Anaheim.

While there, enter to win the repro of a Bob Loveless New York Special by John Young (see accompanying picture). The drawing will be the Sunday of the show.

In addition to Young, other exhibiting makers will include Ernest Emerson, Rick Hinderer, Les George, Jason Brous, Kirby Lambert, Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member D’ Holder, Darrel Ralph, Bill Ruple, Brian Tighe, Daniel Winkler and many more.

Held at the Embassy Suites of Garden Grove/Anaheim South, the show will run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

For more info click on http://www.plazacutlery.com/PLAZAcutleryKnifeSHOW2011.htm

For the latest knives, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss100512