It’s five days and counting to the 31st Annual BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) June 8-10 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, where purveyor Les Robertson will tell you what to look for in a tactical folder in his special seminar. An example of one of the hottest tactical folders going is shown above—the Mini-DH Hawkbill by Sniper Bladeworks (www.sniperbladeworks.com).
An Army veteran and long-time purveyor of tactical folders and handforged knives, among others, Robertson will conduct his seminar on show Saturday at 12 p.m. in Room 104. Join him as he outlines not only what to look for in the features of the knives but also what to look for in terms of trends, pricing, the makers and much more.
The seminar is but one of many that will take place during the event, including those conducted as part of the Survival+Tactical Gear Expo held in conjunction with the show. BLADE Show ticket holders can attend the seminars free of charge.
For more on the latest knives, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where and much more, subscribe to BLADE Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication.
Atlanta, Georgia (June 3, 2017) – Awards recognizing the highest achievement in the custom and factory knife industries were bestowed the evening of Saturday, June 3, 2017, at the BLADE Show in the Cobb Galleria.
2017 BLADE Show Knife of the Year® Award Winners
Representatives from BLADE (www.blademag.com) distributed BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® awards in 13 categories. Two of the awards—Industry Achievement and Publisher’s—went to a retail knife store and a knife-related organization, respectively, for their contributions to the world of knives.
All entrants in the Knife of the Year® competition were judged on a number of factors, including utility, design, creativity, materials, aesthetics, feel and other traits.
The 2017 BLADE Show Custom Knife Award Winners were also announced on Saturday, June 3, 2017, at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.
Best in Show: CAS & Sam Lurquin collaboration
Best New Maker: Phil Jacob
Most Innovative Design: Grace Horne
Best Fixed Blade: CAS
Best Damascus: Mike Deibert
Best Bowie: Jean-Louis Regel
Best Folder: Glenn Waters
Best Fighter: Josh Fisher
Best Handle Design: Ben Seward
Best Miniature: Glenn Waters
Best of the Rest: Lloyd Studios
Best Utility Hunter: Wess Barnhill
Best Tactical Folder: Brian Nadeau
Best Sword: Ron Chen
Best Collaboration: CAS & Sam Lurquin
Best Art Knife: David Broadwell
About BLADE Show
The BLADE Show is the world’s largest, most important knife show, and has taken place every year since 1982 and in Atlanta since 1992. Upwards of 1,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries display their knives and knife-related items over a three-day cutlery celebration that also features BLADE University knife seminars, knife auctions, custom knife awards, celebrity appearances and much more.
About BLADE
BLADE® Magazine (www.blademag.com) is the world’s No.1 knife publication. It is also the world’s oldest knife magazine, publishing its first issue in 1973. In conjunction with the BLADE Show, it has sponsored the Knife of the Year® Awards annually since 1982. The awards are the most coveted honors in the factory knife industry and are voted on by the booth exhibitors at the BLADE Show, who this year number more than 200. Only BLADE Show booth exhibitors are eligible to enter.
The BLADE Show and BLADE Magazine are the properties of F+W of Cincinnati, Ohio.
See 40 Years of Knives that Changed the World
BLADE collected the very best factory and custom knives into two digital collections to showcase the blades that changed the edged world forever. Click a cover to grab yours today.
Top custom makers from around the world showcase rarefied knives at the annual ABS auction.
Each year when the BLADE Show rolls into Atlanta, the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) holds its auction of selected knives forged by ABS master and journeyman smiths. Here is a gander at the knives that crossed the block at the exclusive auction! ABS master smith and instructor Brion Tomberlin serves as a director and secretary of the society, and he handles the ABS auction from start to finish.
“I choose the smiths, mainly from the recent journeyman and master smiths who have gotten their stamps that year,” he explained, “and I also ask other master smiths and journeyman smiths, basically whoever I can get to say yes! The proceeds go to the general fund of the ABS.”
Support for the ongoing educational activities and programs of the ABS is vital to the health and future of the craft. Participants are honored to be involved and have their handiwork sold at auction by ABS director Robert Wilson. For years, Wilson has served as the event’s auctioneer, and Tomberlin said he likes to go with experience. For this year’s auction, several outstanding knives, both by American and international bladesmiths, will be available.
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife—Jeremy Yelle: Gentleman’s Bowie
Jeremy Yelle, a 22-year-old bladesmith from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, is excited to be involved and to offer one of two international journeyman smith knife entries. “I truly love the ABS and what it does,” he said, “and I felt like giving it my first-ever journeyman smith piece was the honorable thing to do.
“I personally love the antique and classic look of older knives, which is why I chose to make a coffin-handle bowie. The handle is a coffin shape, which happens to be a partial takedown. It has several lineup pins, my textured and fire etched 416 stainless steel fittings and a 416 textured spacer.”
Jeremy has been making knives for about five years, and his mosaic damascus blade was inspired by the process he learned from ABS master smith David Lisch. The handle of Jeremy’s gentleman’s bowie is particularly noteworthy with Canadian maple burl from Maritime Knife Supply that he stabilized and dyed. The knife is completed by a protective case.
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife Maker: Jeremy Yelle Knife name: Gentleman’s Bowie Blade length: 8.625 inches Blade material: Mosaic damascus of 15N20 nickel alloy and 1084 carbon steels Handle material: Canadian maple burl Overall length: 13.5 inches
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife—Pablo Lanaspa: Bisaurin
The second international journeyman smith knife entry is from Pablo Lanaspa Ubeira from the small town of Berdun in the north of Spain. “I am very grateful to the ABS for bringing me the opportunity to make this knife,” he said. “Special thanks to Brion for his kindness and ability to help in every circumstance.”
Ubeira has been making knives since 2008, and this piece, a bowie-inspired design, comes with a zippered case. “I was already a collector and then started to make my own blades from recycled steel when I made a rudimentary coal forge and a small belt grinder,” he said of his earlier days. His knife features a blade with a hamon that is clay differentiated and hardened. The blade is also slightly recurved with a full sharpened edge on the back, while the wood used for the handle, Australian ringed gidgee, is a gift from Belgian ABS master smith Sam Lurquin.
International ABS Journeyman Smith Knife Maker: Pablo Lanaspa Ubeira Knife name: Bisaurin Blade length: 12 inches Blade material: W2 steel with hamon Handle material: Australian ringed gidgee wood Overall length: 17 inches
U.S. ABS Journeyman Smith Knife—Joshua States: Stylized Quillon Dagger
Can you think of a better name for a maker of a United States journeyman smith knife than Joshua States? Of New River, Arizona, Joshua fashioned his U.S. JS model as a stylized version of a quillon dagger. “The coffin-frame handle is a complex build, and the blade is flat ground on the bevels with a central fuller,” he explained. “I took my first class with Tim Hancock, and that was a game changer. Previous to that I had spent about a year trying to do things without any training or reference material.”
According to States, his JS knife was originally undertaken as a commission. “A customer had seen a similar dagger I had made in 2014 and wanted a copy of that knife,” he recalled. “Unfortunately, he passed away soon after I had made the blade, and I hadn’t started making any of the other parts. So, I was now free to redesign the handle/guard/finial.”
Joshua also made the leather sheath with minor decorative tooling and a multi-color dye job. The leather is 5/16-inch thick in a heavy oak tanned sole bend.
U.S. ABS Journeyman Smith Knife Maker: Joshua States Knife pattern: Stylized quillon dagger Blade length: 11 inches Blade material: Pattern-welded 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels, and nickel Handle material: Pattern-welded frame/desert ironwood scales Overall length: 16.3 inches Sheath: Hand-tooled-and-stitched leather
U.S. ABS Master Smith Folder—Bill Burke: Lanny’s Clip
One of two U.S. master smith knives to be auctioned is a folder from Bill Burke of the Boise, Idaho, area. A custom knifemaker for 25 years, Bill pays homage to the late Tony Bose, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® slipjoint making wizard, with a Lanny’s Clip pocketknife in a shark’s tooth damascus blade and mammoth ivory scales. “A lockbar and spacer of damascus are included,” Bill said, “with integral liners and bolsters.” The liners are fileworked and the knife comes with a zippered case.
U.S. ABS Master Smith Folder Maker: Bill Burke Knife name: Lanny’s Clip Blade length: 3.25 inches Blade material: Shark’s tooth damascus of 15N20 nickel-alloy and 1080 carbon steels Handle material: Mammoth ivory Lock mechanism: Lockback Closed length: 4.1875 inches
U.S. Master Smith Knife—Nick Rossi: Hybrid European Chef
Nick Rossi of Vassalboro, Maine, contributed an integral European hybrid chef’s knife with a 50-layer twist damascus blade and curly koa handle as the second U.S. master smith knife. Both blade and handle are fashioned in the 25-year-veteran smith’s signature styles. The blade is flat ground with a subtle convex edge, and the handle features a bronze domed pin and a G-10 spacer. “This is my favorite type of knife to make,” he said. “It features an integral bolster, which makes it stronger and gives it better balance. It was inspired by European chef’s knives with a little Japanese flavor.” The knife comes complete with a padded case.
U.S. Master Smith Knife Maker: Nick Rossi Knife name: Hybrid European Chef Blade length: 7.5 inches Blade material: A twist damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Handle material: Curly koa Overall length: 12 inches
T.O.M.B. Knife—Steve Culver: Fighter
This year’s T.O.M.B. (The Order of the Mystic Brotherhood) Knife is by ABS master smith Steve Culver of Meriden, Kansas. Culver has been an active knifemaker for 36 years, and his fighter was inspired by “all the cool recurve bowies that I’ve seen others make.”
In fact, the knife is Steve’s first venture into the recurve blade style. The blade is 220-layer ladder-pattern damascus, while the handle is Arizona desert ironwood with guard and spacer materials of anodized titanium and stainless steel. Steve also made the lined sheath, which sports lizard skin inlay.
T.O.M.B. Knife Maker: Steve Culver Knife pattern: Fighter Blade length: 8 inches Blade material: Ladder-pattern damascus of 15N20 nickel-alloy and 1084 carbon steels Handle material: Desert ironwood Overall length: 13.125 inches Sheath: Lined and features lizard-skin inlay
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 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.
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].
Five Different Factory Makers Picked Up Awards At Salt Lake City With WE Knife Stealing The Show
Factory makers brought out their best for the BLADE Show West knife competition, and they did not disappoint. Five factories took home wins with the big winner being WE Knife, which won two categories and the Best Of Show award.
Follow these simple rules and you’re sure to have a great show.
If you’re among the throng of thousands going to the BLADE Show June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, here are a few tips on how to make the world’s largest, most important knife event work for you:
What To Wear
If in doubt “go dark”—any one or more of black shirt, blue jeans or black hat. While tactical doesn’t rule the way it once did, black remains the color of choice among many knife fans. Whatever color you choose, wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothes. If you want to overdo it, clip a knife to every pocket.
Comfortable shoes that provide full support against walking on concrete all weekend are an absolute must. Some bring two pair of such shoes. Bring a small backpack for snacks, a small plastic water bottle, etc. If you go outside for the BLADE University classes or free seminars, a ballcap helps protect against a June Georgia sun that has fried thousands of BLADE Show patron scalps over the years.
Party Proof Yourself
If you join the revelry and revel too much in The Pit (page 24), the lobby bar of the host Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel, take some kind of headache relief before bedtime to reduce the dreaded post-Pit hangover. And, if you stay in the Waverly, bring some earplugs. The Pit can get raucous even into the wee hours and the noise can carry up to the hotel rooms, including the top floor.
Show Etiquette
Try to avoid walking fast and making sudden stops and U-turns in the exhibitor halls. Thousands of knife fans like you are moving, too, often closer to each other than they should. Any abrupt moves can result in collisions, so take it slow and easy. You’ll see more knives that way, too.
Never ask a maker how long it took him/her to make a specific knife. It’s natural to be amazed at some of the fabulous works of art and to be curious about how long it took to make one, but many makers bristle at the question. It’s not as important to know why they resent the query so much as the fact that they do, so don’t ask.
Don’t interrupt a maker/customer conversation. Patiently wait your turn or come back later when the maker is free to talk.
Ask the maker before you pick up a knife. If it’s a folder, it doesn’t hurt to ask permission to open it. The maker may want to open it for you. If a multi-blade folder, don’t open it so two or more blades are open at once. This puts undue pressure on one or more of the backsprings. It’s also a good way to cut yourself if you’re not careful. If you’re wanting to see what kind of clearance there is between opening/closing blades, ask the maker to demonstrate it for you. And when you finish examining the knife, return it the way it was handed to you—carefully, whether open or closed.
While it may seem courteous to wipe the blades off before returning knives to the makers, don’t. Let the makers do it instead. They are fully equipped to do so and are going to check the knife for any spots you may miss anyhow. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring a chamois for your own purposes. However, if there’s any wiping down of their knives to be done, let the makers do it.
Don’t use a loupe/magnifying glass to examine a custom knife. It’s a good way to make the maker mad. There are going to be imperfections on custom knives—if not, they’re probably not custom—so some minute imperfections are to be expected.
After you finish talking to the maker and are ready to leave, even if you intend to return to his/her table, don’t say, “I’ll be back.” Chances are you won’t. It also implies you’ll be back to buy a knife when you may have no intention whatsoever of doing so. Don’t be an “I’ll Be Backer!”
One thing to be sure to do: have fun. If you’re going, see you there!
The Chris Reeve Sebenza 2014 BLADE Show Knife is available NOW—and you’d better hurry if you want one because they are in a super-limited edition of only 12. Historically, the lower the number of the limited edition, the more valuable the knives will be, and 12 is one of the lower limited-edition numbers on knives you will see, especially for a BLADE Show knife.
Only 12 of the Chris Reeve Sebenza 2014 BLADE Show Knives will be sold.
Voted No. 2 in BLADE® Magazine on the list of the top custom knives from the years 1989-2000, the Sebenza is Reeve’s most famous knife and remains his most popular model. Made today in a factory iteration, the knife recently celebrated its 25th anniversary with the introduction of the Model 25, an exclusive version of which serves as the 2014 BLADE Show Knife.
Featuring the official 2014 BLADE Show logo and limited-edition number embossed on the handle, each of the dozen knives includes new concepts Chris Reeve brought to the Model 25, all in celebration of the 25th anniversary. Click here to buy one of 12 BLADE Show Sebenzas.
Those concepts include:
The first blade to feature Large Hollow Grind Technology, a blend of the best of hollow and flat grinds;
A shaped phosphor bronze washer on the lock side brings additional stability to that side of the blade;
An eighth-inch ceramic ball acts as the interface between the lock bar and the blade, and doubles to drop into the detent, ensuring the blade stays in place when closed;
Larger perforations in the washers reduce friction, store more lubricant and offer space for small dirt particles to move away from the blade/washer interface, helping prevent the blade action from becoming “sticky”;
416 heat-treated stainless steel drop pin;
Asymmetrical pattern thumb serrations on the blade’s curved thumb ramp give excellent purchase, and;
At .140 inch thick, the blade is more robust than previous Sebenza models.
It’s five days and counting to the 31st Annual BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) June 8-10 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, where purveyor Les Robertson will tell you what to look for in a tactical folder in his special seminar. An example of one of the hottest tactical folders going is shown above—the Mini-DH Hawkbill by Sniper Bladeworks (www.sniperbladeworks.com).
