Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders will be among the makers who will teach knife grinding during BLADE University, brought to you by Premium Knife Supply. (Wilmont Grinders photo)
Learn knife grinding at the 2nd Annual BLADE University brought to you by Premium Knife Supply in a three-part class taught by knifemakers Lucas Burnley, Tom Krein and Chris Williams.
BLADE U. will be held in conjunction with the 2015 BLADE Show June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta. Also held in the Cobb Galleria, BLADE U. will begin the Thursday (June 4) before the show and end show Saturday. The grinding seminar is but one of a full range of classes on a variety of knife subjects taught by some of the world’s leading cutlery professionals.
In their blade-grinding instructional, the three makers will outline the proper tools and equipment, the importance of safety and show you how it’s all done.
In the classroom setting of part one, they will discuss two-wheel vs. three-wheel grinders; variable speed vs. fixed speed; the differences between 1- and 2-inch contact wheels; belts and belt backings; flat platens; small wheel attachments; rotary attachment; grinding jigs; and more.
From the classroom to the outside setting of The Courtyard of the show’s adjoining host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly, in part two the three makers will teach grinding for beginners on machines provided by Wilmont Grinders. The session will include how to scribe the centerline and grind lines on the blade, how to hollow grind to the grind lines and grind a swedge/clip, and more. Finally, in part three, Burnley will cover advanced blade grinding—including grinding in a fuller—and recurve, compound and convex grinds.
Learn both basic and advanced knife making techniques with expert instruction from Allen Alishewitz in Tactical Fixed Blades. Allen demonstrates how to craft a double-edged tactical fixed blade knife from start to finish, and creates two knives in order to fully illustrate the knife building process. You’ll learn:
– Profiling and Drilling the Knife
– Tang Tapering on a Grinder
– Tang Tapering on a Mill
– And more!
Learn how to design and make a combat from Curtis Iovito and Bill Harsey at BLADE U.
Learn how to design and make a combat knife from two who have been there/done that—Curtis Iovito of Spartan Blades and award-winning custom knifemaker William W. “Bill” Harsey—at the 2nd Annual BLADE University.
Bill Harsey’s designs have won numerous BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards.
Held the day before (June 4) through show Saturday (June 6) of the 2015 BLADE Show June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, BLADE University assembles the world’s leading knife professionals to instruct you on most anything that has to do with the subject of cut.
Along with Mark Carey co-owner and co-founder of Spartan Blades, Iovito is a retired U.S. Army Ranger who saw action during Operation Just Cause in Panama and numerous sensitive deployments and missions throughout Asia and the Middle East. It was while in 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) that Curtis got into making custom knives for his teammates. After finishing up his 20-year career he hooked up with Carey—himself a 21-year man with U.S. Army Special Forces with many deployments in Asia—to start Spartan Blades.
Retired U.S. Army Special Forces and co-owner and co-founder of Spartan Blades, Curtis Iovito will help you learn how to design and make a combat knife.
A number of Harsey’s designs, including the Green Beret Knife, have won BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® awards. Spartan Blades also has won BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards with its knives.
Today Harsey is one of several custom makers who design knives for Spartan Blades, a list that includes BLADE® Magazine field editor and retired 5th Special Forces Master Sergeant Kim Breed and also ABS master smith John Horrigan. Among Harsey’s design efforts for Spartan is the Difensa combat fixed blade.
In “Designing and Making a Combat Knife,” Iovito and Harsey will take you through the process, including:
•The terms “combat” and “tactical” as they relate to knife use;
•Understanding task-specific uses of a combat knife;
•Combat knife geometry;
•Carry options for a combat knife, vehicle and on foot;
•Design features that make up a combat knife;
•Blade geometry, and;
•Materials that lend themselves to improving a combat knife.
Learn both basic and advanced knife making techniques with expert instruction from Allen Alishewitz in Tactical Fixed Blades. Allen demonstrates how to craft a double-edged tactical fixed blade knife from start to finish, and creates two knives in order to fully illustrate the knife building process. You’ll learn:
– Profiling and Drilling the Knife
– Tang Tapering on a Grinder
– Tang Tapering on a Mill
– And more!
The BLADE Show has always been an electric atmosphere for knife enthusiasts, collectors, dealers, users, manufacturers, purveyors and everyone in between, and it truly is the world’s largest knife show. With nearly 700 tables showcasing custom knives, knife collections, antique knives and knife-related products, and more than 300 factory and multi-custom-maker booths, a BLADE Show attendee really does need all three days to explore the show and take it all in.
The list of exhibitors for the 2015 BLADE Show, to be held June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Marietta, Georgia, keeps growing and growing and growing …
Get the latest knife information with features on the latest developments, history, and transformation of knives, swords, and edges of all types, and explore the latest trends in blades, steels, styles, and materials. Gaze upon a “State of the Art” section parading engraved, scrimshawed, jewel-inlaid, carved, etched, sculpted and forge-welded, and Damascus and mosaic-damascus knives. Learn more
Rick Hinderer will be among the leading names in knives serving as instructors at the 2nd Annual BLADE University.
Leading knifemakers Rick Hinderer, Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical, ABS master smiths Jerry Fisk, Joe Keeslar, Tim Potier and Lin Rhea, Lucas Burnley, Tom Krein, Jason Brous, Murray Carter, HEPK master smith Ed Fowler and many others will be among the instructors for the 2nd Annual BLADE University.
Held the Thursday prior to and through the Saturday of the BLADE Show—the latter which will be June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta—BLADE University is a whole new concept in knife show instruction that covers knifemaking, knife collecting, engraving, Japanese swords, knife design, bushcraft, sharpening and much more.
The class schedule:
THURSDAY, JUNE 4
Knives The ABS Way, Room 104
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.: Introduction to Bladesmithing—ABS master smith Tim Potier
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.: How To Make a Knife From Meteorite, with ABS master smith Lin Rhea
2:15 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Part I of Handles and Guards, with ABS master smith Joe Keeslar
3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.: Part II of Handles and Guards, with ABS master smith Joe Keeslar
FRIDAY, JUNE 5
How To Grind a Knife Blade Part I, Room 109
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.: Proper Tools and Safety Gear/Tips, with knifemakers Tom Krein and Lucas Burnley, and Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders
-How To Grind a Knife Blade, The Courtyard
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: How To Grind, Part I, with knifemakers Tom Krein and Lucas Burnley, and Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders
-How To Grind a Knife Blade, The Courtyard
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: How To Grind, Part II, with knifemakers Tom Krein and Lucas Burnley, and Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders
GRS Engraving Instruction, Room 107
8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.: Introduction and techniques, including drawing, transfer and graver sharpening
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Hands-on engraving, including hand engraving, finishing and Q&A
How To Sharpen Any Blade, Room 104
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: Big Knives, Axes/Tomahawks, Razors and More, with knifemaker Murray Carter
How To Choose Your Knife, Room 104
2 p.m.-3:15 p.m.: Choosing a Knife You Can Depend On For Survival, including Design Aspects, Construction and Questions to Ask The Maker, with Ed Fowler, HEPK Mastersmith
Collecting Wartime Randall Knives, Room 109
3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m.: What’s Hot In Wartime Randall Knives, with Randall knife purveyor Gary Clinton
Collecting & Maintaining Japanese Swords, Room 107
5 p.m.-6:15 p.m.: What To Look For When Buying a Japanese Sword and Proper Japanese Sword Care/Maintenance, with Wally Hostetter
SATURDAY, JUNE 6
From One-Man Shop To Semi-Production/Production: How The Pros Do It, Room 107
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Jason Brous/Brous Blades
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: Rick Hinderer/Rick Hinderer Knives
Bushcraft Knife Survival School, Room 109
9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.: Knife Design & Function, with Abe Elias
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Knife Skills: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Knife, Including Proper Grips and Cutting/Chopping Techniques, with Abe Elias
Using 3D CAD/CAM Software In Knife Design & Knifemaking, Room 107
11 a.m.-12 p.m.: Ryan M. Johnson, RMJ Tactical, LLC
Designing and Making a Combat Knife, Room TBD
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Design, Manufacture, Uses, Soldiers’ Needs, Peacetime Effects and More, with knifemaker Bill Harsey and Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey of Spartan Blades
How To Get Your Knife Design Put Into Production/Do A Factory/Custom Collaboration, Room 104
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.: Knifemaker Brian Tighe and Rod Bremer of CRKT
3:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m. ABS master smith Jerry Fisk & John Cammenga of White River Knife & Tool
For details on how you can enroll for BLADE University and/or to buy tickets for the BLADE Show, visit bladeshow.com or CLICK HERE. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Recommended for You:
Knife Grinding Secrets (Download)
Author R.J. Martin, whose knives are some of the most popular and sought-after in the industry, instructs on flat- and double-hollow-grinding knife blades. Martin a frequent contributor to BLADE® Magazine, frequency, offers up his methods for blade grinding. You won’t be disappointed. Follow along as R.J. covers:
– Profiling a Chisel-Ground Blade
– Grinding the Bevel of the Kwaiken Model
– The Finesse of Grinding
– The Feared Flat Grind
– More!
I got some good-natured ribbing at the 2014 BLADE Show because of my EDC folder. Being part of the show staff, I’m constantly taking my knife out to open boxes of magazines or books, or to cut tape for the book booth, etc.
When one guy saw me unclip the Gerber Bear Grylls lockback folder and extract it from my front pocket, he said, “Geez, Joe. Here you are, managing editor of BLADE Magazine, at the largest knife show in the world, surrounded by high-end, superbly crafted knives, and you’ve got an inexpensive Gerber in your pocket?!”
Well, yeah, I like the way the rubber handle feels in my hand, it’s slim, I like the black and orange color combination, it’s got a modified drop-point blade, it’s utilitarian, easy to sharpen, I like the wide paddle-style pocket clip, it doesn’t weigh much, and I don’t mind using it to open boxes and cut tape. So what if it’s only $33?
Get the latest knife information with features on the latest developments, history, and transformation of knives, swords, and edges of all types, and explore the latest trends in blades, steels, styles, and materials. Gaze upon a “State of the Art” section parading engraved, scrimshawed, jewel-inlaid, carved, etched, sculpted and forge-welded, and Damascus and mosaic-damascus knives. Learn more
Overflow crowds, the latest knives, award winners, Cutlery Hall Of Famers and scads of sharp stuff in general made the 2014 BLADE Show a smash success.
The latest knives, tomahawks and more made the 2014 BLADE Show a smash success. The booth is that of Ryan Johnson’s RMJ Tactical.
Held June 6-8 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, the BLADE Show is the world’s largest and most important knife event, and the 33rd annual rendition this past weekend surpassed all expectations.
Knife enthusiasts stampeded through the show on Friday, with many on hand remarking on how it was the biggest Friday crowd in show history. ABS master smith Daniel Winkler and his Winkler II Knives booth experienced record sales. “Last year was my best BLADE Show ever in terms of sales, and I sold more on Friday of this year’s show than all of last year’s show,” he noted.
Many makers reported heavy sales, including Jon Graham of Graham Knives, who said he sold 97 of his mid-techs and was sold out Friday. In fact, many exhibitors sold out Friday.
However, that did not slow things down any on Saturday, as the knife feeding frenzy continued.
Meanwhile, the BLADE Magazine 2014 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards were named the Saturday night of the show during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception, with the CRKT/Ken Onion Hijinx taking Overall Knife-Of-The-Year® honors and the Rat Worx MRX winning the first-ever People’s Choice Knife-Of-The-Year® Award. For more on the winners, visit bladeshow.com.
The custom knife judging named the top handmade knives, headed by the Tembo Bowie, winner of Best Collaboration and Best Of Show. The knife was auctioned by the Custom Knife Collectors Association to raise money to save the African elephant.
Making Tactical Fixed Blades DVD
