Discover the winners of the 2025 BLADE Show West Custom Knife Awards—nine categories of world-class craftsmanship.
Salt Lake City once again became the hub of the knife world as the 2025 BLADE Show West took over the Salt Palace Convention Center October 10-11. Now in its fourthyear in Utah, the event drew an impressive mix of custom knifemakers, manufacturers, and collectors from across the country and abroad.
At the heart of the weekend stood the Custom Knife Awards—always one of the most anticipated moments of the show. Makers went head-to-head across nine categories, putting their best work forward for consideration. Judged by a panel of anonymous experts, the entries were measured on design, originality, choice of materials, functionality, and overall execution.
The results reflected the diversity and skill of today’s custom knife community. With a crowded field and no shortage of standout pieces, the 2025 competition underscored why BLADE Show West continues to be a must-attend event for knife enthusiasts everywhere.
Best Custom Hunting Knife And Overall Best In Show: James Rodebaugh
Discover the winners of the 2025 BLADE Show West Factory Knife Awards. See which knives earned top honors at the premier blade event.
The Factory Knife Awards at BLADE Show West have quickly built a reputation for fierce competition, and the 2025 edition raised the stakes yet again.
Staged October 10-11 inside the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, this year’s contest saw one of the largest turnouts to date. Makers and manufacturers from across the globe rolled in with their finest designs, all chasing the coveted BLADE Show West trophies. With six categories to judge and no shortage of stellar entries, the panel of anonymous judges faced an uphill battle narrowing down the winners.
In the end, the awards highlighted the very best production knives on the market today. Here’s a look at the blades that rose to the top and earned recognition at the final BLADE Show of the year.
Best Factory Folder And Overall Best In Show: Mr. Mr. Designs Titan
Photo: JFrasier
Best American Made Factory Knife: Tactile Knife Co. Skeletonized Rockwall
We captured in film the knives, knife people and lots of fun that marked another great show.
Nothing beats the BLADE Show.
Nearly 1,000 vendors, countless knives and throngs of attendees crowded the Cobb Galleria from June 6–8 for the world’s largest knife shindig. That’s a lot of action—and plenty to take in over the course of three days. But armed with our trusty candid cameras, we at BLADE Magazine gave it our best shot.
Roving the main hall, “baller” room and convention center corridors, we captured glimpses of the knife event no words can fully describe. Take a moment to relive—or get your first look at—BLADE Show 2025 through the lens of those who were there.
Editor’s Note: Click on any photo to launch an enlarged gallery.
Show Saturday was bumper to bumper.CRKT fans get their fill of new knives.A Rosecraft BLADE Show ad greeted guests of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, each time they took the elevator.Knife fans converge on the Rick Hinderer Knives booth.Mardi Meshejian has a firm hold on one of his custom sickles.Blade HQ held Balicomp 25 with Brycen Nelson winning the title, Steve Ash placing second and Landon Morrison third. (Blade HQ image) Tim Reeve (center with arms raised) directs traffic at the Chris Reeve Knives booth as Anne Reeve and Dean Felides (directly to Tim’s right) look on.Jens Anso conducts his BLADE University class.HEPK master smith/BLADE® field editor Ed Fowler (left) enjoys a customer visit.Knife deals were there to be had.Patrons wait in line patiently for the BLADE Show to begin.Who says BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® members can’t have fun? Michael Walker gives Bob Terzuola the rabbit-ear treatment. (Larry Hirsch image)Walter Brend (left) and Les Robertson enjoy another BLADE Show.A contestant flips a giant butterfly knife during Balicomp 25.The smiling face dead center is custom knifemaker Koji Hara.Aaron Frederick is back making knives and had a few on hand to show.Knife fans try their hand at foosball at the Big Idea Design booth.
From UG-Tools’ snack-fueled award sweep to Rick Dunkerley’s full-circle Hall of Fame moment, this year’s show didn’t disappoint.
Each BLADE Show has more than its share of entertaining adventures, and the 2025 version was no exception. Two of the more memorable happenings from this year’s event were as follows:
UG Tools Tiny & Twinkies®
1: UG-Tools won both Imported Fixed Blade and Overall Knife Of The Year® for the TiNy Drop Point. Among the more notable features of the award winner is its light weight and the ability to be used for heavy-duty jobs and a variety of different applications, including hunting, fishing, hiking, law enforcement and EDC.
It was the knife’s lightweight/heavy-duty nature the UG folks chose to highlight at the show, doing so by putting the knife in the hands of patrons visiting the company’s booth.
“You could literally see their brains working to figure out why it was so darn light,” UG’s Jan Gierse wrote of the patrons’ reactions and the TiNy. The UG team would then take the knife and baton it through an 8×8 post, the sounds of hammering echoing through the exhibit hall.
Also known as Fixed Knives International and with the UG standing for (Philipp) Utsch and (Jan) Gierse, the German-based company began operations in 2020. BLADE Show ’25 was its first “trade fair” as an exhibitor and the firm’s brain trust had been contemplating how to best convey the low weight of their knives. The solution: say the knife is lighter than two Twinkies® and give away the famed Hostess snack cakes in large quantities to booth visitors. The idea went down well with young and old show-goers alike, and UG quickly became referred to as “the Twinkie guys,” even partaking of a few of the cream-filled treats themselves.
“The sugar was driving our brains to peak performance,” Jan wrote, “[and] we came up with an idea: If we won an award, [one of us would have] to get a tattoo of a Twinkie or a knife. Since we won the Overall award, each of us will get a tattoo. What it will be remains to be seen.”
Jan added that the results can probably be seen at next year’s show.
Rick Dunkerley’s Wild Ride to the Top
At the 1996 BLADE Show, Rick Dunkerley commanded notice for more than just his handforged folders. Late one night after the show he and fellow bladesmith Barry Gallagher mooned The Pit, the beloved sunken lounge in the lobby of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly, from one of the hotel’s see-through glass elevators. As Rick stepped to the podium to be formally inducted into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® the Saturday morning of this year’s show, he began his comments by referring to the now-legendary “elevator exposé.”
“So it was 29 years ago that I was in the elevator and mooned The Pit,” he said to a round of laughter from the induction ceremony audience, “so my advice is that if you want to get into the Hall of Fame, don’t get in the elevator and moon The Pit. I got home from that episode and an ABS master smith called and told me they were going to kick me out of the ABS, and I said, well, if they’re going to kick me out of the ABS for that I don’t want to be in the ABS. But I passed my master smith test the next year, so I guess they didn’t hold it against me. My career has skyrocketed since,” he summarized to even more laughs.
Meanwhile, the induction ceremony was this writer’s first in my new role as Cutlery Hall-of-Fame chairman. In one of my first unofficial acts as chairman, I informed Rick and the audience that while the Cutlery Hall-of-Fame had a “little-known rule” banning anyone from membership if he or she mooned The Pit, the statute of limitations on the rule is—wait for it—28 years, and in his instance had run out. My lame joke aside, on behalf of BLADE®, the BLADE Show and the Hall of Fame, it’s my honor to help welcome Rick and the rest of his fellow inductees to the Hall.
Get a look at everything that went down at the world’s largest knife show.
The 44th Annual BLADE Show in Atlanta was yet another in a historic line of three-day edge-stravaganzas of the present, past and future of an international knife industry that seems to advance daily by leaps and bounds.
The latest and best knives, knifemakers and related accessories the planet has to offer, the pioneers that laid the groundwork for what the knife community is today, the new, up-and-coming knifemakers and knife companies that hold such great promise for tomorrow, and so much more all showed their sharpest stuff June 6-8 in the Cobb Galleria Centre.
Jason Yount displays his damascus pizza cutter under the watchful eye of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Steve Schwarzer. Steve called it the best BLADE Show in a few years.
It was about what you would expect from the world’s largest, most important international knife event.
BLADE University provided a full slate of topics, including knife and sheath making, how to sharpen, fundamentals of blade grinding, how to etch damascus and many more. BladeSports International conducted the annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition and Blade HQ held Balicomp 2025.
Custom knifemakers and bladesmiths from around the globe displayed their wares, including members of the American Bladesmith Society, Knifemakers’ Guild and unaffiliated makers from everywhere. Meanwhile, various knife collector groups, knife rights organizations and other outfits met and discussed their favorite topic as only they can each year during the BLADE Show.
Through it all, knife enthusiasts of all stripes renewed old acquaintances, made new ones, and otherwise immersed themselves in the world’s keenest three-day weekend, capped off each night with food and beverages in The Pit, the legendary sunken lobby lounge of the host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.
It was knife heaven on steroids.
BLADE Show Sales
The BLADE Show has always been unlike any other knife event and this year’s rendition was no exception. Attendance ebbed and flowed Friday and Saturday, and Sunday was its usual slow-to-middling self. While some exhibitors raved about the attendance and sales, some said both seemed off from last year.
Jordan Berthelot discusses next-level damascus etching while Greyson Weltyk shows a student a result of the process during one of many BLADE University classes.
One reason for the differences in observations may have to do with the sheer size of the show hall as opposed to the smaller size of the adjoining Baller Room. The show hall is so large that waves of attendees seemed to gravitate like flocks of birds from one side to the other, constantly in search of the latest, coolest knives. As a result, one area that was flooded with patrons for a while might be somewhat devoid of them minutes later. By contrast, the smaller Baller Room seemed to have fairly steady traffic throughout.
Another factor has to do with the exhibitors themselves. As with any business, those who are constantly on the go, looking to make deals or offering giveaways are usually the ones who experience the most success. Smiling faces and engaging, upbeat demeanors sell knives. Those who stand or, worse yet, sit behind their tables with their arms folded waiting for something to happen usually have a long if not endless wait.
Custom knife purveyor Michael Donato was constantly on the move, talking and probing for those who wanted to buy and/or sell knives. He said his company, KnifePurveyor.com, had its best show ever in 24 years of BLADE Shows.
John Horrigan’s 16.5-inch Kings Dagger features Gorgon flower damascus, petersite, a red agate, and 24k-gold engraving with a ruby, diamond, sapphire and emerald inset in the crown. John’s price for a similar knife: $14,500. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
“Many of my colleagues shared with me how well they had done at the show as well,” he noted.
Matt Bando of Demko Knives was stoked about Demko’s performance.
“We brought the largest number of knives we have ever brought to a show and sold out faster than any other,” he noted. “All of our USA models were sold by 2 p.m. Friday. There seemed to be a lot of people at the show and every year it seems to grow.”
Demko is one of those exhibitors who employs giveaways to drive sales and create enthusiasm.
“We had a large turnout for our giveaway on Saturday. We gave away five different packages. For the main giveaway, we gave a USA-made titanium AD20 in 3V. A young man entered his younger brother into the raffle and ended up winning his first Demko knife. Great story. “We were blown away and pumped.”
Two blade enthusiasts try out/talk knives at the McNees Knives booth.
Custom knifemaker Rhidian Gatrill not only won for Best Miniature in the custom knife judging competition but, along with Jeremy Yelle, also captured Best Collaboration. “Rhid” exhibited 13 knives, two of which were miniatures, and sold all but one.
“Most sold within the first few hours on Friday but the others sold slowly through Saturday and my minis within the last hours of the show Sunday,” he wrote. Still, he said he thought the buying was slower than last year, which was his first year exhibiting at the BLADE Show.
Vince Evans specializes in high-end historical swords and knives. He brought four swords and sold two, both on Friday.
“Most of my clientele are interested in historical pieces,” he stated. “Swords are a more limited field as some collectors don’t have the room to collect and/or display larger pieces.” Vince indicated the show seemed slower than last year and that a few regular local attendees did not come. “Friday and Saturday seemed fairly busy,” he wrote, adding that on a scale of 1 to 10, Friday and Saturday were “about a 7” and Sunday “about a 2.”
The VK-Zame—aka Shark—in M398 stainless steel and titanium was among the knives Poikilo Blade debuted at the BLADE Show. MSRP: $580-$600. Available to the public: August/September. (Poikilo Blade image)
Gregarious Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Steve Schwarzer was pleased. “I had a great show, sold most of my carved pieces and took several orders,” he commented. “It was the best show in a few years. It was very busy.”
As usual, the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel boys all seemed to do well, including sellouts by Tanner Couch and Toby Hill, the latter who sold all 11 of the knives he displayed. Bobby House only brought three knives but sold them all by early Friday afternoon. He indicated his most-sought-after knife was a high-end Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bill-Ruple-design Ax Handle with wasp nest damascus bolsters and shield that went for $2,800 to a French buyer. The other two buyers were Americans, the latter being Arizona Custom Knives.
The Baller Room buzzed all three days.
“I thought attendance was up on Friday and Saturday,” he wrote, giving Friday a 7 rating. “Friday attendance was the people wanting to buy custom knives. They are there to get the first shot at our custom builds. Saturday attendance is more for entertainment purposes. They want to look and see all types of knives, but they have funds to buy also.”
He gave the Saturday attendance an 8, concluding, “Overall, it was one of the best shows that I have been involved in. Great job by the BLADE Show crew!”
BLADE Show Treasures
A highlight of all BLADE Shows is you never know what unusual old knife or sword, new knife introduction, mechanism or material, or other notable hidden treasure may turn up.
“I always enjoy seeing what the antique dealers bring to the show,” Evans wrote. “I purchased an antique quillon dagger for research and a future replication project.”
It’s easy to get mesmerized by knives at the BLADE Show, here at the table of Alex Hossom (left).
An antique also caught the eye of knifemaker David Kramp, who sold 10 of 12 knives and won Best New Maker in the custom knife judging.
“There was a French knife from the 1830s that was very intriguing,” he wrote. “I’m very much looking forward to that potential build with a fellow maker.”
Winner of Best Damascus in the custom knife judging, Gabe Fletcher came across a product that piqued his interest. “The Gator Skin Blade Coating from Baker Forge seems very interesting,” he wrote. “I picked some up to try on my damascus.”
Both Kramp and knifemaker Jared Oeser were gobsmacked by Gatrill’s lockback whittler automatic that won Best Collaboration in the show’s custom knife judging competition.
Conducted by Blade HQ, Balicomp 2025 drew a packed house on show Saturday.
“I’m not ready to make something like it yet but that auto slipjoint was impressive,” Kramp observed. Oeser, who brought 14 knives and sold out by Saturday afternoon, chimed in, “One thing that stood out to me was Rhidian’s automatic lockback whittler. I’m gonna have to try [making one like] that.”
Next Up: BLADE Show West
It was indeed another BLADE Show for the ages. Speaking of which, next year’s show will return to the Cobb Galleria June 5-7. For more information, visit bladeshow.com. Meanwhile, it’s not too late to make plans to attend BLADE Show West Oct. 10-11 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah (bladeshowwest.com). See you there!
See what’s soon to be cutting up the scene with the new knives debuted at the 2025 BLADE Show.
As the world’s largest knife show, BLADE Show is a prime venue for the introduction of new knives. Every year, manufacturers unveil fresh creations at the Cobb Galleria, hoping to get the hottest new blades in front of the most motivated buyers and collectors.
The 2025 BLADE Show was highlighted with a ton of factory knife drops—some of them available as of the show, others trickling out later this year. Here is a look at some of the soon-to-be most coveted blades hitting the scene at your local cutlery.
Dauntless Surgeon-R
Knife type: Fixed EDC scalpel Designer: Chris Moss Blade length: 2.5” Blade material options: AEB-L and MagnaCut stainless and CPM 3V carbon steel Rockwell hardness: 60 HRC for AEB-L and 3V; 63 HRC for MagnaCut Blade grind: Flat Blade at the thickest: 1/8” Blade pattern: Scalpel Blade finish options: Tumbled, black oxide, and nitride Construction: One piece Handle material: Steel Pocket clip: Deep carry Overall length: 7” Sheath: Polymer, deep carry Country of origin: USA MSRP: Starts at $245 Available for sale: NOW
TOPS Knives Tick
Knife type: Fixed blade Designer: Leo Espinoza Blade length: 3” Blade material: 1095 carbon steel Rockwell hardness: 56-58 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade at the thickest: 3/32” Blade finish: Tungsten Cerakote® Construction: Full tang Handle material: Tan G-10 w/black liner Weight: 2.2 ozs. (3.4 ozs. w/sheath) Overall length: 6.38” Sheath: Black Kydex w/UltiClip for pocket carry Knife to know: The Tick is the first TOPS knife with a sheath specifically set up for pocket carry. Country of origin: USA MSRP: $220 Available for sale: NOW
Spyderco Shaman(SMKW Exclusive)
Knife type: Folder Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Sal Glesser Blade length: 3.58” Blade steel: CPM S45VN stainless Blade at the thickest: .145” Blade pattern: Drop point Blade finish: Black DLC Blade opener: Spyderco round thumb hole Handle material: Grey canvas Micarta® Lock: Compression Closed length: 4.67” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $279.95 Knife to know: Made by Spyderco, the Smoky Grey Shaman is sold exclusively through Smoky Mountain Knife Works Available for sale: NOW
Bradford USA 6” Utility Kitchen Tool
Knife type: Culinary Designer: Bradford USA Blade length: 6” Blade steel options: AEB-L and MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 61-62 HRC Blade grind: Full-height flat Blade at the thickest: Thin .1” distal taper Blade finish: Satin stonewash Handle material options: G-10, carbon fiber, G-Wood G-10 Weight: 5 ozs. Overall length: 11” Sheath: Flat black leather sleeve Country of origin: USA MSRPs: AEB-L $169 and MagnaCut $209 Available for sale: NOW
Chaves Knives Dissident
Knife type: Double-action out-the-front Designer: Ramon Chavez Blade length: 3.7” Blade steel: S35VN stainless Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade at the thickest: .15” Blade finish: Stonewash Construction: Screw Handle material: Aluminum Lock: Trigger Opening mechanism: Auto Pocket clip: Titanium skull model, tip down, right-handed Weight: 4.73 ozs. Closed length: 5” Knife to know: The Dissident has the new Petrified blade finish. Country of origin: Utah, USA MSRP: $400 Available for sale: Summer 2025
Demko Knives AD20XL Double-Wide
Knife type: Manual folder Designer: Andrew Demko Blade length: 4” Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 60-62 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade at the thickest: .18” Blade pattern: Drop point Blade finish: Stonewash Handle material: Titanium Lock: Shark-Lock® Pivot materials: Ball bearings Pocket clip: Stainless steel /standard carry Weight: 9.6 ozs. Closed length: 5.5” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $850 Available for sale: NOW
Bear Edge Brisk 2.0 Zytel Assisted Sideliner
Blade length: 3 1/8” Blade steel: 440 stainless Blade finish: Black Blade pattern: Drop point Blade opener: Ambidextrous thumb studs Handle material: Rift Blue stainless Lock: Sideliner Pocket clip: Reversible Knife to know: The handle has gimping for enhanced control Weight: 3.4 ozs. Closed length: 4 5/8” Country of origin: Alabama, USA MSRP: $40.99 Available: NOW
Reiff Knives The Vicon
Knife type: Tactical fixed-blade field knife Designer: Stu Shank in collaboration with a group of active U.S. Special Forces members Blade length: 5.19” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 60-62 HRC Blade grind: Flat saber Blade at the thickest: .188” Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish options: Black DLC, FDE PVD and stonewash Construction: Full tang Handle material options: Black or OD green G-10 and black or green canvas Micarta® Weight: 9.8 ozs. Overall length: 10.22” Sheath: Modular ambidextrous Kydex w/removable drop plate and removable Kydex belt clip Special features: False edge clip point, fuller, gimping; partially exposed pommel w/gimped thumb ramp for reverse grip use Country of origin: USA MSRP: $420-$435 Available for sale: NOW
Maserin 632 CB-1
Knife type: Folder Designer: Coltellerie Maserin Blade length: 3.15” Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 62 HRC Blade grind: Compound Blade at the thickest: .13” Blade pattern: Drop point Blade finish: Stonewashed Construction: Screw Handle material: Neon yellow G-10; other options include Micarta and FatCarbon® Glass Lock: Crossbar Pivot materials: Steel ball bearings Pocket clip: Deep carry, tip up, reversible, stainless steel Weight: 4.23 ozs. Closed length: 4.48” Special features: 632 CB-1 is Maserin’s first knife featuring a crossbar mechanism; drop point blade w/a sporty, futuristic design; four blade opening options enhance ambidextrous deployment: dual thumb stud, thumb hole, crossbar and flipper Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $199 (Micarta and G-10) and $215 (FatCarbon Glass) Available for sale: Mid-September
Emerson Knives COMANCHERO
Emerson Knives COMANCHERO
Designer: Ernest Emerson Blade length: 3.8” Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 62-64 HRC Blade grind: Conventional “V” Blade at the thickest: .125” Blade pattern: Bowie Blade finish options: Stonewash and Thunderstorm Blade opener: Thumb button Pivot materials: Teflon washers Handle material: G-10 Lock: Titanium linerlock Pocket clip: Hardened stainless steel, tip up Weight: 5 ozs. Closed length: 5.1” Special feature: Emerson Wave opening Country of origin: USA MSRP: $319 Available for sale: NOW
Utica Critical Hit II
Knife type: Necker Designer: Utica Blade length: 2.5” Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 55-57 HRC Blade grind: Taper Blade at the thickest: .12” Blade pattern: Spear Blade finish: Powder coat Construction: Full tang Handle material: G-10 Pocket clip: Stainless steel, tip down Weight: 2.45 ozs. (4.2 ozs. w/sheath) Overall length: 6.75” Sheath: ABS synthetic w/paracord Country of origin: USA MSRP: $170.71 Available for sale: NOW
Condor Tool & Knife Jungle Bowie
Knife type: Fixed blade Designer: Arlan D. Lothe Blade length: 11.2” Blade material: 1075 carbon steel Rockwell hardness: 50-55 HRC Blade grind: Convex Blade at the thickest: .12” Blade finish: Natural stonewash Construction: Stick tang Handle material: Thermoplastic elastomer Weight: 16.93 ozs. Sheath: Handmade welted leather Country of origin: El Salvador MSRP: $89.98 Available for sale: NOW
CRKT Redemption Compact
KNIFE TYPE: EDC folder Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Ken Onion Blade length: 3.28” Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 61-63 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade at the thickest: .13” Blade pattern: Spear point Blade finish options: Stonewash and black Cerakote® Construction: Screw Handle material: G-10 w/stainless steel bolster Lock: Crossbar Pivot materials: IKBS ball bearing Pocket clip: Reversible, deep carry, tip up Weight: 4.1 ozs Closed length: 4.31” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $225-$250 Available for sale: NOW
Hogue Knives Mysto Water
Knife type: EDC folder Designer: Scott Bruhns Blade length: 3.4” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 62-64 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade at the thickest: .115” Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish: Stone tumbled Construction: Screw Handle material: Blue Canyon Richlite Lock: ABLE Lock® Pocket clip: Deep carry, tip up, ambidextrous Weight: 2.5 ozs. Closed length: 4.4” Special features: Titanium backspacers anodized a light blue Country of origin: USA MSRP: $179.95 Available for sale: NOW
Living and past greats highlight huge roster of inductees.
The BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame® enjoyed its most prolific induction ceremony ever when it welcomed eight new members during BLADE Show 2025.
The total includes four living inductees—Harvey Dean, Rick Dunkerley and Daniel Winkler and Karen Shook—and four deceased ones: Stanley Fujisaka, Dr. James R. Lucie, Alfred Pendray and Jim Schmidt.
Induction speeches were provided by an array of Cutlery Hall of Famers—newly minted inductee Rick Dunkerley, Ken Onion and Steve Schwarzer; friends of three of the inductees, military veteran Kevin Holland and Josh Smith, founder of Montana Knife Co.; and Stephanie Lucie, daughter of inductee Jim Lucie.
Emotions understandably ran high, as did more than a few tears. It was a ceremony to remember.
Jim Schmidt
Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Steve Schwarzer enjoyed the honor of inducting two of his mentors: Jim Schmidt and Alfred Pendray.
As wrote Dellana, one of Jim Schmidt’s stellar students that also included Barry Davis, Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Steve Schwarzer, Larry Fuegen and more, Jim was “larger than life, truly a giant among men.” Added Schwarzer, Schmidt’s inductor, “Jim was like the father of filework. All of that filework in the business came out of him.” Schmidt made the first goblin folders, a unique style his students such as Dellana, Schwarzer, Fuegen and others emulated. “He was always willing to teach,” Schwarzer said. “His generosity with his time and knowledge was legendary … He was there at the rise of modern custom knifemaking and is one of the reasons the movement has risen to the heights that it has … He brought tool-and-die work to knifemaking and was an incredible artist.”
In the 1970s, along with Jimmy Fikes and Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Don Fogg, Jim was instrumental in forming the New England Bladesmith Society and organizing the Ashokan Bladesmithing Seminar. He was one of the earliest ABS members and ABS master smiths, a member of the ABS Hall of Fame, a constant member of the Art Knife Invitational (AKI), winner of the Knifemakers’ Guild’s Red Watson Award and the Beretta Award for Outstanding Achievement, and more. He was the ultimate teacher, his profession for most of his life. An outstanding book on Schmidt is James Schmidt: The Great Master, by Mike Haskew. As the book noted, Jim “welcomed those who were earnestly interested in improving their bladesmithing and knifemaking skills into his shop … and shared with them the light of precious knowledge that he realized should be readily and freely given rather than hidden.”
Alfred Pendray
“Alfred Pendray was a legend in the forging business,” Schwarzer began. “He was the pioneer in wootz research. I worked alongside him and 99 percent of the rediscovery of that material was by Alfred Pendray. Once he got his mind set on something he wouldn’t quit; he did it scientifically and that legacy will live on for a long time. He was just good to people—he was really good to people.”
Pendray taught and influenced many bladesmiths. “I learned so much from him,” noted Charley Ochs, “not only about knives and metallurgy, but also about life and social interaction as a person.” Alfred is co-author—along with Dr. John Verhoeven, former metallurgical engineering professor at Iowa State University—of articles in eight scientific journals, four bladesmith publications and BLADE® on the nature of “genuine damascus,” or wootz steel. Pendray holds patent number 5,185,044 on a “method of making damascus blades.”
He joined the Guild in 1982 and became an ABS master smith in 1983. He spoke at the Symposium on Damascus Steel at New York University in 1984, the International Conference on Damascus Steel in Germany in 1985, and at the same conference and the Imperial College in London, England, in 1992. He won the ABS Bill Moran Knife of The Year in 1991 and was elected to the Guild board of directors in 1992. He received the ABS W.W. Scagel Award in 1998 and is a past recipient of the Guild’s Red Watson Award. He served as Guild president from 1998-2004 and is a member of the ABS Hall of Fame.
Rick Dunkerley
Teacher Rick Dunkerley (left) was inducted by one of his prize pupils, Josh Smith (right).
Rick Dunkerley made his first knife in 1983 and started forging in 1992. He founded the Montana Knifemakers Association in 1993, organizing the state’s first modern custom knife show. He became an ABS journeyman smith and hosted his first hammer-in in 1995 and became an ABS master smith in 1997. He’s taught bladesmithing internationally, in the process earning the Maestro Rating by the Italian Knifemakers Guild in 2006. In 2015 he was inducted into the AKI and later served on the AKI advisory panel. He’s served on the ABS board of directors for nine years and was just re-elected for another term.
According to Rick’s inductor/former student, Josh Smith, founder of Montana Knife Co., “What makes Rick special is his relentless desire to give back and teach … He hosted hammer-ins featuring instructors like Al Dippold, Hank Knickmeier, Rob Hudson, [Cutlery Hall-of-Famers] Wayne Goddard and Don Fogg and other greats. It was through these hammer-ins that the Montana Mafia was born. With Rick as the ringleader, this group went on to shape the landscape in bladesmithing and damascus to this day. It’s because of Rick and others in this era [including Shane Taylor, Wade Colter and more] that pattern-welded steel and the patterns to create it took giant leaps into the future … There’s no doubt the incredible makers we have today are standing on the shoulders of these giants.” Added an emotional Josh, who started learning how to forge under Rick’s tutelage at 11, “That was 33 years ago and I’ve been able to be in this community and build what I’ve built all because he let a kid into his shop. I love him for that.”
Stanley Fujisaka
Stanley Fujisaka made beautiful linerlock folders and fixed blades and was a beloved mentor to Hawaiian and other makers, including Scott Matsuoka, Les George, Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Ken Onion and many more. Fujisaka played a key role in encouraging Onion to patent his SpeedSafe assisted-opening mechanism, a mechanism that resurrected Kershaw and revolutionized folding knives. However, in his speech inducting Stanley, Onion said it was the “little” things that set the new inductee apart.
“Stan didn’t invent a new category of knives, he didn’t have some crazy invention. What he had was admiration and respect and love for every one of you guys in this room,” Ken noted. “Every time I went to a show I’d come back to his shop and he’d tell me these stories of Schwarzer, of Ruple, of everybody, and they were legends to me, and he was a really great orator about that, a really great story teller, which is really why I got enough courage to come to a [knife] show. You guys were all magical to him.
Stan was one of those guys if you bought a knife from him he would write down your name, your wife’s name, your kid’s name, where you lived, your address, everything, and he would send you coffee, Hawaiian candies, a handwritten card thanking you. He would struggle to look through his book if he saw you walking toward his table so he wouldn’t forget your name. He was the truest form of gentleman, and I think that’s more of what I learned from him. It was not just knifemaking, it was how to … respect everybody, how to conduct myself in an honorable way, and nobody did that better than Stan.”
Dr. James R. Lucie
Stephanie Lucie inducted her father, Dr. Jim Lucie, with family and friends as special guests. From left: the inductee’s nephew, Chris Lucie; ABS master smith Kevin Cashen; and the inductee’s daughters, Robin Lucie, Stephanie Lucie and Pam Lafrance.
Dr. James R. “Jim” Lucie was the personal physician of Cutlery Hall-of-Famer William Scagel and signed Scagel’s death certificate in 1963. In her speech inducting her father, Stephanie Lucie said Jim researched Scagel’s life and collected his work for over 30 years, culminating in Dr. Lucie’s seminal book, Scagel Handmade. After retiring from medicine at 65, Jim dedicated his life to making Scagel reproductions. “He recreated Bill’s designs as closely as possible—unless he saw a way to improve them,” Stephanie said. “Ever the physician, he even X-rayed Bill’s knives so he could ‘see what the old boy was up to,’ as he liked to say … His goal was to become an ABS journeyman smith, which he achieved at the age of 71.”
A highlight of his career was making a knife for Willie Nelson and presenting it to him after a concert. It was featured on the cover of BLADE®. In 2001, the ABS created the Dr. Jim Lucie Award, making Jim its first recipient. He hosted a hammer-in at his house that over 500 people attended, and he freely shared Scagel’s techniques at many bladesmithing events. “He helped many beginning knifemakers, just as others had helped him,” Stephanie said. “When it came time to move from Michigan to Texas, instead of selling his knifemaking equipment, he donated much of it to the ABS—enough for each U.S. ABS school.”
In a speech Jim said, “Nowhere does there exist a finer or more helpful cadre of people than the knifemakers and bladesmiths of today. I have not yet found anyone [among them] who was not ready and willing to help impart knowledge or answer questions. I have always believed that we must give something to the society from which we took, and these people are doing it in grand style.”
Daniel Winkler And Karen Shook
From left, Karen Shook and Daniel Winkler accept their plaque after Kevin Holland (right) delivered their induction speech.
In the late 1980s, Daniel Winkler started handforging period-correct frontier knives and Karen Shook made period-correct sheaths to match. In 1992 the showcasing of Daniel’s period pieces in the hit movie Last of the Mohicans made the pair custom knife stars. The film captured the attention of Kevin Holland, who would go on to serve in both the Naval Special Warfare Development Group/aka SEALs and Army Special Missions Unit. He asked Winkler to make a hatchet for him in 1993, and Daniel complied with a model Kevin carried for the balance of his Navy hitch.
After his discharge and still with hatchet, Kevin was working as a North Carolina game warden when 9/11 happened. He joined the National Guard and worked his way into the Army Special Missions Unit. One day his team leader espied the Winkler hatchet on Kevin’s belt and asked if he could get more. Kevin contacted Daniel, who subsequently filled an order for 15 or so. Then Kevin’s old SEAL unit saw the hatchets and Daniel made them some, too. It wasn’t long before Daniel and Karen had reached a crossroads—make period pieces for collectors, or hatchets and knives for special ops warriors. They eventually agreed that making tools for our nation’s warriors was far more important than anything else they could do.
As Kevin noted in his speech inducting the new Hall-of-Famers, “… they had a higher call … making tools that meant life or death to men in combat. They saw how important that was. They put these tools in the hands of our military and law enforcement, who carry them all over the world now.” Added Daniel, “We’ve been very fortunate to be a part of it, and I couldn’t have done it without Karen.”
Harvey Dean
Harvey Dean enjoys the moment.
As inductor Rick Dunkerley outlined, Harvey Dean made his first knife in 1979—the same year Harvey and Deborah were married. “Harvey said this is the kind of wife I have. She let me sand that first knife on the kitchen table. Harvey has a good backup system there,” Rick smiled. Harvey started making knives full time in 1992 and became the 42nd ABS master smith the same year. He joined the ABS board of directors in 2004, was voted into the AKI in 2007 and served as chairman of the ABS from 2015 to 2019, and continues to serve on the board today. He was inducted into the ABS Hall of Fame in 2016.
Harvey’s taught an impressive number of students all over the USA, including conducting two hammer-ins a year with Johnny Stout for 25 years. “The amount of teaching going on there was pretty incredible,” Rick observed. “Harvey’s won countless awards. If it has to do with a bowie knife, Harvey won it … Harvey does it all. He brings bowie knives to the AKI, he brings slip joints, he’s the consummate knifemaker. He can make whatever he wants and makes it at the highest level. There just aren’t a lot of makers who can do that. And as much as he’s given back, he’s a better man, a better family man, a better father, a better husband than he is a knifemaker.”
In accepting, Harvey said, “In the Bible, Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul says a man should not think more highly of himself than he should, and I’ve tried to live my life and career like that, so it’s hard for me to get it in my head that I deserve this—but I’ll take it.”
