Joe Kertzman's Blog

SOG® Tools was featured on Discovery Channel’s Unchained Reaction, a new show from the hosts of MythBusters.

The hosts chose SOG to be part of the Jack of All Trades episode, which originally aired April 15, 2012 at 10 p.m. EST.

Unchained Reaction is a new series executive produced and judged by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of MythBusters. The show pits two teams of varying backgrounds against each other to build an elaborate chain reaction contraption. In this Sunday’s episode, a team of designers and a team of construction workers square off to build the most impressive multi-step machines using the theme of “tools.” SOG provided the teams with a wide array of tools to use during the episode, including the Hand Axe, Double Headed Axe, FastHawk, Tomahawk, Pocket PowerPlier, PowerLock and the PowerAssist.

SOG was founded in 1986 by Spencer Frazer, a former R&D tool and die maker for the Top Secret Black Projects Division of the aerospace defense industry. SOG’s name was inspired by elite joint services military unit – the Studies and Observation Group – formed in advance of the Vietnam War to conduct covert operations and authorized to develop and purchase their own weapons.

Click here to browse BLADE-approved knives and tools at ShopBlade.com.

Paul Ryan Hunter, Outdoorsman, Vice Presidential Hopeful

BLADE‘s sister magazine, Deer & Deer Hunting, is receiving a ton of big league attention for its interview about Paul Ryan hunting deer. It’s offering the full Paul Ryan hunter Q&A as a download from this page on Deer & Deer Hunting.

That’s Paul Ryan deer hunting with a bow in his home state, Wisconsin, in the photo at left. It shouldn’t come as any surprise, since the area has a long tradition of hunting deer and other game species. Here’s a snippet from Paul Ryan deer hunter himself:

“I’m just pretty typical for a Wisconsin guy. I love hunting and fishing,” Ryan said. “Bowhunting is my passion. Studying the strategy, preparing food plots, the strategy of where a dominant buck is living or will be moving and then being in position to get a shot, that’s really exciting. Half of it is getting ready for the shot.”
A good deal of the Paul Ryan hunting interview covers everything before the shot. BLADE would’ve liked to sneak in a few questions about the knives he uses, but the time allotted for the Paul Ryan hunter interview was brief. We suppose he had just a littlebit on his plate.

Still, BLADE celebrates Deer & Deer Hunting‘s Paul Ryan deer hunting interview. It shows how mainstream hunting is with a lot of people. It must only follow that knives play a role with these folks, too.

Click here to read the Paul Ryan deer hunter interview with Deer & Deer Hunting.

On October 16-17, the Colorado Botanic Gardens will play host to 28 members of the Colorado Metalsmithing Assoc. displaying and selling their work. Knives will share space with monumental sculptures, and the setting is spectacular. Displays will include one-of-a-kind art jewelry, collectible custom knives by Jerry McClure and small sculptures by Travis Ogden and Pat Ryan.

The international Colorado Metalsmithing Assoc. members are some of the finest artists and teachers in their field.

“It’s the largest and smallest art forms that possess the most power.” —Henry Moore

The ribbon was cut during the grand opening of Smith’s Abrasives’ new worldwide headquarters, warehouse and distribution center located in beautiful historic Hot Springs, Arkansas. A grand opening celebration was held on Friday, July 9, 2010 with a BBQ lunch for the employees following a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony.
“Due to considerable growth and success in the mass, sporting goods and housewares markets, we needed to expand our operations and chose to renovate this 35,000 square foot manufacturing facility. It was important for us to keep the business here in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where the company was founded over 124 years ago” , said Dan Glidden, CEO of Smith’s. “The completion of our new building is a big step in our company’s progress and it is definitely something to be celebrated!”
The new facility not only serves as a warehouse and distribution center, it also headquarters the US and International sales team, customer service, and in-house marketing and product development personnel for the Smith’s®, Edgeware™, Edgesport™ and new Edgework™ product lines.”
“At Smith’s we are committed to providing innovative new products to consumers at a great value. This new facility helps us stream line our process under one roof.” said Richard Smith, President. “We are excited by the companies continued success and look forward to the future opportunities this new location will help us develop.”
In support of their company value of operating in an environmentally sustainable manner, the facility features energy efficient lighting options throughout, as well as a unique, environmentally-friendly warehouse cooling system. In addition, Smith’s reused as much material as possible in the renovation process.

About Smith’s® and Edgeware™
Widely regarded as a world leader for sharpening tools since 1886, Smith’s® lays claim to the design and manufacture of the broadest line of knife and scissors sharpeners currently available. The company’s product offering includes both manual and electrical sharpeners ranging from the very simple to the sophisticated. It incorporates a wide variety of abrasive materials including diamond, carbide, ceramic, bonded synthetic abrasives and natural Arkansas stones. For more information about the complete line of Smith’s® products visit www.smithsedge.com.
Smith’s new Edgeware™ brand offers Housewares retailers high performance edge sharpeners for the most discerning consumers, and beginning in early 2010, high-end food preparation kitchen tools synonymous with exceptional value, Edgeware™ is a brand marketed towards the high-end specialty retail market. For more information about the complete line of Edgeware™ products by Smith’s®, visit www.edgewareproducts.com or contact the company at: [email protected] or +1.501.321 2244. For media inquiries or additional images, please contact Melissa Moore at Smith’s (800) 221-4156 ex. 610 or [email protected].

As Knife Rights celebrates its fifth anniversary, the time has come to offer a Life Membership.  

From now until the end of the June, Life Memberships will be introductory priced at $850, a $125 discount off the regular cost. You can sign up for an Individual Life Membership at: http://tinyurl.com/qnu988