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Innovative Knives

Joe Kertzman
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Innovative Knives

Congratulations to Michael Vagnino for winning the 2014 Wooden Sword award, given out to one custom knifemaker each year on page 7 of the KNIVES annual book. The yearly prize (no trophy, just recognition via top placement and imagery in the book) is awarded to a knifemaker for his or her work that stands out from the thousands of images that pour in annually for consideration. 2_Convertible

As noted in the book where his innovative knives are pictured:

“Michael Vagnino has busied himself most recently with “Convertible Lock-Back Push Daggers.” Yes, that’s correct, he’s fashioning handmade knives that convert from a lock-back fixed-blade position to a locked push dagger and back again. The models shown here sport 3.875-inch blades, one in CPM-154 stainless steel and the other Wootz steel, the former combined with an antique tortoise shell handle, and the latter in black-lip mother-of-pearl. The maker engraved the 416 stainless steel bolsters, and since the push daggers covert to fixed blades, Paul Long sheaths were necessary as fashionable carry options.convert tort1 convert tort2

 

 

 

 

 

For all he has brought to the knifemaking table the past few years, his innovation, talent, all-around good vibes, and for these particularly striking examples of his work, the Knives 2014 Wooden Sword Award goes to Michael Vagnino. Congratulations, Michael, and keep up the good work.”

Click here to reserve your copy of KNIVES 2014.

Art Knife vs. Cutting Tool Debate

Joe Kertzman
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Art Knife vs. Cutting Tool Debate

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The art knife versus cutting tool debate of whether knives are, or should be, works of art or cutting tools has always intrigued me. There are those who are a bit “put off” by art knives because they prefer utilitarian knives made to be used and employed when needed. That is certainly understandable, and thank goodness there are companies and makers out there fashioning good, sturdy, sharp serviceable fixed blades and folders.

But the notion that art knives are a modern phenomenon ignores the countless officers of world armies who historically carried dress daggers, kings and queens of countries gifted with jewel-encrusted, gold-inlaid, sculpted and carved swords and other edged weaponry, and the “average joe” who saved his pennies in the 1960s and ’70s to buy a Buster Warenski, Bill Moran, Jim Schmidt or even Bob Loveless (many considered him a maker of art knives on occasion) art knife. newton knife

And one other argument I’d make is this—the debate doesn’t need to be debated at all. There is plenty of room in the knife industry for both art knives and more utilitarian hunters, soldiers’ knives, blue-collar fixed blades and folders, and many more. Look at it this way, just because one guy prefers his three-blade stockman for ranch work doesn’t mean he shouldn’t welcome the collector of high-end art knives into the industry and market with open arms. Collectors who appreciate that artistic nature and handcraft of knives help drive the industry forward and ultimately expand its offerings. And that’s just good for knives and knife enthusiasts in general!

To see and read about as many well-crafted custom knives, both utilitarian and artistic, as humanly possible, the Knives 2014 book is a must-have for your library. To keep updated on factory, custom and semi-production knives 13 times a year, subscribe to BLADE now!

What’s Your Favorite Knife Design?

Joe Kertzman
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With over 100 knife designs to choose from—101 to be exact—there’s plenty to mull over in coming up with an ultimate favorite blade design or pattern. Renowned knifemaker and heckuva nice guy, Murray Carter, known to stand behind his table at knife shows, including the BLADE Show, honing knife blades and demonstrating to attendees how to sharpen their own edges, reveals his favorite 101 Knife Designs. Carter_001Print

 

 

In his book, 101 Knife Designs, Carter displays not only gorgeous knife photography by none other than famed photographer Hiro Soga, but drawings, patterns, scaled designs and supportive text, allow aspiring bladesmiths to create their own knives using Carter’s popular, time-honored designs. Dazzling, full-color images of the completed knives provide inspiration and direction. 101 Knife Designs will show the reader why certain distinct blade designs have stood the test of time and remain popular even to this day. Practical blade patterns follow several rules of thumb. When these rules are applied to new knife designs, there is a greater chance the design will stand the test of time and use.

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About the Author: Murray Carter (cartercutlery.com), one of the most popular custom knifemakers at the annual BLADE Show, regularly conducts wildly popular seminars on shaving with a machete, and is known for standing at his booth sharpening knives while teaching the techniques to interested attendees.

 

Do You Have Your Hunting Knife?

Joe Kertzman
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Do You Have Your Hunting Knife?

There is no single profile that fits all hunters, and there isn’t a specific hunting knife that fulfills all needs. That’s a good thing for the knife industry. Some guys like a standard fixed-blade, drop-point hunter that comes in a leather belt sheath, maybe even with a slight hump near the tip of the blade where they can rest their finger and choke up on the blade. One of custom knifemaker Russ Kommer’s favorite packages is the 2-Shot. He has used it daily in the field as a hunting guide in Alaska and around the world. X3351Russ says, “I’ve always preferred a smaller semi-skinner, even for the biggest of game. You just use the hump near the end of the blade to locate your index finger. And the blade is short enough that you can work inside the animal and feel where you are at all times.” The CRKT Kommer 2-Shot Skinner Knife has a 3.15-inch full-tang 12C27 Sandvik stainless steel blade, stainless bolsters, orange G10 handle scales and stainless steel pins.

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Some ever-prepared hunters aiming for big game opt for a hatchet/skinner combination pack such as the Timberline Hatchet/Bush Guide Skinner Combo. It includes Kommer’s Alaskan Bush Pilot Hatchet and Alaskan Skinner. Expertly crafted from polished 440 stainless steel, the Alaskan Bush Pilot Hatchet boasts a 4-inch, full-tang head, while the Alaskan Skinner sports a 3.625-inch 440A stainless steel skinner blade. Each handle is precision machined Zytel for a non-slip grip and ease of use. The Alaskan Combo includes a ballistic nylon sheath with belt loop, and weighs 2.28 lbs.

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Gut hooks come in handy for skinning game animals, and a Realtree-pattern handle is a plus. The Kutmaster Team Realtree Guthook Knife dons a 420 stainless steel blade with sharp gut hook on the spine, a Realtree camo handle pattern, and a nylon belt-loop sheath. 

For many more quality options, visit ShopBlade.com, and stock up for the hunt!

Tracking Knife Trends

Joe Kertzman
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Tracking Knife Trends

dark earthThere aren’t many dull, boring or mundane trends, and for good reason.

Knifemakers embrace the old saying, “change is constant.” The “same old, same old” never catches on with a new generation. Knife craftsmen strive for fascinating and innovative ways of blade building, and collectors seek out the rare and unusual.

Eventually knifemakers find something modern that is not only aesthetic and utilitarian, but it also catches on with other artists. That’s the start of a trend. BPK

You get the idea—trends are born out of creative thinking and design capabilities, and not from copying old patterns without any tweaking, improving or thinking outside of the box.

Sure, some trends have staying power. There are many new trends to take in, like dimpled, sculpted, grooved and glass-beaded knives, for example. Britton_121118

It is a trend in knives that presented itself to me while I poured over 1,000s of images from knife photographers for possible inclusion in the Knives 2014 book, now available and a gorgeous book, if I may say so myself, but not because of anything I did. It’s the knives and images thereof that make it a handsome title, and the Trends, State Of The Art, Factory Trends and Feature articles therein.

Enjoy, and keep your eyes peeled for new knife trends in the industry, particularly if you’re a collector, investor or general enthusiast with a habit of accumulating custom or production pieces.

As Long As We Have the Whittling Chip

Joe Kertzman
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As Long As We Have the Whittling Chip

As long as we have the Whittling Chip, then we have nothing to worry about in the knife industry. “What is the Whittling Chip?” you non-Boy-Scout, “no Eagle Scout Badge here”-type folks might ask? It’s a badge earned in Cub Scouts at the “Bear” level, and/or as a Webelos scout.whitpatch

Bear scouts and Webelos scouts may earn the privilege of carrying a pocketknife to Cub Scout functions. The objective of this award is to make Scouts aware that:

‘A Cub Scout knife is an important tool. You can do many things with its blades. The cutting blade is the one you will use most of the time. With it you can make shavings and chips and carve all kinds of things.

You must be very careful when you whittle or carve. Take good care of your knife. Always remember that a knife is a tool, not a toy. Use it with care so that you don’t hurt yourself or ruin what you are carving.’

The requirements to earn the Whittling Chip card and patch are:

  1. Complete Bear Achievement 19, Shavings and Chips
  2. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of a pocketknife.
    • Close the blade with the palm of your hand.
    • Never use a knife on something that will dull or break it.
    • Be careful that you do not cut yourself or any person nearby.
    • Never use a knife to strip the bark from a tree.
    • Do not carve your initials into anything that does not belong to you.
  3. Take the Pocketknife Pledge:
    • I will treat my pocketknife with the respect due a useful tool.
    • I will always close my pocketknife and put it away when not in use.
    • I will not use my pocketknife when it might injure someone near me.
    • I promise never to throw my pocketknife for any reason.
    • I will use my pocketknife in a safe manner at all times.

Yes, as long as we have the Whittling Chip, all is well in the world of knives!

Military Knives

Joe Kertzman
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Military Knives

It’s nice to do something you know is right, and even better when the intentions are pure, and that’s exactly what BLADE® did four years ago with its December 2010 issue. Since then, every December issue, including the upcoming December 2013 BLADE, has been and will continue to be devoted entirely to our fighting men and women in the military.

It was an idea hatched four years ago in an editorial meeting. The staff had two questions: What could BLADE do that no other knife magazine does?; and How can we honor soldiers fighting for our freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan?V9527

Here are a couple of our first December military issues.

I was and am extremely proud of the fact that we’re able to set aside a single issue each year and devote it to the military. It’s the very definition of freedom. The December issue will hit newsstands and subscribers’ doorsteps on September 10th, 2013. Please look for it and help us support our troops. I can’t think of anything more honorable than that.

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