The BLADE Blogs

The blogs of the BLADE editors, Steve Shackleford and Erin Healy.

John White, NOT John Martin, Won BLADE Show Best Bowie

In my haste to get the winners of the 2011 BLADE Show custom knife competition on our Web site, I entered the wrong name for the winner of Best Bowie. The correct winner is ABS master smith John White, not John Martin. I inadvertently put John Martin instead of John White. The fact that RJ Martin won Best Fighter and was listed right after John White on the list in the story must’ve bumfuzzled me.

 

My apologies to John White, who has won many custom awards at the BLADE Show over the years and is one of the leading bladesmiths in our industry today. Sorry about that, John!

 

Oh–and the original story listing the winners has been amended to include John White.

New ABS Master Smiths and Journeyman Smiths in Atlanta

We welcome and congratulate the newest Master Smiths and Journeyman Smiths in the American Bladesmith Society who had their work juried by the ABS Judging Panels at the Blade Show in Atlanta on June 10, 2011 and were awarded their stamps.

 

Master Smiths:

Adam DeRosiers, Tommy Gann, Kyle Royer,

*Adam DesRosiers of Alaska earned the BR Hughes award for the best knife submitted by a Master Smith candidate.

 

Journeyman Smiths:

Bruce Barnett, Shayne Carter, Haley DesRosiers, Kevin Evans, Billy Helton, Kent Hicks, Tony Hughes, Dave Loukides, Tad Lynch, Randy Neilson, Tony Neilson, Ralph (Bud) Richards, Paul Savage

* Haley DesRosiers of Alaska earned the George Peck award for the best knife submitted by a Journeyman Smith candidate.

 

Congratulations to all!!

BLADE® Reader Addresses Made-In-The-USA Debate

I am a long-time subscriber—I think from volume one, number one—but have never, until now, been motivated to write. However, the “Web Chatter” section in the January “Readers Respond” of BLADE® magazine prompted my letter. With all due respect to Mr. Doug Metzger, not everyone shares his defeatist attitude. His statement, “American consumers will never pay the prices for a knife made in the USA,” amazes me.

    I favor Case (made in Bradford, Pennsylvania) and Queen (Titusville, Pennsylvania) knives and have quite a few of each. If I am clearing brush around the property, I use a Woodman’s Pal (Boyertown, Pennsylvania). I might take a break from brush clearing and light up with a Zippo lighter (Bradford, Pennsylvania), then haul the brush away in a Jackson Trailer Cart (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) behind my made-in-the-USA Craftsman tractor. After a hard day’s work, I might hop—more likely crawl—into my F-150 (Ford didn’t take a stimulus handout) and go buy some Yuengling beer (Pottsville, Pennsylvania). Sometimes people even notice my made-in-the-USA N.R.A. cap. If it starts to rain, I know the beer will stay dry thanks to my Jeraco truck cap (Williamsport, Pennsylvania).

    Well, guess I’ll get in the F-150 and go to the hardware store. They have a neat Case I just have to buy.

Dale Wunsche, Chalfont, Pennsylvania

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. For subscription information click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscripti…?r+ssfb021412#BL1SU

SOG Tools Featured On Discovery Channel

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.

Hunter’s Edge: Kutmaster Cutting Combo

Tackle any number of hunting knife chores with the Kutmaster Team Realtree Field Dress/Caping Combo .

    Outfitted in Team Realtree saw-cut camo handles and 420 stainless blade steel, the set includes a gut-hook skinner and caping knife.

    The full-tang-construction fixed blades are designed for work on both big and small game.

    Nylon belt sheaths complete the cool cutting combo.

    ShopBlade’s price: $29.99.

For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/kutmaster-team-realtree-field-dress-caping-combo-knives-y7731/?lid=blss090412

Boston City Council Hears Concerns On Proposed Knife Ordinance

Thanks to great response from BLADE readers, blademag.com visitors, members of the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI), members of KnifeRights.org, and all knife enthusiasts who contacted knife retailers in Boston, the City Council is hearing the concerns about a proposed ordinance to license stores that sell knives.

While the actual ordinance wording targets hardware stores, it exempts only department stores and hardware stores, leaving a lot of outdoor and other retailers liable for licensing. Such a measure would discourage knife sales in Boston, and limit the individual’s right to purchase responsible and much-needed edged tools. This first step has been effective, but Knife Rights and the AKTI need blademag.com visitors to keep spreading the word.

If you are a Boston citizen, contact your council person and express your opposition to this proposal. Visit www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/councillors, or call 617-635-4500 and ask for your council person. Or, email Mayor Tom Mennio at [email protected], or call his office at 617-635-4500.

Florida Anti-Knife Bill Derailed

Florida HB 179 and companion bill SB 356, which would have made it illegal to carry a “common pocketknife” on school grounds in Florida, have been “withdrawn,” according to the Knife Rights e-mail newsletter.

“Knife Rights, along with our good friends at Florida Carry, shined a bright light on this unnecessary legislation and helped to derail it,” the Knife Rights e-mail newsletter reported.

According to the Florida Senate website (www.flsenate.gove/Session/Bill/2012/0179), the general bill, if passed, would have prohibited “possession of [a] common pocketknife, except as authorized, at [a] school-sponsored event or on [the] property of any school, school bus, or school bus stop.” Also according to the website, on Oct. 24, the bill was “withdrawn prior to introduction” in the Florida House.

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