The BLADE Blogs

The latest BLADE®—the January 2011 issue—is on most newsstands as of today, and the knives and swords therein are among the best the industry has to offer.

In chronological order, the custom and factory makers with knives covered editorially in the issue include:

Joe Olson’s “It’s Only Rock And Roll” folder on the cover; Darrel Ralph; CAS Hanwei; Albion; Spyderco; Ontario; Dakota; and knifemaking equipment and supplies from Tormach, Wood Lab, Halpern Titanium, Knives Plus, Kayne and Son, Hawkins Knifemaking Supplies, Midwest Knifemakers Supply, Giraffe Bone, Burr King, Jantz, Bohler Uddeholm, Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies and Sheffield Knifemakers Supply.

Also: Dee Hedges; Benchmade; Meyerco; Gerber; Pro-Tech; Jeff Harkins; Terry Vandeventer; John White; Jim Batson; Harry Mathews; Jerry Fisk; Warren Thomas; Johnny Stout; Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Rudy Ruana; A.G. Russell Knives; a John LeBlanc belt grinder; EdgeCraft sharpener; Tom Ploppert; Les Voorhies; Leatherman Tool; Busse Combat Knife Co.; Mick Penfold; Wild Boar Blades; John Cohea sheathmaking DVD; and Surface Strike Management.

Also: Bill Ruple; David Sloan; Sean O’Hare; Jason Brous; David Brodziak; Tai Goo; Brian Tighe; Tom Overeynder; Todd Begg; Mike Williams; Yoshio Sakauchi; Kunihiko Tamatsu; RJ Martin; Steven Rapp; Columbia River Knife & Tool; Kershaw; Boker Plus; Jody Samson; Joe Szilaski; and Jack Levin.

There are also special reports, including a farewell tribute to Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bob Loveless, the rebirth of Old World swordplay, sweet deals on knifemaking supplies, cool factory autos, custom S-guard bowies, factory frame-lock folders, the legacy of Jody Samson, the first 25 years of BLADE now available on DVD, yet another knife used in the movie “The Expendables” and much more.

Anyone that likes knives, and can attend, needs to check out the Handmade Knife Show in Big Spring, TX at the Hog Heaven BBQ Party Barn on Oct.23!!!!
The show is being hosted by the Big Spring Knife Collectors Club….a $3 admission fee will be charged. Some of the knife makers having tables are: Weldon Whitley, Jim Barnes, Martin Knives, Dwayne Dushane, Tim&Harvey Hull, Bill Middlebrook, Loyd McConnell, J.B Moore, and many more well known knife makers. This is the first show hosted by the club, but they hope to make it an annual event. If you are within driving distance be sure and give them your support.

Congratulations to new Journeyman Smith Dee Hedges, Australia whose journey to obtaining an American Bladesmith Society JS stamp was detailed in an article titled “The Slipper Fits Just Fine” that was written by Master Smith Wally Hayes, Canada in the January 2011 issue of Blade magazine.

I also want to draw your attention to some other articles in the January 2011 issue of Blade Magazine about our ABS members. ABS Journeyman Smith Joe Olson, Montana has one of his knives featured on the cover of the magazine and is profiled in the article titled “Guitar Knives of Geyser”. In the article Joe notes assistance in his bladesmithing career from Master Smiths Rick Dunkerley, Shane Taylor, and Wade Colter.

In another feature article titled “S is for Style” about elegant knife design there are knife photos and/or quotes by or references to Master Smiths Jerry Fisk, Jim Batson, Terry Vandeventer, and John White.

In the “Knifemaker Showcase” there are knife photos and profiles for Apprentice Smith Bill Rupple, Texas and Journeyman Smith David Sloan, Nebraska. In the profile Bill Rupple gives credit for assistance in his knife making career development to ABS members Apprentice Smith Johnny Stout and Master Smith Harvey Dean.

October 5, 2010, OREGON CITY, Ore.-Benchmade Knife Company is pleased to announce their acquisition of Wilsonville, Ore.-based Lone Wolf Knives, Inc. The addition of Lone Wolf Knives to the Benchmade portfolio will allow the company to compete at the heart of the sports cutlery market with a purpose driven product line influenced by the outdoors.

“The acquisition of Lone Wolf Knives will be a great addition to the Benchmade family of brands,” says Les de Asis, Founder and CEO of Benchmade Knife Company. “Those familiar with Lone Wolf Knives appreciate the extremely strong connection the brand and product has with the outdoors.”

New Lone Wolf Knives product will be developed in the coming months and will be launched at the NSSF SHOT Show, January 18th-21st at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Over the past several years, Benchmade has been building a stable of quality brands. In addition to the flagship Benchmade Knife Company product, the company also has exclusive licensing agreements to design, manufacture and market Harley-Davidson® Knives and HK® Knives. Despite the recent turbulent economy, Benchmade has been able to post several years of consecutive double-digit growth and recently added 20,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space to their manufacturing headquarters in Oregon City, Ore.

“We’ve been blessed to have talented employees and loyal customers and dealers that have helped us grow despite the economy” said de Asis. “We are very excited about the opportunities that will emerge as a result of our acquisition of Lone Wolf Knives.”

Custom knife purveyor Bob Neal passed away last night, losing his fight to recover from a motorcycle accident he was involved in last month.

“I love him like a brother,” stated Les Robertson, Neal’s good friend and fellow knife purveyor. “For me, custom knives will never be the same.”

Based out of Atlanta, Neal had been a leading purveyor since 1983. He attended knife shows all over the USA, including the BLADE Show, where he and Robertson conducted seminars on what to look for in a custom knife and other topics. Neal also served as a custom knife judge on several occasions at the BLADE Show.

Neal was a leading authority on multi-blade knives and was used as a source by BLADE Magazine on a number of occasions for his expertise in that area.

In a conversation this reporter had with Robertson at last month’s Guild Show, Robertson talked about how much Neal loved knife shows, especially going from table to table in search of that “special” knife. Nobody seemed to enjoy knife shows quite like Bob, Les noted.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

(Note: This was not written by me. It’s a release from The Ontario Knife Company)

When the members of the US Marine Corps face danger defending our country, they rely on their rigorous training, each other, and the best-engineered tools on the planet to fight for our freedom. That’s why The Ontario Knife Company is proud to announce that their new Model 4 Coyote Brown Strap Cutter™ was recently chosen — after grueling testing of global top competitors — as the military-grade, ultra tough tool for a variety of safety and rescue applications for the Corps. Thanks to its unmatched quality and battle-proven performance, The Ontario Knife Company has already proudly provided more than 350,000 life saving Strap Cutters to the U.S. Military for use in Afghanistan, Iraq and all over the world. This new, sole source contract recently awarded by the United States Marine Corps is for over 150,000 additional life saving Strap Cutters.

Semper Fidelis — “Always Faithful” — has been an official Corps motto for more than a century. It embodies the loyalty and commitment Marines swear to one another and to their country. These are fighters who have to make decisions in split seconds — decisions that save lives. Therefore, the tools taken into the field by these brave men and women must also constantly be relied on in life and death situations. The USMC had to have the confidence that The Ontario Knife Company’s Model 4 Coyote Brown Strap Cutter was capable of saving a Marine’s life — able to cut through all USMC wheeled and tracked vehicle seatbelts and aircraft restraint systems, as well as all USMC field clothing/uniforms, including footwear. And The Ontario Knife Company delivered.
“A seatbelt cutter can help save solders’ lives in two ways: by giving them the confidence to buckle up, protecting them from rollover, sudden vehicle stops or direction changes, and by being able to cut the belt to escape quickly in the event of a rollover, fire or water hazard,” reported SGM Thomas W. Coleman, U.S. Army Soldier System Center/PEO Soldier.

This incredible tool is compact and lightweight (with sheath, the tool weighs in at a mere 3 ounces and measures less than 7” length x 2” width) so it’s easy and convenient for marines to carry and stash. Its unique Coyote Brown non-reflective powder coat finish ensures a quick and easy grab and grip. Its sightless orientation allows Marines to operate the tool either bare handed, or when wearing cold weather gloves, mission-oriented-protective posture gloves, leather gloves or fire-resistant gloves. This piece of equipment, while small, will give the
Marines confidence to buckle up in the first place, secure in the knowledge that it will do its job quickly and efficiently. Of course, The Ontario Knife Company has a long history of providing high performance tools to the Armed Forces and takes the privilege of being chosen over the competition to help protect our Marines with a key piece of equipment seriously. “We’re extremely honored to have the Ontario Knife Combat Rescue Strap Cutter receive this level of military acceptance, and have had the distinct pleasure of providing the kind of equipment that helps keep our troops safe at home and abroad,” says Nick Trbovich, Jr., The Ontario Knife Company President and CEO. “We look forward to continuing to provide high performance solutions for these demanding applications in the decades ahead.”

The Ontario Model 4 Coyote Brown Strap Cutter provided a wide range of industry-leading features that proved that no other strap cutter could match it. And the decision was not made lightly — this amazing, versatile tool was subjected to unbelievably intense testing both in and out of the field before emerging as the clear choice Marines could count on in life-threatening emergencies.

It’s crafted from rugged, lightweight, high-strength machined aluminum that will not melt, shatter or crack. It also features patented ultra sharp Titanium Nitride-coated blades, which can be easily replaced in the field in order to renew the life of the tool. These unique shatter-proof blades are flexible, impact resistant, and can easily slice through virtually any task it tackles. Plus, it comes complete with a flame-retardant, load-bearing, MOLLE compatible sheath which easily houses spare blades. This safety tool also features shackle wrenches and one perfect-sized opening that fit standard oxygen valves. Like other Ontario Knife products, the Model 4 Coyote Brown Strap Cutter complies with the Berry Amendment as it is proudly 100% made in the U.S.A.