The BLADE Blogs Archives

Are Quality Knives Worth The Quid?

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November 7, 2014

The following is excerpted from the KNIVES 2015 book.

By Roderick T. Halvorsen

One of the grandest campfire knife debates involves the age-old question of whether costly, premium knives are worth the buck paid. Are quality knives worth the quid? Arguments rage one way or another, with the debate oftentimes stalling due to a dearth of experience with the real pricey ones. Truth is, who wants to plunk down the big dough just to treat a cutting tool like a farm implement in order to find out if it was worth all the quid? And, well, what if it isn’t?

Mulling this over, I decided to dedicate myself to the exclusive use of a pair of “high enders” in order to see for myself. Where I use my knives in winter, I must have good faith they will serve well or I may be in it deep. Deep snow and ice that is, and far from home and hearth. I cannot afford failure, whatever the dollar price paid! My work and play take me into remote, high mountains where knives are not just helpful, they are essential.

So it was with a little trepidation I swore off my own handmade and well-proven knives in order to obtain a couple Fällkniven AB models. Fällkniven has earned high praise the world over, and is a thoroughly modern company. The finest Swedish iron is mined 140 miles from its headquarters in Norbotten, Sweden, whereupon it is shipped to Japan. There, Swedish iron becomes Japanese steel, and the knives are made. Some years ago, the company used Hitachi ATS-34 stainless steel, but now favors a VG-10 steel laminate for the toughest of its outdoors knives. Leather scabbards are made in Spain.

See the KNIVES 2015 book to read the rest of the story. Click here. And let us know your opinion. Are quality knives worth the quid?

Feds Ban Trade of Elephant Ivory

Steve Shackleford

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February 12, 2014

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Except in “a very limited number of circumstances,” the federal government has announced a ban on the commercial trade of elephant ivory, according to a report from the office of the secretary of The White House.

How the ban will affect existing knives with handles of elephant and fossil ivory and existing supplies of elephant and fossil ivory held by knifemaking suppliers, knifemakers and others is not exactly clear at this time. However, if past experience is any barometer, knife professionals and enthusiasts should expect the worst.

Announced yesterday, Feb. 11, the ban prohibits, except under the aforementioned very limited number of circumstances, the import, export or resale of elephant ivory within the United States.

To implement the new controls, federal departments and agencies will immediately act to:

•Prohibit the commercial import of African elephant ivory, including antiques;

•Prohibit the commercial export of elephant ivory, except for bona fide antiques, certain noncommercial items and in “exceptional circumstances permitted under the Endangered Species Act”;

•Clarify the definition of “antique” so that the ivory must be more than 100 years old and meet other requirements under the Endangered Species Act. It will be up to the importer, exporter or seller to prove the item passes muster;

•Limit the number of African elephant sport-hunted trophies an individual can import to two per hunter per year; and, lastly;

•Finalize a proposed rule that would “reaffirm and clarify that sales across state lines are prohibited, except for bona fide antiques, and will prohibit sales within a state unless the seller can demonstrate an item was lawfully imported prior to 1990 for African elephants and 1975 for Asian elephants, or under an exemption document.”

In the coming months, the report noted, the federal government will take further steps to implement the “National Strategy,” and will work with Congress to strengthen existing laws and adopt new ones to enhance its “ability to address this global challenge.”

In other words, the federal government has declared war on all things ivory.

Stay tuned to www.blademag.com for further developments.

Vacation Knives: Multi-Tool For Emergency Repairs

Steve Shackleford

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November 1, 2012

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A hot multi-tool with a selection of sharp blades in plain and serrated edges, assorted tools such as a spring-loaded pliers, flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers, a saw, scissors, can-opener and more—what else would you need to fend off an emergency repair job while on the road? The Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool has it all, plus one-hand opening and the company’s Saf.T.Plus locking system—all for our nifty price of $34.99.

For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/gerber-suspension-multi-tool-y6989/?lid=blss081512

The Bermans: Valued Friends of Custom Knives

Steve Shackleford

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June 13, 2013

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The Bermans: Valued Friends of Custom Knives

The custom knife industry has few better friends than Shelley and Sarah Berman, and that point was driven home once again when Shelley wrote about custom knives in the May 31 issue of The Wall Street Journal.

A long-time comedian and actor, Shelley penned the story titled “The Comedian in the Tomato Patch” in the WSJ edition that appeared the Friday of the 2013 BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com). An accompanying picture showed Shelley and Sarah working the tomato patch in their garden. While Shelley started off talking about his garden, he wrote more about his custom knife collection and damascus steel than anything.

“I collect custom knives,” he wrote in the WSJ story. “In many cases, I know—or knew—the maker. Many of my knives are one of a kind. Some of the great knifemakers are no longer with us. Some of the younger knifemakers are fine at the trade, though many of us old-time collectors still respect and revere the ones we’ve known … One section of the knives in my collection is mostly damascus process. In every case, one side of the blade has an almost scattered pattern, but, oh, what a blade. Frankly, I am very proud of my knife collection.”

Shelley’s affinity for custom knives is well known to many BLADE (www.blademag.com) readers and many in the custom knife industry. He has written stories about his knives and has been interviewed about his collection in BLADE. He has attended any number of custom knife shows over the years, including the California Custom Knife Show, the Solvang Custom Knife Show, the Art Knife Invitational and the Knifemakers’ Guild Show. In fact, he has performed his comedy act at a number of knife shows, including a most memorable performance at the 25th Anniversary Guild Show in Orlando, Florida.

Hats off to Shelley and Sarah Berman—two class acts and valued friends of the custom knife industry.

Read more about custom knives in the new Knives 2014 book.

Evan Nappen Receives Inaugural Freedom’s Point™ Award

The BLADE Blogs

BLADE Staff

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June 11, 2010

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June 5, 2010, Gilbert, AZ: Knife Rights is pleased to announce that Evan Nappen is the inaugural recipient of its Freedom’s Point™ Award which was presented to Evan at the Sharper Future™ Awards Breakfast on June 5th during BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Freedom’s Point™ Award is to be given annually to honor a individual citizen who has demonstrated their commitment to a Sharper Future™ by leadership in the fight to protect or enhance our knife rights.

Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter said, “Evan Nappen is being recognized for two significant contributions during the past year. Last summer, when U.S. Customs was attempting to redefine what a switchblade was in a manner that would have adversely impacted 80% of the knives sold in the U.S. today, Evan volunteered to develop Knife Rights’ official response to U.S. Customs. He put together an excellent legal brief clearly exposing the fallacies and inconsistencies of Customs’ position in a matter of a few short days.” That effort eventually resulted in Congress passing an amendment to the Federal Switchblade Act exempting assisted opening and one-hand opening knives.”

Doug continued, “Every legislative initiative requires someone local to lead the charge. In New Hampshire, it was Evan who worked long hours to rally support for the Knife Rights bill introduced by Representative Jenn Coffey. It was Evan who spearheaded the fundraising effort. It was Evan who organized the testimony in front of the committees. We would not have been so successful in New Hampshire if it weren’t for the leadership and hard work of Evan Nappen.”

The Knife Rights Bill passed in New Hampshire legalizes switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos.

Knife Rights is America’s Grassroots Knife Owners Organization™, working towards a Sharper Future™ for all knife owners. Knife Rights is dedicated to providing knife owners an effective voice in public policy.

Paul Ehlers Sets Record Straight

Steve Shackleford

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November 23, 2011

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Editor’s note: Long-time knife designer Paul Ehlers wrote the following letter to BLADE® concerning our oversight of Mr. Ehlers’ copious design contributions to the works of Paul Fox and Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Gil Hibben, one of which by the latter, the Alien, is reproduced above via the photography of Mike Carter. We reprint Mr. Ehlers’ letter here in its entirety.

My name is Paul Ehlers. I am a knife designer; I believe you know my work. I have been a reader of BLADE® since 1983. It was that year I forged a creative alliance and friendship with Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Gil Hibben, and later with knifemaker Paul Fox. Our knife journeys have been both challenging and artistically rewarding, and we always have endeavored to push the envelope. Often the envelope would push back, but we never let that stop us!

Looking back, the majority of Gil’s one-of-a-kind custom fantasy knives were of my design, from our beginnings in ’83 with our “Dragonfly” up until the present day. In fact, we have done over 50 collaborations. That is a lot of grinding! It is no wonder Gil has often said “Paul’s dreams are my nightmares!”

The first fantasy knife I designed for Paul Fox we named the “Soulseeker.” It went on to win the coveted W.W. Cronk Award at the 1986 Knifemakers’ Guild Show. That was a great honor. Of the many knives I have designed over 25 years, it is one of our best achievements.

But alas, my name is nowhere to be seen in “Raise A Glass To The W.W. Cronk Award” on page 78 of the April 2009 BLADE. The ’85 winners are listed as collaborators, so I am sure you will take this opportunity to correct this piece of our knife family history. I, and posterity, will be eternally grateful!

Paul W. Ehlers

P.S.: I can recall at the first shows I attended, the “Father of American Knife Photographers,” Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Jim Weyer, would take me around to the tables and introduce me as “the next Bud Cronk.” This was 1983. The only thing was, I had never met Mr. Cronk and had not seen any of his work until Jim published his first Knives: Points of Interest book. When I asked about Cronk, Jim said, “Don’t worry kid, you’re in good company!” I never forgot that. Of course, over time I came to know what a true genius Cronk was and is. This is one of many reasons why this award means so much to me.

To read more stories like the above, subscribe to BLADE. For more information on how to subscribe, click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?r+ssfb231111#BL1SU

BLADE Show Will Feature Steampunk How-To

Steve Shackleford

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April 25, 2013

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BLADE Show Will Feature Steampunk How-To

The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) will feature a seminar by ABS master smith Wally Hayes on how to make a steampunk tanto.

Slated for May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show is the world’s largest and most important knife show. Hayes, meanwhile, is one of the world’s hottest makers, and his Steampunk knifemaking how-to will be the Sunday of the show, June 2, at 11 a.m. in Room 103 of the Cobb Galleria Centre.

Steampunk knives are inspired by the science fiction genre that features steam-powered machinery from such novels as 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne. “I first saw a Steampunk knife made by Van Barnett and talked to him about it at the 2012 BLADE Show,” Hayes writes in his how-to story in the May BLADE®. In fact, Barnett’s Steampunk folder won Best Art Knife at last year’s BLADE Show and was voted one of the top 14 custom knives of the 21st century in the current July BLADE. A number of other makers have made the style as well.

An accomplished guitarist as well as an award-winning knifemaker, Hayes made a Steampunk tanto for Richard Fortus of the rock band Guns N Roses. Fortus requested it as a gift for a friend. A similar model served as the cover knife for the May BLADE.

In addition to his upcoming Steampunk seminar, Hayes has conducted a number of BLADE Show seminars in the past, including one of his most popular on how to wrap a Japanese knife handle. He will have a table showing his knives at the BLADE Show, and so will Van Barnett, among scores of others.

For the latest in BLADE Show and other knife industry news, subscribe to BLADE

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042513

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20 Custom Knives Moms Want For Mother’s Day

Are Quality Knives Worth The Quid?

Feds Ban Trade of Elephant Ivory

Vacation Knives: Multi-Tool For Emergency Repairs

The Bermans: Valued Friends of Custom Knives

Evan Nappen Receives Inaugural Freedom’s Point™ Award

Paul Ehlers Sets Record Straight

BLADE Show Will Feature Steampunk How-To

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