The BLADE Blogs Archives

Summer Fun Requires a Cool Camp Cutter

Steve Shackleford

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July 19, 2017

A cool camp cutter is a must to help you fully enjoy the fun and sun of summertime in America. Whether you are wilderness camping or simply spending a leisurely day at the lake, some of the latest models will make your experience easier and more satisfying.

Cool Camp Cutter No. 1: Tactical Spork

Cool Camp Cutter No. 1: The KA-BAR Tactical Spork. MSRP: $8.32.

Eating outdoors can be a challenge. Enter the new Tactical Spork from KA-BAR. Featuring the stacked-handle design made famous by KA-BAR’s iconic USMC fighting/utility knife, the Tactical Spork is a fork/spoon combo with a 2.5-inch serrated blade that screws into the handle. The Tactical Spork is made from food- and water-approved Grilamid. MSRP: $8.32.

Cool Camp Cutter No. 2: Eat’n Tool XL

CRKT Eat'n Tool XL — Cool Camp Cutter No. 2: CRKT Eat’n Tool XL. MSRP: $14.99.

CRKT addresses outdoor dining with the Eat’n Tool XL. Designed by Liong Mah of Palm Bay, Florida, the Eat’n Tool XL consists of a spoon/fork combo and a

lso has a bottle opener, GI-style can opener and a flat screwdriver (6.8.10mm hex), and carries via a non-load-bearing carabiner clip. Made of 3Cr13 stainless steel, it’s 6.13 inches overall and weighs 2.7 ounces. It comes in a choice of silver and black finishes. MSRP: $14.99.

Cool Camp Cutter No. 3: Camp Axe

Cool Camp Cutter No. 3: Buck Camp Axe. MSRP: $71.

If you need something a bit more substantial to split kindling, hammer tent stakes or otherwise handle heavier-duty jobs, Buck‘s Camp Axe is the ticket.

At 12.25 inches overall, a weight of 17.2 ounces and including an injection-molded nylon sheath, the Camp Axe is an ideal size for convenient carry and a wide spread of utility jobs. The 3-inch head is forged, powder-coated, high-carbon steel and the ergonomic haft is high-impact plastic. MSRP: $71.

Cool Camp Cutter No. 4: Shuffle

Shuffle from Kershaw — Cool Camp Cutter No. 4: Kershaw Shuffle. MSRP: $34.99.

A knife that will cut, double as a screwdriver, comes equipped with a jump ring and also will open a bottle of your favorite beverage is an outdoor necessity, and the Shuffle from Kershaw fills the bill. The short (2.4 inches) but wide blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel in a black-oxide coating should be legal in most jurisdictions, and the manual-opening folder features a K-Textured glass-filled nylon handle with a single-position pocket clip. Weight: 3.5 ounces. Closed length: 3.25 inches. MSRP: $34.99.

Cool Camp Cutter No. 5: Hobo

Cool Camp Cutter No. 5: Case Hobo. MSRP: $134.

A traditional pocketknife equipped with a clip blade, fork/can opener and spoon makes the Case Boy Scouts of America Hobo an ideal choice for most any outdoor junket. Stainless steel blades/implements and a natural handle complete this utilitarian classic. Weight: 7.7 ounces. Closed length: 4 1/8 inches.

The knife includes Boy Scouts of America and BSA logo blade etches and a BSA logo shield. MSRP: $134.

His/Her Knives for Valentine’s Day

Steve Shackleford

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February 2, 2016

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Clip and pen blades — Saddle up for Valentine’s Day with the Case John Wayne peanut.

Whether you’re spoken for or not, the Kershaw Spoke will cut it for you and/or your sweetie-pie.

Valentine’s Day is a heartbeat away and there’s no better gift than his/her knives. These knives especially fit the bill because they are smallish folders that work well for both men and women. Featuring blades under 3 inches, they make the ideal everyday carry knife in most any venue.

Boker’s Damascus African Thuya is just such a knife. Boasting a 2.25-inch blade of Chad Nichols ladder-pattern damascus, it has a handle of tight-grained African thuya wood. MSRP: $299.

The Buck Apex is a sporty little folding knife with a 2 5/8 blade of 420HC stainless and a carbon fiber handle with carabiner, pocket clip and integrated bottle opener. Weight: 1.7 ounces. Closed length: 3.75 inches. MSRP: $45.

African Thuya Damascus — Boker’s Damascus African Thuya makes a great Valentine’s Day gift.

If you’re into the Duke—John Wayne for you tenderfoots—Case’s John Wayne peanut pattern should be your cup of cattle-drive coffee. Sporting clip and pen blades—the former with Wayne’s signature—the Red River “D” shield and “The Duke” inscribed on the bolster, this one is made for Wayne fans everywhere.

The black-oxide-coated Spoke from Kershaw is an assisted-opening flipper folder with a 2-inch blade of 4Cr14 stainless and a forged steel handle. Closed length: 2.8 inches. MSRP: $27.99.

Finally, yet another great small knife for Valentine’s Day is the SOG Cash Card. The 2.75-inch blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless and full-metal construction make this minimalist’s dream knife come true.

His/her knives—you can’t beat ’em! For more on these classics and other great knives, stay tuned to blademag.com and the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication, BLADE®.

BLADE Show: Experience Ed’s Homespun Knife Knowledge

Steve Shackleford

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May 16, 2013

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BLADE Show: Experience Ed’s Homespun Knife Knowledge

BLADE® field editor and ABS master smith Ed Fowler will offer another of his seminars as only he can in “Knives That Survived The Frontier” during the 2013 BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com) May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Ed’s seminar will be show Saturday at 2 p.m. in Room 104.

Ed will discuss an antique Huber bowie, Ames Rifleman Knife and a T-backed wootz knife.

“The Huber bowie made in 1832 looks to have been in combat as evidenced by the cuts in her blade,” he noted. “The Ames Rifleman’s Knife from 1849 was used hard, most probably during the Civil War. Her scabbard was refurbished on the frontier with what was available.

“The T-backed wootz knife collected by a British soldier who traded a carton of cigarettes for her while driving a lorry over the Khyber Pass during World War II is another knife with a great history visible through repairs where few tools and materials were available,” Ed continued.

“Those who attend will be invited to hold, study and discuss what aspects of design and steel made these knives great. These aspects of design remain as hallmarks of the high performance knife of today.”

Author of his “Knife Talk” column in BLADE for over two decades, Ed is well known for his controversial opinions and approaches to not only bladesmithing/knifemaking, but also to knives and their history in general. He also has written Knife Talk I and Knife Talk II—compilations of his Knife Talk columns in BLADE.

Zac Brown’s Southern Grind Headlines New BLADE®

Steve Shackleford

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February 27, 2013

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Zac Brown’s Southern Grind Headlines New BLADE®

Do you know Zac Brown of the Grammy-Award-winning Zac Brown Band owns his own knife company? Find out all about it and much more in the new May BLADE®, on many newsstands NOW!

Based in Atlanta, Brown’s knife company is aptly named Southern Grind and focuses on Brown’s lifelong love affair with knives. Get all the poop on it in the May BLADE.

Also in that issue:

•Wally Hayes shows you how to make a Steampunk tanto (his version of which also happens to be the May issue’s cover knife);

•Industry pros select the top 13 knives of the custom pioneers;

•Six knives tackle the deepest, darkest jungles of the Amazon;

•Industry pros show you how to identify knives with proper fit and finish;

•See which factory knives finished as runners-up in the voting for the Blade Magazine 2012 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards;

•In part IV of a series, Ed Fowler continues to outline how he installs sheep-horn handles on his custom knives;

•And much more!

Also, act before tomorrow and enjoy 74 percent savings on a BLADE subscription. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?lid=ssfbbl022713 for more info.

Kershaw Signs On for a Rough Ride

Joe Kertzman

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April 8, 2013

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You can take that headline literally. Kershaw Knives has become a premier sponsor of the Professional Rough Stock (PRS) series. Most folks are aware that professional bull riding is among the fastest growing sports in the United States, yet some rodeo fans can’t get enough, and are looking for even more excitement. That’s where the Professional Rough Stock (PRS) Series comes in.

In addition to bull riding, Professional Rough Stock incorporates bareback and saddle bronc riding—yes, you read that right, BAREBACK and saddle BRONC riding. The combination of events gives rodeo lovers more variety and more heart-pounding thrills.

Kershaw Knives, a brand of Kai USA Ltd., has recently signed on as a major sponsor of the 2013-2014 PRS season. Founded by Pete Kershaw in 1974, Kershaw Knives was born on the Officer Ranch in eastern Oregon and boasts a proud cowboy tradition.

“Sponsoring Professional Rough Stock is a natural for Kershaw,” said Thomas Welk, Director of Sales and Marketing, Sporting for Kai USA. “Every rider, every cowboy and cowgirl, and every PRS fan needs a good knife; they need a Kershaw.”

The Kershaw Kowbells (left), are ready for the next PRS event.

At each PRS event, a group of lucky PRS attendees will find themselves sitting in the “Kershaw Korner.” Everyone sitting in the randomly selected Kershaw Korner will receive either a Kershaw Kowbell or Kershaw BamBam Sticks to help them cheer on their favorite riders. Kershaw will also be giving away logo t-shirts and several Kershaw Zing SS knives at each event.

Presence like this at nationwide PRS events, along with television coverage, social media promotions, and more made the PRS sponsorship attractive to Kershaw. “The athleticism of these rough stock cowboys is outstanding,” said Welk. “We’re proud to help bring the excitement of Professional Rough Stock to rodeo fans and families all across the nation.”

Televised PRS events begin airing on RFD-TV on Friday, May 3rd at 10:00 p.m. EST time, with replays on Sundays at 2:30 p.m. eastern.

Most of the Stolen Knives Found; 3 Still Missing

Steve Shackleford

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March 20, 2014

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Most of the Stolen Knives Found; 3 Still Missing

Be on the lookout for this folder, the Shin, by Rockstead. (KnifePurveyor.com photo) — The Shin by Rockstead is the one of the three stolen knives still missing. (KnifePurveyor.com)

Purveyor Michael Donato was one happy man earlier this week when all but three of approximately 150 stolen knives were returned.

The three knives that remain missing are the Shin by Rockstead and two John W. Smith folders, all of which are pictured at right.

“This has been the craziest roller-coaster ride of my life,” the owner of KnifePurveyor.com said. “The support of the custom knife world between collectors, dealers and others has been incredible.”

How the alleged thief was caught is a story in itself. Video surveillance captured him stealing Donato’s pelican case containing the knives at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport that services Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina. Law enforcement was able to identify the man from the video and later used it to identify him among the passengers coming off a flight from Indianapolis, Indiana. Officials determined the suspect’s next flight destination and were waiting for him when he got off the plane. He was even wearing the same clothes he had on when he allegedly stole the knives. Detectives watched as he apparently tried to steal another piece of luggage and nabbed him. He confessed and is being held on $100,000 bond. He led detectives to the knives, which he had stashed in his hotel room. Donato said the man had separated the knives by maker and had prices by each. “He must have seen my business card, visited my website and guessed at the values from it,” Donato said. “He was pretty spot on with the prices.”

A mother of pearl John Smith folder is one of the three knives still missing. (KnifePurveyor.com photo) — This John Smith folder in mother of pearl is the last of the three stolen knives still missing. (KnifePurveyor.com photo)

Unfortunately, the man apparently was able to sell the three knives that are still missing before he was apprehended.

If you have any information concerning the stolen knives, contact Donato via www.knifepurveyor.com.

For the latest knives, knife trends and more, visit www.blademag.com.

Knives, Knifemakers, Tips On Knife Collecting Today and Tomorrow

Steve Shackleford

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April 28, 2012

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Great knives, knifemakers, tips on knife collecting and much more are in the offing at venues across the country and abroad today and tomorrow, April 28-29.

The Solvang Custom Knife Show is in Solvang, California, today ONLY. Some of the world’s finest custom knives and knifemakers are there. For more info click on www.nordicknives.com.

The 30th Annual NCCA Extravaganza Knife Show is at the Hilton Hotel in Mystic, Connecticut, today and tomorrow.

The Wolverine Knife Collectors Show is in Novi, Michigan, today and tomorrow at the Suburban Collection Showcase.

The ABS Spring Piney Woods Hammer-In is today and tomorrow at the Texarkana College/Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Washington, Arkansas. For more info click on www.americanbladesmith.com.

The 13th Annual Knifemakers Show is at the German Blade Museum (Deutsches Klingenmuseum) in Solingen, Germany, today and tomorrow. For more info click on www.messer-macher-messe.de.

And finally, today is the final day of the Mason Dixon Knife Club Annual Show at the Best Western/Grand Venice Hotel in Hagerstown, Maryland.

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+ssfb042812#BL1SU.

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Summer Fun Requires a Cool Camp Cutter

Cool Camp Cutter No. 1: Tactical Spork

Cool Camp Cutter No. 2: Eat’n Tool XL

Cool Camp Cutter No. 3: Camp Axe

Cool Camp Cutter No. 4: Shuffle

Cool Camp Cutter No. 5: Hobo

His/Her Knives for Valentine’s Day

BLADE Show: Experience Ed’s Homespun Knife Knowledge

Zac Brown’s Southern Grind Headlines New BLADE®

Kershaw Signs On for a Rough Ride

Most of the Stolen Knives Found; 3 Still Missing

Knives, Knifemakers, Tips On Knife Collecting Today and Tomorrow

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