Home The BLADE Blogs Page 58

The BLADE Blogs

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

Latest

Nat Geo’s Lords Of War Features Knifemaker Larry Harley

Joe Kertzman
-
1
Nat Geo’s Lords Of War Features Knifemaker Larry Harley

The National Geographic Channel’s Lords Of War program features knifemaker Larry Harley as an antique knife and edged weaponry expert. Lords Of War focuses on historic weaponry as depicted by a team of experts that travels across the country in search of the best in antique weapons and militaria. The experts allow you to relive history as they test, assess and auction the bounties of war. 

Larry “Hammer” Harley, as he’s called, second from left in the photo, is quoted by Nat Geo as saying, “I haven’t worked a day in my life.” A third-generation bladesmith, he began experimenting with steel, thanks to the influence of his grandfather, at a young age. During hunting season, he hunts wild hogs, and during the hunt, uses knives he has fashioned. In the summer, he teaches children about the craftsmanship of knifemaking. This is his passion, being more enthusiastic about making knives than most people are about anything. 

The all-new series, Lords Of War, debuts January 23rd at 9 p.m. and 9:30 EST on Nat Geo.

Knife Rights-Sponsored Pro-Knife Bill Filed in Indiana

Joe Kertzman
-
0

Starting off the New Year right, Indiana State Senator Jim Tomes has forwarded Senate Bill SB181, a Knife Rights-sponsored, pro-knife bill that would repeal Indiana’s outdated ban on the sale and possession of switchblades and automatic knives. The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Brent Steele, Chair of the Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters Committee that will hear the bill, and Senator Johnny Nugent.

SB181 is identical to an earlier bill that was passed overwhelmingly last session in the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 46-1. It, however, was bogged down in election year politics and never heard by the Indiana House. There are high expectations that it will pass this year.

If you live, work or travel in Indiana, please contact your Senator and ask them to support SB181. Click here to locate your Senator.

Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame Series: CRKT/A.G. Sting

Steve Shackleford
-
0
Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame Series: CRKT/A.G. Sting

CRKT/AG Russell StingWhen you talk Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© members, few carry the cache of A.G. Russell, and his Sting design reproduced by CRKT is a great way to experience his knife genius. The non-reflective, powder-coated blade of 1050 carbon steel is 3.197 inches long, and the integral handle is contoured to fit your hand.

Click here to get stung for yourself at ShopBlade.com.

A Few Great Everyday Carry Knives

Steve Shackleford
-
0
A Few Great Everyday Carry Knives

Best everyday carry knives

No. 1 for knife enthusiast Nick Morgan is the Chris Reeve Sebenza. “The tolerances are so much better on Chris Reeve knives than any other production knives, and you’ll find just about perfect fit and finish on every model. I love the blade and handle shapes, and the plain, simple looks are beautiful,” he said.

The Spyderco Sage2 is second on Morgan’s list. “I love the deep-carry wire clip—for my money the best clip in the industry,” he stated. “The profile of the titanium Sage2 is thinner than the carbon fiber Sage1, so using and carrying it is noticeably nicer.”

Morgan said the Benchmade 940 is a blast to play with due to the AXIS lock. “It’s super easy to open and close, and it’s fast!” he emphasized. “The reverse tanto blade shape is my favorite. For cutting, whittling and stabbing, it’s strong, sharp and great looking. It’s the best knife to sit in front of the TV and flip open/closed hundreds of times.”

Next on Morgan’s list is the DPx HEST 2.0, “a knife that can survive heavy-duty use day after day. I love the functional blade shape and, at 3.25 inches, it’s big enough for 99 percent of my cutting tasks while not being too big that it scares people when I use it in public. It locks up solidly like the Sebenza and I love the extra features—bottle opener, wire stripper and glass breaker/skull crusher, the latter which is really nicely executed. My favorite feature is the bayonet clip—it buries so deep in the pocket that nobody suspects I’ve got a knife on me.”

Last on Morgan’s list is what he terms the “best-bang-for-the-buck” knife: the Large Buck Vantage Pro. “It has a great blade and handle shape, I love the flipper, it has top quality blade steel [CPM S30V] and handle material, an excellent deep-carry bayonet clip, it’s USA made and has a nice, slim profile. Best of all,” he added, “it’s less than half the cost of every other knife on my list.”

For more EDC knives, check out this selection at ShopBlade.com.

CKCA Funds For Cancer Research Tops $34,000

Steve Shackleford
-
0
CKCA Funds For Cancer Research Tops $34,000

CKCA LogoThe Custom Knife Collectors Association (CKCA) announced it has raised $6,598.30 for the Jimmy V Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

The money was raised through the CKCA’s raffle of a special bowie made by ABS master smiths/CKCA members Larry Fuegen and Tim Hancock. The winner was knifemaker/CKCA member Joel Chamblin.

The CKCA’s contributions to date to cancer research projects totals $34,053.30.

CA Appeals Court Throws Out Anti-Switchblade Ruling

Steve Shackleford
-
0

According to Knife Rights, the California Court of Appeals last week reversed a lower court’s ruling that a knife that could be “wrist-flicked” open was a “switchblade.”

The lower court made the faulty ruling despite an explicit provision in California law that distinguishes and protects one-hand opening and assisted-opening knives with a bias towards closure and despite prior Appellate Court rulings upholding that exception. These common folding knives represent over 80 percent of the U.S. market and the California legislature clearly wanted them to be legal when they clarified the original switchblade law as follows:

“‘Switchblade knife’ does not include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.”

This is essentially the same exemption that was added to the Federal Switchblade Act as a result of the knife industry banning together to help clarify the federal definition in 2009.

“We laud the Appeals Court on its decision and a well-written opinion, but it is unfortunate that the defendant had to undergo the extreme harassment and stress to him and his family and friends that comes with such an experience due to the ignorance and apparent anti-knife bias of the law enforcement officer, prosecutors and the lower court involved,” Knife Rights indicated in a statement. “We’d also like to acknowledge the successful efforts of the defendant’s court appointed lawyer who presented a strong defense. Hopefully, this will be the end of this sordid travesty of justice by the state and there will be no further appeal.”

You can read the Appeals Court opinion here: www.kniferights.org/G045929.pdf

Llannoite Proves Inspired Knife Handle Choice

Joe Kertzman
-
0
Llannoite Proves Inspired Knife Handle Choice

Bill Keller custom knife

OK, take off the dirty shop apron, remove the safety glasses, and go to the workbench and pull out the notepad and pencil. Now, add Llannoite to the list of incredible knife handle materials available to honest, hardworking knifemakers across the land. While you’re at it, add the Bill Keller locking-liner folder to the list of “Editor’s Favorites from the Knives 2013 Book.”

Knifemaker Bill Keller not only saw the brown hues within the makeup of Llannoite, but the blue, as well, and brought it out nicely through the use of blue-anodized bolsters and liners. Each complements the Chris Marks “lizard-skin”-damascus blade, filework and inlaid blued-titanium thumb stud. (Johnny Stout photo)

Load more
Advertisement

Must Read Articles

Read this before you make a knife

Knifemaking 101 – Read This Before You Make a Knife

Wayne Goddard -
  by Wayne Goddard My experience has taught me that there's nothing like digging in and getting started. I've often said the hardest part of the...
forged in fire knifemaking tv show

8 Things You May Not Know About “Forged in Fire”

how to forge damascus steel

How to Forge Damascus

James Huse ordered a custom sheath by No Surrender Holsters for his BBQ knife.

How to Create Damascus Patterns

Why Are Switchblades Illegal?

Advertisement
Advertisement
BladeMag.com
Facebook Instagram Pinterest X