The BLADE Blogs Archives

Halloween Knives: Shriek Chic

Steve Shackleford

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October 12, 2017

Halloween knives conjure visions of human steak and Bela Lugosi, high tops and Frankenstein, and decapitations and zombies. Warming to the genre yet?

ABS master smith Wally Hayes makes a couple of Halloween knives that fit the mold like a stake in Frank Langella’s heart: the Vampire Stake and the Zombie Spike. Formed like, well, a stake to drive into the chest of one of the spooky set’s most famous blood-sucking ghouls, the Vampire Stake has a distinctive cross forged into the handle butt to intimidate the worst of the slimy night crawlers, antique coloration and a leather sheath. The Zombie Spike, on the other hand, is 6 inches long and fashioned from O1 tool steel ground and heat treated for high performance. Hayes says it’s popular among his law enforcement customers, though he didn’t mention if it was the officers in the CSI: Walking Dead unit or not. It comes with a Kydex sheath.

Vampire Stake by Hayes — Creatures of the night cringe at the sight of the Vampire Stake by Wally Hayes.

Hayes' Zombie Spike — Wally Hayes‘ Zombie Spike will keep the Walking Dead on their toes.

Dan Keyes‘ “The Count” features a coffin handle with inlaid ivory crosses, a fullered, 30-inch blade of double-drawn 440C stainless steel and LED bulbs that light The Count’s red eyes. The skull is powder-coated “anthracite gray” with highlighted airbrushing. Weight: Just short of five pounds. Overall length: 38.5 inches.

The Count by Dan Keyes is just what Dr. Death ordered.

Skull with red eyes — The red eyes of The Count’s skull light up with the flip of a switch in the handle next to the black-leather-lined skull.

The Count Sword — The Count boasts a 30-inch blade, weighs just short of 5 pounds and is 38.5 inches long overall.

The creation of French knifemaker/artist Jean-Marc Laroche, The Living Knife has a “hand” for a handle with “fingers” that close, an “eye” and an overall lifelike appearance that will literally, er, grab you. As you grab the handle, the “fingers” actually grab back so that it’s hard to tell who’s holding whom. And, as the fingers grab your hand, the “eye” opens. The hand also is embellished with gears in the Steampunk style. The blade is a composite of 15N20, 15LM and UHB11 high-alloy nickel and carbon steels in explosion, twist and random patterns forged by Swedish maker Roger Bergh. Overall length: 25 inches.

Hands of The Living Knife — When you grab the “fingers” of the “hands” of Jean-Marc Laroche‘s The Living Knife, they literally grab you back!

The MacV Tool from SOG Specialty Knives & Tools is shaped like a skull and is 12 tools in one, including 1/4-, 5/16 and 3/8-inch wrenches, blade sharpener, strap/cord cutter, small and large flathead screwdrivers and more. Designed to resemble the original skull from the MACV-SOG group of Vietnam War fame the company is named after, it measures 2.5 by 1.5 inches and weighs .6 ounce.

Zomstro Chopper from KA-BAR. — A toxic green handle and big, bad modified-cleaver blade in a black finish complete the KA-BAR Zomstro Chopper.

As you might imagine, knives with a zombie theme are undead and well, including the Reaver Cleaver from Zombie Tools and the Zomstro Chopper from KA-BAR. Based on the Chinese war sword, the Reaver Cleaver features an 18-inch blade of 5160 carbon steel, weighs 3 pounds, 10 ounces, and is 31 inches overall. The Zomstro Chopper, meanwhile, features a big, bad modified cleaver blade in a black finish and KA-BAR’s toxic green Zombie handle.

If The Count and the rest of our Halloween knives don’t keep you down for the count, you might be among the living dead. If so, stay clammy and watch out for sunrise!

Laroche's Living Knife — The Living Knife by Jean-Marc Laroche was the cover for the January 2015 BLADE®.

Southern Grind Marine Pens Poem Of Combat

Erin Healy

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March 31, 2017

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Southern Grind Marine Pens Poem Of Combat

Zac Brown shares the stage with Southern Grind spokesman, Johnny Joey Jones. — Zac Brown’s Southern Grind deploys formidable spokesman, Johnny Joey Jones, a double amputee Marine staff sergeant.

Johnny Joey Jones, Triple J to his friends and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician to his Marine Corps brethren, wrote a poem about a particular day, a particular explosion, a particular knife, while on patrol in Afghanistan.

Jones, a double amputee and motivational speaker, is the spokesman and more for Zac Brown’s Southern Ground, which is an umbrella company that represents numerous 100-percent American-made and -sourced products, including the knife company, Southern Grind. Proceeds from the sale of these patriotic items benefit Camp Southern Ground, which strives to give kids of all races and religions, and especially those with neuro-developmental challenges, the positive influence of a camp experience. The camp also helps military families by offering the same experience to children who are dealing with a deployed, injured or deceased parent.

In May 2010, about three months before Staff Sergeant Jones would step on an IED and lose both legs above the knee, he was on patrol with a group of Marines. (In the Corps, EOD units go where they are needed, with whom they are needed.) They came to a small canal. “There is always lots of learning,” Jones said, and in this case, it was that you don’t want to use foot bridges to cross waterways. Such crossings would create bottlenecks, ideal spots for the enemy to booby-trap.

Double amputee Johnny Joey Jones is a motivational speaker and Zac Brown Southern Grind spokesman. — Prior to losing both legs above the knee Johnny Joey Jones was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician in Afghanistan.

To get across, first the sweeper, the Marine with the metal detector, went and then the mine-detecting dog and his handler went. “We think the dog stepped on the mine,” Jones said. “The Water So Cold” tells the story.

The Water So Cold

By Johnny Joey Jones

They say it passes

The pain so cold

Even atlas shrugged

Or so I’m told

He was out of sight

Walking on water

A fallen tree bridge

A bomb rang louder

His steps stopped so abrupt

Smoke and dirt were to breath

Gone in an instant

His bloody face screamed

I still see his face

Bloody and scared

The water so deep

Wet blood in his hair

He was screaming so loud

When I jumped in

I grabbed his body

I reached for his hand

The water a mess

Water touching my chin

I opened my mouth

The water rushed in

He yelled and screamed

I panicked and pulled

This boy would not die

In water so cold

I knew I had to do it

I was so frightened beneath

I had to reach down through it

The water so deep

I stalled for a moment

Whispered,” it’s gonna be ok”

“I’ve got you, they’ve got you”

He quieted his bloody face

They came to the bank

Reached down and pulled

This time I didn’t think

Lifting him high once more

In water so cold

I grabbed at his knees

Scared and surprised

I felt legs beneath

My mind rejoiced

His bloody face still screamed

Yet, his hand, his face

Torn open and bled

In the mix of it all

His knife in my hand

I meant to cut off his gear

He was missing only a hand

The bird came loud

So fast and fluttered

The shots rang out

From afar, from cover

I couldn’t shoot back

The bird flew, scattered

Frantically I scratched

To climb out of the water

His gear still a drift

His knife in my hand

Miles still to sift

Of this mine filled land

Days later, I stalled

Reached down, nervous sweat

My legs were still their

His knife, still wet

I gave his knife to the man

“Tell me he lived” I begged

“He lost a hand and an eye-

But he’s still got his legs”

Joey Jones mentored other recovering veterans and went on to become a motivational speaker. — Joey Jones not only took the lead in combat, he became a mentor to recovering wounded veterans like himself.

The knife was a folder issued to Marines. “I was going to cut off his gear, but guys reached down to pull him out. Days later I realized I still had his knife in my cargo pocket,” Jones said. “I gave it to his first sergeant to give it back to him,” Jones said. That first sergeant is the man in the poem of whom the speaker asks about the Marine’s condition.

Jones has had a poetic streak most of his adult life. Since separating from the service, he has earned his Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in public policy. “I don’t go back and edit,” Jones said. He wants the poems to represent him authentically, as he was at the time.

Check back to read more about this inspirational wounded warrior.

To learn more about how Jones and Brown met and the knives made by Southern Grind, be sure to subscribe to BLADE® Magazine.

‘Fighting Folders’ Offers Class Instruction At Home

'Fighting Folders' is cheaper than a class and can be watched repeatedly from the comfort of your living room. — In “Fighting Folders” Michael D. Janich instructs viewers on the myths surrounding folding knives and how to employ them in a self-defense situation.

You don’t have to have been in combat to know that sometimes Plan B—the knife—can quickly become Plan A when it comes to self-defense. Often our everyday carry is a folder. This DVD can get you started on proper grip, one-handed openings and other tactics using folding knives. The $39.95 price is less expensive that a class and can be watched repeatedly in the comfort of your home.

Roosevelt Knife Auction Sept. 9-11

Steve Shackleford

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August 29, 2016

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The pommel of the Roosevelt knife is carved in the shape of an eagle’s head of solid gold. The eagle’s eyes are garnets.

Roosevelt circa Oct. 1910. — Theodore Roosevelt in October 1910.

President Theodore Roosevelt’s knife, passed down through the Roosevelt family for the past 107 years and never before available for sale to the public, will be put to auction Sept. 9-11 by Rock Island Auction Co.

On one side of the handle is a forest scene with two men crouching behind a tree, one standing with rifle in hand, the other crouching.

Made by J. Russell & Co. of Green River, New York, the Roosevelt knife features handle work by Dreicer & Co. (1904-1923), the latter a leading jewelry retailer of the time and a competitor of such top companies as Faberge. Said to have originally cost $1,250—$33,216 in 2016 dollars—the Roosevelt knife is predicted by Rock Island Auction Co. to bring between $150,000 and $300,000 at auction.

According to public documents, James W. Gerard of the “supreme bench of New York City” and later ambassador to Germany, presented the knife to Roosevelt on March 3, 1909—Roosevelt’s last full day as president. It was a gift Gerard intended for Roosevelt to use on an upcoming African hunting trip. A March 10 story in the local Rock Island newspaper carried the headline “Fine Knife For Roosevelt.” It described Gerard as a close friend of Roosevelt and the knife as a “masterpiece of jeweler’s workmanship, the hilt being wrought in gold and platinum and ornamented with jewels. The [pommel] is carved in the shape of an eagle’s head of solid gold. The eagle’s eyes are garnets.

“On one side of the hilt beneath the eagle’s head is depicted a forest scene, with two [men] behind a birch tree, one of them standing, rifle in hand, the other crouching. The tree is done in gold upon a platinum background. On the reverse side is set the arms of the United States, surmounting a wishbone and intertwining tree boughs in gold. Below is the monogram ‘T.R.’ The background on this side is also of platinum. Two bears’ heads extending out from the handle form the guard at the base of the blade,” which is engraved “Presented to Theodore Roosevelt by His Friend, James W. Gerard.”

For more on the auction of the Roosevelt knife, contact Rock Island Auction Co. at www.rockislandauction.com.

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Collector Shares Young Sub-Chute Knife

Steve Shackleford

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October 22, 2011

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Collector Adam Jacobs (right) had wanted a John Young (left) sub-chute knife for quite some, and his wait came to an end at the recent Plaza Cutlery Knife Show.

“I am an avid collector and huge BLADE® fan,” Jacobs noted. “My friend, Steven Garsson, got me into collecting knives in 2004, and since then I have been fortunate to acquire many pieces by some of the greats. My favorite fixed blades are made by John Young, and, in 2005, I asked John to make me a custom sub-chute. He made the knife this year and I took delivery on it at the Plaza show.

“It is one of only six knives total in existence with John’s rare signature logo. I humbly feel it is a pretty impressive piece and wanted to share it with you. Hiro Soga photographed the knife.

“John really enjoyed the challenge of this piece,” Jacobs continued. “I intentionally asked him to be creative and work outside his normal Loveless patterns and constraints.

“I wanted an amber-stag-handled melding of a chute blade with a sub-hilt handle, but with John’s own unique talent and vision—you don’t tell DaVinci how to paint. I think collectors and the art of knifemaking is well served when we encourage brilliant makers like John Young to do something new!”

New Buck Knives Compadre Series in Hot Red

Steve Shackleford

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July 31, 2014

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New Buck Knives Compadre Series in Hot Red

Buck's new outdoor series features a hot red powdercoat finish. — Buck’s new outdoor series features a hot red powdercoat finish.

Buck Knives’ new Compadre series in a hot red finish will debut Aug. 6-9 at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Just in time for those preparing for the upcoming hunting season, Buck Knives will debut its new Compadre Series of knives and edged tools in a hot red finish at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow Aug. 6-9.

Consisting of a camp knife, hatchet and chopping froe, the series is highlighted by a red powdercoat finish on the 5160 carbon steel blade of each piece. WIth MSRPs in the $80 to $160 range, each tool is affordable for the serious hunter. The blade selection also is attractive in that the set addresses most of the cutting, kindling needs and brush-clearing tasks associated with hunting and camping.

For instance, the model 104 Camp Knife’s 9.5-inch overall length makes it the choice for certain game care chores as well as all-around cutting duties. With its forward weighting, the 1 pound, 7.7 ounce Compadre Hatchet is tailored for chopping and also game prepping and other hunting and camping chores. And, at an overall length of 16.75 inches and weighing in at just under 2 pounds, the heavy-duty Compadre Chopping Froe can handle any number of brush clearing, heavy chopping, splitting and baton duties

The handles on each piece are made of Heritage walnut Dymondwood®, and both the 104 and Compadre Hatchet include black leather sheaths.

Held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow, like its name implies, is targeted to those who have a passion for the outdoors. Thousands of retailers will be on hand to see the latest in outdoor products, and the new Buck series will be just one of many.

If the Buck series is something you think you’d like, check with your local retailer and see if he’s attending the show to get more information on it. If he’s not attending, see if he’s aware of the new series for possible stocking in his store.

BLADE Show Will Welcome “The Hammer”

Steve Shackleford

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April 10, 2013

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Larry “The Hammer” Harley, one of the stars of National Geographic’s hot new TV series, Lords of War, will exhibit his knives and conduct a seminar at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Meet The Hammer in person at his BLADE Show seminar 3 p.m. Saturday in Room 104 of the Cobb Galleria and ask him any and all questions concerning knives, swords, his TV show and more. And bring the kids, too. Larry’s presentation is suited for the entire family. He also will be exhibiting his knives in the BLADE Show hall at table 9Q .

Harley has long been known to knife enthusiasts as a fine knifemaker, an ABS journeyman smith and among the more colorful characters in the knife industry. It is small wonder that the National Geographic Channel picked him to be one of the stars of its Lords of War television series. On the show Larry appraises any and all knives, swords and edged weapons, and also helps test fire the antique and other guns appraised—and he almost always outshoots his Lords of War co-stars in the process.

The Hammer’s credits are many. In addition to making knives for many years, he has involved himself in the knife industry in a number of ways. He conducted knife hog hunts for several years and was among the first to win at the early ABS cutting

competitions. He is also extremely active in teaching bladesmithing to youngsters, including a heavy involvement in same with the ABS. He has conducted hammer-ins for both youths and adults at his shop in Bristol, Tennessee. His son Richard has been making knives for a number of years now and is quite good at it. Though The Hammer may come across as a good ol’ country boy—which he is—he is also highly educated and well-versed in a wide range of topics. Meet him at the BLADE Show. You will enjoy it.

For the latest in BLADE Show happenings and all the hottest knives, knife news and more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine at www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl041013

New ABS Master Smiths and Journeyman Smiths in Atlanta

The BLADE Blogs

BLADE Staff

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July 1, 2011

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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!!

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November BLADE hits most newsstands Aug. 17

Knife Rights Launches Facebook Page

Halloween Knives: Shriek Chic

Southern Grind Marine Pens Poem Of Combat

The Water So Cold

‘Fighting Folders’ Offers Class Instruction At Home

Roosevelt Knife Auction Sept. 9-11

Collector Shares Young Sub-Chute Knife

New Buck Knives Compadre Series in Hot Red

Buck Knives’ new Compadre series in a hot red finish will debut Aug. 6-9 at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market Tradeshow in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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