The BLADE Blogs

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

BLADE Show Preview Issue of BLADEĀ® Out NOW!

Know what will be happening at the BLADE Show and Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com) beforehand with the latest issue of BLADEĀ® Magazine (www.blademag.com), on newsstands NOW!

Read all about the BLADE Show in the latest issue of BLADEĀ®, on newsstands NOW!
The BLADE Show Preview issue of BLADEĀ® Magazine is on newsstands NOW!

Get current on the knives, the exhibitors, the knifemakers, the events, the seminars—everything you need to know about the upcoming BLADE Show set for next week, May 31-June 2, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta—in the current issue.

Sporting Ron Welling’s repro of a William Scagel bowie on the cover, the new BLADE also includes:

•Your first look at some of the upcoming BLADE Show factory knife/accessory debuts, details on the BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-YearĀ® Awards, the show’s custom knife judging, the upcoming induction into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of FameĀ® and more;

•The seven hottest BLADE Show/ABS auction knives;

•How to make a Japanese sword guard, by ABS master smith Wally Hayes;

•How an Ernest Emerson custom CQC-7 that had been lost for many years was discovered in the same shop where it was initially mislaid;

•The hottest knives for Dad for Father’s Day;

•15 steps to heat treating the high-endurance performance blade;

•A test of the Bark River Knives Special Hunter;

•How to deal with the 5 most dangerous knifemaking tools;

•How small knives can be tactical, too;

•And more.

The largest, most important knife show in the world, the BLADE Show and Living Ready Expo annually draws the biggest and best names in cutlery. It also attracts some of the industry’s biggest celebrities, including R. Lee “The Gunny” Ermey of TV and big screen fame, and Larry “The Hammer” Harley, one of the stars of National Geographic TV’s “Lords of War.” Ermey will appear at the booth of SOG Specialty Knives & Tools to sign autographs the Saturday of the show, and Harley will exhibit his knives at his table and also conduct a special seminar, the latter also the Saturday of the show.

Get all the latest on these and other events in the latest issue of BLADE.

2010 Knife Makers Guild Show

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Just a friendly reminder that the 41st Knife Makers Guild Show is coming up soon (just 3 weeks away) September 17-19, at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, KY. This has always been one of the premier knife shows to attend. I will be there and I am looking forward to seeing all of you there! Be safe in your travels!

Novelist Carries BLADE Show Knife

A known author of thriller novels, Brad Thor was recently interviewed by everydaycarry.com on what knife and gear he carries on a daily basis.Ā Thor is an American novelist, whose works include several New York Times Best Sellers. He’s just finished his newest book, Code of Conduct, and took some time to share his everyday carry inspired by his many military- and spy-themed thrillers.S3312

Thor enthusiastically related that he carries a CRKT Otanashi noh Ken folder, designed by James Williams, which happened to be a 2015 BLADE Show limited-edition knife (sold out). As Thor noted about the Otanashi noh Ken during the interview, “Simply put, one of the most badass folding knives on the planet. Tons of SpecOps members carry James Williams’ blades. Based on centuries-old Samurai designs, nothing on the market beats it. I carry it because men whose lives depend on their tools, also carry it.”

Thor saidĀ thatĀ he also carries a Kobold Phantom Chronograph, a Gerber Shard keychain tool, a Fisher Spacer Pen and a Field Notes Pitch Black Edition (both for taking notes–he is an author!), a Streamlight PT1L, Leatherman-style PS multi-tool, an Apple iPhone 6 and a Magpul Field Case iPhone 6 cover.

1 Week To The BLADE Show: Knives Of The YearĀ®

With it only seven days until the world’s most important knife event—the 31st Annual BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) June 8-10 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta—that means the Blade Magazine 2012 Knives Of The YearĀ® are on the cusp of being named.

Ā Ā Ā  The Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-YearĀ® Awards are barometers of the most successful companies in the knife industry and, as such, are production cutlery’s benchmark honors.

Ā Ā Ā  Qualifying exhibitors display their entries at their respective booths and in the center display area in the BLADE Show hall for patrons to examine and enjoy.

Ā Ā Ā  The winners will be announced at the BLADE Magazine Awards Banquet (tickets required) the Saturday night of the show, and a list of the winners will be posted at the show hall entrance the following morning.

Ā Ā Ā  The categories for the Blade Magazine 2012 Knife-Of-The-Year Awards (with the 2011 winners in parentheses) are: OverallĀ® (Zero Tolerance Model 0777); American-MadeĀ® (Spyderco Native Fluted Titanium); ImportedĀ® (Spyderco Valllotton Sub-Hilt Folder); Most Innovative American DesignĀ® (Microtech SF [pictured above]); Most Innovative Imported DesignĀ® (Fox Knives USA Ax-Dobolock); Best Buy Of The YearĀ® (Columbia River Knife & Tool Shenanigan PPS); Investor/CollectorĀ® (William Henry Studio B12 Rising Sun); CollaborationĀ® (Zero Tolerance/Rick Hinderer Model 0560); Manufacturing QualityĀ® (Chris Reeve Knives); AccessoryĀ® (Blade-Tech’s MOLLE-Lok); KitchenĀ® (Shun Fuji chef’s knife from Kershaw); Publisher’sĀ® (New Hampshire Rep. Jenn Coffey); and Industry AchievementĀ® (former National Knife Museum Curator Pete Cohan).

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.

Editor’s Favorites from Knives 2013 Book

The success, popularity and response from the Greatest Bob Loveless Knife Designs posts has prompted me to start a “Favorites from the Knives 2013” book thread.Ā 

So, here’s the first of the “Editor’s Favorites from Knives 2013 Book.” It is a Mediterranean dirk as only Rick Eaton could fashion it, blending old styles with modern flair. It parades flare-cut engraving, Arabesque accents and banknote engraving, as well as an ancient-ivory handle and a damascus blade. The guard is sculpted and engraved, and the entire dirk intrigues.

So here’s to Rick, his Mediterranean dirk and a new thread showcasing fine knives. To order your copy of the book, go to:Ā http://www.shopblade.com/knives-2013-33rd-ed?lid=JKblfl090712.

Memorial Day: Lest We Forget

Justin Gingrich flanked by two retired Army Rangers, from left: Roy Motsumoto, an original member of Merrill’s Marauders of World War II fame and a Ranger Hall of Famer, Gingrich and Korean War veteran Bill Spies. At right is Paul Vorhees, owner of Ranger Joe’s. (photo courtesy of Justin Gingrich)

    On this Memorial Day, be sure to think about those who have fought, were wounded and who died in the service of their/your country. Think of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives but also of those who survived and subdued those who would take our freedoms. Included among the latter, of course, are those wounded warriors who bear the physical and mental scars that will stay with them throughout their lives. We must never forget.

    As I watched Merrill’s Marauders, the movie about the U.S. Army outfit that fought so valiantly during World War II, I remembered a picture (above) we ran in the December BLADEĀ® of Justin Gingrich and two other of our valiant military heroes, including ann original member of Merrill’s Marauders, Roy Motsumoto. Here’s to Mr. Motsumoto, Korean War veteran Bill Spies (who was also pictured) and Mr. Gingrich, and all the others who make it possible for us to enjoy living in the best country in the history of the world, USA.

    It doesn’t get any better, does it?

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.

SOG Tools Featured On Discovery Channel

SOGĀ® Tools was featured on Discovery Channel’s Unchained Reaction, a new show from the hosts of MythBusters.


The hosts chose SOG to be part of the Jack of All Trades episode, which originally aired April 15, 2012 at 10 p.m. EST.

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Unchained Reaction is a new series executive produced and judged by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman of MythBusters. The show pits two teams of varying backgrounds against each other to build an elaborate chain reaction contraption. In this Sunday’s episode, a team of designers and a team of construction workers square off to build the most impressive multi-step machines using the theme of ā€œtools.ā€ SOG provided the teams with a wide array of tools to use during the episode, including the Hand Axe, Double Headed Axe, FastHawk, Tomahawk, Pocket PowerPlier, PowerLock and the PowerAssist.

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SOG was founded in 1986 by Spencer Frazer, a former R&D tool and die maker for the Top Secret Black Projects Division of the aerospace defense industry. SOG’s name was inspired by elite joint services military unit – the Studies and Observation Group – formed in advance of the Vietnam War to conduct covert operations and authorized to develop and purchase their own weapons.

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Click here to browse BLADE-approved knives and tools at ShopBlade.com.

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