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Tailor-made for a three-piece suit, jeans or purse, the Boker 145th Anniversary Knife salutes the Solingen, Germany, manufacturer's landmark birthday. The 2-inch blade is high-polished stainless steel with a laser-engraved 145th anniversary logo. The handle is Grenadill wood with the classic Boker Tree Brand logo shield, and the bolsters and liners are nickel silver. Closed length: 2 inches. The lockback pocketknife carries an MSRP of $149.
Check out the photo gallery of eight new, hot knives for fall 2014. See any keepers?
Now that you’ve seen what’s new, turn back the clock with BLADE‘s digital collection of annual KNIVES books. Get every KNIVES book from 2004 to 2015 in one PDF download for just $79.99.
Click here to get the best knife books in one spot.
While there is still no definitive proof that James Black made a knife for Jim Bowie, one thing is certain: a descendant of Black’s received a “recreation of a James Black knife” during the Natchez Antique Bowie Knife Show last month.
ABS master smith James L. “Jim” Batson made the reproduction of the knife and presented it to Mrs. Celia Johnson, who claims to be a descendant of Black. She says she is descended from Gradison DeRorysten Black, the son of James Black. Celia and her husband, Jerry, traveled from Baytown, Texas, to accept the silver-mounted knife and sheath fashioned by Batson and based on what is believed to be a Black knife in the Historic Arkansas Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Johnsons stayed at the Dunleift Hall, owned by Mike Worley, during the show. Worley sponsored the show, which was held in Natchez, Mississippi.
The Johnsons brought a scrapbook full of old family pictures and a handwritten list of ancestors and originally showed it to Batson during the American Bladesmith Society’s 2012 All-Forged Knife Expo in San Antonio, Texas (see page 44, July 2012 BLADE® www.blademag.com). Batson is one of the world’s foremost authorities on Jim Bowie and James Black. He has conducted extensive research on Bowie and bowie knives, written any number of stories on the subject for BLADE, a book on Bowie’s famous Sandbar Fight, coordinated Bowie Symposiums at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com), and much more. He also coordinates the Batson Bladesmithing Symposium each spring in McCalla, Alabama, and is a past multi-term chairman of the ABS.
Batson pored over the Johnsons’ documents and pictures at the 2012 San Antonio show. Among the topics of their discussion was the famous 19th-century daguerreotype that reportedly shows James Black and Judge Jacob Buzzard, the physical resemblance of the man some believe is Black in the daguerreotype to that of some of Celia’s ancestors, and Black family history in general.
For the latest on knives, knife news and more, stay honed at www.blademag.com (www.blademag.com).
The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) is the place to learn all about knives—including what to say when you are stopped by law enforcement for carrying one.
Have you ever been stopped for carrying a knife? What did you say to the officer? Did he ask you why you carried a knife? What was your response? Did he ask to search you? What was your response?
If none of these things have happened to you, that’s a good thing. But what if they do? What would you do?
Chris Conte is a legislative counsel for the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action. He will conduct the seminar “You, Your EDC and The Police” during the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The seminar will be show Saturday at 4 p.m. in Room 109.
According to a spokesperson close to Mr. Conte, “Proper communication and understanding of the culture and expectations of both law enforcement and the law-abiding citizen with a knife is crucial to avoiding unnecessary conflict. During interactions with civilians, law enforcement frequently view knives as the most commonly possessed ‘weapon’ and individuals as ‘armed,’ posing a threat to their personal safety and others.
“Law-abiding citizens, believing their knife is an essential, valuable tool, need to know how to behave and respond to law enforcement to avoid legal problems and what to do to protect their liberties. Mr. Conte will present an overview of the legal and practical dynamics of how such encounters can go well or go poorly based on case law, and based on his work as a certified law enforcement instructor in encounters with civilians carrying handguns.”
All BLADE Show ticket holders are admitted free to the show’s seminars. Seating is limited, so be sure to get there early.
When you buy a knife from a knifemaker, it’s your money and you have the right to ask him or her any question—within reason—about the knife. However, there are certain questions we recommend you ask and others we recommend you don’t ask. For instance:
•Don’t ask how long it took to make the knife. Why? For one, depending on the maker’s expertise and equipment, some knifemaking operations may take some makers longer than others. Some makers may have equipment that performs a knifemaking operation faster, or some makers may simply be faster than others. Besides, how long it takes to make something doesn’t always translate into it being better or worse. It’s the quality of the end product that matters, not how long it took to make it. Besides, the question is usually one asked by people new to knives—and you don’t want to look like a knife newbie, right? Professional makers who have been around many years have heard the question umpteen times, and while some makers are patient and will answer it, it’s a good way to get off on the wrong foot with others. And it’s almost always good to get off on the right foot with anyone, including knifemakers.
•If a price for a knife seems high, don’t ask incredulously, “That knife cost HOW much?” Most knifemakers take their work seriously. They know how much talent and work goes into a knife or how much the knife brings on the market—and some knives bring four figures and higher. If the price seems too high, simply acknowledge it or nod your head, thank the maker for his time and move on.
•Things to ask the maker include how long he’s been making knives; how he tests his knives for cutting ability; why he outfits a knife with a certain feature or how he achieved it/made it that way, such as a flat grind vs. a hollow grind, blade temper line, etc.; whether he’s a full or part time maker; does he accept custom orders and how long his waiting list is; and what knifemaking training he’s had or knifemaking schools he’s attended. There are others but this is a start.
For the latest knives, knife news and more, keep your eyes on www.blademag.com (www.blademag.com).
Knife Laws of the U.S., by renowned knife rights attorney Evan Nappen, is an indispensable guide to the legal issues every knife enthusiast should understand. It’s not just a book of laws, though. Nappen expertly explains the history behind knife regulation, the state of mind to have when dealing with law enforcement and the legal traps that are all too easy to fall into.
Order Knife Laws of the U.S. direct from BLADE here to get the best price. A few bucks can save you a lifetime of hassle.
Who will be the knifemakers to watch in 2015? How sharp is one of the hottest new knife steels in the industry? What were the most important knife stories of 2014? Learn the answers to these questions and much more in the new BLADE®, on newsstands today!
Some of the USA’s top custom knife purveyors were polled for the knifemakers to watch in the new year, with one of those makers, Daniel Galloway, having his “Mongoose” collaboration knife with Lee Williams serving as this issue’s cover piece. See who the other makers are, along with some of their top work, in the new BLADE on page 12.
The high-carbon steel known as 80CrV2 is among the newer and hotter blade materials among custom knifemakers especially.
Follow ABS master smith and BLADE field editor Joe Szilaski as he makes a knife of the steel and tries it out in his knifemaking and knife-using instructional, “How Sharp Is 80CrV2?”
The year past has seen many highlights and lowlights, from the landmark announcement by the Knifemakers’ Guild and the American Bladesmith Society that, after almost 40 years of jousting, they will finally hold their first annual combined knife show in 2015, trends—or were they just fads?—in the industry, to the back-and-forth between the federal government and legal ivory owners over changes in ivory regulations. Get the scoop on these happenings and more in “’14’s Blades of Grey.”
While on the subject of ivory, award-winning knifemaker Jim Hammond has made knives for decades, a number with ivory and ancient ivory handles.
Not only did he conduct an in-depth seminar on ivory at the 2014 BLADE Show, he also volunteered to write a three-part story on the past, present and future of the misunderstood substance. Check out part one in the new BLADE on page 78.
There’s much more in this issue, including the latest in big flipper folders, profiles of Masecraft Supply and Pohl Force Knives, a test of two compact custom axes, four hot factory slip joints, HEPK master smith and BLADE field editor Ed Fowler’s essay on how knifemakers must follow their inner muse in “It Takes Courage To Be Yourself,” and much more, all in the March BLADE.
Check out the custom knifemakers to watch in 2015 in the new BLADE®, on newsstands now!
Today’s red-hot forged knives include some of the best in utility and other patterns, most all in blades of high-carbon steels such as 5160, 1095, 52100 and others. Though the steels are not classified as stainless, you can control the pitting and rust on the blades by simply wiping them down after each use. No biggy, really, if you think about it. Properly heat treated and ground, the blades are easy to sharpen and cut like bandits.
Here are eight knives hot from the forge, starting with a sexy fighter in 1084 carbon steel by American Bladesmith Society journeyman smith Landon Robbins of Crane, Missouri. The understated hamon or temper line of the clip-point blade, S-guard and “dropped” blackwood handle make this puppy stand out—and it also took home the award for Best Fighter at the recent Branson Hammer-In & Knife Show.
David C. Lemoine embellishes the blade of 5160 on his drop-point hunter with a short burst of filework on the spine. A single mosaic pin accents the contrasting brown and black lacewood bird’s beak handle. Overall length: 8.25 inches. A pouch sheath completes the package.
ABS master smith Don Fogg says a sign of a well-done hamon is one that stands out and is easy to describe. We christen the hamon on the W2 tool steel blade of ABS journeyman smith Tad Lynch‘s bowie “thundercloud” for its resemblance to an oncoming storm. The handle is Micarta®. Overall length: 14.5 inches.
Lyons and tigers and bears—oh my! In this instance the Lyons is ABS journeyman smith Bill Lyons of Palisade, Nebraska, maker of a slick hunter with a deep-bellied blade of 5160. The silver-wire-inlaid handle is separated from the blade by a minimalist guard. Overall length: 7.5 inches. The knife includes a leather belt sheath.
ABS journeyman smith Don McIntosh captures the “Musso Style Bowie” in a brass-backed blade of 5160 carbon steel and an ironwood handle. The brass guard and ferrule augment the blade’s brass back. For those unaware, “Musso” refers to bowie authority Joe Musso, who reportedly has every prop knife used in the early 1950s classic movie about BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Jim Bowie, The Iron Mistress, the film that inspired many a knifemaking legend to build knives.
ABS master smith Jerry Lairson enjoyed past success on the cutting competition circuit and parlays some of that experience into his kukri in 5160 carbon blade steel and an ironwood handle. The kukri designs lends itself to chopping, one of the main requirements of any good competition cutter. Overall length: 16 inches.
Raymon Hunt of Irving, Texas, chose O1 tool steel for the 5.25 inch blade of his boot dagger. A silver ferrule separates the knife’s double-ground blade from the ebony coffin handle. Overall length: 9.75 inches. Boot daggers, a very popular style in the early days of the modern custom knife movement, aren’t seen much anymore, so Mr. Hunt’s offering is a welcome window on a bygone style long overdue for a comeback.
Another carbon steel blade with an understated hamon—this time in 1095—highlights Joel Austin‘s bowie. The straight-back blade and Spartan features make this a knife we could see Jim Bowie wearing back in the day walking down some dark alley in Natchez-Under-The-Hill, Mississippi. The handle is ironwood. Overall length: 13 inches.
What to look for in a knife handle is a question whose answer—as with most things knife—depends on many factors.
For one thing, no one knife handle fits everyone. Hands come in all shapes and sizes, so a knife handle that will fit a large hand probably will not fit a small one—and vice versa. As a result, no matter how much a knife handle is touted as being “user friendly,” you can’t know if it will suit your needs unless you pick the knife up and use it. Of course, that’s hard to do when you can’t use the knife unless you buy it. Then, if you don’t like the knife, you’re stuck with it.
One way around that is to find a friend who has the knife in question and borrow it. Of course, you will need to take good care of the knife and give it back when you’re through.
Barring the above, look for a knife handle with gentle curves, contours and palm swells that fit the shape of your palm snugly. This will help prevent the knife from sliding around in your hand or cause you to have to constantly regrip the knife handle with your hand. Avoid finger grooves as they are too restrictive in terms of the way you can hold a knife handle. Besides, you may find over time that grooves you thought fit your fingers/hand really don’t.
Avoid a knife handle that has sharp corners at the butt or any place that tend to dig into your hand. Those can cause hot spots or even cut you. Avoid a knife handle that is too soft. It may feel good at first but it, too, can cause hot spots/friction on your palm and/or fingers over extended periods of use.
Single, integral guards are good as they keep your hand from sliding onto the blade. That’s one of the good things about flipper folders—not only do the flippers ease the job of opening the knife but they also serve as single guards.
For more on the best knife handle for you, see your local knife retailer and ask him to show you the many different options you have when it comes to a knife handle.
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