Learn how to make a cut ‘n shoot “pirate pistol,” what effect the federal ivory ban has on your knives, all about the BLADE Show’s groundbreaking new BLADE University and much more in the latest issue of BLADE®, on many newsstands today.
New, pirate-pistol-packin’ BLADE® hits many newsstands TODAY!
Steve Culver won “Best Of The Rest” in the 2013 BLADE Show custom knife judging competition with his “Laffite’s Revenge” cut ‘n shoot, and he takes you through the building of his award-winning knife pistol in this month’s issue.
On the ivory knife front, the federal government is targeting any and all items made of elephant ivory, including the very same knives that have been legal to sell for decades! Find out what the new regulations mean for you and your knives on page 10.
BLADE University is a brand new approach to knife show seminars. In fact, instead of seminars, BLADE University is a curriculum of classes, each concentrating on specific subjects and including some of the world’s best-known knife professionals as teachers, including knifemakers Jerry Fisk, Chris Reeve, Jerry Busse, Tony Bose and Bill Harsey, to name a few.
A chief concern among many in the knife industry is there are far too few young people making knives. In “Kids Just Want To Make Knives,” three young aspiring makers show off the knives they’ve made and tell how they make them, and also explain the support system of family and friends that has sustained their knifemaking endeavor.
Other stories in the new BLADE include: the heartwarming tale of how many in the knife community came together to help damascus maker Zoe Crist and family after he suffered a debilitating shop accident; the end of an era is saluted with a story on the closing of Aldo and Edda Lorenzi’s famous retail knife store in Milan, Italy; and much more, all in the new BLADE.
Many American families have their share of veterans. In fact, you could say America is one big family of veterans. With that in mind, today is Veterans Day, the day to thank all the veterans you know—those in your family and those everywhere—for keeping America safe.
My Grandfather Frank was in the Army and drove an ambulance in Europe during World War I. My dad was in the Navy during World War II and served as a radar man on the USS Cimarron, an oiler that serviced many of its sister ships in the Pacific Theater. He never talked much about the war but I know he enjoyed his time and the friends he made while in the service. He and Mom were married in 1942 and she supported him throughout the conflict. She gets a lot of credit, too.
Dad’s brother, my Uncle Jack, also served in the Navy during the war, as did my great Uncle Grady. He was in the Army Air Corps. My Uncle Joe served on the USS Hancock, an aircraft carrier, in the 1950s. I served in the Navy during the Vietnam War era and was stationed at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and Little Creek, Virginia. My service helped me grow from a peach-fuzz-faced kid into a young man, and also provided me with the money from the G.I. Bill to get my college degree.
I am but one of many to come from such families. How about you? Did you serve, or did anyone in your family? Tell us about your experiences or those of your family members who served—where they served, the years, etc.
Meanwhile, of course, let’s not forget all those brave souls who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Without them, none of us would be living in this great nation and enjoying the freedoms we do. Maybe there are better countries to live in, but not for me. I’ll take this one.
For the latest knives, knife trends, tips, news and much more, stay sharp at www.blademag.com.
Celebrate your family’s veterans—and all veterans—on Veterans Day. The author’s dad served on the USS Cimarron during World War II. The author’s mom is at left.
Long-time knifemaker and knife-thrower Bobby Branton will demonstrate how to throw knives at the 2013 BLADE Show May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.
As he has done at the BLADE Show for many years, Branton will bring his knife-throwing target and assortment of his custom Pro-Flyte throwing knives. He also has thrown tomahawks on occasion in his seminars. Word is he might be throwing some new factory hawks at this year’s BLADE Show, too.
Bobby Branton (left) discusses knife throwing with patrons during his seminar at the 2012 BLADE Show.
Branton’s seminars are always casual and impromptu. He chats informally with his audience and encourages questions, comments and other open dialogue. It’s a seminar suitable for the entire family.
In fact, you never can tell who might show up for one of Bobby’s seminars. Past special guests have included Ernest Emerson, among others.
Branton has been active administrating the American Knife Throwers Alliance over the years, and has hosted many knife-throwing events near his shop in Awendaw, South Carolina.
Branton will throw his knives during his seminar the Saturday of the BLADE Show at 10 a.m. in “The Courtyard”—otherwise known as the parking lot of the host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly. Admission is free to all BLADE Show ticket holders.
The late great purveyor J.W. Denton said the best-looking knives were shaped like sports cars, and the Microtech Socom Delta—the Blade Magazine 2012 American-Made Knife Of The Year®—is one J.W. would have loved to take around the block for a cut or two.
MICROTECH SOCOM DELTA
•Pattern: Single-action folder
•Blade steel: Powdered CPM S35VN stainless
•Blade length: 3.75”
•Handle material: G10/carbon fiber
•Closed length: 5.25”
•Weight: 4.2 ozs.
•Special stuff: Carbon-fiber handle has a titanium lockbar w/removable insert to hold the blade securely in place; ceramic bearing system provides smooth, fast action
•MSRP: $330
•Available: Now
The Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards are voted on each year at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) by the show’s exhibiting booth holders, plus a panel of five special judges, the latter whose votes count double. The 2013 BLADE Show will be held May 31-June 2, once again at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
For the latest knives, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss091712
Designed by Harold Moeller, the SpyderThrowers from Spyderco feature 8Cr13MoV stainless steel and carry in a three-tiered sheath.
Whether it’s blood relatives or your inner circle of friends, all of them need family gift knives. Here are 10 examples of some really sharp gifts you can give to those closest to you this holiday season.
Kitchen knives make good family gift knives for just about any adult who likes to work with food. The three-piece Kershaw-Emerson set includes a chef’s knife, paring knife and bread knife—three of the most used cutting tools in the eating area. Check this great gift out for an MRSP of only $44.99.
Tactical guru Ernest Emerson designed a new set of kitchen knives—outstanding family gift knives—for Kershaw.
Grandpa loves traditional pocketknives and the Case dark redbone trapper commemorative tin in the motif of
Grandpa will love the Case Duke knife that includes John Wayne’s signature on the blade and the Red River D shield.
the premier pilgrim of them all, John Wayne, will be sure to fit gramps’ pistol. The shield is the “Red River D,” the ranch brand used by Duke’s character of Tom Dunson in the western movie classic Red River.
With bans against switchblades being overturned nationwide, it might just be that your state has overturned its ban as well. Check with the American Knife & Tool Institute or Knife Rights to find out. If it has, just about anyone of a proper age in your family will love the out-the-front auto from Hogue.
Hogue’s out-the-front auto sports a tanto blade of CPM 154 stainless steel in a black PVD finish. MSRP: $369.95.
For the bush crafter in your family, check out the Bush Craft Ignite G-10 from Browning. It features a hollow-ground blade of 7Cr17MoV stainless steel and a carbide fire starter with a nylon lanyard that fits in a sheath pocket.
The Bush Craft Ignite G-10 from Browning includes a ribbed black G-10 handle, a partially serrated edge and a fire starter that fits in a sheath pocket. MSRP: $59.99.
Every family has one–the type who, in an emergency situation where extreme measures must be taken to save someone from a burning building or other disaster, is more than ready to do what needs doing. Such situations can call for breaching tools, and Camillus has such a model with its Crash Breaching Tool. The CBT features titanium stainless steel, full-tang construction, a pry bar and hammer head.
The Camillus Crash Breaching Tool is for the door knocker downer in your family. MSRP: $119.99.
Your family member who likes to sharpen his/her family gift knives or wants to be better at it will love Smith’s Sharpener and Knife Tool. It sharpens both plain and serrated edges and comes in a cool compact carry unit.
Who’s the Zombie fan or fans in your family? KA-BAR‘s Zombie Knives line has just the folder for him, her or them with the Kharon Tanto Folder in the company’s familiar Zombie green handle.
ESEE‘s Izula Gear Wallet Kit has a mini razor blade, kevlar cordage, signal mirror, non-metallic handcuff key, E&E plastic instruction cards, clear plastic survival nav card, fire starter, arrowhead, fish hooks, button compass and more.Knife, wrench, pliers, flashlight, screwdriver, comb, pen and more, the Stowaway Tool from Klecker enables you to load as many or as few of the items on one platform as you like.
No matter your family member’s need, the Klecker Stowaway Tool most likely has a tool for it. Knife, flashlight, screwdriver, pliers, scissors, tweezers, bottle opener, pen, fire starter, comb, wrench, seat belt cutter and straight razor, you have your choice of any of them–and you can install as many or few of them on the Stowaway Tool as you like.
Every family has someone who likes to throw stuff, so why not with family gift knives? Spyderco has a set designed especially for the purpose with its SpyderThrowers. They are designed by Canadian knifemaker/knife-throwing authority Harald Moeller.
Everyone needs a survival kit, and one in wallet form is especially handy. ESEE‘s Izula Gear Wallet Kit has everything a dyed-in-the-wool survivalist needs in a handy carry package 4.25×2.75 inches in size and weighing in at only 4 ounces.
The Kharon Tanto Folder in KA-BAR‘s Zombie Knives line has a 3.375-inch blade of AUS 8A stainless and a Zombie green synthetic handle. MSRP: $21.05.Sharpen those pesky serrated edges and more with Smith’s Sharpener and Knife Tool.
One of knifemaker John Lewis Jensen’s classic art knives is in the Mesa Art Museum’s 34th Annual Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, Jensen announced in an e-mail release.
Located in Mesa, Arizona, the museum will feature the knife as one of 47 selected pieces in a highly competitive juried exhibition through March 31.
For more information visit www.mesaartscenter.com or http://www.jensenknives.com.
As Mel Brooks says in The History Of The World, Part I, “It’s good to be the king.” And Jody Muller’s “King Arthur” dress locking folder, the 25th installment in our “Knife Of The Day” series, resembles Brooks’s remark.
Boasting damascus forged by Jody, a handle of carved ancient walrus ivory, and 24k-gold and copper inlays, the knife gives Camelot a whole new dose of cool.
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. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us for more information.
