Steve Shackleford's Blog

BLADE Show: Knife Debuts Rule!

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July 6, 2015

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The BLADE Show witnessed a record number of patrons and knives—including knife debuts that were off the charts. Here are eight among the many factory knife introductions.

A 6061 aluminum handle in Class III anodization and self-lubricating roller bearings in the opening mechanism are among the cool features of the MRX-LW from Rat Worx. MSRP: $299.

The ASH 2—”ASH” stands for “Anniversary Steel Heart”—from Busse Combat Knife Co. boasts a bountiful 9-inch blade of the company’s quarter-inch-thick INFI carbon steel.

The Spectrum from Emerson Knives, Inc., has a 3.8-inch blade of 154CM stainless and a NASA-certified black G-10 composite handle. MSRP: $263.95.

Pohl Force adds to its “Mike” line with the Mike Four Tanto in a hard-coat anodized aluminum handle with a glass-breaker screwed into the butt, and a stylish lanyard sporting a skull bead.

A new Integral Lock folder from Chris Reeve Knives, the Inkosi is a cool gent’s folder with a 2.75-inch blade of CPM S35VN stainless steel. Closed length: 3.875 inches. MSRP: $375.

Brous Blades gives the bird’s-beak handle butt a fresh look with the Enforcer flipper folder in the karambit style. MSRP: $319-$359.

Buck’s Inertia assisted opener sports a 3 1/8-inch blade of stonewashed 420HC stainless and an anodized aluminum handle. MSRP: $90.

The first-ever collaboration between Spyderco and Canadian custom knifemaker Brian Tighe, the Tighe Stick is highlighted by a titanium handle 3D machined with Tighe’s trademark swirling-groove look and texturing.

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Act NOW on Ivory Comment Extension

Steve Shackleford

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August 14, 2015

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To help save all ivory from proposed punitive federal regulations, request an extension for the comment period on the regulations from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NOW!

Among other unreasonable stipulations, the regulations would require you to prove that the ivory on your knife or other item was imported prior to Jan. 18, 1990—a near impossibility for most people to prove about such items. The regulations also claim that the USA continues to play a role as a destination and transit country for illegally traded elephant ivory. However, as Sandra Brady of the Elephant Protection Association noted, the regulations offer no proof of this claim and no figures as to what percentage of illegal ivory is “laundered” here.

The proposed regulations were released on July 29, and concerned citizens were given only 60 days to contact the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) with any objections the citizens might have to the regulations. Since there are 27 pages of proposed regulations, regulations the government had over 13 months to research and write, it seems only fair that concerned citizens get more than 60 days to respond. In fact, the law provides for up to a 90-day comment period, which is especially appropriate for regulations that are so voluminous and affect so many Americans.

The Elephant Protection Association has composed a form letter for you to use to request the extension. The letter is located here. Keep your request short and simple. Amend the letter to fit your association/group but don’t try to make a substantive case of why the extension should be granted so much as simply let FWS know the extension must be granted. The more people, associations and groups that request the extension, the better. In this instance, it’s more a matter of the quantity of requests than the quality of them.

The Elephant Protection Association strongly advises that you send your letter via priority or overnight mail with a means of confirming receipt.

For more information visit elephantprotection.org.

What Makes a Knife Sexy in New BLADE

Steve Shackleford

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February 23, 2016

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Learn what makes a knife sexy, why select makers of custom folders are crossing over to making different styles, whether James Bowie was an orator, rowdy or some of each—and more—in the latest BLADE®, on newsstands now!

You hear it all the time: “Man, what a sexy knife!” or “That knife has sex appeal!” So what makes a knife “sexy”? Part of it is what our special story identifies as the “feminine factor”—which includes knives that look and feel good and perform well. But there’s more to it than just that. Get the details in the story on page 74.

While tactical folders have been king in the knife industry for many years, some top custom makers have resisted making them—until now. Some award-winning makers of custom slip joints are trying their hand at tacticals or even hybrid tacticals, as are some makers of high-end custom folders. Les Robertson takes you on a tour of those who are doing it and why, and what it means for the present and future of custom knives in “4 Unintended Consequences of Tactical Folders.”

BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member James Bowie has been portrayed in any number of ways in recent years, including as a brawler, a drunkard and other unflattering descriptions. However, what did those who served with him before and during the Alamo siege think of him? In part five of “James Bowie Legend: Fact or Fable?” Jeffrey Dane shares what some of those who served with Bowie wrote about the famed frontiersman. See what they had to say in the story on page 30.

Also: Learn how you can enroll in J. Neilson’s special class at BLADE University on how to qualify for the hit TV show, Forged In Fire (BLADE University will be held in conjunction with the 35th Annual BLADE Show); see how four new Asian-style blades perform, as well as two of the latest skinning knives; immerse yourself in the latest of quick blades in “Golden Age of Autos?”; discover how bone remains at or near the top of handle materials in terms of popularity in “Bone in the USA!”; join in BLADE‘s salute to the late Warren Osborne in “‘Good Enough’ Wasn’t Good Enough For Him”; and much more in the latest BLADE.

Knife Of The Day XXIII: Abalone Case Peanut for Mother’s Day

Steve Shackleford

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May 2, 2012

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NOBODY APPRECIATES A SHARP UTILITY TOOL LIKE MOM—and all the better if it’s pretty. The Case abalone peanut is just the ticket for Mom on Mother’s Day.

The swirling abalone scales are very attractive and the clip blade and scissors—all in a 2 7/8 inches-closed package that weighs in at a scant 1.2 ounces—will give Mom all the cutting and snipping power she needs on her special day.

For more information click on www.wrcase.com.

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 here for a subscribe to BLADE Magazine.

Branton Will Throw Knives in BLADE Show Seminar

Steve Shackleford

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March 27, 2013

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Branton Will Throw Knives in BLADE Show Seminar

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.

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.

A member of the American Bladesmith Society, Branton offers a complete line of utility and mid-tech knives. Many know him as one of the country’s leading knife-throwing knifemakers. He follows in the footsteps of Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Dan Dennehy, who handled the BLADE Show’s knife-throwing seminars before Branton took over. It was just a few years ago when Mr. Dennehy was inducted into the Cutlery Hall Of Fame that he visited Branton during one of the latter’s knife-throwing seminars. Dennehy entertained questions from the audience and otherwise added to what was a most memorable get together of knife-throwing legends.

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.

For more information click on http://www.bladeshow.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=55860&

KA-BAR Announces Its First Ek Knife

Steve Shackleford

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July 1, 2015

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The World War II vintage Ek Model 4 had a wider blade and a wooden handle.

KA-BAR has announced its long-awaited reintroduction of the Ek Commando Knife line with its update of the Ek Model 4.

The Model 4 sports a 6.625-inch double-edged blade of 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel, an “S” double guard, a textured glass-filled nylon handle and traditional X-head fasteners. It features a Celcon® sheath with a retaining strap, a self-locking function and multiple tie-down points. MSRP: $125.40.

With its modern materials, double guard and much-more-streamlined shape, the new Model 4 is a far cry from the World War II-vintage version, which had a wider blade and a wooden handle with an integral single guard and a bulbous pommel. The new Model 4’s handle shape with X-head fasteners is in keeping with later versions of Ek knives.

EK BACKGROUND

The new KA-BAR Ed Model 4 is streamlined and made of modern materials.

John Ek created Ek Knives in 1941. He contributed to the World War II effort by overseeing the production of knives for most all American service branches from his Hamden, Connecticut, shop. He employed disabled Americans to help build six knife models during the war.

He called the knives “Ek Commando Knives” for their intended purpose of close-quarter combat. He began registering each knife’s serial number to its original owner in 1943. The Ek Commando Knife became a hallmark of the U.S. Marine Raiders and other American special operation units during the war. At the peak of wartime production, he employed three shifts working seven days a week making knives, and is reported to have sold over 100,000 models by war’s end.

U.S. troops have carried Ek Commando Knives in every major American conflict since World War II.

Ek moved his shop to Miami, Florida, in 1949, and continued to make knives for private sale to military men, with thousands of his knives seeing service in Korea and Vietnam. He died in October 1972 and his son, Gary, took over the business. Robert A. Buerlein obtained the rights to Ek Knives in 1981 and resumed production in 1982. Blackjack Knives bought Ek in 1993 and sold it to Century International Arms in 1997. KA-BAR acquired the Ek knife brand last year.

For more on the new Model 4, visit Ekknives.com.

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New Knife Category From ZT/Hinderer?

Steve Shackleford

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July 2, 2014

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Zero Tolerance’s Model 0392 “factory custom” collaboration with Rick Hinderer is not only a new knife idea, it might be an entirely new knife category.

Here’s how it works: Hinderer makes and supplies the knife parts such as the pocket clips, screws, spacers, filler tabs, standoffs and other furniture and Zero Tolerance employs them in the manufacture and assembly of the resulting knife—thus the name, ‘factory custom.’ The initial parts will be titanium anodized cool blue.

According to a ZT news release, “While we’ve often worked with custom knifemakers … we’ve never had this kind of partnership before. Now, working together, we can create knives with true custom details, while producing quantities that would be impossible for a custom knifemaker.”

The resulting factory custom knives will also offer “after-market customization.” Customers will be able to buy the furniture from Hinderer with different finishes, anodized in different colors, etc. The furniture may even come in different materials, including copper, to go with the standard titanium. The different finishes, anodizations, etc., apparently will come later.

An award-winning custom knifemaker out of Shreve, Ohio, Hinderer is best known for his XM-18 folder, and his knife lotteries are always among the best attended. He also has been expanding his knife operation to offer semi-production-type knives. He had a booth at the recent BLADE Show, where he celebrated exhibiting at his 25th consecutive rendition of the event.

A flipper folder, the 0392 will feature M390 blade steel, a titanium handle and the KVT ball-bearing opening system.

For the time being, the factory custom project is in the formative stages. Exactly how many of the knives will be made or when they will be available remains unknown. Stay tuned to Zero Tolerance and blademag.com for more details.

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BLADE Show: Knife Debuts Rule!

Act NOW on Ivory Comment Extension

What Makes a Knife Sexy in New BLADE

Knife Of The Day XXIII: Abalone Case Peanut for Mother’s Day

Branton Will Throw Knives in BLADE Show Seminar

KA-BAR Announces Its First Ek Knife

New Knife Category From ZT/Hinderer?

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