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The BLADE Blog w/Steve Shackleford

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The Living Knife Highlights New BLADE®

Steve Shackleford
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The Living Knife Highlights New BLADE®
On many newsstands today, new BLADE will literally grab you!
Living Knife by Jean-Marc Laroche highlights new issue of BLADE, on many newsstands today!

The Living Knife by Jean-Marc Laroche will literally grab you from the cover of the new BLADE®, on most newsstands today.

Featuring a damascus blade forged by Sweden’s Roger Bergh, the Living Knife includes a mechanical “hand” for a handle, the fingers of which will grasp your hand in return when you grip it! Find out more about this ingenious creation by Laroche, a French knifemaker and sculptor well known for his otherworldly approach to knives.

Speaking of out of this world, ABS master smith Lin Rhea visited Steve Arnold, one of the stars of the Discovery Channel’s “Meteorite Men” TV show, and obtained some meteorite material from Arnold for use in the damascus blade of a special bowie. Get the complete story on the meteorite material and its origin, how Lin made the knife and much more in this issue.

Speaking of damascus, it is one of the most fascinating materials for knife blades, among both knife neophytes and aficionados alike. How did this storied material first come about? How many different versions have there been? Get the inside scoop on this ancient material in the new BLADE.

The American Bladesmith Society traces its creation to the man who reintroduced damascus to the modern custom knife movement—Bill Moran. One of if not the largest organizations of knifemakers in the world, the ABS presented its annual best knife and bladesmith honors at the 2014 BLADE Show. See what those top knives and who those premier smiths are this issue.

Hunting season is in full swing and hunting knives are in hot demand. But is just one enough? Find out why two hunting knives are better than one in the new BLADE.

There’s much more, including a test of two automatics, the latest ceramic kitchen knives, a Nordic knife for every budget, the sharpest Christmas gifts anywhere, how Dan Keffeler won the BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition and much more in the January BLADE, on newsstands NOW!

Fossil Ivory: Banned Along With Ivory?

Steve Shackleford
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Fossil Ivory: Banned Along With Ivory?
Fossil ivory under attack on the federal and state level.
Fossil ivory could be banned with elephant ivory if federal and state governments are not stopped. Don Hanson uses fossil ivory on his folder.

Fossil ivory may well be on the way to being banned with elephant ivory if federal and state governments are not checked.

At least that’s the opinion of one informed source who wishes to remain unnamed, blademag.com has learned.

Fossil ivory could be banned with elephant ivory.
Ivory from the long-extinct mammoth and mastodon may be banned along with elephant ivory simply because many inspectors won’t be able to differentiate between elephant and ancient ivory.

As reported in blademag.com on July 29, proposed changes to the federal ivory laws are finally out and are designed to stop all trade in elephant ivory in the USA, no matter how old the ivory is. The proposed laws do not mention fossil or ancient ivory such as that of the long-extinct mammoth and mastodon. However, the concern is that the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) officials who would be charged with inspecting elephant ivory to determine its legality would have no problem with fossil ivory IF they can differentiate it from elephant ivory.

“The way I see it,” the source stated, whether the inspectors can differentiate between elephant and fossil ivory “will depend on [the inspectors’] training, or lack thereof, and level of enthusiasm.”

Meanwhile, it is the state legislatures that the source is most worried about.

The sale of mammoth ivory tusks and teeth has already been banned in New York (http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S7040-2013) and New Jersey (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/A3500/3128_I1.HTM). It has been reported on blademag.com that at least two other states—Florida and Illinois—ban the sale of mammoth ivory and/or make no exemptions for the sale of the ancient material. Other states are considering mammoth ivory bans as well.

“In all the states that have had [ivory] bills introduced, mammoth, fossil walrus and all forms of ivory are included [because, the state legislators say] ‘it’s so hard to tell the difference,'” the source noted. “Now, we’ve defeated almost every applicable bill that’s been introduced so far, but these guys are not going to roll over and play dead.”

For more information on how to protect your right to own and sell mammoth and other fossil ivories, and how to defeat the proposed changes to federal ivory laws that are designed to stop all U.S. trade in elephant ivory, visit elephantprotection.org.

BLADE Show BLADE® On Newsstands!

Steve Shackleford
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BLADE Show BLADE® On Newsstands!
BLADE Show BLADE!
The BLADE Show issue of BLADE® Magazine is your complete guide to the 2015 BLADE Show.

The BLADE Show issue of BLADE® Magazine is your complete guide to the 2015 BLADE Show and is on newsstands NOW!

To be held June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show is the world’s largest and most important knife event. Factory and custom knifemakers, any and everyone who makes and sells knives and knife accessories, knife collectors and knife users from all over the world will converge for the 34th annual rendition of a weekend of sharp unlike any other anywhere else—and the latest BLADE® Magazine is your guide to it all.

The issue kicks off with “All Knives Point to Atlanta,” a preview of the top events and features surrounding the show, including the 2nd Annual BLADE University, a fresh approach to knife instruction taught by the world’s top knifemakers and knife authorities; the BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards, the world factory knife industry’s most coveted honors which are decided at the show; the new Aldo and Edda Lorenzi Award, which honors a top mentor to knifemakers; the 13th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition conducted by BladeSports International, which will include its first ever female contestant; the BLADE Show Demo Schedule, which will include not only the cutting competition title but also demos on Japanese sword cutting, how to forge, how to collect and much more; and everything else show related.

“They Only Come Out At Knife” features some of the top factory knives that will be introduced at the show, with more and more cutlery companies using the BLADE Show as its No. 1 debut site for their new knives. “ABS Auction Benefits Bladesmithing” lists the ABS top handforged knives that will be up for bid during the show. “What Are Your BLADE Show EDCs?” is a topical story outlining some of the knives BLADE Show attendees bring along to show and brag about to each other in a kind of “show within a show.” And BLADE field editor Ed Fowler reviews how to flourish at the world’s most important cutlery event in “Ed Fowler’s Unofficial BLADE Show Rules.”

In addition to its exclusive BLADE Show coverage, this issue of BLADE also showcases some top knives for service people on the eve of Memorial Day in “Military Knives For Memorial Day,” including the cover knife, the new Case V-42 repro. ABS master smith Wally Hayes walks you through a demo that he will also present at the BLADE Show in his story, “How To Make a Sushi Knife.” Check out some of the most unusual warranty cases ever in “Wacky World of Warranty Requests,” learn how to make tomahawks for a song in BLADE field editor Joe Szilaski’s “Making Tomahawks On A Budget” and much more, all in the latest BLADE, on newsstands NOW!

 

ABS Youth Hammer-In at SMKW June 28-30

Steve Shackleford
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ABS Youth Hammer-In at SMKW June 28-30

The American Bladesmith Society (ABS) Youth Hammer-In will be held Friday through Sunday, June 28-30, at Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville, Tennessee.

Youths from all over the country will descend on Sevierville to learn how to forge a knife under the expert direction of ABS master, journeyman and apprentice smiths. Safety is always the No. 1 concern when forging, and that concern is magnified when children are involved. The ABS has an exemplary record in this regard, and its bladesmiths/teachers are among the finest in the world. Leather shoes or work boots (no tennis shoes), cotton shirts and long cotton pants, work apron and leather work gloves will be the uniform of the day. Safety glasses will be provided. Feel free to bring your favorite hammer and tongs.

Classes will include safety talks, forging demos, hand finishing techniques, a chalk talk on handles and guards, individual instruction on the anvil and more. Lunch and dinner will be provided.

The hammer-in is open to participants ages 9 to 18 who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Registration fee is $65.

While there, the kids and their parents/guardians can tour Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW), one of if not the world’s largest retail knife stores. The latest in knives, sharpeners, knife accessories, displays, knife maintenance kits, tomahawks, swords and everything that has to do with cut are on display and for sale.

SMKW is also home to the National Knife Museum, which houses an incredible array of antique pocketknives, custom knives, swords and much more. Tour the facility’s historical displays to learn all about the history of man’s oldest tool in a modern, air-conditioned environment.

For more information on the ABS Youth Hammer-In, contact BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© (www.blademag.com) member Houston Price 865-397-0053 choustonprice.att.net or visit www.americanbladesmith.com.

For the latest in knives and knife news, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

ABS journeyman smith Wes Byrd instructs young students on the art of the forged blade at a past ABS youth hammer-in.
ABS journeyman smith Wes Byrd instructs youngsters at a past ABS Youth Hammer-In.

Best BLADE Show Ever?

Steve Shackleford
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Best BLADE Show Ever?
Oden's Buck display.
Larry Oden won Best of Show for his collection display, “Buck Factory Production Knives of the 1960s.”
Ed Fowler's demo.
Ed Fowler kept BLADE University students entertained with his class, “How To Get The Most Out Of Your Knife.”

It seems like almost every BLADE Show is better than the one before, and the 34th annual rendition June 5-7 in Atlanta was no exception. With record crowds pouring through the doors and down the aisles Friday, an outstanding batch of BLADE Magazine 2015 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards announced Saturday and everybody leaving Sunday already pointing toward next year’s show, it must go down as one of the best BLADE Shows if not the best BLADE Show ever.

Knife exhibitors from every continent provided an endless array of knives and knife accessories to an equally endless stream of knife enthusiasts starved for their annual BLADE Show fix, and the jampacked aisles of enthusiasts stood as testimony that all is sharp in the world of knives when it comes to the BLADE Show.

The show got off to an instructional start Thursday with BLADE University, a comprehensive slate of classes on all things knife, including how to forge, how to make handles and guards, how to grind a knife blade, how to sharpen any blade, knife collecting, Japanese sword collecting and maintenance, CAD/CAM knife design and much more. Friday enjoyed a walloping beginning, with enthusiasts in massive winding lines waiting to get into the show. Some aisles were so full that the only way to get through was to weave in and out of bodies in a sea of humanity.

Carter at BLADE Show.
Murray Carter shows how it’s done during his BLADE U. class on how to sharpen any blade.
Neil and customers.
Purveyor Neil Ostroff of True North Knives waits on customers during the BLADE Show.

The custom knife judging Friday resulted in a fantastic array of knives. For the complete list of maker awardees, visit custom knife winners.

Saturday was another busy day. Though the crowds weren’t as large as Friday, they were still quite ample, with a number of makers reporting brisk, non-stop sales. A few makers did not do so well but most seemed more than happy with the traffic. Demos included how to forge by Timothy Potier, how to throw knives by Bobby Branton, the Japanese sword demo by James Williams, and the 13th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition conducted by BladeSports International, won for the third year in a row by Dan Keffeler. The competition also featured the first-ever female contestant, Jessica Elias.

Saturday night’s awards reception named the industry’s top factory knives. For the complete list, visit BLADE Magazine 2015 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards.

Keeslar at BLADE U.
Joe Keeslar uses one of his knives as a pointer during his BLADE U. class on handles and guards.

More Knife Awards

In addition, Chris Reeve was inducted into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame© by knifemaker Bill Harsey, Joe Keeslar won the first Aldo and Edda Lorenzi Award for being the epitome of a mentor to his fellow knifemakers, and BLADE® editor Steve Shackleford received a plaque recognizing his 30 years with BLADE and the BLADE Show.

Anso at BLADE Show.
Knifemaker Jens Anso (behind table at right) enjoys packed aisles of customers the Friday of the BLADE Show.
Krein grind.
Tom Krein demonstrates how to grind a knife blade during his BLADE University class with Lucas Burnley and Chris Williams of Wilmont Grinders.

On Sunday the show came to a fitting conclusion with Collection Display Awards. Judges awards went to: young Owen Dady for his collection of Buck whittlers, Dale Eichberg for his “How The Buck Legend Began: The Very First Buck Knives,” and Jim Holbrook for his Buck Duke 500 collection. Best of Show went to Larry Oden for his “Buck Factory Production Knives of the 1960s.”

What will next year’s show bring? If it’s anything like this year’s, it will be another one for the ages.

BLADE® Reader Addresses Made-In-The-USA Debate

Steve Shackleford
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I am a long-time subscriber—I think from volume one, number one—but have never, until now, been motivated to write. However, the “Web Chatter” section in the January “Readers Respond” of BLADE® magazine prompted my letter. With all due respect to Mr. Doug Metzger, not everyone shares his defeatist attitude. His statement, “American consumers will never pay the prices for a knife made in the USA,” amazes me.

    I favor Case (made in Bradford, Pennsylvania) and Queen (Titusville, Pennsylvania) knives and have quite a few of each. If I am clearing brush around the property, I use a Woodman’s Pal (Boyertown, Pennsylvania). I might take a break from brush clearing and light up with a Zippo lighter (Bradford, Pennsylvania), then haul the brush away in a Jackson Trailer Cart (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) behind my made-in-the-USA Craftsman tractor. After a hard day’s work, I might hop—more likely crawl—into my F-150 (Ford didn’t take a stimulus handout) and go buy some Yuengling beer (Pottsville, Pennsylvania). Sometimes people even notice my made-in-the-USA N.R.A. cap. If it starts to rain, I know the beer will stay dry thanks to my Jeraco truck cap (Williamsport, Pennsylvania).

    Well, guess I’ll get in the F-150 and go to the hardware store. They have a neat Case I just have to buy.

Dale Wunsche, Chalfont, Pennsylvania

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. For subscription information click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscripti…?r+ssfb021412#BL1SU

EX-03: More Than Just Another Black Handle Tactical

Steve Shackleford
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EX-03: More Than Just Another Black Handle Tactical

Sometimes it’s easy to denigrate the many black-handle tactical folders on the market, but Hogue Knives’ approach to the grip material for its EX-03 sheds new light on black.

The handle material for the EX-03 is a polymer known as Polyphenylene Sulfide. The trade name is PPS.

A polymer known as PPS is the handle material for the Hogue4 EX-03. (Hogue photo)
Hogue uses a polymer known as PPS for its EX-03 folder. (Hogue photo)

“This material was selected for its high-tensile strength—29,000 psi—along with many other strength categories which are superior to a more commonly used reinforced nylon such as Zytel®,” noted Jim Bruhns, president of Hogue. “PPS is also much more thermally resistant than nylon, which is more of a big deal that you would expect.

“In most applications reinforced nylon, also known as glass-filled nylon, works very well through a wide range of temperature. We have seen occasion where polymer products fail as a result of extreme temperature in some obvious places, such as the trunk of a car where extreme highs and lows can occur. Again, PPS wins in this category with a much higher deflection temperature than nylon.”

The internal components that make the EX-03’s mechanism are 17-4 stainless steel. The real trick, Bruhns stressed, was getting such a robust assembly staged into an injection-mold tool in a way that the blade could be added and adjusted as part of a final assembly after molding.

“This was something that was met with quite a bit of skepticism, as the problem is quite challenging,” Bruhns continued. “This really goes to the root competency of what we do here at Hogue.”

Bruhns was able to develop the needed tooling for the task and the results speak for themselves.

“We now have a single-piece polymer frame folder with all of the best-known materials available in a rock-solid assembly,” he stated. “This knife is the best bang for your buck available today.”

For more on the Hogue EX-03, see the May BLADE®, on newsstands Feb. 25.

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