Steve Shackleford's Blog

World’s Hottest Knives in April BLADE®

Steve Shackleford

-

January 31, 2013

The steel that changed knives forever, the hottest custom makers’ hottest knives, how to build an emergency shelter, Chad Nichols’ MokuTi knife material, how to recognize future knife collectibles, these and much more highlight the new April BLADE®, on most newsstands NOW.

Bill Moran’s introduction of damascus steel at the 1973 Knifemakers’ Guild Show 40 yaers ago this year is the focus of “Steel That Changed Knives Forever.” Find out from those who were there what that was like and from others how the introduction transformed the industry and continues to do so today.

If you were stranded in the woods and needed to build an emergency shelter in a short amount of time, could you do it? James Ayres shows you how in “Shelter From The Storm.”

The custom knives most in demand change at any given moment. Get the latest installment of how they’re changing and what they are in “On The Boil!” The cover knife made by Jim Burke and designed by Tashi Bharucha is one of them.

If somebody asked you what factory knives you should collect now for the future, what would be your answer? See if it gibes with those who know in “Knife Pros Reveal What To Collect.”

There’s much more—a profile of knifemaker Will Zermeno, Ray Kirk’s giveaway knife for the upcoming Arkansas Custom Knife Show, the latest in mid-tech knives, how to clean hunting knives, part two of Ed Fowler’s step-by-step how-to on sheep horn knife handles, a test of Joel Worley’s “Woodsman” brut de forge knife and much more, all in the April BLADE.

For subscription information to BLADE click on www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?lid=ssfbbl013113

Jensen Art Knife in Contemporary Crafts Exhibition

Steve Shackleford

-

January 25, 2013

0

Jensen Art Knife in Contemporary Crafts Exhibition

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.

Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame Series: CRKT/A.G. Sting

Steve Shackleford

-

January 4, 2013

0

Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame Series: CRKT/A.G. Sting

When you talk Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© members, few carry the cache of A.G. Russell, and his Sting design reproduced by CRKT is a great way to experience his knife genius. The non-reflective, powder-coated blade of 1050 carbon steel is 3.197 inches long, and the integral handle is contoured to fit your hand.

Click here to get stung for yourself at ShopBlade.com.

A Few Great Everyday Carry Knives

Steve Shackleford

-

December 14, 2012

0

No. 1 for knife enthusiast Nick Morgan is the Chris Reeve Sebenza. “The tolerances are so much better on Chris Reeve knives than any other production knives, and you’ll find just about perfect fit and finish on every model. I love the blade and handle shapes, and the plain, simple looks are beautiful,” he said.

The Spyderco Sage2 is second on Morgan’s list. “I love the deep-carry wire clip—for my money the best clip in the industry,” he stated. “The profile of the titanium Sage2 is thinner than the carbon fiber Sage1, so using and carrying it is noticeably nicer.”

Morgan said the Benchmade 940 is a blast to play with due to the AXIS lock. “It’s super easy to open and close, and it’s fast!” he emphasized. “The reverse tanto blade shape is my favorite. For cutting, whittling and stabbing, it’s strong, sharp and great looking. It’s the best knife to sit in front of the TV and flip open/closed hundreds of times.”

Next on Morgan’s list is the DPx HEST 2.0, “a knife that can survive heavy-duty use day after day. I love the functional blade shape and, at 3.25 inches, it’s big enough for 99 percent of my cutting tasks while not being too big that it scares people when I use it in public. It locks up solidly like the Sebenza and I love the extra features—bottle opener, wire stripper and glass breaker/skull crusher, the latter which is really nicely executed. My favorite feature is the bayonet clip—it buries so deep in the pocket that nobody suspects I’ve got a knife on me.”

Last on Morgan’s list is what he terms the “best-bang-for-the-buck” knife: the Large Buck Vantage Pro. “It has a great blade and handle shape, I love the flipper, it has top quality blade steel [CPM S30V] and handle material, an excellent deep-carry bayonet clip, it’s USA made and has a nice, slim profile. Best of all,” he added, “it’s less than half the cost of every other knife on my list.”

For more EDC knives, check out this selection at ShopBlade.com.

CKCA Funds For Cancer Research Tops $34,000

Steve Shackleford

-

December 10, 2012

0

CKCA Funds For Cancer Research Tops $34,000

The Custom Knife Collectors Association (CKCA) announced it has raised $6,598.30 for the Jimmy V Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

The money was raised through the CKCA’s raffle of a special bowie made by ABS master smiths/CKCA members Larry Fuegen and Tim Hancock. The winner was knifemaker/CKCA member Joel Chamblin.

The CKCA’s contributions to date to cancer research projects totals $34,053.30.

CA Appeals Court Throws Out Anti-Switchblade Ruling

Steve Shackleford

-

December 3, 2012

0

According to Knife Rights, the California Court of Appeals last week reversed a lower court’s ruling that a knife that could be “wrist-flicked” open was a “switchblade.”

The lower court made the faulty ruling despite an explicit provision in California law that distinguishes and protects one-hand opening and assisted-opening knives with a bias towards closure and despite prior Appellate Court rulings upholding that exception. These common folding knives represent over 80 percent of the U.S. market and the California legislature clearly wanted them to be legal when they clarified the original switchblade law as follows:

“‘Switchblade knife’ does not include a knife that opens with one hand utilizing thumb pressure applied solely to the blade of the knife or a thumb stud attached to the blade, provided that the knife has a detent or other mechanism that provides resistance that must be overcome in opening the blade, or that biases the blade back toward its closed position.”

This is essentially the same exemption that was added to the Federal Switchblade Act as a result of the knife industry banning together to help clarify the federal definition in 2009.

“We laud the Appeals Court on its decision and a well-written opinion, but it is unfortunate that the defendant had to undergo the extreme harassment and stress to him and his family and friends that comes with such an experience due to the ignorance and apparent anti-knife bias of the law enforcement officer, prosecutors and the lower court involved,” Knife Rights indicated in a statement. “We’d also like to acknowledge the successful efforts of the defendant’s court appointed lawyer who presented a strong defense. Hopefully, this will be the end of this sordid travesty of justice by the state and there will be no further appeal.”

You can read the Appeals Court opinion here: www.kniferights.org/G045929.pdf

Vacation Knives: Multi-Tool For Emergency Repairs

Steve Shackleford

-

November 1, 2012

0

A hot multi-tool with a selection of sharp blades in plain and serrated edges, assorted tools such as a spring-loaded pliers, flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers, a saw, scissors, can-opener and more—what else would you need to fend off an emergency repair job while on the road? The Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool has it all, plus one-hand opening and the company’s Saf.T.Plus locking system—all for our nifty price of $34.99.

For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/gerber-suspension-multi-tool-y6989/?lid=blss081512

Rebooting Collections Works Wonders

10 Family Gift Knives Sport Holiday Spirit

Best Blade Steels Unleash The Sharp

Thanksgiving Cutters, Japanese Style

First Family of Knives?

World’s Hottest Knives in April BLADE®

Jensen Art Knife in Contemporary Crafts Exhibition

Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame Series: CRKT/A.G. Sting

A Few Great Everyday Carry Knives

CKCA Funds For Cancer Research Tops $34,000

CA Appeals Court Throws Out Anti-Switchblade Ruling

Vacation Knives: Multi-Tool For Emergency Repairs

Must Read Articles

Knifemaking 101 – Read This Before You Make a Knife

8 Things You May Not Know About “Forged in Fire”

How to Forge Damascus

How to Create Damascus Patterns

Why Are Switchblades Illegal?

The BLADE Blog w/Steve Shackleford

Must Read Articles