Steve Shackleford's Blog

Top Lady Smiths Highlight New BLADE®

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February 24, 2015

Five top lady bladesmiths and their International Ladysmith Collaboration Knife, the “Mount Rushmore of Knifemakers,” rock-solid integral knives and much more highlight the new BLADE®, debuting on many newsstands TODAY!

A quintet of the world’s top lady smiths—Dellana, Haley DesRosiers, Audra Draper, Grace Horne and Julie Warenski-Erickson—collaborated on this issue’s cover knife. Forged by Draper, the 7.25-inch blade is a damascus ground, heat treated and etched by DesRosiers, who also did the final assembly. Dellana embellished the handle with five gold dots—one for each “blade sister”—and a bezel-set ruby, and Warenski-Erickson engraved the bolster in gold. Horne built the display box lined with red glove leather and used black glove suede for the cushion. Find out how the knife came about and what the “Sisters of the Blade” have planned for it in our special cover story feature.

In “The Mount Rushmore of Knifemakers,” some of the custom knife industry’s leading professionals weigh in on the four makers they consider the greatest in the history of modern custom knifemaking. We would tell you who the four are, but then that would spoil the surprise. You’ll just have to buy the new issue and find out for yourself.

Popularized by the late, great knifemaker, Ted Dowell, integral knives are one solid piece of steel—including both the handle and blade—that are reduced via grinding to an equally solid one-piece knife. Pat Covert visits with two talented practitioners of integral knifemaking, Edmund Davidson and Marcus Lin, for their take on how they make knives made in a style that arguably is the world’s strongest.

There’s much more—including part one of RJ Martin’s story on how he makes his award-winning precision flipper folders, some of today’s hottest factory tactical fixed blades, the conclusion of Jim Hammond’s story on the past, present and future of ivory’s use on knives, two tests of top factory folders, the mystery of the ancient Viking Ulfberht sword, custom knives in “crossover” styles and other of today’s sharpest knives and knife news—all in the latest issue of BLADE.

Recommended:

Stay abreast of the latest developments on this and many more knife rights issues with a subscription to BLADE.

Knives With Keyhole Handles In New BLADE®

Steve Shackleford

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June 17, 2014

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Knives With Keyhole Handles In New BLADE®

Keyhole integrals, knives made in the USA, movie fantasy swords and much more highlight the new BLADE®, on most newsstands now!

ABS master smith Rodrigo Sfreddo appears to have been the first to make knives with the integral-style handle in the shape of a keyhole where the handle material and fittings meet, and other ABS bladesmiths have taken the concept and run with it. ABS master smith Ron Newton’s modified keyhole integral graces the cover of this issue and Mike Haskew’s story examines the concept in detail.

With Independence Day a couple of weeks away, we thought a story on some of the knife companies who make their knives in America would be a great way to celebrate the 4th. And, in the realm of blade grinds and finishes, we offer stories on what to look for in the best blade grinds and the latest look in blade finishes—including those used on the swords of the hit movie, The Hobbit™: An Unexpected Journey.

We continue our “Riddles Of Steel” series with a story on the mystery of the kukri notch, and Bill Simmermacher details how he had a 21st century sheath made for a 19th-century antique bowie. If you like knife tests, Kim Breed compares the Ammo Daddy Alpha and KSR Field/Camp knife, and on the slip joint front, Pat Covert studies models that include both the traditional and those tailored to be “global legal.”

There’s much more, including part two of both Ed Fowler’s “Quest For Cut” and the series on Plaza Cutlery observing its 40th anniversary of selling knives in the South Coast Plaza Shopping Resort in Costa Mesa, California; some of the latest in damascus patterns on custom knives; Eric Ochs’ chute knife flipper; “The Knife I Carry”; and much more, all in the latest BLADE.

9 Tips for Buying a Custom Knife

Steve Shackleford

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September 26, 2016

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Attend knife shows — To get that special custom knife, attend knife shows—and if you see a knife you want, don’t put it down until you’re through haggling! (PointSeven image)

Is it realistic to say there’s a surefire way to get any custom knife you want? While there are always exceptions to the rule, if you practice the following nine steps, you might just find that beautiful custom knife you’ve dreamed about nestled warm and safe in the fleece lining of your favorite zippered knife pouch:

Attend the knife show(s) where the maker and/or owner of your dream knife exhibits;
Introduce yourself to the maker/owner at the show, talk about his/her work and designs and/or knives, ask questions, and express your interest about the knife inside the show and/or at the hotel bar after show hours;
Ask to look at and hold the knife—and don’t be afraid to tell the maker/seller what you will pay for it;
On a high-end knife especially, it it’s worth it, buy it! You won’t sleep if you pass on the knife for a small difference in the asking price;
If you see the knife you really want and pick it up at the maker’s/seller’s table, do not put it down until you’re finished haggling for it;
If it’s a custom order, supply the materials for the knife directly to the maker;
Visit the maker’s shop or the seller at an agreed-upon place and pay cash for the knife;
In the case of the maker especially, tell him or her you will give the knife a great home and how you will display it, or how good the knife feels in your hand and how you will use it, and;
Plan a pricing strategy to go with all the travel, conversation and luck that surround the big purchase. Have a figure that you will pay for the knife in mind beforehand.

“If the price is way over your head, then walk,” advised custom knife collector Chris Nolen, stressing that even though it may seem unorthodox, it is good to tell the maker how much you are willing to pay. “If the price is in the ballpark, buy the knife,” he concluded. “You will know when it’s that ‘special’ piece.”

Knives Of Summer: Keep Those Puppies Sharp!

Steve Shackleford

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July 9, 2012

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When you use one of our “Knives Of Summer,” you will need to sharpen that puppy. In fact, a little edge maintenance after each use—when feasible—is the best way to keep your knife sharp for the next time you need it.

GATCO’s Natural Arkansas Sharpening Kit is a great way to keep your edges keen at all times. Designed for sporting, kitchen and other knives, it features a novaculite stone mined from Arkansas. The kit includes a block-mounted 5-inch stone for sharpening, a 3-inch stone for final touch-ups, honing oil and a storage case.

For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/gatco-natural-arkansas-sharpening-kit-80005/?r+ssfb070912.

BLADE Will Make You Sharper

Steve Shackleford

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August 31, 2017

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BLADE® will make you sharper. How do we know? Because for almost 45 years now, BLADE has kept the world of knives abreast of all that cuts, slices, dices, severs, skivs, hacks, whacks, perforates and, yes, sharpens. That includes the latest knives, knife trends, knife events, knifemakers, collectors, cutting competitions, hammer-ins, knife awards and all else that stays on, around or anywhere near the edge.

You can subscribe to your choice of the print, digital, Canadian and/or international editions. It will, quite honestly, be the best bang for your blade buck anywhere.

Get sharper now with BLADE.

Salute America’s Family of Veterans

Steve Shackleford

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November 11, 2013

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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.

A Few Great Everyday Carry Knives

Steve Shackleford

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December 14, 2012

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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.

Game Edge: Fall Hunting Knives

Veterans’ Knives for Veterans Day

Learn Japanese Swords at BLADE University

Hunter’s Edge: Kutmaster Cutting Combo

Vacation Knives: Learn to Whittle & Carve

Top Lady Smiths Highlight New BLADE®

Knives With Keyhole Handles In New BLADE®

9 Tips for Buying a Custom Knife

Knives Of Summer: Keep Those Puppies Sharp!

BLADE Will Make You Sharper

Salute America’s Family of Veterans

A Few Great Everyday Carry Knives

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