Steve Shackleford's Blog

Is a World Ivory Ban in the Offing?

Steve Shackleford

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September 12, 2016

A CITES meeting that could determine whether there will be a world ivory ban begins Sept. 24 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The 17th annual meeting of the CITES Conference of Parties is set to run through Oct. 5 and will include individuals and organizations around the globe who are for or against a world ivory ban, as well as a ban on ancient and other ivories. CITES stands for “Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,” and is “an international agreement among governments … to ensure international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.”

Lile ivory folder — A world ivory ban would make such classic knives as this circa 1970s folder by BLADE® Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Jimmy Lile illegal. (Jack Lucarelli image)

Elephant Protection Association officials indicate they expect animal rights groups to push for terminating “sustainable use” as a means of conserving any listed or endangered wildlife, which includes elephants and the trade of ivory. For U.S. owners of legal elephant ivory, this could at the very least mean losing the narrow “De Minimis Exception” in the recent Federal Domestic Ivory Ban instituted in July. Though it allows an extremely low amount of per-person trade in elephant ivory, the De Minimis Exception does allow some of it.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fighting for a worldwide elephant ivory ban want CITES to list all African elephants on Appendix I. If the NGOs are successful, it will lead to even more pressure on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to list all elephants as endangered, too. According to the Elephant Protection Association, the FWS has indicated that if CITES puts elephants on the endangered list, FWS would abolish the De Minimis Exception. But that’s not all.

The Elephant Protection Association’s Rob Mitchell reports that the petition to declare elephants endangered is already under review. “I don’t know low long before they will reach a final determination, but it won’t surprise me one bit if they try to time it to coincide with [the Sept. 24-Oct. 5 meeting],” he notes. In fact, “FWS could make the determination even if CITES does not list all elephants on Appendix I.”

For more information, stay tuned to www.elephantprotection.org. (Editor’s note: The Elephant Protection Association is building a new website. You also can stay updated on elephant ivory news by watching videos from The Conservation Imperative on the Association’s Facebook page.)

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Hottest Knives of the Hottest Summer

Steve Shackleford

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June 16, 2015

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The hottest knives of the hottest summer are here—and nobody covers them like the latest issue of BLADE®, on newsstands NOW!

It’s summer vacation time and you need to know which knives to take—and not to take—whether you’re hitting the beach, camping, traveling overseas or what have you. Daniel Jackson shows you the way in “National Knife Vacation.”

Speaking of camp knives, BLADE field editor Kim Breed tests two bodacious fixed blades of 5160 carbon steel by Little Bear Forge and Owens Weaponsmithing in “Spec Sheet.” And if you’re looking for folders with blades and tools for most any need, check out Dave Rhea’s “Multi-Bladed Freaks.”

Time was tomahawks and little axes—such as the Kershaw Tinder cover axe—were for small chopping chores like splitting kindling. They can still do those tasks but they also do much more, including prying, nail lifting, firestarting, opening bottles, tightening/loosening nuts and bolts, and much more. Get schooled on the changing face of these fascinating tools in “Hack to the Future!”

The United States has been the world leader in knives for many years now, not only because of such old school names as Case and Ontario but also due to such relatively newer companies as TOPS Knives and the baby of the four, Hogue Knives. See why the state of red, white and blue edges was never keener in Stephen Garger’s “Blades In The USA.”

Daniel Winkler has made period pieces used in such movies as the early ’90s classic The Last of the Mohicans clear to the tactical knives used in today’s Zero Dark Thirty. Through it all he’s transitioned from being a traditional bladesmith to, with partner Karen Shook, running the production operation of Winkler II Knives. You might say Winkler has reinvented himself and his business. Find out more in “The Knifemaker With Two Brains.”

BLADE covered the factory side of warranties in the August issue but what about the custom side of the ledger? BLADE field editor Ed Fowler has forged knives for decades and knows a thing or two about custom warranties. Consider his thoughts on the matter in “A Matter of Trust and Ethics.”

There’s much more—all in the new BLADE.

1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

Steve Shackleford

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September 15, 2015

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1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

The first-ever women’s division in a BladeSports International Cutting Competition was conducted Saturday, Sept. 19, at Jantz Supply in Davis, Oklahoma.

“BladeSports has long talked about the possibility of a women’s division in our sport,” noted Donavon Phillips, executive director of BladeSports International (BSI). “We are past the possibility now. It has arrived.”

The BladeSports International (BSI)-sanctioned event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., also included a men’s competition. Competitors ran an obstacle course including cutting 2x4s, rope, water-filled plastic bottles, a straw lengthwise and slicing rolling tennis balls.

Though women have competed in the men’s division before—including the first-ever female qualifier for the BLADE Show World Championship, Jessica Elias, won for an unprecedented third straight time by Dan Keffeler this past June in Atlanta—the event marked the first time women have had a BSI division all to themselves.

“Knives have long been considered the tool of choice for men but more and more women are not only carrying knives regularly for protection and general use, but are now joining the ranks of men who compete in competitive knife events,” noted Ken Jantz, founder and CEO of Jantz Supply.

On Aug. 15, Jantz Supply hosted a training session in which four women and nine men became certified to compete in BSI events. A total of seven women have national BSI certification. The top competitors at both events earned points toward qualifying for next year’s national competition to be held in the spring in Dallas, Texas, and the BLADE Show World Championship in Atlanta June 4.

Jantz Supply has been in business for over 30 years and manufactures and supplies knife blanks, knifemaking components and tools. For more information visit www.knifemaking.com.

Also Check Out:

Making Tactical Fixed Blades DVD

Learn both basic and advanced knife making techniques with expert instruction from Allen Alishewitz in Tactical Fixed Blades. Allen demonstrates how to craft a double-edged tactical fixed blade knife from start to finish, and creates two knives in order to fully illustrate the knife building process. You’ll learn:

– Profiling and Drilling the Knife
– Tang Tapering on a Grinder
– Tang Tapering on a Mill
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Arkansas Custom Knife Show Feb. 16-17

Steve Shackleford

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February 14, 2013

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The 18th Annual Arkansas Custom Knife Show will showcase some of the world’s best bladesmiths and knifemakers Feb. 16-17 at the Robinson Center Exhibit Hall in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The proceedings will kick off with a special cutting competition on Feb. 15, followed on Saturday and Sunday with a 100-table show that will include 28 American Bladesmith Society master smiths, knifemaking supplies, leather products and knife-related books, and more. The cutting competition will be held on the Log House grounds of the Historic Arkansas Museum on 2nd and Cumberland Streets. Admission to the competition is free.

Show hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $10 for a two-day pass.

Door prizes will be given hourly. Awards will be presented for the best Hunter, Fighter, Folder, Bowie, Damascus, Miniature, Camp knife, Art knife, Bird and Trout, and Pearl handle. Awards also will be given for best sheath, best historically inspired knife and best of show. Knives can be bid on during a silent auction both days. Four handmade knives will be given away Sunday afternoon. Ray Kirk will be giving away his NDN model among them.

The Robinson Center Exhibit Hall located at Markham and Broadway Streets in downtown Little Rock.

For more information click on www.arkansasknifemakers.com.

World’s Hottest Knives in April BLADE®

Steve Shackleford

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January 31, 2013

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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

Ivory Ban Meeting June 24: Act NOW!

Steve Shackleford

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June 18, 2014

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Act now to contact members of a House Subcommittee hearing that will meet June 24 to help decide the fate of the sale of all items containing elephant and other ivories.

“This is our best chance to stop the ivory ban without mega-money lawsuits,” observed scrimshander Linda Karst Stone. Though Stone and others worked on BLADE Show auction knives that should bring a “decent amount of money” to fight the anti-ivory mania in Washington, D.C., she fears it will be nowhere near enough. “It does not feel like we have deep enough pockets to fight an expensive lawsuit,” which is what it will take if the ban is not stopped before it is fully enacted, she noted.

As a result, she encourages those who value their elephant ivory knives to contact their representatives who will be sitting on the June 24 House Subcommittee hearing.

“I caution everyone not to be too optimistic, but the oversight hearing of June 24 could put a stop to this if they think there is enough support and hear from enough of us,” Stone noted.

Those on the House Subcommittee are Chairman John Flemming (Louisiana); Don Young (Alaska); Rob Wittman (Virginia); Glenn “GT” Thompson (Pennsylvania); Jeff Duncan (South Carolina); Steve Southerland II (Florida); Bill Flores (Texas); Jon Runyan (New Jersey); Vance McAllister (Louisiana); Bradley Byrne (Alabama); Doc Hastings (Washington); Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (North Mariana Islands); Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (American Samoa); Frank Pallone Jr. (New Jersey); Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Guam); Pedro Pierluisi (Puerto Rico); Carol Shea-Porter (New Hampshire); Alan Lowenthal (California); Joe Garcia (Florida); and Peter A. DeFazio (Oregon).

For the full subcommittee membership, complete with links to contact each member, visit http://naturalresources.house.gov/subcommittees/subcommittee/?SubcommitteeID=5063. The best strategy is to focus on members with whom you have a connection, you are one of their constituents, you have a business in the official’s district, etc.

BLADE Show BLADE® On Newsstands!

Steve Shackleford

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May 22, 2015

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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!

Can You Define Knife Choil?

Build a Knife From The Latest Knife Kits

D2 Tool Steel Just Keeps Cutting

Knives of The Expendables 2

BLADE Show 2018: Plan Now!

Is a World Ivory Ban in the Offing?

Hottest Knives of the Hottest Summer

1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

Also Check Out:

Arkansas Custom Knife Show Feb. 16-17

World’s Hottest Knives in April BLADE®

Ivory Ban Meeting June 24: Act NOW!

BLADE Show BLADE® On Newsstands!

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