Steve Shackleford's Blog

New BLADE on Newsstands Today!

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June 18, 2013

The knives from the Battle of Gettysburg, the best EDCs for your money, the blades of summer and the hottest flipper folders are but a sample of the topics covered in the new BLADE® (www.blademag.com), on newsstands TODAY!

On the eve of the battle’s 150th anniversary, we caught up with Paul Shevchuk, museum specialist at the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War. He was most forthcoming in providing pictures of and information about the knives, bayonets and other edged tools used by both sides in Pennsylvania in 1863. From a Confederate saber bayonet found on a Gettysburg street after the battle to side knives, pocketknives, D-guard bowies and more, Shevchuk’s contributions to the story make for an enlightening glimpse on how soldiers on both sides used their knives during the War Between the States.

Joe Kertzman tapped the know-how of a number of industry experts to get the lowdown on today’s best EDCs for the money. From the damascus and ebony of the Boker Plus Damascus Gent II—this issue’s cover knife—to the CRKT Carajas designed by Flavio Ikoma and many more, you’re bound to find an EDC that fits your pocket and pocketbook.

Speaking of EDCs, it’s always good to know what the legal ramifications are when you carry a knife. Mike Haskew consulted such industry authorities as attorney Evan Nappen, AKTI Executive Director Jan Billeb and Knife Rights’ Doug Ritter for their recommendations on what you need to consider when you carry a knife.

With the beginning of summer mere days away, it’s time to replenish your summertime blade array. James Morgan Ayres suggests any number of ways to do it—including camping, picnic and just about every other knife need in the good ol’ summertime—in “The Blades of Summer.”

There are many more entertaining stories in the new BLADE (www.blademag.com). Check it out on newsstands NOW!

BLADE Show Recap BLADE Out NOW!

Steve Shackleford

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August 11, 2015

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Tim, Anne and Chris. — (From left) Tim, Anne and Chris Reeve basked in the limelight after Chris was inducted into the Cutlery Hall Of Fame© during the BLADE Show. (Piotr Makuch image)

Emerson Mutant debuted at the BLADE Show. — The Mutant from Emerson Knives, Inc., was one of many factory knives that debuted at the BLADE Show.

Hunters by Timberline, White River Knife & Tool, Steel Will and Boker Arbolito. — Gracing the new BLADE are new fall hunters, from left: two Timberline/Russ Kommer models, the Jerry Fisk Sendero repro by White River Knife & Tool, the Steel Will Druid 220 and the Boker Arbolito Sendero

The BLADE Magazine 2015 Knives Of The Year®, the 2015 BLADE Show recap, new BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© inductee Chris Reeve and much more highlight the November BLADE®, on newsstands now!

The world’s finest knives descended on Atlanta for the 34th Annual BLADE Show, and the best of the best blades were on display for record crowds to drool over in the Cobb Galleria. Among the knives were the winners of the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards for the factory knife industry. See which knives won—one of the winners is this issue’s cover knife, the Desert Fox by Fox Knives—and also the best in the show’s custom knives and much more in respective stories on pages 12 and 46.

Few modern knives have had the impact of the Sebenza by Chris Reeve Knives, and the man who serves as the company’s namesake took his place among the industry’s elite when he was inducted into the Cutlery Hall Of Fame the Saturday night of the BLADE Show. Chris’s good friend, custom knifemaker/designer Bill Harsey, gave the speech inducting Chris, and it was one of the more popular inductions in recent memory. Get the details on page 22.

Rick Hinderer has been one of the knife industry’s great success stories. He has worked hard over the years and catapulted from a relatively unknown maker of art knives to being one of the industry’s leading makers of tactical folders—and one of the lottery movement’s biggest successes in the process. He has opened a new 14,000-square foot facility to bring more of his knives to his many fans. Learn more on page 28.

Also this issue: what’s hot in custom tactical fixed blades of the stock removal variety; a test of the Johnson Adventure Blades SEEK 3.5 and Battle Horse Knives Large Workhorse; a field test of four of the latest hunters by Timberline (a Russ Kommer design), White River Knife & Tool (a Jerry Fisk design), Steel Will and Boker Arbolito; a plethora of factory knives that debuted at the BLADE Show; a test of four new bushcraft models—the Condor Tool & Knife Final Frontier, CRKT Saker, ESEE Camp Lore RB3 and TOPS Scandi Woodsman; and much more.

Antique Ivory Exceptions Rule Too Stringent

Steve Shackleford

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March 3, 2014

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Antique Ivory Exceptions Rule Too Stringent

The recently announced federal ban on ivory not only seems to outlaw all import, export, interstate and intrastate sales of elephant ivory, it also appears to make all potential exceptions to the rule such as antiques virtually impossible to meet.

Initially announced on Feb. 11, the ban received more coverage Feb. 26 when the federal website http://www.fws.gov posted a story outlining the ban in more detail, including Director’s Order No. 210 from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

The story indicated that while virtually all elephant ivory is now illegal, a few exceptions exist, such as antique elephant ivory. However, to qualify as antique, elephant ivory must adhere to a hodge-podge of requirements that not only are virtually impossible to meet but present prohibitive costs in the process.

For instance, to qualify as an antique, the ivory must be 100 years old or older. However, the person claiming the ivory is that old must “definitively prove” the identity of the species. Such proof “can be in the form of bonafide DNA analysis,” a qualified appraisal or “other documentation,” such as “family photos, ethnographic fieldwork or other information.” If such analysis is required on each and every piece of elephant ivory, it would be cost-prohibitive for individual knifemakers. What’s more, the appraiser and the appraisal must meet strict guidelines in terms of the appraiser’s credentials, the scientific method used to determine the age or species must be described in detail, a detailed history of the article including proof of authenticity must be presented, etc.

Not only are the requirements draconian in nature, they don’t even take into account the fact that no one kept such records of their ivory when they bought it months or years ago, and to obtain such information now is virtually impossible.

Further, there must be proof that the ivory was imported through one of 13 specific ports of entry—12 in the USA and the other in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Notarized statements or affidavits by the exporter or seller are not adequate proof.

The maximum penalty for violations—which would qualify as violations of the Endangered Species Act—is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for the individual, and $200,000 for an organization. Those who submit false records or identification of ivory face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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

A Cool Lady’s or Gent’s Knife

Steve Shackleford

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August 20, 2013

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The Spyderco Ambitious is advertised as a small (3.5 inches closed) palm-sized workhorse offering big performance in a compact knife package. It definitely fits in my palm—in fact, with my hand being perhaps a tad larger than medium-sized for an adult male, it swallows the G-10 handle completely. Ergo, fully grasped, the butt is a good inch shy of the end of my palm. This is a tad small for my tastes, but then the Ambitious comes as advertised.

The edge of the 2.25-inch, flat-ground, 8Cr13MoV stainless blade is razor sharp out of the box, effortlessly slicing stationery, shaving hair and cutting cardboard with authority. It also digs into wood aggressively and makes a handy pencil sharpener if you’re in need of one, the small handle ideal for a three-finger grip that enables you to exert cutting pressure in the “little whittles” needed to sharpen something as small as a pencil. Though short, the blade is wide enough (1.25 inches at its widest) to handle larger cutting jobs, with a jimped area on the ramp to place your thumb for cuts that might take more bearing down.

The blade opens and closes off a Michael Walker LinerLock™ that, despite the knife’s small size, operates smoothly and securely after a little practice. A reversible clip runs about two-thirds the length of the small contoured handle. An integral guard offers some protection from the hand running onto the blade, though I would like to see a bit more downward lip on it to enhance that protection.

One of Spyderco’s models made in China, the Ambitious is yet another example of just how good the Chinese are getting at making quality knives that cut extremely well. Though compact, the Ambitious is solidly built and makes a great gent’s knife, backup piece or lady’s knife. ShopBlade’s price: $35.96—you save 35 percent! For more, visit http://www.shopblade.com/ambitious-black-g-10-plainedge-w8477?lid=ssfbbl082013.

Knife Of The Day

Steve Shackleford

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November 20, 2011

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Here’s a new feature for ya’: the Knife Of The Day. The first one in this new feature is Bill Kirkes’ utility hunter in a handle of amber stag and 4.5-inch blade of 5160 carbon steel. The fittings are stainless. Overall length: 9 inches. Mr. Kirkes also made the inlaid sheath.

For more information contact Mr. Kirkes at 235 Oaklawn Circle, Little Rock, AR 72206 501-551-0135. (No website or e-mail info available.)

To see more great knives like this one and others, click on http://www.shopblade.com/category/magazine-issues to subscribe to BLADE®.

Unprecedented Scagel Auction Today and Tomorrow

Steve Shackleford

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March 12, 2012

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Monumental, unprecedented, biggest and best—these and other superlatives accompany the auction of Dr. James Lucie’s collection of knives by Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member William Wales Scagel scheduled for today and tomorrow, March 12 and 13.

James D. Julia Auctioneers, one of the world’s oldest and most respected sellers of high-end guns, knives and other items, will conduct the sale at its state-of-the-art facility in Fairfield, Maine. Absentee bidders will be able to participate online and via telephone.

Dr. Lucie, 83, who served as Scagel’s personal physician before the granddaddy of modern custom knives died in 1963, amassed almost 80 Scagel knives over 50 years of collecting. Now, he said, it is “time to let go.”

“Scagels took 40 years of my life,” the ABS journeyman smith observed. “I was into them in my 30s, 40s and 50s. Now it’s time to pass it to others in their 30s, 40s and 50s. I want to get back to making knives, to making Scagels the way they should be made,” adding he has a nice backlog of orders after spending most of the past year or so working on his comprehensive book, Scagel Handmade, a history in word and picture of Scagel and his knives.

“It will be a monumental sale,” Julia said. “I don’t think anybody’s had 10 Scagels in one auction before. This one has 80 and they are the highest-quality Scagels in existence. It will be the biggest and best Scagel auction ever, and I can’t imagine an auction to match it in the future.”

The knives will be sold as part of a two-day auction that also will include two important gun collections, Confederate Civil War items and Class III machine guns. All the Scagels in the collection will be sold.

Dr. Lucie wrote the descriptions for the knives for the “lavish catalog” on which Julia prides himself for all of his company’s auctions. “Normally we use a vast array of consultants and experts in the field but in this case we [could not] get anybody better than Dr. Lucie” to write the descriptions, he noted. Julia guarantees the catalog descriptions for up to 45 days after the auction. “Nobody else does this,” he said. “That way if there’s a serious problem with the knife, you can cancel the sale.”

For more information on the auction, click on www.jamesdjulia.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. For subscription information click on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscripti…?r+ssfb031212#BL1SU

BLADE Show & Bladesmithing For Kids

Steve Shackleford

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May 15, 2013

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Let some of the world’s top bladesmiths teach your children about the craft in the American Bladesmith Society’s “Bladesmithing For Kids” seminar at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) & Living Ready Expo May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Join American Bladesmith Society (ABS) master smiths Joe Keeslar and Tim Potier and ABS journeyman smiths Wes Byrd and Larry “The Hammer” Harley of Lords Of War TV fame as they explain the ancient art of bladesmithing. The seminar will be show Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in Room 109.

All four men have extensive experience teaching children about bladesmithing, and all four are great at relating the craft to youngsters in language kids can understand.

Founded in 1976 by Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© members Bill Moran and B.R. Hughes, as well as Don Hastings and Bill Bagwell, the ABS is the world’s oldest and pre-eminent organization of bladesmiths—that is, those who forge the blade steel for their knives by hand or with power hammers. The ABS holds its annual meeting at the BLADE Show, where it selects new master and journeyman smiths, announces its annual awards, elects officers to its board of directors, holds a knife auction and much more.

The ABS also has a long history of instructing children on bladesmithing. It has conducted a number of special kids’ bladesmithing events at such venues as the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo and also at Smoky Mountain Knife Works (SMKW) in Sevierville, Tennessee. In fact, the ABS Youth Hammer-In will be held just a few weeks after the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo, June 28-30, at SMKW (visit www.americanbladesmith.com for more information). Mr. Harley has conducted children’s bladesmithing seminars at his forge in Bristol, Tennessee, as well.

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Maximize Your BLADE Show Experience

New BLADE on Newsstands Today!

BLADE Show Recap BLADE Out NOW!

Antique Ivory Exceptions Rule Too Stringent

A Cool Lady’s or Gent’s Knife

Knife Of The Day

Unprecedented Scagel Auction Today and Tomorrow

BLADE Show & Bladesmithing For Kids

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