Makers to watch in 2016 headline the new BLADE®, on newsstands now!
The makers to watch in 2016, tomorrow’s blade material today, deep-belly vs. recurve blades and more highlight the new BLADE®, on newsstands now!
Headlined by the cover knife by one of the makers to watch for the new year, Jared Price’s tactical folder in bacon-pattern stainless damascus, the latest issue focuses on five cutlers who are building some of today’s most exciting custom knives. In addition to Price, those makers are ABS journeyman smiths Karl B. Andersen and Ben Breda, Michael Raymond and Richard Rogers. Find out why they made our list, examples of their hottest knives and more.
SM-100 is a recently developed titanium alloy that exhibits key traits desirable in a great blade material. Also known as HIPTiNite, the material is used on special models by Strider Knives, knifemaker Eric Bono and others. Get the background story on this intriguing material in Pat Covert’s story.
Machetes and big knives have been appearing in droves in the factory industry, and a number of them opt for either full, wide blades or those with the “S” curve, or recurve. See how the two styles perform, including a sidebar on the concept of weight-forward blade design, in “Belly Up To The Recurve Bar” by Abe Elias.
Also this issue: check out the stories that made headlines over the past year in “It Was A Keen ’15”; enjoy an excerpt from the World’s No. 1 Knife Book, KNIVES 2016, entitled “Chopped Champions” by Joe Kertzman; consider four of the latest factory slip joints and how the traditional design is evolving in general in “Slippin’ and A-Slicin'”; read about the latest knife maintenance products and how they keep your knives performing well and looking good in “Nourish Your Knives”; see how two custom fillet knives compare in Kim Breed’s tests; check out ABS master smith Henry Torres’s hunter’s axe and the many options Henry offers thereof, and much more, all in the latest BLADE®.
Knives are no doubt on the target list of New York and New Jersey ivory and ancient ivory sting campaigns.
New York Department of Environmental Conservation agents conducted an ivory sting on a 72-year-old woman for selling a mammoth ivory bead necklace.
In its effort to stop elephant poaching and the trade in illegal ivory, the government has insisted that it does not care about small-time, mom-and-pop-type ivory owners, that it’s more concerned with international crime syndicates and environmental terrorists. However, the recent ivory sting operation by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) on a 72-year-old woman for selling a necklace containing beads of mammoth—that’s right, mammoth, not elephant—ivory at the Pier Antique Show in New York City indicates the NYDEC apparently failed to get the government memo on the matter.
For knife enthusiasts, the question now is how soon the NYDEC—as well as its counterpart in New Jersey—will start targeting knives with handles of mammoth, mastodon and other ancient ivories, as well as elephant ivory.
Of course, though beyond all reason, mammoth ivory—the tusks of an animal extinct for thousands of years—has been declared illegal to sell in the state of New York and also New Jersey. However, since the senior citizen at the Pier Antique Show is from North Carolina, it’s understandable that she was completely oblivious to the New York law—especially considering how ridiculous it is to outlaw something millennia old in the first place. In addition to the necklace, the agents seized $1,400 worth of jewelry from her in all.
NYDEC agents did not stop with stinging the little old lady from Carolina. They also seized a couple of sets of “teethers”—whale bone or ivory sticks crudely carved by 19th-century sailors for babies to cut their teeth on—from a New York folk art dealer. The agents seized the teethers and issued both the folk art dealer and the little old lady from Carolina summons to appear in court.
Following the show, the folk art dealer and his wife learned he would need a lawyer because he faces a $5,000 fine if convicted of dealing illegal ivory. When he asked about getting a license to sell ivory in accordance with New York law, he said he was told all such license applications sit in a pile in the state capital, ostensibly collecting dust.
“This kind of government heavy-handedness is what we warned people about when the President’s Advisory Council started talking about imposing an ivory ban in March 2013,” noted Rob Mitchell of elephantprotection.org. “Instead of going after Chinese smugglers and criminal syndicates, the government is persecuting the most vulnerable and least culpable citizens in zealous pursuit of ivory ban enforcement statistics. No living animal was helped by this, but innocent small businesses will be crushed.”
The fight against the domestic ivory ban—a ban that won’t save a single elephant but will needlessly punish innocent Americans who own and trade legally imported ivory—is ongoing, and many Americans have been helping. Their “activism is why the federal government is taking its time publishing the regulation we expect will alter or revoke the Special Rule on African elephants that allows pre-ban ivory trade in the USA,” Mitchell noted. “Unfortunately, non-government organizations like the Humane Society of the United States and the Wildlife Conservation Society have been busy with a PR campaign against ivory. They are continuing to lobby both the federal government and many individual states for an ivory ban.”
You can help stop them and protect commerce in pre-ban ivory. For information on how you can contact all of your elected officials and voice your concerns, CLICK HERE.
See the latest knives, swords, and edges of all types, and explore the latest trends in blades, steels, styles, and materials. Gaze upon a “State of the Art” section parading engraved, scrimshawed, jewel-inlaid, carved, etched, sculpted and forge-welded, and Damascus and mosaic-damascus knives. Click here.
ABS master smith John White (left) holds his Best of Show and Best Damascus from the 2013 BLADE Show as the knife’s owner, Preston Gough, enjoys the moment.
Award-winning ABS master smith John White of Valparaiso, Florida, passed away Oct. 4 after a sudden illness. He was 71.
One of the most talented smiths in the ranks of the ABS, John was known for his elegant fixed blades in his beautiful damascus steel blades, natural handle materials and exquisite embellishment. He was also quite adept at such fixed blades in a take-down construction—that is, the knife was specially built to be easily disassembled and reassembled.
As John’s friend and fellow ABS master smith Terry Vandeventer noted in the American Bladesmith Society’s Express Email, “This is not only the greatest loss to Jill, [John’s] wife of 40 years, but to the knife community. Those who knew him saw a vivacious, smart, funny, and highly skilled artisan.” Vandeventer added that there would be no services and John’s ashes will be spread on the bayou near the Whites’ home.
The little man with the big smile enjoyed a meteoric rise in the fraternity of ABS smiths, winning a number of awards for his work, including several at the BLADE Show. Among them: Best Fixed Blade, 2014 BLADE Show; Best of Show and Best Damascus (see accompanying picture), 2013 BLADE Show; Best Bowie and Best Damascus Knife, 2011 BLADE Show; and Best Damascus, 2010 BLADE Show. Somehow it seemed fitting that John enjoyed so much success at the BLADE Show, as he was among the most vocal supporters of the event.
If you wish to make a comment on John’s passing and your memories of him, Click Here. A visit there will show you how many great makers and collectors thought the world of John. He will be missed.
POST FALLS, IDAHO–From the time Hoyt Buck made his first knife in 1902, Buck Knives’ goal always has been the same: make knives that will serve the user better, with reliable and superior performance. In the 110 years since, Buck Knives has found many ways to create an expanding line of knives that guarantee exceptional quality, with the needed features and benefits. Now they are finalizing plans for the SHOT Show where they will unveil more advances in 2012, as they celebrate their 110th birthday with innovative new products.
Among their fresh departures is an answer to the growing demand for women’s hunting knives with the new Haley Heath ErgoHunter Adrenaline Series. As the number of active female hunters has doubled in the past decade and now totals more than 3 million, there is a growing demand for knives to meet their needs and preferences.
The Haley Heath series was developed in partnership with one of America’s most accomplished female hunters. In the joint announcement, Haley Heath said, “I am excited to be the first female featured with her own line of hunting knives and from the number-one brand in hunting.” Haley and G.O. Heath are the hosts of the popular “Family Traditions with Haley Heath” television program on the Sportsman Channel.
There are eight basic knives in the Haley Heath series – five fixed-blades and three folding lockblades, offering fixed gut-hook versions and three steel options. All are ergonomically designed for the best grip for women, including a grooved handle.
“This important series is just one aspect of our new 2012 knife line,” said CJ Buck, president and the fourth generation of the Buck knifemaking family. “We are adding other new hunting knives, of course, as well as tactical/survival knives, knives for campers and hikers, and our annual line of Limited Edition knives with so much appeal to collectors.”
Among the additions to Buck’s growing line of tactical/survival knives will be the TOPS/Buck CSAR-T Liaison neck knife, a style popular for its light weight, small size and ease of carry, yet providing the solid blade needed quickly in emergency situations.
Buck also emphasized that Buck Knives will continue to fulfill its American commitment, further reducing the use of offshore outsourcing, making all of their hunting knives in their Post Falls, Idaho, plant as well as the vast majority of their other new products.
If you think it’s too late for you to do anything about the oppressive ivory ban being implemented by federal officials, think again.
With federal officials saying elephant ivory is being disguised to resemble fossil ivory in some cases, authentic fossil ivory pieces such as Jerry Fisk’s majestic bowie could attract undeserved scrutiny from law enforcement. (Chuck Ward photo)
You can act now to have your voice heard by congressional and federal officials to stop more language adverse to those who buy, sell and collect ivory knives being added to the federal government’s “use after import” regulations.
One of the issues that apparently remains unsettled in the official language of the new ban is the exact wording concerning the legality of the sale of ivory, including ivory knives, across state lines. The updated regulations are due to be completed and released sometime in April, sources said.
As a result, you have time to contact your representative and other federal officials now before it’s too late. For more on the specifics of the ban, frequently asked questions and more, visit http://www.fws.gov/
To determine the name and contact information for your Congressional representative, visit http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
In addition, make your views known to Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior, and Daniel M. Ashe, director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife. The mailing address for the Department of the Interior is 1849 C St., NW, Washington, DC 20240. It can be reached by phone at 202-208-3100 or e-mail at [email protected]. The mailing address for U.S. Fish and Wildlife is 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22203.
We recommend hitting all of them on all fronts—by phone, e-mail and snail mail. They say a written letter carries more weight, so it may be time to break out the pen and paper and attack this issue old-school style.
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.
Kirby Lambert’s straight razor graces the cover of the latest BLADE®, on newsstands NOW!
Stubble is in trouble thanks to the hottest straight razors—one of which, the newest model by Kirby Lambert, is the cover piece for the latest BLADE®, on newsstands NOW!
Known for his custom tactical folders, Lambert is one of several makers who offer custom razors, the others highlighted in the story on page 12 being Sal Manaro, Rick Barrett, Wally Hayes, Neels van den Berg and Bill Ellis. There’s also a factory version from Boker that made the cut. Speaking of Hayes, he wrote a story outlining his approach to making straight razors on page 20.
Is a tactical knife a fixed blade or a folder? The answer depends a lot on who you ask. While knife-o-philes continue to ply the age-old question, we provide nine of the best factory buys in the genre—both folding and fixed—on page 28.
Knife kits have some a long way from the days when they consisted of a blade blank, a couple of handle slabs and several screws. Now they offer folders in a number of configurations, including one for a butterfly knife. Check out the latest versions on page 40.
You’ve already read on blademag.com about the first-ever knife show that will combine members of both the Knifemakers’ Guild and the American Bladesmith Society set for Sept. 18-20 in Kansas City. However, BLADE gets more of the inside info—including the fact that the old Muehlebach Hotel, site where Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bill Moran reintroduced damascus at the 1973 Guild Show, is in one of the wings of the new venue—for you on page 46.
Spyderco long has been a world leader in factory knives and it continues that role with its Ethnic Series of knives that include designs by such international makers as Pekka Tuominen, the late Eduard Bradichansky and Gabor Szakonyi, as well as accomplished American maker Ed Schempp. Go global with the Spydie guys on page 50.
There’s something about a super-thin custom folder that bespeaks of elegance. And some are so thin and delicate you’d think they might not be able to do their cutting jobs—though such is not the case. Check out some of the leanest of the keen by Richard Rogers, Cliff Parker, Bill Ruple, Scott Sawby and Ken Erickson on page 74.
There’s much more, including Ed Fowler’s “12 Keys to Great Knife Promotion”; a look back at the many contributions of the late, great Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer, Kit Carson; a test of two big fixed blades in MSG Kim Breed’s “Spec Sheet”; E.C. Loerchner’s masterful “Autumn Knife”; and much more, all in the latest issue of BLADE.
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.
Such classic elephant ivory knives as those by George Herron and others will be barred from sale under the proposed ban. (Herron knives from the Duncan Rutherford display at the 2014 BLADE Show)
