Knife Collecting Archives

Knife Of The Day XIX: Hogstrom Boot Dirk

Steve Shackleford

-

March 9, 2012

Our Knife Of The Day for March 9 is a boot dirk by Swedish maker Anders Hogstrom. The 4.5-inch blade is clay tempered 1050 spring steel with asymmetrical grinds. The walrus ivory handle has orange tints and the fittings are antiqued, textured bronze.

Anders, a BLADE Show regular who years ago apprenticed some under Japanese sword specialist Scott Slobodian, said the pattern is new for him, “sort of a classic style but then again not.” His list price of $2,200 includes a sheath.

For more information contact Anders at [email protected] or click on www.andershogstrom.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+ssfb030912#BL1SU

Mac Gray & Co.’s Timeless Mako Folder

Elwood Shelton

-

April 28, 2016

0

There is an enduring quality to Mac Gray & Co.’s designs. One has the idea that 100 years from now, the California company’s knives will continue be as stylish and eye-catching as they were the day they were purchased. It is certainly the case with Mac Gray’s Mako Folder.

The flowing lines and seamless appearance of this classy little folder makes it as hard to ignore as a seductive wink. But the Mako isn’t all good looks. Beneath its seductive façade lies a workhorse, more than ready to pull its weight in any duty it’s called upon.

To that end, Mac Gray has ensured the Mako will have a long life, lining the handle with 6AL4V Titanium. The material adds incredible strength and durability to the knife, at the same tick keeping it a lightweight companion, ready to be toted everyday.

The 3.5-inch blade, which boasts a saber grind, is made of 154 stainless steel, which is renowned for its toughness and edge retention. These qualities are primarily due to the steel’s high-carbon content and the addition of molybdenum. To top it all off, Mac Gray has included an attractive thumbscrew on the modified drop point blade for quick opening — a feature which will win fans among both righties and lefties as it is ambidextrous.

Mac Gray allows a certain amount of customization when it comes to the 8.5-inch Mako. Customers have the choice of Micarta or G-10 for the handle material and can choose from five colors (red, bone, black, OD Green or pink). The Mako comes with a stainless steel clip, emblazoned with Mac Gray’s name. The standard configuration is right side, tip down; but the company will tailor the clip to the customer’s carry style upon order.

The folder has a linerlock style locking mechanism, which prevents the blade from closing on a user’s hand. It has ¼-inch pivot with a bronze pivot bushing to ensure smooth operation. And, like all of Mac Gray’s knives, the Mako comes with a lifetime guarantee.

That last feature — the guarantee — might be among the most important of any when it comes to the folder. Because, with its timeless lines and top-notch function, it is almost certain that will be the length of time it’s carried.

Mako Folder Specs
Overall Length: 8.5 inches
Blade Length: 3.5 inches
Handle Length: 5 inches
Blade: Modified drop point
Blade material: CPM 154 Stainless Steel
Grind: Saber
Lock: Linerlock
Liner Material: Titanium
Handle Material: Micarta or G-10
Other features: Ambidextrous thumbscrew, stainless steel variable clip
Website: www.mgcknives.com

Fossil Ivory: Banned Along With Ivory?

Steve Shackleford

-

August 6, 2015

0

Fossil ivory under attack on the federal and state level. — Fossil ivory could be banned with elephant ivory if federal and state governments are not stopped. Don Hanson uses fossil ivory on his folder.

Fossil ivory may well be on the way to being banned with elephant ivory if federal and state governments are not checked.

At least that’s the opinion of one informed source who wishes to remain unnamed, blademag.com has learned.

Fossil ivory could be banned with elephant ivory. — Ivory from the long-extinct mammoth and mastodon may be banned along with elephant ivory simply because many inspectors won’t be able to differentiate between elephant and ancient ivory.

As reported in blademag.com on July 29, proposed changes to the federal ivory laws are finally out and are designed to stop all trade in elephant ivory in the USA, no matter how old the ivory is. The proposed laws do not mention fossil or ancient ivory such as that of the long-extinct mammoth and mastodon. However, the concern is that the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) officials who would be charged with inspecting elephant ivory to determine its legality would have no problem with fossil ivory IF they can differentiate it from elephant ivory.

“The way I see it,” the source stated, whether the inspectors can differentiate between elephant and fossil ivory “will depend on [the inspectors’] training, or lack thereof, and level of enthusiasm.”

Meanwhile, it is the state legislatures that the source is most worried about.

The sale of mammoth ivory tusks and teeth has already been banned in New York (http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/S7040-2013) and New Jersey (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/A3500/3128_I1.HTM). It has been reported on blademag.com that at least two other states—Florida and Illinois—ban the sale of mammoth ivory and/or make no exemptions for the sale of the ancient material. Other states are considering mammoth ivory bans as well.

“In all the states that have had [ivory] bills introduced, mammoth, fossil walrus and all forms of ivory are included [because, the state legislators say] ‘it’s so hard to tell the difference,'” the source noted. “Now, we’ve defeated almost every applicable bill that’s been introduced so far, but these guys are not going to roll over and play dead.”

For more information on how to protect your right to own and sell mammoth and other fossil ivories, and how to defeat the proposed changes to federal ivory laws that are designed to stop all U.S. trade in elephant ivory, visit elephantprotection.org.

Hunter’s Edge: 2 Sharpeners and Sharpening eBook

Steve Shackleford

-

September 24, 2012

0

Keep your hunting knife sharp and ready to perform in the field with two great sharpeners and a sharpening eBook from ShopBlade.

One of the more unusual and ingenious sharpeners is the Spyderco Duckfoot diamond sharpening system. Sporting various shapes for sharpening different edges, the Duckfoot includes:

•A 1”x 5” flat diamond stone;

•A surface with a large radius for sharpening plain edges and a small radius for serrations;

•Three grooves, including a wide radius channel for de-burring and a narrow radius channel for honing fish hooks, etc.;

•Includes a suede leather carry case and an instructional DVD.

ShopBlade’s price: $43.96, a 20 percent savings. For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/duckfoot-diamond-sharpening-system-w8563?lid=blss092412. (You had better hurry on this one because Spyderco has discontinued the Duckfoot.)

A great pocket sharpener for field touch-ups of plain-edge blades is GATCO’s Military Compact Sharpener (MCS). All it takes is a few strokes on the compact sharpener’s replaceable tungsten carbide blades set for a 40-degree angle and your knife is ready to cut. Size: 2.75” x 1.06” x .30”. Weight: 1.5 ounces.

ShopBlade’s price: $12, a 20 percent savings. For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/gatco-mcs-military-compact-sharpener-40006?lid=blss092412.

If you need help on how to sharpen, check out our eBook, “Sharpen A Knife & Care For A Collection.” The digital guide outlines:

•Sharpening stones;

•Freehand sharpening;

•Sharpening systems;

•Sharpening oils/lubricants and other sharpening accessories;

•How to choose the right sharpener for your knife, and more.

ShopBlade’s price: $4.19. For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/sharpen-a-knife-care-for-collection-download?lid=blss092412

10 Little Indians Multi-Blade Knife

Steve Shackleford

-

November 21, 2011

0

Never having made a knife with over six blades, even multi-blade maestro Gene Shadley was challenged to reproduce a 19^th-century sportsman’s knife based on a 10-blader made by Christopher Johnson & Co. of Sheffield, England.

Engraver Simon Lytton provided the old catalog Shadley selected the pattern from, which Shadley made larger than the original (5 7/8 vs. 3 5/8 inches closed). The knife required a locking master blade and a lockbar—neither were on the original—as per customer order. Hence, Shadley had to redesign the knife from the ground up, making nine blades work in slip-joint fashion along with having to figure out how to make the master blade work as a lockback.

The band in mid-handle, another first for Shadley, was also by customer request. Shadley had to make new rear bolsters to accept the tweezers and ivory toothpick. Even the file is different than anything he had done, requiring a knurling tool for the double grooves. The customer wanted no blade wobble, so Shadley made the lockback work with minimal tension, and installed bushings for all the blades to control the amount of play in each.

Shadley said he had orders for two more 10-bladers and planned on making a large exhibition knife with probably somewhere between 12-to-15 blades that he hoped to display at the Solvang Custom Knife Show April 28, 2012.

For more information contact Gene Shadley, 209 NW 17^th St., Grand Rapids, MN 55744 218-244-8628 or 218-999-7197 [email protected].

To read like stories like this and the latest on knives, knifemakers, knife news and more, subscribe to BLADE® by clicking on http://www.shopblade.com/category/magazine-issues

PICTURE CAPTION

Gene Shadley took the 10-blader without the sambar stag scales (top) to the 2010 New York Custom Knife Show “to show it off” and for photography, then took the completed version to the ’10 Guild Show, where Point Seven photographed it in a multiple exposure with the scale-less image (you can see the lockbar on the spine of the scale-less version). Blade steel: ATS-34 stainless. His list price for a similar piece: $10,000. (Point Seven photo)

A Custom Gentleman’s Takedown Combat Utility Knife?

Knife Collecting

BLADE Staff

-

September 18, 2018

0

A Custom Gentleman’s Takedown Combat Utility Knife?

Custom takedown knife — The Tuxedo Fighter is a takedown combat utility knife by Tim Steingass. The takedown tool at upper right fits into the two tiny holes in the piece at bottom center, which is the linchpin for disassembly and assembly. At press time, Tim said he had so many orders he had closed his books. (SharpByCoop knife image)

The Tuxedo Fighter by Tim Steingass is a takedown combat utility knife the maker quipped is for guys “who like Tinkertoys®”—those who enjoy taking their knives apart and putting them back together.

As for the Tuxedo name, Tim said he got the idea for it from one of his customers for whom he made repros of three Bob Loveless small fighters.

“He got one with an ivory Micarta® handle and liked it so much he wanted a black-handled one,” Tim recalled. “I imagined he was going to wear it under his tuxedo and that gave me the idea for the Tuxedo Fighter.”

The fact that the fighter is small and fancy also seemed to fit the Tuxedo moniker.

“It’s not tactical, it has a shiny blade and beautiful, shiny handle, and all the fittings are polished and pretty and it comes with a horizontal, ambidextrous sheath,” Steingass added.

Made to be broken down and maintained, “the takedown is a great way to take care of a knife. It just shows the craftsmanship of the knife, frankly.”

See More Incredible Custom Knives at BLADE Show West

What Are The Hottest Custom Knives Today?

Joe Kertzman

-

February 20, 2013

0

What Are The Hottest Custom Knives Today?

Identifying the hottest custom knifemakers’ hottest knives for you is something BLADE® takes pride in doing. And one of the best ways we have found of doing it is to tap the knowledge of those who must do it well because it is their livelihood—custom knife purveyors. So, in the April 2013 issue of BLADE (on newsstands as of Jan. 29), we tapped into that knowledge.

Here’s part of the story from the April 2013 issue:

At Knifeart.com in Little Rock, Arkansas, Larry Connelley has his eye on Maciej Szczerbiak and Crusader Forge. A custom knifemaker since 1996, Szczerbiak is based in St. George, Utah. “His FIFP [Fear Is For Prey] is an overbuilt tactical folder,” Connelley said, “and is stoutly made with a thick titanium handle and Integral lock. The blade is CPM S30V stainless and prices start at around $900.”

The purveyor indicated Brian Tighe is another favorite among Knifeart.com customers, and the Nirk Tighe, designed in collaboration with Glenn Klecker, features Klecker’s Nirk locking mechanism that allows the lockback to function as an integrated component of the handle. “These knives start at $525 with BG-42 steel blades and titanium handles, each of them 3-D machined,” Connelley observed. “Brian has several designs that involve collaborations, and each one of them is innovative. He can deliver them with precision.”

According to Connelley, the knife market is steady and recovering with the slow turnaround of a sluggish overall economy. To read the rest of the story, pick up the April 2013 issue of BLADE off the newsstand, or click here.

The Story of the Rambo Knives in 22 Photos

Ballistic Knife: The Most Illegal Knife in America

Tips for Traveling with Knives in Europe

What You Must Know Before Buying An Automatic Knife Online

BLADE Knife Sharpener Buyer’s Guide

Knife Of The Day XIX: Hogstrom Boot Dirk

Mac Gray & Co.’s Timeless Mako Folder

Fossil Ivory: Banned Along With Ivory?

Hunter’s Edge: 2 Sharpeners and Sharpening eBook

10 Little Indians Multi-Blade Knife

A Custom Gentleman’s Takedown Combat Utility Knife?

See More Incredible Custom Knives at BLADE Show West

What Are The Hottest Custom Knives Today?

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?