Knife Collecting

Knife collecting is an extremely rewarding experience for knife enthusiasts. There truly is a knife for everyone. Many increase or hold their value throughout the years, making collecting knives something to pass on to the next generation of knife collectors.

8 Amazing Additions To Any Knife Book Library

One thing that humble knifemakers find difficult to do at times is to express pride in their work. It’s the same thing with we knife editors and publishers. But when you look at these eight knife books that F&W Media has put out over the past few years, they’re not only impressive as a whole, but each individual title is clearly an example of quality work.

If you were interested in knifemaking and started with the two books Bladesmithing With Murray Carter and Knifemaking With Bob Loveless, you’d be well ahead of the game and your peers. Add in BLADE’s Guide To Making Knives, 2nd Edition, and suddenly you’re learning the craft from such knifemakers as Don Fogg, John Lewis Jensen, Tim Zowada, Allen Elishewitz, Vince Evans, Rick Dunkerley and Kevin Hoffman. Are you kidding me?! And how many of you have NOT heard of Wayne Goddard? His book The Wonder Of Knifemaking, 2nd Edition is a must-have for any knife book library.u1059_500px_72dpi_1 v0802 W1852 W5865 X3269 Z4387 Z7240 Z7241

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If custom or handmade knives are your thing, the 33rd Edition of the Knives annual book, Knives 2013, will blow you away with full-color photography, feature articles written by the world’s best knife writers and a complete directory of custom knifemakers. Another sweet, full-color, gorgeous coffee-table book is Spirit Of The Sword by Steve Shackleford. It takes you on a trip from historic to modern swords and back again.

For knife collectors, you can’t go wrong with a book devoted entirely to Case Knives, the most collected brand in the world. Check out Collecting Case Knives by long-time collector, expert, accumulator and investor in everything Case, Steve Pfeiffer. And if after all that, you’re ready to design your own knives, or just need inspiration from over 100 classic knife designs, be sure to put in your pre-order for the brand-new, soon to hit bookshelves and stores everywhere 101 Knife Designs by none other than Murray Carter.

Admittedly, that’s one impressive knife book lineup, and would make any knife enthusiast’s library complete!

History Channel Features Ka-Bar Knives

Ka-Bar Knives is set to star in the premier episode of the new History Channel series What People Earn. What better theme than “Beer, Knives & Football” for the initial episode of the show, and at 115 years old and going strong, is there a better fit than Ka-Bar for the show, starring alongside Samuel Adams, the famous brewer? It’s time to kick back, relax, grab a brew, and watch What People Earn while mindlessly, though carefully, opening and closing your Ka-Bar pocketknife.

A companion piece on the new show and KA-BAR Knives will run in the March 10 issue of Parade Magazine6112CU_HalfSize

What People Earn will air at 10 p.m. EST on Sunday, March 10 on History Channel 2.  History Channel 2 can be found on DirecTV channel 271. Dish Network subscribers can find the premier of What People Earn on channel 121.  For cable subscribers, please check your local listings. For additional information, please visit History.com.  To learn more about KA-BAR Knives, please visit KA-BAR.com or call 800-282-0130.

Video: The Kevin Cashen Phoenix Knife

Kevin Cashen
The stories behind the blades are part of what makes collecting knives so much fun. The provenance might be happy or sad, but it’s the storytelling itself that is so valuable. Knives can be keys to unlock those stories. Instead of calling up a house fire, the Kevin Cashen Phoenix Knife tells the story of getting through tough times.

Part of the appeal to knife collecting are the stories behind the blades. The so-called “Phoenix Knife” from master smith Kevin Cashen is one such knife.

Judging from the name, you’d be correct in guessing Kevin Cashen’s piece figuratively rose from the ashes. In a tragic turn of events, it literally earned the title, too.

According to the American Bladesmith Society (ABS), which posted the video above, the Phoenix Knife started life as a group project. Several ABS board members got together to make a Bowie, including Kevin Cashen.

However, a house fire destroyed much of the knife’s progress. Undeterred, the board members regrouped and gave it another shot.

The result, as the video shows, is the Phoenix Knife. “It’s alive!”

Have a great knife story? Post it in the comments below.

 


The Stories Behind the Designs

Knife Patterns BookCertain knife designs are repeated again and again for good reason: They work. Murray Carter explores the stories behind many designs in his new book, 101 Knife Designs. You know the designs that stand the test of time. Now read why.

Click here to order 101 Knife Designs.

World’s Top Knives at ECCKS March 1-3

Some of the world’s top knives and knifemakers will descend on Jersey City, New Jersey, March 1-3 for the 24th Annual East Coast Custom Knife Show (ECCKS).

 

Ron Lake's stag interframe tab-lock folder. (Dave Ellis photo)
Ron Lake’s stag interframe tab-lock folder. (Dave Ellis photo)

Such makers as, in alphabetical order, Van Barnett, Todd Begg, Charles Bennica, Tim Britton, Joel Chamblin, Pat and Wes Crawford, Dellana, Bob Dozier, Allen Elishewitz, Kaj Embretsen, Emmanuel Esposito, Larry Fuegen, Koji Hara, Rick Hinderer, Steve Johnson, Joe Kious, Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Ron Lake, Kirby Lambert, Wolfgang Loerchner, R.J. Martin, Jody Muller, Warren Osborne, T.R. Overeynder, W.D. Pease, Darrel Ralph, Steve Rapp, Bill Ruple, John W. Smith, Jurgen Steinau, Strider Knives, BLADE® Magazine Field Editor Joe Szilaski, Bob Terzuola, Brian Tighe, Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Michael Walker, John Young and many more will exhibit, as well as top purveyors and suppliers.

 

For more info click on http://fiftyfiftyproductions.net/eccks-info.php

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. CoverWhite01

CoverWhite02Here’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.

NEW BLADE Show Site Easy To Use/Navigate

The brand-new BLADE Show website makes learning about the show, buying tickets, seeing exhibitor and sponsor lists and getting updates on the seminars schedule easier than ever!

blade show.jpegAs most knife enthusiasts have already discovered, if you like seeing new knives first-hand, and buying, collecting, selling or just talking everything knife related, then the BLADE Show is the place to be. Nearly every major knife manufacturer worldwide exhibits at the show, and more than 600 custom knifemakers display their handmade pieces. The BLADE Show truly is the world’s largest knife show, and the ultimate knife show experience.

living readyRead news and information about the new Living Ready Expo held in conjunction with the BLADE Show. Be prepared. Relevant and timely, the Living Ready Expo is designed to educate those interested in preparing themselves and their families for all kinds of real-life survival scenarios. Get practical advice and tips on preparedness, debunk urban survival myths, learn from survivalist experts and network with other urban preppers. It is the best knife show and survival show, all for one ticket!

Arkansas Custom Knife Show Feb. 16-17

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.

Ray Kirk will give away his NDN model at the show.
Ray Kirk will give away his NDN model at the show.

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.

 

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