City Shuts Down Knifemaking Operation in Garage

The first phase of a knifemaking business likely starts in the garage. If that sounds familiar to you, keep in mind that fire safety isn’t the only concern, as one knifemaker in Maine found out. City ordinances can hit in a hurry once you cross the line from “it’s just a hobby” to “making several knives per week.”

From the Sun Journal:

…city officials shut him down. Neighbors had been complaining about the noise and smell and his Auburn neighborhood wasn’t zoned for blacksmithing.

Read the full article here.

Knives as Status Symbols in the UK

Finally, a bright spot for knife enthusiasts in the United Kingdom. In a country saturated with imported knives, domestically made knives are becoming tokens of pride in certain pockets. This is especially the case with chefs and custom knives. 

From Big Hospitality:

Until just a few years ago, a British made knife was a rare sight in kitchens with German and Japanese-made blades favoured by most chefs.

But a small group of artisans are starting to change that, enabled by a number of factors including an increased interest in British handmade products and the marketing power of the Internet and social media.

See? Hipsters don’t always ruin everything. Read the full article here. 

Flying for Christmas? Here’s How to Transport Your Knives

Everyone’s favorite federal agency, the Transportation Security Agency, generally prohibits knives from being placed in a carry-on. Yes, there are stories of exceptions for this or that multitool, but it’s better to follow this guide from the TSA.

Here’s the quick rundown:

However, that chart goes only for knives you could stand losing. For transporting anything valuable (or, I suppose, invaluable), it may be better to ship it separately through a courier, such as FedEx or UPS. That way, you have a tracking code and know where your $75,000 work of art is hiding.

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