Knife News Wire Archives

New BLADE On Most Newsstands TODAY!

-

March 26, 2013

Spartan Blades gets its first BLADE® cover with the June BLADE, on most newsstands TODAY!

Designed by BLADE field editor and retired 5th Special Forces master sergeant Kim Breed, the cover knife is the Spartan-Breed fighter/dagger—and it is just one of the latest knives from the 2013 SHOT Show and many other knives highlighted in the June issue.

•On the custom collector front, Mike Haskew examines the exploding phenomenon of Chinese and Taiwanese collectors hoarding custom handforged knives in “Asian Damascus Invasion.”

•BLADE field editor Ed Fowler continues his lavishly illustrated sheep-horn handle how-to in part IV of “Breaking Sheepish.”

•Spring is here and so is fishing season. Fillet your favorite catch with the latest in fillet blades in Tom Carpenter’s “Fish Knives Combine Form & Function.”

•Former New Hampshire state representative Jenn Coffey wants your help in getting car dealers and manufacturers to consider including the CRKT Exitool seat-belt cutter as standard issue in cars in an effort to avoid such tragic deaths as the baby in Los Angeles who was killed when no one had a tool to extricate the infant from a burning automobile.

•The SHOT Show was in Las Vegas and, in terms of knives, what happened there didn’t stay there. Steve Shackleford tells you about some of the factory industry’s hottest new knives from the show.

•In “How Thick Should Your Blade Be,” ABS master smith/BLADE field editor Joe Szilaski tells you which blade thicknesses for which knives.

•Clyde Fischer was a knifemaking legend from the 1960s until his death in 2001. His son Sammy Fischer is carrying on the family tradition, and Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member B.R. Hughes gives you the inside story in “Dad’s Footsteps, Not His Coattails.”

•In part two of a three-part series, a panel of knife industry authorities select the top custom knives from 1989-2000 in “A Decade Of Excellence.”

There’s much more. To subscribe to BLADE print issues click on www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss032613 and to subscribe to the new digital editions of BLADE, click on https://ssl.palmcoastd.com/07614/apps/ORDOPTION1LANDING?ikey=I**B47&et_mid=608607&rid=3579379?lid=blss032613

Ron Frazier: A True Artist Is Gone

Steve Shackleford

-

November 28, 2011

0

Long-time knifemaker Ron Frazier passed away on his birthday, Nov. 15. He was 71.

“Ron was one of only a few knifemakers that was a true artist,” noted his friend, scrimshander Rick Bowles.

The long, tall Frazier was a huge fan of 19th-century knifemaker Michael Price and made a number of dress bowies in the Price style. Well-liked and easy going, Frazier crafted artistic knives in a variety of styles, most if not all one of a kind.

He sold his first knife in 1976, the same year he joined the Knifemakers’ Guild. His sponsors for Guild membership were legendary knifemaker Corbet Sigman and Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© members George Herron and Bill Moran.

“Each of Ron Frazier’s blades are individual expressions of art,” wrote Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Butch Winter in his profile of Frazier in the September 1999 BLADE®. “He does not make knives, he creates them. His pieces are bursts of inspiration carried out in metal, ivory, horn, wood or bone. They are all one-of-a-kinds since, as Ron says, ‘I don’t like to make the same knife twice.'”

Among the many awards Frazier won for his knives were the 1997 BLADEhandmade Best In Show and Best Art Knife awards. At the Southeastern Custom Knife Show in Winston, North Carolina, he won Best In Show for three years running and Best Art-Best Bowie Overall four years straight.

Frazier lived in Powhatan, Virginia, with his wife, Susie. For more on Frazier knives visit www.rehobothcustomknives.com/dp_ron_frazier.htm, http://www.rehobothcustomknives.com/KRFZ005.htm and http://www.engraver.net/knife6.html

Knife News Wire 1/3/18 – $10 Knife Tops 2017’s Best-Selling Knives at Online Retailer

Knife News Wire

BLADE Staff

-

January 3, 2018

0

Knife News Wire 1/3/18 – $10 Knife Tops 2017’s Best-Selling Knives at Online Retailer

$10 Knife Tops 2017’s Best-Selling Knives at Blade HQ

If you want to know what kind of a year 2017 was for knives, it’s best to start by asking a retailer. Blade HQ put together a nice roundup of its top seven best sellers. Spoiler alert: The number one spot goes to a knife priced at $10.

Prediction: Best-Selling Chef Knife of 2018

Not one to be late to the party, Gadget Review is already calling 2018’s best-selling chef knife as the 10-inch Shun Classic. From the article:

Forged with 33 layers of high-carbon VG10 steel at a 16-degree angle, the Shun Classic is the perfect beginner’s knife for anyone who’s looking to upgrade their cutlery game and want a knife that will last them for the long haul. A Rockwell hardness rating of 61 means you’ll rarely have to re-sharpen it on your own, while its resin-impregnated Pakkawood handle fits comfortably in any size hand.

We here are BLADE will provide all the fainting couches you need to deal with the shock of a Shun knife on a list of best blades for the kitchen. I doubt we’ll be busy.

A Knife Made Out of a Solid Piece of Fish

Katsuobushi is a smoked and dried type of tunafish used in Japanese cuisines. It’s also about as hard a food as you can find. That’s why it’s shaved into flakes and used as a base for soups or sauces.

So why not make it into a knife?

Knives and Political Commemoratives: Pure Americana

Mentioned only in passing in the article here at the Hartford Courant, there apparently exists a switchblade made to commemorate President John F. Kennedy’s run for the White House. It’s now on display at a museum that celebrates the “Kennedy Mystique.”

A switchblade, made during his campaign, has a carved face that bears little resemblance to JFK.

A photo was not attached to the article.

Pairing politics with commemorative knives is an act of undiluted Americana that continues to this day. At the 2016 BLADE Show, in the heat of a summer of politicking, presidential candidates’ faces and slogans adorned many knives and accessories.

This is a good sign for collectors. Wait a while, and that political commemorative – even if it features a face bearing “little resemblance” to a candidate – could fetch a nice price.

Have a News Tip? Submit it Here

Have big news? Tell BLADE with this form.

New BLADE® On Newsstands Now!

Steve Shackleford

-

December 31, 2013

0

Get the lowdown on the latest knife hotbed of Russia in the new BLADE®—on newsstands NOW!

Sporting the Hati flipper folder by Russia’s hot knifemaking brother team of Sergei and Igor Shirogorov on the cover, the March BLADE features the headline story on the explosion of all things knife in Mother Russia. From the custom knives of the Shirogorovs and others, the factory knives of Olamic Cutlery and Kizlyar, and the explosion in the buying of American-made custom and factory knives by Russians, today’s knife market is warming up nicely in the Land of the Bear.

If you’re into making knives, the new issue has two stories that should fit your sheath. In fact, one is part two of Ed Fowler’s pouch sheath how-to. The other is Pat Covert’s pictorial on how Bob Dozier makes a frame-lock folder.

Like bushcraft knives? If so, join Mike Haskew as he taps the expertise of some leading makers and users of same in discussing “5 Keys To Top Bushcraft Knives.”

From the early days of Bill Moran to some of today’s leading custom knives, wood knife handles with the tiger-stripe look seem to have a mesmerizing effect on knife enthusiasts. Discover which woods have it and what all the hubbub is about in “Tiger Woods.”

The year past was a momentous one in the world of knives, and BLADE was there to cover all the head-turning events. Relive the year that was in “Dancing On The Edge.”

And, winding up BLADE’s 40th anniversary series on the top knives and makers of the past 40 years is part three of the installment on the top custom makers over a segment of that stretch—this time the top 16 from 2001-2012.

There’s much more—and it’s all in the new March BLADE.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more, stay honed at www.blademag.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.

New BLADE On Most Newsstands NOW!

Steve Shackleford

-

April 23, 2013

0

Fallkniven’s SK1 Jarl midsize hunter is the cover knife for the new BLADE®, on most newsstands NOW!

What are the top 14 custom knives of the 21st century? What features make a perfect tactical folder? Do you know why lightning strike carbon fiber got its name and why it’s in such demand among custom and factory knifemakers? What are the five most oppressive knife jurisdictions? What are the ultimate knives for Mother’s Day? Get the answers to these questions and much more in the latest issue of BLADE.

While the TSA announced yesterday that it will delay its new policy allowing passengers to carry small pocketknives and multi-tools on board commercial airliners, there was much that went into the creation of the original policy. Find out what happened behind the scenes, which knives qualified for the new policy and which ones didn’t, what industry leaders have to say about the new policy and much more in the new BLADE.

In other stories, find out how the cover knife performs in retired 5th Special Forces Master Sergeant Kim Breed’s “Spec Sheet” knife test; let Dexter Ewing show you how the latest serrated knife sharpeners do their duty; read Ed Fowler’s conclusion to his multi-part how-to on sheep horn handles; check out ABS master smith Rick Dunkerley’s Bear Tracks in “Cool Custom”; read part two of Wayne Goddard’s “Question & Answer” on the material that’s the most difficult to use for knife handles; enjoy mini-profiles of J.D. Smith, Tobbe Lundstrom, Glen Mikolajczyk, Libor Tobolak, Ronald Blystone and Tim Steingass in “Knifemaker Showcase”; and get up-to-date on the latest knives and knife accessories, knife show dates and much more in the latest BLADE.

For subscription information click on

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042313

Loerchner Wins CKCA/Fisk Cutlery Challenge

Steve Shackleford

-

July 11, 2013

0

Loerchner Wins CKCA/Fisk Cutlery Challenge

It took four judges over two hours to reach a decision, but Elizabeth Loerchner was chosen the winner of the Custom Knife Collector Association Jerry Fisk Cutlery Challenge.

Elizabeth won for her folder set with glass inlay. The announcement of the winner was made in Atlanta during the 2013 CKCA Banquet held the same weekend—May 31-June 2—as the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com).

Elizabeth won over knife projects submitted by knifemaker Robert Kaufmann and ABS master smith J.R. Cook. All three were awarded $15,000 endowments last year to make “a more innovative knife,” with all three resulting knives judged prior to this year’s CKCA Banquet. The innovation could be in a new process, new design, anything that produces a knife “more innovative than what is being done.”

The artisan trio represented an international cross section of makers: Loerchner of Ontario, Canada, Kaufmann of Aitrach, Germany, and Cook of Nashville, Arkansas. The entries will be on display at various museums to introduce non-knife art collectors and others to the fast-growing collectible field of custom knives.

The CKCA accepted applications until May 1, 2012, and a committee met to select the three winning makers. “Each maker consistently stretched themselves to do something outside their norm,” a Cutlery Challenge news release noted. “The selected makers are recognized for their enthusiasm, support for the industry, and are a positive representation of the CKCA organization.”

The benefactor of the $45,000 challenge has agreed to sponsor another one, and details regarding how to enter and more will be released by the CKCA in the near future. The challenge is open to CKCA members who are full- and part-time knifemakers who specialize in the forged or stock removal methods.

The CKCA is dedicated to the promotion and artistic significance of handmade knives. For more information, visit http://customknifecollectorsassociation.com/.

Knife News Wire 1/17/18 – Knife Industry Reacts to Canada’s New Knife Prohibitions

Warren Osborne Passes Away

2021 BLADE Show Knife-Of-The-Year® Award Winners & Custom Knife Award Winners

Knife Laws: Mammoth and Elephant Ivory Bans to Watch

Knife News Wire 1/16/18: Canada Bans Imports of One-Hand Opening Knives

New BLADE On Most Newsstands TODAY!

Ron Frazier: A True Artist Is Gone

Knife News Wire 1/3/18 – $10 Knife Tops 2017’s Best-Selling Knives at Online Retailer

$10 Knife Tops 2017’s Best-Selling Knives at Blade HQ

Prediction: Best-Selling Chef Knife of 2018

A Knife Made Out of a Solid Piece of Fish

Knives and Political Commemoratives: Pure Americana

Have a News Tip? Submit it Here

New BLADE® On Newsstands Now!

Fossil Ivory: Banned Along With Ivory?

New BLADE On Most Newsstands NOW!

Loerchner Wins CKCA/Fisk Cutlery Challenge

It took four judges over two hours to reach a decision, but Elizabeth Loerchner was chosen the winner of the Custom Knife Collector Association Jerry Fisk Cutlery Challenge.

Elizabeth won for her folder set with glass inlay. The announcement of the winner was made in Atlanta during the 2013 CKCA Banquet held the same weekend—May 31-June 2—as the BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com).

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?