New BLADE Hits Newsstands TODAY!

What does it take to be a full-time knifemaker? Was BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Michael Walker’s LinerLockâ„¢ an innovation or a redo? Do you know how to make a damascus plug weld? These questions and more are answered in the latest issue of BLADE®, debuting on newsstands TODAY!

Get the new BLADE, on newsstands now!
The new BLADE is on newsstands now!

Custom knives have a mystique and following all their own, and the hottest makers of same enjoy a cult-like status with their most ardent fans. However, what’s it really like to be a full-time custom knifemaker? Read part one of veteran maker Shane Sibert’s story “26 Hurdles To Making Knives” and you will get a healthy dose of reality. In other words, if you’re thinking of becoming a knifemaker, Shane’s article is must reading.

Michael Walker invented the LinerLock in 1981, but it wasn’t until 1987 that other makers started producing folders with the ingenious locking mechanism. Since then the mechanism has exploded in popularity, and today is probably the most popular lock on contemporary folders. Along the way, Walker had to fight to maintain his claim of being the inventor of the LinerLock. He tells you all about it and other things in “LinerLock: Innovation or Redo?”

Also: Check out the first-ever knives offered by Maxpedition, including this issue’s cover knife, the Ferox. Learn all about some of the best knives you may not know of and also what is behind the re-emergence of blade fullers, also known incorrectly as blood grooves, on today’s knives.

Knifemaker Stanley Fujisaka passed away on the last day of 2013 but not before he left an indelible impression on scores of knifemakers, knife enthusiasts and, of course, his loving family and friends. Dan Delavan shares his memories of the endearing Hawaiian maker and person in “Fujisaka: A Great Mentor Remembered.”

Stay tuned to www.blademag.com for the latest in knives, knife trends and much more.

9 Hottest Facebook Makers in New BLADE

9 hottest Facebook makers in BLADE®!
9 hottest Facebook makers help highlight the new BLADE®, on newsstands now!

Nine of the hottest Facebook makers, the latest factory knives for 2016, one of the hottest trends going in cool side tools and much more inundate the latest issue of BLADE® Magazine, on newsstands now!

With social media embracing the cutlery industry like James Bowie’s long-lost knife, Facebook is near or at the top of the list of those peopled by any and all who admire sharpened steel. As a result, BLADE used its BLADE Facebook page to poll its friends on who they think are the hottest custom Facebook knifemakers who post pictures of their work on Facebook. Check out the results of our Facebook poll in “9 of Facebook’s Hottest Makers.”

Along with the annual BLADE Show, the annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show is the place many factory cutlery companies introduce their latest knives. Feast your eyes on some of the latest in tactical, folding, fixed, traditional, hunting, bushcraft, automatics, flippers and other state-of-the-art blades in our edged exclusive, “Sweet 16s: The New Factory Knives for 2016.”

According to ABS master smith Wally Hayes, a side tool is “an ancillary tool for cutting, opening, turning; something useful and fun.” Cool side tools are flooding the industry, from the Dual Action Dragon Opener by Suz and Bob Terzuola on the custom side to the MacV Tool from SOG Specialty Knives on the factory side and everything in-between. Pop a top, cut a rug or whatever hones your edge with one of the latest in these handy multi-tools outlined in “Side-Tool Cool.”

Also this issue: How to build your own knife online; custom logo’d flipper folder tabs; some of the best EDC knives for under $50; the latest in pro-knife laws passed nationwide; the conclusion of Jeffrey Dane’s historical six-part series, “Bowie Legend: Fact or Fable?”; Chad Mock’s “Texas Ulu”; and much more in the latest issue of BLADE.

Florida Knife Law Preemption Bill Filed

      According to Knife Rights (KR), Florida State Senator Thad Altman (R- District 24) has filed a Knife Law Preemption bill developed by Knife Rights with the cooperation of Florida Carry. KR also acknowledged former president of the NRA, Marion Hammer, the executive director of United Sportsmen of Florida, who was very helpful in this effort. SB 1732 is “a bill…providing legislative intent to preempt the regulation of knives and weapons to the Legislature.”  You can review the bill at www.kniferights.org/SB-1732_Knife-Preemption_Altman.pdf 

     This bill builds upon the success of last year’s revised Florida firearms preemption law that provided for painful penalties to political jurisdictions that were previously ignoring the existing firearms preemption law. The Knife and Weapons Preemption bill voids local laws and regulations and includes these same severe penalties if local jurisdiction were inclined to ignore this expansion of state preemption to cover knives. According to KR, this puts real teeth into this bill, ensuring “the repeal of rules, ordinances, and regulations prohibited by the [new] section [of law].”

     Two encompassing definitions are provided in the bill for “common pocketknife” and “knife” that are otherwise referenced in Florida law without constructive definitions. A “common pocketknife” is defined as “any knife that can be carried in a pocket, purse, handbag, backpack, briefcase, or sheath, or similar container.”  “Knife” is defined as “a cutting instrument that includes a sharpened or pointed blade, including a sheath knife commonly used for fishing, hunting, outdoor recreation, or work activities.”

    KR officials said they are working diligently to get a companion bill filed in the Florida House of Representatives, which is generally required to assure passage.

     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-subscription-us/?r+ssfb090112#BL1SU

Next Ivory Meeting Deadline is June 2

Jimmy Lile used pre-ban ivory on his classic bowie.
Don’t miss the June 2 deadline for the June 9 public meeting on the federal ivory ban. Jimmy Lile used pre-ban ivory on his classic Lone Wolf Gonzaullas knife he made in the late 1970s. (image courtesy of Jack Lucarelli)

If you care to express your views concerning the federal ivory ban, you are urged to participate in another public meeting—scheduled this time for June 9—by the Advisory Council to the Presidential Task Force on combating wildlife trafficking. Signup deadline to attend is June 2. If you want to submit talking points for discussion during the meeting but cannot attend, you must submit them in writing by June 2 as well. No e-mails or faxes will be accepted!

The meeting will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT at the U.S. General Service Administration Building, 1800 F St. NW, Room 1153, Washington, D.C 20405. For more information on deadlines, where to send your written statements, etc., visit https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/05/06/2014-10295/advisory-council-on-wildlife-trafficking-meeting.

According to scrimshander Sandra Brady, you may attend the meeting in person or you may participate via telephone. “At this time, we are inviting submissions of questions and information for consideration during the meeting,” she noted. “If you or anyone you know would like to have their voice heard, now is the time. You must sign up to make a statement or sign up to be present during the meeting by June 2. I believe letters would be appropriate if received no later than June 2.

“If you are a knife club member or in charge of a newsletter, please get this info out. Also, those of you who are active on forums, please pass this around there, too. We need a strong showing, lots of letters, and don’t forget to contact your congressional representatives. We do not want sales in pre-ban ivory to become a felony!”

The Advisory Council is called upon to hold such meetings as a result of Executive Order by President Obama (see http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/07/01/executive-order-combating-wildlife-trafficking). The June 9 meeting will be the third one held by the Advisory Council. According to an Advisory Council release, the meeting will be held to “discuss administrative topics and hear public comments and questions.”

Stay tuned to a special ivory site, www.elephantprotection.org, for updates and more information.

New Measure Will Revamp Alaska Knife Law

With the stroke of a pen, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell has signed a new measure known as HB33 that will result in sweeping reform of Alaskan knife law.

Northern Knives retail knife store in ??????, Alaska, will be among the many who benefit from Alaska's sweeping new knife reform law. (Northern Knives photo)
Ray Thibault, owner of Northern Knives in Anchorage, Alaska, was among those who witnessed the signing of Alaska’s sweeping new knife law. (Northern Knives photo)

The new law will go into effect Sept. 18. Until then, however, existing Alaska knife laws remain in place.

According to Knife Rights, HB33 will legalize the possession, transfer and carry of automatic knives, aka switchblades, and also enact knife law pre-emption, which repeals all local knife laws and prevents new ones from being enacted—in this case, in Alaska.

Alaska will become the 7th state to enact knife law pre-emption, Knife Rights reported.

The new law will be particularly beneficial to the state’s outdoor and hunting industries, both of which rely heavily on hunters and outdoors people—and most hunters and many who spend time outdoors use and carry knives.

Knife law pre-emption, meanwhile, prevents the oppressive practice used by many towns, cities and counties within states whereby the knife laws are contradictory and you may literally be legal, illegal and then legal again when you carry a knife and pass from town to city to county.

Gov. Parnell invited Todd Rathner, Knife Rights director of legislative affairs, to the signing ceremony in Palmer, Alaska. Also in attendance were Ray Thibault of Northern Knives retail knife store, Sen. Charlie Huggins, HB33 Sponsor Rep. Mark Neuman, House Speaker Rep. Mike Chenault, Rep. Wes Keller and Rep. Bill Stoltze.

For more information on the new law and pro-knife laws in general, contact Knife Rights and/or stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

3 Outstanding Knife Shows This Weekend

Knife enthusiasts have three outstanding knife shows to choose from this coming weekend.

     The Chesapeake Knife Show will be Dec. 11 at the Crowne Plaza in Timonium, Maryland. Visit http://www.knifeshows.com/shows/baltimore/index.html for more details.

     The Oregon Winter Knife Show will be Dec. 10 in the Lane County Convention Center in Eugene, Oregon. Visit www.oregonknfieclub.org for all the poop.

     Parkers’ Greatest Knife Show on Earth will be Dec. 8-10 at the Sevierville Events Center in Sevierville, Tennessee. Call Ed Henley (423-892-0448) for more info.

For the latest info on knife shows, the latest knives, knife news and much more, subscribe to BLADE® by clicking on http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?r+ssfb71211#BL1SU

The Living Knife Highlights New BLADE®

On many newsstands today, new BLADE will literally grab you!
Living Knife by Jean-Marc Laroche highlights new issue of BLADE, on many newsstands today!

The Living Knife by Jean-Marc Laroche will literally grab you from the cover of the new BLADE®, on most newsstands today.

Featuring a damascus blade forged by Sweden’s Roger Bergh, the Living Knife includes a mechanical “hand” for a handle, the fingers of which will grasp your hand in return when you grip it! Find out more about this ingenious creation by Laroche, a French knifemaker and sculptor well known for his otherworldly approach to knives.

Speaking of out of this world, ABS master smith Lin Rhea visited Steve Arnold, one of the stars of the Discovery Channel’s “Meteorite Men” TV show, and obtained some meteorite material from Arnold for use in the damascus blade of a special bowie. Get the complete story on the meteorite material and its origin, how Lin made the knife and much more in this issue.

Speaking of damascus, it is one of the most fascinating materials for knife blades, among both knife neophytes and aficionados alike. How did this storied material first come about? How many different versions have there been? Get the inside scoop on this ancient material in the new BLADE.

The American Bladesmith Society traces its creation to the man who reintroduced damascus to the modern custom knife movement—Bill Moran. One of if not the largest organizations of knifemakers in the world, the ABS presented its annual best knife and bladesmith honors at the 2014 BLADE Show. See what those top knives and who those premier smiths are this issue.

Hunting season is in full swing and hunting knives are in hot demand. But is just one enough? Find out why two hunting knives are better than one in the new BLADE.

There’s much more, including a test of two automatics, the latest ceramic kitchen knives, a Nordic knife for every budget, the sharpest Christmas gifts anywhere, how Dan Keffeler won the BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition and much more in the January BLADE, on newsstands NOW!

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