Knife News Wire Archives

You Have Until Tomorrow To Support Pro-BLADE Show Knife Law

Steve Shackleford

-

March 6, 2012

You still have time to support Georgia’s SB432, a Knife Law Preemption bill that would protect law-abiding citizens traveling through the state from a patchwork of conflicting knife laws that make citizens in accordance with the law in one jurisdiction and lawbreakers in the next.

As Atlanta is home to the BLADE Show, successful passage of SB432 would not only ensure Georgia residents carrying a knife are treated fairly wherever they travel in Georgia, but all those traveling to the BLADE Show though towns and cities with knife laws more restrictive than Georgia’s otherwise decent knife laws would be safe from violation. (Author’s note: An Atlanta city ordinance makes it illegal to carry any automatic or any knife with a blade longer than 3 inches “readily available for use.”)

According to Knife Rights, the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee has passed SB432 but your help is needed urgently to get the bill through the state’s Senate Rules Committee and a Senate floor vote. Knife enthusiasts have only until close of business tomorrow, Wednesday, to get the bill through the Senate Rules Committee and a Senate floor vote.

If you live, work or travel in Georgia, and this includes every BLADE Show exhibitor and attendee, please POLITELY contact the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and simply ask them to bring SB432 to a vote on the floor:

Chairman: Senator Don Balfour [email protected] (404) 656-0095
Co-Chairman: Senator Bill Hamrick [email protected] (404) 656-0036

SB432 is sponsored by Senator Bill Heath, who has worked hard getting it through to this point. Now it is important for ALL of US to help him get it through the Senate (and then on through the House).

E-MAIL Senators Balfour and Hamrick TODAY and/or call them.

For more information click on www.KnifeRights.org

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+ssfb030612#BL1SU

Gene Osborn Passes Away

Steve Shackleford

-

November 30, 2011

0

Gene Osborn, the head man behind Center Cross Instructional Videos of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away Nov. 9. He was 51.

As noted on the company’s website, www.centercross.com/cciv/, Osborn remained the “UNKNOWN KNIFEMAKER” by choice, and proudly displayed the Center Cross as the signature on all his work. For the last 30 years he made “‘one-of-a-kind knives,’ custom-made damascus steel for other knifemakers across the globe, and built the most complete and comprehensive video library of instructional guidance designed to take you to the next level in custom knifemaking.”

Center Cross is known for a wide range of knifemaking videos featuring such leading makers as Steve Johnson, Harvey Dean and others. The company is also known for the “Ultimate Knife Kit,” a kit that provides all the parts to build a knife with any number of different materials.

Among Osborn’s survivors is his wife, Mellanie, who will continue to run Center Cross.

To read more on the latest knife news, subscribe to BLADE® by clicking on

http://www.shopblade.com/product/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?r+ssfb301111#BL1SU

Wisconsin Assembly Passes Knife Law Reform Bill

Knife News Wire

Joe Kertzman

-

October 29, 2015

0

Wisconsin Assembly Passes Knife Law Reform Bill

A Knife Law Reform Bill, including Knife Law Preemption, AB 142, has passed the Wisconsin Assembly by a voice vote, according to Knife Rights and kniferights.org.

AB 142 removes all restrictions on switchblades and concealed carry of knives from Wisconsin statutes, with the single exception that a person who is prohibited under state law from possessing a firearm may not go armed with a concealed knife that is a “dangerous weapon.” Knife Law Preemption means that all laws more restrictive than the new state law will be voided and knife law will be consistent throughout the state.

An amendment was added to AB 142 that retains political subdivisions’ ability to “[prohibit] the possession of a knife in a building, or part of a building, that is owned, occupied or controlled by the political subdivision.”

The primary sponsor of AB 142 is Rep. Kathleen Bernier, and her co-sponsors are Reps. Joel Kleefisch, James Edming, Bob Gannon, Cody Horlacher, Chris Kapenga, Jesse Kremer, Scott Krug, Thomas Larson, Jeffrey Mursau, John Murtha, Keith Ripp, Jeremy Thiesfeldt and Paul Tittl.

The Senate version of this bill, SB 102, has passed the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety and a vote of the full Senate in the coming days is expected.

Knife Law Preemption repeals and prevents local ordinances more restrictive than state law that only serve to confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling within or through the state. Preemption ensures citizens can expect consistent enforcement of state knife laws everywhere in a state.

Switchblade Law Repeal Goes Into Effect

Knife News Wire

Joe Kertzman

-

July 3, 2014

1

Knife Rights, Inc. declared July 1, 2014, “Knife Freedom Day” in Tennessee. The repeal of the ban on automatics or switchblades, as well as the repeal of the ban on the carry of knives with blades over 4 inches in length “with intent to go armed,” a vague law subject to abusive interpretation, went into effect this week. Combined with Knife Law Preemption that passed in Tennessee last year, which rendered null and void all local laws more restrictive than state law, this means that all law-abiding citizens of the Volunteer State can now own and carry the knife of their choice.

Knife Rights recognizes the two bills’ sponsors, Senator Mike Bell and Representative Vance Dennis, for their hard work over two years reforming knife law in Tennessee. Knife Rights would also like to recognize Smoky Mountain Knife Works and Taylor Brands whose generous support helped Knife Rights create a Sharper Future™ for their fellow Tennesseans.

To celebrate this great day, a group of Tennessee knife owners, members of the Knives and Bladed Tools Special Interest section of the Tennessee Gun Owners forum (TGO), many of whom were active in supporting the two bills, had a special limited edition run of Pro-Tech automatic knives produced. The Les George designed Rockeye Autos are multi-color anodized with the TGO logo on the front and have “Knife Freedom Day 7/01/2014” on the back side of the handle, and each is serial numbered. Awesome!

See other knives now legal to carry in Tennessee.

Hottest Knives of the Hottest Summer

Steve Shackleford

-

June 16, 2015

0

The hottest knives of the hottest summer are here—and nobody covers them like the latest issue of BLADE®, on newsstands NOW!

It’s summer vacation time and you need to know which knives to take—and not to take—whether you’re hitting the beach, camping, traveling overseas or what have you. Daniel Jackson shows you the way in “National Knife Vacation.”

Speaking of camp knives, BLADE field editor Kim Breed tests two bodacious fixed blades of 5160 carbon steel by Little Bear Forge and Owens Weaponsmithing in “Spec Sheet.” And if you’re looking for folders with blades and tools for most any need, check out Dave Rhea’s “Multi-Bladed Freaks.”

Time was tomahawks and little axes—such as the Kershaw Tinder cover axe—were for small chopping chores like splitting kindling. They can still do those tasks but they also do much more, including prying, nail lifting, firestarting, opening bottles, tightening/loosening nuts and bolts, and much more. Get schooled on the changing face of these fascinating tools in “Hack to the Future!”

The United States has been the world leader in knives for many years now, not only because of such old school names as Case and Ontario but also due to such relatively newer companies as TOPS Knives and the baby of the four, Hogue Knives. See why the state of red, white and blue edges was never keener in Stephen Garger’s “Blades In The USA.”

Daniel Winkler has made period pieces used in such movies as the early ’90s classic The Last of the Mohicans clear to the tactical knives used in today’s Zero Dark Thirty. Through it all he’s transitioned from being a traditional bladesmith to, with partner Karen Shook, running the production operation of Winkler II Knives. You might say Winkler has reinvented himself and his business. Find out more in “The Knifemaker With Two Brains.”

BLADE covered the factory side of warranties in the August issue but what about the custom side of the ledger? BLADE field editor Ed Fowler has forged knives for decades and knows a thing or two about custom warranties. Consider his thoughts on the matter in “A Matter of Trust and Ethics.”

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

1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

Steve Shackleford

-

September 15, 2015

0

1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

The first-ever women’s division in a BladeSports International Cutting Competition was conducted Saturday, Sept. 19, at Jantz Supply in Davis, Oklahoma.

“BladeSports has long talked about the possibility of a women’s division in our sport,” noted Donavon Phillips, executive director of BladeSports International (BSI). “We are past the possibility now. It has arrived.”

The BladeSports International (BSI)-sanctioned event, which ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., also included a men’s competition. Competitors ran an obstacle course including cutting 2x4s, rope, water-filled plastic bottles, a straw lengthwise and slicing rolling tennis balls.

Though women have competed in the men’s division before—including the first-ever female qualifier for the BLADE Show World Championship, Jessica Elias, won for an unprecedented third straight time by Dan Keffeler this past June in Atlanta—the event marked the first time women have had a BSI division all to themselves.

“Knives have long been considered the tool of choice for men but more and more women are not only carrying knives regularly for protection and general use, but are now joining the ranks of men who compete in competitive knife events,” noted Ken Jantz, founder and CEO of Jantz Supply.

On Aug. 15, Jantz Supply hosted a training session in which four women and nine men became certified to compete in BSI events. A total of seven women have national BSI certification. The top competitors at both events earned points toward qualifying for next year’s national competition to be held in the spring in Dallas, Texas, and the BLADE Show World Championship in Atlanta June 4.

Jantz Supply has been in business for over 30 years and manufactures and supplies knife blanks, knifemaking components and tools. For more information visit www.knifemaking.com.

Also Check Out:

Making Tactical Fixed Blades DVD

Learn both basic and advanced knife making techniques with expert instruction from Allen Alishewitz in Tactical Fixed Blades. Allen demonstrates how to craft a double-edged tactical fixed blade knife from start to finish, and creates two knives in order to fully illustrate the knife building process. You’ll learn:

– Profiling and Drilling the Knife
– Tang Tapering on a Grinder
– Tang Tapering on a Mill
– And more!

Order here

Ivory Ban Meeting June 24: Act NOW!

Steve Shackleford

-

June 18, 2014

1

Act now to contact members of a House Subcommittee hearing that will meet June 24 to help decide the fate of the sale of all items containing elephant and other ivories.

“This is our best chance to stop the ivory ban without mega-money lawsuits,” observed scrimshander Linda Karst Stone. Though Stone and others worked on BLADE Show auction knives that should bring a “decent amount of money” to fight the anti-ivory mania in Washington, D.C., she fears it will be nowhere near enough. “It does not feel like we have deep enough pockets to fight an expensive lawsuit,” which is what it will take if the ban is not stopped before it is fully enacted, she noted.

As a result, she encourages those who value their elephant ivory knives to contact their representatives who will be sitting on the June 24 House Subcommittee hearing.

“I caution everyone not to be too optimistic, but the oversight hearing of June 24 could put a stop to this if they think there is enough support and hear from enough of us,” Stone noted.

Those on the House Subcommittee are Chairman John Flemming (Louisiana); Don Young (Alaska); Rob Wittman (Virginia); Glenn “GT” Thompson (Pennsylvania); Jeff Duncan (South Carolina); Steve Southerland II (Florida); Bill Flores (Texas); Jon Runyan (New Jersey); Vance McAllister (Louisiana); Bradley Byrne (Alabama); Doc Hastings (Washington); Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (North Mariana Islands); Eni F.H. Faleomavaega (American Samoa); Frank Pallone Jr. (New Jersey); Madeleine Z. Bordallo (Guam); Pedro Pierluisi (Puerto Rico); Carol Shea-Porter (New Hampshire); Alan Lowenthal (California); Joe Garcia (Florida); and Peter A. DeFazio (Oregon).

For the full subcommittee membership, complete with links to contact each member, visit http://naturalresources.house.gov/subcommittees/subcommittee/?SubcommitteeID=5063. The best strategy is to focus on members with whom you have a connection, you are one of their constituents, you have a business in the official’s district, etc.

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

You Have Until Tomorrow To Support Pro-BLADE Show Knife Law

Gene Osborn Passes Away

Wisconsin Assembly Passes Knife Law Reform Bill

Switchblade Law Repeal Goes Into Effect

Hottest Knives of the Hottest Summer

1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

Also Check Out:

Ivory Ban Meeting June 24: Act NOW!

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?