Knifemaking Archives

Guilford Art Center Holds Juried Knife Exhibit

Joe Kertzman

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March 18, 2013

Guilford Art Center Holds Juried Knife Exhibit

Calling all bladesmiths and knifemakers: the Guilford Art Center in Guildford, Connecticut, announces “Contemporary Knife Smithing: A Juried and Invitational Exhibition,” and is calling for submissions.

Bladesmithing is a thousands-year-old craft practiced in diverse cultures across the world. It has survived as an art form despite modern industrialization, with artisans dedicated to preserving and expanding traditional techniques. This exhibit will explore and highlight the artistry of the contemporary hand-crafted knife, as an object with both functional and aesthetic value.

Exhibit Dates: July 10-August 18, 2013

Juror: An ABS journeyman smith, Mace Vitale practices blacksmithing and is a copper smith. He has a background in architectural pre-cast concrete, is owner of Laurel Rock Forge in Guilford, and is an instructor at the Guilford Art Center.

Eligibility: This exhibition is open to knives made by U.S. residents.

Entries: Each artist may submit up to three (3) works. Each work may be represented by two separate images: one full view and one detail view. Work must be submitted in high-resolution digital format. For each entry please note dimensions of knife, and a maker’s list price (retail price), or not-for-sale/insurance value. Email entries to: [email protected].

Entry Fee for Applicants: $20. Includes up to three (3) submissions. Make check payable to Guilford Art Center and mail to 411 Church St., Guilford, CT 06437. Or call the Center with credit card number 203-453-5947. Payment must be received for entries to be eligible.

Entry Deadline: June 10, 2013. Digital images and entry fee must be received by this date.

Conditions: All accepted works must arrive with a display case that closes for safety purposes during exhibition. All entries must be original and must be completed within the last 3 years. The Center reserves the right to reject entries that do not meet these requirements or is deemed unstable. Shipped work that differs from submitted images will not be accepted. Work damaged in shipping will regretfully not be presented. All accepted work must have proper identification. No accepted work may be picked up before the closing of the exhibition. Work may be available for sale or must be identified as NFS. The retail price or insurance value provided on the entry form will be used; no changes may be made after the work is shipped.

Shipping: Shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist. A check for return shipping, including the cost of insurance, must accompany delivered work, payable to Guilford Art Center. Work damaged in shipping will not be presented. Detailed packing/handling instructions must accompany all works.

Hand Delivery: Please call the Center to make an appointment for hand delivery/pickup at 203-453-5947, Ext. 12, or email [email protected].

Receiving Deadline: All work must be received no later than these dates.

Sales/Insurance: A 40% commission on all sales will be retained by the Center. Artists must indicate sale price and insurance value or, if NFS, just insurance value. Submission of work to this exhibit is done so at the artist’s risk and implies an agreement on the part of the artist to all the conditions of this Call for Submission. GAC will not be responsible for loss or damage to work in transit, however, work will be insured while in the Guilford Art Center facility.

Publicity: Guilford Art Center reserves the right to photograph entries for the purposes of documentation, education and publicity. Accepted artists are encouraged to send to the Center a resume, artist statement, brochures, and additional photographic materials of the accepted work for publicity purposes.

Show Schedule:

Application due: June 10, 2013

Artist Notification: June 14, 2013

Receiving: June 24-28, 2013 (10am-4pm) (Shipped/by appointment)

Opening reception: July 10, 2013 (5-7pm)

Closing: August 18, 2013

Deinstallation: August 19-23, 2013 (10am-4pm) (Shipped/by appointment)

For more information please contact Guilford Art Center at 203-453-5947, or visit www.guilfordartcenter.org.

8 Amazing Additions To Any Knife Book Library

Joe Kertzman

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March 8, 2013

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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.

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!

2013 ABS Hammer-In Season Begins!

Joe Kertzman

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March 4, 2013

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The American Bladesmith Society (ABS ) Hammer-In season for 2013 is about to begin with the Great Smoky Mountain hammer-in event in Clyde, North Carolina, on March 15-17. That’s followed in April by the Spring Piney Woods hammer-in at the Moran School Of Bladesmithing in Washington, Arkansas. The ABS Hammer-In Directors have some exceptional demonstrations and special events planned for 2013.

The setting for the Great Smoky Mountain Hammer-In is Haywood Community College, and demonstrators include Adam and Haley DesRosiers, Greg Neely, Butch Sheely, Jason Knight, Scott McGhee and Shane Maust. Click here to download the event flyer.

Knifemaker Steve Fecas Passes at 66

Steve Shackleford

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February 6, 2013

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The world of knives lost a class act when knifemaker Stephen John “Steve” Fecas passed away Feb. 1. He was 66.

A long-time member of the Knifemakers’ Guild and one of the original members of the South Carolina Association of Knifemakers (SCAK), Steve operated out of Anderson, South Carolina. He sold his first knife in 1977 and started making knives full time in 1980. One of the many disciples of Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member George Herron, Steve made tight, clean folders in the stock-removal style and also designed knives for Benchmade.

A Vietnam War-era veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Steve was easy going and always had a joke or kind word to impart in his deep South Carolinian drawl. He and Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Frank Centofante were good friends and often were seen hanging out together at knife shows.

Steve is survived by his wife, Mary, six brothers, one sister and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or visit www.legacy.com/obituaries/charleston.

World’s Hottest Knives in April BLADE®

Steve Shackleford

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January 31, 2013

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The steel that changed knives forever, the hottest custom makers’ hottest knives, how to build an emergency shelter, Chad Nichols’ MokuTi knife material, how to recognize future knife collectibles, these and much more highlight the new April BLADE®, on most newsstands NOW.

Bill Moran’s introduction of damascus steel at the 1973 Knifemakers’ Guild Show 40 yaers ago this year is the focus of “Steel That Changed Knives Forever.” Find out from those who were there what that was like and from others how the introduction transformed the industry and continues to do so today.

If you were stranded in the woods and needed to build an emergency shelter in a short amount of time, could you do it? James Ayres shows you how in “Shelter From The Storm.”

The custom knives most in demand change at any given moment. Get the latest installment of how they’re changing and what they are in “On The Boil!” The cover knife made by Jim Burke and designed by Tashi Bharucha is one of them.

If somebody asked you what factory knives you should collect now for the future, what would be your answer? See if it gibes with those who know in “Knife Pros Reveal What To Collect.”

There’s much more—a profile of knifemaker Will Zermeno, Ray Kirk’s giveaway knife for the upcoming Arkansas Custom Knife Show, the latest in mid-tech knives, how to clean hunting knives, part two of Ed Fowler’s step-by-step how-to on sheep horn knife handles, a test of Joel Worley’s “Woodsman” brut de forge knife and much more, all in the April BLADE.

For subscription information to BLADE click on www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?lid=ssfbbl013113

Video: Homemade Hydraulic Press for Knifemaking

Knifemaking

BLADE Staff

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January 30, 2013

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Video: Homemade Hydraulic Press for Knifemaking

In this video from the American Bladesmith Society (ABS), journeyman smith Karl B. Andersen reviews his homemade hydraulic press. Andersen uses the innovative device to make damascus steel for his blades.

Andersen said he receives questions about what went into his homemade hydraulic press. It’s no wonder. This is one cool piece of knifemaking machinery. While Andersen has made his own modifications, the core design is from the mind of Michael Kanter from Wisconsin. From the video:

“It just doesn’t look like the other presses going…It’s very unique in its structure. Everything is contained within a picture frame. The tubular frame is made up of real high tensile steel.”

Despite being built like tank, Andersen points out that the pressure is all contained inside the homemade hydraulic press. Note the part where the arrow on a postage scale underneath the press doesn’t budge while the machine is running.

What about you? Ever consider building your own homemade hydraulic press? Leave a comment below.

Speaking of damascus, you don’t necessary need a homemade hydraulic press to make those eye-catching blades. Check out this download from BLADE on how to make damascus knives.