Gift a veteran one of these blades to mark Veterans Day, or on any other day of the year.
TOPS Knives Tracker
TOPS celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Tom Brown Tracker with a special limited-edition anniversary rendition of the noted survival knife.
Blade length: 5.75 inches.
Blade steel: CPM S35VN stainless
Blade finish: Tumble
Handle: Burlap Micarta®
Weight: 14.4 ounces
Overall length: 10.75 inches
Sheath: Burgundy leather w/belt loops
MSRP: $400
Outdoor Edge Slidewinder Multi-Tool
The Slidewinder Multi-Tool from Outdoor Edge combines a standard utility blade with a flathead screwdriver, Phillips-head screwdriver, bottle opener and pocket clip all in one package.
Blade length: .75 inch
Weight: 1.5 ounces
Overall length: 3.5 inches
The handle comes in a choice of orange, black or blue
MSRP: $14.50
CRKT Black Woods Chogan T-Hawk
The Black Woods Chogan T-Hawk designed by Ryan Johnson for CRKT features high-end finishes for a cool take on a classic. The hammer-poll hawk has a 3.5-inch edge of 1055 carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of 50-55 HRC for impact strength, and a magnesium phosphate coating.
Handle: Tennessee hickory
Weight: 1 pound, 15.9 ounces
Overall length: 19.13 inches
MSRP: $69.99
Kevin Cross Utility Fixed Blade
(SharpByCoop image)
A 2.75-inch straight-edge blade of AEB-L stainless steel and an ivory Micarta® handle with a carbon fiber bolster complete Kevin Cross’s utility fixed blade.
Blade grind: Flat
Overall length: 6.5 inches
The dual-pouch is by KSF
Cross’s list price for a similar outfit: $325
Matt Westberg SLiM EDC Folding Cleaver
The SLiM EDC Folding Cleaver by Matt Westberg sports a stonewashed blade of CPM S35VN stainless and a 2.65-inch cutting edge.
Lock: Framelock with overtravel and hardened lock face
Handle material/finish: Titanium 6Al-4V with green Micarta®/blasted and tumbled
The Kimura butterfly knife, a collaboration between Bear & Son and Bradley Cutlery Co., returns in a 3.75-inch taper-ground blade of 154CM stainless with a bead-blast finish and Rockwell hardness of 58-60 HRC. The 3D-milled stainless steel handle sports contoured G-10 overlays.
T-latch: stainless steel
Weight: 6.2 ounces
Closed length: 5 3/8 inches
MSRP: $159.99
ZT 0393
The ZT 0393 features a harpoon-style version of designer Rick Hinderer’s “Spanto” blade in 3.5 inches of CPM 20CV stainless steel. The blade operates on ZT’s KVT ball-bearing opener and flipper tab. The titanium framelock sports a hardened steel lockbar insert and G-10 overlay. The clip is ambidextrous/reversible.
Avoiding safety complications in a knifemaker’s shop is essential. BLADE® polled some key players in the knife supply industry to see if there are any trends in motion in the area of shop safety. While everyone can agree that common sense is a good thing, and that certain stand-by items as fire extinguishers and safety glasses will always be among knife shop essentials, there has been somewhat of an evolution in this area.
Respirators for Knifemakers
“I think the biggest advance is really progress in bringing safety awareness to the knifemaking community,” observed Shanna Kemp, marketing manager at Jantz Supply. “For example, we see a marked increase in the use of respirators as makers come to understand that breathing in even small amounts of wood dust might not seem like a big deal, but over time it can really affect your lungs.”
She added that some woods, such as ebony, release small amounts of arsenic, so an increase in awareness of the dangers of particulates and resins is a good trend.
Dealing with Dust in the Knife Shop
A new addition to the line of Jantz safety products is the Benchtop Downdraft Sanding Table. The 20 x 40-inch dust collection system is about 6 inches tall and connects to the maker’s vacuum system to help capture dust.
A new addition to the line of Jantz safety products is the Benchtop Downdraft Sanding Table. The 20 x 40-inch dust-collection system is about 6 inches tall and connects to the maker’s vacuum system to help capture dust.
“I feel like everyone is more conscious of their health these days than they used to be,” agreed Shannon Edgington of Knife and Gun Finishing Supplies. She said that while there isn’t anything new or cutting edge in her inventory, she definitely agreed that particulate concerns have become more of an issue.
One budget solution K&G offers is the 3M N95 Respirator for Vapors that features the Cool Flow Exhalation Valve that reduces heat build-up inside the respirator.
Respirators That Don’t Need Replacing Often
The 3M Particulate Respirator N95 8511 is approved for at least 95 percent filtration efficiency against certain non-oil-based particles. Braided headbands in a two-strap design with dual point attachment help provide a secure seal. An adjustable M-noseclip reduces potential for eyewear fogging.
As buyers jump from budget-friendly dust masks to the newer, more effective respirators, they don’t have to be replaced as often.
“The technology has definitely come along so that people don’t have to replace as much,” she said. “It’s not like the old paper respirators that people are constantly replacing, which don’t filter out that much anyway.”
K&G and Jantz both offer the 3M 7500 Series Half-Face Respirator Mask, which features a better seal around the nose and mouth, and replaceable filter canisters for a better level of protection.
Best Respirators for Beards
According to Jeff Mutz of Tru-Grit, the 3M Ultimate FX Full Facepiece Respirator works very well for knifemakers with facial hair. He said a lot of bearded makers have trouble getting a good, tight fit with a regular dust mask, or even the half-face respirator. The 3M Ultimate FX isn’t foolproof but it keeps out a lot more particles than the others, he noted.
In the area of high-end respirators, Jeff Mutz, product consultant at Tru-Grit, has high praise for one particular model that he said solves a couple of problems for contemporary knifemakers. For starters, he noted that the concept of “form follows function” even applies to current personal fashion trends.
“One thing I was impressed with,” Mutz said of the 3M Ultimate FX Full Facepiece Respirator, “is that it works a lot better for guys with facial hair, which is a big thing these days. I’ve seen more and more guys using the full-face respirator, so it’s apparently becoming a popular thing.”
He recalled that a lot of guys who visit his shop have longer and/or larger beards, and he noticed they have trouble getting a good, tight fit with a regular dust mask, or even the half-face respirator. The 3M Ultimate FX isn’t fool proof for those who choose to wear beards, he admitted, but the full face piece keeps out a lot more particles than the others.
“Of course, they say to create a seal you’ve got to shave off the beard, but a lot of guys aren’t willing to do that,” Mutz laughed. “So this is the next best thing.”
He recalled a conversation with Scott Sharpe, owner of Tru-Grit, about the younger generation, which seems more conscientious about safety. Scott said that when younger guys walk into his shop while he’s grinding, often they will pull their shirts up over their noses out of concern for what could end up in their lungs.
Field of View and Safety Glasses
K&G and Jantz both offer the 3M 7500 Series Half-Face Respirator, which features a better seal around the nose and mouth and replaceable filter canisters for a better level of protection.
Another good thing about the 3M Ultimate FX Full Facepiece Respirator is a better field of view. Mutz said when he wears a half-face respirator and safety glasses, the glasses interfere with the nose piece because they are not designed to work well together.
“I’ve noticed that the best way to solve that is to tuck the safety glasses under the half-face respirator, which is worse because you’re inhaling even more dust,” he explained. “With the full face, you get a large field of view and you don’t have to worry about the safety glasses interfering.”
Hand Protection Tape
Jeff Mutz recommends that if you wear hand protection, especially gloves, choose Kevlar rather than cloth or rawhide because the properties of the latter don’t play well with heat and moisture, which are both aspects of grinding in the shop. (Buck image)
Kemp said a lot of people may be surprised by two of Jantz’s best-selling safety supplies: two types of tape. The first is basic 3M Blue Masking Tape, which is used to cover the blade edge to avoid cuts from sharp edges. She added that a bandage wrap by Guard-Tex called Self Adhering Safety Tape is also popular in the area of hand protection. It is used to protect skin when grinding, sanding or polishing, while also not being as restrictive as full gloves.
However, in the area of hand protection Mutz warns against the inevitable trade-offs. He recommends that if you wear hand protection, especially gloves, choose Kevlar rather than cloth or rawhide because the properties of the latter don’t play well with heat and moisture, which are both aspects of grinding in the shop.
Mutz recalled when, years ago, he tried grinding while wearing gloves and noticed the gloves got wet when he dipped the blade into a bucket of water to cool it. The heat from the blade quickly transferred through the water into one of his hands.
“I couldn’t get my glove off quick enough,” he remembered. “I’ve rubbed my hand against a 36-grit belt before and that doesn’t feel good either. It’s kind of a double-edged sword.”
Another problem he pointed out was that makers should want to feel the steel. If it is getting warm, be aware of it and cool it off before the heat compromises the structure of the material.
Learn more about how to make knives with BLADE’s essential book.
“Especially once it’s been heat treated,” he stressed. “You don’t want to soften the steel.”
Mutz teaches knifemaking classes and discusses safety with his students. He stressed that he’s pro safety, of course, but as far as hand protection goes he’s probably not the best guy to consult.
“If you look on Tru-Grit’s website we’ve got this thing called Alligator Skin, which is a protective tape. Then you’ve got the finger guards that are made out of canvas. I’m not going to tell my students not to wear them, but these are the things you’ve got to look out for,” he concluded.
Safety in the Knife Shop is Serious Business
Safety is and should be a concern for those who spend long hours in a knife shop, and all three sources for this story agreed that common sense is the foundation, which, Edgington laughed, “over the years hasn’t always been in great supply!”
Jon deAsis is on left. Les de Asis is on right. (Benchmade photo)
Benchmade founder and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame® member, Les de Asis, is stepping down as head of day-to-day operations of the Oregon City-based knife company. His son, Jon, will step into that role, effective Nov. 5, 2018. It marks the first significant changing of the guard in the 31-year-old Benchmade, although Les will remain on in strategic positions as CEO and chairman.
The following release from Benchmade explains the transition in detail.
Knife-industry icon Les de Asis, founder of Benchmade, has announced he is handing responsibilities for daily operations and leadership to his son, Jon deAsis, who has been promoted to president of the family-owned business. Jon will oversee a team of nearly 400 employees in the Oregon City, OR, headquarters and manufacturing facility, which produces a range of premium knives for the hunting, tactical, enthusiast and outdoor recreation markets. Les de Asis will maintain his role as CEO and Chairman of the Board, guiding the company’s overall strategy and direction.
Jon de Asis at BLADE Show 2017, where his father, Les, was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame. (Image via AKTI)
Jon deAsis grew up with the Benchmade brand, spending his life learning the family business and preparing himself through various roles within and outside of the company. Prior to taking on this new position, Jon spent three years as the vice president of operations at Benchmade, overseeing the brand’s production and rapid growth in Oregon City. During his tenure Benchmade continued to upgrade and strengthen its manufacturing and service capacity in order to provide the highest level of service to its customers.
“I am humbled and overjoyed to have Jon move into this role and feel that this is a great step forward for the organization,” said Les de Asis. “The company and family at Benchmade have been my life’s work since we opened our doors in 1987. Nothing means more to me than the passion, quality, commitment and energy each and every member of our team has dedicated to building the best knives in the world. I know that Jon is the right choice to help continue that drive well into the future and bring Benchmade to a new generation of customers.”
Benchmade has posted eight consecutive years of double-digit growth. The company operates out of a state-of-the-art facility with more than 144,000 square feet of manufacturing space producing products for professionals and enthusiasts alike. The company produces 60 product lines including popular items that have been on the market since the early 1990s.
“I couldn’t be more proud and excited to continue building on my father’s work. Benchmade is a shining example of how a U.S.-based manufacturing operation can continue to thrive by creating premium-quality, highly coveted products with a relentless focus on progress,” said Jon deAsis. “The talent we have assembled in Oregon City is second to none and I’m thrilled to be working with such a strong team in continuing to grow the business.”
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The pair of knives the titular Rambo character, played by Sylvester Stallone, will use in the fifth Rambo movie is no longer a secret. Rambo will use the “Heartstopper,” made by Dietmar Pohl, of Pohl Force in Germany, as his “big one.” Pohl also made a “small knife” Rambo will use.
Pohl joins Jimmy Lile(FirstBlood, First Blood: Part 2) and Gil Hibben (Rambo III, Rambo) as the knifemakers selected to supply the movie franchise’s iconic knives.
The fifth movie is set to release in fall 2019 as Rambo V: Last Blood, and will be set in Mexico. To date, the only image of the knife is what Stallone posted on his Instagram page. Filming began “a few weeks ago,” according to the Pohl Facebook page.
In a statement, translated from German, Pohl couldn’t say much more beyond being excited.
“RAMBO V – We’re very happy to be part of it! A very special project for Dietmar Pohl and the Pohl Force team.
“With the official posting from Sylvester Stallone on Instagram it became public that Dietmar Pohl (knife designer & CEO of Pohl Force Knives) designed the knives for the Rambo V movie.
“Now we’d like to confirm the cooperation. Because the film production started only a few weeks ago and the movie start is announced for autumn 2019 we ask you to understand that we cannot provide any further information and details on the knives at this time.”
This isn’t the first time Hollywood tapped Pohl’s knives. He provided blades for Hunter Killer, released Oct. 26, 2018 and starring Gerard Butler. Here’s Pohl on the set of that movie:
While the passing of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame member A.G. Russell is unfortunate, the enormous footprint left behind by “Mr. Knife” is sure to keep knife enthusiasts at full attention for generations to come. Here are three A.G. Russell knives that will likely only become more popular.
A.G. Russell Sting
A third generation Sting. (AG Russell photo)
It’s hard to overstate the significance of the Sting. It’s everything that a boot knife should be, from the dual hollow grinds to the handle swell. Previous iterations of boot knives more or less stuck to formulaic dagger designs. Russell defined the category by injecting better ergonomics, craftsmanship and a deceivingly simple presentation.
Even if they didn’t actually stick the Sting in their boots, knife enthusiasts ate this model up after the debut in 1975.
A.G. Russell One Hand Knife
A.G. Russell One Hand Opening Knife (A.G. Russell photo)
Second only to the Sting as far as sales figures go, the One Hand Opening Knife puts its lock front and center for all to see. Or, rather, front and forward. Russell re-introduced the knife in 2008, 20 years after it hit his shelves. The funky design makes it a favorite among collectors.
A.G. Russell FeatherLite K-93 One Hand Knife
(A.G. Russell photo)
A.G. Russell went with simplicity and an appealing price point when the FeatherLite debuted in 1993. It worked. The knife went on to sell more than 50,000 units. As Russell himself points out in the video, that doesn’t include the 11,000 units sent off to U.S. military members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2004. For enthusiasts, it’s the designer’s signature EDC knife.
Honorable Mention: Wharncliffe Lockback
As one of the last designs Russell released, the Wharncliffe Lockback stands out for its innovative approach to a time-tested favorite. Here’s a look at the knife as introduced by Phil Gibbs at BLADE Show 2018.
A.G. Russell, long-time knife entrepreneur, founder of A.G. Russell Knives, a founding member of The Knifemakers’ Guild, and a member of the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame, passed away Oct. 12. During what was supposed to be a routine angiogram to check for blockage in a coronary artery, A.G.’s heart gave out. He was 85.
As recently as Wednesday, Oct. 10, A.G. spent a big part of most business days in the office working with Phil Gibbs on knife designs and talking to customers in the A.G. Russell Knives retail knife store in Rogers, Arkansas. Saturdays were especially important to A.G. He would spend most of the six hours that the store was open on that day, talking to customers. He especially enjoyed the children who visited the store.
“To say we are all in a state of shock is putting it mildly,” stated Mrs. Goldie Russell, A.G.’s wife, business partner of over 30 years and fellow BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Famer. “I do take great comfort in knowing from conversations we have had of late that he was simply tired and ready to be called Home, and that he is no longer experiencing pain and discomfort.”
Visitation will be on Sunday, October 21 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Westfield Chapel Funeral Home in Springdale. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m. at Lakeview Baptist Church on Hwy 265 between Lowell and Cave Springs.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to military and veterans organizations that will be listed shortly here.
If it is your preference to send flowers, that may be arranged at the Heartfelt Sympathies Store online. Click here for more information.
That starts with the fact that BLADE Show West is an expansion of the annual BLADE Show in Atlanta, but most knife fans already knew that. Here’s a recap of show highlights that you might’ve missed if you weren’t one of the lucky dogs at the Portland show.
Over and over again, exhibitors commented how refreshing it was to see new knife fans. In turn, knife fans in the Portland area said they were excited to see the BLADE Show come to this side of the country, and to this part of the Pacific Northwest in particular.
That should come as no surprise, as the greater Portland area is positively primed for knife enthusiasts. There’s a good reason so many knife companies call the area home. Now, finally, there’s an event that brings everything together in one stellar package.
Attendance: Hot Runs On Customs, Factory Fun and One-on-One
BLADE Show West took place on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday circuit. Like many knife shows, each day brought different sorts of people to the event.
Friday was a hot one for custom knifemakers, with a line to get in out the door that cleared tables once the entrance unlocked. Custom ‘makers who sold out had two days to explore Portland, visit friends in the industry and, of course, log some backorders. That’s proof that the knife nuts will turn up when the floor plan looks as good as it did.
This Bradford 4.5 took home the Best Fixed Blade award for factory knives. Also making a strong showing was the Bradford 3.5.
Saturday veered toward the factory exhibitors, as is often the case with events that also bring in casual knife fans (call them “knife peanuts” instead of “knife nuts?”). Companies local to the area, such as CRKT, Benchmade and Kershaw/ZT, made a big impression.
But the local knife nuts weren’t content with sticking to local companies. They also veered off into new favorites like WE Knife, Hogue and TOPS, to name only a few.
The crowds tamed down Sunday, the last day of the event, as one might expect, but that didn’t put a dent in the experience. As one knifemaker told The Oregonian, he “met future customers.” And those future customers got to meet knifemakers.
Besides, where else can your favorite knife company sharpen your favorite knife?
That’s what knife shows are all about. There isn’t anything wrong with logging onto Instagram or a retail website and placing an order for a knife. But can anything replace the in-person experience of talking with someone one-on-one? That’s always been important, and it will become even more important as various online platforms bend toward prohibiting knife content.
Simply put, nothing replaces a good, live knife show.
The “City of Roses” might be Portland’s official nickname, but many know that the unofficial slogan is “Keep Portland Weird.” What better way to tip the ol’ cap to a terrific host city than by featuring some “weird” knives?
Yep. It’s a custom pizza cutter from Ooak Forge. It also got people talking, and that’s a good thing.
BLADE Show West in Portland might be a cousin of BLADE Show in Atlanta, but it holds its own. That goes for the show awards, too.
BLADE Show West bestowed awards for custom and factory achievement in folding, fixed blade, EDC, non-knife EDC and “weird” categories. That’s in addition to the “Best in Show.”
The full list of winners is here. Pay close attention to the EDC and non-knife EDC categories. As with “weird,” those categories were new and exclusive to the Portland knife show. The Pacific Northwest, already a hotspot for knife companies, is especially primed for carrying knives and tools on a daily basis.
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Phil cleaned up the custom awards with Best Folding Knife and Best EDC Knife. He’s probably still grinning about the double dip.
That’s another unique part about knife shows. It’s a chance to recognize knifemakers who spend a lot of time laboring in creative isolation. Not only does BLADE Show West hand out the awards, the brains and hands behind the knives are present at the event. As a knife nut, BLADE Show West is a golden opportunity to hold the latest and greatest knives in your hands.
Not Just Knives
BLADE Show West also focused on gear, both harder use and EDC. That’s different from the BLADE Show in Atlanta. Here’s a little taste from InnerBark Outdoors.
Where’s “The Pit?”
“The Pit” at the Atlanta BLADE Show, as seen in 2011, prior to things getting “Pit”-y.
One thing the Portland BLADE Show West didn’t have was the famous “Pit” from the Atlanta BLADE Show, or a rough equivalent. That should be remedied next year in some fashion, but can the legendary “Pit” truly be copy/pasted? Time will tell, because if there’s one thing the knife crowd knows how to do, it’s…it’s…let’s just say…respectfully hosting discussions about contemporary issues in the knife industry over adult beverages until early morning at reasonable volume. Yeah. That.
