One of the many reasons the BLADE Show is the world’s most important knife event is the BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards recognizing the factory industry’s top knives. This year the awards will have a new wrinkle when the Best Of Show custom knife winner is recognized as well during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception sponsored by Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
The 2016 BLADE Show will be the 35th annual rendition and held June 3-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.
Conducted the Saturday night, June 4, of the show, the reception is where the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards, the industry’s most coveted factory honors, are announced. It will begin at 7 p.m. in Ballrooms 1 and 2 of the Cobb Galleria Centre (tickets required). Smoky Mountain Knife Works sponsors the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards, too.
The awards recognize factory knives in a number of categories, including best domestic and imported, most innovative, collector/investor, collaboration, manufacturing quality and others. All save one of the awards is open only to entries and voting by the many national and international show booth exhibitors. The lone category open to voting by visitors to blademag.com is the People’s Choice Award.
In addition to the Knives Of The Year, the show also hosts its annual custom knife judging competition, which is open only to the show’s hundreds of national and international custom knife exhibitors. The top honor in the competition is the Best Of Show Award, which goes to the category winner judged best of all the category winners by a panel of industry authorities. For the first time ever, this year the Best Of Show winner will be recognized during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception.
With the exception of the People’s Choice Award, all entrants in the Knife-Of-The-Year Awards competition will be on exhibit in a display, also sponsored by Smoky Mountain Knife Works, in the show lobby for show patrons to see. Open to BLADE Show custom knife exhibitors only, the custom knife competition will be conducted in Room 104 of the Cobb Galleria beginning at 3:30 p.m. on show Friday, June 3. The judging is closed to the public.
The Zero Tolerance 0999 was the BLADE Magazine 2015 American-Made Knife Of The Year®. (ZT image)This year’s Best Of Show winner will be honored during the BLADE Magazine Awards Reception. Bill Ruple won Best Of Show at last year’s BLADE Show. (PointSeven image)
Thousands of knife enthusiasts will visit the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta June 3-5 for the 2016 BLADE Show. (PointSeven image)
The 2016 BLADE Show will be here before you know it. Here are the 10 things you’ll need.
#1 – Tickets
If you don’t have yours already, getting your tickets ahead of time has never been easier. Just click here to handle everything online. You can also purchase tickets at the event, but taking care of this beforehand can only make your experience smoother.
#2 – A Place to Stay
If you’re already in the Atlanta area, you probably don’t need to worry about a place to stay. For everyone else, finding a hotel for a popular event can be challenging. Fortunately, BLADE made the hotel hunt easier by providing this interface to help you book.
Have you heard about the exclusive Chris Reeve Knives Inoksi? To celebrate the 2016 BLADE Show, 25 special edition Inkosi knives were made. Each comes numbered and with the BLADE Show logo on the handle. Click the knife to see specs and learn how to get yours. They’re going fast!
#3 – A Plan
The BLADE Show grows year after year, which means there’s a lot to pack into your visit. While some attendees head to whatever catches their eyes, other knife enthusiasts map out a plan. This exhibitor list will help make those decisions easier.
Anyone playing the knife game long enough develops a comfort zone. It could be collecting knives from only a handful of companies or makers, or turning the nose up to a particular sort of steel. There’s nothing wrong with knowing what you like, but what if you’re missing out?
With so many knifemakers and knife companies coming in from across the country and the planet, the BLADE Show isn’t the place to limit yourself. The entire world of knives is together in one spot. Try something new.
If you need help breaking out your rut, attend a Blade University class, hosted in conjunction with the BLADE Show. These classes are prime opportunities to learn something new.
#5 – A Good Pair of Walking Shoes
You’ll be on your feet all day. Comfortable shoes make a big difference.
#6 – A Keen Sense of Knife Show Etiquette
Exhibitors at the BLADE Show are happy to talk with you about their knives, but there are some unspoken rules to keep in mind.
Unless you’re a local, chances are you’re flying in to attend the BLADE Show. This presents a problem when it comes time to get your knives home. Do you trust your new (and expensive) knives to remain safe in your checked luggage?
A better bet is to ship your knives using a carrier. There is a UPS store in the Waverly Hotel, which is attached to the Cobb Galleria (the site of the BLADE Show). There are other choices in the area, too.
#8 – A Way to Carry Around Knives and Other Materials
This 18-pocket roll from BLADE offers a convenient yet secure way to store your knives.
In the first few hours of the show, carrying around your purchases isn’t that big of a deal. But as time goes on, even the small items feel much larger. Add in a few knife books from BLADE‘s booth by the main entrance, and things get heavy in a hurry.
The BLADE Show takes place in June in Atlanta, so you already know the weather will be warm. Because of the attendance records broken year after year, the show floor demands you not underestimate the necessity of comfortable, warm weather clothes. Time to break out those jorts.
#10 – A Good Attitude
The BLADE Show offers the rare chance to meet the entire gamut of knife enthusiasm. While that does equal opportunity for those buying and selling knives, it can also mean stress.
Don’t lose sight of why you’re at the show in the first place. You love knives as much as the other attendees. A little bit of pressure is OK, but don’t rain on anyone else’s great day. The better your attitude going into the show, the more you’ll get out of it.
In creating a superior knife two factors must mesh seamlessly — design and material. WE Knife has covered both bases again and again in nearly two decades of manufacturing.
The knife maker has whipped up some pretty striking blades over the years, turning an eye to both function and ergonomics. And it has executed them with some of the most resilient and desirable material available today.
Durable Titanium, rugged CPM-S35VN steel, modern ceramics — the company’s knives are built to go the distance — then some. The gallery below showcases two examples of WE’s precision knife making. And it doesn’t take much study of the Model 601 and 604 to see that the manufacturer strives to live up to its goal to “create the world’s strongest, enduring quality, sharpest knives.”
Model 601
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The 601 has been one of WE’s cornerstone knives, for good reasons. Not only is the folder outfitted with a rugged titanium handle and a CPM-S35VN steel blade (renowned for its strength), it also features a top-notch design. The handle is ergonomically shaped to better fit in the palm and gives the user more control over the knife. The blade is easily accessible with the knife’s ceramic ball bearing enabling a smooth and fast action. And the titanium handle features a titanium clip, to always keep the knife at the ready.
Terri Lynn of Jantz Supply will be among the participants in the inaugural women’s BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition conducted by BladeSports International.
The inaugural BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition for women will be held during the 35th Annual BLADE Show June 3-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.
Held in conjunction with the men’s 14th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Competition, the women’s title event, as well as the men’s, will be conducted by BladeSports International in “The Courtyard”—the parking lot of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly. Festivities will commence at 4:15 p.m. the Saturday of the show, June 4, under a huge outdoor tent new for this year sponsored by Burr King.
The tentative list of women who will compete includes Jessica Elias, who became the first woman to vie in the men’s World Championship last year, Shanna Kemp, Jessica Hinton, Terri Lynn and Nicole Warden. The winner will receive a fully engraved championship belt buckle similar to the one awarded to the winner in the men’s World Championship.
The BLADE Show World Championships consist of a series of cutting tests performed by each contestant, including chopping 2x4s in half, cutting free-hanging rope, cutting rolling golf balls in half and other tests, including seeing how many water-filled plastic bottles standing all in a row the contestant can successfully cut. To add to the drama, exactly which cutting tests will be included in the event are usually kept unknown to the contestants until right up to when the Championships begin. Points are awarded via a system that considers the most successful cuts in the least amount of time. The contestants must use fixed blades that cannot exceed specified blade and overall lengths, pass stringent BSI safety courses and observe other requirements.
In the men’s World Championship, Dan Keffeler is expected to return to defend his title. He has won the BLADE Show World Championship three years running, a record for consecutive titles, and will be attempting to win an unprecedented fourth straight. The only other person to win three World Championships is Reggie Barker, though he did not win them consecutively. The tentative list of men expected to compete includes two-time world champ Gary Bond, three-time national champ Donavon Phillips, Daniel Coldiron, Jerry Kemp, Jo Smith, Christoper Warden, Brad Stallsmith, Luke Stallsmith, William LaRue, Dwight Schoneweis, Mark Elick, Andrew Blanchard, L.T. Wright, Dennis Mashburn, Russel Cain and Mike Eubanks.
There is an enduring quality to Mac Gray & Co.’s designs. One has the idea that 100 years from now, the California company’s knives will continue be as stylish and eye-catching as they were the day they were purchased. It is certainly the case with Mac Gray’s Mako Folder.
The flowing lines and seamless appearance of this classy little folder makes it as hard to ignore as a seductive wink. But the Mako isn’t all good looks. Beneath its seductive façade lies a workhorse, more than ready to pull its weight in any duty it’s called upon.
To that end, Mac Gray has ensured the Mako will have a long life, lining the handle with 6AL4V Titanium. The material adds incredible strength and durability to the knife, at the same tick keeping it a lightweight companion, ready to be toted everyday.
The 3.5-inch blade, which boasts a saber grind, is made of 154 stainless steel, which is renowned for its toughness and edge retention. These qualities are primarily due to the steel’s high-carbon content and the addition of molybdenum. To top it all off, Mac Gray has included an attractive thumbscrew on the modified drop point blade for quick opening — a feature which will win fans among both righties and lefties as it is ambidextrous.
Mac Gray allows a certain amount of customization when it comes to the 8.5-inch Mako. Customers have the choice of Micarta or G-10 for the handle material and can choose from five colors (red, bone, black, OD Green or pink). The Mako comes with a stainless steel clip, emblazoned with Mac Gray’s name. The standard configuration is right side, tip down; but the company will tailor the clip to the customer’s carry style upon order.
The folder has a linerlock style locking mechanism, which prevents the blade from closing on a user’s hand. It has ¼-inch pivot with a bronze pivot bushing to ensure smooth operation. And, like all of Mac Gray’s knives, the Mako comes with a lifetime guarantee.
That last feature — the guarantee — might be among the most important of any when it comes to the folder. Because, with its timeless lines and top-notch function, it is almost certain that will be the length of time it’s carried.
Goldie became the first female member of the Hall two years ago and, in the process, joined husband A.G. as the Hall’s only husband-and-wife team. A.G. is one of the few living founding members of The Knifemakers’ Guild and a treasure trove of information on the history of modern cutlery. Goldie basically runs operations at A.G. Russell Knives now and plays an active role in supporting the American Knife & Tool Institute and its goal of protecting the rights of all knife enthusiasts.
Want information on the history of knives in general? Knife industry legends Adams and Voyles can regale you with vintage tales of the knife industry, both domestic and international. Speaking of knife industry legends, Onion may be the world’s most famous custom knifemaker and has designed any number of knives for CRKT and other knife companies. A card-carrying member of knife industry legends, Holder has made knives since the 1970s and served as president of the Guild for a number of years and has worked closely with AKTI.
Glesser’s Spyderco has set sporting knife industry standards in introducing and/or popularizing such knife features as the hole in the blade for easy opening, pocket clips and serrated edges. Sal also has worked closely with AKTI.
Knife industry legends abound at the BLADE Show. Ernest Emerson not only is famous for his CQC-6 and CQC-7 folders but also for teaching self-defense courses to military and law enforcement officials worldwide.
Stop by and see J. Neilson of Forged In Fire for the latest on television’s hottest show on knifemaking. Visit with knifemaker Steve Johnson, who worked in the shop of the legendary Bob Loveless for several years and is now one of the world’s leading custom knifemakers. Talk to Al Pendray, the “Wizard of Wootz,” who rediscovered the method of making the centuries-old steel.
KNIFE INDUSTRY LEGENDS: Tony Bose, the world’s leading maker of custom slip joints and multi-blades. (Kerry Hampton image)
See the knives of Tony Bose, the world’s leading maker of custom slip joints and multi-blades. Talk to BLADE® Magazine field editors Kim Breed, Joe Szilaski and Ed Fowler. Hang out at the booths of CRKT, Spartan Blades, Spyderco, Kershaw and hundreds of others.
You never know what knife industry legends might stop by to visit with them—and much, much more, all at the 35th Annual BLADE Show.
Zirconium is the hot-bling knifemaking thing in the latest BLADE®, on newsstands now!
Zirconium as the hot-bling knifemaking thing, the complete curriculum and class schedule for the 3rd Annual BLADE University, how to avoid getting burned buying knives on social media and more highlight the new BLADE®, on newsstands now!
Spearheaded by Brian Tighe’s stunning Tighe Fighter cover piece, the story on zirconium outlines one of today’s hottest materials for custom knives. Originally started by Black Timascus™ and sustained by zirconium and Zircu-Ti, the material or variations thereof is used for bolsters, scales and other knife accents.
Held the Thursday before through the Saturday of the June 3-5 BLADE Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the 3rd Annual BLADE University gathers some of the cutlery industry’s leading knifemakers, knife manufacturers, knife users and others for three days of the most educationally diverse instruction anywhere. Among the highlights will be a class on what Forged In Fire TV officials look for in contestants, with one of the stars/panel judges on the show, ABS master smith J. Neilson, presiding. Other classes will include how to grind, how to sharpen, how to build and tune a flipper folder, how to make a spike tomahawk, how to make a cut ‘n shoot knife and many more, with such instructors as knifemakers Rick Hinderer, Les George, Jason Brous, Lucas Burnley and Tom Krein, ABS master smiths Joe Szilaski, Steve Culver, Joe Keeslar, Timothy Potier and Wally Hayes, factory knife leaders Curtis Iovito of Spartan Blades and Rod Bremer of CRKT, and many others.
In the last issue of BLADE, the top knifemakers on Facebook were named by virtue of a poll of BLADE Facebook page members. As promised after that story, this time BLADE delves into how to avoid getting taken to the cleaners on social media by those who are the opposite of the top Facebook makers—those who are more into making money for themselves than selling you a good knife.
There’s much more this issue, including: how to make tools with knives; the latest in piggyback sheaths; the Ed Fowler Edge Test; hot custom balisongs/butterfly knives; tests of four new kitchen knives and two flippers folders; nine mini-knifemaker profiles; a salute to the late Phill Hartsfield; and much more, all in the new BLADE.
