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BLADE U.: Your Knife Design Into Production

Steve Shackleford
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BLADE U.: Your Knife Design Into Production
Tighe/CRKT Tighe TAC Two Clip Point.
Brian Tighe’s latest collaboration with CRKT is the Tighe TAC Two Clip Point.

One question we often hear is, “How do I get my knife design reproduced by a factory knife company?” Here’s your answer.

In the BLADE Show University class “Your Design Into Production” with custom knifemaker Brian Tighe and CRKT founder and chairman Rod Bremer, you can learn straight from the horses’ mouths the ins and outs, ups and downs and other facts concerning the process.

Like most of the classes that will be held during the 3rd Annual BLADE University at this year’s 35th Annual BLADE Show June 3-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Bremer and Tighe’s class will be taught by those who have been there/done that. Tighe has had quite a few of his designs reproduced by CRKT, including the 2015 BLADE Show Knife, and he and Bremer have worked together on all of them.

“Our hope is that anyone attending this session will have a basic understanding of what expectations might be from both the production knife company and the custom knifemaker/designer,” Bremer notes. “We will be reviewing typical licensing agreements, intellectual property issues, how best to present your idea/design to a production knife company, and typical marketing and sales expectations.

“We would hope that the attendee would leave the class with a solid understanding of how a potential collaboration might work with a production knife brand. During the class we will approach the entire subject of the basics of how to bring your very cool/innovative design to a brand and to potentially design a knife to a brand’s needs, as well as developing a design around the company’s set criteria. While all companies operate differently, we will explore the likely ways to submit your designs/ideas so that they receive the attention they deserve, along with the realities that it takes time. Clearly, factories have limitations based on manufacturing and materials, and while we won’t get into great detail, the subject will be addressed. The very nature of a collaboration is somewhat of a marriage, and both parties want to make sure that they will be happy working with and representing each other.”

You can sign up for BLADE U. classes online at bladeshow.com or stop by the Registration Counter at the BLADE Show.

 

These Daggers Are Dope!

Joe Kertzman
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These Daggers Are Dope!

Phillips_140606B
If a guy was going to Tweet about something, “Dope Daggers” would be a good subject, with a hash tag in front, of course, for good measure. Yes, #DopeDaggers is an awesome Twitter message, alongside a .pdf or link to an image of a sweet handmade dagger fresh from the forge. It’s not a bad thing to talk about, bring to the forefront or communicate to a mass audience, and much more interesting than the latest thing Kim Kardashian or Miley Cyrus had to say, neither of whom, I’m quite certain, could come close to building an acceptable dagger.
Tabor 001

Not many folks have the skills to fashion symmetrically accurate daggers, those with edge-holding blades, comfortable, non-slip grips and protective yet non-clunky or hand-pinching guards. The utilitarian pieces are purpose built for piercing and cutting, ground to even edges and stout but pointy tips, easy to slide into custom sheaths. These are not tools to be taken lightly, but lifesaving measures that serve multiple purposes and satisfy many needs.

Knapp_140701CYes, there are worse things to Tweet about than Dope Daggers. One could brag on a hot girlfriend, a great singing voice or the sighting of a movie star on a street corner, you know, such things as those that keep the world spinning on its axis. Or a simple message like “#DopeDaggers” could go out and someone might just contact the Twitter account holder, purchase one of the maker’s pieces and carry the tool for a lifetime. #MostAwesomeDude

The preceding was excerpted from the KNIVES 2016 book. Click here to reserve your copy today and view beautiful, full-color photos of daggers and other works.

“Forged By War” Supports Returning Veterans

Joe Kertzman
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“Forged By War” Supports Returning Veterans

In 2013, Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical, designer of elite, military, tactical tomahawks, approached CRKT with the news that he had been working with a few combat veterans that had returned from war with varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

To help work through their challenges, they had been designing and forging steel into custom tools. Drawing from their experience earned in combat situations, they have been creating tools they wished they had available to them in the battlefield. CRKT saw it as a way to give back to the community, and in 2016 is announcing the launch of the Forged By War program.

The program includes mission-ready tools designed by veterans, with 10 percent of CRKT’s net profits of the program donated to the veterans’ charity of choice. CRKT calls them “Mission ready tools that are … Forged By War.” The first three tools include the new Clever Girl, designed by CRKT Clever Girl jpgAustin McGlaun of Columbus, Georgia. This fixed blade tactical knife features a black powder coated, upswept blade with a tough, injection molded, glass-reinforced nylon handle that sits comfortably in a sheath that’s MOLLE-compatible for multiple carry options. It aligns with Austin’s philosophy that in a fight you want something you can grab quickly, use if necessary, and then go home to your family. Austin’s charity is The Green Beret Foundation.
CRKT Sangrador

The Sangrador—which means “bleeder” in Latin—features a 5.5-inch, dual-edged SK5 steel dagger-style blade with a black powder coat finish, non-slip G-10 handle and MOLLE-compatible sheath. Its designer, Darrin Sirois of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has seen his fair share of combat as a Special Ops soldier, but his best feedback still comes from teammates. Darrin’s charity is Purple Heart Homes.

CRKT BirlerThe Birler tactical pack axe won’t go AWOL on you when you need to break down doors, bust floors or take down trees to rescue a fallen soldier. Designed by Elmer Roush of Brasstown, North Carolina, a blacksmith and Vietnam vet, the blade is forged from 1055 carbon steel and features a hickory handle. It cuts down pack weight and anything in its way.  Elmer’s charity is The Green Beret Foundation.

BLADE Show: Where The ABS Shines

Steve Shackleford
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BLADE Show: Where The ABS Shines

Levi Miller

Image 1 of 6

For his journeyman smith applicant knives, Levi Miller used the carbon steels 52100 and 80CrV2 for blade material. (SharpByCoop image)

The annual BLADE Show hosts the awarding of both master and journeyman smith stamps by the American Bladesmith Society (ABS), and the 35th rendition of the world’s largest knife show will, too.

Set for Jan. 3-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show hosts knifemaker and knife company exhibitors from every continent but Antarctica—and who knows, there may even be an Antarctic exhibitor this year, too.

Five master smiths and 12 journeyman smiths earned their stamps at last year’s show. The masters were Veronique Laurent, Jean-Louis Regel, Andrew Meers, Haley DesRosiers and David Lisch. The journeyman smiths were Wess Barnhill, Sandro Boeck, Dionatam Franco de Souza, Stephan Fowler, Kyle Gahagan, Micah Kamer, Levi Miller, Facundo Montenegro, Nick Rossi, Bobby Wetten, Russell White and Robert Wright. Adding to the international flavor is that of the masters, Laurent is from Brussels, Belgium, and Regel is from France. Meanwhile, of the journeyman smiths, Boeck and de Souza are from Brazil, and Montenegro is from Argentina.

Though the requirements differ for both the master and journeyman smiths’ knives, all must submit five models that are judged by a panel of ABS officials on a number of traits. (For more on those traits, visit americanbladesmith.com.) Herein is a selection of some of the knife quintets submitted by the successful applicants last year. If you attend the 2016 BLADE Show, you can view the knives that are submitted for master and journeyman smith status this year. For more information at/during the show, visit the ABS at table 1P.

Build Your Own Knife Online

Joe Kertzman
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Build Your Own Knife Online

When it comes to production knives, says Dexter Ewing, BLADE® field editor, as a consumer you are not afforded much say-so in terms of aesthetics or blade and handle materials. The knives are offered as-is. But what if you played an active role in helping create your own distinctive production knife? Well, you can. 110DropPointThere are a few manufacturers offering build-your-own-knife programs online. They enable you to play a pivotal role in selecting the handle color and material, blade material and shape, and even the coating choices. Be aware that these options and their number vary by manufacturer.IMG_0006-6

Nonetheless, the end product is a factory knife influenced by and for you. You can custom tailor it most any way you want based on the options provided.

Benchmade offers such a service on its website in the Custom Knife Builder section. Four models are available: large and small Griptilian AXIS™ Lock, and large and small Barrage AXIS assist folders.full dominator_steve

“The entire experience is very intuitive and walks the customer through the process of customizing the knife selected,” explains Derrick Lau, Benchmade public relations and communications manager. “Starting with the blade for the Griptilian or the Barrage, customers can select from drop-point or tanto styles …. See the June 2016 issue of BLADE to read the rest of the fascinating feature article. Enjoy!

9 Hottest Facebook Makers in New BLADE

Steve Shackleford
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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.

Forged In Fire at BLADE University

Joe Kertzman
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Forged In Fire at BLADE University

Do you have what it takes to appear on Forged In Fire? Learn if you do from ABS master smith J. Neilson, one of the judges on History™ channel’s hit TV show, in his BLADE University class on what the program’s officials look for in bladesmithing contestants.

Held in conjunction with the 35th annual BLADE Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the third annual BLADE University begins the day before the BLADE Show, June 2, and runs through show Saturday, June 4. The BLADE Show will be June 3-5.BladeU

ABS master smith J. Neilson—here testing a blade on History™ channel’s Forged In Fire—will give tips on how to be chosen to appear on the hit TV show in his special class at BLADE University. (Miller Mobley/HISTORY)

Having begun its second season Feb. 9, Forged In Fire (page 84, December BLADE) pits bladesmiths against each other to see who can make the best knife in a limited  amount of time, with the winner of each episode earning a $10,000 first prize. Last year’s FIF included such well-known forgers as ABS master smiths Murray Carter, Ray Kirk and J.D. Smith, David Goldberg, Peter Martin, ABS journeyman smith Mace Vitale and others, as well as many relatively unknown bladesmiths.

See page 10 of the May 2016 issue of BLADE to find out more.

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