Page 199 – BLADE Magazine

Forged In Fire Renewed For 2nd Season

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September 16, 2015

Forged In Fire, The History Channel’s hit summer reality TV show featuring bladesmiths who compete to see who can forge the best knife, has been renewed for a second season, Cynopsis Media reports.

According to Cynopsis, “History’s Forged In Fire will be back for a sophomore season. The show, which averaged 1.6 total million viewers in Live+7 delivery, follows the most talented bladesmiths as they create weapons from the Japanese katana to the medieval broadsword.”

The stars of Forged In Fire include a panel of three judges—ABS master smith J. Neilson, ancient weapons authority David Baker and martial artist/knife user Doug Marcaida—and host Wil Willis, along with the many competing bladesmiths.

While the show had been sending out casting calls for bladesmiths for a new season, there had been no formal confirmation of its renewal until the official announcement by Cynopsis. Whether there will be any changes in the show’s format, when the new season will begin, etc., is unknown at this time.

In a nutshell, Forged In Fire consists of four bladesmiths—different ones each episode—who compete to see who can make the best knife. In the first round each smith has roughly three hours to design and make in the show’s shop/forge a rough-forged knife of his choice according to the specs and with materials determined by the judges. The three smiths of the four the judges deem to have made the best rough knives advance to the next round, in which they must make and attach the handles and finish their knives. Of the three remaining smiths, the two who make the best knives in the judges’ estimation advance to the finals, in which they have five days in their home forges to make a knife, sword, axe or other cutting tool in a design of the judges’ choosing. The smith who makes the best piece in the judges’ estimation wins $10,000.

For a behind-the-scenes look at the show, see the December BLADE®, on newsstands now, or subscribe.

Also Check Out:

Knives 2016, 36th Edition
The trusted guide for knife collectors, enthusiasts, knifemakers, and dealers around the world, this knife book covers the latest and greatest from front to back. A collection of feature articles explores the latest developments, history, and transformation of knives, swords, and edges of various kinds. Get your copy

1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

Steve Shackleford

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September 15, 2015

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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

Keep Your Edge with the Work Sharp Guided Sharpening System

Elwood Shelton

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September 8, 2015

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Keep Your Edge with the Work Sharp Guided Sharpening System

Next to a knife on their wish list, knife owners and collectors are typically on the hunt for one thing — a superior sharpening system.

Finding the right solution to handle a wide spectrum of blade styles, grinds and material is more difficult than it sounds. As most knife aficionados know, what draws a sharp edge on one blade may struggle on another.

That’s what makes the Work Sharp Guided Sharpening System so exciting. This niffy and elegant sharpener has been designed to put a razor’s edge on every knife you own — from flat grinds to serrated blades.

At the heart of the sharpener is Work Sharp’s Pivot-Response system that allows the abrasive surface to follow the curve of the knife. This innovative feature permits the sharpening surface to tilt with the camber of the blade, thus allowing liner strokes to apply an edge. This takes much of the guesswork out of sharpening the entirety of a knife, making the process faster, easier and more precise.

The Pivot-Response, however, can be locked if a more traditional sharpening platform is desired. This makes the Guided Sharpening System ideal for novices and experts alike.

Making the system almost fool proof is the Angle-Guided Bench Sharpener. These guides — set at 17 and 20 degrees — are designed to ensure the proper angle is taken on each pass, thus guaranteeing a dynamite cutting edge.

Work Sharp Guided Sharpening System includes coarse and fine diamond plates, a three-position ceramic rod for honing, and two small diameter ceramic rods for serrations.

Work Sharp has also aimed to make this sharpener a life-long addition to your knife maintenance kit with a 42-year warranty.

Disabled Vet Knife Graces New BLADE®

Steve Shackleford

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September 8, 2015

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A knife for disabled vets, behind the scenes of the hit TV show Forged In Fire, World War II Japanese swords and much more highlight the annual military issue of BLADE®, on newsstands NOW!

L.T. Wright’s H.E.R.O. (Helping Everyone Reach the Outdoors) knife is specially designed to accommodate people with finger and/or hand injuries. Join Abe Elias as he examines how the knife came about, how it’s designed, how it works and more in his story on page 12.

Forged In Fire has been one of The History Channel’s hottest shows in recent months and has brought the skill required to make a forged knife into full view of a wide-ranging television viewing audience. Go behind the scenes of this fascinating, action-packed show with our special story on page 84. In addition, on page 10, see if you agree that FIF may be the “Eureka moment” the knife industry has been waiting on for these many years.

The Japanese signed the formal World War II surrender on the U.S. battleship Missouri 70 years ago this month. But what of all those Japanese swords carried by those in the Japanese Army and Navy? Who made them and whatever became of them? Leon Kapp gives you the poop in part one of his “The Sun Rises On Them Still” on page 80.

There’s much more in the annual military issue, including a visit with two surviving 90-something members of the First Special Service Force that fought so well in World War II; three military veterans who are new to the knifemaking game in Pat Covert’s story on page 20; the best-selling military knives in the factory realm on page 36; a test of four military-style autos by James Morgan Ayres on page 44; “How To I.D. A True Combat Knife” by BLADE field editor Ed Fowler on page 52; the “Ultimate Survival Knives” of special-operations veterans Grady Powell and Jared Ogden, stars of National Geographic’s action TV series, Ultimate Survival Alaska; a test of two tomahawks by BLADE field editor/retired Green Beret Kim Breed on page 48; and much more in the latest issue.

Subscribe:

Stay abreast of the latest developments on this and many more knife rights issues with a subscription to BLADE.

Classy Tactical Folders Evolve!

Uncategorized

Joe Kertzman

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September 4, 2015

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There’s a chapter in the new KNIVES 2016 book called “Some Class Tacts,” and it’s chock-full of color images of the finest handmade, high-end, dressed-up tactical folders in the world. Knifemaker Ken Onion uses the term “Genticals” for such knives (Gent’s Tacticals), but in this case, Class Tacts seemed to sum them up. Whatever you want to call them, whether “Sunday Go To Meetin'” knives, dress tacticals, Genticals or Class Tacts, today’s versions of tactical folders using high-end materials are gorgeous.

And it’s amazing how many different configurations can be made, different versions of dress tacticals. No wonder they remain so popular. It’s no trend, it’s a movement, and Class Tacts are here to stay.

Want to See More?

See them all in the brand-new KNIVES 2016 book, and enjoy!

6 Hotties Highlight New Knives

Steve Shackleford

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August 31, 2015

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Case tear drop and muskrat. — New from Case is the Collector’s Tour Tear Drop and Ambassador Tour’s muskrat.

Think pink with Bear & Son’s new Model 114PK butterfly knife.

What’s hot and new in factory knives for the fall? Among them are 6 hotties ready to cut. Let’s start with Case. Its 2015 Collector’s Tour Knife is a traditional tear-drop pattern with an embellished smooth chestnut bone handle and the company’s famous “XX” scrolled bolsters. Case Collectors Club Manager Lisa Boser-Miller’s signature appears on the Tru-Sharp stainless spear blade.

The 2015 Ambassador Tour Knife is a muskrat in a smooth dark red bone handle and bolster engraving. One of the clip blades bears the signature of the owner of Coffman Hardware who doubles as a Case ambassador, Dennis Mikus.

Liong Mah designed the CRKT Viva. — The CRKT Viva is a pry tool, hex wrench, bottle opener and screwdriver all in one keychain multi tool.

Bear & Son offers up a cool butterfly in hot pink handles—the Model

114PK in a 3 5/8-inch stainless blade. The handles are epoxy-coated aluminum. Weight: 5 ounces. Closed length: 5 inches.

If you’re looking for a stout fixed blade, look no further than the Argonaut 800 from Steel Will Knives. The 6.3-inch blade is AUS-8 stainless in a satin finish and a Rockwell hardness of 56-58 HRC. Weight: 9.59 ounces. The $99.99 MSRP includes a Nylon sheath.

The Baja 4.5 features a 1095 high-carbon steel blade ina Black River Wash finish. — The Baja 4.5 is TOPS Knives’ “stretched sibling” of the Baja 3.0.

OK, so it’s not really a knife. So? Designed by Liong Mah, CRKT’s Viva is one of a growing number of key-ring multi-tools that includes a pry tool, screwdriver, bottle opener, hex wrench and more—all for a measly $9.99 MSRP.

The TOPS Knives Baja 4.5 is the “stretched sibling” of the TOPS Baja 3.0, sporting a 4.5-inch blade of 1095 high-carbon steel in a Black River Wash and a green canvas Micarta® handle. MSRP: $200 (includes a leather dangler sheath).

Grab you some Steel Will Argonaut! — The Argonaut from Steel Will Knives is one stout fixed blade.

Also Check Out:

Knives 2016, 36th Edition
The trusted guide for knife collectors, enthusiasts, knifemakers, and dealers around the world, this knife book covers the latest and greatest from front to back. A collection of feature articles explores the latest developments, history, and transformation of knives, swords, and edges of various kinds. Get your copy

Gear Up with The Team Jackal

Steve Shackleford

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August 21, 2015

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TOPS Knives Team Jackal Survivor — The Team Jackal Survivor is new from TOPS Knives.

Rotating spring steel sheath clip. — The Kydex sheath attaches to a belt or gear via a rotating spring steel clip.

Black Kydex sheath — The sheath protects the blade and makes for a handsome package, too.

Rocky Mountain Tread handle. — The G-10 handle is textured in a Rocky Mountain Tread for enhanced gripping.

The blade is 1095 high-carbon steel. — The 5-inch blade is 1095 high-carbon steel in a Coyote Tan powder coat.

Gear up with the Team Jackal Survivor fixed blade from TOPS Knives, a great everyday utility and/or bug-out-bag knife.

The Team Jackal Survivor sports a 5-inch blade of 3/16-inch-thick 1095 high-carbon steel heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of 56-58 HRC. The cutting edge is 4 5/8 inches long. A steel favored by many bladesmiths and a growing number of factory knife companies, 1095 is easier to sharpen than some of the higher-grade stainless steels such as CPM S30V. This is a valuable trait to have in the field and/or for novice knife enthusiasts who have not quite mastered the proper sharpening techniques required or do not have the proper sharpening equipment to put an edge on the higher-grade steels.

Of course, the trade-off with carbon steel is that it tends to rust more easily than stainless steel, though if you wipe the knife down after each use rust should not be a problem. However, just in case, the Team Jackal Survivor blade features a Coyote Tan powder coating to help reduce rust. The coating also holds down on glare. Still, though, a wipe down after each use never hurts!

The contoured, straight-backed handle is a black G-10 hard synthetic textured in TOPS’ Rocky Mountain Tread for secure purchase and a cool look. Enhancing purchase is a jimped blade ramp just forward of the handle spine and a finger groove behind the choil. The knife’s overall length is 9.75 inches. Without the sheath, it weighs 8.9 ounces.

The sheath is a black Kydex with a rotating spring steel clip. Counting the sheath, the complete knife package weighs 11.7 ounces.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the made-in-the-USA Team Jackal Survivor is $175, but if you visit topsknives.com while its sale lasts you can get it for $140.

Recommended:

Stay abreast of the latest developments on this and many more knife rights issues with a subscription to BLADE.

BLADE Magazine

Forged In Fire Renewed For 2nd Season

Also Check Out:

1st-Ever Women’s Cutting Competition Set

Also Check Out:

Keep Your Edge with the Work Sharp Guided Sharpening System

Disabled Vet Knife Graces New BLADE®

Classy Tactical Folders Evolve!

Want to See More?

6 Hotties Highlight New Knives

Also Check Out:

Gear Up with The Team Jackal

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