Page 201 – BLADE Magazine

High-Performance Knives For Under $50?!

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November 13, 2015

Leave it to BLADE® Magazine and BLADE field editor Dave Rhea to find quality, yes, quality, production knives for under $50 each. (shown below is the 5.11 Tactical DTP)

As Dave Rhea asks, “How does a knife company create a reliable, quality knife at low cost? According to Stephanie Young, Buck Knives marketing and communications manager, the key is to focus on robust, simple construction and tough materials. With the Buck Trigger folder as an example, she said there are several things for knife enthusiasts to consider—including Buck’s “Forever Warranty.”

“Forever is a long time and our knives need to last a long time,” she relayed. “EDC knives are truly carried every day and used more often than a task-specific knife.”

The Trigger features a drop-point blade because it functions well in a variety of situations, she said. The Trigger gets its name from the choil that transitions into a flipper “trigger.”

(at right is the TOPS Knives ALRT)

“Robust, simple construction with tough materials need not be expensive,” Young explained. She added … Click here to subscribe and find fascinating articles like this at your doorstep monthly, or pick up the February 2016 issue of BLADE on newsstands today.

(Shown here are the BuckTrigger (top) and Bubba Blade 7-Inch Tapered Blade Flex Fillet Knife)

Veterans’ Knives for Veterans Day

Steve Shackleford

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November 10, 2015

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Case V-42 dagger. — The classic Case V-42 with thumbprint ricasso. (SharpByCoop image)

World War II Mark 1's. — Two Mark 1’s, one by Pal (top) and Robeson (bottom).

In honor of Veterans Day, here are a few of the veterans’ knives that have seen action over the past century in the service of our country:

•U.S.N. Mark 2/U.S.M.C. fighting-utility knife: Known to many simply as a KA-BAR or kabar, it was made during World War II not only by Union Cutlery/KA-BAR but also, among others, Pal, Case, Camillus, Utica, Conetta and Robeson Shuredge. The iconic picture of it on the hips of U.S. Marines on the black sands of Iwo Jima tells it all—it was there and so were the Marines, who, by the way, are also celebrating their 240th anniversary. Semper Fidelis!;

•U.S. Mark I Trench Knife: It has all the trimmings: skull crusher, dagger blade, and the four finger holes in the knuckle guard. It reeks of Doughboys, Over There and Jimmy Cagney’s The Fighting 69th;

•Randall Model #1-8: WIth its stacked-leather grip and flowing blade, slightly dropped handle, double guard and narrow tang opening into a magnificently ground clip-point blade, the Model 1 has some of the most beautiful lines of any knife ever made;

KA-BAR Mark 2's. — Two Mark 2’s stamped “KA-BAR.”

•Case V-42: Classic skull crusher, cylindrical/swell-center handle, double guard, dagger blade and the clincher, the thumbprint indentation iwth grooved lines on the ricasso alone would guarantee the V-42 a place in any pantheon of military knives;

•Gerber Mark II: The one with the “cat-tongue” handle—so-called because of the feel of the grip created by spraying molten stainless steel onto the aluminum—and the wasp-waisted blade is a favorite from the Vietnam War;

•SOG Recon: The “twin-peak” blade spine readily identifies this military classic from the Vietnam War. “SOG” comprises the last three letters in the MACV-SOG acronym, the seven which stand for Military Assistance Command Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group;

•Ulster Mountain Pocketknife: These utlilitarian pocketknives reportedly were issued to the First Special Service Force during World War II and later to the troops of the 11th Mountain Division.

Marines at Iwo. — U.S. Marines land at Iwo Jima, their U.S.N. Mark 2’s/Ka-Bar fighting/utility knives at their sides.

Best Knives Under $50 Top New BLADE

Steve Shackleford

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November 3, 2015

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The best knives under $50, how to make one of the industry’s hottest folders, and two custom knife industry veterans doing their best to protect elephants and your legal ivory are among the highlights of the new BLADE®, on newsstands now!

Budget concerns are at the top of most people’s lists these days, including those of knife enthusiasts. Dave Rhea shows you how to save a few bucks and still get an outstanding knife at a reasonable price in “Best New Knives Under $50.”

Sandra Brady and Linda Karst-Stone are known throughout the custom knife industry as two of the best scrimshanders. They have a vested interest in the nationwide attack on legal elephant and ancient ivory by the federal and state governments. If you think all Sandra and Linda care about is their livelihoods and not the plight of elephants and the state of legal ivory, you would be wrong. Find out what the federal and state grab on legal ivory is really about in the “Dynamic Duo of Ivory” by Pat Covert.

Popularized by the late BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Kit Carson, flipper folders remain one of today’s hottest knives in the custom and factory industries. ABS master smith Wally Hayes shows you what goes into making one of these fast-opening models in “How To Make A Flipper Folder.”

Protecting a knife from the physical degradations of hard use, the elements and more is one of the reasons many companies coat the blade and sometimes even the handle in a variety of different finishes. Find out what the finishes are, how they are applied and more in Mike Haskew’s “Coats of Many Colors.”

Also this issue: tests of the latest hatchets, neck knives and two new folders, those who forge damascus in quantity for use by other knifemakers and companies, 41 reasons you may be an edgeneck and much more in the latest BLADE.

Wisconsin Assembly Passes Knife Law Reform Bill

Knife News Wire

Joe Kertzman

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October 29, 2015

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Wisconsin Assembly Passes Knife Law Reform Bill

A Knife Law Reform Bill, including Knife Law Preemption, AB 142, has passed the Wisconsin Assembly by a voice vote, according to Knife Rights and kniferights.org.

AB 142 removes all restrictions on switchblades and concealed carry of knives from Wisconsin statutes, with the single exception that a person who is prohibited under state law from possessing a firearm may not go armed with a concealed knife that is a “dangerous weapon.” Knife Law Preemption means that all laws more restrictive than the new state law will be voided and knife law will be consistent throughout the state.

An amendment was added to AB 142 that retains political subdivisions’ ability to “[prohibit] the possession of a knife in a building, or part of a building, that is owned, occupied or controlled by the political subdivision.”

The primary sponsor of AB 142 is Rep. Kathleen Bernier, and her co-sponsors are Reps. Joel Kleefisch, James Edming, Bob Gannon, Cody Horlacher, Chris Kapenga, Jesse Kremer, Scott Krug, Thomas Larson, Jeffrey Mursau, John Murtha, Keith Ripp, Jeremy Thiesfeldt and Paul Tittl.

The Senate version of this bill, SB 102, has passed the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety and a vote of the full Senate in the coming days is expected.

Knife Law Preemption repeals and prevents local ordinances more restrictive than state law that only serve to confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling within or through the state. Preemption ensures citizens can expect consistent enforcement of state knife laws everywhere in a state.

New Knives From Ruger/CRKT

Steve Shackleford

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October 26, 2015

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The tactical folder in the line is the 2-Stage, a Robert Carter design with a tanto blade.

Steigerwalt Crack Shot Compact. — Ken Steigerwalt’s new Ruger/CRKT design is the Crack Shot: Compact.

Sturm, Ruger & Co. and CRKT announce new knives designed by a selection of award-winning custom knifemakers.

The designers include Ken Steigerwalt, Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical, Bill Harsey, Matthew Lerch and Robert Carter.

CRKT has the knives produced under license from Ruger. They include a selection of EDC, tactical, hunting and utility patterns in an assortment of sizes and materials.

Of the five designers, Harsey designed the most knives: three. His are the “Go-N-Heavy” folder highlighted by a hard-anodized, sure-grip handle and a 3.5-inch blade, the “All-Cylinders” folder with a black, stonewashed 4-inch blade and a “revolver cylinder-style” pivot, and the “Accurate,” a fixed-blade hunter with a reinforced nylon-fabric sheath. The folders have drop-point blades with a choice of plain edge or Veff serrations. The Go-N-Heavy stores in a nylon-fabric sheath.

Go-N-Heavy Harsey — Bill Harsey’s Go-N-Heavy is highlighted by a hard-anodized sure-rip handle.

Johnson’s designs are the “Cordite: Compact” straight knife sporting a 2.5-inch drop-point blade and a paracord-wrapped handle with a “revolver cylinder style” bead, and the “Powder-Keg” fixed-blade survival knife featuring a 4.75-inch blade and rubber overmold full-tang handle with an inset Ruger medallion. The former has a glass-reinforced nylon sheath, the latter a leather sheath.

Lerch’s design is the “Follow-Through” flipper folder with a Ruger-inspired, diamond-checkered, glass-reinforced nylon handle.

The locking liner knife has a 3.75-inch drop-point blade and a two-position pocket clip. Steigerwalt’s design is the “Crack Shot: Compact” assisted opener with a 3.5-inch drop-point blade and a Ruger American Rifle-inspired, glass-reinforced nylon grip with pocket clip.

The blade is stonewashed and available in a plain or serrated edge. Carter’s design is two sizes of the “2-Stage,” a tactical flipper folder with a choice of a 4- or 3.58-inch (the “2-Stage: Compact”) tanto blade in a plain edge or with Veff serrations. Each knife has a machined/hard-anodized aluminum and stainless steel handle, and four-position pocket clip.

Follow-Through Ruger/CRKT — Matthew Lerch’s Follow-Through flipper folder includes a Ruger-inspired, diamond-checkered glass-reinforced nylon handle.

For more information visit Ruger.com/micros/crkt.

Help Fight 1 Percenters’ Ban-All-Ivory Law

Steve Shackleford

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October 22, 2015

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Help Fight 1 Percenters’ Ban-All-Ivory Law

A ban-all-ivory law supported by billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and other 1 percenters is on the ballot in Washington state and will succeed unless you help stop it NOW!

The measure, I-1401, would ban not only elephant ivory but also the ivory of mastodon, mammoth and other extinct species.

Sandra Brady of the Elephant Protection Association said help is needed at the grassroots level to defeat the measure supported by rich billionaires such as Allen and other non-governmental organizations, which have raised more than $2.7 million—including $1.7 million from Allen—in an effort to pass it in the state legislature.

“It really is a David versus Goliath situation,” she observed of the fight against the 1 percenters who are supporting I-1401. She urged those who oppose the bill to write their local newspapers and use social media to voice their opposition. “On the upside we are having an impact,” she said of the grassroots effort. “On the down side, the more states that pass such ridiculous measures, the more likely other states will follow suit. This is why your help to defeat this in Washington state is so important.

“Write letters to the editors of the state’s newspapers, use your voice on Facebook and other social media. Help us get the word out that I-1401 is a bad law and should be voted down.”

A small organization, the Legal Ivory Rights Coalition Committee (LIRCC), is fighting against Allen and the other fat cats who are supporting I-1401. However, the LIRCC has no budget and relies on people contacting newspapers and working social media to spread the word. The good news is that editorial pages across Washington state are calling I-1401 misguided. While acknowledging the noble goal of preserving elephants, many editorial pages recognize the futility of a state law designed to stop crime in Africa and Asia. It would punish the state’s citizenry without stopping poachers. They also recognize the redundancy with existing federal laws that prohibit import of ivory and other endangered species, together with the unnecessary burden it would place on the state’s fish and wildlife officers.

Recommended:

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

“Star-Power” Knife

Steve Shackleford

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October 12, 2015

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EX-F02 looks good on a belt. — You may be the best-dressed outdoorsman going with the Hogue EX-F02.

An Allen Elishewitz design, A2 tool steel for the blade, a handle built for use and comfort, and a hi-tech, utilitarian sheath highlight a knife with “star power” from Hogue.

“We knew we had a winner with the EX-F02 design but refused to settle offering the knife alone,” noted Hogue co-owner Jim Bruhns. “The sheath had to match if not exceed this knife in star power.”

The straight knife is available in a tanto or clip-point blade that sports a Spyderco-type hole to match the two “paracord eyelets” in the butt of the polymer/rubber-overmolded handle.

The EX-F02 comes in a choice of four grip colors: black, OD green, flat dark earth and hunter orange. Cryogenically heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of 57-59 HRC, the blade is blackened for enhanced corrosion resistance and low glare, and sports a fuller that seems so fashionable on both fixed blades and folders these days. Blade length: 4.5 inches. Weight: 5.5 ounces. Overall length: 9 inches.

Complementing the symmetrical fixed blade is an ambidextrous automatic retention sheath that locks the knife in securely and releases with a push of a trigger lever. An audible click ensures the knife is locked upon being sheathed, with Pull-the-Dot® snap fasteners helping to ensure a secure closure. The sheath includes MOLLE spaced openings for mounting and a nylon belt loop.

Hunter orange and clip point blade. — A clip-point blade an a hunter orange handle distinguish this version of the EX-F02. It’s also available in a black and OD green handle.

The EX-F02 carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $149.95 (includes sheath). For more information contact Hogue Knives at hogueknives.com or call 800-438-4747.

The EX-F02 makes a handsome package sheathed. The ambidextrous automatic retention sheath locks with a push of a trigger lever. Pull-the-Dot® snap fasteners help ensure secure closure.

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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

BLADE Magazine

High-Performance Knives For Under $50?!

Veterans’ Knives for Veterans Day

Best Knives Under $50 Top New BLADE

Wisconsin Assembly Passes Knife Law Reform Bill

New Knives From Ruger/CRKT

Help Fight 1 Percenters’ Ban-All-Ivory Law

“Star-Power” Knife

Also Check Out:

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