Page 209 – BLADE Magazine

Learn Japanese Swords at BLADE University

-

May 11, 2015

Learn Japanese Swords at BLADE University

BLADE University/Wally Hostetter — Learn all about Japanese swords from Wally Hostetter at BLADE University. Wally made the mounts for Steve Schwarzer’s Nagmaki, a repro of a pole arm with a sword-like blade used by 14th-17th-century Japanese warriors to cut the legs of the horses of enemy cavalry.

Japanese swords combine the elements that make everything about the world of blades fascinating—history, mystery, outstanding cutting performance, beautiful craftsmanship, collectibility and more—and Wally Hostetter will school you on it all at the 2nd Annual BLADE University.

Hostetter’s class will be one of many at BLADE University, which will be held the day before (June 4) through show Saturday (June 6) of the 2015 BLADE Show June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta.

In his class entitled “Collecting & Maintaining Japanese Swords,” Hostetter will explain what to look for when you buy a Japanese sword—including different patterns/designs and genres, the proper fittings and more—and how to maintain and care for it once you’ve bought it.

Hostetter is a long-time swordsmith who also is known for making sword mounts for such world-renowned swordsmiths as Steve Schwarzer. From the tsuba (guard), habaki (collar), fuchi (pommel or metal hilt sleeve) and other mounts, Hostetter makes and knows them all quite well. No matter what question you have concerning the proper construction, sword terms, traditional Japanese handle wraps, menuki and more, Wally’s your man. He will bring examples of Japanese swords and encourages students to bring cameras and photograph them for future reference.

Wally has collected Japanese swords for 18 years and does his own restoration work on them. He also has done restoration work for others over the past eight years. They include Troy Baxley, president of the Florida Token Kia; Bob Elder, owner of East Coast Martial Arts Supplies Inc., and his students of Toyama Batto Jutsu/US Batto Federation; ABS master smith Don Fogg; and martial arts practitioners throughout the USA.

Hostetter forges katanas, wakizashis, tantos and Naginata blades, including all the fittings and poles for the latter. “I have wrapped many tsuka [sword handles] and done some intricate patterns not seen everyday,” he noted. “On sayas [scabbards] I have reproduced a lot of the old finishes and techniques. I also practice Toyama Batto Jutsu. We have cut many rolled tatami/wara [rolled straw mats] with the swords, wakizashis and tantos I make.”

For more information on Wally’s class and others, how to entroll, etc., visit BLADE University.

Also Check Out:

Sword Making Secrets (Download)
Author Don Fogg is here to help you build one of the big blades, the lengthy lopper — the sword! His step-by-step sword-making process resonates well with your fellow knife enthusiasts who can’t get enough of the romance, history, look, feel, usefulness, ethnic heritage and physical impressiveness of swords. Download here

First Woman Will Vie For BLADE Show World Title

Joe Kertzman

-

May 6, 2015

0

First Woman Will Vie For BLADE Show World Title

Jessica Elias was the first female ever to compete at the Nationals for the BladeSports International, Inc. competition. Held on May 2nd, 2015, at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View, Ark., she and six others have qualified to compete for the World Championship at the BLADE Show in Atlanta, Ga., on June 6, 2015. She will be the first woman ever to compete for the BLADE Show World title. The BLADE Show is the World’s Largest Knife Show.

Jessica is sponsored by L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives, located in Wintersville, Ohio, and will be the first female to compete at this level.

This exciting sport starts with the competitor chopping a 2×4 in half, followed by cutting hanging ropes, rolling golf balls, full bottles of water, cans, tennis balls, drinking straws, and those are just a few of the power and finesse cuts found on the course, including some never before seen features. The event is timed and the excitement level for spectators is intense.

One of the competitors, Donavon Phillips, also broke his own water bottle record and is expected to continue to set another at the World Championship. The Bladesports World Championship competition will be on June 6, 2015 at the Cobb Galleria located at 2 Galleria Parkway Southeast, Atlanta, GA 30339.

If you are interested in learning more about the sport check out bladesports.org.

Also Check Out:

Official BLADE 18-Pocket Knife Roll
This knife roll is the best combination of quality, protection and convenience for your dollar. It’s so good, BLADE put its name on it. This knife roll is available ONLY at ShopBlade.com.

Claim Gray’s Knife Illegal Appears False

Steve Shackleford

-

May 6, 2015

0

Claim Gray’s Knife Illegal Appears False

A claim by one of the Baltimore police officers who arrested Freddie Gray that Gray was arrested because he was carrying an illegal knife appears to be baseless, according to interpretations of Maryland and Baltimore knife laws provided by Knife Rights.

Gray died while in police custody and his death prompted the recent Baltimore riots. The six arresting officers are on trial for his death on an array of charges, including that they unlawfully arrested Gray. However, one of the officers, Edward Nero, said the arrest was lawful because Gray was carrying an illegal knife.

Court documents state the knife was a “spring-assisted, one-hand-operated knife,” otherwise known as an assisted opener. In an assisted opener, the blade must be opened part way manually before the spring assist engages and opens the blade the rest of the way.

Marc Zayon, Nero’s attorney, argued in a motion filed Monday that Gray’s knife is illegal under state law. He said Maryland law defines a knife as unlawful if it opens automatically by pushing a button, spring or other device in the handle—in other words, an automatic, aka a switchblade. However, according to Knife Rights, while Maryland law prohibits concealed carry of switchblades, open carry and possession are not illegal. Court documents indicate the knife was visibly clipped to Gray’s pocket, so the knife was not concealed. Nonetheless, even if the knife was concealed, it is an assisted opener, not a switchblade.

According to Knife Rights, Baltimore’s city code bans the sale, carry or possession of “any knife with an automatic spring or other device for opening and/or closing the blade, commonly known as a switch-blade knife.” To include an assisted opener under this part of the city’s code would “conflict with virtually all other switchblade definitions throughout the country,” Knife Rights noted.

Recommended:

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

BLADE Show Wants YOU!

Steve Shackleford

-

May 4, 2015

0

BLADE Show June 5-7! — The BLADE Show wants you for the 34th annual rendition of the world’s largest and most important event June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

The 2015 BLADE Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta June 5-7 will have the hottest knives and makers in the largest, most important knife event ever.

Over 600 tables and more than 300 booths will display the world’s latest knives, knife accessories, knife collections, knifemaking equipment and materials and much more June 5-7 at the 34th annual BLADE Show in the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

The BLADE Show is the world’s largest and most important knife event and draws knife enthusiasts from every continent and most every knifemaker and knife company you’ve ever heard of—and many you don’t know of who will be the knife legends of tomorrow.

The show will name the world’s most prestigious factory knife honors—the BLADE Magazine 2015 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards sponsored by New Graham Knives, including the People’s Choice Award voted on by visitors to blademag.com—and will hold the most extensive series of knife instructionals of any knife show in the 2nd Annual BLADE University sponsored by Premium Knife Supply. The show also will recognize the latest inductee into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame© and the new Aldo and Edda Lorenzi Award—a $1,000 cash prize to a knifemaker who exemplifies the best in terms of teaching others how to make knives. If he qualifies, Dan Keffeler will attempt to win an unprecedented third straight BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition conducted by BladeSports International.

Knifemakers from the Knifemakers’ Guild, the American Bladesmith Society—including some of the world’s finest handforged knives up for bid in the ABS Auction and testing for ABS master and journeyman smith status—and the world’s best unaffiliated makers will all be on hand to exhibit their latest custom knives, with some entering the show’s custom knife judging competition. Assorted demos on how to throw knives, the use of Japanese swords, how and what to buy and collect and many others, knife giveaways, lotteries, knife club meetings, after show hours revelry in the world-famous Pit, the sunken lounge of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance-Waverly—these and much more all await you June 5-7 in Hot ‘lanta. Don’t miss it!

Click here to learn more about BLADE Show and get your tickets!

Talon EDC Tactical Knife: Blazing Fast to Deploy

Featured Knives

BLADE Staff

-

May 1, 2015

0

Talon EDC Tactical Knife: Blazing Fast to Deploy

[slideshow_deploy id=’33611’]

A simple, minimalist concept with great cutting power in a compact, discreet package.

The new Talon tactical knife is extremely quick to access and easier to retain in a struggle or emergency situation than any other knife design.

Smart Design

The unique custom-fitted Talon can be deployed without impacting the normal use of your hand. With a 1.75-inch blade crafted from X45CrMoV15 steel and Rockwell hardened to 59-60RC, the Talon knife comes in five different handle sizes designed to fit the personal dimensions of your hand. It is quickly accessible under stress and almost impossible to drop once deployed. Weighing in at just over 1 ounce, its small size and ultra-light weight ensures that you will never be without a tactical edge. Because its unique design leaves both your fingers free while deployed, normal activities such as carrying items, driving, climbing, pushing or pulling as well as tactical actions such as reloading, grappling or striking are all possible with the Talon knife in hand.

Fast Deployment

In virtually any situation, you can deploy your Talon EDC knife and continue the normal functions of your hands: using a flashlight, opening doors, using a cell phone, carrying bags or a purse, climbing, pushing, pulling, striking, driving, bicycling, reloading a firearm, swimming. Combined with the included Kydex™ sheath and aggressive clip system, the Talon can be carried or worn with just about any type of clothing in a huge number of carry options.

Affordable

Click here to order this must-have EDC knife.

Watch for “Forged In Fire” on History Channel

Joe Kertzman

-

April 29, 2015

0

Watch for “Forged In Fire” on History Channel

According to a History Channel press release out of New York on April 27, 2015, a new blade forging competition series will air on the popular network this summer. As the press release states, “The most talented bladesmiths in the world will test their mettle in FORGED IN FIRE, a cutting-edge competition series coming to HISTORY this summer. Hosted by weapons expert Wil Willis, a former Army Ranger and decorated Air Force para-rescue specialist, the series will feature world-class bladesmiths recreating many of history’s most iconic edged weapons, from the Japanese katana to the medieval broadsword to ancient throwing blades like the Chakram. Production has started in Brooklyn, New York.

At left is J. Neilson’s “J-Well” bowie/fighter in English walnut and damascus. (Chuck Ward image)

“In each episode, four master bladesmiths will put their skills and reputations on the line, trying to avoid elimination while using traditional and state-of-the-art tools and machinery to turn raw metal into authentic working versions of classic bladed weapons of yesteryear.” Click here to read the rest.

Joining Willis will be a judging panel of renowned experts: knifemaker J. Neilson, a Pennsylvania-based ABS master smith who first shared this story with me, and who has been making knives and edged weapons for more than 20 years; Doug Marcaida, a New York-based hand-to-hand combat specialist who has studied and mastered fighting styles and techniques around the world; and David Baker, a California-based authority known for replicating period-accurate weapons, from submachine guns to samurai swords, for both museums and films. Again, for the rest of the story, click here.

Click here for more on forging.

How to Have Your Knife Design Reproduced

Steve Shackleford

-

April 27, 2015

0

How to Have Your Knife Design Reproduced

Bose/Case knives. — Learn how custom knifemakers and manufacturers join to make knife collaborations from two of the best at it: knifemaker Tony Bose and John Sullivan of Case at BLADE University.

Tony Bose, award-winning knifemaker. — Award-winning custom knifemaker Tony Bose.

Learn how to have your design turned into a custom/factory knife collaboration from renowned custom knifemaker Tony Bose and John Sullivan, marketing director at W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., at BLADE University.

Held in conjunction with the world’s largest knife show, the BLADE Show, BLADE U. will be held the day before through show Saturday at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The BLADE Show will be June 5-7.

In Bose and Sullivan’s “Your Knife Design Into Production,” you’ll learn the keys behind the decision to produce a particular knife pattern and what knife manufacturers are looking for in new production concepts. Additional topics will include how to plan for the production of the first knife samples and the steps involved in preparing for a larger-scale production run. Product packaging, promotion, marketing, sales and post-sales support also will be discussed.

Bose is an award-winning custom knifemaker of international renown whose custom slip-joint knives set the standard in the genre. Working out of Shelburn, Indiana, he has long been a proponent of traditional pocketknives, and few manufacturers have a better reputation for such knives than Case. Bose has designed knives for special collaborations with Case since 1998, including but not limited to a sowbelly pattern (2001), his Saddlehorn design (2004), a sway-back jack/gent’s knife (2008) and the BackPocket.

Based in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and owned by Zippo, the famous lighter manufacturer, Case is the leading name in collectible factory knives. Sullivan has worked hand-in-hand with Bose on the Case collaborations and will share his insight on the relationship from a manufacturer’s point of view.

For more on this class and the many others of BLADE U. visit BLADE University.

BLADE Magazine

Learn Japanese Swords at BLADE University

Also Check Out:

First Woman Will Vie For BLADE Show World Title

Also Check Out:

Claim Gray’s Knife Illegal Appears False

BLADE Show Wants YOU!

The 2015 BLADE Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta June 5-7 will have the hottest knives and makers in the largest, most important knife event ever.

Talon EDC Tactical Knife: Blazing Fast to Deploy

A simple, minimalist concept with great cutting power in a compact, discreet package.

Smart Design

Fast Deployment

Affordable

Watch for “Forged In Fire” on History Channel

How to Have Your Knife Design Reproduced

Must Read Articles

Knifemaking 101 – Read This Before You Make a Knife

8 Things You May Not Know About “Forged in Fire”

How to Forge Damascus

How to Create Damascus Patterns

Why Are Switchblades Illegal?