Page 229 – BLADE Magazine

Kai USA/Duck Dynasty Knives In The Works

Steve Shackleford

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November 25, 2013

Kai USA/Duck Dynasty Knives In The Works

Kai USA is partnering with Duck Commander and Buck Commander, the inspiration for the cable TV sensation, Duck Dynasty, on a new line of knives set for a mid-2014 debut, according to a Kai USA news release.

In other words, some of the knives should be ready just in time for the 2014 BLADE Show June 6-8 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kai USA brand Kershaw Knives will work with Duck/Buck Commander on a selection of everyday carry and hunting knives, both fixed blades and folders, machetes and accessories. Kai’s Pure Komachi 2 brand will partner with Duck/Buck Commander on a household cutlery series that will involve the “Duck wives” of Duck Dynasty.

“We are very proud to be the official knife of Duck Commander and Buck Commander,” said Jack Igarashi, Kai USA chief operating officer.

The first three to four knives will be available in mid-2014. Prototypes will be shown at the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas in January.

The multi-year licensing agreement will cover an expanded lineup of products that will include hunting knives, household cutlery, accessories and apparel.

The co-branded knives will be distributed through all Kai USA channels and Duck Commander and Buck Commander outlets.

Duck Commander is a family-owned and operated business established in 1972 by Phil Robertson based in West Monroe, Louisiana. Originally a duck-call-centered company, it has grown into a multi-million-dollar empire with Phil’s four sons, Willie, Jase, Jep and Alan, and their wives, at the helm. All also start on Duck Dynasty. Duck Commander products, which include more than just duck calls, have been sold in all 50 states and in several countries and encompass lifestyle brands including Duck Commander duck-hunting merchandise, Buck Commander deer-hunting merchandise, Duck Girl apparel, Duck Commander wine, and more.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends, tips and more, stay sharp with www.blademag.com.

Forging A Future For Orphans

Joe Kertzman

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November 22, 2013

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Sometimes a story reaches the mainstream media that actually makes one proud to be in the knife industry. The following was reported by the Archdale-Trinity News, Archdale, North Carolina, on November 13, 2013:

“A recent mission trip to Uganda demonstrated not only the skill of a knifemaker, but also his ability to forge a future for orphans and at-risk youth from the village of Bamba. George Icard, who owns and operates GI Custom Knives, lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with his wife Katie. He returned from his 10-day trip Oct. 16.”

“The trip came about through his association with fellow knife maker Tim Troyer of Sugarcreek, Ohio, also a director and founder with The Reckoning International. The nonprofit provides individuals struggling with chronic poverty with the opportunity to work, grow and thrive and to be generous in return.”

“When Troyer invited him to accompany him on a trip to Bamba, Uganda, to teach knifemaking skills, Icard jumped at the chance. Journeyman knifemaker Jesse Hemphill of Fyffe, Alabama, also traveled with them.”

“The small village of Bamba is in central Africa, just west of Kenya.”

“Ugandan youth face difficult circumstances such as widespread HIV or AIDS, child trafficking, sexual abuse and poor facilities. In Uganda, orphans and widows face a cultural prejudice which makes it difficult or impossible to get a high-paying job regardless of their education level.”

“‘Bamba Forge did not come into existence until The Reckoning International stepped in,’ said Icard. ‘The Reckoning provided the initial capital to purchase the equipment and basic materials to get Bamba Forge started.'”

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Top Knifemakers At NY Custom Knife Show Nov. 22-24

Knife Collecting

Steve Shackleford

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November 21, 2013

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Top Knifemakers At NY Custom Knife Show Nov. 22-24

Join some of the world’s top custom knifemakers and other knife industry VIPs Nov. 22-24 for the 36th Annual New York Custom Knife Show at the Westin-Jersey City Newport in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Next to the Knifemakers’ Guild Show the granddaddy of continuous custom knife shows, the New York Custom Knife Show attracts the top custom makers year-in and year-out, as well as some of the most sophisticated knife buyers anywhere—many of whom are not afraid to spend their hard-earned scratch on top-drawer custom knives.

If you are not familiar with the history of the New York Custom Knife Show, it began in the late 1970s with the help of the late Ted Devlet, one of the original and best custom knife purveyors, and also Paul Tausig, a long-time knife enthusiast and knife collector. If you ask any veteran of the knife scene about Devlet, you will no doubt get a history lesson on Devlet’s many contributions to the custom knife community.

Run today under the able direction of Stephen D’Lack of Fifty Fifty Productions, the New York Custom Knife Show continues in the grand Devlet tradition of attracting top makers and buyers.

One thing you may notice is that the New York Custom Knife Show is now held in New Jersey instead of New York. That’s due to the anti-knife inquisition imposed by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a man who has twisted the language of NYC’s knife laws to classify manual one-hand-opening knives as gravity knives or switchblades, among other anti-knife scurges. As a result, Mr. D’Lack had no choice but to move the show from the Big Apple to Jersey. Mr. Devlet is probably still spinning in his grave as a result of Vance’s shenanigans.

Whatever the case, plan now to attend the show. It is always one of the industry’s finest and most entertaining.

Stay tuned to www.blademag.com for the latest knives, knife news and more.

Share Your Knife Memories of Rob Simonich

Steve Shackleford

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November 19, 2013

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Share Your Knife Memories of Rob Simonich

If you knew knifemaker Rob Simonich, share your memories of him with us on www.blademag.com.

BLADE® field editor Dexter Ewing has written the story, “Heart and Soul,” in the February BLADE which remembers Rob on the 10th anniversary of the death of one of knifemaking’s favorite sons. Killed tragically in a truck accident, Rob was loved by many, and his award-winning knives were among the best of their time—and they still hold up today.

Ten years is a long time, and a lot of people have come into the knife industry since Rob’s passing that do not know of the kind of person he was. If you knew Rob, you can help them know what kind of person he was by sharing some of your favorite memories of him.

Though Rob was taken away far too soon, he left an indelible mark on the knife industry, and, of course, his wife Christine and daughter Megan. Rob loved to break new ground in terms of knives, especially with blade materials such as Talonite® and CPM S30V. His knives won a number of awards, including his Urban Raven taking home the BLADE Magazine 2003 American-Made Knife Of The Year®.

As good as his knives were—and they were extremely well thought of and accepted by knife enthusiasts—it was Rob’s warm smile and sincere manner that helped him win over many friends. He loved people and he loved the outdoors, and it showed in most everything he did.

He also loved the BLADE Show and made it a point to attend every one he could. It was there that he made many friends in the industry.

How about it? Care to share any memories? We’d love to hear them—as would those who both knew him and those who want to know more about him.

For the latest knives, knife trends, knife news and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

RUKO Is Exclusive Importer of Muela Knives

Joe Kertzman

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November 15, 2013

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RUKO Is Exclusive Importer of Muela Knives

RUKO LLC has good reason to celebrate the new year in 2014. As of Jan. 1, 2014, RUKO will be the exclusive North American importer of MUELA Knives of Spain, as per a deal recently inked between the two knife entities.

Says Christopher Koppe, president of RUKO, “We are thrilled to have been chosen by Muela to represent their brand in North America. My father, Rudolf Koppe, began working with Eladio Muela 23 years ago, in 1991. Following in their footsteps, Jose (Muela) and I are focused on a unified approach in building Muela into a household brand in the U.S. and Canada.”

RUKO LLC and RUKO of Canada have 79 combined years of experience importing, distributing and servicing the hunting, camping and sporting goods trades in the U.S. and Canada. MUELA has been manufacturing fixed-blade and folding knives from its factory in Argamasilla de Calatrava, Spain, since 1955. With an annual production of over 300,000 knives, Muela is one of Spain’s foremost knife factories specializing in genuine red-stag-handle knives, as well as limited-edition and one-of-a-kind pieces for collector’s globally, including the king of Spain.

With over 500 models in the program, MUELA offers a wide range of knives in a host of handle finishes with coral Pakkawood™, cocobolo, kingwood, olivewood, beech wood, walnut, ram horn and red stag for hunting and collectible knives; and G-10, linen Micarta®, nylon, Zamak and Kraton® rubber for entry level hunting, survival and tactical knives. Steels used (depending on form and function of the blade) include 420H (HRC 56-58), German X50CrMoV15 (HRC 57-58), 512-layer high-carbon or stainless damascus, MOVA-60 and Sandvik 14C28N.

For more information on RUKO and MUELA knives click here. For a wide variety of knives and knife styles, make sure to visit www.shopblade.com.

Federal Knife Owners’ Protection Act Introduced

Knife News Wire

Steve Shackleford

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November 15, 2013

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Federal Knife Owners’ Protection Act Introduced

A federal act that would protect law-abiding knife owners traveling from state to state from various conflicting knife laws within those states has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, a Knife Rights internet news release reported.

Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) introduced Knife Rights’ Knife Owners’ Protection Act (KOPA), H.R. 3478.

“KOPA will protect law-abiding knife owners travelling throughout the U.S. from the vagaries of restrictive state and local laws. As long as possession of the particular knife is legal in the state where the journey starts and ends, and provided the knife is secured in accordance with KOPA, a knife owner would no longer be threatened with arrest simply for traveling from one place to another,” Knife Rights headman Doug Ritter noted. He added that KOPA is the first proactive pro-knife federal legislation introduced in the nation’s history.

Ritter said Knife Rights needs your help to gain additional co-sponsors for the bill. If your representative is not already a co-sponsor, call or e-mail and urge him/her to co-sponsor KOPA. You can find your representative at: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Additional co-sponsors are: Rep. Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI), Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX)

“Those who travel across the country with knives for work, recreation and self defense are presently subject to arrest and prosecution under a confusing patchwork of inconsistent state and local laws and regulations, said Ritter, “what is perfectly legal in one place may be a serious crime in another, resulting in forfeiture of property and carrying significant penalties including jail time. Enforcement is not uniform even within jurisdictions and is subject to the vagaries of political expediency at times. Sportsmen and workmen who travel are particularly vulnerable.

“The culmination of almost three years of effort, Knife Rights developed the Knife Owners’ Protection Act to address this absurd situation in a commonsense manner that is fair and equitable and is based on established legislative and legal precedent,” Ritter said. “We’ve fought hard to defend the right to carry a knife in the individual states, cities and towns, but KOPA represents a key initiative to protect law-abiding knife owners simply passing through areas like New York City where possessing the most commonly owned pocketknife in America today, the one-hand opening folding knife, may result in arrest and prosecution.”

KOPA has teeth to defend those who travel under its protection because it also provides penalties for law enforcement, prosecutors and others who ignore the protections provided. Similar to the protections and penalties generally provided in USC 1983 to those whose civil rights are violated, a falsely arrested citizen can be compensated for the expense of defending themselves from an unwarranted violation of the rights Congress has protected in KOPA.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends tips and more, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.

Knife Gift Idea Of The Month

Steve Shackleford

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November 13, 2013

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Our knife gift idea of the month is just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Have you ever thought about assembling a knife from one of the many kits available on today’s market and offering it to someone special in your life? There are any number of kits, some below $50, that offer all the materials you need to assemble a knife.

With Thanksgiving just around the bend, why not assemble a Jantz (www.knifemaking.com) carving set to carve the turkey? The Jantz SS807 set features a carving knife and carving fork. The kit contains blade and fork blanks, rosewood Dymondwood handle materials, 5/16-inch brass cutlery rivets and assembly instructions. MSRP: $23.95. Or, you can go whole hog and assemble an entire Early American cutlery set that includes cook’s, carver, boner, paring and four steak blades, rivets and walnut Dymondwood handle material, all for only $64.95.

At www.knifekits.com there is a selection of kits that includes assisted openers, damascus folders, hunters, bowies, balisongs and tactical knives featuring all the parts you need for assembly via common tools found around most households.

Jantz also offers a range of kits that include mini and standard-size folders. The handles are profiled, drilled and countersunk for proper fit and come in a selection of materials. Looking for fixed-blade kits? Jantz has them in its Outdoorsman Series, which includes non-glare bead-blasted blade blanks. The kits are perfect for the beginner, can be completed in a few hours and the results look and perform great for hunting and camping. Blade shapes include skinners and there’s even a hatchet. The kits range from $24.95 to $29.95 and the completed sheaths range from $12.95 to $14.50.

For the latest knives, knife news, tips, trends and more, stay sharp at www.blademag.com.

BLADE Magazine

Kai USA/Duck Dynasty Knives In The Works

Forging A Future For Orphans

Top Knifemakers At NY Custom Knife Show Nov. 22-24

Share Your Knife Memories of Rob Simonich

RUKO Is Exclusive Importer of Muela Knives

Federal Knife Owners’ Protection Act Introduced

Knife Gift Idea Of The Month

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