Add Chloë Grace Moretz to the list of Hollywood celebrities who knows her knives. In this clip, she demonstrates her butterfly knife skills (or as she correctly identifies it, a “Balisong”). Listen closely to the end of the clip. Moretz says she received training and learned how to respect the knife.
A Cool Lady’s or Gent’s Knife
The Spyderco Ambitious is advertised as a small (3.5 inches closed) palm-sized workhorse offering big performance in a compact knife package. It definitely fits in my palm—in fact, with my hand being perhaps a tad larger than medium-sized for an adult male, it swallows the G-10 handle completely. Ergo, fully grasped, the butt is a good inch shy of the end of my palm. This is a tad small for my tastes, but then the Ambitious comes as advertised.
The edge of the 2.25-inch, flat-ground, 8Cr13MoV stainless blade is razor sharp out of the box, effortlessly slicing stationery, shaving hair and cutting cardboard with authority. It also digs into wood aggressively and makes a handy pencil sharpener if you’re in need of one, the small handle ideal for a three-finger grip that enables you to exert cutting pressure in the “little whittles” needed to sharpen something as small as a pencil. Though short, the blade is wide enough (1.25 inches at its widest) to handle larger cutting jobs, with a jimped area on the ramp to place your thumb for cuts that might take more bearing down.
The blade opens and closes off a Michael Walker LinerLock™ that, despite the knife’s small size, operates smoothly and securely after a little practice. A reversible clip runs about two-thirds the length of the small contoured handle. An integral guard offers some protection from the hand running onto the blade, though I would like to see a bit more downward lip on it to enhance that protection.
One of Spyderco’s models made in China, the Ambitious is yet another example of just how good the Chinese are getting at making quality knives that cut extremely well. Though compact, the Ambitious is solidly built and makes a great gent’s knife, backup piece or lady’s knife. ShopBlade’s price: $35.96—you save 35 percent! For more, visit http://www.shopblade.com/ambitious-black-g-10-plainedge-w8477?lid=ssfbbl082013.
Tracking Knife Trends
There aren’t many dull, boring or mundane trends, and for good reason.
Knifemakers embrace the old saying, “change is constant.” The “same old, same old” never catches on with a new generation. Knife craftsmen strive for fascinating and innovative ways of blade building, and collectors seek out the rare and unusual.
Eventually knifemakers find something modern that is not only aesthetic and utilitarian, but it also catches on with other artists. That’s the start of a trend. 
You get the idea—trends are born out of creative thinking and design capabilities, and not from copying old patterns without any tweaking, improving or thinking outside of the box.
Sure, some trends have staying power. There are many new trends to take in, like dimpled, sculpted, grooved and glass-beaded knives, for example. 
It is a trend in knives that presented itself to me while I poured over 1,000s of images from knife photographers for possible inclusion in the Knives 2014 book, now available and a gorgeous book, if I may say so myself, but not because of anything I did. It’s the knives and images thereof that make it a handsome title, and the Trends, State Of The Art, Factory Trends and Feature articles therein.
Enjoy, and keep your eyes peeled for new knife trends in the industry, particularly if you’re a collector, investor or general enthusiast with a habit of accumulating custom or production pieces.
Hot Knives at Denver Custom Knife Show!
The 21st Annual Denver Custom Knife Show will feature some of the world’s finest custom knives, knifemakers, custom knife purveyors and knifemaking supply companies this Friday through Sunday, Aug. 16-18, at the Crowne Plaza-DIA in Denver, Colorado.
Bring in the flyer from page 25 of the October BLADE® (www.blademag.com) or page 11 of the November BLADE and receive $2 off on the admission price.
Sponsored by the Professional Knifemakers Association (PKA), the show will include custom folding, hunting, fishing, tactical, kitchen and art knives. Demonstrations will be given on forging and grinding. PKA members’ knives will be presented through a special raffle and door prizes will be given out daily.
The PKA is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious organizations of custom knifemakers, and the PKA Show is among the best knife shows in the Western USA.
Exhibiting knifemakers will include Eddie Baca, Mardi Meshejian, Wayne Hensley, Al Warren, John Bartlow, Eddie Stalcup, Mike “Whiskers” Allen, Mike Mooney, Harvey King, Mike Irie, Don Bell, Steve Rollert, Pete Truncali, Chuck Fraley, Jerry McClure, Mike Tyre, Olamic Cutlery, Fred Ott, Terry Schreiner, Mike Miller, Albert Trujillo, Craig Steketee and many more. Knifemaking supply companies will include Culpepper & Co., Lonestar Knifemaker Supplies, Pop’s Knives & Supply, Fine Turnage Ivory and others. Knife photographer Bob Glassman also will be an exhibitor.
Show hours are 12 to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Regular admission is $7 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and children under 12 are free.
The host hotel room rate is $104 per night. Be sure to mention PKA for the rate single or double. Call 303-371-9494 for reservations.
For more information contact Whiskers or Denise Allen at [email protected] or call 903-489-1026.
For the latest knives and knife news, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.
New BLADE Hits Newsstands TODAY!
Get all the poop on the 2013 BLADE Show & Living Ready Expo (www.bladeshow.com)—including the BLADE Magazine 2013 Knives Of The Year® and the show’s other hottest knives—Steven “MeatEater” Rinella’s assessment of the SOG Huntspoint hunting knife and more in the latest BLADE® (www.blademag.com), on most newsstands TODAY!
Highlights include:
•Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Ken Onion and CRKT each were involved in three Knife Of The Year Awards: Onion and CRKT on the Most Innovative Imported Design for the Swindle and Accessory Of The Year for the Survival Para-Saw, CRKT for Best Buy Of The Year with the Endorser/Matthew Lerch design, and Onion and Chef Works for the Kitchen Knife Of The Year (the Ken Onion “Rain”);
•Wayne Goddard became the 50th inductee into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall Of Fame©;
•In the BLADE Show’s custom knife competition, John White won three awards and E. Scott McGhee two: White for Best of Show and Best Damascus for his Side-Shell Hunting Dagger and Best Bowie for his feather/stag model, and McGhee for Best Handle Design for his Puma model and Best Fighter for his Cottonmouth Blackout fixed blade;
•BLADE Show factory breakout introductions included the HEST/F Mr. DP Ti from DPx Gear, Bear & Son’s “Undead” folding stiletto on a Zombie theme, Maxpedition’s first-ever knife line and many others;
•The final installment in BLADE’s 40th anniversary series on the top 40 factory knives of the past 40 years, with the Kershaw/Ken Onion Leek finishing Numero Uno for the years 2001-12;
•A critique of four of the latest factory hunting knives, including the aforementioned MeatEater appraisal of the SOG Huntspoint;
•The favorite knives of 19-year-old Fifty Caliber Shooters Association two-time junior world champion Michelle Chestnut;
•A special trio of damascus knives made by three of the Knifemakers’ Guild’s top female makers that will be auctioned at the 2013 Guild Show; and much more, all in the latest BLADE.
For the latest knives and knife news, stay tuned to www.blademag.com.
Buck Collectors Observe 25th Anniversary
Hundreds of Buck knife collectors converged on Spokane, Washington, and Post Falls, Idaho, last week for the Buck Collectors Club International’s 25th Anniversary Gala.
A celebration of Buck knives, seminars on Buck knives, tours of the Buck manufacturing plant just across the border in Post Falls, and much more highlighted the event, which drew collectors from all over the country.
Such Buck VIPs as Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Chuck Buck, Lori Buck, CJ Buck, David Yellowhorse, Wilde Bill Cody, Leroy Remer, Mike Prater, Fred Wilson and many others mingled with Buck collectors throughout the festivities.
The event kicked off with a banquet Tuesday night, and included the induction of four into the BCCI Hall Of Fame: knifemaker Jerry Bodner, Jane Davie and the aforementioned Mssrs. Yellowhorse and Wilson. BLADE® (www.blademag.com) Magazine Editor Steve Shackleford served as the banquet keynote speaker and was presented with a special plaque in recognition of his work with the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) and support of the BCCI over the years.
Wednesday included a complete slate of seminars and factory tours. The seminars included one on Buck Yellowhorse knives by award-winning Buck Yellowhorse collector Gene Merritt. The day was capped by a sunset dinner cruise on the nearby Lake Coeur d’Alene. Thursday featured seminars by CJ Buck on what’s on the horizon at Buck Knives and on Buck Customs by John Foresman, Leroy Remer and Wilde Bill Cody, among others. A “Knife Swap Plus” was held Thursday evening and included Russ Donoghue signing his new BCCI History Book, raffles, auctions, artist demos and more. The event concluded with more seminars Friday, including one on the Buckmaster/M-9 and Buck Tactical Knives by Rich Neyman, and a Buck Knife Survival Seminar by Karen Hood. A picnic at the home of Chuck and Lori Buck was a fitting end to the extravaganza.
For more information on the BCCI, visit www.buckcollectorsclub.org.
For the latest knife news, stay honed to www.blademag.com.
As Long As We Have the Whittling Chip
As long as we have the Whittling Chip, then we have nothing to worry about in the knife industry. “What is the Whittling Chip?” you non-Boy-Scout, “no Eagle Scout Badge here”-type folks might ask? It’s a badge earned in Cub Scouts at the “Bear” level, and/or as a Webelos scout.
Bear scouts and Webelos scouts may earn the privilege of carrying a pocketknife to Cub Scout functions. The objective of this award is to make Scouts aware that:
‘A Cub Scout knife is an important tool. You can do many things with its blades. The cutting blade is the one you will use most of the time. With it you can make shavings and chips and carve all kinds of things.
You must be very careful when you whittle or carve. Take good care of your knife. Always remember that a knife is a tool, not a toy. Use it with care so that you don’t hurt yourself or ruin what you are carving.’
The requirements to earn the Whittling Chip card and patch are:
- Complete Bear Achievement 19, Shavings and Chips
- Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of a pocketknife.
- Close the blade with the palm of your hand.
- Never use a knife on something that will dull or break it.
- Be careful that you do not cut yourself or any person nearby.
- Never use a knife to strip the bark from a tree.
- Do not carve your initials into anything that does not belong to you.
- Take the Pocketknife Pledge:
- I will treat my pocketknife with the respect due a useful tool.
- I will always close my pocketknife and put it away when not in use.
- I will not use my pocketknife when it might injure someone near me.
- I promise never to throw my pocketknife for any reason.
- I will use my pocketknife in a safe manner at all times.
Yes, as long as we have the Whittling Chip, all is well in the world of knives!
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