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Knives & Orchids Go Together

Congratulations to knifemaker Jim Elliott, who I saw featured today, April 30th, 2013, in Highlands Today, an Edition of the Tampa Tribune. Jim is featured in the publication’s “Agri Leader” section for growing hundreds of varieties of orchids, and of course, for being a spectacular knifemaker. orig

While Highlands Today focuses on his prize-winning orchids, they do give a shout-out to his knives, including an image of the first knife he ever made. BLADE and blademag.com salute his knifemaking, of course, with honorable mention for his apparent green thumb, the latter of which landed him several awards at the seventh annual Orchid Show in Lake Placid two weeks ago.

For the full story, click here.

To learn more about knifemaking resources, books and videos available at shopblade.com, click here.

 

 

 

Knives For Mother’s Day

When I think about my mom today, or reflect on growing up and remembering Mom back then, knives weren’t a big part of her or my culture. But the food, oh, the food! That I remember, and Mom always had plenty of kitchen knives from which to choose. What I really remember is her hands, red from hot dishwater, or dry from work and wear, and there was a certain cutlery set she and Dad saved for and eventually bought. I think Mom still uses those knives today.

As far as kitchen knives go, I asked some industry professionals which of the knives in their respective company lines would make nice gifts for Mom on Mother’s day, and here’s what a few of them had to say:

Boker 03BO050

“It just looks cool. On first impression, you just have to pick it up. The compact size of the Boker Sanyougo offers the function of the popular Santoku design in a very compact size. The handle material options—G-10, canvas Micarta® and white Micarta—make it a functional piece for rugged use or a touch of elegance. If Mom cooks a lot, it’s certainly something she would use and most likely does not have.”
—Dan Weidner, Boker USA

Victorinox paring knife“The $9 price tag on the Victorinox Paring Knife With Sheath is amazing for the quality. The lifetime warranty alone is worth more than that. Also, the peace of mind knowing that you are investing in a Swiss-made quality knife that will remain razor sharp well past when your kids are off to college is a benefit for any parent. The red color is also a market trend.”
—Rob Sterner, Swiss Army Knives

Shun Blue Menkiri“If mom makes homemade noodles or pasta, or has been itching to try it, the Kai USA Shun Blue Menkiri [the “Blue” refers to the blade steel, not the color] is the tool for her. The overall design of the knife is one few people in the U.S. have used, and Shun is happy to be able to offer a piece perfected in the noodle-loving culture of Japan for making noodles and other fresh pasta. The clean, precise feeling as it cuts through noodle dough is a real pleasure.” —Steve Grutbo, Kai USA

Case 07317_slicing“Very few of the products I write about do I actually use in my daily life after the review. But the handle of the W.R. Case & Sons 9″ Slicing Knife is sturdy and classy, and the blade always cuts whatever I want with precision and ease. All of Case’s knives in the Household Cutlery Set are superior. Rarely do I have to resharpen it, but when I do, the sharpening steel is intelligently included as part of the set.”
—Peachy Deegan, founder and editor-in-chief of www.whomyouknow.com

Well, Mom, and all moms, here’s to you. Happy Mother’s Day. You all deserve it. And if interested in similar knives for mom, or more choices, be sure to visit www.shopblade.com/kitchen-knives or www.shopblade.com. And get Mom a gift she’ll use, appreciate, and one that will last her for the rest of her days.

KA-BAR Knives Marks 115 Years In Business

One of America’s oldest and proudest knife manufacturers, KA-BAR Knives will celebrate its 115th birthday on April 29, 2013. The Olean, NY company will ring in the occasion by giving thanks to the KA-BAR community and reflecting on KA-BAR’s legendary legacy.  60499_640935762590653_298518607_n

KA-BAR will be holding several giveaways featuring some of the company’s most popular models. Videos, historical images and products, and new product information will also be announced in the week leading up to KA-BAR’s birthday. Ka-Bar 6112CU

For more information and to enter the KA-BAR giveaways please visit KA-BAR’s social media channels: Facebook.com/KABARKNIVES and twitter.com/KA_BAR.  For additional information on KA-BAR or to purchase a KA-BAR knife, please visit KA-BAR.com.

BLADE Show Will Feature Steampunk How-To

The BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) will feature a seminar by ABS master smith Wally Hayes on how to make a steampunk tanto.

The BLADE Show will have a seminar on how to make a steampunk tanto.
The BLADE Show will feature a seminar by Wally Hayes on how he makes his steampunk tanto.

Slated for May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the BLADE Show is the world’s largest and most important knife show. Hayes, meanwhile, is one of the world’s hottest makers, and his Steampunk knifemaking how-to will be the Sunday of the show, June 2, at 11 a.m. in Room 103 of the Cobb Galleria Centre.

Steampunk knives are inspired by the science fiction genre that features steam-powered machinery from such novels as 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne. “I first saw a Steampunk knife made by Van Barnett and talked to him about it at the 2012 BLADE Show,” Hayes writes in his how-to story in the May BLADE®. In fact, Barnett’s Steampunk folder won Best Art Knife at last year’s BLADE Show and was voted one of the top 14 custom knives of the 21st century in the current July BLADE. A number of other makers have made the style as well.

An accomplished guitarist as well as an award-winning knifemaker, Hayes made a Steampunk tanto for Richard Fortus of the rock band Guns N Roses. Fortus requested it as a gift for a friend. A similar model served as the cover knife for the May BLADE.

In addition to his upcoming Steampunk seminar, Hayes has conducted a number of BLADE Show seminars in the past, including one of his most popular on how to wrap a Japanese knife handle. He will have a table showing his knives at the BLADE Show, and so will Van Barnett, among scores of others.

For the latest in BLADE Show and other knife industry news, subscribe to BLADE

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042513

World Championship Cutting Competition at BLADE Show

Defending champ Ted Ott and a host of challengers will compete for the 11th Annual World Championship Cutting Competition at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

 

The World Championship will be conducted by BladeSports International (BSI) the Saturday of the show at 4:15 p.m. in “The Courtyard”—the parking lot of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Waverly. Current qualifiers include Ott, past champ Gary Bond, Donavon Phillips, Jim Cottingham, Michael Eubanks, Dwight Schoneweis, Dan Keffeler, Bud Robbins and Chris Rowland. Whether more will qualify by the time of the competition, including at least one international contestant, remains to be seen.

 

Speed, power, technique and a good knife are all important ingredients to winning the competitions. All certified beforehand by BSI, the knives must be no longer than 15 inches overall, with a blade 10 inches or shorter and no more than 2 inches wide. There are no thickness or weight limits. The majority of the knives are custom made, with the balance being factory.

 

 The contestants perform a number of cuts, all of which are timed. Points are deducted from the total time for successful cuts, and the low score wins. While some cuts such as slicing through hanging ropes, water-filled plastic bottles and chopping 2x4s are standard fare, there are usually a couple of surprise cuts for which the competitors cannot prepare. The knives are inspected after each round and disqualified if the blade is damaged.

 

 For more on the BLADE Show, subscribe to BLADE® www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042413

 

Ted Ott show's his championship form at last year's BLADE Show. (Point Seven photo)
Ted Ott won last year’s BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition. (Point Seven photo)

New BLADE On Most Newsstands NOW!

Fallkniven’s SK1 Jarl midsize hunter is the cover knife for the new BLADE®, on most newsstands NOW!

What are the top 14 custom knives of the 21st century? What features make a perfect tactical folder? Do you know why lightning strike carbon fiber got its name and why it’s in such demand among custom and factory knifemakers? What are the five most oppressive knife jurisdictions? What are the ultimate knives for Mother’s Day? Get the answers to these questions and much more in the latest issue of BLADE.

While the TSA announced yesterday that it will delay its new policy allowing passengers to carry small pocketknives and multi-tools on board commercial airliners, there was much that went into the creation of the original policy. Find out what happened behind the scenes, which knives qualified for the new policy and which ones didn’t, what industry leaders have to say about the new policy and much more in the new BLADE.

In other stories, find out how the cover knife performs in retired 5th Special Forces Master Sergeant Kim Breed’s “Spec Sheet” knife test; let Dexter Ewing show you how the latest serrated knife sharpeners do their duty; read Ed Fowler’s conclusion to his multi-part how-to on sheep horn handles; check out ABS master smith Rick Dunkerley’s Bear Tracks in “Cool Custom”; read part two of Wayne Goddard’s “Question & Answer” on the material that’s the most difficult to use for knife handles; enjoy mini-profiles of J.D. Smith, Tobbe Lundstrom, Glen Mikolajczyk, Libor Tobolak, Ronald Blystone and Tim Steingass in “Knifemaker Showcase”; and get up-to-date on the latest knives and knife accessories, knife show dates and much more in the latest BLADE.

For subscription information click on

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042313

The new BLADE cover knife is the Fallkniven Jarl.
The new BLADE® is on most newsstands today!

TSA Delays New Small Pocket Knife Policy

A policy change by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allowing passengers to carry a small pocket knife or multi-tool on commercial airliners beginning April 25 has been delayed, federal officials reported.

The Squirt by Leatherman.
The Leatherman Squirt is reportedly one of the multi-tools that would be allowed on board airliners if and when the new TSA policy change goes into effect.

The TSA indicated the delay is so it can consider a report on the subject from an advisory committee comprised of aviation, consumer and law enforcement officials. The TSA gave no time frame for how long the delay will last.

The delay has no effect on the International Civil Aviation Organization’s policy, which already allows certain small pocket knives and multi-tools on flights in a number of other countries.

The new TSA policy has been attacked from many corners. Some family members of people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks said they were outraged by it. At least one major airline official objected to the change, and the 90,000-member Flight Attendants Union Coalition has lambasted the policy.

Meanwhile, anti-knife politicians such as Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass) say all knives should be banned from flights.

The new policy would allow certain small pocket knives and multi-tools with blades 2.36 inches long or less and a half inch wide or less. No knives with locking blades or fixed blades would be allowed, among others.

For more on the TSA ruling, see the July issue of BLADE®, on most newsstands today. For subscription info click on

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl042313

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