Paraded in the Knives 2013 book like dress soldiers at a welcome-home party is a pair of Daniel Winkler fixed blades in camouflage finishes, and cord-wrapped and otherwise synthetic handles. They each measure 9.75 inches overall and feature extended “striker pommels.”
Soldiers will no doubt take as much of a liking to the twosome as the Editor of Knives 2013, further catapulting them to the top of the “Editor’s Favorites from Knives 2013 Book” list. (Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios photo)
The late great purveyor J.W. Denton said the best-looking knives were shaped like sports cars, and the Microtech Socom Delta—the Blade Magazine 2012 American-Made Knife Of The Year®—is one J.W. would have loved to take around the block for a cut or two.
MICROTECH SOCOM DELTA
•Pattern: Single-action folder
•Blade steel: Powdered CPM S35VN stainless
•Blade length: 3.75”
•Handle material: G10/carbon fiber
•Closed length: 5.25”
•Weight: 4.2 ozs.
•Special stuff: Carbon-fiber handle has a titanium lockbar w/removable insert to hold the blade securely in place; ceramic bearing system provides smooth, fast action
•MSRP: $330
•Available: Now
The Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards are voted on each year at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) by the show’s exhibiting booth holders, plus a panel of five special judges, the latter whose votes count double. The 2013 BLADE Show will be held May 31-June 2, once again at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
For the latest knives, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss091712
Knife: ZERO TOLERANCE 0888
Pattern: Premium folder
Blade steel: Composite blade S110V edge, 14C28N spine
Heat treat: 59-61 HRC
Blade length: 3.75”
Blade pattern: Drop point
Blade thickness: .156”
Blade grind: Flat
Blade finish: Satin and bead blasted
Handle: Smooth, contoured titanium
Feature comforts: Stainless steel lockbar insert w/integral over-travel stop; built-in clip slides left or right, integrates into design
Closed length: 5.375”
Operating/locking mechanism: Titanium frame-lock flipper; KVT ball bearings in pivot
Weight: 7.6 ozs.
MSRP: $499
The Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards are voted on each year at the BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) by the show’s exhibiting booth holders, plus a panel of five special judges, the latter whose votes count double. The 2013 BLADE Show will be held once again at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
For the latest knives, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss091312
New to ShopBlade is Sentry Solutions’ Gear Care Kit-Field Grade for all your hunting knives, guns, tactical gear and collectibles.
The kit includes:
•Sentry Solutions’ award-winning Tuf-Cloth for lubrication and rust protection of all metal, wood and plastic surfaces;
•Tuf-Glide oil-free lubrication in an applicator that can reach inside knife pivots and other hard-to-reach areas (Tuf-Glide was the Blade Magazine 2000 Accessory Of The Year);
•And the GATCO Super Micro sharpener, great for all blades, including those with plain and/or serrated edges.
For more info click on http://www.shopblade.com/gear-care-kit-field-grade-tin/?lid=blss091312
My second Editor’s Favorites pick from the Knives 2013 book is included for its sweet simplicity. Don’t let the straightforward, integral form of Billy Mace Imel’s dagger fool you, though, the lines flow symmetrically, with rounded edges along the grip, a pointed pommel and penetratingly pointed blade.
Only mother-of-pearl interrupts the shapely, blackened 01-tool-steel dagger. (SharpByCoop.com photo)
The knife is featured on page 86 of Knives 2013. Click here to order your copy today!
In a serious blow to the attempts by New York City and NYC District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. to derail Knife Rights’ federal civil rights lawsuit against them, U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones on September 10 denied their motions for judgment on the pleadings and to dismiss the case.
The ruling comes on the heels of a decision by Federal Magistrate Judge Ronald Ellis on September 7 allowing victimized NYC retailer Native Leather to join the case as a plaintiff.
Download Judge Jones’ opinion and order here: http://bit.ly/ODNGi4
Together, Knife Rights said these rulings affirm that its lawsuit is valid on its face and will proceed to trial.
“Despite their attempts to make this case go away, NYC and DA Vance will now be held fully accountable in federal court by Knife Rights for their disgraceful attempts to demonize the most widely-owned pocketknives in America as contraband, and to intimidate honest knife retailers into making six-figure forced ‘contributions’ to the City, under threat of criminal penalty, in order to avoid prosecution,” said Knife Rights Chairman Doug Ritter.
The case seeks a judicial determination that the New York state laws regarding “switchblades” and “gravity knives” are unconstitutionally vague as applied to common pocketknives with a bias towards closure, including one-hand opening and assisted-opening folding knives. An example of a one-hand opener is Sal Manaro’s custom folder pictured above.
“The dismissal of these motions vindicates our position that there are real constitutional issues involved,” Ritter noted. “The City cannot simply expand the state law to persecute knife owners and retailers to suit their own ends.
“Suing the largest city in the U.S. is not something to be done lightly, but it is essential to our freedoms that New York not be allowed to trample on our rights, and Knife Rights has stepped up to the plate to defend freedom. Perhaps now DA Vance will recognize that this lawsuit is not going away and come to his senses instead of continuing to waste taxpayer resources victimizing law-abiding citizens who simply possess a practical tool (a common pocketknife), and the honest retailers who sell these tools.”
For the latest knives, knife trends, knifemakers, what knives to buy and where, knife legislation, knifemaking instruction, and much more, subscribe to BLADE® Magazine, the World’s No. 1 Knife Publication. Click on http://www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us/?lid=blss091112
The ABS Journeyman Smith Performance Test of Apprentice Smith Ben Seward which is administered by Master Smith Lin Rhea. During the video Master Smith Rhea gives some very useful advice about test preparation and techniques. For more information on the educational programs of the American Bladesmith Society please visit our Website and Forum at www.americanbladesmith.com
BLADE Recommends: Guide to Making Knives, 2nd Edition
Before going through the rigorous certifications the ABS offers, it’s essential to get the best knifemaking information. BLADE’s Guide to Making Knives is required reading. It offers extensive knifemaking instructions, including full-color photographs.
Click here to order BLADE’s Guide to Making Knives from ShopBlade.com for the best price.
