The series “A-Z of Bushcraft” heads to Sweden to make a knife.
Non-Traditional Knife Sharpening Methods
Sometimes we just don’t have a sharpening stone when we need it.
What can be used in the bush when you don’t have tools and sharpeners available?
See how non-traditional materials can keep a fine edge on knives in this video.
American Knife and Tool Institute Spotlights Legislative Successes at Annual Meeting
Atlanta, GA — On June 6, 2010, members of the American Knife and Tool Institute (www.AKTI.org) met in Atlanta for the group’s Annual Membership Meeting and Legislative Update to learn about the organization’s successful efforts to defend our rights to own and carry knives. Plans for future efforts were also on the agenda. The non-profit organization’s mission is to ensure that Americans will always be able to buy, sell, own, carry and use knives and edged tools. Its goals are to: Educate the public, legislators and law enforcement about knives. Promote reasonable, responsible and consistent knife legislation. Inform with accurate industry, historical and technical information.
“AKTI has been the reasonable and responsible voice of the knife-making and knife-using community since 1998,” said Executive Director Jan Billeb. “As the advocacy voice for the entire knife community, AKTI has a successful, proven record of accomplishments.”
During its annual meeting, members were updated regarding successful legislative initiatives in the last year that limited restrictive knife laws and protect law-abiding citizens. Success stories included Kansas, New Hampshire, and Texas where major changes were achieved. AKTI led the effort to oppose a U.S. Customs’ attempt to define nearly all folding knives as switchblades and make de facto criminals of millions of knife owners. Together with coalition members, they were successful in amending the Federal Switchblade Act with language previously used by AKTI in Texas HB 4456.
AKTI also announced the development of a new website at www.AKTI.org which will provide a central location for information on current state and national knife laws, AKTI initiatives to help re-define knife terminology in current laws and to change old outdated laws related to knife ownership and carry. The site will also add to AKTI’s state of preparedness for the next effort to restrict our right to carry man’s oldest tool.
In other news, three new board members were introduced: Columbia River Knife & Tool (CRKT), Rod Bremer, co-founder and President; Meyerco, Mike Manrose, Vice President; and United Cutlery, Clint Kadel, President /CEO.
CRKT was appointed to fill a vacancy. Meyerco and United Cutlery were added as the Board of Regents was increased from seven to nine, a move that was part of an initiative to expand AKTI’s effort to “Keep Knives in American Lives.”
For more information about the group and its initiative, contact Jan Billeb, Executive Director, American Knife & Tool Institute, 22 Vista View Lane, Cody, WY 82414-9606. The phone number is (307) 587-8296. The website is www.AKTI.org.
Bladesports World Championship – 2010 BLADE Show
The first few runs of the Bladesports World Championship in Atlanta on June 5, 2010.
Knifemaking: How to Get a Mirror Polish?
This thread is from a previous version of blademag.com.
Here’s a question from a BLADE reader:
I’ve been having trouble getting a mirror finish on my blades, whether it be carbon or stainless. I can get them mostly polished, but it seems I always have sanding scratches after hand sanding that won’t buff out. I change direction with each grit sanding to 2,000 grit, and everything looks fine but when I finish buffing, the center always seems to be cloudy looking.
PatrickKnives:
Try to buff a couple of times early in the sanding, this will make the scratches not removed by the previous grit easier to see. If your last grit was 400 at a diagonal you would not expect to see any scratches parallel with the blade. You can also mix up your angle so you can determine the grit of the scratches. If I am getting clouds I clean my wheel and apply fresh compound and finish the buff with a lighter touch.
David F Pitt:
Isand my blades wearing a magnafocaser and floresent light.I change directions with each grit.I will finish at 800grit I polish with matchless white,green chromeK&G Green and finish with matchlees pink . You can check out my knives at http://bearpawcustoms.blademakers.com DAVE
I use 3 lights,so that I get a little light from different directions. It helps me see the scratches better. At first I will cover the blade with a black felt tip pen. Some times I do this twice,just to make sure that I got all the scratches at that grit. I use the felt tip on say 120 grt,then on 220 grt. It helps with the “big” scratches. I then go to the next grit say 320 & I sand in 2 different directions. Then I slowly move on to the next grits. Buffing will help as per PatrickKnives.I then do what David Pitt reccomends Buffing with white,K&G Green, then finish with noscratch pink.
Jeffery E. Wagner:
I would also recommend you finish with pink. It is available through, Jantz Supply.
Case & Zippo Swap Meet South
Case & Zippo Swap Meet South
e-mail: [email protected]
The 41st Annual Knifemakers’ Guild Show
The 41st Annual Knifemakers’ Guild Show
President’s Gala for honorary Guild members Sept. 16
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