The company’s long-time marketing manager retires after nearly 30 years of service.
Spyderco has been one of the most successful factory knife companies of the past half century, and a not-so-secret key to its success over almost 70 percent of that stretch has been Joyce Laituri.
Joyce’s last day at Spyderco, June 1, will be only slightly in the rearview mirror when you read this, but that’s probably the way she likes it. That’s because she’s not into personal glorification and wouldn’t want anyone to make a big fuss over her departure—which is just one of her many admirable traits.
Spyderco makes great knives. However, like all products, if not promoted correctly, the knives would not have sold like gangbusters the way they have over the decades. Such promotion has been Joyce’s bailiwick for most of the nearly 30 years she’s been with the company. From customer service circa 1995 she soon went to marketing, eventually becoming marketing manager in charge of all Spyderco catalogs, most of the ads, public relations, and most of the company’s relationships with writers, editors and many other industry pros.
Joyce Laituri
The Spyderco catalogs and ads under Joyce’s direction are industry standards. Chock full of detailed color images and incisive information about the knives, their backstories, materials, designs, collaborators and more, the catalogs in particular are among the best of any knife company ever.
As super as Joyce is at promoting Spyderco knives, it’s her ability to be friendly, funny, informative and genuine in her dealings with folks that stands out. A former airline stewardess from a time when all airline stewardesses had to be pleasing to the eye, Joyce is very pretty—though there’s much more to her than that. Her sparkling eyes and engaging smile and manner immediately put people at ease and make them enjoy working with her.
She is a master of customer relations and excels at keeping a running tab on everyone’s likes and dislikes. For instance, she and I share a love of dogs, and when we communicate we almost always talk about them. She adores her boxers, emails images of them and always asks about our animals, too.
A highlight of any SHOT Show was visiting the Spyderco booth and having a sit down with BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame member Sal Glesser to go over the latest Spyderco knives. Running interference for Sal would be Joyce, all smiles and ready to provide the inside scoop on all the new knives, provide quality zippered bags full of samples and, of course, a few pieces of chocolate to satisfy the savage sugar beast in all scribes.
Joyce is a fountain of knowledge not just on Spyderco knives but knives in general, and BLADE® depended on her for conveying that knowledge. A veritable quote machine, she covered everything sharp, from knives for kids, the kitchen, rescue and more. She is a knife person and it shows. “If you live an out-of-doors Colorado lifestyle you own a pocketknife,” she once noted of Spyderco’s location in Golden, Colorado. “Most likely, you own several.”
She provided a much-needed feminine perspective for the male-dominated field of sporting knives, one she indicated wasn’t all that much different from the male viewpoint. “Honestly, my personal opinion is that women don’t vary much from men when choosing a knife,” she said, adding, “Sal has a saying that when you buy a drill you really don’t want the drill. What you want is the hole.”
Good times or bad, Joyce always adapted. The pandemic was no exception. Speaking of the adjustments the industry had to make to cope with the shutdowns, quarantines and the like, she related how Spyderco emerged from the storm as strong as any knife company. “These past months have been a testament to the leadership and health of our business,” she said toward the north end of the crisis. “Whoever could have imagined shifting literally overnight to work systems not used before in knifemaking? I raise my hat to all of us! We’re a feisty bunch, aren’t we?”
Yes—though none are feistier than Joyce. She educated many thousands of people on the utility and value of Spyderco knives, and by extension enhanced the popularity, importance and relevance of the entire cutlery industry. In her field of endeavor, none have done it better.
Today’s framelock folders are built tough, stylish and sharp.
Framelocks are popular with folks who put folding knives to rough use. They are built more robust than linerlocks simply because the lockbar is cut out and bent from the steel or titanium frame of the handle. The lockbar is the exact width of the handle scale, whatever thickness that may be. Consequently, compared to the spring of a standard linerlock, there is significantly more material locking the blade open and, thus, greater lock strength.
Hinderer Knives Halftrack
At the end of the titanium lockbar of the Hinderer Halftrack is a bolted-in steel block that contacts the tang and reduces wear on, and thus adds longevity to, the lockbar.
Named for the specialized military vehicle with a tracked propulsion drive system, the Hinderer Knives Halftrack framelock folder is, like its namesake, practically unstoppable. Despite the knife’s compact size, it has the horsepower to muscle through tasks big and small.
Hinderer Knives is known for high-end folding and fixed-blade knives aimed at the tactical market. The Halftrack is a bulldog of a tactical folder and one of Hinderer’s biggest sellers. A scaled-down tactical folder, it’s easy to carry. One thing’s for sure, the Halftrack is stout, with a handle that’s a little over a half-inch thick. The 2.75-inch blade is high-octane CPM S45VN stainless steel. The classic bowie shape has a defined tip for precise cutting. Other blade pattern options are a Spanto—Hinderer’s in-house design of blade grind that results in a very stout spear point—a tanto, wharncliffe and drop point.
The boxy handle frame is stonewashed titanium and the framelock is one of the strongest on the market. At the end of the titanium lockbar is a bolted-in steel block that contacts the tang and reduces wear on, and thus adds longevity to, the lockbar. Not all knife companies incorporate such a feature on their framelocks. A sturdy titanium pocket clip carries the closed knife blade tip up in the pocket. G-10 inlay in several color options on the presentation side sports a nice 3D milling pattern that aids in traction. At 3.85 inches closed, the Halftrack is robustly built without being too bulky.
The Halftrack blade has an excellent edge out of the box and is ready to work. The CPM S45VN stainless steel has staying power and holds an edge exceptionally well. As the author noted, it’s a material that can go the distance.
The blade has an excellent edge out of the box and is ready to work. The S45VN has staying power and holds an edge exceptionally well. It’s a steel that can go the distance. The handle doesn’t seem that comfortable at first but once you work with it you’ll understand the purpose behind the design. The large finger recess forms an integral lower guard that seats your index finger and prevents forward hand movement, while the angled handle butt fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. The boxy shape helps prevent it from being “lost” in your grip while wearing work gloves, too.
Expect top notch performance all around. The blade sails through just about anything—cardboard, hose, wire, meat and a lot more. It does it all easily. The MSRP of $425 may be somewhat steep but the knife is well worth every dollar. It’s a tough folder that will take abuse and last for years. Country of origin: USA.
Kershaw Helitack
The 3.25-inch clip-point blade of the Helitack is built to excel at utility tasks. Such a pattern not only slices very well but also has a defined tip for precise cutting and scoring.
Named for the U.S. Forest Service helicopter borne firefighters who are flown to combat remote wildfires, the Helitack from Kershaw exhibits the same toughness and resolve that the special breed of firefighters possesses. Like firefighter gear, the Helitack is built tough and carries easily. The 3.26-inch modified clip-point blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless is razor sharp out of the box. (The 8Cr13MoV is the Chinese equivalent of Japanese AUS-8.) The blade deploys via a flipper tab and SpeedSafe assisted opener, and rides on a pair of caged bearings for the ultimate smoothness in opening and closing.
The handle is a stainless steel framelock and sports a chamfer around the edges to soften the grip and make it more comfortable. A reversible clip carries the knife deep in the pocket. The clip easily reverses to the opposite side using a standard T6 Torx driver. A steel lockbar stabilizer is integrated into the pivot on the lock side of the handle. It prevents the lockbar from traveling too far and thus losing tension when locking the blade open. The handle’s slender nature adds to the comfortable carry experience. The lock engages securely with zero play. The blade and handle sport a gray titanium nitride coating that’s handsome and low glare. The hardware is a contrasting black for an overall eye-catching look.
The Kershaw Helitack’s stainless steel framelock sports a chamfer around the edges to soften the grip and make it more comfortable. A reversible clip carries the knife deep in the pocket.
The 3.25-inch clip-point blade is built to excel at utility tasks. Such a pattern not only slices very well but also has a defined tip for precise cutting and scoring. The hollow grind allows the blade to be thinned out somewhat, giving the edge great bite without compromising strength. The Helitack tackles tougher materials with ease, something an EDC work knife must do.
The handle seems very comfortable and has no hot spots, though there were times I wished it were a bit wider to help me power through a cut. As slim as the handle is it carries very well. The lock held firmly. At an MSRP of $64.99, the knife is a great value. Country of origin: China.
Bastinelli Knives Bastien Coves
The BBR2’s titanium lock side is anodized a bronze color. The blade spine thumb rest is at the most forward point of the grip and has traction notches. The pocket clip carries the closed knife blade tip up and is non-reversible.
The knife designs of Bastien Coves of Bastinelli Knives are very progressive and geared toward tactical with an emphasis on high utility. Ergonomics are a priority with Bastinelli’s designs and they are some of the most comfortable tacticals around.
The BBR2 framelock folder showcases Bastien’s fine design talent. Made in Italy by Lionsteel, the knife has a 3.1-inch drop-point blade of D2 tool steel in a stonewash finish for a good visual contrast. The blade is rather interesting as it is a “dropped” design in relation to the handle. This permits Bastinelli to make full use of the ergonomic handle and allows the blade to be used to its full potential by lowering the cutting edge below the handle, reducing interference from the user’s hand and making the blade more useful in various cutting tasks. D2 was chosen for its high performance for the money. Dual thumb studs provide ease of one-hand opening, and the pivot’s Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) ensures ultra-smooth blade rotation. A fuller milled into the blade reduces weight and provides a nice visual and an aggressive presence.
If you follow Bastinelli’s work, you know the BBR2 is available in a plain edge blade. Starting in 2024, Bastinelli will begin offering the BBR2 in a partly serrated blade as well, and provided an early sample of the semi-serrated iteration to road test for the article.
A partly serrated blade on the Bastinelli BBR2 is new for 2024.
The handle is a half-and-half construction, with a milled G-10 presentation side and a titanium lock side anodized bronze. The curved handle with prominent index finger groove is one of the best things about the BBR2. It is super comfortable. The handle edges are chamfered as is the grip to remove some material to fit your hand better. The blade spine thumb rest is at the most forward point of the grip and has traction notches. An aluminum spacer protrudes stylistically at the handle butt to form a skull cracker point. The pocket clip carries the closed knife blade tip up and is non-reversible. (Sorry, southpaws.) I also like the rounded G-10, which helps the knife sit better in your hand. At first it did feel a bit weird with the rounded G-10 and the flat titanium lock side, but after working with the knife for a while you get used to it. MSRP: $250.
CRKT Padawan
For using, the author’s favorite of the two blade patterns of the CRKT Padawan is the wharncliffe. The full flat grind gradually tapers down to the edge and makes it an absolute slicer.
CRKT’s newest folder design, the Padawan is designed by Brazilian knifemaker Pedro Buzetti of Presidential Prudente, Brazil. Buzetti is the protege of Flavio Ikoma (page 36), the Ikoma of the Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) and a well-known Brazilian knifemaker who also has several collaborations with CRKT. The Padawan is Buzetti’s first collaboration with the company and is a stylish EDC folder. Pretty much a scaled-down tactical folder, the Padawan features a steel handle and framelock construction. It comes in two blade styles—an upswept semi-skinner and a wharncliffe, both 3 inches long. Blade steel is Sandvik 14C28N stainless, comparable to AUS-8.
There are two choices of handle overlays: textured black G-10 for the wharncliffe and brown canvas Micarta® for the semi-skinner. The overlays not only provide enhanced grip and visual styling but also act as a lockbar stabilizer. At 4.1 inches closed, the Padawan rides very well in the pocket, thanks in part to a blade-tip-up, deep-carry clip. Unfortunately, the clip is not reversible. Both knives feature flipper opening and the IKBS to provide easy, fast blade deployment.
For using, my favorite of the two blade patterns is the wharncliffe. The full flat grind gradually tapers down to the edge and makes it an absolute slicer. The wharncliffe has a more defined tip than the semi-skinner’s drop point. The Sandvik 14C28N steel holds an edge well for the money and is fairly easy to resharpen.
The CRKT Padawan offers two choices of handle overlays: textured black G-10 for the wharncliffe and brown canvas Micarta® for the semi-skinner. The overlays not only provide enhanced grip and visual styling but also act as a lockbar stabilizer.
The Padawan is a breeze to carry. It just disappears in your pocket. The handle is slender and comfortable, with the primary finger groove helping your index finger seat itself, with the rest of the fingers falling into place naturally. Chamfers in the grip make the handle feel slimmer than it actually is. Attention to detail is not lost at all, from the stylized tri-wing pivot screws to the mirror-polished, crowned blade spine. Such little touches make a good knife even better and add value. The Padawan is a great EDC framelock built stout that carries well without feeling bulky. MSRP for either version is a very reasonable $99.99. Country of origin: China.
Though always open to TSA interpretation, these tools just might pass muster.
It’s the job of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to help ensure the safety of all commercial flights, which includes confiscating anything and everything from passenger carry-on that might jeopardize such safety. With the summer vacation season and the plane travel that accompanies it beckoning, the focus of this story is to avail you of some EDCs that might pass TSA muster.
Before continuing, there is always going to be that one TSA agent who will find something wrong with a carry-on EDC, no matter what it is, so be prepared for that eventuality. For the most part I read through the TSA’s rules and there appears to be some openings for such EDCs—not many, mind you, but some.
From left: the Leatherman Raptor, Big Idea Design TPT Slide and Gerber Prybrid-X.
One is the TPT Slide from Big Idea Design. Lets dive right in to why I think the TSA would OK the TPT for carry-on. First, simply because, in my experience, the TSA has. Back in my trade show days I carried several knives that were structured like the TPT. It is a utility knife with a removable blade. I would throw the knife in my carry-on minus the blade. Since I was working trade shows, I would simply leave some utility blades in the booth for when I got there. If you don’t have a setup like that it is easy enough to just buy a pack of blades in a store at your destination. When you depart to come home, leave them as an extra tip to the chambermaid.
The TPT takes utility blades, the single trapezoid style. You need no tools to remove the blade. In other knives of this style I have seen many different ways to remove the blade. The TPT’s method isn’t difficult but it isn’t a cakewalk like some others, either. Once you get the hang of it, though, you will have an easier time.
A flat-head screwdriver/pry bar is incorporated into the handle butt. There’s also a socket that takes quarter-inch bits. It is a trim package and has a pocket clip for carry or sleek leather pouch that also holds an extra blade. The pocket clip is tight—tight enough that when you get it, give it a good stretch to open it up. Included are two faux blades. They look exactly like utility blades but have no edge. They would be great for chores like breaking tape on packages, though I would not advise attempting to take them through security. You might be pushing your luck.
The author found the scissors of the Leatherman Raptor very useful. He carries a pair in his service bag. Good scissors can cut a variety of materials, from paper to cord and zip ties.
The TPT is a nice piece of kit and gives you a compact tool for EDC, though I can’t see why you couldn’t carry on any utility knife without the blades as long as it fits the guidelines. I do like it enough that it will see duty in my EDC rotation. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $80.
Sound Substitue
The Leatherman Raptor is basically a set of EMT shears with a few tricks up its sleeve. If you read through the TSA guidelines, they exclude any scissors or shears with blades longer than 3 inches from the pivot point. The Raptor’s blades are only 1.9 inches. As well, I would figure the fact the blade tips are not sharp/pointed wouldn’t raise any alarms either. Keep in mind, I have not carried a Raptor on a plane. Unlike utility knives, I have no firsthand experience with shears to fall back on.
To carry the Raptor you have two choices: a plastic molded belt sheath and a belt clip. You can use the belt clip only when the scissors are folded. They fold up for a nice stowaway package. Other scissors features are an oxygen tank wrench, ring cutter, strap-cutter and a glassbreaker. The sheath will accommodate up to a 1.5-inch-wide belt. I know a number of firefighters who carry a Raptor on a belt daily. I carried one for years on my ankle first-aid kit.
Use the tip of the TPT Slide’s faux blade to cut open packages and such. The faux blade is great in areas with knife restrictions.
It is a versatile tool with tons of cutting power. The one blade is shaped like a sheepsfoot and, if you use the point, can be manipulated to score or cut things. The Raptor might not be as quick to use as a knife but it does have uses a knife doesn’t. Best of all, it doesn’t incorporate a bottle opener. (As you may or may not know, I hate having bottle openers on everything. At the current rate, pretty soon humans will be born with bottle-opening appendages.) If I were limited to what I could carry for an EDC, the Raptor would be a good practical alternative to a knife. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $79.95.
Light L’il Bro
The Gerber Prybrid-X might look familiar as it has a big bro, the Prybrid. The Prybrid-X appears to fall under the TSA’s removal-blade category, but instead of a utility blade it takes a #11 crafting blade. The latter might not be as widely available as a utility blade, though by no means is it like shopping for hen’s teeth, either.
To deploy the blade, depress a button and push the blade out the front. The Prybrid-X comes with a pry bar, wire stripper, bottle opener and two flat-head screwdrivers formed out to the tips of the pry bar. It is a design that takes up very little real estate in your pocket. It does have a clip but the paracord lanyard makes it easy to find at the bottom of a pocket.
Sometimes a blade’s ease of access is more important than its size. You can do a lot of chores with the small, sharp blade of the Prybrid-X.
It is a light-duty tool for opening packages, stripping Romex® wire, digging out splinters, etc. If working in non-knife-friendly places like some retail stores, it is a great tool due to its low profile. For the size and weight, I can see it in, say, a tactical pocket pouch or just as that extra blade crazy knife guys like to carry. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $28.
The Challenge
Carrying an EDC can be challenging at times for many reasons, including regulations and workplace rules. I have a friend whose workplace banned knives. Hence, he couldn’t carry a Swiss Army knife to work but could carry a multi-tool because it was “not technically a knife.”
A trim piece such as the TPT is easily carried in the belt line. The author likes carrying it in a belt loop. It saves space in a pocket and promotes easy access.
Fortunately, the knife community is constantly innovating and finding ways to address situations where a “TSA safe” tool is needed, though such tools are few and far between. And that is the challenge. I would like to know if there are more such implements out there. Instead of utility knives, you just remove the blades from, list the more creative stuff in the comments below, the things that make you sit up and take notice.
New Knife-of-the-Year Awards rules, categories and protocol announced!
Other updates include how the awards are determined, where they are presented and more
The 43rd Annual BLADE Show is proud to announce several updates to the BLADE Magazine 2024 Knife-of-the-Year® Awards, including the addition of five new awards and the termination of two old ones.
The Knife-of-the-Year Awards are, of course, for factory knives only and submitted only by eligible exhibitors at BLADE Show ’24.
The new awards for 2024 are:
American-Made Fixed Blade of the Year
Imported Fixed Blade of the Year
American-Made Folding Knife of the Year®
Imported Folding Knife of the Year®, and
Automatic Knife of the Year® presented by PVK.com.
The new awards join the holdovers of Overall Knife of the Year®; Most Innovative American Design; Most Innovative Imported Design; Best Buy of the Year; Investor/Collector Knife of the Year®; Manufacturing Quality Award; Accessory of the Year; Knife Collaboration of the Year; Kitchen Knife of the Year®; Publisher’s Award; and Industry Achievement. (The latter two are picked from individuals in the knife industry by the staff of BLADE Magazine.)
The updates increase the overall number of awards from 13 to 16.
The old awards that have been discontinued are American Made Knife of the Year® and Imported Knife of the Year®, though in actuality they have simply been expanded to include individual awards for fixed blades and folders, both American made and imported.
Procedural Changes
There are also changes in the way certain awards are determined. Those modifications include:
Overall Knife-of-the-Year Award: In the past, the winner of this category was determined by the leading vote getter between the American-Made and Imported Knife-of-the-Year categories, the latter two which have been discontinued in 2024. This year, whichever knife receives the highest number of votes of ALL categories is the Overall Knife of the Year.
Best Buy of the Year Award: Unlike in the past, there will be no specific spot in the display area for entries in this category. Instead, ALL entries in ALL categories must be accompanied by the correct manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). As a result, ALL knives in ALL knife categories accompanied by the correct MSRP are eligible and considered by the judges for the Best Buy of the Year.
Manufacturing Quality Award: Like Best Buy of the Year, there will be no specific spot in the display area for entries in this award category as in the past. As a result, each entering exhibitor must submit a list of each knife and category he/she enters so the judges can check the lists, view/evaluate the applicable knives, and vote for the exhibitor of his/her choice for the Manufacturing Quality Award.
PVK Auto Award
Presented by PVK.com, the Automatic Knife of the Year goes to the best knife that opens automatically by the push of a button, slide, concealed release (scale, bolster, etc.) and so on. The knife can be conventional or dual action (opens as both a manual and an auto) out the side, single- or double-action (both opens and closes by the operation of a slide, button, etc.) out the front, and so on.
Award Venue Moved
Along with the BLADE Show Custom Knife Judging Awards, the Knife-of-the-Year Awards will be presented Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Garden Court area of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel on the floor above The Pit. This is a change from last year’s award venue, which was next to The Pit in the hotel lobby.
Display Area
Entries for the BLADE Magazine 2024 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards will be on display in the front lobby beginning show Friday. As noted, the awards are for factory knives only and submitted only by eligible exhibitors at BLADE Show ’24.
New Rules For Exhibitors
Complete copies of the new rules for the BLADE Magazine 2024 Knife-of-the-Year Awards were emailed to all eligible exhibitors in packets well before June. All eligible exhibitors are advised to go over those rules with a fine-tooth comb to ensure they do not miss out on any of the new rules and thus possibly miss out on winning one or more awards as a result.
Entry Deadlines
Entries will be accepted at the display area beginning at 9 a.m. June 7. No entries will be accepted after Noon the same day.
Know some of the criteria judges use to evaluate custom knives.
Artistic impression, technical merit, fit and finish, walk and talk: What are the standards and where are the attributes that lead to a judge’s conclusion when awards are on the line at a custom knife show? It goes without saying that sometimes the difference between a winner and runner-up is as thin as the edge of a sharpened blade.
Those who judge knife competitions are obviously obliged to employ their experience, skill, years of involvement with the industry and discerning subjectivity. As a result, looking at the criteria that some veteran judges employ helps observers develop a deeper perspective on the competition among the best custom makers in the business. Moreover, if you’re a collector, knowing what judges look for should help you improve your collection; if you’re a knifemaker, it should help you make better knives—or at least knives that are more likely to win judging competitions.
It’s not unusual for a knife to win a category based simply on how hard it is to make—and when you make it as superbly as Peter Johnsson does with the Harbinger, so much the better. (SharpByCoop image)
“I use the four F’s,” advised longtime purveyor Les Robertson, “fit, finish, flow and function. Fit is the overall look of the knife, focusing on how well the guard/bolster fits the blade and guard. How well does the material fit up against the guard and spacers? If a full tang or tapered tang, how well does the handle material fit to the tang?” When it comes to finish, Les primarily looks for consistency and degree of difficulty.
“No matter what type of finish, is it consistent from the tip to the end of the knife? It can have no spots, scratches or other inconsistencies,” he explained. “The degree of difficulty comes in the form of the type of finish. A mirror finish is much more complex than a tumble or bead blast finish. I give bonus points for two-tone finishes, such as a mirror finish on the hollow of the blade and satin for the flat of the blade.”
Finishing up with flow and function, Robertson commented, “Flow—does the knife transition smoothly from one end to the other? Sometimes art knives become more about the art. The embellishments can take away from the basic design the knife was built on. Function: will the knife do what the design intended it to do? While there is always room for improvement on standard designs, the maker should temper the changes and base them on reality. Often, the design borders on or moves into the fantasy realm.”
Robertson adds that the first thing he notices when judging is whether the knife fits the category entered. Hunters, for instance, do not generally feature 10-inch bowie-style blades. Common errors or flaws, he observes, can usually be found in grind line symmetry in the choil area, whether a folder or fixed blade.
Complexity
Jared Oeser has been a custom knifemaker for 13 years and finds himself most familiar with folders. “Folders tend to be, more often than not, the more complicated knives to make,” he began. “Fit and finish are big factors, especially on a folder, and every detail has to be taken into account along with how hard the knife is to make. Adding a lockback feature or multiple blades makes the knife more complicated, and I have seen knives win in categories—even best in show—that might have a tiny flaw but win on the sheer complexity of the knife, just how hard it was to make.”
Oeser likes to take a broad view in the beginning, looking over each of the knives in a particular competition and moving from there. “In a process of elimination, I take some away and then give an overview of the ones that stand out with their level of detail, refinement and craftsmanship,” he said. “I try to leave style aside because everybody has a style of their own. But I do want to see that they have accomplished what they intended to do within their own style. It may not be to my taste, but if they have nailed it, that’s great! What does the entire package look like?”
Top-down views of knives can reveal the good or the bad. Here it’s the good with the proper spacing between the closed blades on an Evan Nicolaides sportsman’s knives. (SharpByCoop image)
After judging for the first time at BLADE Show Texas in 2022, Jared has seen some entries that immediately fall out of contention. “There are automatic disqualifications if knives have massive flaws,” he related. “I was judging a competition with [ABS master smith] Jim Rodebaugh once, and there was a big bowie with the nut on the end of the pommel way off center. Jim put that knife down and said, ‘Well, that’s out.’”
Scale & Proportion
Scale and proportion are critical elements in the overall presentation of a custom knife, and these ideals apply to both fixed blades and folders, according to Jim Berkenfield of Forged in Thread, an apparel company that contributes revenues back to the knife industry. “I typically examine a knife from the tip of the blade to the handle,” he said, “but that’s just me. Right away your eye will pick up on common errors such as disproportionate size between blade and handle, major flaws in fit and finish, or any sort of material or structural flaw. In my opinion, line and flow are extremely important in both fixed blades and folders, yet as in most judging this is a subjective characteristic of a knife. Really, it’s no different than admiring a fine piece of sculpture or artwork and saying ‘I like that’ or ‘I don’t like that.’”
Fit and finish factor into the award-winning formula in virtually every judge’s point of view. Visual appeal and quality construction go hand in hand. “That’s extremely important in judging knives,” Berkenfield added, “because judges are always looking for perfection in whatever the category may be. Smooth transitions between materials, perfectly centered blades, and smooth locking mechanisms are all vital characteristics of a winning knife.
Flow is when the knife’s shape transitions smoothly from one end to the other. ABS master smith Adam DesRosiers nails the concept with his damascus keyhole hunter. (SharpByCoop image)
“In categories that I have judged, the judging teams quickly have been able to reduce the submissions to the top one, two or three knives almost at a glance. Occasionally a piece can be overlooked by a judge based upon the fact that it’s a knife that doesn’t fit [his/her] general aesthetic or knowledge set, and therefore [he/she has] a hard time appreciating it. Obviously, this is one of the reasons that judging is done by a panel and not by an individual judge.”
When it comes down to a pair of high-quality knives, Berkenfield seeks a closer examination of each piece, sometimes with a magnifying glass if necessary. Bad welds and asymmetry in damascus steel can make or break a winning knife.
“A piece of advice I have given to a lot of aspiring and up-and-coming makers is to try and find a way to distinguish your work from the multitude of other incredible knifemakers out there,” Jim concluded. “I tell them to imagine a table with 100 knives on it and one of their knives somewhere in the mix. They should be able to quickly scan the table and identify their knife from all the others. This is easier said than done and sometimes is accomplished with a completely unique design or simply by a small detail that identifies a knife as their own.”
Half The Equation
After making custom knives for eight years, Pennsylvanian Jim Vandeveld sees the judging aspect of his involvement weighted heavily on fit and finish, and his perspective on the topic is pretty specific. “Fit and finish are absolutely critical, and honestly, to me encompass more than 50 percent of a knife’s virtue,” he explained. “Polishing, edge breaking, hand satining, etching, buffing, etc., all must flow just as the design must flow. Inspecting it is purely visual and deficiencies are often glaringly obvious. For me, light usually tells the story. How a finished surface catches the light will often show most imperfections.”
Common errors or flaws can usually be found in the grind line symmetry in the choil area. Carl Colson matches the plunge cuts quite well on his Loveless reproduction. (SharpByCoop image)
For Vandeveld, the judging experience begins at first sight—literally. “I think the way the knife is perceived visually at a distance is very important,” he commented. “I personally look for balance, flow and symmetry. These are broad spectrum visual cues that tend to draw me in to take a closer look at a piece. When judging a knife, all views must be taken into account. Lateral, top down, down the point, and more, all propose a different perspective and opportunity for detail to be found or missed. The same is true for folding knives.”
Vandeveld’s judging eye gravitates toward high quality, but common and recurring errors in the knifemaking process do surface. “I think the most common flaws that pop up within custom knives tend to be both visual—related to plunge and grind symmetry as well as faceting on handles and other components, straight-line fit-ups as far as gaps and locations, finishing with etching, sandblasting and polishing—as well as ergonomic hot spots and unbroken edges. These tend to be more subjective based on the maker’s style, but when judging a knife, how it fits in the hand is just as important as the aesthetic in my opinion.”
Set Of Standards
Most judges would probably agree that the devil—or the delight—is in the details when it comes to evaluating the entries in a custom knife competition. It’s way more than a beauty contest. Accessories such as sheaths or pocket clips are not necessarily required. As more than one judge has said, “I’m judging the knife and not the sheath.”
The sheer weight of the knife may even come into play for some, while others make it only a minor consideration. Walk and talk in folding knives certainly demonstrates the proficiency of the folder maker’s tolerances, centerline and spacing, and ease of opening. The list goes on.
One thing is certain—in judging the merits of a custom knife, an experienced individual learns to apply a set of standards to which all makers aspire.
Doug Ritter’s folder more than ready to cut you out of trouble.
A folder always comes in handy. It hides in your pocket until you need it. Most people won’t freak out if you cut your steak in a restaurant with it. It’s a handy item for everyday use. The Doug Ritter RSK MK1-G2 is a classic example.
Let the cutting begin.
Light-Duty Cutting Test
Twenty-pound bond paper is my first choice for testing edge sharpness. The knife was aggressive and smooth slicing. The handle texture made control easy, so I didn’t lose any skin. I pushed the belly of the blade straight into the paper. (I’ll return to the medium for the last test to see if the blade will still slice.)
The blade made great crunching music as it bit quickly into the leather.
Double-walled cardboard was next. Cutting aggressively, the MK1-G2 bit deep into the cardboard and did so quickly. The cutting action was smooth with no snags. The cut pieces didn’t have much curl to them as the flat grind and thin blade cleanly parted the fibers.
I did some push cuts on 8-ounce leather. Nice crunching sounds accompanied each slice. The knife performed great—crunch, crunch, crunch! It was fun to do. The handle texture worked extremely well when I used a sidewinder grip, locking my fingers and hand in place.
As long as I was on leather, I might as well do some skiving—thin slices to thinner to the end of the leather. Once again the folder made great crunching music as it bit quickly into the leather. The test nicked a bit of my fingernail. I needed to be faster with the skiving for sure.
Heavy-Duty Cutting Test
It was time for my favorite camping slack time filler: whittling. I whittled some cool curlicues from a two-by-four. The flat-ground blade made it easy to get fine curlicues. The MK1-G2 also liked thick cuts into the wood. It was very controllable during both depths of cut.
The knife excelled at thick cuts in the two-by-four.
I clamped a two-by-four slab in the vise for a small chop test for the edge and the lock. For a folder the MK1-G2 provided some deep chops, and there were no problems with the handle sliding around in my hand. The edge went through knots and straight grain wood very quickly. The edge was awesome and lockup was 100 percent.
Half-inch sisal rope was next on the docket. I checked to see if the notches on the blade spine would be too sharp on my thumb. To my surprise, they were among the best-feeling thumb notches I’ve experienced on a folder. They provided a good grip and are softened on the points, an indication of paying excellent attention to detail. After 100 crunching cuts, I switched to my sidewinder grip and managed to get another 97 crunching cuts before the bite slowed down. I didn’t find a single hot spot on the knife—outstanding work again.
I returned to the 20-pound bond paper. The folder still sliced smoothly, though I did tear the paper in a couple of places. I believe the tears were more my fault than the knife’s.
Final Cut
The flat-ground blade made getting fine curlicues a snap.
I might make the grind line a tad higher. I like this folder a lot. I would put it in my bugout bag.
Doug Ritter RSK MK1-G2 Specs Company: Hogue Knives Knife type: Locking folder Blade Length: 3.44” Blade Steel: CPM 20CV stainless Blade Grind: Flat Lock: ABLE Lock Liners: 301 stainless steel Handle: Black G-10 Weight: 5 ozs. Closed length: 4 13/16” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $179.95
Work Sharp’s Ken Onion Knife & Tool Sharpener has been keeping knife enthusiasts’ edges sharp for a decade. A good run, by anyone’s measure. But the device’s time is up as the company welcomes the dawning of a new era—the Ken Onion Knife & Tool Sharpener MK.2. I’m sure some of you saw that coming.
Thankfully, Work Sharp hasn’t reinvented the wheel with the refresh of this time-tested multitool. Instead, the unit maintains many of the features that made it popular in the first place but offer a few notable enhancements that sharpeners and makers should find welcome, including a MK.2 Elite model with grinding functions.
Chief among the enhancements is the MK.2’s speed control, now offering seven preset speed settings to provide consistent and repeatable results. A new torque control delivers consistent power, even under load. To make the sharpener easier to dial in, Work Sharp has included a very clear amber LED indicator light for the belt speed selection for quick and precise adjustment. Furthermore, a scope click adjustment knob on the sharpening guide, with detent clicks, allows users to adjust in half-degree increments by touch. Incidentally, the guide is adjustable from 15 degrees at the low end to 30 degrees at the high, hitting nearly every angle for both knives and tools.
The MK.2 also comes with leather-lined angle guides that offer protection for knives during sharpening. Users will also note a lockout belt tensioner on the sharpening cassette that helps make changing abrasive belts fast and simple. The Ken Onion MK.2 will come with five grits to accommodate the full spectrum of sharpening from repair to ultra-fine polishing.
As for the grinding, the Ken Onion MK.2 Elite model has some interesting aspects too. The redesigned grinder attachment quickly and easily mounts to the power base without tools or calibration. Once attached, the grinder boasts on-the-fly motor speed control and continuous run time. Additionally, an adjustable, three-position convex pulley system allows users to customize their grind profile depending on personal preference or the type of knives being sharpened.
The Ken Onion Knife & Tool Sharpener MK.2 boasts a $200 MSRP for the base model and $300 MSRP for the Elite. While the original sharpener has been a standby for a long time, the new addition to the Work Sharp lineup should prove sharp.
