See who took home the hardware in seven categories at BLADE Show Texas
Over the years, the BLADE Show Texas Awards contest has proven among the most competitive of the triad of shows—perhaps only second to Atlanta. The 2024 event was no different with the factory section of the Feb. 23-24 drawing in cutting-edge designs and hot new takes on the age-old technology. It’s an understatement to say the three-judge panel had its work cut out for it deep in the bowels of the Fort Worth Convention Center in picking the best of a very accomplished field. Yet the experts did, choosing winners in 7 categories—including Best Of Show, ESNYX’s EDC folder. Get a gander of it and the other top picks from the ever-growing blade shindig from deep in the heart of Texas.
CRKT is releasing three Alan Folts designs–all folders–in anticipation of the Ft. Worth Knife Show.
CRKT, never one to rest on its laurels, has three new knife drops in anticipation of the Feb. 23-24, 2024 Blade Show Texas in Fort Worth. Alan Folts takes centerstage with this release, with all three of the designs emanating from the Florida-based custom knife maker. Interestingly, Folts made his mark as a fixed-blade man, but the two versions of the Ritual and brand-new Obverse mark somewhat of a new calling in the realm of folders.
“Alan Folts is a master craftsman and an acclaimed designer with over two dozen CRKT models to his credit in his time working with us,” said Doug Flagg, CRKT VP of Marketing and Innovation. “This latest collection represents Alan’s wide-ranging inspirations, innovative approach to knifemaking and the commitment to excellence that we both share.”
As a side note, the new premium knives from CRKT are listed as “coming soon” on CRKT.com but will be available for sale as BLADE Show Texas kicks off on Friday, February 23rd. For consumers in the Fort Worth area, the company also extends an invitation to its booth at the event, where they can meet the Folts in person.
CRKT Ritual Compact
Designed for daily use, the Ritual Compact is an assisted folding knife inspired by old-world Persian fixed blades. The knife features a just over-three-inch 12C27 steel blade, ensuring excellent edge retention. With Assisted Opening technology and IKBS bearings, the knife guarantees quick and easy deployment and closure. The micarta handle with a stainless-steel bolster adds strength and striking aesthetics. The Ritual™ Compact is priced at an MSRP of $125.
The high-end addition to the family, this Ritual Compact boasts a Damascus steel blade for superior cutting performance. The knife is adorned with a carbon fiber handle, an acid-etched Damascus bolster, a blue anodized titanium back spacer, and a pocket clip, making it a stunning addition to any collection. The Ritual™ Compact is priced at an MSRP of $275.
CRKT Obverse
The Obverse is a distinguished folding knife made with premium M390 steel. The satin-finish, sheepsfoot blade is both sleek and durable, complemented by a carbon fiber handle with blue anodized titanium detailing. The silky smooth IKBS™ ball bearing pivot system ensures effortless deployment, while the secure liner lock allows for easy one-handed closing. The Obverse is priced at an MSRP of $275.
To be competitive, today’s balisongs must excel at flipping as well as cutting.
It’s a focus of versatility. From the style of opening to the enthusiasts who perform a variety of maneuvers with it, blade exposed, the balisong/butterfly knife is an object of curiosity and fascination.
The original term for the subject knife, balisong, is a favorite of Lucas Cao, founder and president of Squid Industries, which produces the popular Tsunami balisong. “Butterfly is a great slang name that describes the mechanism,” he remarked, “but the word balisong has a rich cultural history behind it.”
Flipping competitions have played a key role in the resurgence of the popularity of balisongs, especially among young enthusiasts. James Hill is an example of the latter. He won first prize of $1,000 at the West Coast Flipping Championship during BLADE Show West in Salt Lake City this past October.
With that observation in mind, the Tsunami is true to the Squid concepts of user accommodation. “Each knife we’ve created is on the basis of more variety while still offering a premium flipper experience no matter the price point,” Cao explained. “At the top of our ladder is the Tsunami, which we designed to embody peak performance and build quality.”
Squid Industries Tsunami
The Tsunami features a traditional Japanese-style tanto blade in a straight-back clip point and flat-ground CPM S35VN stainless steel.
The Tsunami features a traditional Japanese-style tanto blade in a straight-back clip point and flat ground CPM S35VN stainless steel intended to perform well across the spectrum of cutting requirements. However, the knife’s main constituency is the flipper community. “We serve a variety of customers with different requirements,” Lucas said, “but a majority of our customers are focused on the flipping aspect. If I had to estimate the customer desirability, I would say approximately 99 percent flipping and 1 percent cutting.”
The Tsunami employs a combination of bushings and phosphorous bronze washers in its mechanism, ensuring smooth deployment. “This is critical to flipping because it allows the user to consistently and reliably manipulate the knife,” he added. “Bearings aren’t used in our products and many other competitive balisongs from other brands because they produce a flipping experience that’s usually too smooth. Bushings are the preferred style because they offer a specific amount of smoothness and speed.”
The Tsunami reflects Squid Industries’ goal of offering balisongs that exhibit both variety and flipping fun, no matter the price. “At the top of our ladder is the Tsunami,” Squid’s Lucas Cao noted, “which we designed to embody peak performance and build quality.”
The Tsunami design is referred to as a “chainwich,” as its 6Al-4V titanium handles come together to mimic an integral grip. The handles themselves are designed with two specific tapers, one along the width and the other along the thickness. This dual taper design in combination with the rounding on the top create a comfortable and controllable feel in the hand, according to Cao.
Squid Industries Tsunami Specs Blade Length: 4.5” Blade Steel: CPM S35VN stainless Blade Grind: Flat Handle Material: 6Al-4V titanium Latch: N/A Pivot: Bushings and phosphorous bronze washers Weight: 4 ozs. Closed Length: 5.6” Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $775
Kershaw Lucha Carbon Fiber
Kershaw’s Lucha Carbon Fiber is a premium edition of the company’s standard Lucha, including such high-end materials as CPM 20CV stainless blade steel and titanium handles with carbon fiber overlays.
The Kershaw Lucha Carbon Fiber’s spear-point blade of premium CPM 20CV stainless blade steel is ideal for piercing and slicing, while the “working” finish hides scratches from hard use. Company spokesperson Dominic Aiello related, “Our goal at Kershaw is to offer something for everyone, whether that be a budget-friendly knife you can abuse and lose all the way to a premium USA-made automatic. With that said, when we brought the original Lucha to the market, our goal was to offer a value packed, affordable, high-quality butterfly knife. It has been a huge hit and as a result we decided to release a premium version.”
Though the original emphasis on the practical use of the Lucha remains with cutting ability front and center, the knife illustrates the versatility inherent in the balisong style. “Of course, cutting is a critical component for any knife,” Aiello reasoned, “but with butterfly knives the flip ability, balance, and comfort are equally as important, if not more important. A lot of customers enjoy the Lucha for the fun and challenge of flipping, but there is also a segment of users that carry it as an EDC.”
The handles of the Lucha Carbon Fiber are titanium anodized blue overlaid with machined carbon fiber. The handles and carbon fiber are contoured for a rounded profile and ease of use.
The Lucha combines good looks with smooth mechanics and easy maintenance. “Each pivot uses two KVT ball bearings, four total,” Dominic commented. “The ball bearings provide an extremely fast and smooth action for easy flipping. The handles are blue anodized titanium with machined carbon fiber overlays. The handles and carbon fiber have been contoured for a rounded profile and ease of use.”
The Bear Song VIII includes a tanto-style blade in flat-ground 154CM stainless steel ideal for detailed cutting and general use.
Matt Griffey of Bear & Son Cutlery says the company has referred to the balisong as the “butterfly knife” since 1986. To that end, the company has continued to develop the famed flippers. With the release of the Bear Song VIII, the company’s design eye was fixed on a knife “being symmetrical and balanced, the most important design elements to start,” Griffey explained.
The Bear Song VIII includes a tanto-style blade in 154CM stainless steel, flat ground and ideal for fine cutting and general use. According to Griffey, the knife’s aptitude is 80 percent flipping and 20 percent cutting.
“A butterfly knife is the strongest folding knife, and as long as you are holding both handles it is as close to a fixed blade as possible for a folding knife,” Matt reasoned. “If the knife is maintained and tight there is almost no chance of lock failure. Maintenance should be just keeping it clean and oiled and checking it periodically to make sure it is not getting loose anywhere on the knife. If you find anything loose, remove the screw, and use Loctite® to replace the screw to the correct tension and let it set for at least twice as long as the thread locker recommends. We find they always give a time that is the bare minimum for the thread lock to work.”
The Bear Song VIII sports stainless steel handles, rounded edges, and milled stepped holes and slots for user comfort. A spring-loaded locking latch and a stainless-steel pocket clip in a short design for easy carry and that can be removed if the user chooses completes the package.
In light of simple maintenance, the Bear Song VIII features an encased bearing design that is easily lubricated, while stainless steel handles, rounded edges, and milled stepped holes and slots provide user comfort. A spring-loaded locking latch makes operation a pleasure. A stainless-steel clip is in a short design for easy carry and can be removed if the user chooses.
“The Bear Song VIII has all the modern features with the timeless classic look,” noted Griffey, who sees the recent legislation regarding butterfly knives as positive (see sidebar). “Butterflies are far slower to open than a modern knife with a flipper on the blade that doesn’t have any spring mechanism. So anyone wasting time in their legislation to target this is just trying to fill time so they don’t have to do any work that might help the people they were elected to serve.”
Bear & Son Bear Song VIII Specs Blade Length: 4” Blade Steel: 154CM stainless Blade Grind: Flat Handle Material: Stainless steel w/Cerakote® finish Latch: Spring loaded Pivot: Ball-bearing washers Weight: 5.1 ozs. Closed Length: 5.25” Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $182.99
Butterfly Knife History
Butterfly knives, also known as balisongs, are one of the most popular knife styles today. They consist of a blade with two handles that rotate around a pivot and wrap around the blade in the closed position. That much is agreed upon. The origin of butterfly knives is still up for debate.
Where Were Butterfly Knives Invented?
Butterfly knives have a rich history, though much of it has been left up to speculation. Walk up to a knife enthusiast and ask, “Where did butterfly knives originate?” and you may get two very different answers.
Fuzzy historical records and well worn legends are to blame. The two main countries of focus are France and the Philippines. Each has evidence and supporters.
One Version: Butterfly Knives Came from the Philippines
Authentic Filipino balisongs (Image from Balislinger on bladeforums.com)
The Philippines is often cited as the birthplace of butterfly knives, where “balisong” is a more appropriate term. Legend has it that the balisong knife has roots that go back to around 800 AD. This style of knife could be opened quickly with one hand and easily used as a weapon. It proved a common choice for self-defense and utility uses.
A rich balisong tradition has been present in the Philippines for more than a century. Countless stands and stores sell handmade butterfly knives today, and Filipino province of Batangas and the area of Balisong in Taal are known for the blades.
At the very least, the word “balisong” is widely recognized to have come from there. That said, the lack of physical evidence to support a Filipino origin fuels the argument.
Another Version: Butterfly Knives Came from France
A vintage example of the Pied Du Roi. (Image from balisong.net)
Another claim is that the butterfly knife was invented in France between 1500 and 1700. The reason for this is the “Pied Du Roi,” which means “foot of the king” and is a French measurement tool that dates to the 1700s. The “Pied Du Roi” greatly resembles a butterfly knife. This tool has been pictured with measurement handles and a blade that folds out on one end. It looks like a butterfly knife, but could it be considered the first one ever made?
Proponents of the French origin argue that Spain, allied with France at the time, adopted the butterfly knife in their tasks and eventually took it to the Philippines as sailors sailed to different countries. Sounds reasonable, but hasn’t been proven.
Another supporting argument for the French is that these knives comes from Germany and England, where some butterflies can trace back to prior to 1900. I recently came across a collector’s piece online made in England with markings dating to 1873. This rules out the butterfly knife originating in the early 1900s in the Philippines, but like I said earlier, it has also been claimed to be influenced from similar Filipino knife models as early as 800 AD.
So Where Did Butterfly Knives Actually Come From?
Due to the popularity of balisongs in the Philippines, it isn’t surprising to suspect it started there. The lore passed down from generation to generation also support this idea.
On the other hand, France has pictures and documentation of a measurement device that resembles a butterfly knife and dates back hundreds of years. However, that measurement device likely wasn’t used for self-defense, flipping, or other tasks common to butterfly knives today. Could it be considered the same thing? Hard to tell.
Both sides have great arguments. More information is needed to finally determine this unsolved piece of butterfly knife history.
Butterfly Knives Today
Regardless of history, butterfly knives are rising in popularity due to the fun of “flipping.” Flipping involves tossing butterfly knives open to perform all kinds of tricks. Whether it’s the danger of it, the community, the collectible appeal, or anything else, there’s no doubt flippers are mesmerizing to watch.
Editor’s Note: Mike Haskew and Trevor Brown contributed to this article.
Jantz is a crucial source for many who fashion knives.
For 58 years Jantz Knife Supply has met the needs of cutlery craftsmen of all stripes, from green behind the ears to on up in years, with everything needed to make knives. This includes specialty steels, handle components, sheath materials, hand tools and sanding supplies, as well as the heavy equipment for knifemaking.
What started as a small mom-and-pop gun supply outfit founded by Ken and Venice Jantz in 1966 is no less than a U.S.-based juggernaut in today’s cutlery industry. The Jantzes haven’t left their humble beginnings behind, though, so no customer job is too small for the venerable knifemaking supply company in the heartland of America, Davis, Oklahoma.
Company co-founder Ken Jantz works on a prototype for a new hollow-grinding fixture at the company facility.
Shanna Kemp oversees the marketing, financial and human resources for Jantz. She probably knows as well as anyone about the many specialty and other items available to the company’s legion of customers. “Our goal is to provide everything knifemakers could need for their project,” she begins, “whether you’re a beginner looking for a new hobby or a custom knifemaker stocking your shop to get ready for the BLADE Show. One thing we really love is creating fixtures and tools to make knifemaking more accessible for every skill level.”
One of the company’s most popular new fixtures is the PDJ Knife Vise. “It’s handy for all levels of knifemakers as it allows you to drill perfectly perpendicular holes through your handle material” regardless of the material’s texture or unevenness, Shanna explains. Jantz stocks an abundance of parts for assembling and enhancing knives of all types. “Our most popular products are our Corby rivets, Loveless bolts and metal round and bar stock,” Shanna enumerates. “Our customers love the quality of our materials as we source directly from reputable mills with consistent quality and do our cutting and machining in house. One of our other popular products is our handcrafted mosaic pins. Each pin design is meticulously hand assembled right here in Davis, Oklahoma.”
Jantz Steel Stock
Jantz offers a range of knifemaking equipment. An example is the JS750 perpendicular vise with drill press.
An outstanding blade is the heart of any knife and Jantz offers all kinds of stainless and high carbon steels. “We carry a variety of knifemaking steels to suit both forging and stock removal,” she states. “1095 and 80CrV2 are very popular carbon steels and CPM 154 is our most popular stainless steel.” She added that the damascus forged by Brad Vice’s Alabama Damascus is very popular because of the quality and solid price point for the company’s patterned-welded steel.
“For Jantz, steel and other metals have always had a long lead time since we source from a variety of mills in the U.S., Germany, Sweden, Brazil and others,” Shanna observes. “We have strong relationships with our suppliers, and they have worked with us to keep material moving forward even when lead times began to exceed a year.”
No matter the material, component or tool for knifemaking, Jantz probably has it somewhere in one of its well-stocked aisles.
Fixed blades will never go out of style, Shanna opines, and the Jantz business model caters to the mindset that drives the knives’ popularity. “We find that fixed-blade makers tend to use both stock removal and forging in their blade design and development,” she states. “The television series Forged in Fire certainly increased the popularity of forging, but we still see about the same divide between stock removal and forging. Fixed blades designed for hunting and survival are top sellers for our custom knifemakers as well as our hobbyists. There’s something special about using a knife in the field during hunting season that you made yourself that really resonates with the knifemaking crowd.”
When it comes to heat-treating ovens, Jantz recommends Paragon kilns above all others. “Not only do they make a quality oven,” Shanna assesses, “but they have a variety of ovens designed for beginners to pros. Their customer service is top notch and Burt Flanagan, who represents Paragon’s knifemaking ovens, is a custom knifemaker, so he truly understands what knifemakers need.”
Jantz-Made Blades
Knife assembly kits such as the Caballero are a great way to learn the ins-and-outs of folding knives. Jantz offers over a dozen knife genres, from traditional slip joints to modern tactical fare.
For those wanting to get their feet wet in the cutlery world, Jantz offers a cornucopia of pre-made blades for virtually any niche of the market, including household cutlery. According to Shanna, many custom makers order beautiful stainless damascus in various patterns from Damasteel for their kitchen knives. “Our Jantz-made line of household cutlery is especially popular with customers,” she adds. “Our santoku, cook’s and paring blades are favorites of makers using pre-shaped blades for project knifemaking. All the Jantz-made blades are manufactured in our facility.”
Jantz offers an abundance of both knife blades and knife kits. These are designed not only for the novice and hobbyist, but for those who want to tailor special knives for sale. The Jantz website offers links aplenty to a wide range of genres in both folders and fixed blades. Need a fixed-blade hunter in damascus? No problem. Like a kit to learn the ins-and-outs of folding knives? There are over a dozen styles available, from traditional slip joints to modern tactical fare.
Providing fixtures such as the JS500 for slip joints that make knifemaking more accessible to hobbyists and makers of all levels is a specialty at Jantz Supply.
If there is an innovation on the horizon, Jantz Supply will be on top of it. “One of the many things we love about the knifemaking community is how open and sharing makers are with each other,” Shanna observes. “Want to learn something [another knifemaker] is doing? Just ask. You will rarely find someone not willing to share.”
That spirit and willingness to help is what has made Jantz an important part of the cutlery industry for going on six decades now.
Case Knives is celebrating its 135th year with some top-notch new knives.
Creeping up on a century and a half of knifemaking, Case seems to feel its oats still. Or, that’s the way it seemed from the prolific 135-year-old Pennsylvania manufacturer’s recent releases at the 2024 SHOT Show, held in January in Las Vegas. The company had a full-court press of drops at the gun and outdoor gear hoedown, with a bevy of new lines, releases, collabs and model iterations. This should prove sweet music to the army of the brand’s collectors.
There isn’t space enough to cover every whipstitch of what Case is bringing to the table in 2024, but we’ll take a gander at some of the company’s weightier introductions for the coming year. There’s a little bit of everything for case fans out there, from classic patterns with new twists to brand-new knives that strike original ground.
Bridgeline Series
Not wandering too far off the beaten path, Case’s newest series of knives offers some nice updates for users seeking a modern knife. At the vanguard of the line are the Highbanks and Longhouse, both of which should prove excellent everyday carry options with the chops to handle most tasks thrown in front of them. Each features aluminum frames and bolsters, screw construction, ball bearing pivots, deep-carry pocket clips and CPM-20CV steel blades.
Case isn’t shying from the use of powdered steel for its blades, and the choice in these knives offers up a premium option used in a number of higher-end production knives. It’s similar to D2 and other tool steels—respectable toughnesss and edge retention—but with the added benefit of improved corrosion resistance.
Highbanks
Certainly a break from the tried and true, the Highbanks veers to the more traditional in the Bridgeline Series. Namely, because the knife is a non-locking folder bosting a nail nick and a Wharncliffe blade. Still, with the high-performance blade steel and the choice of Micartia or hardwood grips, this certainly isn’t your granddad’s jackknife. I particularly like the handle ergonomics of the Highbanks, tapering nicely to the blade and fitting the hand just right. Spoiler… so does the Longhouse.
Longhouse
Here we see Case move its design a bit more forward with the flipper Longhouse. The liner lock boasts plenty of blade, a clip-point profile with a beef spine that should help the knife stand up to any job put in front of it. However, the hand mimics the Highbanks, giving the knife a timeless look I’d wager many Case fans will appreciate.
Chris Taylor Hunters
Teaming up with renowned custom knifemaker Chris Taylor, Case has cooked up an intriguing hunting-knife collection. This year, the partnership unveils three unique fixed blades, each a fairly unique take on the must-have outdoor implement.
CT1
Crafted to exude rugged dependability, the CT1 showcases a top-tier Nitro V steel Clip-point blade. Known for its outstanding edge retention, corrosion resistance, and easy maintenance, Nitro V steel ensures that your knife remains ready and reliable whenever and wherever you require it. Case gives the knife an OD green burlap Micara handle, a plus for a hard-use knife that will likely be used in inclement weather. The CT1 also boasts aggressive jimping on its spine, so you have a solid contact point on more forceful cuts.
CT2
Cutting a much sleeker profile, the CT2 has the most modern feel among the CT hunters. Built around a resilient S35VN steel drop point blade, the knife doesn’t offer as much belly as the others in the line. But with a defined point, should prove at pro at perforation. The carbon-fiber handle is a nice touch, adding to the CT2’s modern looks, and proves very ergonomic and nimble in the hand.
CT3
Tailored for the wilderness, the CT3 has more of a traditional hunter profile. Constructed from premium 1095 carbon steel, its specialized coated skinner blade boasts razor-sharpness, facilitating precision cuts and providing a sharpening advantage compared to many other steels. Outfitted with a hunter orange handle, the nice part about the CT3 is it will be difficult to lose in the woods.
Razor
Case is commemorating its 135-year legacy by dusting off a real classic eye-catcher—the Razor. Reintroduced from the Case XX Vault, the knife is available in two patterns: a single-bladed version featuring a broad Clip blade with a distinctively curved tip, and a two-bladed variant with an additional Pen blade. Available in over a dozen handle styles, such as Smooth Abalone, Micarta, Smooth Brown Maple Burl Wood, and Sawcut Jig Caribbean Blue Bone, the Razor is a great Case throwback and a fantastic knife for the company to pay homage to its rich history.
Everything at BLADE Show Texas just keeps getting bigger
More exhibitors—a whopping 100 more, north of 400 in all, plus an additional 28,000 square feet of space over last year—displaying the finest knives, knife accessories and all that cuts promise to make the burgeoning BLADE Show Texas the best rendition yet.
Mike Quesenberry takedown dogbone bowie features a 10-inch blade of a Turkish twist damascus and an ancient walrus ivory handle with 18k-gold buttons and escutcheon plates. (SharpByCoop knife image)
Set for Feb. 23-24 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, the show will host exhibitors from around the world, including those from Australia, Brazil, China, Italy, Russia, Sweden and elsewhere. Exhibitors will include top American custom knifemakers, ABS master smiths, returning winners of BLADE Show Texas ’23 custom knife judging awards and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® members, and some of the world’s leading factory knife companies, including many current and past winners of BLADE Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards and returning winners of BLADE Show Texas ’23 factory knife judging honors.
BLADE Show Texas will be the first of three BLADE Show sponsored events for 2024, the other two being the grandaddy of them all, the 43rd Annual BLADE Show June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, and BLADE Show West 2024 at the Salt Palace Convention Center Oct. 4-5 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
But first things first in Fort Worth, where knife enthusiasts will enjoy the complete gamut of custom and factory knives and accessories, including art, utility, bowies, EDC, slip joints, automatics, balisongs, kukris, daggers, tactical, tomahawks, swords, sharpeners and more, from low end to high end, stock removal to forged, fixed blade to folder. And if the exhibiting makers don’t have what you’re looking for, the exhibiting custom knife purveyors and factory retailers probably will—and if they don’t, they can put you in touch with someone who does.
For knife hobbyists and novice and veteran makers alike, the show’s diverse selection of knifemaking supplies and suppliers will have the materials, tools and equipment you need to make the knife of your dreams. From the latest steels, handle materials, hardware, sheath materials to most every knife part extant, the show’s suppliers should have it.
BLADE SHOW TEXAS AWARDS
TOPS Knives will display its extensive array of outdoor knives, including the Camp Creek Fire Edition in CPM S35VN stainless steel and a comfortably contoured handle of red/black G-10. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $280.
There will be some changes in both the show’s custom and factory knife judging.
The change in the custom segment is small with the simple addition of a Best of the Rest category to provide an avenue for tomahawks, swords, innovative designs and other “specialty pieces” to win an award. Best of the Rest joins the existing stable of custom awards that also includes Best Art, Best Bowie, Best Damascus, Best EDC, Best Fighter, Best Folding Knife, Best Hunting Knife, Best Kitchen Knife, Best Slip Joint, Best M.A.C.K. (Machine Assisted Custom Knife) and Best in Show.
Returning to defend their custom knife award winning titles from last year’s show will be ABS master smiths (from left, with awards in parentheses): Josh Fisher (Best Bowie), Karis Fisher (Best Hunting Knife and Best Fighter), and John Horrigan (Best Damascus).
The shakeup in the factory categories includes eliminating Best Tactical and adding Best American Made, Best Imported and Best of the Rest. The addition of the former two addresses the top knives made both domestically and offshore, while the latter does the same for the factory segment that it does for the custom one.
The custom and factory knife judging is reserved exclusively for show exhibitors, all of whom received packets with complete details on category descriptions, judging rules and more prior to checking into the show.
Final Cut
BLADE Show Texas seems to be growing exponentially, as are the show’s exhibitors and fans. Go exponential your own self and join the party in February!
The author takes his Battle Blade to the next test level and up.
Ever since I started writing for BLADE® in 1990, I generally stick to similar cutting media to check the performance of the knives I test in “Spec Sheet.” That way it gives me a baseline as to how the different blades and their steels should perform. However, as a writer, I find it sometimes gets old doing the same testing. So why not beat the heck out of one of the test knives?
Well, first off, the knives are owned by someone else. They might be scheduled to be sold. You can see why I only push Spec Sheet test knives to a certain point. Unfortunately, the craving to give a test knife a brutal workout keeps coming, only to be done during my own testing using my knives.
Here’s a crazy idea—I’ll test one of the knives I make! So, after pleading my case to the BLADE management, it was OK’d. Now it’s time to get down and dirty with my Battle Blade that has been my truck knife for the past year. Let the whacking begin.
Battle Blade Vs Normal Media
Serious whacking aside, I still executed a 20-pound-bond paper slice to show initial edge sharpness. The Battle Blade zipped quickly through the paper even with rust spots on the blade and edge. It was very smooth and aggressive during slicing.
To test initial sharpness, the author executed a 20-pound-bond paper slice. The Battle Blade zipped quickly through the paper even with rust spots on the blade and edge.
On to a nice 2×8 pine board locked in my shop leg vise. After 20 whacks I had a deep “V” chopped into the wood. The exercise didn’t bother the edge at all; it took a three-quarter-to-1 inch bite on each chop. The handle was comfortable but slightly smooth. (I should have put a thong cord on it.)
Since the whitetail antler I normally use in stories for edge whacking was all whacked up, it was time to replace it. As a result, I chopped it up into 1-inch pieces. The Battle Blade removed all the tines with nice, clean chops. The edge was still very sharp with no damage. Now I have chunks of deer antler all around my forge!
Battle Blade Vs Abnormal Media
For the first “abnormal medium” I went with 3/8-inch-diameter twisted copper wire. I used the Battle Blade as a draw knife to flatten the 2×8 for a surface on which to chop the copper braid. Six hard whacks and the edge still didn’t make it through all eight wires. It seems the Battle Blade drove the last two wires into the 2×8. Note to self: use a hardwood next time. The copper braid only put a few streaks on the blade. There was no damage to the edge.
For the first “abnormal medium” the author used 3/8-inch-diameter twisted copper wire. Six hard whacks and the edge still didn’t make it through all eight wires. The copper braid only put a few streaks on the blade. There was no damage to the edge.
Next up: the acetone can stab. The Battle Blade fully penetrated both sides of the can repeatedly. I was worried about stabbing the leg vise more than any damage to the blade from the can. There were some nice scratches on the finish but the edge held up perfectly, as well as the tip.
It was time to get some steel involved: an older patio chair headed to the scrapyard, and its steel tubing. Bingo! So I dragged the chair into my forging area and prepared to trash my Battle Blade. Swinging as hard as I could, I chopped down into the arm of the chair. A loud clang let me know it was a solid hit. The Battle Blade bit a half-inch deep, through the top and bottom corners of the chair, along with the sidewall. I saw a little glint from the blade’s edge. Oh well! I gave the chair arm seven more very hard whacks. The edge had two little glints of rolls and three very small nicks.
After 20 whacks the Battle Blade had a deep “V” chopped into the 2×8 pine board. The edge took a three-quarter-to-1 inch bite on each chop and emerged unscathed.
The edge still felt sharp, so I returned to the 20-pound-bond paper slice. The edge sliced the paper, though not as smooth as at the start. I’ll take that anytime.
Final Cut
I’m very happy with the performance and feel of the Battle Blade. Normally I use a better gripping handle material for this model but this one’s mine. It had to be bold. The only change I’ll make, thread some cord through the thong hole for a more secure grip.
Battle Blade Specs Maker: Breed Custom Knives Blade length: 75/8” Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon steel Blade grind: Full flat Blade @ thickest: 3/16” Blade finish: Bead blasted Heat treatment: Differential Handle material: Swirl by J. Hue Customs Weight: 15 ozs. Overall length: 13 1/8” Sheath: Kydex w/Ulticlip Weight w/sheath: 1.25 lbs. Maker’s price for a similar knife & sheath: $450
