TV and Movie Knives Archives

Let’s Identify the Knife in “The Commuter” Movie

TV and Movie Knives

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January 12, 2018

Let’s Identify the Knife in “The Commuter” Movie

Not to be confused with the Gerber Commuter, Liam Neeson’s latest action movie, ~~Taken 4~~ The Commuter (in theaters Jan. 12) features at least one knife that this BLADE writer can spot. One early review made note of its use in scenes involving, “stabbing with knives.”

Here’s the trailer:

And here’s a still of the knife in question:

Identifying the knife is tricky given how brief it appears in the trailer. It sports two edges and a spear point, so it’s most likely a dagger. The position of the hand and the obscurity of the handle suggests a push dagger.

It brings to mind the Cold Steel FGX Blade II:

It wouldn’t be the first time Cold Steel knives made an appearance in a movie, but this is only a guess. The keychain hole in the handle certainly lines up with the commuting theme. The FGX sports a plastic-fiberglass polymer (Grivory) blade, although it’s unclear if that’s relevant.

However, the blade in the movie still looks longer than the FGX’s 2.5 inches. The FGX’s fuller (aka “blood groove”) isn’t visible in the clip, either.

Regardless, I’m going with some sort of small dagger similar to what Cold Steel produces. It just as well could be a product of the prop department, but I’d like to think studios use the real deal. Maybe a trip to the theater is in order. This looks like a good popcorn flick for a cold, wintery day.

5/4/18 UPDATE: The Knife is a Benchmade SOCP 176

Thanks to some sharp-eyed BLADE readers, this knife was identified as a Benchmade SOCP 176. Thanks to everyone who got in touch!

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New Forged in Fire Debuts Aug. 23

Steve Shackleford

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August 16, 2016

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Forged In Fire, season three premiere. — Bladesmiths Ben Abbott (left) and Salem Straub (right) work on their kukris during the premiere third-season episode of **Forged In Fire**. (HISTORY image)

Four past champions will do bladesmithing battle under the watchful gaze of a panel of judges enhanced by the addition of yet another ABS master smith in the third-season premiere of HISTORY’s hottest competition series, Forged in Fire.

Scheduled for broadcast on HISTORY at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, the episode will pit former champs against each other. Those champs will include ABS journeyman smith Matthew Parkinson from season one and ABS master smith Burt Foster, bladesmith Ben Abbott and bladesmith Salem Straub from season two. All will put their skills on the line in forging a blade style under a strict time limit. They will compete over three rounds of elimination until only one remains. Rounds one and two occur in the Forged in Fire shop, while round three takes place in the home shops of the remaining two smiths. The work completed during each round is evaluated and tested to decide who will be eliminated from the competition, and who will advance. The final round winner is crowned champion for the episode and earns $10,000.

Joining the panel of judges that includes ABS master smith J. Neilson, antique weapons specialist David Baker and martial arts/weapons user Doug Marcaida is award-winning ABS master smith Jason Knight. Knight is a highly talented smith with a sharp wit who is sure to bring both keen insight and his own brand of South Carolina humor to Forged in FIre. Weapons authority and U.S. Army and Air Force veteran Wil Willis hosts the show.

Forged in Fire is the first television show about bladesmithing of its kind and attracted over 1.5 millions viewers last year. It was presented the BLADE Magazine 2016 Publisher’s Award at this year’s BLADE Show for demonstrating “not only how tough it can be to make a quality knife under a tight deadline but also to entertain”—and doing it before more people than ever before. For more on the latter honor and other BLADE Magazine 2016 Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards, see the November BLADE®, on newsstands now, subscribe to the digital and or print editions or buy the digital edition of the November BLADE.

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Another First for Forged In Fire

Steve Shackleford

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July 18, 2016

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Forged In Fire and the BLADE Magazine Publisher's Award. — **Forged In Fire** made a different kind of history when it won the BLADE Magazine 2016 Publisher’s Award. (Miller Mobley/HISTORY)

When Forged In Fire won the BLADE Magazine 2016 Publisher’s Award during this year’s BLADE Show, it was the first time a television program of any kind was recognized by BLADE® Magazine in such a manner. Selected by the BLADE staff, the Publisher’s Award honors a person or organization that has furthered the knife community in a fashion that bodes well for the future of that community, both inside and out. Forged In Fire on History answers that requirement—and then some.

It’s rare that knifemaking of any type is given the high-profile exposure of television coverage, much less a weekly program of its own. However, Forged in Fire has done just that and much more. Those who watch it are familiar with the group of bladesmiths it gathers each week, each group different from the last, with the bladesmith in each charged with forging a knife—often in a very exotic style—in a stated time limit under the watchful gaze of a panel of judges and millions of TV viewers. Meanwhile, the winner of each episode earns a grand prize of $10,000.

As with most high-profile endeavors, there are those who criticize the program for portraying knives in a so-called negative way and creating an atmosphere that is not conducive to making the best knife possible—but then making the best knife possible is not necessarily the goal. The goals include to demonstrate not only how tough it can be to make a quality knife under a short deadline but also to entertain—and Forged in Fire does that quite well. Meanwhile, bladesmiths, knifemakers and the knife industry in general are getting more exposure before more people than ever before. And that is a great thing.

Now on the cusp of entering its third season, Forged In Fire will have a different look with ABS master smith Jason Knight filling in for ABS master smith J. Neilson. We fully expect the show to enjoy yet another banner season, and for bladesmithing and the knife community in general to continue to benefit from the unprecedented exposure such a TV show brings to knives the world over.

Want to Get Started in Knifemaking?

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Order the Complete Knifemaking Collection from ShopBlade.com.

Begg on Discovery Channel’s Blade Brothers Tonight

Steve Shackleford

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April 19, 2013

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Begg on Discovery Channel’s Blade Brothers Tonight

Award-winning knifemaker Todd Begg will star in the premiere episodes of the Blade Brothers on Discovery Channel tonight at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. EDT. (Check local listings for the times in your area.)

Todd becomes the latest knifemaker to join the ranks of television stars. Larry “The Hammer” Harley is the other, achieving newfound fame as one of the stars of National Geographic’s Lords of War. Both makers will exhibit knives at the 2013 BLADE Show (www.bladeshow.com) and Living Ready Expo May 31-June 2 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Winner of a number of awards for his custom knives—including Best Of The Rest at the 2010 BLADE Show for his fantasy cleaver—Begg will be joined by his brothers on the show as he tries to teach them how to help him run the knife business. Since none of Begg’s brothers have ever made a knife before, plenty of hijinks ensue as they learn the ropes in the always challenging business of custom knifemaking.

As he notes on his website, Todd’s interest in knives began at a young age while hunting and fishing with his brothers in the Great Northwest. He later used knives in the military as an NBC Recon team member, where he learned just how important and lifesaving they can be.

Based out of Petaluma, California, Todd specializes in high-grade tactical folders and fixed blades. His patterns include folders, integrals and fighters. He specialzies in flipper folders using the Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS), and his list prices range from $400 to $15,000 per knife. He exhibits his knives at a wide range of knife shows, including the BLADE Show, and has appeared in BLADE Magazine (www.blademag.com) on any number of occasions.

For more information on Todd and makers like him, subscribe to BLADE at

www.shopblade.com/blade-magazine-one-year-subscription-us?icid=SHBLNCF2BL1SU-030613?lid=ssfbbl041913

Vote For Your Favorite Expendables 2 Knife!

Steve Shackleford

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August 21, 2012

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Sylvester Stallone’s Expendables 2 action blockbuster took the box office by storm this past weekend, in no small part thanks to the knives made for the movie by Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© member Gil Hibben.

All of which got us to thinking …

Which of Hibben’s knives in the movie is your favorite? Is it (starting from top above), the Legion Fighter on the cover of the November BLADE® (on newsstands NOW), the Toothpick, the Alamo Bowie or the Double Shadow?

Let us know via a post, e-mail or whatever electronic means you need to use in order to vote.

And please, only one vote per person!

All of the above pictures except for the cover are by Mike Carter.

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=blss082112

Join J.D. On New Forged In Fire

Steve Shackleford

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July 27, 2015

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ABS master smith J.D. Smith will join three other bladesmiths on the latest installment of The History Channel’s Forged In Fire tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern.

Forged In Fire is a reality TV show in which the contestants are charged with designing and making a knife of their choice via various requirements imposed by the show’s judges—ABS master smith James Neilson, ancient weapons specialist David Baker and combat specialist Doug Marcaida. The smiths have three hours to complete the knife inside the studio’s well-equipped forge—and host Wil Willis is there to ensure the contestants know when time is almost up. In the end of the studio segment, two smiths emerge and are charged with building a special knife, sword or other edged tool of the judges’ choosing at the smiths’ home forges. The smiths have five days to complete the project and the piece deemed best in terms of performance, design, etc., by the judges results in the winner earning a $10,000 prize.

You never can tell what may happen—both in the studio forge and at the smiths’ home forges. Everything from the contestants catching the floor and even themselves on fire, unusual approaches to making knives, and the pressure and confusion that result from the time limits on making the knives can result in some high drama. It’s really entertaining TV and the ratings the show is receiving have been steadily climbing as a result.

After five weeks, Forged In Fire has gained double-digit growth across all key demographics compared to its live premiere: +74 percent in the 25-54 age group, +73 percent in the 18-49 age group and +32 percent in total viewers. In all, Forged In Fire is averaging 1.4 millions viewers—arguably the most people to see/watch a knife-related event in history.

In tonight’s episode, an Elizabethan rapier will be the ultimate blade project the finalists will make for the judges’ perusal. Be sure to check your local listings for when the program will air in your time zone.

Forged In Fire at BLADE University

Joe Kertzman

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March 18, 2016

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Do you have what it takes to appear on Forged In Fire? Learn if you do from ABS master smith J. Neilson, one of the judges on History™ channel’s hit TV show, in his BLADE University class on what the program’s officials look for in bladesmithing contestants.

Held in conjunction with the 35^th annual BLADE Show at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, the third annual BLADE University begins the day before the BLADE Show, June 2, and runs through show Saturday, June 4. The BLADE Show will be June 3-5.

ABS master smith J. Neilson—here testing a blade on History™ channel’s Forged In Fire—will give tips on how to be chosen to appear on the hit TV show in his special class at BLADE University. (Miller Mobley/HISTORY)

Having begun its second season Feb. 9, Forged In Fire (page 84, December BLADE) pits bladesmiths against each other to see who can make the best knife in a limited amount of time, with the winner of each episode earning a $10,000 first prize. Last year’s FIF included such well-known forgers as ABS master smiths Murray Carter, Ray Kirk and J.D. Smith, David Goldberg, Peter Martin, ABS journeyman smith Mace Vitale and others, as well as many relatively unknown bladesmiths.

See page 10 of the May 2016 issue of BLADE to find out more.

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The Story Behind Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Knives in “Commando”

Dietmar Pohl To Make Two Knives for Rambo 5: Last Blood

Let’s Identify the Knife in “The Commuter” Movie

5/4/18 UPDATE: The Knife is a Benchmade SOCP 176

See More Notable Knives

New Forged in Fire Debuts Aug. 23

Another First for Forged In Fire

Want to Get Started in Knifemaking?

Begg on Discovery Channel’s Blade Brothers Tonight

Vote For Your Favorite Expendables 2 Knife!

Join J.D. On New Forged In Fire

Forged In Fire at BLADE University

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