Beyond the Article
Click here to go to the forum and vote for the Readers' Choice Award. 

It took several rounds of judging, countless hours of debate and a metric ton of caffeine, but the BLADE staff finally agreed on the winner of the 2009 Sharp Focus Competition. Of all the knifemakers who entered photos of their creations, one stood out from the pack. His name is...

Hans Weinmueller!

Weinmueller's folding dagger is just plain beautiful, from the way the handle seamlessly aligns with the open blade to the shell inlays. Here are some stats about the knife:

• OAL 7-7/8 inches, closed 4-1/4 inches
• Damasteel blade, hollow ground
• Anodized titanium frame
• Paua shell inlays
• "Berry Wood" lock














Congratulations!

Weinmueller has been at knifemaking for more than 10 years. This Germany-born maker now resides in Tucson, Ariz.

"When my metal working skills as a tool-and-die maker were exposed to the art of creating custom knives, it ignited a little flame in my heart," Weinmueller stated on his Web site. "A lot of fuel was added to that flame, which became a fiery passion."

Learn more about Weinmueller and his knives at http://www.hwknivesandmore.com. You can also catch him at the 2010 BLADE Show in Atlanta, where he'll make good use of the table he'll receive for winning Sharp Focus.

Readers' Choice Award

Sharp Focus Competition isn't over yet. You've got until Sept. 18 to vote for the Readers' Choice Award. The top entries as determined by BLADE staff are posted in the forum. Vote for your favorite. The winner receives a free ad in the 2010 BLADE Show Guide.

The stakes are high. Click here to vote.