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Blade Blog: Blade Show 2008

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Feb. 2    Feb. 4    Feb. 10    Feb. 12     Feb. 13   Feb. 17   Feb. 23

 

Feb. 23, 9:30 a.m.

Hello blog readers. Joe Kertzman here on a fine but chilly Monday morning in Wisconsin.

Our friend, Mark Brandon, President of Diamond Machining Technology, made us aware of a short, one-paragraph report and photograph that appeared in the "Metro" section of the February 11th issue of the Boston Globe. A 19-year-old woman, Stephanie Carpluk, of Chicopee, Massachusetts, was nearly strangled to death when her scarf got caught in a giant rotating brush while she was working at a carwash in Easthampton. A customer jumped out of a car moving on the carwash rails and saved her life, using his pocketknife to cut her free. The Globe didn't mention the type of pocketknife, but Carpluk was released from Baystate Medical Center in Springfiled two days after the incident. I can't resist mentioning once again that her name is Carpluk, but this was a real occurence, and of course, almost being strangled to death is no laughing matter.

Blademag.com blog readers know that knives are necessary and useful tools, but some Boston Globe readers likely need reminding occasionally, and such stories shed a positive light on the knife industry.

 

Feb. 17, 3:00 p.m.

The British police are at it again, according to an article in the London Times Online, knife crime has "overtaken terrorism as the No. 1 priority" for the Metropolitan Police, one of Britain's most senior officers said. Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson announced the formation of a special knife-crime unit to address the recent spate of fatal stabbings in London as he admitted that moves to stop teenagers carrying weapons were not working.

The unit, featuring specialist officers from across the capital, will target known gang members and their associates who may be carrying or supplying knives. It will also conduct random searches. 

Earlier this year, Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, had said that only terrorism posed a greater threat than youth violence to London.

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing, said he was extremely pleased that the police were focusing on the issue. In May, the Metropolitan Police launched Operation Blunt 2, a high-profile initiative to tackle knife crime that involved taking airport-style metal detectors and using special powers to search youth for knives in high-risk areas.

Since then 27,000 people have been searched, 1,200 arrested and 500 knives seized. Of those arrested, 95 percent have since been charged with weapons offenses.

For the full story, see www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article42698.18.ece.

 

Feb. 13, 3:40 p.m.

Entry by Ben Sobieck, online editor

Happy Friday the 13th!

We don't get too many of these in a year, so enjoy it. Or don't enjoy it, since they bring bad luck. Or just celebrate the fact you don't overthink things as much I do.

Speaking of things that don't come around often, I'd like to highlight a knifemaking couple. Unless you are enthusiastically oblivious, you've noticed men saturate knifemaking. Their better halves help run the business, but it's rare to see both spouses making knives.

Now add another layer of rarity. The female half of the duo holds the title as the first woman mastersmith. Can you guess who I'm talking about?


                


The couple is Audra and Mike Draper. And boy howdy is their work excellent. Take a look at the armadillo piece in the upper right. Outside of knives, the power couple makes eating utensils, chess pieces, jewelry and about anything else you can think of.

Have a look at their creations here.

 

Feb. 12, noon

There's a fun new competition for any of you experienced, fledgling or factory knifemakers out there. BLADE and blademag.com are sponsoring a "Sharp Focus" online knifemaking competition open to novices who build handmade knives, experts and even knife manufacturers anywhere in the world.

Only original knives, conceived and created by the entrant, will be considered. All types of knives, though, including tactical, hunting, folding, fixed blades, art knives, etc., are eligible and have an equal chance to win.

See full contest details by clicking here, or hit the "Competitions" button at the top center of the home page, and join in the fun! There are prizes in two categories—"Readers Choice Award" and "BLADE Choice Award," including VIP Blade Show passes, and exposure in Blade Magazine and on the website.

Again, see the above link for full details on the contest, prizes, rules for entry, nominal entry fees, deadline and judging. This promises to be the funnest knife competition ever sponsored by a magazine or website.

—Joe Kertzman, Managing Editor, BLADE Magazine

 

Feb. 10, 9 a.m.

In what seems a natural joining of hands in American tradition, Buck Knives and the Boone and Crockett Club have worked together to create seven special knives in the new Boone and Crockett Classics Series, honoring “Heroes of Conservation.” The collection was introduced at the SHOT Show in  Orlando.

It pays tribute to the men like Theodore Roosevelt who gave rise to the American conservation movement and forever changed the way we view our wildlife resources. Three of these knives commemorate Teddy Roosevelt, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. The Model 905 T. Roosevelt is a dramatic fixed blade with Teddy and an outdoor scene acid-etched in 24K gold and black on a 6 7/8-inch mirror-polished, clip-point blade. The ironwood handle is inlaid with a bronze Boone and Crockett medallion, and has a nickel silver guard. 

Smaller is the 923 Davy Crockett, with  a 4 1/2-inch, drop-point blade featuring an acid-etched image of Davy, and a curly maple handle inlaid with the bronze Boone and Crockett medallion. Daniel Boone is honored with a big but elegant 12 7/16-inch bowie knife that has a classic Daniel Boone scene etched in black on the 8 1/8-inch, clip-point blade.             

There are four other knives in this series, smaller but still impressively customized to pay tribute to the Boone  and Crockett Club, founded by a group of passionate visionaries led by Teddy Roosevelt, and at the forefront of America's wildlife conservation effort since 1887. Boone and Crockett is a registered trademark of the Boone and Crockett Club.

 

Feb. 4, 12:00 p.m.

Whenever a knifemaker's work is showcased in a forum outside of the knife community, it is noteworthy. Positive exposure helps further the handcraft and industry in general.

On January 29, 2009, American Bladesmith Society master smith Ed Caffrey was inducted into "The Montana Circle of American Masters" (MCAM). What's that, you may ask? The MCAM celebrates the contributions of Montana's master artists in visual traditional and folk arts, those who have created a notable body of work. The MCAM says of the artists who have been inducted into the Circle, "Their work represents the historic, traditional and innovative arts and handcrafts distinctive to the State."

The ceremony was held inside the State Capitol, located in Helena, Montana. Following are some images from the ceremony:

 

Feb. 2, 11:27 a.m.

This blog has never been fond of the United Kingdom's stance toward knives (for reference, look in just about any month of entries). The UK edgencia has been rattled to the core by an intolerant government and its laws.

Which is why whoever put this knife show on has some real guts. Knives UK bills itself as "The UK's Premier Knife Show."

You can bet the possibility of government harassment is very real. Yet the edgencia lives free regardless. The Blade Blog salutes you!

 

Feb. 2, 10:56 a.m.

For those wondering why Mike O'Machearley was not on the CBS "Early Show" last Friday or today, an e-mail from the knifemaker has your answer:

"The CBS Early Show will NOT air the O'Machearley Spot on Monday, February 2nd. The new date and time will be announced in the near future."

I'm sure Mike is busy enough with a flood of orders anyway, but it would have been cool to see him on the show.

For more about O'Machearley and his "60 Minutes" interview, click here. He was covered extensively by the Blade Blog.

In other knifemaker news, J.D. Smith was recognized by the State (wait, Commonwealth) of Masssachusetts for outstanding artistic merit. The honor was served at the 2009 Commonwealth Awards, the highest recognition a citizen can receive for the arts. Smith is an accomplished knifemaker who is truly deserving of the recognition.

Here's the proof:





Congratulations!