Idaho eliminates more restrictive local ordinances, while Washington outlaws knives on public transit.
Idaho became the 14th state to enact knife law preemption while Washington state banned knives on public transport in recent knife legislative developments, according to Knife Rights.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed SB 544 that makes it illegal to possess any knife at a “transit station,” including bus, train and trolley stops. The measure goes into effect June 6. “As such,” Knife Rights reported, “unless you manage to board and get off public transport somewhere other than a ‘transit station,’ it will be impossible to legally carry a knife on public transit.” According to Knife Rights, Second Amendment lawsuits that eventually will impact SB 544 are in various stages of litigation in the Ninth Circuit, which includes Washington state, and also nationwide, including a number of Knife Rights’ cases. Some of the cases likely will wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
As for the good news in Idaho, knife law preemption goes into effect July 1. Signed into law by Idaho Governor Brad Little on March 29, the measure eliminates local ordinances more restrictive than state laws that confuse or entrap law-abiding citizens traveling in or through the state. Thanks to knife law preemption, citizens can expect consistent enforcement of state knife laws everywhere within Idaho. Idaho joins Alaska, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin among states covered by knife law preemption. For more information, contact kniferights.org.
Cargill’s impacted the knife industry in nearly every facet.
Bobby Lynn “Bob” Cargill, custom knifemaker, a president of the National Knife Collectors Association board of directors, and founder of Cargill Knives and Cripple Creek Cutlery, passed away January 3. Of Old Fort, Tennessee, he was 81.
Using old car springs for material, Cargill made his first knife when he was 10. He went full time in his mid-30’s circa 1975 making knives via the stock removal method, including folders, some fancy, lockbacks and multi-blades. He used 440C, 154CM, D2 and other steels for blades, and mother-of-pearl, stag, bone, Micarta®, ivory and wood for handles.
He joined the Guild in 1979. “What I enjoy most is the completed knife,” he was quoted as saying in Knifemakers: An Official Directory of the Knifemakers Guild, “because it is rewarding to see a design on paper developed … If I can’t deliver a knife that I’m proud of and make you a little bit happier and proud to collect my knives, then I don’t want your money.”
Cargill had his right leg amputated below the knee as a result of a car accident. However, instead of letting it hold him back, he used it as inspiration for the name of Cripple Creek Cutlery. Founded in 1981 in Lockport, Illinois, Cripple Creek specialized in slipjoints in classic patterns and natural handle materials.
Consisting mostly of slipjoints—they were called pocketknives back then—club knives were big in the late 1970s and throughout the ’80s, and Cripple Creek was among a number of companies that provided knives for knife clubs nationwide, companies that included Case, Queen, Hen & Rooster, A.G. Russell, Fight’n Rooster, KA-BAR, Boker, Schrade and others. Among the knife clubs Cripple Creek made club knives for included the Western Reserve Cutlery Association, Allegheny Mountain Knife Collectors Association, Central Kentucky Knife Club, Badger Knife Club, the Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association and others. He was active in the American Edge Collectors Association. Cripple Creek also made limited-edition slipjoints for Knife World in the early 1980s when BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Houston Price owned the magazine. Knife World is now known as Knife Magazine. Bob also made club knives under the Cargill Knives mark for such knife clubs as the Soy Knife Collectors Club.
Bob sold Cripple Creek in 1993 and it operated under Blackjack Knives in Effingham, Illinois, until 1995. He was on the Guild’s “knifemaker emeritus” list at the time of his passing. He is survived by his three children, nine grandchildren, several great grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.
A sushi knife that developed a taste for Texas brisket.
You might say Daniel O’Connor’s Black Widow leads a double life. It started as a sushi knife but when one of Daniel’s Texas pals said it looked like it would make a great brisket knife, O’Connor went with the flow, telling his friend, “It’s about whatever you want it to be.”
Based on a kiritsuke yanagi-ba sushi knife, Black Widow features a damascus of 150 layers of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels. Daniel forged the steels in a square and then forged them flat, perpendicular to the original stack. This resulted in the edges of the layers showing up in more or less straight lines, what Japanese swordsmiths call masame hada.
The accompanying image of the knife’s butt shows how the layers distorted when forged on edge. Daniel indicated he will use the pattern in the future.
Black Widow Specs Blade length: 12” Blade grind: A double urashi—double bevel w/a slight hollow on each side Handle: Bocote burl w/red fiber liners Bolster: Bog oak Overall length: 17” Sheath: Irish yew and bog oak Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,500
Sate your cutting needs with the world’s latest factory knives and sharpeners.
Have an itch that only a new knife will scratch? Look no further as we’ve gathered up a slew of new factory blades fresh on the market and ready to please. There is a load of pocket and EDC options in this haul, but there are a few outdoor-angled knives and knife accessories thrown in for good measure.
Hogue Knives Mysto
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: Jim Bruhns BLADE LENGTH: 3.4” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GRIND: Compound hollow BLADE OPENER: Thumb studs HANDLE MATERIAL: 6Al-4V titanium LOCK: ABLE Lock® POCKET CLIP: Ambidextrous, blade tip up WEIGHT: 3.5 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.4” SPECIAL FEATURES: Thumb studs and backspacers anodized red COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $329.95-$349.95 AVAILABLE: Now hogueinc.com/knives
Kershaw Bel Air
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 62-64 HRC BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: 6061-T6 aluminum BLADE OPENER: Thumb stud LOCK: DuraLock POCKET CLIP: Right/left deep carry, blade tip up WEIGHT: 2.9 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.2” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $249.99 AVAILABLE: Now kershaw.kaiusa.com
Bear OPS Rancor IX
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 2.75” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel BLADE GRIND: Taper HANDLE MATERIAL: Zytel BLADE OPENER: Flipper and/or thumb studs LOCK: Slidelock POCKET CLIP: Reversible, blade tip-up carry WEIGHT: 2.6 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4 3/8” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $100.99 AVAILABLE FOR SALE: Now bearandsoncutlery.com
Maserin Power
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: Sergio Consoli BLADE LENGTH: 3.149” BLADE STEEL: N690 stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Fat Carbon LOCK: W-Lock POCKET CLIP: Yes WEIGHT: 3.174 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.33” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy MSRP: $197 AVAILABLE: April maserin.com
A.G. Russell Knives Power Ball 4
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member A.G. Russell BLADE LENGTH: 3.25” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 60-61 HRC BLADE GRIND: Flat sabre HANDLE MATERIAL: Blue (shown) or green G-10 BLADE OPENER: Thumb stud BLADE FINISH: Handrubbed LOCK: Design inspired by Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Blackie Collins POCKET CLIP: Deep pocket left or right hand, blade tip up WEIGHT: 3.7 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25” SPECIAL FEATURES: Bold G-10 colors COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $135 AVAILABLE: Now agrussell.com
Fox Cutlery ATCF Original Gangster
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola BLADE LENGTH: 3.54” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE FINISH: Stonewashed HANDLE MATERIAL: Coarse stonewashed titanium BLADE OPENER: Thumb disc LOCK: Linerlock POCKET CLIP: One-side titanium WEIGHT: 6.34 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 5.04” SHEATH: Nylon pouch COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy AVAILABLE: May foxknives.com
Work Sharp Rolling Knife Sharpener
ABRASIVES: Discs in coarse diamond, fine diamond and ceramic GRITS: 320, 600, ceramic ANGLE GUIDE: Magnetic angle block provides four options: 15, 17, 20 and 25 degrees DIMENSIONS: 3.75” L x 2.6” W x 2.6” H BODY MATERIAL: Metal, soft touch rubber, plastic WEIGHT: 1.9 lbs. KNIFE TYPES SHARPENED: Large, small and kitchen knives and pocketknives EDGE TYPES SHARPENED: Plain SPECIAL FEATURES: Tri-axle drive system follows blade length smoothly, and Soft Touch grip adds comfort and safety COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Designed, calibrated and quality checked in Ashland, Oregon, using foreign components MSRP: $150 AVAILABLE: Now worksharptools.com
Kellam Knives Worldwide Jouni 80
KNIFE PATTERN: Puukko DESIGNER: Jouni Kellokoski BLADE LENGTH: 4 7/8” BLADE STEEL: Stainless BLADE GRIND: Scandi HANDLE MATERIAL: Arctic curly birch WEIGHT: 3.8 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.5” SPECIAL FEATURES: First 100 are numbered SHEATH: Leather dangler COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Finland MSRP: $169.98 AVAILABLE: Now KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife commemorates the 80th birthday of its designer and company headman, Jouni Kellokoski. kellamknives.com
Queen Cutlery Slipjoint Pocketknife
BLADE LENGTHS: Clip 2 5/16”, spey 2 5/64” and sheepsfoot 2” BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon steel BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Stag PINS, SHIELD & BOLSTER: Nickel silver WEIGHT: 2.8 ozs. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $93.99 AVAILABLE: Now queencutleryhistory.com
Cold Steel Caledonian
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 4.25” BLADE STEEL: CPM 20CV stainless BLADE GRIND: Hollow HANDLE MATERIAL: Forged carbon fiber BLADE OPENER: Stud LOCK: Linerlock POCKET CLIP: Deep carry, blade tip up WEIGHT: 5.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 5 1/8” SPECIAL FEATURES: All titanium frame and liners COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan MSRP: $499.99 AVAILABLE: May coldsteel.com
Coast Founder’s Series Origin
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: Doug Hutchens BLADE LENGTH: 3.35” BLADE STEEL: 9Cr18MoV stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE FINISH: Black titanium nitride BLADE OPENER: Flipper tab HANDLE MATERIAL: Stainless steel damascus LOCK: Framelock POCKET CLIP: Stainless steel, blade tip down WEIGHT: 2.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $99.99 AVAILABLE: Now coastportland.com
Alliance Designs EZE 2.0
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC flipper folder DESIGNER: Ray Laconico BLADE LENGTH: 3.15” BLADE STEEL: Elmax stainless BLADE GEOMETRY: Laconico’s “Angry Grind” BLADE PATTERN: Tanto HANDLE MATERIAL: Titanium integral BLADE OPENER: Flipper tab LOCK: Framelock POCKET CLIP: Blade tip up WEIGHT: 4.69 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” SPECIAL FEATURES: Chad Nichols Dark Ti accents COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $495 AVAILABLE: Now KNIFE TO KNOW: Clever grooves at the base of the handle provide a secure grip; the integral handle design is milled from a solid block of titanium; re-engineered flipper tab with gimping. alliance-designs.com
Blackbird Products Dominator
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC DESIGNER: David McHan BLADE LENGTH: 4” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel BLADE GRIND: Hollow HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 PIVOT: Ball bearings LOCK: PLX Bar Lock CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Assembled in USA, globally sourced components MSRP: $74.99 AVAILABLE: June blackbirdproducts.com
Bradford USA Guardian 4.2
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 4.825” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GEOMETRY: Sabre and full-height grinds HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10, Micarta® or carbon fiber WEIGHT: 6.7 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.375” SHEATH TYPE/MATERIAL: Vertical bridle; leather COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $269 AVAILABLE: Now bradfordknives.com
Reate PL-XT
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: Nitro-V stainless BLADE FINISH: Stonewashed or black PVD HANDLE MATERIAL: Micarta® or G-10 BLADE OPENER: Thumb studs LOCK: Pivot Lock WEIGHT: 4.4 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 3.9” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRPs: $112 (stonewashed) and $117 (black PVD) AVAILABLE: Now reateknives.com
Halfbreed Blades Compact Clearance Knife XL
KNIFE PATTERN: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 5.11” BLADE MATERIAL: Bohler K110 D2 tool steel ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-60 HRC BLADE PATTERN: Spear point BLADE FINISH: Teflon coated HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 WEIGHT: 2.32 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.29” SHEATH: Injection-molded plastic COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Comprises Australian and Taiwanese make MSRP: $245 AVAILABLE: Now halfbreedblades.com
Smith’s Eclesis Model 51394
KNIFE PATTERN: EDC flipper folder BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: 3Cr13 stainless faux damascus ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-60 HRC BLADE PATTERN: Drop point HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 LOCK: Framelock POCKET CLIP: Blade tip up COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Offshore MSRP: $32.99 AVAILABLE: Now smithsproducts.com
Puma SGB Hunter’s Pal
KNIFE PATTERN: Fixed-blade hunter BLADE LENGTH: 4” BLADE STEEL: 1.4116 German cutlery stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 55-57 HRC, proofmarked BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Choice of black or white G-10, jacaranda wood, olive wood, Commando Stag, stag WEIGHT: 4.69 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 8” SHEATH: .1” vegetable tanned leather COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $197.99 (stag) AVAILABLE: Now KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is the Puma SGB version of, and a tribute to, the decades-old Puma GmbH Hunter’s Pal 116397. pumaknifecompanyusa.com
Ocaso The Delos
KNIFE TYPE: Gentleman’s folder DESIGNER: Kurt Merriken BLADE LENGTH: 3” BLADE STEEL: 120-layer German damascus ROCKWELL HARDNESS: HRC 60-61 BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE @ THICKEST: .12” BLADE PATTERN: Modified tanto BLADE FINISH: Rose pattern damascus HANDLE MATERIAL: Titanium and Fat Carbon Black Dunes or Dark Matter Blue LOCK: Framelock BLADE OPENER: Thumb stud PIVOT MATERIALS: Stainless steel caged bearings POCKET CLIP: Contoured titanium WEIGHT: 3 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy MSRP: $524.99-$549.99 AVAILABLE: Spring ocasoknives.com
Coast SP425
SHARPENER TYPE: Diamond whetstone DESIGNER: Doug Hutchens ABRASIVE: Diamond plated onto fiberglass/nylon substrate GRITS: 400 and 600 DIMENSIONS: 9” long BODY MATERIAL: Nylon w/fiberglass fill WEIGHT: 2.1 ozs. KNIFE TYPES SHARPENED: All plain-edge models SPECIAL FEATURE: Folding sharpener COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $19.99 AVAILABLE: Now coastportland.com
Get your bachelor’s of state-of-the-art degree at the 11th Annual BLADE University.
The state-of-the-art in all things knife, including the latest in mosaic damascus steel, knife and handle design, and how to sharpen, make a lockback whittler, run a knife business and more will be the focus of the 11th Annual BLADE University.
Held in conjunction with the 43rd Annual BLADE Show June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, BLADE University will be sponsored by Work Sharp. Classes begin Thursday, June 6, and will run through Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8.
While most courses will be taught in the Cobb Galleria, some also will convene under the tent in The Courtyard, aka the parking lot of the show’s host hotel, the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly.
BLADE University gathers some of the world’s best knifemakers, bladesmiths and other cutlery and steel professionals to teach a wide range of subjects for the knife user, knifemaker, knife hobbyist, knife entrepreneur, knife designer, and knife aficionado and novice alike. If you love knives or are just beginning to, BLADE University has a topic for you. The complete course schedule, with subjects, teachers, times and venues:
The Art of Selling at a BLADE Show, Tom Krein, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 104—A long-time maker of custom utilitarian fixed blades and folders, Tom Krein will outline exactly what a knifemaker who is serious about selling knives should do and how he/she should behave behind a knife show exhibitor table. Proper table etiquette and sales and customer relations strategies are just some of the subjects Tom will cover. The class will be held the day before the BLADE Show begins so attendees can put some of Tom’s recommendations into practice during the main event Friday through Sunday.
FRIDAY, JUNE 7
ABS journeyman smith Henning Wilkinson makes impeccable keyhole knife handles like this one. Join him for his class Metal and Wood Fitting Techniques for Keyhole Handles Friday at 2 p.m. (Eric Eggly/PointSeven knife image)
Fundamentals of Grinding, AmeriBrade and guest grinders, 8 to 9:30 a.m., The Courtyard—AmeriBrade and guest makers will provide a general overview on grinds, techniques and different equipment. The class will be interactive and the team will answer questions and demonstrate suggestions for common issues.
How to Run a Small Successful Knifemaking Business, Bob Kramer, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Room 103—Learn the do’s and don’ts of making the most out of your knifemaking business. ABS master smith Bob Kramer has 30 years of experience and says he’s still learning!
Thermal Cycle Steel for High Performance, Larrin Thomas, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Room 104—There are many different recommendations for how to heat treat steel after forging, but what is best? Can normalizing and grain-refining cycles really improve properties when compared with steel from the factory? Should stock-removal makers bother with thermal cycling? How do you thermal cycle stainless steels after forging them? Is it thermocycling or thermal cycling? Join Larrin Thomas, designer of CPM MagnaCut stainless steel, creator of the website Knife Steel Nerds, and author of Knife Engineering: Steel, Heat Treating, and Geometry, as he answers these questions and more.
Symmetrical Quillon Dagger 101, Neels Van Den Berg, 1 to 2 p.m., Room 107—Join ABS master smith Neels Van Den Berg from Black Dragon Forge for a discussion and walkthrough of making a symmetrical quillon dagger. He will cover design, proportions, aesthetics, materials, fluting and finally the entire manufacturing process, sharing useful tips and tricks to save you time, money and frustration.
Intro to Power Forging, panel of forging authorities, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Room 103—Bring your forging questions to our group of expert panelists including Logan Gillihan, Will Stelter, Salem Straub, Charlie Ellis and Brian House.
Metal and Wood Fitting Techniques for Keyhole Handles, Henning Wilkinson, 2 to 3 p.m., Room 113—An ABS journeyman smith and member of the Knifemakers’ Guild of South Africa, Henning Wilkinson will outline the correct techniques for fitting metal and wood in the construction of the keyhole integral knife handle. Henning will show you how to eliminate the gaps between materials that results in the proper fit and finish collectors and those who judge knife competitions look for in an award-winning keyhole-handle knife.
Hands on Sharpening, the team at Work Sharp, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Room 113—What happens when a knife gets dull? How do you know when to sharpen it? Bring your own knife or borrow a demo model and learn the progression of shaping a bevel, sharpening and edge maintenance from the team at Work Sharp. You will get hands-on practice and experience sharpening your blade using a variety of sharpeners and abrasives, from whetstones to belts.
Originality: Experimentation, Innovation and Ingenuity, Lucas Cao, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Room 107—Why are some people more creative than others? Can creativity be learned? Lucas Cao, founder of Squid Industries, explores tools and techniques that anyone can apply to become more original.
Tim Robertson won Best Locking Folder at BLADE Show West ’22 for his lockback whittler and will cover how to make this most difficult pocketknife of all to build in his class Saturday at 9:45 a.m. (SharpByCoop image)
Elevating Your Handle Appearance: Spine Filework, Handle Shapes and Pin Placement, Kyle Daily, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Room 113—Enhance the appearance of your knife with distinctive features that go far beyond standard production models. Knifemaker Kyle Daily from KHDaily Knives guides you through the intricate art of filework on the spine, while also sharing insights into handle design and the pin placement on your handle. Discover Kyle’s preferred files and specialized equipment for crafting his five most popular filework patterns, ensuring your knife not only looks exceptional but also feels comfortable and functional. From laying out your pattern to a step-by-step tutorial, this class provides the essential knowledge to achieve a professional and eye-catching finish. A Q&A session at the end will ensure you leave with the skills and knowledge to take your knifemaking to the next level.
Insert Welding with Bob Kramer, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Room 104—Understand how to forge weld inserts with high precision and control to create realistic depictions of animals and patterns in this BLADE University offering. This will be an exclusive opportunity to experience the technique that Bob Kramer created with fellow ABS master smith Tom Ferry and shared with the masses.
How to Make the Most Difficult Pocketknife, Tim Robertson, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., Room 107—An award-winning maker of slipjoints and a charter member of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel, Tim Robertson will address perhaps the most difficult pocketknife to build: the lockback whittler. He will outline what makes the classic slipjoint/lockback folder so demanding to make, with a major focus on backspring design and function, the two areas of the knife that work against each other. He also will cover the correct sequence of parts preparation and the proper order of construction steps that reduces mistakes and helps ensure a successfully completed knife.
The Process Is the Product, TJ Schwarz, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Room 113—TJ Schwarz is the founder of Schwarz Knives, an Idaho-based manufacturer of premium outdoor fixed blades. He has over a decade of freelance knife design experience with many models in circulation, a patent, and two BLADE Show awards to show for it. Schwarz will share his insights on how to create a successful knife business, including the key point of understanding actually what it is that you’re selling.
Let the Pros Critique Your Knife, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Room 114—Award-winning knifemakers David Carver, Enrique Pena and Luke Swenson and ABS master smiths Bob Kramer and Jim Rodebaugh will share decades of knowledge and experience to critique the knife you made. They will go over every square inch of it and tell you what’s good, what’s not and how to make it better. Bring one knife only. Questions from attendees will be entertained throughout.
Hands on Sharpening, the team at Work Sharp, 2:15 to 3:15 p.m., Room 113—What happens when a knife gets dull? How do you know when to sharpen it? Bring your own knife or borrow a demo model and learn the progression of shaping a bevel, sharpening and edge maintenance from the team at Work Sharp at this BLADE University class. You will get hands-on practice and experience sharpening your blade using a variety of sharpeners and abrasives, from whetstones to belts.
Making Scissors in a Knife Workshop, Grace Horne, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Room 107—Have you ever thought about making scissors but don’t know where to start? If you’re curious about scissors or just want to expand your knowledge, this session is for you. Whether you want to have a go at restoring old scissors or forging your own from scratch, the basic information is the same—and it’s notoriously poorly documented. Dr. Grace Horne will give a whirlwind tour through the early history of scissors, describe methods of producing the blanks, give inside information on the twist and the curve, and highlight critical areas to consider. Most importantly, she will describe her method of scissors making that requires no specialized tools or equipment.
Pattern Welding Panel, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 104—Salem Straub, Mareko Maumasi, Charlie Ellis, Josh Prince and Will Stelter will explain how they created their collaborative Consortium billet, including each of the steps that went into creating this wild mosaic billet, and then open up to general questions about damascus forging and pattern development.
The pocketknife was once a rare term, most likely because back in the pioneering day fixed blades of all types ruled the roost. With few bears to skin nowadays and more wire to strip and boxes to dismember, a pocketknife practically means knife to a wide swath of people. This ubiquitous class of knives helps make our daily world go round—be they tactical do-alls or slip-joint stunners. And we have gathered a load of new ones—factory and custom—hitting the market.
Barnett Custom Knives 6-Blade Congress
Knife pattern: 6-blade congress Master blade length: 17/8” Blade steel: Ladder-pattern damascus Blade grinds: Flat Scales: Gold-lip mother-of-pearl Handle frame: .030” 410 stainless steel Bolsters: 416 stainless Closed length: 3.5” Knife to know: Bruce Barnett is an ABS journeyman smith Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,750 Maker: Barnett Custom Knives (Rod Hoare image)
Manuele Messori Little Blue
Knife name: Little Blue Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: Björkmans Twist damascus forged by Damasteel w/Fat Carbon White Storm inlay Pivot: Ceramic bearings Scales: Titanium GR5 w/Fat Carbon White Storm, zirconium and mother-of-pearl inlays Backspacer: Zirconium Hardware: Titanium screws Closed length: 4” Maker:Manuele Messori (SharpByCoop image)
Andrew Demko Full-custom AD-20 Stinger Tanto
Knife name: Full-custom AD-20 Stinger Tanto Blade length: 3.5” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Blade grind: Compound Scales: Fat Carbon Liner material: Titanium Lock: Shark Lock Closed length: 5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,000 (standard U.S.-made AD-20 starts at $450) Maker:Andrew Demko (SharpByCoop image)
Bob Hook Linerlock Folder
Knife type: Linerlock folder Blade length: 3.75” Blade steel: Reptilian damascus by Vegas Forge Blade grind: Flat Scales: Caramelized musk ox Bolster: Same material as blade Closed length: 3 5/8” Knife to know: Handle has detailed screws and liners; maker’s name in the interior; stud opener; the maker is an ABS journeyman smith Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200 Maker: Bob Hook (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Fallkniven GPbm
Knife model: GPbm Blade length: 3.07” Blade material: Laminated CoS (cobalt steel) stainless Rockwell hardness: 60 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .11” Lock: Linerlock Weight: 3.3 ozs. Closed length: 3.94” Carry: Suede pouch Knife to know: GPbm stands for Gentleman’s Pocketknife Black Micarta Country of origin: Japan MSRP: $327.95 at press-time exchange rate Company:Fallkniven
Kershaw Livewire
Knife name: Livewire – Double Edge Designers: Kershaw Originals and Matt Diskin Knife type: Out-the-front automatic Blade length: 3.45” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 60-63 HRC Blade @ thickest: .125” Handle material: Textured 6061-T6 aluminum Pocket clip: Deep carry, right/left, blade tip down w/black Cerakote® finish Hardware: Black-oxide steel screws Knife to know: Double-action (opens and retracts automatically w/sliding button) Weight: 3.1 ozs. Closed length: 4.8” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $400 Company:Kershaw
Video series: A Sharp Life with Bob Terzuola What’s included: 11 episodes start to finish of building one of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola’s groundbreaking ATCF tactical folders, and also on knifemaking in general. Knife to know: Buy the entire series alone or bundle it with Bob’s monthly subscription service, Shoptalk, the latter which includes weekly Q&A Zoom calls with Bob and two “deep dive” educational videos per month, “Terzuola Swag” and more.
Halfbreed Blades MILSPEC MILF-02PS
Knife name: MILSPEC MILF-02PS Knife type: Flipper folder Blade length: 3.54” Blade steel: CPM S30V stainless Rockwell hardness: 59-60 HRC Blade grind: Hollow Blade @ thickest: .19” Blade style: Harpoon drop point Finish: PVD coated throughout Washers: Phosphor bronze Handle frame, liner & spacers: 420J2 stainless Scales: G-10 Pocket clip: Ambidextrous, blade tip up or down Lock: Framelock Weight: 7.34 ozs. Closed length: 4.84” Country of origin: Comprises Australian and Taiwanese manufacture MSRP: $185 at press-time exchange rate Company:Halfbreed Blades
Barking Gecko Forge Eureka Jack
Knife pattern: Eureka jack Blade lengths: 2.44” (main) and 1.57” (pen) Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade grinds: Hollow Scales: Giraffe bone Bolster: Fluted 416 stainless steel Sharp stuff: Domed pins, fileworked liners and center spacer, jeweled liners and stainless steel shield; long-pull nail nick on main blade Closed length: 3.54” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $795 at press-time rate of exchange Maker:Barking Gecko Forge (Rod Hoare image)
Rothman Knives Elephant Toenail
Knife pattern: Elephant toenail Blade length: 2” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade grind: 14” hollow Handle frame: 416 stainless in an integral construction Scales: Mammoth ivory Knife to know: Fileworked liners; the elephant toenail is also known as a sunfish; the maker is a probationary member of The Knifemakers’ Guild Closed length: 3.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200 Maker: Rothman Knives (SharpByCoop image)
Shane Taylor Linerlock Folder
Knife type: Linerlock folder Blade length: 3” Blade steel: Dragon damascus Blade grind: Flat w/convex edge Bolster: Same as blade Scales: Mammoth ivory Lock type: Linerlock Backbar: Engraved Closed length: 3.75” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,800 Knife to know: The maker is an ABS master smith Maker: Shane Taylor, Miles City, Montana, shane@taylorknives.com, taylorknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Designers and companies join forces to help consumers win with these knife collaborations.
A collaboration knife is produced when a designer or knifemaker partners up with a knife company to produce a particular knife. And more often times than not, such models offer the best of both worlds. Designers able to focus purely on designing and not confined to the limits of their shop can shoot for the stars. While companies take the reigns of producing the knife to exacting specs and usually at a buyer’s price. In the end, the knife consumer wins. Here is a handful of the latest collaboration drops certain to get knife aficionados juices flowing.
Harlock Mini / Boker Plus
A blade only .11 inch at the thickest helps the Boker Plus Harlock Mini tip the scales at a scant 2.19 ounces. At about 2.87 inches closed and with a lean, sexy pocket clip, the Harlock Mini is made for executive wear. It comes with a nylon pouch.
If you’re looking for an elegant knife present for that special someone, you could do a lot worse than gift him or her the Boker Plus Harlock Mini designed by custom knifemaker Darriel Caston.
Designer: Darriel Caston Knife type: Push-button automatic Blade length: 2.05” Blade steel: Black-coated 154 CM stainless Blade grind: Convex Handle material: Black-coated aluminum Hardware: Brass Knife to Know: A latching slide lock locks the blade closed and prevents accidental release Closed length: 2.87” Carry: Pocket clip and nylon pouch Country of origin: USA MSRP: $146
A.P.C. (Always. Pocket. Carry.) / CRKT
The A.P.C. is a two-hand opener, with the blade deploying via a traditional nail nick. The Fat Carbon Dark Matter handle material is strong and lightweight.
Unlike traditional slip joints, Steigerwalt’s new slip joint design for CRKT does not have a standard steel backspring. Instead, the slip joint springs from the liners and connects the liner springs with a hardened steel block that contacts the heel of the blade, eliminating the need for the backspring. Among other advantages, this reduces a fair amount of the weight a backspring would add, there is more space inside the handle to hold a wider blade, the position of the blade pivot pin can be changed and more.
Designer: Ken Steigerwalt Knife type: Slip joint Blade length: 2.88” Blade steel: Bohler M390 stainless Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Fat Carbon Dark Matter Weight: 1.7 ozs. Closed length: 3.72” Country of origin: Taiwan MSRP: $175
The Sicilian / Fox Knives
The Sicilian is a reinterpretation of Fox’s model FX-525, and the name pays homage to the Sicilian roots of Bob Terzuola’s family. Changes from the FX-525 include the BECUT stainless blade steel, the OD green canvas Micarta® handle and the wire pocket clip.
According to Fox’s Athena Greta Barbieri, “Bob Terzuola conceived the Sicilian taking inspiration from traditional knives used by ordinary people for everyday activities such as eating or working in the fields. The idea for this knife evokes images of landscapes warmed by the Sicilian sun and simple meals eaten among olive trees and vineyards.”
Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola Knife type: EDC folder Blade length: 3.35” Blade steel: BECUT stainless Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC Blade @ thickest: .12” Blade finish: Stonewashed Blade opener: Disc Handle material: OD green canvas Micarta® Spacer: Aluminum anodized orange Pocket clip: Wire Lock: Linerlock Weight: 3.53 ozs. Closed length: 4.52” Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $164
Prohen XR / SOG
The extremely strong G-10 handle is micro-textured for a secure, comfortable grip in wet or slippery conditions.
Designed by custom knifemaker Mikkel Willumsen for SOG, the beefy Prohen XR flipper folder is a mix of curves and angles that features the XR Lock, a sliding transverse bar that locks the blade in place and promotes ambidextrous one-hand operation.
Designer: Mikkel Willumsen Knife type: Flipper folder Blade length: 3.4” Blade material: Cryo D2 tool steel Blade @ thickest: .157” Blade grind: Flat Blade pattern: Drop point Blade finish: TiNi Blade opener: Flipper tab or thumb hole Handle: G-10 Pocket clip: Reversible, low carry Lock: XR Lock Knife to know: The XR Lock can withstand 1,500 lbs. of force Weight: 5.6 ozs. Closed length: 4.8” Country of origin: China MSRP: $70
Dmitry Sinkevich/ Spyderco
Drunken / Spyderco
The Spyderco knife’s handle includes a titanium scale on one side and a solid carbon fiber scale and nested stainless steel liner on the other. The titanium scale is “webbed” to reduce weight and forms the basis for the knife’s Reeve Integral Lock (R.I.L.) mechanism, which includes a long-wearing stainless steel interface. Both scales are meticulously machined with the intricate “drunken” texture that gives the knife its name, and are accented by a matching color-anodized backspacer, pivot assembly, and right-side, tip-up pocket clip.
Designer: Dmitry Sinkevich Blade length: 3.45” Blade steel: CPM S90V stainless Blade grind: Full-flat Blade @ thickest: .138” Blade finish: Tumbled Handle: Carbon fiber/ titanium Pocket clip: Right-handed, blade tip up Lock: R.I.L. (Reeve Integral Lock) Weight: 3.8 ozs. Closed length: 4.61” Country of origin: Taiwan MSRP: $770
