Home Authors Posts by Joe Kertzman

Joe Kertzman

Watch for “Forged In Fire” on History Channel

According to a History Channel press release out of New York on April 27, 2015, a new blade forging competition series will air on the popular network this summer. As the press release states, “The most talented bladesmiths in the world will test their mettle in FORGED IN FIRE, a cutting-edge competition series coming to HISTORY this summer. Hosted by weapons expert Wil Willis, a former Army Ranger and decorated Air Force para-rescue specialist, the series will feature world-class bladesmiths recreating many of history’s most iconic edged weapons, from the Japanese katana to the medieval broadsword to ancient throwing blades like the Chakram. Production has started in Brooklyn, New York.j-well dog bone walnut-brass

At left is J. Neilson’s “J-Well” bowie/fighter in English walnut and damascus. (Chuck Ward image)

“In each episode, four master bladesmiths will put their skills and reputations on the line, trying to avoid elimination while using traditional and state-of-the-art tools and machinery to turn raw metal into authentic working versions of classic bladed weapons of yesteryear.” Click here to read the rest.

Joining Willis will be a judging panel of renowned experts: knifemaker J. Neilson, a Pennsylvania-based ABS master smith who first shared this story with me, and who has been making knives and edged weapons for more than 20 years; Doug Marcaida, a New York-based hand-to-hand combat specialist who has studied and mastered fighting styles and techniques around the world; and David Baker, a California-based authority known for replicating period-accurate weapons, from submachine guns to samurai swords, for both museums and films. Again, for the rest of the story, click here.

Click here for more on forging.

Eighth State Repeals Switchblade Ban!

Maine has repealed its antiquated switchblade ban. Maine Gov. LePage has signed into law LD 264, “An Act To Restore the Right To Possess Certain Knives That Are Used by Many Citizens as Tools,” repealing the state’s ban on switchblade (automatic) knives. 3150_pair

A freshman legislator, LD 264 sponsor Rep. Joel Stetkis may have been inspired by similar, previous bans in seven states, gaining the confidence to take on Maine’s ban as one of his first legislative efforts. The new law takes effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns.

Automatic knives are now legal for civilians without restriction in 27 states, and legal with various restrictions in 10 more. The eight states with complete repeals of the antiquated switchblade bans are New Hampshire, Alaska, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. If you live in one of those states, you might want to click here and check out this link.

BLADE Show—Ultimate Knife Experience!

Anyone who has ever been to the BLADE Show will tell you that there are more production knives, handmade knives, antique knives, collectible knives, knifemakers, dealers, factories, purveyors, collectors and enthusiasts at that show than anywhere else in the world. But the BLADE Show has always been much more than that, and today it is becoming the Ultimate Knife Experience like never before.

Not only does a visit to the 2015 BLADE Show, June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Marietta, Georgia, afford you the opportunity to go to the show, but the chance to attend BLADE U or BLADE University classes covering everything from grinding a knife blade to engraving, choosing a survival knife, knife design and function, using 3D CAD/CAM Software in knife design and much, much more.2926-Mock up

Visitors are invited to attend the American Bladesmith Society knife auction, see a glass showcase filled with the Blade Magazine Knife-Of-The-Year® Award entries from all the major knife companies around the world, witness the BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition hosted by BladeSports International, view knife displays, see BLADE Show demonstrations covering knife throwing, testing, forging, hand-to-hand-combat and a host of other subjects and even see Japanese sword demonstrations.

Afterwards, enjoy a nice meal and a cool drink at the host hotel, including the infamous ” The Pit” sunken bar—the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Marietta.

Join us at the BLADE Show and enjoy the Ultimate Knife Experience!

Husband and Wife Knifemakers

0

When established knifemaker Lee Williams met Donna, little did he know that he had a future knifemaker on his hands!

hus wifeAs husband and wife, Lee and Donna Williams collaborate on the usual things, like what’s for dinner or where to go on vacation. So why not team up on making knives?

When Lee, already an established knifemaker with a large collector base, met Donna, little did he know that he had a future knifemaker on his hands, or a beautiful and devoted wife!

In a feature article titled “Mr. and Mrs. Sharp” in the June 2015 issue of BLADE®, writer Pat Covert tells Lee and Donna’s story and shows some of the knives Lee has fashioned recently on his own, and collaborative pieces the couple has made together before and after marrying in July of 2014.

CherubAs Lee notes, “I started making knives in 2001. I had set up a small machine shop in my garage around 1996,” he recalls. “In November of 2001 I decided to make knives for my siblings as Christmas presents. Twenty-something knives later I had managed to finish knives for all of them, plus their spouses, before Christmas that year. I wasn’t completely satisfied with those first few knives and started doing a lot of research on the Internet.”

To read the rest of the story, see the June 2015 issue of BLADE. Or click here to subscribe.

The Cherub (above right) is a result of the first collaboration between Donna and Lee Williams as a married couple. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)

 

Recommended for You:

Tactical Knifemaking.Making Tactical Fixed Blades DVD

Learn both basic and advanced knife making techniques with expert instruction from Allen Alishewitz in Tactical Fixed Blades. Allen demonstrates how to craft a double-edged tactical fixed blade knife from start to finish, and creates two knives in order to fully illustrate the knife building process. You’ll learn:

– Profiling and Drilling the Knife
– Tang Tapering on a Grinder
– Tang Tapering on a Mill
– And more!

Order here

Cool Custom Combat Knives

0
(Jerry Brouwer battle blade)
(Jerry Brouwer battle blade)

I was thinking the other day that, in a perfect world, those who put their lives at risk to defend our country would be provided with the newest, most high-tech, quality weapons and equipment in order to their duties.

In some ways, the American forces are the most well-equipped in the world, but in others, they are not. Knives, for example—wouldn’t it be great if all soldiers could carry a hand-fashioned, quality, custom knife with them everyday?

The expense of a handmade combat knife is high, but what’s the cost for a soldier not to carry one? What prompted my thoughts on the subject was the “Battle Honed” section of the KNIVES 2015 book. Between pages 84 and 86 of the KNIVES book are 15 of the most spectacular, clean, handsome, utilitarian, well-built combat knives, hatchets and tomahawks I’ve ever laid my eyes upon. Three examples are shown herein.

What would your ideal combat knife be? And who would make it? For more tactical/combat knives, click here. To see the other 12 combat knives in the KNIVES 2015 book, click here.

(Levi Graham belt knife and tactical tomahawk. Chuck Ward image)
(Levi Graham belt knife and tactical tomahawk. Chuck Ward image)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Les George Marine Corps EOD technician's kit knife. PointSeven image)
(Les George Marine Corps EOD technician’s kit knife. PointSeven image)

List of BLADE Show Exhibitors Grows!

0

Blade Show 2015The BLADE Show has always been an electric atmosphere for knife enthusiasts, collectors, dealers, users, manufacturers, purveyors and everyone in between, and it truly is the world’s largest knife show. With nearly 700 tables showcasing custom knives, knife collections, antique knives and knife-related products, and more than 300 factory and multi-custom-maker booths, a BLADE Show attendee really does need all three days to explore the show and take it all in.

The list of exhibitors for the 2015 BLADE Show, to be held June 5-7 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Marietta, Georgia, keeps growing and growing and growing …

Click here to see the full list of exhibitors. Buy your ticket here! Attend a BLADE University seminar. And enjoy the 2015 BLADE Show!


Recommended:

Knives 2015Knives 2015

Get the latest knife information with features on the latest developments, history, and transformation of knives, swords, and edges of all types, and explore the latest trends in blades, steels, styles, and materials. Gaze upon a “State of the Art” section parading engraved, scrimshawed, jewel-inlaid, carved, etched, sculpted and forge-welded, and Damascus and mosaic-damascus knives. Learn more

Collecting Knives By One Maker

0

In the April 2015 issue of BLADE® is a fascinating feature article about four knife collectors whose collections each consist overwhelmingly of the knives of one knifemaker only. The collectors and the makers they collect? The article, written by Stephen Garger, lists Chris Schluter, who enjoys accumulating the knives of Bob Terzuola; Tony Wang, who began collecting Bob Lum knives in the late 1980s; Tashi Bharucha, whose collection focuses on Tom Mayo knives; and Don Deckert who collects Ernest Emerson knives. attachment-2

Don Deckert’s collection of Ernest Emerson customs includes these seven (left) very early “garage make” pre-tac knives.

The feature starts:

You’ve heard of people collecting dozens, even hundreds of assorted genres of knives, but have you heard of collectors amassing up to 100 or more knives of a single maker? Chris Schluter knows of such collectors and suggested the phenomenon as a topic for a BLADE story.

Chris enjoys accumulating the knives of Bob Terzuola and is one of several who practice the one-maker approach to knife collecting. See the April 2015 issue of BLADE to read the rest of the article, or click here.MayoCollec

Tashi Bharucha’s Tom Mayo collection (left) features at least 55 of the popular maker’s knives, including one of Bharucha’s designs, the “Mayo Chopper,” though Mayo calls it “The Tashinator.”
Advertisement

Must Read Articles

Read this before you make a knife

Knifemaking 101 – Read This Before You Make a Knife

  by Wayne Goddard My experience has taught me that there's nothing like digging in and getting started. I've often said the hardest part of the...
how to forge damascus steel

How to Forge Damascus

Advertisement
Advertisement