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Coming at you like a billet on fire, it's the knife news round-up.
• RAT Cutlery is no more. The company changed its name to Randall’s Adventure & Training’s ESEE Knives. Until folks get used to the switch, ESEE Knives will be accompanied with a "formerly RAT Cutlery." Its new Web site is http://www.eseeknives.com/
• Australia is coming down with anti-knife fever. Click here for details.
• A woman wary of peeping toms waved a knife at some of the perverts. Guess who the police went after? Click here to find out.
• Jerry Hossom teamed with Pro Tool Industries to offer a line knives. Click here to read up on the new partnership.
• Saskatchewan, Canada, may soon outlaw knives. Supporters say the ban wouldn't affect recreational knives, but BLADE has heard that one before. Read about the looming prohibition here.
• Think switchblades have no use other than crime? Here is a list of 125 professions that could benefit from these tools.
It's always a special honor when a knife company wins a business-related award. That's just what happened to Benchmade on Jan. 30, 2010, when it took home the Business Of The Year Award presented by the Oregon City Chamber Of Commerce for growth and development within a local community.
"Benchmade is honored to be recognized by the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce," says Les de Asis, Founder and Owner of Benchmade Knife Company. "As a Clackamas County business owner, and based in Oregon City for the past 14 years, Benchmade remains committed to supporting our local community."
Jan. 29, 10:46 a.m.
Rep. Jenn Coffey's pro-knife bill in New Hampshire got a hearing Jan. 28 (click here for a refresher about this bill).
Coffey wrote the following update about the hearing:
I am happy to report that the public hearing today in front of the Criminal Justice Committee went very well. The hearing was scheduled for a half hour and lasted over an hour. There where people that testified against the bill, but far more that testified in favor, with many more signing in with support.
There was key testimony offered by The Second Amendment Sisters, The New Hampshire Wildlife Federation, Pro-Gun New Hampshire and many others. All of the quotes of support, written testimony from Sword Forum and Suzanna Gratia Hupp as well as the articles from BLADE magazine, Women and Guns and the New Gun Week, to name but a few, entered into the record today as well.
Basically, anyone who submitted a quote of support, wrote an article, or Web site posting was entered into the record so the committee could see the full scope of support the bill has. We far outweighed the opposition in numbers. Forgive me for not going into more detail and listing all of the names, but it has been a very long day and is now a late hour. However, I felt it important to report to all of you what occurred today.
In addition, we had two people who testified as to their criminal charges under the current law and the effect it has had on their lives, costing them time, money, inventory, as well as the embarrassment of a criminal record due to the current law in New Hampshire.
I have to say that Doug Ritter was very impressive from Knife Rights and made a very good impression on the committee. His testimony was clear and to the point. I am thankful for not only his support and testimony but willingness to travel to New Hampshire to appear in front of the committee in person. To travel to New Hampshire in these trying fiscal times is admirable and not something easy to do. I know there are others who had hoped to do the same but understandably could not do so at this time.
It seems by all accounts that we can expect a favorable recommendation from the committee. If that happens for us we will know in a couple of weeks when they make their final recommendation. At that time, approximately one week later the bill will come to the full House for a vote.
I am very thankful for all the support. It is crucial to keep it up especially when we get to the Senate. I believe that we have turned one of the major antagonists to our side, in which case our testimony will be stronger.
My concern is that the Chiefs of Police did sign in support of the bill today, but may change their minds when it goes to the Senate. I am being told the House committee is amending the bill to remove the criminal penalties. My goal continues to be to lift the ban, which is in the first section that is not being amended.
I was thankful to find that Knife Rights had hired not just a lobbyist but one who carries an enormous amount of weight in both the House and the Senate, as well as the Governor's office. I hope they will be able to continue that effort in this crucial time.
We are on a good footing at present but perseverance and support is key to lifting this ban. It is important to note that if the bill passes, it will make New Hampshire not only legal for switchblades, dirks, daggers and stilettos, but they will be legal to carry, possess, sell and trade without restriction or need for a license to carry!
Making New Hampshire truly a knife rights state!
Again thank you and I hope I can count on you for continued support. Please feel free to contact me at anytime with questions or concerns.
Regards,
Representative Jenn Coffey
Learn more about Rep. Coffey and her bill by clicking here.
Jan. 28, 4:54 p.m.
From Buck Knives
A group of wing commanders from Fairchild Air Force Base toured the Buck Knives plant recently in Post Falls, Idaho. It meant a lot to the Buck family, conjuring up memories of World War II, when Hoyt Buck made knives for airmen as his contribution to the war effort, at a time, of course, when materials were in short supply.
The tour of the plant was to honor the airmen for their service, and a retired Marine named Graham Crutchfield, who organizd a program to donate knives to men from the base for duty in Iraq, as well as to more than 500 veterans since 2005.
Now, 66 years later, Buck Knives is back in Idaho, there's an Air Force Base nearby, America is at war, and Buck knives are supplied to airmen, this time thanks to the generosity of a retired Marine.
Jan. 14, 3:12 p.m.
This is fun. There's a television show on A&E, albeit an odd but fun show, called Hoarders, about people who hoard things. It's apparently a very real obsessive compulsive disorder. It airs on Mondays at 10 p.m. EST / 9 p.m. CST, and each 60-minute episode takes a look inside the lives of two people whose inability to part with their belongings is out of control.
This past Monday's show featured a gentleman who, among many other things, made and collected knives for a time, and the camera panned over to a pile of knives and parts, as well as a couple issues of BLADE Magazine. One of our sharp-eyed and technologically advanced coworkers here at F&W Media paused her television and took pictures of BLADE on TV. Here they are, for what they're worth. I told you it was fun albeit odd.
A petition to support New Hampshire pro-knife bill HB1665 is up and running here. If you're not educated, click here to read why Rep. Jenn Coffey hit a homerun.
The New Hampshire House will consider the bill later this year. For now, updates from Coffey can be found at knifelawonline.com.
The effect of petitions is often nil. Online versions carry even less weight. Should you even sign the thing? Yes. Definitely yes.
Unlike other petitions, this one has some heavy backers. Rep. Jenn Coffey herself signed the petition first. She also wrote it. Attorney and BLADE contributor Evan Nappen is another supporter.
The goal is 1,000 signatures. The tally stands at 78. How soon can you help?
Knifemaker Murray Carter is on fire. He's got another expert video up, this time about stone maintenance. Even the things you use for maintenance need maintenance. Good thing sponges are disposable.
Dec. 18, 9:47 a.m.
Boy Scout knives and memorabilia collectors: Be Prepared. Taylor Brands has come through big time with a licensed line of cobranded Boy Scouts Of America Schrade knives. Considering 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts Of America, Taylor's timing is, well, well timed.
The company offers several "Old Timer" and "Uncle Henry" patterns with 100th Anniversary Boy Scouts Of America blade etchings. These patterns are only available in commemorative 100th Anniversary Boy Scouts Of America "Old Timer" and "Uncle Henry" tins and will be available early 1st quarter, 2010.
It's time for a knife news round up. If this was a video, I'd play some dramatic music in the background. But since you're reading this, cue the Muzak playing in your office or the dog barking outside your house.
• Montana knifemaker Joe Olson, winner of a BLADE Art Knife of the Year award, received a nice article in the Great Falls Tribune. Click here to read it.
• The December 2009 cover of the Robb Report, a respected name in the luxury collectibles field, featured William Henry Knives. Click here to download a PDF of the cover.
• A new video from BladeSports is up at Youtube. It's of a Nov. 7, 2009, competition in Volente, Texas. It's embedded here for your convenience.
• Eddie Killian and Shane Sibert will design products with Benchmade, according to a release from the company. Benchmade will begin selling the results of these collaborations in early 2010. "
• Center Cross Instructional Videos is under new management. Its contact information has changed. It's now:
Center Cross Instructional Videos
851 House Street
Fort Worth, TX 76103
A group of wing commanders from Fairchild Air Force Base toured the Buck Knives plant recently in Post Falls, Idaho. It meant a lot to the Buck family, conjuring up memories of World War II, when Hoyt Buck made knives for airmen as his contribution to the war effort, at a time, of course, when materials were in short supply.
