Table of contents for March 2020 in Blade

Moran Museum Inspiration I have been reading BLADE® for years and carrying a knife since I was a boy. I carried a Benchmade Triage into war as a DUSTOFF Army flight medic and the knife out performed my trauma shears. Meanwhile, as of Dec. 30—my birthday—2018, I have embarked on knifemaking. My wife got me a tour of the William F. Moran, Jr. Museum. I started forging a blade there and ended up taking it home. They would have had to pry it out of my hands! By the end of the weekend I put ziricote scales on it with stainless steel pins and cleaned it up a bit more. Anyway, here’s to finishing the first blade, the “Moran paring knife,” for my kitchen. Austin S. Langdon, Frederick, Maryland Editor’s…

BLADE® field editor Mike Haskew’s story on the question of what to look for in a knifemaker in part one of the series “How To Buy Custom Knives” (page 76) got me to thinking. While determining the kind of maker that is best for your knife needs requires knowing a number of knife-related factors about the maker—many of which Haskew outlines in his story—part of that determination also depends on certain intangibles that pertain to you. In other words, what is it about a knifemaker that appeals to you? Take me, for instance. Aside from the obvious question of the quality of their knives and the usual business-related factors, there are certain traits I look for in makers. Some of the traits may be ones you look for, some may…

There’s a niche market in which custom knifemakers produce high-end, modern knives in an old-European style. They vary from spot-on period repros to modernized amalgamations of influences from distant times and disparate lands. For instance, the European quillon art dagger is a style each applicant for master smith (MS) in the American Bladesmith Society must make and do so to the satisfaction of an ABS panel of judges as part of earning the MS stamp. According to the official ABS testing literature, the dagger must have at least 300 or more forge-welded layers and a quillon guard “similar to those found on European daggers in the middle to late Middle Ages.” As ABS master smith Shayne Carter noted, it’s no easy task. “A dagger grind is pretty complex,” he assessed.…

For well over a decade new locking mechanisms have proliferated on the folder market. In the interim, the age-old lockback and linerlock have proved very trustworthy and withstood the test of time. Each has been used on just about every form of folding knife. However, in recent years companies have experimented with and offered locks more advanced in function and construction. While the classic locks are still widely used, there’s a movement of sorts by manufacturers to seemingly out-do not only the two old dependables but each other as well. In this spirit of competition, consumers have a bevy of choices in blade locks. The pickings are really good out there! “THE RADIUS IS RACY, AND SEXY LOOKS GIVE IT THE ATTITUDE OF A FINE EUROPEAN SPORTS CAR.”—THE AUTHOR While…

A.G. Russell Knives, Inc. www.agrussell.comag@agrussell.com Adams International Knifeworks - AIK www.adamsknifeworks.comCustomized Automatic Knife Specialist Admiral Steel www.admiralsteel.comterry@admiralsteel.com Widest Range of Stock for Blade Needs Alaska - Northern Knives www.northernknives.comA Real Store & Working Knife Shop! American Edge www.americanedgeknives.cominfo@americanedgeknives.com 320-393-2792 We have ""A Knife For Every Life” Andre de Villiers www.advtactical.co.zaFacebook - Andre de Villiers adv44sales@gmail.com Butcher SOB folders. Arizona Custom Knives www.arizonacustomknives.comsharptalk@arizonacustomknives.com Largest selection in the world of new and consigned knives on the internet. Let us help you find the perfect knife. Arkansas Made Dozier, Inc. www.dozierknives.cominfo@dozierknives.com BladeGallery.com www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com BladeJunkee www.bladejunkee.combladejunkee73@gmail.com BladeOps, LLC www.bladeops.comtrevor@bladeops.com Bocki Custom Knives www.bockiknives.comeshword@aol.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.comMake Your Mark Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands CRKT www.crkt.cominfo@crkt.com Culpepper & Co., Inc. www.knifehandles.com www.oldschoolknifeworks.com www.stingrayproducts.cominfo@culpepperco.com Custom Knife Gallery of Colorado www.customknifegallery.combob_glassman@yahoo.com Cutlery Specialties www.restorationproduct.comdennis13@aol.com Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax/Polish, Dennis Blaine Bob Dozier Knives…

Spencer Frazer, the man who founded SOG Specialty Knives in 1986, will be stepping away from his full-time involvement in the company, according to a SOG news release. However, Frazer will maintain an advisory role moving forward. Frazer, 64, is the driving design and engineering force behind a wide array of SOG knives and multi-tools, beginning with the company’s first knife, the S1 Bowie that paid homage to the knife U.S. Special Forces used in Vietnam, eventually naming the company in honor of the unit that originally developed the knife. Helping to bring a high-tech design sensibility to what at the time was a rather traditional industry, Frazer was a leader in the modern era of factory knives. He combined aesthetics and mechanical function into successful, sophisticated edged tools. Frazer…

Visit us online at www.blademag.com to: • Sign up for our free newsletter. • Renew your magazine subscription. There’s a subscription link in the nav bar. • Comment on our site stories written by BLADE® staff members and others. LOOK FOR BLADE MAGAZINE ON: SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Visit us on the Web at www.blademag.com or call 877-485-6426. Outside USA: 386-246-3419. BOOK SALES: Visit us at www.gundigeststore.comor call 920-471-4522. BACK ISSUES FOR SALE: Subject to Availability. Call 920-471-4522. ADVERTISING: Contact Lori McDaniel at 715-498-3768 or lori@gundigest.com, or request a media kit by writing to: BLADE, 5600 W. Grande Market Dr., Appleton, WI 54913. LETTERS OR ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS: Steve Shackleford, Editor BLADE Magazine 5600 W. Grande Market Dr. Ste. 100 Appleton, WI 54913 or email steve@blademag.com.…

The sub-hilt is defined as “an additional section of guard located along the length of the grip of a sword blade.” It was common among the swords of the Sasanian Empire* during the 6th and 7th centuries A.D. Today it is increasingly finding favor among those who forge their knives. The sub-hilt is clearly not a new concept. Indeed, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Loveless is credited w with popularizing the feature on knives better known as sub-hilt fighters. His Big B Bear is so popular that for more than 40 years, copies and stylized versions of it have flourished. Custom knifemakers and factories worldwide have used the design. In fact, even sub-hilt folders have been made. PROS Naturally, as for most specialized designs, there are pros and cons…

Long-time BLADE®readers will recall Errett Callahan (1937-2019), American archaeologist, flintknapper and pioneer in the fields of experimental archaeology and lithic replication studies. He began flintknapping in 1956 and introduced the modern knife community to flintknapped knives in the 1980s with stories in the KNIVES annual and BLADE, including “Blades For The Present From Methods Of The Past” in the September/ October 1987 BLADE and “Back to the Stone Edge” in the May 1997 BLADE. He also gave flintknapping demos at the BLADE Show. Callahan not only flintknapped blades of stone and obsidian, he put them to work—including butchering a legally downed elephant as chronicled in the May ’97 BLADE. In fact, in that issue he wrote: “In recent years, stone knives in the form of obsidian scalpels have been used…

SPEC CHART PATTERN: Chef’s knife BLADE LENGTH: 9” BLADE STEEL: A feathered damascus of 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels HANDLE MATERIAL: Spalted maple SPACER MATERIAL: Bronze and G-10 OVERALL LENGTH: 14 1/8” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,300 KNIFE TO KNOW: The wife of ABS master smith David Lisch, Andrea has been making knives seven years, a member of the ABS for several years, and has been a full-time blacksmith and helped run the Lisch business for 25 years MAKER: Andrea Lisch, Dept. BL3, 16948 Lonemire Rd. SE, Yelm, WA 98597 amlisch@earthlink.net (Eric Eggly image) SPEC CHART KNIFE: Petit 42 DESIGNER: French knifemaker Philippe Jourget KNIFE TYPE: Flipper folder BLADE LENGTH: 2.8” BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel BLADE THICKNESS: .1” BLADE PATTERN: Modified wharncliffe HANDLE MATERIAL: Stainless steel…

Editor’s note: How to buy correctly and with an eye to the future is one of the leading challenges facing those who trade in the custom knife industry. Buyers need to know not onlyhow to identify a good knife but also how to identify a knifemaker who’s talented, dependable and possesses other prerequisites. In the first of a multi-part series, join the author as he addresses what to look for in a knifemaker—and, in subsequent installments, other things to know aand sseek out in your quest to buy the best custom knife for you. Know your knifemaker. Perhaps this is the best advice anyone could offer to those iinterested iin buying custom knives. It’s accepted that people are different. Varied personalities are literally the spice of llife. Then, there is…

You’ve heard of a horse of a different color? Alexander Noot takes things a furlong further by using new Raffi r synthetic materials—four in all—for a handle that changes colors depending on light and temperature. Raffir Heatwave comes in red and yellow versions, and Raffi r SFX Uranium in blue and green types. When cold, Heatwave is almost black. When warmed by the hand or ambient temperatures, it turns bright red or yellow depending on the version of Heatwave. Uranium Blue is whitish transparent in ambient indoor light. In the sun it turns blue. When “charged” in the sun for a short while it will glow bright green in the dark. Uranium Green is darker in ambient indoor light and turns greener in ultraviolet light, and will subsequently glow in…

The Scottish dirk by Vince Evans is a classic rendition of the genre by a knifemaker who specializes in period pieces in general. The 12 5/8-inch flat-ground blade is forged from 5160 carbon steel. The maker’s wife, Grace Evans, carved the walnut handle in a traditional Turk’s-head-knot pattern typical of original Scottish dirks. She does all the carving on her husband’s dirks. The fittings are brass. Overall length: 16.5 inches. The dirk carries in a leather belt scabbard with a brass tip and throat. “GRACE EVANS CARVED THE WALNUT HANDLE IN A TRADITIONAL TURK’SHEAD-KNOT PATTERN.” For more information on the cover knife contact Vince Evans, Dept. BL3, POB 3604, Show Low, AZ 85902 809-443-8198 evansvk@gmail.com, picturetrail.com/vevans, or see the story on page 34. The cover knife image is by SharpByCoop,…

“My good friend, Shannon, and I both carry a Kershaw Cinder. We each keep one on our keychains.” Jenn Jennwood, a letter via e-mail “I carry a Harrier 2 by Byrd Knife. I use it for EDC cutting jobs. It’s a dependable performer, tough, easy to carry and inexpensive.” Hal Burkett, a letter via email “You won’t find me anywhere without a knife in my pocket. Right now my EDC is a Fallkniven Model P folder. It’s a looker and cuts what I need cutting on a daily basis.” Stephen L. Morrison, a letter via email For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.…

Note: Events with an asterisk (*) have knives and knife accessories as the main/sole focus. Events with two asterisks (**) are knifemaking seminars or symposiums, cutting competitions, auctions or other knife-related events. FEBRUARY FEB. 8-9 VENICE, FL Venice Gun & Knife Show, Venice Community Center, hosted by Florida Gun Expo. Contact Florida Gun Expo 305-922-3677 floridagunexpo@gmail.com, floridagunexpo.com. FEB. 15 NASHVILLE, TN Tactical Knife Invitational, The Cannery Ballroom. For more information call 417-866-6688 or visit fiftyfiftyproductions.net/tactical-knife-invitational .* FEB. 22 BREA, CA California Knifemakers Association Custom Knife Show, Brea Community Center. Visit Calknives.org, info@calknives.org, Instagram: @calknives and Facebook: calknives.* FEB. 22-23 LEWISBURG, PA The 32nd Annual Keystone Blade Association Knife Show, Country Cupboard Inn. Contact Arthur Fryling, Dept. BL3, 248 Central Rd., Bloomsburg, PA 17815 570-204-1544.* MARCH MARCH 6-7 TROY, OH Spirit…

Found on bowies and daggers dating to the early 19th century, the coffin handle has come to signify a uniquely American knife. It is an effective handle shape—as long as it is well made. It allows for a secure grip, efficient transfer of power from hand to blade, and the ability to index the blade accurately. Both history and function are important to today’s knifemakers, who strive to make pieces that feel comfortable, look good and carry a greater meaning than simply the quality of execution. “If you are a knifemaker, I think you ought to go back and look at old knives,” suggests ABS master smith Brion Tomberlin. “Take a classic bowie knife and then make it your own.” The sentiment is one that echoes around the knifemaking community,…

FORGED SUB-HILTS P. 12 David Broadwell, Dept. BL3, PO Box 3373, Wichita Falls, TX 76301, Phone: 940-782-4442, david@broadwellstudios.com; Web: www.broadwellstudios.com; Josh Fisher, JN Fisher Knives, Dept. BL3, 8419 CR 3615, Murchison, TX 75778, Phone: 903-203-2130, fisherknives@aol.com; Web: www.jnfisherknives.com; Kevin Klein, Dept. BL3, 129 Cedar St., Apt. 2, Boston, MA 02119, Phone: 609-937-8949, kevin.a.klein779@gmail.com; David Lisch, Dept. BL3, 16948 Longmire Rd., Yelm, WA 98597, Phone: 206-919-5431, Web: www.davidlisch.com; Samuel Lurquin, Dept. BL3, Hameau Du Bois, Hoyaux 10, 7133 Buvrinnes Belgique, Binches, BELGIUM, Phone: 0032-478-349-051, knifespirit@hotmail.com; Web: www.samuel-lurquin.com; Steve Randall, Dept. BL3, 3438 Oak Ridge Cir., Lincolnton, NC 28092, Phone: 704-472-4957, steve@ksrblades.com; Web: www.ksrblades.com KNAP TIME P. 22 Woody Blackwell, www.woodyblackwell.com,woodyblackwell@gmail.com; Michael Miller, Archaic Arts, Flintknappers.com https://flintknappers.com/store/archaic-arts; Jeremy Parker, Broad River Knapping/Jeremy Parker Gallery, Flintknappers.com, https://flintknappers.com/store/broad-river-knapping, parkerarts@yahoo.com, Facebook: Broad River Native Arts…

The knife industry lost three longtime knifemakers recently with the passing of Bill Cheatham, Vic Han-gas and Steve Jernigan. A long-time knifemaker from Laveen, Arizona, William Dee “Bill” Cheatham sold his first knife in 1976. He was perhaps best known for his blades of what was called “chipped-flint steel,” a process whereby the blade had the appearance of having been flintknapped (page 22) but was made of steel instead of stone or other natural substances. Before becoming a knifemaker, Bill joined the Phoenix Police Department in 1964. He served for over 25 years until his career was cut short during a shootout in the line of duty that left one dead and Cheatham severely wounded. On Jan. 26, 1987, Bill stopped his squad car behind a reportedly suicidal man, who…

KNIFE: White Rapids Seax MAKER: Alexander Noot BLADE LENGTH: 4” BLADE STEEL: Random pattern damascus HANDLE MATERIALS: Raffir Heatwave red and yellow, Raffir Uranium blue and green, and dyed stabilized cedar burl BOLSTER MATERIAL: Slow-twist damascus OVERALL LENGTH: 8.5” SHEATH: Pouch/belt model, pigskin inside and out; dragonscale tooling on the outside KNIFE TO KNOW: Blade is marked w/the maker’s copper-plated logo MAKER’S LIST PRICE: $500 ($520 w/worldwide shipping costs included)…