Table of contents for September 2020 in Blade

Golden Age of Knifemaking? I really have to compliment you and your staff on the March BLADE®. I love sub-hilts. I love coffin handles. I love period knives. I guess everybody else does, too. Maybe the Golden Age of Knifemaking is now. Jon Bruce, Hollywood, California You Don’t Have To Print It! I was disappointed to read the letter, “Make BLADE® Great Again?” in the “Readers Respond” of the March issue. There was absolutely no knife-related content or anything informative about it. It was just another letter insulting and dumping on President Trump. Don’t we get enough of that in the mainstream media? Of course, everyone has a right to express his or her opinion, but you don’t have to print it! I, and probably most of your readership, expect…

The knife community lost three dedicated contributors recently with the passing of knifemakers Michael Holtschulte, Bernard Sparks and Ralph Turnbull. A full-time knifemaker for almost 50 years, Ralph specialized in knives in the latest materials, including mosaic damascus, tigerwood, white and black ebony and others. He made a wide range of models, including though not limited to folders, fixed blades and even butterfly knives. We had just published a story on one of his folders written by J.T. Hill (“J.T.’s No. 1 Knife Hero”) in the July issue when we got word Ralph had passed on June 6—the anniversary of D-Day. He was 85. Born in Dingle, Idaho, on the longest day of the year, June 21, 1931, Bernard Sparks began making knives part time in 1967. According to Mrs.…

The spectrum of blade steels is always expanding, but a couple of fundamentals remain true across the board: The classic balance of edge-holding capability and ease of maintenance dictates the basic approach to the right blade steel for the job a knife is expected to perform. The quest for “the perfect blade steel” never ends, though now, more than ever, the reach for the stars is alive and well. As has been the case for years, particular attention is paid to the powder metallurgy steels, while the basic carbon steels continue to hold their own, and the proven stainless selections are solid. Still, innovation is continuous, and blade steels remain purpose-driven. “Makers and users first have to determine if they want to spend time protecting and cleaning their blade or…

The blade is finished. Now comes the final and crucial test: the etching of the blade. It is the final quality-control examination she must pass before becoming a finished High-Endurance Performance Knife for sale to a future client. Have you ever looked at a mirror and found yourself wondering what secrets lie beneath the surface? A blade with a mirror finish may reveal some of the quality of the workmanship that went into the knife—about the same way makeup and plastic surgeons can develop a beauty queen—but many secrets can lie underneath the surface. The secrets include essential aspects like quality and type of steel, heat treat, grain flow and structure. You can’t see these qualities, so you musk ask the maker and rely on his or her answers. A…

Compact saws are handy to have for hunting and camping trips, or store in your garage or truck toolbox. They’re generally big enough to get the job done but small enough to carry easily in a back pocket or a belt sheath. I’d rank saws as important as having a knife or knives on your hunting/camping trips. Moreover, some saws are designed to cut quickly and safely through larger bones when field dressing, primarily the chest cavity and pelvic region. The Casstrom No. 11 Field Saw from CAS Iberia is a non-folding model that features a 4.25-inch double-cut blade. The offset, push-dagger-style handle is ergonomically shaped and machined from durable orange G-10. G-10 is impervious to most fluids and resistant to impact, freezing cold and blazing heat. A safety hook…

Steve Auvenshine was on his way back from Texas, having picked up his daughter, Katelyn, who had just graduated from military school, when he saw several mesquite trees felled by the side of the road. It was a knife-handle gold mine! They stopped to cut some of the wood and made do with the saw of Katelyn’s Leatherman Tool. After an hour of sawing using ample elbow grease, Steve eventually obtained a 4-foot-by-6-inch piece of the wood, latched it to the top of his jeep, and drove the rest of the way home. (A road crew showed up with a chainsaw right after he finished sawing. Figures, right?) He used the mesquite for the coffi n handle of his Texas boot knife. Auvenshine, who got his start making period knives…

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. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Visit us on the Web at www.blademag.com or call 877-485-6426. Outside USA: 760-407-2297. BOOK SALES: Visit us at www.gundigeststore.com or 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. LOOK FOR BLADE MAGAZINE ON:…

in Cupertino, California, to Lloyd’s shop in Alabama. He wanted to check on a knife Lloyd was making for him—one that was about to join the numerous other Hale originals Larry proudly holds in his extensive collection. More accurately, he wanted to see the master knifemaker at work and spend some quality time with him. “SOME CRAZY GUY” Larry bought his first Hale creation 17 years ago, and the two finally met face to face about 10 years ago. “We met for the first time at the BLADE Show, and it was after I’d started buying some of Lloyd’s more expensive knives,” Larry said. Still, that first purchase stands out in his memory. “I was in Solvang, California, visiting Dave Harvey at Nordic Knives,” he continued. “I’d picked out about…

A knife that’s a collectible user might sound odd at first. Often, the first custom knife someone buys is a hunting model, perhaps a skinner, semi-skinner, caper, bird & trout or even a fillet knife. These knives are bought primarily to be used on a hunting or fishing trip, and might end up helping produce a trophy mount—or even dinner. The time shared with family and friends creates memories that last a lifetime. The stories are told time and time again, passing through the generations and connecting people to both the past and also to future activities. SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY For many of us, our introduction to knives came from an older family member. For me, it was after a day of fishing with my grandfather on the Kalamazoo River near…

BLADE® field editor Mike Haskew’s six-part series “How To Buy Custom Knives” has been designed to help you get the most for your all-important knife dollar. Mike provided a lot of information in the series, so we thought a basic recap would aid in compartmentalizing it all to enhance your pursuit of the finest custom knives at the best prices possible. WHAT to LOOK for in a KNIFE •Don’t buy or collect trends. Buying what’s “hot” today may mean selling at a loss tomorrow. Buy a knife because you like it, not because you think it will increase in value. If the knife is well made, it will always have value. •Decide what the knife will be used for and choose accordingly. Is it pleasing to your eye? Hold it…

Knives are defined by how well they cut and also by their use. You know exactly what a fillet knife does or what a skinning blade tackles. However, the definition of a “gent’s” or “lady’s” knife? That’s a bit more diffi cult. When it comes to what defines a gent’s knife, for that matter, Spyderco’s Joyce Laituri says the definition runs the gamut. “Some enthusiasts think of them as ‘those traditional penknives,’” Joyce began. “Some figure they’re the ‘Sunday knife’ that rounds out the nice slacks, cufflinks and tie. Others see that knife as the ‘grail’ knife—the one that cost a pretty penny and some effort, the one that comes out on special occasions and is put away only after a careful wipe down. If it’s a small, capable folder,…

REACH FOR THE STARS OF SHARP P. 22 John April, Dept. BL9, POB 356, Williamsburg, MA 01096 413-268-7887 johnaprilknives@yahoo.com, johnaprilknives.com, Facebook: john april; Matthew Berry, Dept. BL9, 48 High Meadow Ln., Middlefield, CT 06455 860-707-6510 matt@hopkinsforge.com, hopkinsforge.com, Instagram/ Facebook: Hopkins_forge/Hopkins Forge; Stanley Buzek, Dept. BL9, POB 621, Caldwell, TX 77836-0621 346-412-2532 Stan@sbuzekknives.com, Instagram/Facebook: @SBuzekknives/SBuzek Knives; Carl Colson, Dept. BL9, 8590 NW 172 Ln., Fanning Springs, FL 32693 352-221-2937 carlcolson@bellsouth.net, Facebook: Carl Colson Knives; Damasteel, attn: Per Jarbelius, Dept. BL9, Stallgaten 9, SE-815 76, Soderfors, Sweden +46 293 306 00 sales@damasteel.se www.damasteel.se; Joe Fausone 586-873-2846 jff428@live.com, Instagram: @Jffcustoms; Andrew Frankland, Dept. BL9, 137 Langford Dr., Kariong, NSW, Australia 2250 04496 00454 andrewfrankland@hotmail.com; Luke Haag +61408758101 between1and2@gmail.com; Jantz USA, attn: S. Kemp, Dept. BL9, POB 584, Davis, OK 73030 800.351.8900 knifemaking.com; Christian…

ABS journeyman smith Landon Robbins opted for 1084 carbon steel for the 4-inch blade with hamon on his forged drop-point hunter. The handle of desert ironwood is in an understated bird’s-beak design and the single guard is 416 stainless steel. Blade finish: satin. Overall length: 8.5 inches. The maker’s list price of $450 includes a custom-made leather sheath. For more on Landon’s custom hunter, visit his website at robbinsknives.com, e-mail him at lwrobbins71@gmail.com, or read part one of BLADE® field editor Les Robertson’s three-part story on how to collect custom hunting knives on page 30. In part one, Les outlines the collectible users, of which Landon’s knife is one. Landon is a part-time maker and has been an ABS journeyman smith since 2013. His current focus is fixed blades—hunters, fighters…

“The knife I carry is a Fallkniven PD 35-year commemorative knife with a damascus blade. I carry it because of the perfect size for everyday jobs, and it looks great as well.” Rune H. Pettersen, Narvik, Norway “I carry a Plague Doctor by Steel Will. In these uncertain times, I can’t think of a more appropriate knife name.” Chuck Davenport, a letter via e-mail “My EDC is a DPx HEST/F Urban Ti. It’s a great cutter and I like the other tool features—bottle opener, glass breaker, hex drive, etc.” C.W. Spahn, a letter via e-mail For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE® ’s popular Instagram page @blade_ magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter. WIN A KNIFE! Tell us what knife you carry. Add a little history…

AUGUST AUG. 1-2 SYDNEY, NSW, AUSRALIA Sydney Knife Show, Rosehill Gardens, knifeartassociation.com.* AUG. 1-2 CROSSVILLE, TN The 10th Annual Cumberland County Gun Show w/Confiscated Weapons Auction, Community Complex. Contact Donnie.moody@hotmail.com or 931-484-6431 gkshow.org. AUG. 7-9 ATLANTA, GA The 39th The 39th Annual BLADE Show, Cobb Galleria Centre, I-285 & US 41, one exit off I-75 across from the Cumberland Mall, adjacent to the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. World’s largest show of handmade, factory and antique knives. A combined total of nearly 1,000 exhibitor tables and booths. Join the world’s greatest national and international knifemakers, cutlery manufacturers, collectors, collections and knife lovers. Site of the BLADE Magazine 2020 Knife Of-The-Year® Awards for factory knives, the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame© inductions and much more. Host to BLADE University, the annual ABS meeting and…

A.G. Russell Knives, Inc. www.agrussell.comag@agrussell.com "Adams Intl Knifeworks - AIK www.adamsknifeworks.comadamsknifeworks.com@gmail.com Automatic & Customized Knife Specialists" 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” 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. Artknives.com www.artknives.comfred@fredeisenleather.com Dozier Knives and Arkansas Made Dozier, Inc. www.dozierknives.cominfo@dozierknives.com BladeGallery.com www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com BladeOps, LLC www.bladeops.comtrevor@bladeops.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 Cutlery Specialties www.restorationproduct.com dennis13@aol.com Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax/Polish, Dennis Blaine Bob Dozier Knives www.dozierknives.cominfo@dozierknives.com Emerson Knives www.emersonknives.cominfo@emersonknives.com Jim Hammond Hammond Knives & Designs, LLC www.jimhammondknives.comjim@jimhammondknives.com Hawkins Knife Making Supplies www.hawkinsknifemakingsupplies.com radeh@bellsouth.net J.…

The skinner is arguably the most popular knife design. Give someone a pencil and some paper and say “draw a knife,” and I will wager a dollar to a dime the person will draw a skinner. However, skinner covers a lot of ground. Assorted versions come in a wide variety of blade shapes, including clip point, drop point, spear point and trailing point, among others. It seems there are as many skinner design approaches as there are different animals to be cleaned and dressed. For this article, we present a cross-section of popular offerings available at the moment. Which one is right for you? It depends on what you’re cutting! DEPLOYED DESIGN Versatility is the performance philosophy behind the Case Winkler Sculpted Multi-Camo G-10 Skinner. It was designed by knifemaker/ABS…