Tabla de contenidos para August 2021 en Blade

Blade|August 2021

READERS RESPOND

He-Man/She-Woman Syrup I have always enjoyed BLADE® Magazine field editor Abe Elias’s knife reviews. His knowledge and professionalism, as well as his unbiased reviews, are a pleasure to read. That said, he is a victim of the famous quote by the old-time philosopher Will Rogers, who said, “Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects.” In his article on emergency EDCs in the February issue, Abe made the statement that no breakfast syrup compares to Canadian maple syrup. I agree that Canadian maple syrup is great for light and airy pancakes or Belgian waffles. However, for anyone who wants a real he-man or shewoman breakfast syrup, it most certainly is Louisiana pure cane syrup, best served on cat-head biscuits. Pancakes or waffles with maple syrup are a distant second in this…

3 min.

Blade|August 2021

The A.G. Russell Chute Knives

Harry Archer is no stranger to fans of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® members Bob Loveless and A.G. Russell, as well as followers of Steve Johnson, Bob Dozier and other inhabitants of the custom knife scene. A larger-than life “operator” for the CIA, among others, Archer designed the chute knife (page 10), a fixed blade that got its name for use when a parachutist landed in a tree or in some other sticky situation and needed to cut the shroud lines to free himself. Archer fell in love with Loveless knives and designed a chute knife that Bob made. In the process, Archer and Loveless became close friends and the chute one of Bob’s best-known knives, one reproduced today by scores of custom makers. A.G. and Loveless had a special relationship,…

3 min.

Blade|August 2021

WIN A KNIFE!

Tell us what knife you carry. Add a little history or an anecdote. Try to include a photograph—if digital, at least 600 KB but no larger than 2 MB—of you with your knife. We will publish your comments in an upcoming “The Knife I Carry.” Your name will then be entered in a drawing to win a free, high-quality, name-brand knife. The drawing will be November 15. Mail to: BLADE ®, 5600 W. Grande Market Dr., Ste. 100, Appleton, WI 54913, or e-mail steve@blademag.com. If you send your entry by e-mail, please include your physical mailing address in case you win the knife.…

1 min.

Blade|August 2021

MUSCLE KNIVES

They are brawny, edgeworthy and ooze masculinity. They are built rugged for the roughest, toughest cutting tasks and still hold up over repeated use. They are equal parts tool and weapon, and all muscle. They are the latest in military-style folders. An example is the CRKT Gulf designed by Ryan Johnson of RMJ Tactical. “I believe a folding knife should make sense as a fixed blade,” he notes, adding that many see fixed blades as “real work knives,” which is how he designed the Gulf. As he puts it, it’s “a heavy-duty work knife I would carry every day.” It’s tough and versatile, offering an RMJ design at a price many can easily afford. It sports a 4-inch clip-point blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel with a deep belly, and a…

10 min.

Blade|August 2021

FIXED FORCE

SPEC CHART 1. MEDIUM INFANTRY KNIFE HALFBREED BLADES BLADE LENGTH: 6.69” BLADE MATERIAL: Bohler K110 D2 tool steel BLADE PATTERN: Modified tanto EDGE: Partially serrated HANDLE MATERIAL: Black G-10 WEIGHT: 17.08 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 11.77” SHEATH: Black Kydex COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia MSRP: $335 2. SENPAI KIZLYAR SUPREME BLADE LENGTH: 6.75” BLADE STEEL: AUS-8 stainless BLADE PATTERN: Traditional Japanese tanto HANDLE MATERIAL: OD green Kraton/ABS plastic WEIGHT: 10.3 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 12” SHEATH: Polyamide Nylon COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Russia MSRP: $150 3. CHICO DIABLO X DOUBLESTAR BLADES DESIGNER: Kim Breed BLADE LENGTH: 3.75” BLADE STEEL: Nitro-V stainless HANDLE MATERIAL: Black G-10 with green G-10 liners WEIGHT: 6.24 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 8” SHEATH: Black Boltaron with Tek-Lok attachment COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $149.99 4. NECK GLADIUS CONDOR TOOL & KNIFE…

6 min.

Blade|August 2021

MY 3 FAVORITE COMBAT KNIVES

Since this is BLADE®’s annual military issue, I thought it might be nice to revisit knives I believe are among history’s best for those who have fought and died in conflicts of many types. They are my three favorite combat knives. One is known as a pesh-kabz, a form of dagger used in Persia and Northern India for centuries. The originals made circa the 17th to 19th centuries are up to 18 inches overall. The blades are narrow, straight and bolstered and usually T-backed like a Khyber knife, though narrow and stiff for piercing chain mail. I bought mine from an elderly man who stated that during World War II he served with the British army. While driving a lory over the Khyber Pass he acquired the knife from one…

7 min.

Blade|August 2021

NEW BOOK: Greatest Living Knifemakers

Greatest Living Knifemakers, a book written by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Steve Shackleford, is now available from blademag.com. Editor of BLADE® since 1991, Steve has covered many of the world’s top knifemakers and knife shows over the years. Commissioned to pick the world’s greatest living makers, he said he was at first reluctant to take the job because he thought it would be too controversial. However, he was convinced to accept the assignment when his old boss, fellow Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bruce Voyles, told him such controversy would be good for the industry because it would get knife enthusiasts talking about who they think are the world’s greatest living makers. In a hardbound 8x11-inch format, the 256-page book is full color throughout with photographs by the world’s top knife photographers,…

4 min.

Blade|August 2021

HOW TO REACH US!

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: 760-407-2304. 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.…

1 min.

Blade|August 2021

The Chute

Harry Archer was a somewhat shadowy figure. At the height of the Vietnam War, he was engaged in nasty business—fighting a stealthy enemy in a steaming jungle, sometimes up close and all too personal. Those who knew Archer acknowledged that some of his exploits were “larger than life.” They considered him an early nonmovie version of author David Morrell’s fictional character of John Rambo*. Still, Archer was real, flesh and blood. And it seems altogether fitting that re-BLADEresponding to his need for knives that “deliver” in a tight spot—survival, seconds along the fine line between life and death—he would come to know and rely on another legend. According to John Denton, perhaps the world’s foremost authority on the knives of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Loveless, Loveless and the…

10 min.

Blade|August 2021

BACKUP-BLADE BLISS

Soldiers have carried blades to war throughout recorded history, but the kinds of blades they carried have changed since Herodotus. Swords have long since fallen into disuse. Even large fixed blades are not as commonly used as they were in World War II and Vietnam. Like others, I carried a Randall Model 1 with a 7-inch blade when I was in uniform, which was shortly aft er the invention of repeating firearms. And recently we saw a photo of Billy Waugh, a legend in the Special Ops community, on horseback in Afghanistan with a 12-inch bowie on his belt. Marines have their KA-BARs (page 52) and some soldiers still carry large fixed blades, but small handy pieces, oft en folders, are the most common knives carried by today’s soldiers. These…

5 min.

Blade|August 2021

LAND OF THE BLADE

Make no mistake—manu-facturing knives in the USA comes with challenges, including regulations, taxes, high costs of doing business and much more. While imported knives oft en beat American-mades on price, companies that choose to produce knives domestically carry a long tradition of equipping the U.S. military with the best American design and manufacturing has to offer. For Curtis Iovito, with Mark Carey cofounder of Spartan Blades, the tension between creating high-quality knives and keeping costs down has been one of the primary challenges in running Spartan for the past 13 years. “We did everything we could to keep our costs down, from buying in bulk, streamlining production and reducing shipping costs,” Curtis observed. “Even with that, we were lambasted by our customers for being ‘too expensive.’ It was our No.…

10 min.

Blade|August 2021

Old Soldiers Never Die

MARK 1 U.S. NAVY GENERAL PURPOSE DECK KNIFE/COLONIAL BLADE LENGTH: 51?8” BLADE MATERIAL: 1075 high carbon steel ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 58-60 HRC BLADE FINISH: Parkerized BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE AT ITS THICKEST: .125” HANDLE MATERIAL: Molded Tenite HANDLE AT ITS THICKEST: 7?8” SPECIAL FEATURES: Authentic World War II reproduction, each knife includes a copy of document from the Navy Department Office of Inspector of Naval Material regarding the Colonial Knife Mark 1 Utility knife. It does not have a needle-type puncture tip at the end of the blade as would be expected on a combat model because it is a general-purpose deck knife. OVERALL LENGTH: 101?8” SHEATH MATERIAL: High-grade, USA-made leather COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $39.99 with sheath only, $74.99 packaged in paper box and $129.99 in wood presentation box…

8 min.

Blade|August 2021

THE COREY WOOD RESCUE MISSION

Editor’s note: Regular BLADE® readers will remember the story about the author on page 10 of the February issue detailing how he narrowly hung on to beat the covid virus. It was several months before that he had learned of the heroics of Virginia Police Officer Corey Wood in rescuing two young girls from a most harrowing accident, an accident that could have cost them their lives if not for Officer Wood’s sound thinking and quick action. To salute Wood for his performance above and beyond the call of duty, on behalf of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the author presented him the SAR Life Saving Medal and certificate on Aug. 6, 2020. Aft er the author told us of the presentation, we suggested he…

5 min.

Blade|August 2021

SHOW CALENDAR

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. JULY JULY 9-11 AUBURN, ME The ABS New England Hammer-In, The New England School of Metalwork. Call Cindy 419-832-0400 americanbladesmith.com.** JULY 17-18 WASHINGTON, MO The 5th Annual AIK Knife Show, Elks Lodge. Call Crystal 618-656-9868 adamsknifeworks.com@gmail.com, aik-knifeshow.com.* JULY 28-AUG. 1 CLYDE, NC The ABS Great Smoky Mountain Hammer-In, Haywood Community College. Contact Ken Hall 828-627-2135 americanbladesmith.com.** AUGUST AUG. 7-8 CROSSVILLE, TN Cumberland County Knife & Gun Show, Cumberland County Community Complex, gkshow.org/show-information.* AUG. 7-8 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Sydney Knife Show, Rosehill Gardens Grand Pavilion, 0401590672, info@knifeartassociation.com, knifeartassociation.com/sydney-knife-show//, knifeartassociation.com.* NEW DATES! AUG. 13-14 LITTLE ROCK, AR Arkansas Custom Knife Show,…

4 min.

Blade|August 2021

WHAT’S NEW

SPEC CHART KNIFE NAME: Boot Dagger KNIFE TYPE: Fixed dagger BLADE LENGTH: 4.438” BLADE MATERIAL: Crucible CPM-3V carbon steel with Delta heat treat HANDLE: Black MicartaR OVERALL LENGTH: 8.69” SHEATH: Tooled leather, by Jill Gregory MAKER’S REMARKS: “The grind starts out as a severe hollow grind at the plunge, where it has a 1.5-inch radius—a 3-inch hollow grind—and grows in diameter, becoming a flat grind at the point. Also, the grind is twisted, becoming more obtuse at the tip to create a reinforced point. Otherwise, the tip of a deep grind like this would be extremely weak. The result is a very strong, armor-piercing point reinforced with a strong, blade-length center rib.” MAKER’S LIST PRICE: $385 (for more on sheath pricing, contact the maker) KNIFE TO KNOW: Only 120 made…

4 min.

Blade|August 2021

Release the Shrike

It’s hard not to like the Shrike, a custom out-the-front dual-action automatic by Scott M. Topper. The blade is cryogenically treated AEBL stainless steel. According to Scott, since AEB-L’s micro-structure allowed for a finer edge, it originally was a go-to steel for disposable razors. He indicated the version of the material he uses competes well against crucible steels, and is made through a conventional metallurgy technique. The six inside springs are hand wound stainless steel. The four locks are independent. The brown lock parts are Teflonimpregnated Delrin for permanent lubricity. The black Richlite scales are inlaid with white to add contrast to the engravings. The knife comes nested in a velvet-lined walnut box. Plain and all-stainless versions of the Shrike are also available. According to Scott, the various styles of…

1 min.

Blade|August 2021

COVER STORY

One of only six “Salesman’s Samples,” the M3 cover knife was made by the old Camillus in the early 1990s. An “improved version” of the original M3—also designed by Camillus in 1942—the cover knife features a 6.5-inch blade of carbon steel and is .85 inch at its widest. The stacked leather handle has five grooves and is longer (4.7 inches) than the World War II version. The handle diameter also is larger (1.2 inches wide) and has a pinned-on stepped pommel 1.35 inches wide. The guard is a little wider than on the ’42 knife, and the lower leg/quillon is marked on the front with a capital “M” in a circle over the number “4.” For more on the vintage military collectible, see page 26. Terry Moss photographed the cover…

1 min.

Blade|August 2021

THE KNIFE I CARRY

“I love this knife from FireSide Knives! It’s unique, innovative and nearly indestructible! Yes, it is a big knife, but it is pretty comfortable—even for me. I have a leather sheath I use when I carry it on my hip. I take it camping and mostly hiking. In California, gun laws are so restrictive and where I hike there are cougars and mountain lions, so I may be fooling myself, but I feel confident hiking alone with the knife. It’s my security blanket! I also consider it a part of my overall survival essentials kit “I did not grow up a knife girl, but raising a son who loves knives got me interested. I originally bought him one but got a bit jealous and got one for myself. It did…

1 min.

Blade|August 2021

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK

It all happened a while back, starting on Sept. 18, 2007. A bunch of knife collectors had arrived in Camillus, New York. The occasion: All the buildings, contents, trademarks, and everything else connected to Camillus Cutlery was on the auctioneer’s block. The old Camillus (see sidebar) had gone out of business in February 2007 due to poor sales, a workers’ strike and a lockout—and then the long-time knife manufacturer filed for bankruptcy. Camillus hadn’t always had business problems. The company was founded by Charles Sherwood in 1876 and became a good candidate for buying when the Dingle Tariff Act, which greatly raised the import duty on knives, was enacted in 1897. The company then had 20 employees. In 1902, Adolph Kastor, a powerhouse as a leader, bought Camillus and the…

6 min.

Blade|August 2021

WHERE TO GET ’EM

THE CHUTE P. 12 A.G. Russell Knives, Attn: Debbie Myers, Dept. BL8, 2900 S. 26th St., Rogers, AR 72758 479 631-0055 debbiem@agrussell.com www.agrussell.com; John Denton, c/o Bad Bob’s Knives, 703 Hiawassee Est. Dr., Hiawassee, GA 30546 706-781-8479 boblovelessknives.com, jwdenton@windstream.net; Bob Dozier Dozier Knives and Arkansas Made Dozier, Dept. BL8, PO Box 1941, Springdale, AR 72765 Contact: 888-823-0023/479-756-0023, (fax) 479-756-9139, info@ dozierknives.com, dozierknives.com; Steve Johnson, Dept. BL8, 202 E 200 N, PO Box 5, Manti, UT 84642 Contact: 435-835-7941, srj@mail.manti.com, srjknives.com BACK-UP BLADE BLISS P. 20 Cold Steel, c/o GSM Outdoors, Dept. BL8, 5250 Frye Rd., Irving, TX 75061 877-269-8490 info@gsmorg.com, www.coldsteel.com; Puma SGB, Attn: T. Guthrie, Dept. BL8, 13934 West 108th St., Lenexa, KS 66215 913-888-5524 www.pumaknifecompanyusa.com, customerservice@pumaknifecompanyusa.com; RMJ Tactical, Dept. BL8, Attn: Ryan Johnson, 3100 N. Hawthorne St., Chattanooga,…

3 min.

Blade|August 2021

HOW TO FORGE IN THE SUMMER

Like most forgers, I try to build a stockpile of damascus and differentsized blades in the winter months when the temperature is below 50 degrees F. Sometimes, because of where you live, it might not drop below 70 degrees F. Hot is hot no matter where you forge, and there will be a time when you have to forge no matter how high the temperature is. Here are some helpful hints to get you through the hot times. HYDRATE “Pre-hydrate” the day before you are going to forge. Also, drink plenty of water during forging and aft erward. I use a squirt bottle to spray myself during forging to add extra cooling. Staying hydrated should keep those nasty headaches away. LIMIT HEAT EXPOSURE If you are lucky enough to have…

5 min.

Blade|August 2021

Paragons of Nationhood

The bowie is all American. Period. While influences clearly come from other times and places, the name and knife itself reeks of the American frontiersman for whom it is named, the Battle of the Alamo and a century—the 19th—in which the USA established itself as a paragon of nationhood. On this and the facing page are celebrations of that heritage by custom knifemakers both here and abroad. Celebrate! 1 Fortitude by Kyle Royer boasts a 16.5-inch mosaic damascus blade, a mother-of-pearl handle and a steel bolster with a black mirror finish. The fittings have 24k-gold inlays. Overall length: 22 inches.2 Aaron Wilburn’s Diamond Mosaic Damascus Bowie sports a 10.75-inch blade of diamond-mosaic-pattern damascus in 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels. The Sambar stag handle has nickel silver trim and…

2 min.

Blade|August 2021

WHERE TO NET’EM

A.G. Russell Knives, Inc. www.agrussell.com ag@agrussell.com Adams Intl Knifeworks - AIK www.adamsknifeworks.com adamsknifeworks.com@gmail.com Automatic & Customized Knife Specialists Admiral Steel www.admiralsteel.com terry@admiralsteel.com Widest Range of Stock for Blade Needs. Alaska - Northern Knives www.northernknives.com A Real Store & Working Knife Shop! American Edge www.americanedgeknives.com info@americanedgeknives.com 320-393-2792 We have A Knife For Every Life Artknives.com www.artknives.com fred@fredeisenleather.com Andre de Villiers www.advtactical.co.za Facebook - Andre de Villiers adv44sales@gmail.com Butcher SOB folders. Arizona Custom Knives www.arizonacustomknives.com sharptalk@arizonacustomknives.com Largest selection in the world of new and consigned knives on the internet. Let us help you find the perfect knife. Dozier Knives and Arkansas Made Dozier, Inc. www.dozierknives.com info@dozierknives.com BladeGallery.com www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com BladeOps, LLC www.bladeops.com sales@bladeops.com Bob Dozier Knives www.dozierknives.com info@dozierknives.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.com Make Your Mark Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and…

2 min.