Table of contents for Complete Knife Guide 2024 in Blade

Rick Hinderer Knives gets a head start on what promises to be one of 2024’s hottest factory knife styles with the new Eklipse 3.5-inch Automatic and XM-18 3.5-inch Automatic Aluminum. Sporting a mesmerizing aluminum handle anodized an iridescent green, the XM-18 push-button auto has a spearpoint blade in stainless steels that rotate between CPM 20CV and CPM S45VN. New grinds will be available in the coming year. The blade features notches on the spine just before the handle for placement of an index finger for detail cutting or of a thumb for cuts requiring more pressure. The bottom of the ricasso is soft on the finger for choke-up holds. The ergonomic handle has a textured mid-section and notches in the single finger groove and toward the butt on the bottom…

1. FORTUITOUS / CRKT DESIGNER: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Michael Walker TYPE: Flipper folder BLADE LENGTH: 3.51” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Titanium LOCK: Linerlock WEIGHT: 3.7 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.68” SPECIAL FEATURES: The Damasteel “blue tongue” damascus pivot w/acid etch and artistic details evokes Michael’s custom knives. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy MSRP: $250 AVAILABLE: Nov. 28, 2023 2. MORDAX / PRO-TECH TYPE: Folder BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE STEEL: CPM MagnaCut stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Aluminum anodized blue LOCK: Button lock WEIGHT: 3.78 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.6” KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is equipped with one of the “finger-safe locks” highlighted in the story on page 84. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A. MSRP: $310 AVAILABLE: Now 3. SENCILLO / ESEE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE…

BLADE Complete Knife Guide Spring 2024 focuses on what knife industry sources see as some of the developing trends for the coming year. To augment those forecasts are this scribe’s humble predictions for ’24—some based on fact, others tinged with a bit of fancy (the ones of the latter variety are listed at the end of the story). No. 1: SUPER STEEL What’s another new year without a new super steel or two? Though Bob Shabala of Niagara (page 12) says his company won’t debut any new steels this year since its most recent entries are still gathering steam, that doesn’t mean other steel outfits won’t introduce one or more super blade materials. Here’s betting at least one does. No. 2: CRUNCH, CRUNCH! The loud crunching sounds various knives make when…

Looking ahead is always an intriguing exercise, and forecasting the custom knifemakers and bladesmiths who will be hot in 2024 reveals the tried and true as well as emerging names. In each case, the work speaks volumes regarding style and fit and finish, not to mention innovative aesthetics. The art and utility of the knife always reigns supreme, but some observers recognize the fact that price was, is and will continue to be a big factor. “The adage of location, location, location drives the real estate market,” observed custom knife purveyor Les Robertson of Robertson’s Custom Cutlery. “In 2024, the custom knife market will be primarily driven by price point, price point, price point. Bang for the buck and innovation will make you the new ‘hot’ maker.” Against that fundamental…

For card-carrying knife enthusiasts, a new year means more fresh and exciting designs from the manufacturers and custom makers the enthusiasts all know and love. A new year also elicits creative designs, innovations and even new brands on the market. BLADE Complete Knife Guide Spring 2024 consulted a few of the industry’s top retailers and asked them what brands, styles and trends will be hot in 2024. First is David Anderson of KnifeCenter. KnifeCenter was selling knives on the Internet in the early 1990s before selling knives on the Internet became a thing. Tyler Pipes Folders equipped with “finger-safe locks”—locks where your finger does not cross the path of the blade when operating them—will be hot in ’24. An example is the Slide Lock of the Bear OPS Rancor IX.…

Admiral Steel www.admiralsteel.com sales@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” 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. Artknives.com www.artknives.com fred@fredeisenleather.com BladeGallery.com www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.com Make Your Mark Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands Culpepper & Co., Inc. www.knifehandles.com www.oldschoolknifeworks.com www.stingrayproducts.com info@culpepperco.com Faneema Cutlery Knife Factory Manufacturer of hunting, pocket & kitchen knives Damascus, high carbon and stainless steel Classic Industries, Wazirabad, Pakistan Ph: +92 305 844 4536 info@classicindustries.com.pk www.classicindustries.com.pk Farina Fine Arts www.farinafinearts.com studio@farinafinearts.com One of a kind, fine art, collectible…

Steel is the lifeblood of the cutlery industry and the choices for buyers have never been better. Looking forward, questions abound. What are today’s hot steels for both knife manufacturers and custom knife-makers, and are they the same or different? What steels are knife buyers clamoring for like hotcakes and which are falling by the wayside? Are there any hot new steels on the horizon poised to dethrone today’s champs? BLADE Complete Knife Guide Spring 2024 posed these questions to some industry experts for their insights and guidance. Bob Shabala, president of Niagara Specialty Metals, offers his take on the state of steel from the manufacturers’ side, and USA Knife Maker owner Tracy Mickley and managing partner Luke Hoff cover the custom segment of the cutlery kingdom. First, let’s examine how…

When it comes to knives, steel tends to get all the attention. I don’t think many people—including custom knifemakers and manufacturers—realize how much heavy lifting handle materials actually do. The fact is, grips must be durable and shapeable while looking good doing the job. The focus here is not only the handle materials that will be hot in 2024, but for me to share with you what I’ve learned about handles over the 20-plus years I have spent making and reviewing knives. I won’t touch on every material out there because there are simply too many. Lord knows there is enough to write a whole chapter in a book on knives when it comes to handles. That being said, let’s start with a new material called viperium. Scott Sharpe of…

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. JANUARY JAN. 23-26 LAS VEGAS, NV The Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show, Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum. For the trade only. Visit shotshow.org. JAN. 26-27 LAS VEGAS, NV Las Vegas Antique Arms Show and Brian Lebel’s Old West Events, Westgate Resort & Casino. Visit antiquearmsshow.com. JAN. 26-28 LAKELAND, FL The 45th Annual Gator Cutlery Club Show, RP Funding Center (formerly Lakeland Center). Contact Dan Piergallini 813-754-3908 or 967-1471 gatorcutlery.com.* FEBRUARY FEB. 3-4 FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUS-TRALIA Perth Knife Show, Esplanade Hotel. Visit www.perthknifeshow.com.au.* FEB. 3-11 HARRISBURG, PA The 2024 Great American Outdoor Show, Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. Visit…

Outside the knife industry, 2023 probably will go down as one of the most tumultuous years ever. Inside the knife in-dustry, however—and thank goodness—the highs seemed to largely outpace the lows. As the months dwindle down, now is a good time to review some of the things that made 2023 memorable. Following are a few of those highlights: • A damascusascus blade material that comes in many versions though probably is best known as per-mai containing copper and exhibiting distinctive lines and waves of a copper color decorated custom knives world-wide. • Slip joints sporting modern looks, materials and knifemaking methods pro-liferated in both the custom and factory knife industries. • Speaking of slippies, Case chose BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bill Ruple to carry on the tradition started by…