2019 11 01 - Blade
2019 11 01 - Blade
2019 11 01 - Blade
SSUE
LIVING ON THE ETCH
WITH RICK MARCHAND P. 54
VEMBER 2019
www.blademag.com
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CRKT/RUGER BLACK
POWDER IS A MAU
ULER! P. 58
11
3 LONG MACHETES P. 24
0 74470 50251 7
2 TOP TOMAHAWKS P. 44
Display until November 11, 2019
200 Homer Street • Olean, NY 14760
76
D.E. Henry mammoth ivory bowie.
(Knife Purveyor, Inc. image)
82
D L Petersen
“Black Hole Knife.”
(Whetstone Studio image)
71
L
Lynn Thompson and
T
Cold Steel’s Viking axe.
(Cold Steel image)
I
decided to renew my subscription on- I know all that contributed to the article certain degree.
line so I don’t get a subscription no- in the magazine, again, the subject of this Please note this correction to the
tice in the mail. Why I subscribe in letter. Aside from a few inconstancies, the published information.
the first place is the magazine focuses on real issue is the timeline and the source
forged knives, not just pretty stock-re- and impetus of the original fighter Bo Joe Dorsky, Official Historian and
moval, chrome-looking knives. At least made in June 1942, the Zacharias model. Authenticator to Randall Made Knives,
that is my take. Understand, this is the first record of any St. Pete Beach, Florida
I even attended my first BLADE combat knife made by BLADE Magazine
Show recently. Wow. What an awesome Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bo Thank You!
W
event. There just wasn’t enough time to Randall. e have received the August
visit every table/booth. I took my wife Here is the issue. It is stated in the BLADE®. What a fantastic ar-
with me just so she could see what it is. article that Bo somehow took a hunting ticle (“Knife Man, Orlando,
She was impressed—especially The Pit blade and reground it into a combat knife. Florida”). We did not realize it was going
parties. She does not impress easily. She’s Revamped was the term used in the article, to be such an in-depth and detailed piece.
a pretty picky girl. and that was the birth of what would We are all proud of the work you put
Now I am just an engineer, retired. My become the Randall Model 1. Nothing into it.
wife is also an engineer. We worked for could be further from the truth, and this is Thank you again.
Super Steel Treating in Warren, Michigan, on record, particularly in the outstanding
at one time. I know steel. reference written by Bob Gaddis. Mindy Hoo, Randall Made Knives
What I would like to see more of in I want to note for clarity that Bo did
BLADE® is more articles from BLADE use some hunting-style blades made into Price Correction
I
field editor Ed Fowler. You either love or fighters, but not until after he had made was just going through some older
hate the man. I enjoy his writing. Please the Zacharias fighter, and probably a few emails and noticed the price for
get on him to write! more examples of that style, an original my Merlin folder was incorrect. It
BLADE is a great magazine, by the way. forging, not a reworked hunting knife. should be $1,500 instead of the $1,200
I used to publish a billiards magazine, so I Some hunters were probably made as listed. It was too late to get to you be-
know what it takes. fighters as a matter of expediency, while fore publication but I just thought I
a few others were, according to Gaddis, would let you know.
Lynn Hall, a letter via e-mail made by request.
Bo has only 28 journal entries between Tyler Turner, a letter via email
Editor’s note: Thank you for the the Zacharias fighter journal entry June,
compliment, Mr. Hall. Meanwhile, 15 1942 and a similar knife recorded Editor’s note: The knife in question
BLADE’s focus is on all knives, not forged Jan. 7, 1943. So, there was not much appeared at lower left of page 69 of the
exclusively. As for Ed, he keeps threatening production in those six months or so. September BLADE®. We’re happy to make
to write something for us but until he’s Though for many it may not be the correction.
completely recovered from a recent bout of much of an issue, it still is incorrect
ill health, we will continue to wait patiently
for his return, however scaled back that
might be. Oh—and we’re glad your wife
was impressed with the BLADE Show and How to Reach Us!
The Pit. We are, too. Visit us online at www.blademag.com to: BACK ISSUES FOR SALE: Subject to Availability.
• Sign up for our free newsletter. Call 920-471-4522.
A Major Mistake • Renew your magazine subscription. There’s a
I
subscription link in the nav bar. ADVERTISING: Contact Lori McDaniel at
am writing this letter jointly to the edi- 715-498-3768 or [email protected], or
• Comment on our site stories written by BLADE®
tor and the author of the article titled staff members and others. request a media kit by writing to: BLADE, 5600
“Knife Man, Orlando, Florida” in the W. Grande Market Dr., Appleton, WI 54913.
LOOK FOR BLADE MAGAZINE ON:
August BLADE®. It was a good effort but LETTERS OR ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS:
with one glaring mistake, a major mis- Steve Shackleford, Editor
take, and the reason for this letter. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Visit us on the Web BLADE Magazine
I am the historian and authenticator at www.blademag.com or call 877-485-6426. PO Box 789, Ooltewah, TN
for Randall Made Knives. I have spent Outside USA: 386-246-3419. 37363-0789
quite a bit of time over the past couple or email [email protected].
of decades researching Randall Made, BOOK SALES: Visit us at www.gundigeststore.com
or call 920-471-4522.
confirming and/or refuting myths
and tales, and undoing “damage” by
hack IF IT CUTS,
WE CARRY IT.
in bl SMKW.COM
CRKT/RUGER BLACK
POWDER IS A MAU
ULER! P 58
Publishers Of
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Maker - Jo Smith
Silver Anvil Blades
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While Supplies Last
Can Not Be Combined With Other Offers
U N S H E AT H E D | BY STEVE SHACKLEFORD
GO WEST—
BLADE SHOW WEST!
A
llow the BLADE Show West staff to help
you decide why you should attend the
2nd Annual BLADE Show West (page 12) ABS master smith David Lisch will be among the
Nov. 1-3 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portt- BLADE Show West exhibitors who make chef’s knives.
land. In fact, staff members have been studying waays His damascus beauty won Best Kitchen Knife at the
to inject some Vitamin C—as in C for Cut—into the 2019 Arkansas Knife Show. (SharpByCoop image)
proceedings, and I think they have hit on at least three
new attractions that will make your decision for you.
•First is the chef ’s knife cutting competition. Instead
of holding it during show hours, we’re going to do it after
show hours on Saturday at a venue that will be ann nounced on
our website of bladeshowwest.com. Ethan Beckerr, who knows
chef ’s knives quite well from his four decades o of writing and
editing the world-famous cookbook, Joy of Cookiing, g and knives
in general through Becker Knife & Tool, will overrsee the event.
Though the rules are subject to change, the competition will be a
test of both the person or company who made and enters
e the knife
and the person using it, the latter which can be a) a the entering
maker’s choice of a chef or someone else or b) the entering
e maker
himself or herself. The competition will be a comee one, come all
ory and custom
event, though exhibitors will get priority. Both facto
knives are eligible. There are other rules but these are the basics.
Again, all of the rules are subject to change.
The foodstuffs, they will be a flyin’!
•Second of the new attractions will be the sem minar “Let The
Pros Critique Your Knife.” The pros will consist of aaward-winning
knifemakers/show exhibitors Murray Carter, Bill Harsey, David
Lisch, Bill Ruple, Brian Tighe and Mike Tyre. Since critiquing
a knife properly takes time, this will be a limited seating event.
Attendees may bring one knife only and attendeee sign-ups will
be held onsite. If I were a hobbyist knifemaker or o even a long-
time one, I would love to have one of the makerss on our panel
point out what I was doing right, what I was doing wrong, and
otherwise set me straight on how to make the best knife possible.
•Third of the new attractions will be the seminar “Bowie’s Perhaps best of all, you will get a close-up look at the knife that
Bowie: The Best Candidate,” as well as an exhibit of the candidate may have belonged to James Bowie—one that Cutlery Hall-Of-
in question. Dale M. Larson, author of the book The Knife Behind Famer Jim Batson stated he believes was used by Bowie in the
the Curtain: The True Story of Actor Edwin Forrest, James Bowie, legendary Sandbar Fight (page 10, February BLADE®). If Batson
and the Blade that Binds Them, will both exhibit the Edwin is correct, the Forrest knife not only launched a bowie craze that
Forrest Bowie during the show and also deliver a seminar all grips the world of blades to this day, it rivals any knife anywhere
about the knife. He also will have copies of his comprehensive in terms of historical importance.
book on hand for sale. There will be more attractions—many more. For additional
The Edwin Forrest Bowie is the knife the 19th-century actor information visit bladeshowwest.com. Vitamin C you there!
Edwin Forrest claims BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame®
member James Bowie presented to him circa 1830. A number of For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.
respected bowie authorities support Forrest’s claim, and Larson’s com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page at @blade_magazine,
book presents an exhaustive case for Forrest’s claim as well. and on Facebook and Twitter.
Larson also owns the knife and will have it at his exhibitor’s table,
answering any and all questions about it throughout the show.
A
chef’s knife cutting competition
that will include both custom
and factory knives and a first-
ever panel of leading knifemakers to cri-
tique the knives of all comers are but two
of the new attractions to augment the 2nd
Annual BLADE Show West.
Set for Nov. 1-3 at the Oregon
Convention Center in Portland,
Oregon, the show will feature over
200 exhibitors from over 30 states and
such countries as Argentina, Canada,
China, Japan, Russia, Sweden and
Taiwan, and, of course, their knives,
knife accessories, knifemaking supplies Bill Ruple (left) and Luke Swenson will present the
knifemaking seminar, “How To Make A Single-Blade
and most everything that addresses the
Trapper.” Knifemaker P.H. “Phil” Jacobs (right) looks
topic of cut. on during Ruple’s seminar at BLADE Show West 2018.
Also new for 2019 are expanded
categories in the custom and factory
Dale M. Larson will bring his Edwin Forrest bowie display, including the knife (inset) Forrest
said was given to him by legendary frontiersman James Bowie circa 1830, and present the
seminar “Bowie’s Bowie: The Best Candidate.”
Award-winning
knifemaker Johnny
Stout will exhibit his
knives. An example
of his work is “The
Patron,” a double-action
auto in Owen Wood
damascus, mammoth
ivory and engraving
by Julie Warenski. LAUNCH 8 READY FOR
(SharpByCoop image) NEW 7150 EVERYTHING
®
Damacore
Strength, beauty and
performance at
it’s very core
Distinctive properties combining outstanding
corrosion resistance with edge sharpness,
wear resistance, strength and ductility.
Knife maker: Frank Fisher
Damacore® DC18N Odins Eye
damasteel.com
Based in nearby Tualatin, Oregon, Kershaw will be among the tomahawks; utility; and just about any
show’s factory exhibitors. It offers such knives as the newly
and every category you can name—all at
supersized Reverb, an “adventurer” framelock folder in a
3-inch blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel and a carabiner clip. BLADE Show West 2019.
MSRP: $44.99.
For more on the special attractions
outlined in the story, see page 10.
will be configured differently, with more visually stimulating event. For the latest knives, knife news, trends
the exhibitor tables surrounded by the Plan now to see the latest custom and and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
factory booths on the perimeter. This will factory knives and edged tools in antique; popular Instagram page at @blade_
differ from last year when the tables were art; Asian; assisted; automatic; axes; magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
on one side of the hall and the booths balisongs; bushcraft; camping; collector;
were on the other. The new configuration damascus; EDC; flippers; forged; gent’s;
will group factory together, custom hatchets; hunting; kitchen; kukris;
together and accessories together. Overall machetes; military; multi-tools; neck;
it should open things up and make for a outdoor; slip joints; swords; tactical; Jeremy Spake will both exhibit
his fine knives and present the
seminar, “Puukko: First Blade of
Finland.” Jeremy’s damascus
Hiking as I do in alll
weathers in the Drakensberg g
Mountains of South Africa, I would not
dream of being without my Cold Steel
GI Tanto. It is enormously useful for
chopping branches to make both
shelter and fire, not to mention its use
in outdoor food preparation. Custom
glow-in-the-dark scales ensure it is
visible even in low-light conditions. It
is truly an all-purpose knife.”
Paul Scher,
Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular
Instagram page at @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
THE LONG
RANGERS
LATEST LARGE MACHETES WITH GOBS
OF REACH CUT WITH GUSTO
M
achetes are useful tools, ca- use of power equipment. Machetes also very comfortable, non-slip hold with or
pable of cutting a wide vari- can cut back overhanging growth that without work gloves and in a variety of
ety of vegetation—everything encroaches on trails. weather conditions. Torx-head screws
from briars and thicket to taking down With proper use and safety practices affi x the handle to the tang. The grip
saplings—or even batoning fi rewood if (see sidebar) machetes can be effective includes a generous hole for a lanyard,
needed. At the campsite, machetes can vegetation-management tools. There is the latter which is included. (For more
fi ll all these roles. They also can help a variety of price classes for machetes, on lanyard use, see sidebar.)
landowners keep general brush at bay as well as features within those price At 19 inches overall, the Golok is
if the conditions are not suitable for the ranges. It’s best to select the right capable of heavy-duty work. Each knife
comes with a fairly sturdy nylon sheath
that can be mounted to a backpack.
A top cuff wraps securely around
the handle to secure the machete in
the sheath. A hook-and-loop closure
secures the cuff, though it’s still easy to
quickly access the machete.
The Golok exerts devastating
chopping power thanks to the beefy
quarter-inch stock that adds the desired
forward weight to the blade. Just let
gravity do the work, which keeps you
from having to generate downward
force. The blade’s weight and thickness
powers through saplings, in addition to
batoning wood quite well. The grip is
very secure, instilling user confidence
and a strong feeling of control. We
encountered no slippage or problems in
general. When you pick up the Golok,
The Cold Steel Slant Tip Machete 18 inch
easily went through watermelon with one it’s evident this is a wood-chopping
stroke. Blade thickness: .08 inch. tool! Overall manufacturing quality
is good. The Golok is an outstanding
design and a workhorse for foliage- Saplings are no match because the blade bird’s-beak pommel—common in some
processing chores. MSRP: $57. bites in deep with each powerful swing. machetes—is there to secure your grip.
The same holds true for vegetation. To add a lanyard for additional
EASY to CONTROL The handle has a pronounced fi nger safety, there’s a large-sized hole for one.
In terms of materials, the Medford groove for indexing the blade, and the The tough, G-10 handle is virtually
Knife & Tool Machete is the most high-
end of the test entries. It features a
blade of premium CPM S7 tool steel, a
textured G-10 handle and a form-fitting
Kydex sheath. The Medford is not only
the most expensive test machete, it’s
perhaps the most expensive production
machete on the market! However,
remember that with high quality comes
a high price.
The blade comes razor-sharp from the
factory and is available exclusively in a
black-nitride-coated fi nish to reduce
corrosion and glare. The blade is 12.5
inches—long enough to get any tough
cutting chore done quickly. There’s a
slight flare at the tip, adding weight
to the front where it counts most. The
18.5-inch overall length offers reach
and brute cutting power.
One of the Medford Machete’s
interesting design characteristics is a
pronounced forward integral guard.
In conjunction with the choil it enables
you to choke up on the handle for
increased control, and works effectively
for whittling if necessary. It might seem
odd to use such a long blade for such a
delicate task, but try it with the Medford.
It’s surprisingly easy to control, and
the whole piece feels more balanced in
your hand while in the choke grip. And
when the conditions call for it, gripping
the handle normally shift s the balance
point forward, making the machete
blade heavy.
There’s a nice swing to the knife and The blade length, blade shape and handle ergonomics all converge in the Medford Machete,
you can use gravity to pull the blade making it an excellent all-around tool for chopping saplings and clearing brush. Blade
downward. All you need to do is guide it. thickness: .12 inch. Weight: 19 ounces.
The ergonomic handle of the Gerber Golok features a forward finger recess to help
index the blade, along with a bird’s-beak pommel to prevent slippage in use.
Utra-sharp,
rugged field
knives that are
useful for a
full range of
outdoor
tasks.
18”
3/16" 4" XW1240 - $ 33.75 blade. HAMON GLOP comes wet and ready to Larger Fl
1/4" 1 1/2" XW1615 - $ 19.26 apply in a quart size container. 3200 degree at
XW1620 - $ 22.89 temperature rating. ACID NEUTRALIZER Work Sur
1/4" 2" face
1/4" 4" XW1640 - $ 48.24 is specially formulated to penetrate layers
3/16" 1 1/2" XV1215 - $ 24.09 of Damascus after etching to ensure proper
3/16" 2" XV1220 - $ 33.75 neutralization of Ferric Chloride, and other
36”
3/16" 4" XV1240 - $ 63.94 etchants. FERRIC CHLORIDE is used to acid
1/4" 1 1/2" XV1615 - $ 33.75 etch damascus after heat treating. Still the classic, traditional design with a
1/4" 2" XV1620 - $ 48.24 Ferric Chloride Can Not Ship Air. few modifications done specifically for the
1/4" 4" XV1640 - $ 90.51 CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE knifemaker. Face is the large flat slab where
3/16" 1 1/2" XQ1215 - $ 33.75 UV101 1 gallon Dehybor Borax 27.95 most of the hammering takes place. Square
UV100 189.95 Cliphorn allows the smith to hammer different
3/16" 2" XQ1220 - $ 48.24 55 lb Bag Dehybor Borax
curves into the metal. 1” Hardie hole in heel,
XQ1240 - $ 90.51
48”
3/16" 4" BS120 1 gallon Acid Neutralizer 27.95 square hole through the anvil allows you
1/4" 1 1/2" XQ1615 - $ 48.24
HW101 1 quart Hamon Glop 19.94 to secure various tools in the anvil or used
1/4" 2" XQ1620 - $ 56.70
HW100 55lb Pail Hamon Glop 149.95 for an aid in bending. Pritchel hole in heel,
1/4" 4" XQ1640 - $105.00
BS110 16 oz Ferric Chloride 19.95 round hole used in punching holes through
5160 Hardness Tester File Set
metal. Face: 3-1/4” x 11- 3/8”, Horn: 4” x
8”, Height: 9”, Base: 9” x 9-1/8”, Shipping
High Carbon alloy spring steel with chromium weight: 76 lbs. Actual Shipping Charges.
added for hardenability. It has good wear
resistance. Known for outstanding toughness. CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE
Hardening capability of 57-58 HRC. NC205 Knifemakers Anvil $318.95
Typical chemistry: C .63, Mn .86, Si .23,CR .83
MILL FINISH Forging Tongs & Hammer
LENGTH THICK WIDTH (UNGROUND)
1/4" 1 1/2" XJ418 - $ 9.60 40 RC to 65 RC Rockwell C Scale High quality
18” 1/4" 2" XJ518 - $ 12.02 hardness testing files feature specially curved
tips for testing internal slots, & grooves as well
1/4" 4" XJ818 - $ 24.09
1/4" 1 1/2" XP436 - $ 18.06 as your knife blank.
36” 1/4" 2" XP536 - $ 21.68
XP836 - $ 45.83
CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE
TONGS are manufactured from
1/4" 4" JS100 Hardness Tester File Set $134.95 carbon steel for lasting strength. Will not become
While Supplies Last brittle when quenched in water. The tongs are
15N20 Our Choice of Gift 15” overall. HAMMERS: Flatland Forge uses a
With a 2% high nickel content, 15N20 is 3 step process to assure the highest quality
the layer of steel that produces the bright Can Not Be hammer. Tempered back to be slightly softer
contrast for making Damascus. Combined With
Other Offers through the body, then hardened only on
Typical chemistry C .75, Mn .40, Si .30, striking ends resulting in less vibration, and
Ni 2.00, P max .020, S max .010 One Gift shock, with each blow of the hammer. Perfect
Per Order
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RE AL KNI FE | BY DEXTER EWING BLADE® FIELD EDITOR
MACHETE
BOY
BRAYDON SMITH IS GIFTED A
NEW MACHETE AFTER USING HIS Braydon Smith holds the Condor Amalgam machete Joe Flowers presented
to him as a reward for using his machete to fight off a home intruder.
OLDER ONE TO REPEL INTRUDER From left: Braydon’s father, Christopher Smith; Joe Flowers; Braydon; and
Braydon’s grandfather.
F
riday, June 14, started off like any to get inside a bedroom closet. Braydon Braydon’s story inspired Joe to reward
normal day for Braydon Smith. The complied without hesitation. When the the youth for his courage in the face of
11-year-old from Mebane, North man turned away the youngster saw his such imposing odds. On July 14, Joe
Carolina, was enjoying the start to his only chance to gain the upper hand. He allowed this writer the privilege of riding
summer vacation from school, staying at grabbed the machete, which the suspect along with him to meet with the young
home and playing video games. had dropped, and took a swing at the hero and his father. There Braydon was
Around 11 a.m. he heard a knock on intruder, striking the man in the back of presented with a brand-new Condor
the front door of the home he shares the neck. He kicked Braydon in response, Amalgam machete—one Joe designed.
with his father, Christopher Smith. knocking him down. Once again the The boy was very appreciative of his new,
Christopher was at work at the time. boy swung the machete at the interloper, high-quality tool.
Braydon went to the window and noticed though this time he missed. Braydon is a young man who is mature
an unfamiliar vehicle with two men in it The suspect attempted to steal beyond his years. He showed exceptional
parked outside the house. Recognizing Braydon’s PlayStation and television bravery and was rewarded for that.
neither individual, the youngster called but quickly dropped the items once he BLADE®, Flowers and Condor do not
his mother, Kaitlin Johnson, who lives realized he was bleeding profusely from condone violence except in self-defense.
out of state, and asked her to notify the the neck. He beat a hasty retreat from the In this case a young man was attempting
police. He set the phone down and went home, leaving behind a trail of blood— to defend himself and his home from
to his bedroom to hide and watch out key evidence for possible conviction in an intruder who had less than good
the window. the case. intentions. BLADE salutes both Braydon,
Suddenly he saw one of the men walk for showing courage and determination,
to the other side of the house. Soon he UNEXPECTED REWARD and Joe and Condor for recognizing a
heard the chilling sound of a window Through it all, Braydon showed young American hero.
breaking. The man was in the process of remarkable fortitude and bravery. He
gaining forceful entry into the residence, complied with the demands of the suspect, Editor’s note: As the author stated, we
apparently assuming no one was home. and, when he saw that one opportunity to all applaud Braydon for his courage.
turn the tables, took full advantage of it. Moreover, to elaborate on the author’s
The CONFRONTATION This is a young man who is being raised words of caution in such matters, unless it
By this time the suspect was inside the correctly and knew exactly what to do in is a matter of life or death, BLADE does
house, walking around and assessing the situation. The story broke, not only on not recommend people below the age of 18
what he could steal. He grabbed Braydon’s local and regional news, but on national taking such steps. Discretion, as they say,
unloaded pellet rifle and made his way to news as well. sometimes really is the better part of valor.
the boy’s bedroom, where the two initially Joe Flowers got wind of the story.
came face to face. Joe, who lives in nearby Sparta, North For the latest knives, knife news, trends
Braydon keeps a machete in his room, a Carolina, is an expert in jungle survival and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
tool he bought to use on camping trips he and a designer for Condor Tool & Knife popular Instagram page at @blade_
and his father frequently take. The suspect (page 71). In fact, he designs over 50 magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
grabbed the machete and directed the boy percent of the Condor line.
TORMACH.COM
5
BL ADE GEOMETRY | BY ABE ELIAS BLADE® FIELD EDITOR
MOST POPULAR
BLADE GRINDS
WHICH OF TODAY’S LEADING BLADE GEOMETRIES IS FOR YOU?
CONVEX: CHOPPER
It is only fitting that the test convex knife
be a chopper, as that is where the convex
edge excels. A convex grind is bullet shaped
or double arched, with the arches facing
outward from the centerline of the blade’s
cross-section. (Editor’s note: Also known as
the appleseed or Moran grind, the convex
was a favorite of BLADE Magazine Cutlery
Hall-Of-Fame® member Bill Moran.) The
grind’s arched profile creates the least
amount of friction as the surface of the
material being cut has so little contact with
the entirety of the blade’s surface width,
creating the least amount of drag.
Though not overly hefty, the Kizlyar
Flat grinds do well as
kitchen knives and Supreme Bushmate is a golok* design
though they are not the with a bit of weight to it. It is an effective
most aggressive of edge small chopper. It lacks the weight and
geometries for the outdoors, length to tackle the heavy stuff without
a thin, well-ground blade
like on the Giant Mouse
expending an unfair amount of energy.
Biblio can make some With my big hands the handle is a bit
incredible shavings, here on the small side, which at times gives
via a paring-cut technique. the Bushmate the feel of a large knife to
me. Such a handle somewhat lacks the
presence of something you can swing
and go to town with. The sheath is a
breakfront design, which often makes it
easy to draw the knife but a bit of a hassle
to put it back, as you have to avoid cutting
the strap. A breakfront sheath also makes
the knife pretty much a right-hand carry.
I like the Bushmate. Given its overall
size (17 3/8 inches) it would match up
well in a father-and-son-set-style carry:
O R D E R T I C K E T S E A R LY A N D S A V E !
B L A D E S H O W W ES T. C O M
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BL ADE GEOMETRY |
WE SPECIALIZE IN SERVING YOU Hollow grinds make fine cutting tools. A case
in point: the Bear & Son Executive Lockback
12600 Clarence Center Road Fax: 716-542-5555 1-800-424-0048 producing some very fine curls. One of the
Akron, New York 14001-0280 [email protected] 716-542-5552 www.nsm-ny.com strong features of a hollow grind is it can be
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and a framelock. As with most of Emerson’s frustration controlling certain cuts. Not HOLLOW: EDC WORTHY
models, the cool factor is the Wave feature. everyone is a bushcrafter and more often The hollow grind has been around for ages
I have to show the feature off every chance I than not I find myself opening packages and makes for excellent blade geometry.
get. In my opinion, the Wave takes the idea and cutting straps, and for those little However, as I’ve noted before, it has
of a one-hand opener to the next level. chores the chisel grind works fine. The gotten a bit of a bad rap from the outdoor
As an EDC the knife worked great Bulldog is a good, dependable carry with community.
for quick cutting jobs, but I found some great fit and finish. A hollow grind is as it sounds: two
concave surfaces joined back to back.
Think of the arches of two circles meeting
to form the blade’s geometry. A hollow
grind can result in a very thin cross-
section, and, if the wheel used to grind
it is large enough, the grinds run almost
parallel. It is a great grind for everyday
Masecraft Supply Co. offers the world’s largest line-up of
natural and synthetic materials for knife handles, gun grips, chores and many other tasks.
pens, musical instrument inlays, pool cue inlays and endless The Bear & Son Executive Lockback
other creative applications. Several of these materials are
exclusive to us. has a hollow grind. On the small side, the
Our customers include some of the largest and well known
knife is only 4.7 inches open. The grind’s
major manufacturers and artisans in the world. secondary bevel makes sharpening touch
Our line-up of natural materials includes white Mother of Pearl, ups easy. Having the two dished-out
Black Lip Pearl, Gold Lip Pearl, Paua, Green Abalone and
many types of Laminated Shell Veneers (LVS) plus custom
shell inlays, India Stag, Bone, Horn and Exotic Woods.
Our decorative synthetic materials include Alternative Ivory
and many other decorative Polyester and Acrylic materials in
sheet, rod and bar form. We also offer a full line of Reconsti-
tuted Stone slabs and blocks. We are adding new products
every year. We also offer a wide variety of Rigid Composite
Laminates in Canvas, Linen and Paper Micarta, G-10’s and
Carbon Fiber.
Masecraft supply co. specializes in large manufacture orders
and the individual needs of artisans and hobbyist alike.
SCANDI: WOODWORKER
In a Scandinavian grind the major
bevel runs to zero. The grind runs up
the blade toward the spine but never to
the spine itself. Each Scandi grind has
a shoulder and each set of bevels is flat.
Other grinds are ground to zero but it
is the two flat major bevels that make it most at working with wood. Having
distinctly a Scandi. an edge go to zero means the cross-
The Boker Plus Bushcraft is styled on section is streamlined and aggressive,
the common Woodlore Knife originally easily penetrating the fibers of wood
designed by Ray Mears. Having a straight and following the grain. The Boker Plus
inline pattern allows for control while Bushcraft has a spine thickness of .146
exerting force. A full girth and subtle inch, a blade width of .923 inch and a bevel
contours, which also aid in controlling the height of .234 inch. With such a thick
edge, make the knife quite nimble. blade, the bevel height falls short of what
In one aspect the Scandi grind is easier I refer to as the Scandi-grind minimum
to sharpen than some and in another it is golden ratio. An effective Scandi grind
more difficult. To sharpen the Scandi you usually will be at the one-third mark, give
must have a flat surface. Instead of polishing or take a smidge for the thickness of the
a micro bevel, you have one large primary blade. The thicker the blade, the higher the
bevel to sharpen. To do so you must put the grind needs to go. In the case of the Boker
entire bevel on a flat surface. Minus such Plus Bushcraft, performance falls a little
a flat surface, after a while the sharpening short of expectations because the grind is
stone can become dished out. You must be too steep. For carving and woodworking
perfect in your technique to keep the entire you can’t beat a Scandi grind, with a thin
bevel on the stone. As a result, it can be convex grind coming in a close second.
difficult to maintain a Scandi-ground edge
on a small stone. STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Of all the grinds, a Scandi excels There is no perfect knife or perfect grind.
M ERNN ND RA I I AL
T M AWK S W O F
T EIR P N D CO S
HAWK: RMJ Tactical Kestrel
CUTTING SURFACE: 3”
B sy G-10
1 haft slabb hel
help highl ht
HEAD MATE IAL: 80CrV2 carbon steel
mo ern
e , mini is d s of the MJ
M HAFT: Textured G-10
ti a Kess el. B AD
A s aff age) EXTRAS: Sharpened beard
WEIGHT: 19 ozs.
OVERALL LENGTH: 13.25”
SHEATH: Kydex
MSRP: $480
T
omahawks come in many de-
signs, materials and sizes, and
offer a fantastic genre for a con-
trast of the contemporary and the tra-
ditional. The RMJ Tactical Kestrel is
a modern design using full-tang con-
struction with handle slabs, whereas
the McCoun Tomahawk Frontier is a
traditional hawk with a forged steel
head and a wood shaft. Both have their
pros and cons. For me the biggest fac-
tor is their feel: the Kestrel has a neu-
tral balance, while the Frontier has a
weight-forward one. No matter the
feel, however, they must cut and chop.
Time to hawk it up.
EDGE CHECK
I started with a paper slice to gauge
the hawks’ edges. I always choke up on
the head of a hawk for fine work. With
its sharpened beard, the Kestrel was
more challenging to hold. It sliced the
paper smoothly and evenly, with only There were small quirks on each hawk, though they both split the oak slabs, each sinking
a few snags. The Frontier had a small deep on the first chop.
NORDIC
KNIVES
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CM 154 440C 1095 D2 Pure burr that snagged, but some leather
Powdered Nickel stropping removed the burr and the edge
Steel sliced smoothly. (Author’s note: I was
responsible for the burr.) I could choke
up on the Frontier for great control.
www.knifeandgun.com The cardboard slice was next.
1972 Forest Ave Considering the condition of the
Lakeside AZ 85929 [email protected]
cardboard, both hawks sliced evenly. It
SPLITTING IMAGE
I had some 1-inch-thick oak slabs from
the local saw mill that needed splitting
into thinner strips. The Frontier’s fi rst
chop was deep. I picked it up, along with
I WOULD …
… go with a shorter sharpened bottom
on the Kestrel, and, for splitting wood,
a thinner head profile on the Frontier.
These suggestions are simply due to
the way I use a tomahawk.
Australia’s Jackson Rumble (left) accepts the Joe Keeslar Award for the best knife
submitted by an ABS journeyman smith applicant for judging from ABS master smith
Mike Williams (right). (B.R. and Carolyn Hughes image)
F
orging knives has never been so the Antique Bowie Knife Association this writer has served as the secretary
popular, and the American Blade- (ABKA), presented ABKA awards to Mace of the organization since 1984. It was
smith Society celebrated that fact Vitale (JS) and Tommy Gann (MS) for my pleasure to announce a tie for the
and the best of its best during its annual making the best knives in a 19th-century prestigious award—the highest honor
awards reception at BLADE Show 2019. style. Vitale’s knife won in the JS category the ABS can confer—between the new
As has been the custom for three and Gann’s prevailed in the MS category. ABS vice president, Kevin Cashen (MS),
decades, the ABS faithful gathered at the who has made countless contributions
world’s largest knife show to reward those TIE for the HASTINGS to improve the ABS Forum, and Mike
who have performed over and above the The Don Hastings Award is named after Williams (MS). Mike is the liaison officer
call of duty on behalf of the Society. Thus, one of the four founders of the Society between the ABS and Texarkana College
on the evening of June 7 ABS master and who died of cancer in 1986. Also and the director of the Piney Woods
smith (MS) Steve Dunn, who had been
installed fewer than 244 hours earlier as BILL MORAN AWARD Based on Bill Moran’s 50th Anniversary
the new ABS presidentt, greeted the large Knife, Butch Sheely’s integral camp knife has a 10.5-inch blade
of 1095 carbon steel, an antler and curly maple handle, and
crowd in a ballroom o of the Renaissance sterling silver fittings. Overall length: 15.5 inches. Maker’s list
Atlanta Waverly Hotel. price for a similar knife: $1,950. (Chuck Ward image)
The annual top knivees recognized were
a highlight of the proceedings. The Joe
Keeslar Award is given to an applicant for
the ABS journeyman sm mith (JS) rating for
the best knife of all thhose submitted by
the applicants as deterrmined by a panel
of judges. This year’s wiinner is Australian
Jackson Rumble. Mikke Williams, head
judge of the JS judgingg panel, made the
presentation.
Robert Wilson, a m member
of the ABS board an nd
also president of the
Moran Foundation,
presented the Bill
Moran Award to Butch Sheely (JS) for ABS journeyman smith Butch Sheely (left)
making the best knife in the “Moran style.” accepts the Bill Moran Award for making
the best knife in a Moran style from Robert
Mark Zalesky, who serves on the ABS Wilson, president of the Moran Foundation.
board of directors, as editor/publisher (B.R. and Carolyn Hughes image)
passed the test earlier that day: Mitch ended a very special evening that featured For the latest knives, knife news, trends
Cargile; Charles Carpenter; John Cenotto; a number of very special people! and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
Justin Chenault; Michael Clark Jr.; Rudy popular Instagram page at @blade_
Dean; Francesco Muci; Steve Myers; Matt For the contact information for the knives magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Roberts; Jackson Rumble; J.J. Simon; Stuart in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
Smith; Kelly Vermeer-Vella; Stephen page 81.
Williamson; and Jason Weightman.
Harvey Dean presented Chairman’s
Awards to James Crowell (MS) for his
many years of teaching bladesmithing,
along with Bill Ruple for his willingness
to teach others how to make folding
True craftsmanship takes time.
knives, and Alex Whetsell for his help
with the ABS website.
Your steel shipments shouldn’t.
The final award of the evening was a Accurate, on-time delivery you can rely on, for any size order.
handsome Exceptional Service plaque
presented to outgoing ABS president
Dean by incoming president Dunn. So
Our commitment to service and value is as strong as our products.You can count on
us for the widest selection of blade stock, internationally renowned quality, and accurate
on-time delivery of any size order. Bar sizes and full sheets or plates from 1/32” to 1/2”
in stock. Small quantities are always welcome.
• Stainless • Alloy • Nickel
• High Carbon • Tool Steels • Titanium
• Low Carbon • Precision Ground • Damascus
Stainless
Visit our website and order online at www.admiralsteel.com,
call 800-323-7055, or email us at [email protected]
™
Deborah Dean (left), the most recent
recipient of the Silver Slipper Award given
for her tireless work to support the ABS Admiralsteel.com
in its efforts to preserve the forged blade, ISO 9001 REGISTERED
presents the 2019 Silver Slipper plaque 4152 West 123rd Street Alsip, Illinois 60803-1869
to Cindy Sheely (right), ABS executive Admiral is a registered trademark of Admiral Steel LLC. Alsip, Illinois. Reg. No. 2430959. All rights reserved.
secretary. (B.R. and Carolyn Hughes image)
Rick Marchand
M (inset) used his special etch on the blade of his Persian
P B w Blade and overall incch
Bowie.
lengths: 13 and 19.9 Blade material: 5160 carbon steel. The handle is burnt stippled maple with
w a hemp
w
wrap, and steel and copper fittings. HHis list price for a similar piece: $1,900.
$ 9 (SharpByCoop
a knife im
mage)
6 ®
The Chia Pet effect seems to
In about 20 minutes 7 coagulate on the blade outside of
the bleach/water solution.
your blade will rust like a
Chia Pet ®. The tiny bits
of steel wool slide down
as the acid reacts. As a
result, depending on the
orientation of the blade in
the container, you will get
a different pattern. This
one is diagonal.
9
Clean the etched
blade thoroughly
with soap and water.
www.blacksmithsdepot.com
Kayne and Son
100 Daniel Ridge Rd Candler NC 28715 USA
10
Some like the blade as etched,
PHONE: 828-667-8868 but Rick prefers to selectively
sand away some of the pattern to
International Shipping available • Inquiries Welcome create a gradient look from spine
to edge.
14
Lightly buff with 2,000 NC Knifemaker Anvil
grit wet/dry paper to create -Classic traditional design
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sand to create your own look.
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H
atchets can hack it. What with
the rise of the tomahawk for tac-
tical users and the emergence of
the bushcraft movement with outdoor
enthusiasts, there’s plenty to choose
from today. Nothing more than a small
axe, the hatchet is advantageous to its
big brother because it packs more eas-
ily and delivers excellent results.
Design and technology have
transformed the modern-day hatchet.
The James Gibson-designed ESEE Gibson
Axe has a couple of features that stand This issue’s cover piece (page 7),
the CRKT/Ruger Black Powder is a
out. The chopping head boasts the old, mauler at heart. The only hatchet
in the test group with such a thick
CRKT/RUGER BLACK head, it was able to split oak
easily via a baton cut.
POWDER HATCHET
CUTTING EDGE: 3.125”
BLADE MATERIAL: 1055 carbon steel
HEAD WIDTH: 4.75”
HEAD THICKNESS: .9”
BLADE COATING: Black powder coat
HANDLE MATERIAL: Glass-
reinforced nylon (GRN)
SPECIAL FEATURE: Hammer tail
base
CARRY: Nylon sheath
WEIGHT: 26.8 ounces
OVERALL LENGTH: 13.188”
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE:
Taiwan
MSRP: $54.99
PUMA XP PACKABLE
CAMPING HATCHET
The thin bit of the Puma XP
Packable Camping Hatchet skins CUTTING EDGE: 3.5”
bark off a myrtle branch. It is BLADE MATERIAL: 420 stainless
a thin, lightweight design that
weighs a svelte 1.1 pounds. steel
HEAD WIDTH: 5”
HEAD THICKNESS: .19”
BLADE COATING: Black powder coat
HANDLE MATERIAL: Injection-
molded polymer
SPECIAL FEATURE: Thumb ramp on
handle
CARRY: Ballistic nylon belt sheath
WEIGHT: 1.1 lbs.
OVERALL LENGTH: 12”
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE:
China
MSRP: $44.99
Jackson Rumble
[email protected]
rumble_knives
Visit our website for more details http://casiberia.com/ - Or call us at (800) 635-9366 - Dealer inquiries welcome
M
The Puma XP Packable Camping M · BADER · BALDOR · BURR KING · DEERFOS · DAMASTEEL · DYNABRADE · ELECTRO CHE E
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Hatchet is the lightest of the test bunch. All
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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
A F M T
Admiral Steel/Terry Summers ..... 53 Fallkniven .................................... 57 Masecraft Supply Co ................... 40 TFS Knives .................................. 65
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Arizona Custom Knives ............... 16 G Michigan Custom Knives ............. 67 Tormach, LLC .............................. 33
Artisan Cutlery ............................. 83 Gaston Glock Style, LP ............... 43 N Tru-Grit ........................................ 61
B H NC Tool Company ....................... 57 U
Blade House .......................... 37, 39 Halfbreed Blades Niagara Specialty Metals ............. 38 Universal Customized Grips ........ 20
BladeGallery- Australia Pty Ltd. ....................... 11 Nichols Damascus ....................... 64 V
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Buckeye Engraving-Steel
Jim Hammond Knives.................. 74 Pineland Cutlery, Inc dba Spartan Work Sharp.................................. 47
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K Blades........................................ 63
C Plaza Cutlery ............................... 63
KA-BAR Knives ............................. 2
CAS Iberia ................................... 61 Pro-Tech Knives, LLC ................. 49
Kayne Custom Hardware dba
Chris Reeve Knives ....................... 5
Blacksmith’s Depot .................... 56 PVK.COM ...................................... 3
CRKT ............................................. 8 Kershaw Knives/ Zero Tolerance Q
D Knives ........................................ 15 QSP Knife .................................... 43
Damasteel AB.............................. 15 Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies ... 46
Dave Ellis/Exquisiteknives.com ... 18 R
Knife Center................................. 64 Randall Made Knives................... 62
Davidson, Edmund ...................... 65 KnifeKits.com............................... 17
de Villiers, Andre/ADV Tactical.... 63 Recon 1 ....................................... 14
Knives Plus .................................. 62
Denton, John-Vintage Loveless... 65 Red Hill Cutlery............................ 67
Krudo Knives ............................... 65
Dozier Knives .............................. 49 Kystol Knife.................................. 42 S
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L
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Evenheat Kiln, Inc........................ 61 Lambert Knives............................ 62
Don’t Miss The Next The advertisers’ index is provided as a reader service. Occasional last-minute changes may result in ads
appearing on pages other than those listed here. The publisher assumes no liability for omissions or errors.
Lori McDaniel
Advertising Sales Issue Date Ad Deadline
Magazine 715-498-3768 CKG 2020 October 28, 2019
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BLADE STEEL: Wrought iron BLADE STEEL: Stainless dam mascus
and sawmill blade
BLADE GEOMETRY & EDGE: Two-sided
HANDLE MATERIAL: Black palm m partial grind w/opposing serrations
BUTTCAP: Synthetic buffalo hornn HANDLE MATERIAL: Chollaa cactus in
FITTINGS: Nickel-silver-and- black resin w/white G-10 bolster
copper mokume OVERALL LENGTH: 15.25”
OVERALL LENGTH: 13.5” MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A KNIFE: $950 (less w/plain aalloys or
SIMILAR PIECE: $2,800 different scales)
MAKER: John Phillips 865-684-91166 KNIFE TO KNOW: Also available in a
[email protected] M flat grind
(Whetstone Studio image) MAKERS: Nick Watson and Zack
Z
Worrell 434-760-7166 info@@
monolithknives.com (Whetsstone
Studio image)
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular
Instagram page at @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
T
Built for spee , the he fearsome reputation of the Vi- in museums. In fact, you too can hold
S
Steel V
Viking axe has a kings and their raids in their in- modern production Viking axes to see
4- oot ha t and 1055 famous longboats across Europe what made these choppers feared for
carbon steel h
head wwit
10-inch d e. Cold St from the 8th through the 11th centuries is centuries.
Presi ent Lynn Th mp the stuff of legend. That reputation was
(inset), ho calls the augmented in no small part by the pow- AXE ARCHETYPE
axe a “human-powere
w erful axes they carried. For Ernest Emerson*, headman of
chainsa ,” put it thr ugh
t e paces. MSRP: 6 .
If a conventional axe were an aircraft Emerson Knives, Inc., designing the
it would be a cargo plane, getting the job company’s Battle Axe was a project near
done. The Viking axe, on the other hand, and dear to his heart.
is an A-10 Warthog, a powerful striker. Its “I grew up on a farm. I worked as a
reputation makes the enemy falter. logger and a pulper in the woods,” he
This discussion is not limited to history recounted. “My house was heated by two
books and rusted axe heads displayed wood-burning fireplaces, so I was around
a lot of axes and hatchets my entire life.” Age, the Roman era, etc.—he chose a knew more about actually making a
His goal was to create an axe that 1,000-year-old axe, “the archetype of functional axe than a Viking,” Emerson
could be used by the military, campers what I considered to be Viking axes,” he explained. “So I went with a one-to-one
and overlanding** enthusiasts. While said, and used it for the axe head design. copy of one of my Viking axes for the
Emerson had many axes to choose from “I used a Viking axe head because I head, and then I just played with all the
in his collection—those from the Bronze figured there was no one on earth that different handle variations until I got it
Made in El Salvador, the Valhalla Battle Axe from Condor Knife & Tool
comes with a shaft of burned American hickory—which provides a kind
of historical patina—and an axe head 6 inches wide and 6 inches long
made of 1060, a carbon steel Condor has been using for 40 years.
MSRP: $94.98.
“It isn’t as good as a normal chopping that would still hold its own today. Cold For the contact information for the knives
axe, but the longer handle makes it very Steel President Lynn Thompson said he in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
fast,” the Condor designer observed. “The knows this to be a fact. It took him two page 81.
other interesting thing is the long beard years to develop Cold Steel’s Viking axe
makes it usable for carving.” with a 4-foot haft and 1055 carbon steel For the latest knives, knife news, trends
head sporting a 10-inch edge. Thompson and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
FORCE MULTIPLIER persisted in developing the “human- popular Instagram page at @blade_
The battle axe, as it evolved over hundreds powered chainsaw,” as he puts it, because magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
of years in the hands of thousands of in tests “it just cut way out of proportion
smiths, turned into a fearsome weapon to what we thought it would do.”
Maestro of
Ed Henry seems
distracted in mid-grin
at an early knife show.
(image courtesy of
Don Hethcoat)
Made in 1985, D.E. Henry’s serial number 251 mammoth ivory bowie features 24k-gold
engraving by Lynton McKenzie and scrimshaw by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-
Fame ® member Buster Warenski. Weight: 12.8 ounces. Blade and overall lengths: 10
and 14 7/8 inches. (image courtesy of Michael Donato, Knife Purveyor, Inc.)
THE EVOLUTION OF HENRY KNIVES except for the grain and texture of
the handle material—it was virtually
2ND GENERATION Henry made knives in impossible to tell them apart. Not
this stage after 1956, sleek, refined repros surprisingly, Henry could spend 100
of 19th-century Sheffield bowies, this one hours on a knife.”
with a clip-point blade and a long stag coffin Ed supposedly detested being called
handle. (Francesca Resnick image)
“D.E.” Knifemaker Roger Green once
worked in Henry’s shop and recalled,
“He accepted ‘Mr. Henry’—or ‘Ed,’ if
you were close.”
Green identified Henry as his mentor.
“He set the standards of quality on
3rd GENERATION Started in 1971, Henry handmade knives,” Roger reflected. “His
knives in this stage were representations craftsmanship was so accomplished
of early American-made bowies and were that knifemakers were intimidated and
serial numbered. This one has a long, scrambled to emulate it. He was known
slender clip-point blade, a hardwood
handle and a leather sheath (not pictured).
for his authentic designs of antique bowie
(Francesca Resnick image) knives and immaculate fit and finish.
He also made hunting knives, combat
knives and folders. On his bowies he
was the first to use nickel-silver fittings
because that’s what the originals used.
He then adapted that to all his knives.
He coined the phrase, ‘Brass has no
class!’ He shared a three-way patent
with Paul Poehlmann and Jimmy Lile
on the button-lock folder design. He
popularized the flat grind with absolute
flatness—no waves or ripples.”
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Knife
THE HANNDLE
N OF DAN PETERSEN’S
STELLARR STICKER GOES “WHERE NO
KNIFE HHAS GONE BEFORE”
A
black hole there is likely heat given off that may have
BS m
master smith Dan L. Petersen is a profes- some color,” he noted—ergo the red centers in the
sor aatt Washburn University, so when astrono- white swirls to represent black holes on the handle.
merss found the first real black hole last spring (Whetstone Studio image)
and shared photos
h of it, it intrigued him—so much so that
he made a kn nife inspired by the wonder of it all. In fact, one
of Petersen’s knives
k using the process won the Custom Knife
Collectors AAsssociation’s (CKCA) annual Fisk Cutlery Chal-
lenge, earning the prof a cool $20,000.
“One of th he [black hole] photos looked similar to the circular SPEC CHECK
white and red d patterns in the handle,” Dan explained. “I tried to get a
bluish-black-oof-the-universe effect, then the white swirls showing matter KNIFE NAME: Vitreous Enamel Handle Hunter
spinning aroun t e re center ac o es KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade
To taper the copper-pipe handle, Petersen spun it on a lathe using
BLADE LENGTH: 6”
metal-spinning techniques. He added vitreous glass enamel to the outside
and inside of the handle. He heated the handle to 1,500°F and rotated it BLADE MATERIAL: Mosaic damascus of
until it melted and fused to the metal. He repeated the glass procedure W2 tool and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels in a
with a layer of dark blue glass and then black glass for the universe effect. checkerboard pattern accordion cut, flattened and
Oh, and as for the $20,000, it helped Dan buy a lathe for metal spinning. forged to shape
For more on the knife and the labor-intensive technique used to make the BLADE PATTERN: Clip point
handle, contact Dan Petersen, Dept. BL11, 10610 SW 81st, Auburn, KS BLADE GRIND: Flat
66402 785-220-8043 [email protected], petersenknives.com. HANDLE: Copper pipe covered inside and out w/
For more on the CKCA visit ckca.com. vitreous glass enamel
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, FITTINGS: 303 stainless steel
BLADE®’s popular Instagram page at @blade_magazine, and on Facebook MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR
and Twitter. KNIFE: $4,200