Blade - Issue August 2022 by PerpustakaanIIM.Majalah

MILITARY KNIFE SPECIAL ISSUETO FIGHT THE KNIFEMAKER VOLUNTEERS

RUSSIANS

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AUGUST 2022

Stanley Buzek Texas trapper. (SharpByCoop image)

Condor Tool & Knife Pack Golok. (Marty Stanﬁeld image)

Oleksii Nesterenko prepares for war.

FEATURES 48 BAD AND BEAUTIFUL

Few patterns both stun and impress like daggers and fighters. By Pat Covert

14 DEMONS OF THE PAST

54 EAST BEASTS

By BLADE® staff

By Dexter Ewing

20 SHARP IN A PINCH

60 READY AND DEPENDABLE

By BLADE staff

By Josh Wayner

24 A DAZZLER FOR KAZ

66 IS ITS BITE WORSE THAN ITS BARK?

By Bobby Kazmir

By MSG Kim Breed

32 SHOP DUMP

70 FINGERPRINTS OF STEEL

By Allen Elishewitz and BLADE staff

By BLADE staff

42 FIX BAYONETS!

82 IRAQI TANK KNIFE

By Ed Fowler

By BLADE staff

Michael Zieba opines about both sides in the War in Ukraine.

Military types can find many uses for these classic cutters.

Fatherly love is key to a special knife for a military brat.

USMC-veteran knifemakers outline their go-to tools.

The long blades enjoy storied histories in many armed forces.

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It’s a jungle out there—choose a big knife to be king of it.

Six hot fixed blades make the woodchips and dirt fly high.

Find out if the Beagle is more than just another dogface.

Like fingerprints, no two damascus patterns are just alike.

Capemaster includes blade steel from a destroyed enemy tank.

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Rodney Hoare Pig Sticker. (Rod Hoare image)

Brandon Zaremba’s Mini Griptilian.

AUGUST 2022

[ READERS RESPOND ] Too Much Greed? I would like to start by saying I’m a knife enthusiast and have been for some 20 years. I’ve been collecting for 14 of those years but I guess I’m done. Since I’m approaching 70, I’ll probably start selling my collection off soon. Here’s the thing that’s pushed me over the edge. There are now very few knives you can collect that cost under $100. I’m not cheap and I have plenty knives of my own. However, we’re all going to lose in the end when a kid of 12 or so wants to start collecting but can’t because he can’t afford it. He can’t afford it unless it’s a Rough Ryder or something comparable—which is OK. Rough Ryders are good knives and a great value, but a kid looking to collect a knife with a big name is going to have to pay $200 plus. And if he/she is looking to get a custom, that is, damascus, etc., they’re going to have to spend $1,200 to thousands of dollars! I think it’s all gone too far. Just like everything these days—there’s too much greed. On the other hand, 20-to-30-year-olds have some money and blindly spend it, so maybe knifemakers will make it for 20 more years or so. At that time the makers will hit a wall, because by then today’s 20-to-30-year-olds will be 40 to 50 and will go on to collect something else. So am I. Steve Arnone, Jamestown, New York

wall of Bob Terzuola’s knife shop on page 55. I appreciate all forms of beauty, especially the ladies!

The Three Market-eers Danny Morres, flintknapper, Springfield, Illinois Editor’s note: The photo in question is a panel of images of a lady’s bare derriere. If you’ve ever been in a knifemaker’s shop, you will know the wall art can be quite, er, revealing. All in all, we think it’s just another example of the independent, funloving nature of those in our knife community. Oh, and congrats on finding the 28 mushrooms!

Where’d They Go? I am still poring over the Pocketknife Special/May BLADE®. Every issue of BLADE continues to educate me more on anything knife, and the Pocketknife Special is no exception. However, one thing seems to be missing. Where are the big, heavy-duty folders with the 4.5-inch blades that every hunter and fisherman used to carry? I still remember the old saying, “A big knife can do little work, but a little knife can’t do big work.” The major manufacturers who made such knives are still in business, but where are the big folders we used to rely on to dress our fish and game? John H. Cuneo, Citrus Heights, California

Back Wall Follies I just came in from the woods, where I found 28 morels, and sat down to enjoy the May BLADE®. I like the new cover treatment and also the photo on the back

are still around, and we will endeavor to do something on them in a future issue of BLADE. Thanks for the suggestion!

Editor’s note: You may have answered your own question, Mr. Cuneo, by writing “every hunter and fisherman used to carry.” However, as far as we know, such knives

I enjoyed “The Three Market-eers” on page 10 of the April BLADE® about Cold Steel’s Lynn Thompson, David Bloch of Outdoor Edge and Spencer Frazer of SOG Specialty Knives, knife company founders all. In particular, Frazer’s use of R. Lee “The Gunny” Ermey to help tout SOG knives in various ad campaigns and at knife shows was indeed a tribute to Frazer’s appreciation of The Gunny’s wide appeal to many audiences, including knives. After The Gunny left SOG, KA-BAR signed him to a similar deal. However, Frazer deserves credit for first bringing The Gunny into the knife industry, a run that was most entertaining until Ermey’s untimely demise in 2018. Winston Littler, a letter via e-mail Editor’s note: The Gunny’s appeal was unmistakable, especially at the BLADE Show and other industry events where the lines for his autographs were always long. He also did a guest appearance at a BLADE Show awards ceremony one year. Semper Fi! For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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[ COVER STORY ]

he featured cover knives should perform quite well in most military theaters. The Parang from Fox Knives Military Division is equal parts chopper, camp and kitchen knife and is easy to manipulate and carry. For more on it, see the story on page 54. The image of the Parang is courtesy of Fox. Knifemaker Joe Israel stated he has always loved the handle shape of the classic Fairbairn-Sykes combat knife and emulates it on his Commando Dagger. It and other custom combat-style knives are featured beginning on page 48. SharpByCoop photographed Joe’s knife. Designed by Daniel Winkler and retired U.S. Navy SEAL Harold Bologna, the Case Winkler Recurve Utility No. 6 is, in the words of writer Josh Wayner, “large, beefy, well made and very, very sharp.” Get the poop on it and other work knives in the story on page 60. Josh photographed the Case Winkler fixed blade. Ukrainian knifemaker Oleksii Nesterenko has volunteered to fight Putin’s Russia. Read how Oleksii and several knife industry pros are affected by the war on page 12.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

AUGUST 2022

Chris Reeve Knives

THE WORLD’S #1 KNIFE PUBLICATION Vol. XLVIII, No. 11, August 2022

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BLADE ® Magazine, (ISSN 1064-5853) is published monthly plus one extra issue in November, by Caribou Media Group, LLC dba Gun Digest Media LLC. Corporate headquarters is 5600 W. Grande Market Dr., Suite 100, Appleton, WI 54913. Periodicals postage paid at Appleton, WI 54913, and at additional mailing offices. Canadian Agreement No. 40665675. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BLADE® Magazine, P.O. Box 460220, Escondido, CA 92046-0220. BLADE® and its logo are registered trademarks. Other names and logos referred to or displayed in editorial or advertising content may be trademarked or copyrighted. BLADE assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials sent to it. Publisher and advertisers are not liable for typographical errors that may appear in prices or descriptions in advertisements. The possession, transportation and sale of certain types of knives is restricted or prohibited by federal, state and local laws. BLADE® and Caribou Media rely upon the fact that collectors, purveyors/dealers, exhibitors, advertisers and manufacturers are expected to know and comply with these regulations.

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]

BY STEVE SHACKLEFORD

Knives and Ukraine A

s we were putting our annual military knife issue to bed, the War in Ukraine raged on with no end in sight. Meanwhile, amid all the death and destruction in Eastern Europe, the effect on the domestic knife industry seemed minimal. For instance, as KA-BAR’s Joe Bradley notes in the story beginning on page 12, the conflict was having no influence on KA-BAR’s sales or the types of knives it was making. Curtis Iovito of Spartan Blades said since Spartan made knives for war in Afghanistan and Iraq for the past two decades, the Ukraine war hasn’t affected the company that much, including knife prices, though that could change due to inflation and supply issues—as well as knife demand as the war evolves. According to Daniel Winkler (page 60), 25 to 30 percent of Winkler Knives output goes to the military, but he’s not seeing that much of an effect on sales because most Winkler knives go to U.S. Spec Ops operatives, such as Delta Force. However, he said one recent development he had noticed was that twice as many operatives were either being put on alert or activated as before. As for Ukrainian knifemakers, many of them are still making knives, have moved to Poland to do so, or have joined the fighting. One of the latter is Oleksii Nesterenko (page 12), who had signed on as a Ukrainian territorial defense volunteer and quit making knives as of press time—though he hoped to get back to making them soon, including those of a more tactical nature. Concerning getting knives into Ukraine, reports varied. BLADE® field editor/custom knife purveyor Les Robertson said FedEx had suspended service there in April and was not delivering direct to Ukrainians, though there were ways around that through nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). BLADE field editor/knifemaker Kim Breed said he had made six knives for Ukrainian customers—including four daggers—and that those knives were delivered there through regular mail. While factory knife company offi-

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cials say the war has had little effect on their production of new designs, more military-type knives seem to be gaining favor among some U.S. custom makers. Examples at press time included an Ek knife repro collaboration between makers Allen Elishewitz (page 32) and Les George, as well as a handsome fixed fighter with a long blade fuller by ABS master smith Brion Tomberlin. And, as has always been the case, trends that start in the custom industry are often emulated later by the factory industry. George—along with Elishewitz a Marine Corps veteran—was an explosive ordnance disposal technician during the Iraq War. In addition to knives, he also makes mine probes, having constructed his first one while in Iraq. His main contribution to the War in Ukraine is not knives but 300 of the probes. In addition to some made of titanium, he offers them in G-10, too. While not as high a quality as his titanium

probes, the G-10 ones are effective and more affordable—and, not surprisingly, were outselling the titanium ones for shipment to Ukraine. Les sent the probes to an NGO in the United Kingdom, from where they were shipped to Ukraine. In George’s view, and the views of most, the real victims of wars are children, the elderly and other civilians, many of whom are killed by mines not only during the fighting but afterward. His probes will be used to find and remove those mines, thus saving lives both during the war and after it ends. Of course, the 64-million-dollar question is when will that be?

For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook.

[ WAR IN UKRAINE]

BY MIKE HASKEW BLADE® FIELD EDITOR

Bullets, Bombs

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he ravages of war often have global impact—even when the fighting is half a world away and the devastation is seen through pictures and words rather than bullets and bombs. War, anywhere, tends to touch the lives and livelihoods of many. The knife industry, both factory and custom, is no different. The war in Ukraine has brought devastation to the country, and its end was nowhere in sight as BLADE® was going to press. Ukrainian resistance is robust, probably in sharp contrast to the results anticipated when Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to invade his sovereign neighbor. While the resilient Ukrainians defend against such aggression, where and how does the knife industry feel the long reach of war? Oleksii Nesterenko is a custom knifemaker. He is also Ukrainian. “On February 24,” he commented, “Russia, with the support of Belarus, launched an open military attack on Ukraine. My city, Kyiv, was one of the main goals. After systematic rocket attacks on the city, my wife and children were forced to evacuate to Germany.” The war came home to Oleksii, and his

life may very likely never be the same. He has responded to the call to defend his country. “I signed a contract for a territorial defense volunteer and stopped making knives,” he said. “As far as I know, the work of some knifemakers who work in the cities where there are no active hostilities has changed too. Many have abandoned the making of collectible knives and make simple, utilitarian knives and other devices for the military.” Purveyor Dave Stark of Steel Addiction Custom Knives sells Oleksii’s work, and despite the fact there is a temporary suspension of custom pieces from the Ukrainian maker, Dave praises the quality of his knives. “Oleksii’s fit and finish and his attention to detail are what set him apart from his peers,” Stark noted. “His choice of materials and the manner in which they are finished really make his work stand out. His hand-rubbed satin finish on his blades is some of the best I’ve seen. The knives feel great in the hand and mechanically are spot on. I would say his style is ‘dress tactical.’ He uses Damasteel’s pattern-welded steel, damascus, mother-of-pearl, mokuti, zircuti and zirconium.”

At press time, Ukrainian knifemaker Oleksii Nesterenko had signed a contract as a territorial defense volunteer for Ukraine and had stopped making knives. A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B L A D E

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[ WAR IN UKRAINE ] DEMONS OF THE PAST

Les Robertson

Perhaps current events will make Nesterenko’s knives even more highly sought after in the future. Meanwhile, he is consumed with the dirty business at hand. “Now in the Kyiv region where I live, Russian troops are defeated and active hostilities have ceased,” Oleksii reported. “But I am still on duty at checkpoints and volunteer. We help the civilian population in the villages near the front. I think that in a few weeks I will have time to partially return to knifemaking.” While he is hopeful and actively involved in the defense of his country, Nesterenko has kept an eye on the conditions of the knife industry in Ukraine and anticipates some adaptations. “Currently, there are no problems with the supply of materials for the production and shipment of knives abroad,” he advised, “so I look forward to returning to work. I am sure that a knifemaker can make a quality knife only if he uses it for its intended purpose. That’s why I used to make only EDC knives. Thanks to the war, I understand what requirements a tactical folding knife must meet. I have already drawn several designs and am waiting for the opportunity to get started.” Changes in demand are not noticeable at this time, according to Oleksii, and orders are in the queue for delivery around the world into 2023. Still, he warned, “I think that the consequences of the war in Ukraine will affect the economies of many countries. And over time, that will affect collectors.”

LITTLE CHANGE In much of the domestic knife industry, little in the way of change has occurred

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Michael Zieba, an award-winning knifemaker based in Brooklyn, New York, constructs a wide range of custom knives, chef’s knives and accessories, and is involved in a variety of other enterprises. Born in Rzeszow, Poland, 156 miles from the Ukrainian border before later emigrating to the USA, Michael keeps clear of both principals in the war in Ukraine. “The war has nothing to do with my business,” he stated flatly, “and I have never done business with Ukrainians or Russians.” Meanwhile, he has a historical viewpoint of the war completely unlike what you see on network or cable news. “The war summoned demons of the past in the memory of my family,” Michael wrote, a family past that includes his grandfather surviving the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) executions of World War II. “My whole family was shot by Ukrainians during the extermination of the Polish population from the territory of present-day Ukraine**,” he recalled. “My grandfather was 4 years old then. He managed to escape. After [World War II] the family from Rzeszow found him [in Germany] through the Red Cross. It all left an incredible mark on his psyche. “I only feel sorry for the children and women who are guilty of nothing in this war. My grandmother was 3 years old at the Auschwitz concentration camp. She always said the Germans are demons, the Russians are animals. It’s hard to describe what our family talked about.’” Michael said he thinks the war will end with Ukraine divided into two spheres of influence. The Eastern part is ethnically Russian and the Western part is Ukrainian and half Poles, he observed. Noting that the conflict is basically an ideological one, he opined that the Russians have the wherewithal to fight for up to 20 years. Meanwhile, Poland will become a kind of hub for Western companies, serving as a conduit for much of the aid to Ukraine.

**In 1943, the UPA began massacring and expelling the Polish population. The ethnic cleansing of Poles began on a large scale in Volhynia in late February and lasted until the end of ’44. In January ’44, the UPA campaign of ethnic cleansing spread to the neighboring province of Galicia. All told, the estimated number of Polish civilians killed by UPA in Volhynia and Galicia was about 100,000.

Michael Zieba holds his custom knife award from a past BLADE Show.

due to the war thus far. Custom knife purveyor Les Robertson said that by mid-April FedEx service to Ukraine had been suspended. Therefore, the volume of knives conventionally being sent to Ukraine has probably been curtailed, at least somewhat. Neighboring European Union countries are still moving mail into Ukraine. “No one is sending knives directly to anyone in Ukraine,” Les noted. He went on to comment that factory sales to “armchair warriors” may in fact tick upward as the war persists. Purveyor Neil Ostroff of True North Knives agrees that the current custom

Bill Harsey

ley, director of sales and marketing for KA-BAR, has noticed virtually no changes in activity. “The war in Ukraine hasn’t had any impact on us at all,” he remarked. “As far as production, and even consumption, the impact has been zero.” Bradley added that supply and demand are in line. “We have not seen an increase. Currently, we are seeing the market being more impacted by inflation than anything else. I think most of the people, at least Westerners, in the Ukraine already had their supplies and as a result didn’t have a need to buy anything new. Production and logistics have been a problem since the start of COVID,” he observed, “and are just now starting to get back on track and return to a semblance of normalcy.” KA-BAR has experienced no changes in product offerings or knife styles as a result of the war in Ukraine. However, Bradley offers one interesting point of view. “If anything, this war has shown the merits of what some might consider antiquated weaponry like the AK-47,” he pointed out.

The AK-47 is perhaps the world’s most famous assault rifle, arising in the Soviet Union during the Cold War, experiencing authentic production models and knockoffs made in the millions, and arming military organizations around the world for well over half a century.

“FREE the OPPRESSED” Spartan Blades is located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, near the gates of Fort Bragg, home of the U.S. Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps and Special Operations Command. Spartan owners Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey, both Special Forces veterans, have seen a groundswell of support for Ukraine. Knife sales bear the unmistakable mark of the conflict. “Most of the sales are to people here in the U.S. with notes that they are purchasing

“THEY ARE COUNTING ON U.S. SUPPORT EVEN IF IT IS JUST SHOWING UP TO SUPPORT THEM IN SPIRIT.”—CURTIS IOVITO

Neil Ostroff

knife market is maintaining its status quo. “In my opinion, as a dealer,” he commented, “we have no change from the customers concerning knives from either Ukraine— now on hold—or Russia. Several Ukrainian knifemakers have set up in Poland, and they do not want to be named.” Still, Ostroff is somewhat insulated businesswise from the turmoil in Eastern Europe. “Going forward, I see no issues coming through, as there have been none so far,” he observed. “And most if not all of my clientele prefer to buy only USA-made items, which is what I prefer to supply as well.” From the factory perspective, Joe Brad-

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Oleksii Nesterenko prepared for war.

Oleksii employs M390 stainless steel for the 3.75-inch blade and a handle of black and purple Fat carbon ﬁber for his Morph ﬂipper folder. The bolster is Timascus™ and the pivot rings and back spacer are zirconium. Closed length: 8 5/8 inches. Retail price: $2,800. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)

for folks in the Ukraine,” explained Curtis in acknowledging the market uptick. “Several orders have had short tags like ‘Free the Oppressed in the Ukraine’ or ‘Support the War against Russian Aggression.’ Because we are at Fort Bragg, we have several Special Mission units from friendly foreign countries drop by the shop to pick up knives for their use. While that isn’t uncommon, it’s happening more than usual. We’ve noticed during our discussions with them that things have a more serious tone.” Others buying more knives from Spartan Blades include people from all walks of life and military involvement. Curtis said, “Our Gold Line knives are going to more of the military professionals and contractors, and our Silver- and Bronzegrade knives are selling to folks across the spectrum. Many of the knives bought are by civilians that later donate the knives to NGOs [non-governmental organizations] that ship in bulk to Ukraine.” As far as production, it’s business as usual at Spartan Blades, a longtime producer of knives that go to war. There are a few new items on the horizon, and the owners expect business to be brisk in the days ahead. “Honestly, the war in Ukraine hasn’t affected how we do things here at Spartan Blades,” Iovito asserted. “We’ve made knives through the last two decades for troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq, so things are kind of par for the course. “We have several new knives coming out around the end of this year,” he continued. “We had planned on releasing these later but have sped up because the price point and style match some of the requirements we have seen lately. They are being designed by William W. Harsey, Jr.—a fighter, a Nessmuk and a kukri blade. They will be in 1095 Cro-Van blade steel and made in conjunction with KA-BAR Knives. Pricing has not been determined yet, but we are shooting for a sub-$200 retail price. The first one produced will be a fighter later this year.” Surveying the knife landscape today begs a few questions as Iovito and Carey plan for the future, uncertain as it may be. “We have seen a slight increase in steel prices, but we haven’t raised our prices in over a decade,” Curtis stated. “We assume we will continue to see price increases soon in commercial, off-the–shelf parts but are keeping our fingers crossed. We

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believe we will see an increase in knife demand as it appears the conflict in Ukraine [will not end as soon as many thought it would].” The war has had other effects, including dampening attendance at European trade shows. “We were very surprised that most of the U.S. knife companies did not attend the IWA show* in Nuremberg, Germany, this year,” Curtis noted. “We even had people thanking us for attending, as you could tell they are counting on U.S. support even if it is just showing up to support them in spirit. There was definitely a new and urgent concern about military spending. The German government approached two companies that I know of and bought their whole inventory—cutting checks the same day!” In wartime, uncertainty often reigns. However, awareness, preparation, and the desire to return to the shop are evidence that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine will influence the future of the entire knife industry for the foreseeable future. *Held each spring, the IWA OutdoorClassics (iwa.info) is the European equivalent of the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor, Trade (SHOT) Show stateside, and is a place where many new factory knives are debuted. For the contact information for the knives in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 47.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Spartan’s Curtis Iovito said a number of his company’s knives in the Silver and Bronze lines are bought by civilians who donate them to NGOs (non-governmental organizations) that ship in bulk to Ukraine. An example of a Bronze-line Spartan knife is the Enyo, worn (above) semi-concealed here. MSRP: $88. (semi-concealed image by Mary Lou Ayres)

[ WHAT’S NEW ]

Military types can ﬁnd lots of uses for these classic cutters

spec chart spec chart MODEL NAME: Twisted Bowie BLADE LENGTH: 9” BLADE MATERIAL: Damascus of

W1 tool and 15N20 nickel alloy steels BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE PATTERN: Clip point HANDLE: Dyed box elder GUARD: Integral POMMEL: Stainless steel OVERALL LENGTH: 14” MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,900 MAKER: Derick Kemper, Dept. BL8,

PATTERN: Bowie BLADE LENGTH: 9.25” BLADE MATERIAL: 80CrV2

carbon steel BLADE PATTERN: Clip point HANDLE: Ivory paper Micarta® DOUBLE GUARD: Forge-darkened stainless steel SPACER & PINS: Brass OVERALL LENGTH: 14.25” MAKER: Dawson Tabone, Monticello, Arkansas, dawson_tabone@yahoo.com (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)

28 Mill St., Stewartstown, PA 17363 410-937-4244 damselflyforge@gmail. com, damselflyforge.com (SharpByCoop image)

spec chart MODEL NAME: Pig Sticker PATTERN: Dagger BLADE LENGTH: 8.25” BLADE MATERIAL: CPM 154 stainless

w/fullers

spec chart PATTERN: Push dagger BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE MATERIAL: Damascus BLADE GRIND: Double hollow HANDLE: Ancient walrus ivory OVERALL LENGTH: 6” SHEATH: Custom leather w/rattle-

snake inlay MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $325 (also available in

a double flat grind) MAKER: John Davis, jdavis6712@ yahoo.com (Hannah Turner image)

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BLADE THICKNESS AT RICASSO: .28” BLADE WIDTH AT WIDEST: 1.18” CONSTRUCTION: Tapered tang HANDLE: Stabilized spalted oak w/

lanyard hole GUARD: Black G-10 w/white G-10 spacers/liners OVERALL LENGTH: 13.39” SHEATH (NOT SHOWN): Leather, pig-skinned lined, removable frog, leg tie MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $850 (includes sheath) MAKER: Rodney Hoare, Dept. BL8,

Sanctuary Point, New South Wales, Australia 2540 +61 0427 205 712 knifeimages@gmail. com (Rod Hoare image)

spec chart KNIFE NAME: Stovepipe BLADE STEEL: CPM 20CV stainless BLADE THICKNESS AT THICKEST:

spec chart MODEL NAME: MILF-02 Drop Point BLADE LENGTH: 3.45” BLADE STEEL: CPM S30V stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-60 HRC BLADE THICKNESS AT THICKEST: .19” BLADE GRIND: Hollow FRAME: 420 stainless steel SCALES: 3D-textured G-10 POCKET CLIP: Ambidextrous, blade tip up or

down LOCK: Framelock KNIFE TO KNOW:

Removable stainless steel thumb stud locates at any of three beveled blade holes; blade action on phosphor bronze washers adjustable at Torx head pivot point WEIGHT: 7.34 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.84” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Comprises Australian and Taiwan make MSRP: $175 COMPANY: Hardcore Hardware Australia, jonathan@hardcorehardware.com.au, hardcorehardware.com.au

.157” BLADE GRIND: Deep hollow BLADE PATTERN: Cleaver HANDLE: Titanium w/titanium backspacer POCKET CLIP: Titanium, right-handed, blade tip-up carry LOCK: Reeve Integral Lock FINISH: Stonewashed throughout KNIFE TO KNOW: The Stovepipe was inspired by custom knifemaker David Rydbom’s Bill the Butcher design and is named after the iconic top hat worn by infamous 19th-century gang leader William Poole; oversized pivot pin w/artistic accents serves double duty as an overtravel stop for the lock bar COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan MSRP: $600 COMPANY: Spyderco, attn: J. Laituri, Dept. BL8, 820 Spyderco Way, Golden, CO 80403 800525-7770 spyderco.com, sfo@spyderco.com

spec chart spec chart KNIFE NAME: Recon Scout in 3V BLADE LENGTH: 7.5” BLADE MATERIAL: CPM 3V carbon

steel BLADE THICKNESS AT THE THICKEST: 5⁄16” BLADE PATTERN: Clip point w/false

edge BLADE FINISH: Satin WEIGHT: 9.5 ozs. HANDLE: Kray-Ex™ OVERALL LENGTH: 12.5” SHEATH: Belt model COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan MSRP: $474.99 COMPANY: Cold Steel, c/o GSM Out-

doors, attn: Chase Cahalan, Dept. BL8, 5250 Frye Rd., Irving, TX 75061 877-269-8490 info@gsmorg.com, www.coldsteel.com

MODEL NAME: Pentagon OTF KNIFE TYPE: Automatic BLADE LENGTH: 3.79” BLADE THICKNESS AT THICKEST: .11” BLADE STEEL: Cryo-treated CPM

S35VN stainless BLADE FINISH: Black titanium nitride BLADE PATTERN: Spear point HANDLE: Hard anodized aluminum LOCK: Dynamic Locking System WEIGHT: 6.7 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.06” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $349.95 COMPANY: SOG, Dept. BL8, 6521 212th St. SW, Lynnwood, WA 98036-7411 888-405-6433 sogsales@sogknives. com, www.sogknives.com

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[ WHAT’S NEW ]

spec chart MODEL: Buffalo Pipe-Spike Tomahawk BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel HANDLE: Curly maple MOUTH PIECE: Buffalo horn EMBELLISHMENTS: Gold and

silver inlay MAKER’S REMARK: One of a

kind MAKER: Joe Szilaski, Dept. BL8,

Wood Dr., Pine Plains, NY 12567 518-398-0309 joe@szilaski.com (SharpByCoop image)

spec chart MODEL: Roman Gladius PATTERN: Sword BLADE LENGTH: 21” BLADE MATERIAL: Damascus of 1095

carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels HANDLE: Ebony/G-10 and brass spacers BOLSTER: Olive wood and brass OVERALL LENGTH: 28” INSIDE INFO: The sword is a hybrid consisting of elements of the larger Gladius Hispaniensis and Mainz Gladius of the late Roman Republic period. The pommel has a marble medallion carved by Lauren Stern with the Roman numeral XIII for Caesar’s 13th Legion that crossed the Rubicon. Theo Nazz guided the sword’s build in his Brooklyn, New York, workshop. MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR PIECE: $7,500 (though price may vary

depending on embellishments) MAKER: Eugene Grinberg, Dept. BL8, 62 Euclid

Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 646-7123512 eugene11grinberg@gmail.com (SharpByCoop image)

spec chart spec chart PATTERN: Bowie BLADE LENGTH: 6” BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel w/

hamon ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 61 HRC BLADE GRIND: Flat w/small convex grind

on edge BLADE PATTERN: Clip point BLADE FINISH: Hand-rubbed satin HANDLE: Arizona ironwood in a bird’s-beak

pommel design SINGLE GUARD: 420 stainless steel SPACER: G-10 OVERALL LENGTH: 10.5” SHEATH (NOT SHOWN): Tooled cow and

deer leather for inside-waistband (IWB) carry MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $800 (includes sheath) MAKER: Milan Mozolic, Bratislava, Slovokia,

PATTERN: Fighter KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 7.5” BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel w/

hamon BLADE GRIND: Double hollow GUARD: 3⁄8”-thick titanium HANDLE: Desert ironwood OVERALL LENGTH: 127⁄8” SHEATH: Belt model with snap re-

tainer; vegetable-tanned leather w/ostrich inlay (not shown) MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $600 (includes sheath) MAKER: Kevin Lesswing, Dept. BL8, 29A

East 34th, Bayonne, NJ 07002 551-2211841 kevinlesswing@gmail.com (SharpByCoop image) For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

mozolicknives@gmail.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

[ 22 ]

BY BOBBY KAZMIR

[ 24 ]

A Dazzler for Kaz An Air Force vet’s love for his boy results in a “military brat’s knife”

he hardest question for my son Zachary “Kaz” Kazmir to answer is “Where are you from?” His answer usually falls along the lines of, “Home is where the military takes your family.” Zach’s answer is true for just about any

token “military brat.” Military families often move every two to three years— that’s a rate of 10 times more than average civilian families. Living this kind of life for a child requires tremendous resilience, exceptional adaptability, and an

Bobby Kazmir (above, with his son Zach at right) asked his uncle, Stanley Buzek, to make a special knife in memory of Zach’s much-traveled life as a military brat. Stanley delivered with a stunning two-blade trapper (facing page) that has a poignant story behind it. Bill Poor forged the damascus blade steel in a River Of Fire pattern with elaborate feathering. (SharpByCoop knife image)

uncommonly high maturity level. Zach would repeatedly get settled in a routine, a school, a friend group and community activities, only to pick up, leave it all behind and start fresh again. Oh, and the trials of life do not stop there. He persevered through my frequent deployments, earthquakes, accidents and even a direct hit by one of the strongest tornadoes ever recorded while he was living in Moore, Oklahoma. Zach’s life led him on a journey spanning two countries, four states and five schools. I wanted to give the young man something special on the occasion of his 21st birthday. Even with all the places he’s lived and the experiences he’s had, Zach’s fondest memories always gravitate to his time in Okinawa, Japan. The first memories of his life were created there. Okinawa will forever hold a special place in his heart. With that, I set out to have a knife crafted in hopes of capturing and honoring these priceless memories for him. I could think of no better place to turn for such a task than my uncle, Stanley Buzek. Uncle Stanley is a knifemaker from Caldwell, Texas, and is most certainly the right man for the job. There’s no one I know who puts as much heart into his craft as Uncle Stanley. He guided me through the many options, and I closed in on what would become the most meaningful and elegant 4.5-inch, two-blade Texas trapper I’ve ever seen. My uncle crafted the frame and liners from raw bars of integral 416 stainless steel. As with each of his knives, he added a personal touch to the spine. This was truly amazing to witness. I’ve

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[ MILITARY FAMILY ] yond his limits, beat down even more, and subjected to unrelenting pressures in different directions. Nonetheless, he emerged from the fire stronger than ever before, with a character that can only be described as beautiful—just like the banding and mottling of damascus. The beautiful steel forged by Bill Poor couldn’t be more fitting for this knife. Bill transformed raw 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels into an extrafine River of Fire pattern with elaborate feathering that perfectly captures how I view Zach’s coming-of-age: indicative of many intense moments, but not scarred. Instead, radiating with a unique, luxurious magnificence that exemplifies resilience. The author retired as a senior master sergeant after 20 years in the United States Air Force.

seen many of his finished knives over the years, but I hadn’t realized the level of precise craftsmanship he put into the pieces that non-makers like myself often take for granted. Most of us just naturally look to the business end of a blade. In thinking of the knife for this gift, I aimed to give Zach a glimpse into his resiliency through my eyes. He has been stretched so thin that at times his only choice to keep from breaking was to fold over in the fetal position to regain his strength. He’s been heated, hammered, pressed to the edge of his capabilities, put back in the fire, crushed, bent be-

The HANDLE The next essential element on my mind was the scale material. (I called it the “side of the knife” but you know how knifemakers are about educating the ignorant.) The scales had to be more than just the perfect material, they had to be

“Uncle Stanley” Buzek

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uniquely sourced. I wanted my son to have a literal piece of his childhood that he could hold in his hands whenever he wanted. I reached out to a military friend stationed in Okinawa to acquire a piece of one of the famed, colossal banyan trees from the island. With travel restrictions, import/export regulations on agricultural items, and COVID-related shipping delays, it proved much more difficult than we expected. However, my contact was able to come through! After nearly a year, a heavily worn, 5-by-10inch piece of banyan tree finally arrived in the mail. Uncle Stanley was reluctant to use banyan. He cautioned me not to get my hopes up because he knew how challenging it can be to properly stabilize such a soft wood. In addition, the sample was very weathered, extra-soft and had several deep cracks inflicted in transit during shipping. In other words, there wasn’t a lot of room for error! Uncle Stanley sent the wood to the very capable Terry Dunn of TNT Enterprises,

[ MILITARY FAMILY ]

“THE BEAUTIFUL STEEL FORGED BY BILL POOR COULDN’T BE MORE FITTING FOR THIS KNIFE.” At right is the image of one of the island’s mammoth banyon trees. The lower bolsters hold a personal message from father to son: Ichi-go ichi-e. Emblazoned in bold Japanese Kanji, it is an idiom roughly translating to “for this time only.” (SharpByCoop image)

and I was truly blown away by what he was able to do. Dunn not only stabilized the wood, he preserved its beautifully subtle grains and the small, intricate pitch pocket. The latter is a cavity in the wood where the tree suffered some sort of damage over its life, or a small knot of sorts, if you will. Stanley assembled the sleek trapper, affixed the scales and presented me with a truly remarkable knife. Then he took it from my hands and said, “Now it’s time

to go get it ‘scratched up.’”

The ENGRAVING A slight fear came over me. I worried that an engraver could potentially damage this work of art. However, the worry left me as quick as it came when I learned the engraver was Alice B. Carter. I’ve seen her amazing work in the past. I knew she could add another layer of beauty to the piece. To my surprise, Alice asked so much

Colossal banyon trees grow all over Okinawa and the author arranged to have a piece of one sent to Stanley Buzek for the knife’s handle. The tree also is memorialized in 24k gold by engraver Alice Carter on one of the knife’s bolsters.

[ 28 ]

more than, “What would you like me to engrave?” She had an authentic interest in the story of the knife and its eventual recipient. I think she asked me more about Zach than she did about art that day. I shared with her the things Zach tends to reminisce about from his time in Okinawa, and we honed in on a few specifics. One of the first memories of his life is enjoying the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Okinawa’s capital city of Naha. The festival draws crowds of thousands each January to see the city streets completely encased in the vibrant blooms. Zach also speaks of how massive he remembers the banyan trees being there. If you’ve never seen a 200-year-old banyan, the behemoths appear to be as old as time and so wide they seem to fill the sky with a majestic, towering presence as if from a fantasy movie. Alice’s smile grew wider and wider as we continued to talk through a few other details. She drew inspiration from our chat and created

One of Zach’s favorite Okinawa memories is that of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival—enjoyed here with his sister, Zoey, and his mom, Candice.

[ MILITARY FAMILY ]

Reaching from corner to corner on one side of the upper bolster shines the island of Okinawa engraved by Alice Carter in 24k gold. The knife’s oversized shield brilliantly gleams Zach’s nickname of “KAZ” in Japanese-styled English letters. (SharpByCoop image)

Engraver Alice Carter

an absolute masterpiece. Engraving for more than 40 hours and inlaying more than six feet of 24k-gold wire, she created so much more than a scene or picture. Her art marvelously captured the emotions connected to the memories. Reaching from corner to corner on the upper bolster of the facing side shines the island of Okinawa in pure, radiant gold. The shading effect seems to literally draw the island’s shape out from the knife. Carefully inlaid in the exact location of Kadena Air Base where Zach lived on the island, a one-millimeter copper marker memorializes his time there. On the opposite side in exquisite

detail is an ancient, powerful banyan tree spanning from edge to edge. In beautiful complement to the gold inlay, the banyan’s leaves are adorned with Alice’s selfalloyed green gold. Zach can view the upper bolsters in remembrance of the land he once knew. As is customary in the military, a servicemember’s last names become his or her first name. It’s the military way. Kazmir was shortened to “Kaz” almost immediately, and that nickname stuck for the entire two decades I served. As Zach approached adulthood, he began to go by this moniker as well. The knife’s oversized shield brilliantly gleams “KAZ” in Japanese-styled English letters—an embodiment of how I’ve passed on my name to my boy. Finally, the lower bolsters hold a personal message from father to son: Ichigo ichi-e. Emblazoned in bold Japanese

Kanji, the message is an idiom roughly translating to “for this time only.” It means that Zach’s experience in Okinawa was truly a once-in-a-lifetime episode that can never be duplicated, and he should treasure it forever. Alice brought all the components together by incorporating gorgeous cherry blossoms engraved with intricate detail resulting in what I see as the perfect gift. Zach received it as a Christmas present and shed some heavy tears as I explained each element. He and I are both still amazed at how everyone came together to help me make this one-of-a-kind knife happen.

SYNERGY at its FINEST Uncle Stanley once told me that nearly every knifemaker is an expert at something, but no knifemaker is an expert at everything. He described knifemaking as a network of experts who bring their talents together to make the impossible possible. In the military, we have a term for this—it’s called synergy. With this beautiful piece, I’m convinced the knifemaking community is synergy at its finest. For more information about the knife, contact Stanley Buzek, Dept. BL8, P.O. Box 621, Caldwell, TX 77836 346-412-2532 stan@ sbuzekknives.com, s.buzekknives.com. For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Scanning the beach for seashells while barefoot along the shoreline of Okinawa’s Devils Cove is no doubt among Zach’s favorite island memories.

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A clowning Zach drinks from a coconut at the Okinawa Botanical Gardens.

It Starts Innocently Knifemakers don’t initially start with mass production in mind. They build a knife and worry about craft. Maybe they build a second one. Then another. Solving challenges is a reward. Obsession isn’t a goal, either. It just kind of happens. But once you’re hooked, you’re hooked.

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[ GO-TO TOOLS ]

BY BLADE® STAFF & ALLEN ELISHEWITZ

>> IMAGES COURTESY OF THE FEATURED MAKERS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Editor’s note: In addition to being an award-winning knifemaker, Allen Elishewitz is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. A sergeant in 4th Recon Charlie Company, he and his company were eventually activated and deployed during Operation Desert Storm. However, by the time he got to Iraq, the war was over so fast he was out of there before he saw any action of real note. He was kind enough to write the following in-depth review of his top knifemaking equipment.

o be a true “handmade” knifemaker, you need a quality saw. It must be rigid and precise for control and to cut precisely. A quality saw also will help the blade last longer. I add a coolant system to my saw which can almost double the life of the blades. I cut everything from steel, titanium, bronze, carbon fiber to wood on my Enco bandsaw. I bought it new in 2001 and it’s never let me down. Nothing has ever broken on it and I made my money back within the first few months of buying it. I bought my drill in the south of France from a used machine dealer in 2001. It is an Aciera 23 jig bore/milling machine. At the time it was developed in the 1980s it was very expensive, and an ordinary machine shop never had something this sophisticated and expensive on the floor. The cross table was made by Fehlmann, a Swiss company legendary for its precision drills and cross tables. I use the machine primarily for drilling because I’m able to transition from one drill bit to another very quickly. On occasion I use it for milling. I have owned many grinders throughout my 35 years of knifemaking. The

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Hardcore QC is by far the finest grinder I have ever owned. It is extremely smooth, quiet and very rigid. Because there are no vibrations when I grind, I don’t get any stray deep scratches. I have all the accessories available for it and they enable me to have a vertical, horizontal disc grinder, as well as the flat-platen small wheel. The tool rest is quite rigid and adjustable. Switching from one accessory to another is very quick and easy. I grind everything from steel, wood, carbon fiber and titanium on the Hardcore QC. The Aciera F3 is a Swiss mill I bought in England. It is a very small but highly precise milling machine that is sought after by horologists—makers of timepieces. I use it for most of my small machining operations because it has a highspeed head that goes up to 7,000 rpm. The beauty of this machine is it is small, compact and modular. I can remove the head and attach a different one. I have

a slotting head, a horizontal head and a mill head in addition to the high-speed one. The table swivels and is removable, and can be replaced with different types of tables for various operations. The Deckel GK-21 pantograph allows me to duplicate parts from a pattern. It provides the ability to choose different-size ratios and it has a variety of cutter speeds. This machine or something similar was very common in knife shops that were pre-computer numerical control (CNC) and numerical control (NC). A pantograph allows the duplication of parts easily. I use it to profile liners to maintain a consistency within a particular model. In the past I’ve also A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B L A D E

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[ GO-TO TOOLS ] made inlays, complicated bolsters, and fancy blood grooves and decorations using this machine. I bought it 10 years ago from a guy who had it in a barn and wasn’t doing anything with it. I bought my Jones & Shipman 540 toolroom surface grinder from a machine dealer in Rhode Island about eight years ago. It is very compact and fully automatic. It is extremely precise and I use a stone instead of a belt like

[ 34 ]

many other makers. The stone gives you a more precise surface. The finish I get off this machine is almost a 600 grit. It is very slow for surface grinding parts, so I may be standing there for a while. Since the machine is automatic I can do something else while it’s working, though it is far from being CNC so I still need to attend it. Surprisingly, it is one of the heaviest machines in the shop and movers are always surprised because they

think it is lighter. One of the most important tools in my shop is the Hardcore Lock Cutting fixture, available from Hardcore Grinders. I have two of them set up vertically and horizontally. I use the vertical one to cut the lock face on liners at a very specific angle. I use the horizontal version to set the angle on my blades. These jigs enable me to shave off thousandths of material at a time and adjust the angle as needed.

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[ GO-TO TOOLS ]

ong-time knifemaker Tim Britton joined the United States Marine Corps in 1959, serving in Force Recon and as one of a very few USMC combat divers. He survived one particularly harrowing assignment helping rescue Army Rangers from an airport under heavy enemy fire in the Domini-

can Republic. “We Marines came to their rescue in our Hueys. Insanity prevailed,” he recalled. “Kids were trying to sell us ‘tortas’ [sandwiches] while we were trying to avoid snipers. The smell of blood and other body fluids still gives me the shakes.” He caught the knifemaking bug in 1972 when he saw knives made by BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-

Fame® member Blackie Collins at a Charleston, South Carolina, gun show. Other of Tim’s influences include Blackie’s brother, Michael, as well as Cutlery Hall-Of-Famers George Herron and Frank Centofante, and also Steve Fecas, Tommy Lee, Paul Fox and Howard Viele, to name a few. Tim’s go-to machines are many and varied. His belt surface grinder came from a U.S. Navy surplus auction in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 1974. “Knifemaker Richard Bridwell made the conversion for me in pursuit of what Jim Crowell claims to be the three most important elements of knifemaking—flat, flat and flat,” Tim wrote. Embellishing the flat theme is his 6x48-inch Craftsman belt sander. “It’s vitally important for flattening scales for knives,” he noted, and includes a quarter-inch steel plate welded on the surface to ensure “flat.” Tim got it as part of a trade with Blackie Collins in 1973. Another machine with a Collins pedigree is Tim’s 2x132-inch Bader Space Saver belt grinder. “It was originally sold to Michael and Blackie for use in their

[ 36 ]

[ GO-TO TOOLS ]

knife shop in Underground Atlanta at least 50 years ago,” he wrote. “It’s an awesome machine for grinding handles and blades.” Three other “ancient” Navy surplus items are Tim’s Detroit Flame Hardening surface hardness tester, De-Sta-C clamp set and monster Porter Cable disc sander. The former includes a glass tube with an enclosed ball. How high the ball bounces in the tube gives a rough measure of Rockwell hardness up to 65 HRC. The clamps are “1940s era” and Tim uses them on every knife he makes. The 21-inch Porter is also World War II Navy surplus. “The tag on the pedes-

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[ GO-TO TOOLS ]

Tim’s “ancient” Navy surplus Detroit Flame Hardening surface hardness tester includes a glass tube with an enclosed ball to indicate Rockwell hardness up to 65 HRC.

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“NO QUESTION, IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN MY SHOP.” tal reads USS Achernar 53*,” Tim wrote. “Tommy McNabb and I did some rewiring and it’s now variable speed and reversible. I use it to grind all my folder blades. The machine and base must weigh 200 pounds. I use a piece of toolbox liner between the metal disc and the abrasive disc. It makes it much more ‘forgiving.’” The first-ever tool in his shop (1972) and one he calls an “amazing survivor” is his hardware store mandrel powered by a salvage washing machine motor. “I’ve used two Norton fine Bear-tex wheels for 40 years!” he exclaimed. “Norton designed them for de-burring.” Rounding out his top tools are his Wilton metal-cutting bandsaw, pantograph mill and Burgmaster turret drill. The former is at least 40 years old and “a workhorse,” and Paul Fox designed and built the pantograph. “We used this together for 15 to 20 years,” Tim wrote of Fox. The monster arbor is from an IBM shop sale and the table moves on Thompson bearings. As for the Burgmaster, Tim’s had two—a compact model and another “the size of a Bridgeport mill. No question, it’s the most important tool in my shop.” *Editor’s note: USS Achernar AKA-53 was an Andromeda-class attack cargo shop launched Dec. 3, 1943, designed to support amphibious warfare operations of the U.S. Navy during World War II and thereafter. She served as the command post of Gen. Omar Bradley, commander of the U.S. First Army, for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, June 6, 1944. She also saw action during the Korean War. For the contact information for the makers in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 47. For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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www.nordicknives.com A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BY ED FOWLER BLADE ® FIELD EDITOR

A Union soldier holds his musket with ﬁxed bayonet. (Gettysburg National Military Park image)

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He acknowledged me approaching and said hi. I returned his greeting and asked him if he did not think he had killed the animal enough. He said it was his first hunt and he thought the bayonet would be a good knife for the task, but the edge had not been sharpened. All he could do was stick holes with it and he was unable to open the belly to field dress the animal. I asked if he could use a little help and he said, “Please!” Using one of my knives it was pretty easy going. I let him finish the job with my knife and he handed it back to me and stated he would buy a different knife for hunt-

opinion that field hospitals probably did not treat many bayonet wounds—not necessarily because bayonets were ineffective as modern weapons, but because those stabbed with bayonets rarely lived to make it to field hospitals. Thus, the interpretation of field hospital wound reports was not necessarily the whole story. Wounds by bayonet may have been

According to the author, “The sheath for the Ames 1849 Rifleman’s Knife at top has ‘used in the Civil War’ on the leather. It appears to originally have been harness leather and was all the maker had available. The blade was made to be used hard, probably by teamsters in the Southwest. An ossified War Department unknowingly approved the purchase of 1,000 of them, and only a few were issued in the Southwest. Most were stored and later sold for around $1 each. The bottom knife and sheath are copies of the original. You can buy them today for around $100 each from at least four different outfits.” A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B L A D E

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[ KNIFE TALK ]

The author stated this is a genuine World War II German K98 bayonet with matching scabbard.

rare, but deaths from those wounds were not! Another aspect came into play when I read that the sawback bayonet some German troops carried was initially issued to engineers who needed a saw at times when one was not readily available. In one book I read some World War II GIs considered the sawback bayonet an unusually cruel weapon and a violation of the Geneva Convention. If they captured a German soldier with a sawback bayonet, the book maintained, they would shoot him on the spot rather than take him prisoner. When German soldiers who carried sawback bayonets learned of the fate awaiting them if captured, they ground off the sawteeth. It was another misrepresentation of a tool one country designed as a useful implement, though some of our GIs and writers felt differently. It was easy at the time to believe Germany had devised a cruel

and illicit weapon. I find it interesting that the Allies also had developed and used some sawback bayonets! Many sawback bayonets were made in Sheffield, England. The first mention of sawback bayonets I can find was around 1871. Soon after they were determined to be absolutely worthless and abandoned for a time, waiting to be “discovered again.” Incidentally, 180 pages of The Bayonet with its many drawings failed to reveal one knife or sword bayonet exhibiting one of my pet peeves: the recessed ricasso. The book's discussions of the 19 various countries and their weapons are This is the knife from the author’s youth that taught him the folly of the recessed ricasso—shown here as the gap between the guard and the beginning of the blade edge. “I still have a scar on my middle ﬁnger from it and wondered why the recessed ricasso was there,” he wrote. “You can see why I placed my ﬁnger there—to avoid the blade hanging up in use.”

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well worth the read for those who would like to know the facts.

BLADES of WAR The bayonet may not have quite the significance it once did when, in 1863, Union Col. Joshua Chamberlain ordered his men to “fix bayonets!” and charge the Confederate soldiers challenging the 20th Maine for control of Little Round Top. The Confederates were subsequently routed and the 20th Maine’s bayonet charge completely changed the entire course of the Battle of Gettysburg, perhaps even of the Civil War itself. The bayonet can be a very respected weapon by the opposing side. It can be a significant contribution to the confidence of the man using it. All you must do is a little reading about men who were actually in combat to provide some insight to the bayonet’s value. The psychology of “fix bayonets!” is a very real deterrent to the opposition, and can have a psychological boost to those who have their bayonets fixed. The above discussion is not meant to detract from the significance of the side knife for the soldier at war. The side knife differs from the bayonet in that it does not easily conform to be fixed to a rifle barrel. And, if designed and developed into a functional and safe knife, the handle fits the hand comfortably. In my opinion, the best description of a military or field knife was stated in the requirements for the 1849 Ames Rifleman’s knife: “It must be able to be used in hand-to-hand combat, but also be able to dig in the dirt and chop brush.” While only 1,000 were produced, they remain a fine example of a knife made to fit the time and place for which it was

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[ KNIFE TALK ] “This is one of my favorite weapons of our military, originally designed by our only ‘Master of the Sword,’ General George Patton,” the author wrote. “It’s a real handful and designed all for function at the time.” Overall length: 42.25 inches. In his talks with World War II and other military veterans, the author said they praised the USMC ﬁghting/utility knife not only as a combat/side knife but also its handle butt for use as a hammer. He also likes the design for its lack of a recessed ricasso.

A vintage German military sword, model Seitengewehr 98 aA Rheinische Metallwaaren-und Maschinenfabrik, 1900, 1902 Jäger Battalion-Regiment, with sheath. “This is probably my favorite of all bayonet swords—shear beauty!” the author noted. Overall length: 25.75 inches.

developed. Today the selections of side knives of the American soldier are many times made by the individual decisions of the officer, with the knives often used daily. Sometimes, but not always, the soldier is in the position to know best what he needs. In talking with veterans of previous wars, I hear many times they are very satisfied with the USMC fighting/utility knife by KA-BAR and like models available from other companies. The metal pommel of the KA-BAR and similar knives was often mentioned in my -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

WHERE TO GET ’EM Tim Britton buffs a blade in his shop. For more on his go-to knifemaking tools—and those of Allen Elishewitz, too—see page 32.

“THE ONLY FRIEND HE HAD WAS HIS KNIFE.” conversations with World War II vets. Talk to men who used the KA-BAR and many will mention the usefulness of the handle butt for driving tent stakes and other things that needed pounding, while others are very proud of the different knives they chose as their weapon/edged tool for the war of their time. I talked with a World War II veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. His thoughts remain very significant in my mind. His buddy was killed that day and lay dead in a foxhole with him that night. He was alone, artillery shells were hitting all around, bullets sang overhead and he was out of ammunition. The only friend he had was his knife. For those who have shared his experience, the knife you had will remain your friend for life. As learned by many, a knife is best when designed and used as a knife. I have never seen a KA-BAR, bayonet or similar knives supplied by other companies with a recessed ricasso. I’ve found that any time you add or take something away from a knife without a very good reason, you only lessen its effectiveness. Thank you for sharing time with me about knives. I have known many good times with BLADE® readers and thank you for your support. Should you have any thoughts you would like to share about my stories, please feel free to write or contact me at any time. Yours truly, Ed Fowler, HEPK Mastersmith Knifetalkonline Edfowler.com

For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

BULLETS, BOMBS AND BLADES P. 12 Oleksii Nesterenko, c/o Steel Addiction Custom Knives, steeladdictioniknives.com; Spartan Blades, attn: C. Iovito, Dept. BL8, 625 S.E. Service Rd., Southern Pines, NC 28387 910-757-0035, contact@spartanblades.com, www.spartanbladesusa.com; Michael Zieba, Dept. BL8, 95 Commercial St. #4, Brooklyn, NY 11222 347-335-9944 ziebametal@gmail.com ziebaknives.com SHOP DUMP P. 32 Tim Britton, Dept. BL8, 5645 Murray Rd., Winston Salem, NC 27106 tim@timbritton. com/336-923-2062 timbritton.com; Allen Elishewitz, Dept. BL8, 1659 West State Hwy. 46, Ste. 115 #610, New Braunfels, TX 78132 830-885-3099 elishewitzknives. com BAD & BEAUTIFUL P. 48 Joe Israel, Flat Rock Forge: Web- www.ﬂatrockforge.com. Ph- (828) 484-1892; Matt Roberts: Ph- (540) 808-6767. Instagram- @MattRobertsKnives. EmailMbuswellroberts@yahoo.com; Julian Sacco Knives: Web- www.saccoknives.com. Instagram- @saccoknives; Sam Lurquin Knives: Instagram- @wardog2079. Dave Ellis: www.exquisiteknives.com EAST BEASTS P. 54 APOC Survival Tools, c/o CAS Iberia, attn: P. Shipley, Dept. BL8, 650 Industrial Blvd., Sale Creek, TN 37373-9797 423.332.4700 bpogue@casiberia.com, www.casiberia. com; Condor Tool & Knife, attn: R. Jones, Dept. BL8, 9924 Universal Blvd. #224106, Orlando, FL 32819 407-458-9396 fax 407-458-9397 rtj@att.net, condortk. com; DPx Gear, attn: Robert Young Pelton, Dept. BL8, 1041 Market St #619., San Diego, CA 92101 619-780-2600 888-233-3924 fax 619-780-2605 info@dpxgear. com, dpxgear.com; Fox Cutlery, attn.: Massimo Centazzo, Dept. BL8, Oreste Frati SRL, Via La Mola, 4, 33085 Maniago (PN), Italy 39-0427-730376 foxcutlery.com, fkmdknives.com and/or duecignicutlery.it READY AND DEPENDABLE P. 60 Benchmade USA, Dept. BL8, 300 Beavercreek Rd., Oregon City, OR 97045 503.655.6004 or 800-800-7427 www.benchmade.com, info@benchmade.com; Case, attn: F. Feightner, Dept. BL8, 50 Owens Way, Bradford, PA 16701 800-5236350 CR@caseknives.com, www.wrcase.com; Condor Tool & Knife, attn: R. Jones, Dept. BL8, 9924 Universal Blvd. #224-106, Orlando, FL 32819 407-458-9396 fax 407-458-9397 rtj@att.net, condortk.com; KA-BAR, attn: J. Bradley, Dept. BL8, 200 Homer St., Olean, NY 14760 800.282.0130 fax 716-790-7188 www.ka-bar.com, info@ka-bar.com; TOPS Knives, attn: Craig Powell, Dept. BL8, 3415 E. 109 N., Idaho Falls, ID 83401 208-542-0113 info@topsknives.com, www.topsknives.com; Winkler Knives, attn: Daniel Winkler, Dept. BL8, POB 2166, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 828295-9156 danielwinkler@bellsouth.net, www.winklerknives.com

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[ BOLD BLADES ]

BY PAT COVERT

>> KNIFE IMAGES BY SHARPBYCOOP

[ 48 ]

Bad and Beautiful

Few patterns are both stunning and audacious like daggers and ﬁghters

ping examples. Many have in-your-face themes, with daggers and fighters getting lots of love among them. If Samuel Lurquin’s Wardog Fighter looks familiar, that’s because it is—it served as one of three cover knives for the June BLADE®. However, due to space requirements, we were unable to give the knife its just due in that issue, so we correct that oversight here. Sam is an ABS master smith from Belgium who makes bullet-proof tactical fixed blades ticketed for extreme “rough ’n tumble” use beyond the call of duty. Sam’s English is somewhat limited, so we turned to Dave Ellis, proprietor of Exquisite Knives, who specializes in upscale cutlery from around the world. Dave is California’s first ABS master smith who has since retired from hammering steel to become a purveyor of fine custom knives. Dave’s overview of the Wardog is insightful. “Sam’s combat knife was designed to be very concealable, nothing flashy that sticks out! Twenty years disThe Wardog Fighter by Samuel Lurquin (inset) includes a handsome leather pouch sheath with logo by Jeremy Guillaume, a sandblasted-then-blued blade, a tight-waisted bird’s beak handle, and a dog tag with appropriate verbiage and logo. Overall length: 12.8 inches.

cussing the needs of end users helped him design a knife to be used hard in the field,” Dave observes. “Rather than taking credit for the knife’s design, Sam instead deferred to the many experts when it came to ergonomics, concealment and design to ultimately come up with this sleek fighter.” The beefy clip-point blade is 7.5 inches to go with the 5.3-inch black G-10 handle. “I asked Sam if he considered this to be the perfect combat/field knife,” Dave states. “His response was quite sincere. He said, ‘There’s never just one perfect knife.’ Use dictates the design of each piece, and this design Sam hopes is one that he could stake his own life on. This is very important to Lurquin—that if all else fails, his knife will prevail.” Dave explained the Wardog’s finish process: “The blade was sand blasted then cold gun blued. The bluing produced a forced rusting [patina] that Sam removes with steel wool. The blade is stonewashed for the final finish, one that will stand up to hard use.” Sam designed the thick, all leather sheath and had his friend, Jeremy Guillaume of 8 Ball Leather, make it. “It’s double welted and has double latches to keep the knife secured on many media— belts, backpacks and the like,” Dave concludes. “Sam felt that Kydex is too noisy, thus the use of leather.”

THE F-S LOOK One of this issue’s cover knives, Joe Israel’s

Commando Dagger is born out of Joe’s intense fondness of armed forces knives with a double edge. “I’m inspired by all the great military daggers like the Case V-42, Fairbairn-Sykes, Gerber Mark II—these knives have always fascinated me,” he observes. “I wanted to create something both beautiful and a bit sinister which, after all, is what I think daggers are.” Though very stylish, Joe’s knife is meant to be used. “For the Commando Dagger, I start with 3⁄16-inch CPM 154 stock that I flat grind by hand and heat treat myself, including a liquid nitrogen cryo. The blade is 6 inches long and the overall length is 11 inches,” he states. “It’s then hand sanded to 3,000 grit and mirror polished.” The blade is sharpened on both sides. If the curvaceous handle smacks of a certain famous World War II combat knife, it is purely intentional. “I always loved the shape of the Fairbairn-Sykes handles and I try to emulate their elegant shape in my Commando Dagger,” he comments. “The knife is full tang with a brass guard that I pin and solder in place old-school style.” The scales are black linen Micarta® with blood-red G-10 liners secured with brass pins. Joe supplies his knives with no-frills, all-business black Kydex sheaths, and also offers them in leather. “Harry Savage makes the sheaths for the daggers and he’s just great to work with,” the maker opines. "His work is always top notch. The small knife in the picture

[ 49 ]

[ BOLD BLADES ]

“I’M INSPIRED BY ALL THE GREAT MILITARY DAGGERS; THESE KNIVES HAVE ALWAYS FASCINATED ME.” —JOE ISRAEL

accompanying this story is my Shrike EDC. It’s available in a variety of steels and handle materials. I offer Kydex and leather sheaths for my other knives, too.”

WICKED EXCELLENCE Matthew Roberts is an ABS journeyman smith with a passion for forging. “I modeled the Toothpick after the Gold Rush daggers and Arkansas toothpicks of the 19th century,” he explains. “I have no knowledge whatsoever of historical knives and their dimensions. I made this because it looks vicious. Utility was an afterthought for this build. “I forged the blade from 15N20 and 80CrV2 steels,” he continues. “I chose ladder-pattern damascus because it complements the symmetrical profile.

[ 50 ]

The blade geometry is very acute with a full distal taper—the point is ground to near zero.” The Toothpick has a 7.25inch blade length and is 12 inches overall. The blade is 1.2 inches wide at the widest and has about a .165-inch maximum thickness. Matt chose a coffin handle design for its simplicity and flowing lines. The radius of the handle profile mirrors the blade profile. The handle material is African blackwood that Matt faceted heavily. “Blackwood seemed to be an appropriate choice because I wanted the blade to be the focus of the piece,” he notes. “Also, blackwood is a very heavy wood which helped bring the point of balance well into the handle.” The guard and spacer are 416 stainless. The spacer fluting is

mirror polished. Matt chose a simple sheath to reflect the clean lines of his dagger. “It’s buffalo hide over bridle leather,” he states. “The hide has a matte finish and is very soft.”

STYLISH STINGER Julian Sacco’s dagger redefines the word sleek—and that only begins to describe the distinctiveness of his take-downconstruction Coffin Dagger. “The inspiration for this piece came from seeing a lot of other makers do coffin-style bowie knives,” Julian relates. “I felt a shape like a coffin would fit really well on this dagger, as it’s an entirely mirrored piece all the way around. Essentially I wanted it to have an old look and feel to it and I think the coffin style fit that profile perfectly.”

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[ BOLD BLADES ]

Julian Sacco’s Coffin Dagger features a W2 tool steel blade made via the stock-removal method and an unusual smoky hamon he chose for an “ominous feel.” The African blackwood handle is conﬁgured in what the maker calls an “old-school-coffin” style.

The blade is ultra-slim and has a notable hamon. “The blade is W2 tool steel and is done in the stock removal method,” he notes. “I don’t have much experience with hamons but, as per the theme of this dagger, I tried to create a smoky pattern to give it an ominous feel.” The knife has a 7-inch cutting edge and is 13 inches overall. “I wanted this to be more of a nimble and easy maneuvering piece,” Julian states, “somewhat like a stiletto dagger, but not quite.” The grip’s modified wasp waist exudes creativity as well. “The handle is shaped entirely to look like an old-school-style coffin, which I think it resembles quite well. I wanted to have an aggressive look

to the overall construction, which is why I shaped the pommel with such sharp lines,” he remarks. “To match the guard I kept those similar shapes and lines on the outside while smoothing the areas that would be gripped in order to make it comfortable for the user. The brass pommel and guard were an excellent choice as I knew they would patina in a way that would fit the overall rustic look and feel I was going for, while the African blackwood handle complemented that look exactly how I hoped it would. It perfectly fits the profile of an old coffin with its rich lines and bold grain, tying the entire theme of the piece together.”

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MID-AMERICA SYMPOSIUM *A complete recap of BLADE Show 2022 will appear in the September BLADE®. For the contact information for the makers featured in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 47. For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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Matt Roberts chose ladder-pattern damascus for his Toothpick dagger because it complements the symmetrical blade proﬁle, and the coffinhandle design for its simplicity and ﬂowing lines. A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kd, Z i WƌĞ-ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ Ψϲϱ ŽŶůŝŶĞ Žƌ ŵĂŝů iZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ Ψϳϱ iZĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ĐŚĞĐŬ-ŝŶ dŚƵƌƐĚĂǇ ϰ ϬϬ-ϱ ϯϬ WD i ĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚŽƌƐ ĚŝŶŶĞƌ Ăƚ dŚĞ ĂƌŽůŝŶĞ idŚƵƌƐĚĂǇ ϲ ϯϬ WD i ƵĐƟŽŶ Θ ŬŶŝĨĞ ƐŚŽǁ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂǇ ŽƉĞŶ ƚŽ ƉƵďůŝĐ

BY DEXTER EWING BLADE® FIELD EDITOR >> IMAGES BY MART Y STANFIELD, MART Y STANFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY

EAST BEASTS [ 54 ]

It’s a jungle out there and you need a big knife to be king

here’s something about large blades with an Eastern flair, an exotic look and that offer devastating function. They generally are built stouter and able to complete multiple hard-use tasks beyond those of a machete. Such knives clear vines and weedy vegetation, take out small saplings and split wood for campfires. They are equal parts tool and, if necessary, weapon. Originating in the Malay Archipelago, the golok is used primarily in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Varying in size and weight, it is typically anywhere from 10 to 20 inches long. Often shorter and heavier than machetes, the golok is used for bush and branch cutting. Cutting edges tend to be convex, preventing the blade from being stuck in green

wood. Carbon steel is often the preferred blade material, usually with a softer temper for ease of sharpening. A good modern production example is the Condor Tool & Knife Pack Golok. The 11-inch upswept blade is 1075 carbon steel with a convex edge great at not sticking in green wood. The handle curves down near the butt and flares out a bit to prevent the knife from sliding out of your hand while chopping. The rich brown appearance of the walnut handle material elevates the Pack Golok’s appearance. Three large brass rivets secure the walnut slabs to the tang. A thong tube provides a hole for a lanyard. Overall length is 17 inches, long enough to tackle heavy work but not too long for belt carry or easy storage.

[ 55 ]

[ AMAZIN’ ASIANS ]

dor. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP): $107.

LESS is MORE

In use the Pack Golok feels very sturdy and comfortable. The large diameter of the rounded walnut handle turns down a bit to help keep your hand in place. The generous diameter makes the handle easy to grip and fills the hand nicely. You feel in control of the knife at all times. The solid convex grind puts a maximum amount of meat behind the edge for durability, and helps resist chipping and rolling through heavy chopping. The edge is very sharp and easy to maintain so the knife serves well in the field. The Pack Golok performs like a larger knife without being one. Of the test bunch, it’s the best chopper. It also excels at baton work. Conversely, it works just as well for finer tasks such as whittling. The leather sheath is extremely well

done. It features two button snap closures to secure the knife. Unsheathe it by simultaneously lifting the handle and pulling it out. There’s a large loop for belt carry. Country of origin: El Salva-

DPx Gear’s HEFT 12 Chop is a serious piece of kit. Robert Young Pelton, aka RYP, is the founder of DPx Gear, a noted journalist and a documentary film director who spent considerable time in Iraq and elsewhere covering various conflicts. Based on the parang, which also is a favorite in the Malay Archipelago, the HEFT 12 Chop is optimized for cutting woody growth. Sporting a sweet-spot belly for chopping and forward-weighted balance, the parang is a multi-use cutting tool that can be quite handy in the wilderness. In the HEFT 12 Chop, RYP wanted a tool that would serve as a machete, hatchet and large survival knife all rolled into one. As a result, one knife can be carried instead of several. This is especially beneficial on long treks—the old “less is more” maxim. The 12.5-inch blade is flatground D2 tool steel, a proven and highly consistent performer for hunting and survival knives. A black mil-spec blade coating enhances corrosion resistance and low reflectivity. The green G-10 handle is 3D machined and contoured for comfort with no hot spots to speak of. The grip turns down and flares out somewhat to act as a catch and prevent the hand from sliding backward. Three large Torx-head screws fasten the G-10 slabs to the full

The APOC Chop House is a good chopper, though the author indicated the handle does raise some hot spots. Wearing gloves is a way around that.

[ 56 ]

tang. There’s also a lanyard hole in the exposed tang. A single guard keeps the hand from sliding forward. At 18.6 inches overall, the HEFT 12 Chop is a formidable cutting tool. Made in Italy by Lionsteel, it looks great with the black blade and OD green handle. When you lift the HEFT 12 Chop, you immediately notice the heavy blade-forward balance. This enhances chopping, building momentum and using gravity to your advantage as you swing the blade. If you go into it with all muscle, trust me, you will get tired. Relax and let gravity do the job. Rest the guard on your hand as if you are choking up and let the handle pivot a bit in your paw for additional power. A semi-loose grip works best—or at least it did for me. As you chop you can feel the power with each blow and where the blade’s sweet spot is (just behind the angled tip). The HEFT 12 takes out smaller and thinner vegetation with abandon—a testament to RYP’s design vision. This is a wonderful blade for baton work. You can use the length for leverage as you pound the spine. The full flat grind is like a wedge, splitting wood effectively and quickly. The HEFT 12 Chop does not come with a sheath. MSRP: $375. It’s bit on the pricey side but the design is backed by RYP’s years of realworld experience.

MID-MACHETE TERRITORY Boasting a flared reverse-tanto-style tip, the Chop House from APOC Survival Tools is based on the dao, which originated in China as a single-edge sword primarily used for slashing and chopping. The blade’s moderate curvature and angular tip are effective for thrusting. A 12.75-inch blade and overall length of 18 inches puts the Chop House right in the middle of machete territory. It boasts 9260 carbon blade steel, full-tang construction and a black G-10 handle. A black oxide coating reduces glare and enhances rust protection. Featuring 3D-machined and contoured facets, the handle is certainly one of the knife’s most interesting elements. Three sets of Torx®-head screws fasten the G-10 slabs to the tang. A prominent finger groove trails a recessed grip area, and the handle flares out to create a catch for your hand, stopping rearward sliding. An integral double guard provides additional protection. Wrap your hand

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[ AMAZIN’ ASIANS ] around the handle and feel your fingers nestle in and lock into place. Depending on your hand size, you might feel some hot spots around the palm. In fact, those with bigger hands might find the grip objectionable. The Chop House feels agile and has more of a neutral balance than the rest of the test bunch. As a result, it excels more at such machete tasks as cutting tall weeds, grass, vines and maybe taking out the occasional sapling. To be an effective chopper, the balance must bias toward bladeheavy, something the Chop House does not do. It has a balance more typical of a standard machete. This isn’t bad, it just means to carefully select what you use it for. The factory edge did not last long out of the box and I wound up resharpening the blade to my liking. It might be wise to apply your own edge before putting the knife to use as well. Country of origin: China. MSRP: $159.

CHOP/CAMP/COOK The Fox Knives Military Division (FKMD) Parang is an outstanding example of a compact fixed blade that serves as a chopping, camp and kitchen knife while remaining easy to manipulate and carry. Taking design cues from the traditional parang with the forward-weighted feature, the 7-inch blade has a bulbous, rounded tip great for slicing and as a skinning knife if need be. The N690 stainless blade steel has a layer of black Cerakote® for additional corrosion protection. N690 is a higher-end steel that exhibits an excellent balance of edge holding, corrosion resistance and sharpening ease. The ergonomic handle is Forprene, a molded thermoplastic tacky to the touch. Several large scallops on the grip section accommodate the user’s fingers comfortably. Along with the main groove, the largest scallop seats the index finger. This locks in your grip and the rest of the fingers fall naturally into place. The tang has a choil and gimping ahead of it to promote a secure choke-up grip for finer cutting tasks that require additional control. Though the handle is boxy, the edges are rounded to soften things up. In action, the Parang—one of this issue’s cover knives—is impressive. As a chopper, the blade bites in deep and hard. The flat grind and excellent edge quality out of the

[ 58 ]

For the contact information for the makers in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 47. For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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box help make this possible. The Fox entry can give some larger knives a serious run for the money in terms of chopping effectiveness. When you choke up, tasks that require control like whittling are as easy as chopping. The knife feels comfortable and balanced in the choke-up grip. The large blade belly slices very well and the grip is no slip. The Forprene handle mitigates some shock from impact when chopping. Its slightly tacky quality makes for a good grip with wet, dry, hot or cold hands. Some may think the handle material looks cheap but the Forprene offers function rather than aesthetics—crucial when considering an outdoor blade for hard work. I wear gloves when using big fixed blades and even with gloves, the Forprene still felt very secure. The Parang seems the most useful of the review models as it serves well as a chopper/camp and kitchen knife. If you stash a chopper in your vehicle, the compact length makes it ideal for the role. You can do the same with the other test knives but their additional length may pose an issue. A very nicely made ballistic nylon sheath with Kydex liners for rigidity and protection from blade puncture comes standard. A wide dual-snap retention strap fastens around the handle. A smaller strap secures the knife at an additional point below the main retention straps. This might seem redundant but when wearing the Parang on your belt in the wilds, you don’t want it to exit accidentally! A loop accommodates a variety of belt widths. There are MOLLE attachment points and a leg tie, too. One drawback: the sheath is OD green and the Forprene handle is tan. I’d prefer the handle color to match the sheath. An aluminum box with snap-on lid that contains common assorted survival items is included. Country of origin: Italy. MSRP: $365.

]

BY JOSH WAYNER

>> IMAGES BY THE AUTHOR

2 3

Ready and Dependable Six hot ﬁxed blades make the woodchips and dirt ﬂy

[ 60 ]

erious work knives are going to be fixed blades. Strength is something that can’t be sacrificed, and while many folders are incredibly rigid, they have mechanisms and moving parts that can and do become worn or damaged with hard use. Modern folders are great knives. However, once mud, grit, sand and the unexpected rock an inch underground comes into play, they tend to fail. Few folders are strong enough long term for use as a trowel—fewer still can be safely batonned through wood. On the merit of ergonom-

ics alone, the folder is usually slab-sided in profile and isn’t comfortable to hold for long periods, nor does it allow for easy cleaning. As such, the fixed blade is superior when the woodchips or dirt need to fly. Defining work knives is merited by the individual task at hand. Some of the knives featured herein are not suitable to assume the role of another. Specialization is the name of the game and the knife you need for splitting wood is far different than one for working the ground. The main characteristic, across the board, is that these knives simply must hold up for

spec chart

6 5

1. CONDOR KNIFE & TOOL WOODBUSTER DESIGNER: Joe Flowers KNIFE TYPE: Fixed-blade heavy chopper BLADE LENGTH: 9.8” BLADE MATERIAL: 1075 carbon steel BLADE GRIND: Full flat w/second bevel HANDLE MATERIAL: Micarta® WEIGHT: 24.7 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 15” SHEATH: Welted Leather COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: El Salvador MSRP: $171.58 2. KA-BAR JAROSZ CAMP TUROK DESIGNER: Jesse Jarosz KNIFE TYPE: Utility fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 6.25” BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE PATTERN: Drop point HANDLE MATERIAL: Brown Ultramid SHEATH: Celcon hard plastic WEIGHT: 12 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 11.5” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $129.69

From left: Condor Tool & Knife Woodbuster, KA-BAR Jarosz Camp Turok, TOPS Knives Earth Skills Knife, Winkler Knives Drop Point Crusher, Case Winkler Recurve Utility No. 6 and Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter.

3. TOPS KNIVES EARTH SKILLS KNIFE DESIGNER: Matt Graham KNIFE TYPE: Light utility fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 8.25” BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon steel BLADE GRIND: Scandi BLADE FINISH: Tumble HANDLE MATERIAL: Tan canvas Micarta WEIGHT: 11.9 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 14.25” SHEATH: Brown Leather COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $260

4. WINKLER KNIVES DROP POINT CRUSHER DESIGNER: Daniel Winkler KNIFE TYPE: Utility fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 5.25” BLADE MATERIAL: 80CrV2 carbon steel BLADE FINISH: No-glare oxide BLADE PATTERN: Drop point HANDLE MATERIAL: Maple (others available) w/glass breaker/striker pommel WEIGHT: 6.5 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 10” SHEATH: Boltaron w/leather cover COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP:$375 5. CASE WINKLER RECURVE UTILITY NO. 6 DESIGNERS: Daniel Winkler and Harold Bologna, U.S. Navy SEAL (retired) KNIFE TYPE: Utility fixed blade BLADE MATERIAL: 80CrV2 carbon steel BLADE LENGTH: 4.8” BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE FINISH: Caswell HANDLE MATERIAL: Tan canvas laminate WEIGHT: 12 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.6” SHEATH: Black leather w/lighter holder COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $430.99

6. BENCHMADE 162 BUSHCRAFTER DESIGNER: Shane Sibert KNIFE TYPE: Utility fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 4.4” BLADE STEEL: CPM S30V stainless BLADE GRIND: High saber BLADE PATTERN: Drop point HANDLE MATERIAL: Green and red G-10 SHEATH: Leather WEIGHT: 7.72 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 9.15” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA MSRP: $260

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[ DUTY KNIVES ]

The Camp Turok is a large knife that can handle branches, cutting chores and light chopping.

be batonned through wood around 2.5 inches in diameter with ease, can make tinder and is great at striking. The knife comes with a leather sheath that includes a polymer clip for a Zippo mini lighter. This is probably the only downside to this overall fantastic knife—the polymer clip isn’t strong enough to keep the lighter firmly in place and it can and does fall out. In terms of general utility, I used the No. 6 hard and heavily for just about every task I could think of in the yard/ garden. It chops well for a standard-sized knife and takes down medium branches as well as a small saw. It wants to work and, due to its shape, is simply useful and never got into a place where it was too much or too little. Overall, it is a fantastic work knife that should last you a lifetime.

HEIRLOOM QUALITY A classically styled working knife, the Winkler Knives Drop Point Crusher is a rugged gentleman’s knife with an appearance that doesn’t immediately give away its abilities. It was the only test knife with a wood grip but this never became an is-

The Case No. 6 was perfect for slicing straps on hay bales, removing small limbs and cutting various hoses and line.

their intended role and be at least serviceable in others should the need arise. The test knives were all put to heavy use during an exterior cleanup, pulling up rotten posts, planting vegetables and bulbs, cutting down saplings and small trees, starting fires, making kindling, opening fertilizer and feed bags, and all sorts of things you would use a knife for in routine outdoor chores. They were exposed to rain, soil and, on occasion, cleaning supplies. I evaluated the edges and finishes for how well they cut and the handles for how well they felt in the hand after extended use.

BIG ’n BEEFY A collaboration between Case and Win-

[ 62 ]

kler Knives, the Case Winkler Recurve Utility No. 6 is large, beefy, well made and very, very sharp. It arrived with a much finer edge than most Winkler designs, which made it all the more interesting when compared to the other Winkler knife in this article (read on for more on it). One of this issue’s cover knives, the No. 6 is not machete size but is big and heavily built. The deep belly and recurve result in a wide, rounded curve up to the tip, with about an inch-and-a-half of front-facing edge to the point. It is excellent at digging but not great at penetrating materials. Where the knife really excels is in deep, long cuts. The recurve shape and handle angle make it want to sink right in. It can

Three of the sheaths by model, material and type: Condor/welted leather with belt loop, KA-BAR Celcon plastic with attachment grommets and belt loop, and TOPS brown leather pouch with loop.

[ DUTY KNIVES ] sue despite it being the most organic in composition. It was, like the others, exposed to rain, sap, dirt and dried wood. In addition, and thanks to the glass breaker/ striker pommel, it was also used to bust down rotten posts and break glass out of a damaged windowpane. It is a lightweight knife and easy to carry all day long. While Winkler makes knives for some of the most tactical dudes in the world, this one doesn’t draw that sort of attention in the slightest. It looks old, like something your granddad may have carried while hunting, and most people just look past it. As an heirloom-quality knife it is hard to want to use it, but like all the Winkler blades I have looked at over the years, it wears nicely and simply gains character. For basic work the knife is great at everything but is just a bit thin for heavy batonning, though it can be used to split smaller pieces. As a work tool, it is firmly in the everyday use category but like the Earth Skills knife is best set aside for heavy work. This is the knife I ended up wearing the most and using for the greatest number of tasks as it was so effortless to carry.

100 PERCENT WORKER The Condor Tool & Knife Woodbuster is the biggest knife I’ve tested for BLADE®. Because of the knife’s name, I decided it best to use it on as much wood as possible, from taking down branches to dropping small trees. Designed by Joe Flowers, it sailed through things like they were hardly there. It approaches machete size, though it is heavy and the energy you need to get it moving is wasted on small brush. I chopped firewood and reduced 12-inch-plus-diameter sections of trunk into firewood with the Woodbuster. It can be batonned with surety and is great in that it has no real tip, so you don’t risk catching your hand or fingers if the blade sticks in the wood. It chops as well or better than a camp axe and with less physical effort in preparing firewood. In taking down trees care is needed, but it is as good as an axe on anything under a foot across, which isn’t small by any stretch. The Woodbuster is 100 percent a working knife and is easy to become proficient with. The only downside is the grip, which is rather round in profile. Smaller hands may have a hard time with it. The grip

The Earth Skills knife was at home in the garden and far more effective than a trowel at getting though tough roots.

is also a bit smooth, though not all that noticeable if you wear work gloves. It becomes a bit hard to hold when wet and can roll in the hand after repeated strikes. This isn’t a serious problem, just something to be aware of.

VERSATILE BARGAIN The KA-BAR Jarosz Camp Turok is large but not as beefy as the Woodbuster, and much lighter. With the exception of heavy wood cutting and batonning, it performs

As a medium chore cutter, the Winkler Drop Point Crusher was great and easy to carry. The glass breaker/striker pommel is wickedly effective.

most outdoor tasks. The blade is thick but draws to a relatively fine point. Designed by Jesse Jarosz, the Turok is a great general-purpose outdoor tool in that it’s easily maintained and stays sharp when handling chores. It’s a bit too large for EDC and is, like the Woodbuster, something you will want to carry until you don’t; it’s an overt item. It is, however, the test tool that has the most utility for the price and the broadest range of uses. The only thing I don’t like is the grip—too smooth for my

The Woodbuster split ﬁrewood easily.

[ 63 ]

[ DUTY KNIVES ]

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The balance of the sheaths by model, material and type, from left: Case/black leather with holder for a lighter, Benchmade/ leather/with snap strap and Winkler/Boltaron with leather cover.

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taste and slippery when wet. However, the scales are removable, making the knife easy to clean and maintain.

EVERYDAY GENT’S KNIFE The handy Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter is eminently useful for most outdoor work, and easy to carry and maintain. Designed by Shane Sibert, it arrived with a very sharp edge, though more notable was the grip profile. It’s a relatively small knife and the handle is unusually shaped, almost like a dog bone in geometry, and is very easy to get a firm, solid grip on. It can’t really be used for chopping large materials but is exceptional for fine work. It’s great at making fire and excellent in the garden and for pruning. While billed as a bushcraft blade, it’s really a fine everyday knife and graciously civilian in appearance. It doesn’t look tactical at all and won’t draw attention

anywhere from the farmer’s market to the barnyard. It held up exceptionally well and maintained a sharp edge in use. It was used like the others to open feed and fertilizer bags and to cut cord and roots. The only downside is the sheath. While aesthetically pleasing, it has a suede feel and once wet tends to stay wet for a long time.

GARDEN/CAMP The Earth Skills Knife from TOPS Knives is large and has a very atypical profile. Matt Graham designed it as a type of survival knife, though not necessarily a heavy-duty one. It is quite thin and has a generous Scandi grind, making it absolutely wonderful for working the earth, cutting through rooted soil to plant new bulbs or vegetables, and light work like cutting branches and digging up old wire netting. It’s great as a close work tool and

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A U G U S T 2 0 2 2

for preparing food but has little value for hard-use tasks. The edge geometry and thin spine are not suitable for batonning, though the blade is great scraping tinder and striking on a rod. Because of these special features, the knife is at home in the garden or camp in that it likely won’t be used for initial setup, but rather for cutting food, root vegetables, harvesting forage and as a light machete. The grip is very comfortable but quite large. The blade stayed very sharp through testing and accomplished tasks easily with minimal wear.

A slip joint unlike any other

For the contact information for the knives featured in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 47.

DEVELOPED WITH RENOWNED SWEDISH WILDERNESS AND SURVIVAL EXPERT LARS FÄLT.

For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

KS19004 MSRP: $180

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Probably the only downside to the Condor handle (left) is that it is thick and prone to rotating in the hand if the edge fails to sink in during chopping. By contrast, the TOPS handle (right) is thin and more contoured yet still large and comfortable, traits that ﬁt the knife’s role as more of a light-duty tool. A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ SPEC SHEET ]

BY MSG KIM BREED 5TH SPECIAL FORCES (RETIRED)

>> IMAGES BY THE AUTHOR

The Beagle sports a handsome harpoon-pattern blade and a comfortably textured G-10 handle.

The author determines if the Beagle is more than just another dogface

[ 66 ]

“THE BEAGLE EXHIBITS OUTSTANDING HANDLE CONTOURING.”

Working on 3/8-inch sisal rope for the ﬁnal medium, the edge made it to 98 clean crunching cuts. The author suffered no hotspots or pinches of his hand during all 98 cuts.

he Beagle linerlock folder from Oknife feels good in the hand and rides quite well in a pants pocket. Action is very smooth with a positive lockup. When you close the knife, the detent ball grabs the harpoon-pattern blade securely. Balance is excellent. As for cutting performance, let’s see. First up: a check of the factory edge with a slice of 20-pound bond copy paper. Via a pull cut the Beagle sliced very clean with no snagging. Cuts were controllable and smooth. Double-walled cardboard provided the next test medium. The blade cut neat

and fluidly with a minimum of grab by the cardboard. The Beagle worked better using a push rather than a pull cut. I felt no snagging in the process. Control was a tad wobbly as more pressure was needed to part the thick cardboard. Plastic board was next. The Beagle cut effortlessly with hardly any wobble. The folder was controllable during the test with only a few zigs in the plastic board. I exerted medium pressure with a push cut. I used quick, short push cuts in a strip of 8-ounce leather. The Beagle made extremely fine slices and emitted a nice

crunching sound. It was very manageable during the skiving. I skived with the belly of the blade mostly to keep the leather together instead of in a pile of pieces. Grabbing some pine left over from my fencing, I commenced to whittle. The 154CM stainless steel blade made some very nice curly-cues. It was controllable for the thin curly-cues and for the deeper bites, too. The handle felt good in my hand with no pinch spots during the heavier cuts. The Beagle finished four fire sticks with no issues. Whittling with it was a pleasure.

SPEC CHECK

The 154CM stainless steel blade was manageable for the thin curly-cues and the deeper bites, too. A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B L A D E

[ 67 ]

[ SPEC SHEET ]

Next, the edge made it to 98 clean crunching cuts in ⅜-inch sisal rope. After that the edge slowed down and crunching was not achieved throughout the full cut. My hand suffered no hotspots or pinches during all 98 cuts. The Beagle exhibits

outstanding handle contouring. For a possible destructive test, I clamped a piece of cow bone in the vise and slammed the edge into it repeatedly. The Beagle whacked 22 times into the bone before breaking it. I detected a very

The Beagle whacked 22 times into the bone before breaking it. Afterward, the author detected a very small nick in the edge. Not bad at all!

[ SPEC SHEET ]

“I WOULD PUT THIS ONE IN MY POCKET FOR DAILY CARRY ANYTIME.” small nick by running a fingernail along the edge. Not bad at all!

CHANGES I know that for production purposes the liners extend past the handle material. I prefer them to be flush. (Editor’s note: The action is very smooth and fast upon closing—so fast, in fact, take care when closing the blade one-handed that the edge does not nick the skin just below your thumbnail.)

FINAL REPORT The Beagle is a nice mid-size linerlock with a great handle and excellent edge retention. I would put this one in my pocket for daily carry anytime. Oknife folders are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship. The company offers a limited lifetime warranty to the original buyer. For more information contact Oknife at www.oknife. com. For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

[ 69 ]

]

BY BLADE ® STAFF

5 1

[ 70 ]

urkish twist, feather pattern, san-mai, low-layer twist and more, damascus steel caters to those in search of something that’s always a tad different. After all, as someone said, like fingerprints, no two damascus patterns are exactly alike.

A 4 15/16-inch blade of “non-stainless damascus” in a ﬂat grind, a Sambar stag handle and a guard of colored O1 tool steel highlight Terry Schreiner’s small bowie. His list price for a similar knife: $750. Email him at rhino969@hotmail. com or call 580-251-0441. (SharpByCoop image)

2 3

Damascus blade steel and a handle of ancient walrus tusk affixed with a mosaic pin complete a Phil Evans bowie. Email Phil at Phil@glenviewforge.com. (Jocelyn Frasier image edit) ABS master smith Scott Gallagher opted for a damascus in a Turkish-twist pattern for the 9.5-inch blade of his bowie. The handle is mammoth ivory secured by 14k-gold domed pins and features anodized vine ﬁlework. Email him at Scottgallagher04@gmail.com. (Jocelyn Frasier image edit) Jacob Anstaett forged the 10-inch blade of a damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels, and chose Tasmanian blackwood for the handle of his recurve beauty. His price for a similar knife: $1,550. Email him at info@anstaettforge.com or call 972-740-1462. (SharpByCoop image)

ABS journeyman smith Allen Newberry’s ﬁxed blade in a low-layer twist damascus is loosely based on the Carrigan Knife, taking its overall proﬁle from the Carrigan and the pin arrangement from another knife. Overall length: 10 1/8 inches. Email Allen at newberry@newberryknives.com. (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)

ABS apprentice smith Brad Millman achieves a kind of ﬂowing effect with the feather-pattern damascus for the 9-inch blade of his chef’s knife. The handle is curly mango and the bolster is damascus. Email Brad at blackmapleblades@gmail.com. (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)

ABS apprentice smith Ben Akin employs a damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels for the 10.25inch blade of his maple bowie. The guard and spacer are damascus, too. Overall length: 15.25 inches. Email Ben at benakinknives@outlook.com. (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)

For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag. com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

[ 71 ]

[ THE KNIFE I CARRY ]

When I was a boy, my dad got me my first knife, a barlow. Ever since, I’ve had a love for cutlery. When I could afford it, I bought my first Benchmade, a Mini Griptilian.” Brandon Zaremba, a letter via e-mail

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.

[ 72 ]

F1pro Elmax In this segment, the F1pro is one of our best selling knives. Now equipped with the solid Elmax steel, it’s even stronger, sharper and safer.

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Total length (mm) 217 Blade length (mm) 100 Blade thickness (mm) 5 Weight (knife) 176 g %ODGH SUR OH &RQYH[ 6WHHO (OPD[ +DUGQHVV +5& Handle material Thermorun Sheath Zytel

FDD Foldable two sided diamond sharpener. The coarse ôęÒĶłĸô Ŧęôú ÒŰ ǳǳ Ķęîşłĸ Òĸô ŰĔú ƥĸú ôęÒĶłĸô Ŧęôú at 25 micron.

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x Elma

[ SHOW CALENDAR ]

BY BLADE ® STAFF

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 8-9 BELLEVILLE, IL Belleville Knife Expo, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds. Visit https://bcfairgrounds.net.* JULY 23-24 WASHINGTON, MO The 6th Annual AIK Knife Show, Elks Lodge. Call 618-656-9868 adamsknifeworks. com@gmail.com. or visit aik-knifeshow. com.* AUGUST AUG. 6-7 ALBANY, OR Pacific Northwest Knife Show, Willamette Expo Hall, Linn County Fairgrounds. Email tacticalordnanceshow.com or call/text Julie at 253-381-6686.* AUG. 6-7 CROSSVILLE, TN Cumberland County Knife & Gun Show w/Col. Coon Collectors, Cumberland County Community Complex. Call Donnie 931250-1981 or visit www.gkshow.org. AUG. 6-7 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA Sydney Knife Show, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, Grand Pavilion Level 2. Visit www.sydneyknifeshow.com.au.* AUG. 13 MERIDIAN, ID Idaho Knife Association Traditional & Tactical Knife Show, Courtyard by Marriott. E-mail idahoknife@gmail.com or visit ika.idahoknife.com.* AUG. 19-20 LEXINGTON, KY Central Kentucky Knife Club Show, Clarion Hotel Convention Center. Contact Kathy Litton 502-863-1840 litton711@aol.com or 859-233-0512.* AUG. 27-28 ST. LOUIS, MO Gateway Area Knife Club Show, Holiday Inn Sunset Hills. Contact Steve Markus Smarkus@gakc.org 314-795-4262.* SEPTEMBER SEPT. 1-3 LAS VEGAS, NV The USN Gathering XIII, Planet Hollywood Hotel & Resort. For more information call 305-255-9176 or visit www.usngathering. com.* SEPT. 10 LAFAYETTE, LA The 3rd Annual Louisiana Knife Show, Le Beni Grand Event Venue. Contact Stprather.

[ 74 ]

SEPT. 10 BRANSON, MO Central States Hammer-In and Knife Show, Silver Anvil Metalcraft. Contact Paul Brown 417-2092520 brimstoneknives@gmail.com.* **

NOV. 12-13 TULSA, OK Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show, Tulsa Fairgrounds. Contact mail@tulsaarmsshow.com, 918492-0401 mail@tulsaarmsshow.com, tulsaarmsshow.com, gunshowtrader.com/ gun-shows/wanenmachers-tulsa-armsshow/.

SEPT. 24 NASHVILLE, TN Arts in Metal Premier Art Knife Exhibition, 21c Museum Hotel. Call 417-866-6688 or visit artsinmetalshow.com.*

NOV. 18-19 NASHVILLE, TN Nashville Custom Knife Show, Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown. Visit fiftyfiftyproductions.net.*

SEPT. 24-25 EASTON, PA Lehigh Valley Knife Show, Charles Chrin Community Center of Palmer Township. Call 267714-4441 or visit paknifeshows.com.*

2023

lcka@gmail.com 225-315-8818 lacustomknives.net.*

SEPT. 30-OCT. 2 BLOOMINGTON, MN Twin Cities Knife Show, Marriott Hotel. For details visit twincitiesknifeshow.com.* OCTOBER OCT. 7-8 SALT LAKE CITY, UT BLADE Show West 2022, the Salt Palace Convention Center. For more information visit bladeshowwest.com, e-mail bladewest@bladeshow.com. * ** OCT. 15 MIDDLETOWN, MD Moran Foundation & Museum All Forged Knife Show and Auction, Historic Bill Moran Shop. Call Nancy Hendrickson 301-3058385 or Steve Nuckels 301-991-7486, or visit billmoranmuseum.com. * ** OCT. 22-23 GARDEN GROVE, CA Fall California Custom Knife Show, Embassy Suites Anaheim South. Call 888-4732661 or visit r1promotions.com.* OCT. 29 LAS VEGAS, NV The Art Knife Invitational, M Hotel. For more info contact AKI Show, 6743 Palmyra Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89146 406-249-4334 info@ artknifeinvitational.com.* NOVEMBER NOV. 4-6 PIGEON FORGE, TN Spirit of Steel Fall Pigeon Forge Knife Show, Smoky Mountain Convention Center. Contact J. Bruce Voyles 423-238-6753 knifeauctions@gmail.com, jbrucevoyles. com.*

FEBRUARY FEB. DATES TO BE DETERMINED LITTLE ROCK, AR Arkansas Custom Knife Show. Visit https://arknife.com or call 870-279-7329.* MARCH MARCH 17-18 FORT WORTH, TX The BLADE Show Texas, Fort Worth Convention Center. Visit bladeshowtexas. com. * ** APRIL APRIL 28-29 SOLVANG, CA The Solvang Custom Knife Show, The Hotel Corque. Email Dave Nittinger at dnknives@aol. com or Dennis Friedly at Friedlyknives@ hotmail.com.*

**Editor’s note: Due to possible last-minute cancellations, if you plan to attend any of the shows listed, please contact them for more information. To ensure timely publication of your knife show in the “Show Calendar,” BLADE® requests that you e-mail all pertinent information concerning your show in written form—dates, locations, etc.—at least three months before the show takes place to BLADE c/o Lori McDaniel at lori@gundigest.com and/or Steve Shackleford at steve@blademag.com. BLADE depends on the shows themselves for prompt and accurate information. For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives www.ltwrightknives.com info@ltwrightknives.com

Adams Intl Knifeworks - AIK www.adamsknifeworks.com adamsknifeworks.com@gmail.com Automatic & Customized Knife Specialists

Culpepper & Co., Inc. www.knifehandles.com www.oldschoolknifeworks.com www.stingrayproducts.com info@culpepperco.com

LATAMA Cutlery www.latama.com pick@latama.com Spring Steel-Oil-Newsletter

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 Bob Dozier Knives www.dozierknives.com info@dozierknives.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.com Make Your Mark Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands

Cutlery Specialties www.restorationproduct.com dennis13@aol.com Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax/Polish, Dennis Blaine Emerson Knives www.emersonknives.com info@emersonknives.com Hawkins Knife Making Supplies www.hawkinsknifemakingsupplies.com radeh@bellsouth.net J. Bruce Voyles Knife Auctions www.jbrucevoyles.com knifeauctions@gmail.com Email us to be put on the auction notification list. J.E. Roorda Custom Knives WWW.JEROORDACUSTOMKNIVES.COM Hand crafted custom folders and fixed blade knives . My number (760) 596-2620, E-mail DEC11042699@YAHOO.COM Jantz Supply www.knifemaking.com jantz@jantzusa.com Quality knifemaking supplies for over 50 years. Jim Hammond Hammond Knives & Designs, LLC www.jimhammondknives.com jim@jimhammondknives.com Knife Center www.knifecenter.com info@knifecenter.com KnifeKits.com www.knifekits.com We Ship Worldwide Knives Plus www.knivesplus.com knivesplus@knivesplus.com

Lee's Cutlery www.leescutlery.com beeneJL43@earthlink.net Martin Butler Engraver martsart81@gmail.com One-Of-A-Kind Engraver Mike Murphy Michigan Custom Knives www.michigancustomknives.com mlds@tm.net Purveyor of Custom Knives New Graham Knives www.newgraham.com mdye@newgraham.com Off-Grid Knives offgridknives.com offgrid@offgridknives.com Family Owned Business Over-Engineered & Underpriced Hard-Use Knives Plaza Cutlery www.plazacutlery.com dan@plazacutlery.com Randall, Reeve, Medford & others PVK www.pvk.com 2020@pvk.com Largest selection of Microtech & Marfione in the world Rat Worx, Inc. www.ratworxusa.com guns@ratworxusa.com RECON 1 www.Recon1.com sales@Recon1.com Your number one source for Custom Knives, Shirogorov Knives, and WingManEDC Knives.

[ WHERE TO NET'EM ] Red Hill Cutlery www.redhillcutlery.com jrbasham@redhillcutlery.com

Smoky Mountain Knife Works www.smokymountainknifeworks.com webmaster@smkw.com

True North Knives www.truenorthknives.com info@truenorthknives.com

Rob Wright Knives www.knivesbyrobwright.com robwright57@yahoo.com High quality custom knives

Sooner State Knives www.soonerstateknives.com ssknives@swbell.net

Uncle Al www.riversidemachine.net uncleal@riversidemachine.net

Santa Fe Stoneworks www.santafestoneworks.com knives@RT66.com Unique one of a kind gemstone handled cutlery

Stcroixblades.com info@stcroixblades.com Large Collection Buyer, & Retailer Knives, & Japanese Swords

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ADVERTISERS’ INDEX A A.G. Russell......................................... 7 Admiral Steel/Terry Summers .......... 45 American Bladesmith Society, Inc.... 53 B Blade Magazine ................................. 77 Blade Magazine ................................. 81 BladeGallery/Takefu Steel.................. 29 Blue Ridge Knives ............................... 7 Boker USA......................................... 40 Boker USA......................................... 64 Bradford Knives ................................ 44 Buckeye Engraving-Steel Stamps .... 80 C Caribou House Acct .......................... 75 CAS Iberia ......................................... 65 Chris Reeve Knives ............................. 8 D Damasteel AB.................................... 39 Dave Ellis/Exquisiteknives.com ........ 75

F Fallkniven........................................... 73 Filler ................................................... 59 G Giant Mouse Knives ............................ 8 Gordon White.................................... 76

M Masecraft Supply Co ........................ 53 Mcusta Knives USA .......................... 37 MGE Wholesale................................. 19 Microtech Knives, Inc ....................... 84 Moen Tooling .................................... 35

H Halfbreed Blades Australia Pty Ltd. .. 83 Hawkins Knifemaking Supplies ........ 65

N NC Tool Company ............................. 64 Niagara Specialty Metals .................. 39 Nichols Damascus Inc ...................... 69 Nordic Knives .................................... 41

J Jantz Supply...................................... 15 Jantz Supply...................................... 23 John Denton Loveless Knives .......... 76

O Olamic Cutlery................................... 45

K Kayne Custom Hardware dba Blacksmith's Depot ........................ 57 Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies........ 57 Knives Plus ....................................... 80

E Edmund Davidson ............................ 76 Evenheat Kiln, Inc. ............................ 65

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P Pro-Tech Knives, LLC ....................... 51 PVK.COM .......................................... 11 Q QSP Knife ............................................ 3

S Smoky Mountain Knife Works ........... 5 Spartan Blades .................................... 9 Spartan Blades .................................. 69 Spyderco, Inc .................................... 41 T Tactical Ordnance.............................. 59 TOPS Knives ..................................... 17 Tormach, LLC.................................... 31 True North Knives ............................. 59 Tru-Grit .............................................. 80 V Vegas Forge Damascus .................... 52 ViperSharp ........................................ 73 VZ Grips ............................................ 46 W W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery, Co. .......... 2 WE Knife............................................ 27 White River Knife & Tool Inc ............ 65

R Randall Made Knives ........................ 80 RazorRazor........................................ 51

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 715-498-3768 lori@gundigest.com

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July 11

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[ COOL CUSTOM ]

BY BLADE® STAFF

Iraqi Tank Knife John Thunert’s Capemaster includes blade steel from a destroyed enemy tank

hen John Thunert learned an acquaintance had some spare steel from an Iraqi tank, he jumped at the chance to buy some of it and forge it in the damascus of his Capemaster skinner. Strips of steel 3x3 inches and 4x4 inches, each 3⁄16-inch thick, were torch cut from the armored vehicle, which was stored in a “tank graveyard” in Iraq. John cleaned the steel up, including removing some paint. He also got a copy of the form his friend had to fill out on the steel as a “war trophy,” which is how he was able to legally ship the steel stateside. “It kinda gives me some bona fides,” John noted. He said an analysis of the material identified it as a very pure form of mild steel containing 99 percent iron and few impurities. Though the knife started out as a caper, it kept “growing” until it became a skinner, but John kept the caper name. The handle is quilted poplar with pins of a subdued coyote brown G-10 to match the liners. For more information contact John C. Thunert, Dept. BL8, 5330 Vista Run, San Antonio, TX 78247 210-771-6615 mrbug@sbcglobal.net, JTKnifeworks.com (if John’s website is not up when you read this, it should be shortly). For the latest knives, knife news, trends, and more, visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.

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Blade - Issue August 2022

Articles inside

IRAQI TANK KNIFE

FINGERPRINTS OF STEEL

IS ITS BITE WORSE THAN ITS BARK?

READY AND DEPENDABLE

FIX BAYONETS

BAD AND BEAUTIFUL

A DAZZLER FOR KAZ

EAST BEASTS

SHARP IN A PINCH

DEMONS OF THE PAST

SHOP DUMP