Blade - February 2020 PDF

EDC KNIFE SPECIAL ISSU
GASKILL’S KNIFE
KNUCKLES UP P. 82
FEBRUARY 2020
www.blademag.com
KNIFE CHARITIES:
GIVE TILL IT CUTS P. 36
TEXAS TRENCH
KNIFE ROCKS P. 82
WILLEY KNIVES
GOES GOLDEN P. 74
ED FOWLER
JAVIER VOGT
V ART IS BACK! P. 22
AUTOMAT TIC IS A “10” P. 12
HOTTEST CUSTOM
COLLECTIBLLES P. 12
BATTLE OF
O THE
BLADE SHAAPES P. 71
WOODCA ARVERS: CHIPS
OFF THE OL’ BLADE P. 44
PROFESS SOR INTEGRAL:
T.M. “TED” DOWELL
D P. 30
US $5.95
CAN $6.95 EDGE EXAMS
02
4 CARABINER KNIVES P. 78
4 LATEST LOCKBACKS P. 58
0 74470 50251 7 3 BLUE-COLLAR NECKERS P. 50
Display until February 24, 2020
FEBRUARY 0
Ale
ex Gev’
v s auto dagger.
( ife
if Treas
a ures image)
Gerald Willey of Willey Knives.

74 (image courtesy of Geri Elliott) 36 Benchmade’s Altitude.
(Benchmade image)
10 ARE CUSTOMS REALLY WORTH THAT MUCH? 50 BLUE-COLLAR BLADES

Or should the question be are the knives underpriced? Production neckers labor time-and-a-half on the job.
By Steve Shackleford By James Morgan Ayres
12 14 CUTS ABOVE 58 CUT WITH CONFIDENCE

Warm your hands with some of the hottest collectibles. For knives to rely on, carry one of the latest lockbacks.
By Steve Shackleford By Dexter Ewing
22 WHERE DO KNIFEMAKERS COME FROM? 71 BATTLE OF THE BLADE SHAPES

The author returns to share more of his homespun knife wisdom. Two new knives take the sidewinder skinning test and more.
By Ed Fowler By MSG Kim Breed
30 PROFESSOR INTEGRAL 74 A WILLEY GREAT 50 YEARS!

Ted Dowell schooled an industry on fine knife craftsmanship. Willey Knives cutlery store celebrates its 50th anniversary.
By Mike Haskew By Mike Haskew
36 THEY GIVE SO OTHERS GET 78 HANGING OUT!

Caring knifemakers lead the way supporting worthy causes. Carabiner knives offer a refreshing change to everyday carry.
By Daniel Jackson By Pat Covert
44 CHIPS OFF THE OL’ BLADE 82 TEXAS TRENCH KNIFE

An experienced carver outlines factory edged tools for the job. Common-sense knife law paves the way for WWI custom repro.
By BLADE staff
®
By Abe Elias
4 BL ADE FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0
6 | READERS RESPOND
7 | COVER STORY
20 | THE KNIFE I CARRY
46 | THE SLOYD KNIFE
53 | 5,000-YEAR-OLD EDC
56 | SHOW CALENDAR
64 | NEXT IN BLADE ®
64 | WHERE TO GET ’EM

65 | BLADE SHOPPE
66 | WHERE TO NET ’EM
67 | AD INDEX
68 | WHAT’S NEW
58
The V Nives
Rocky lockback.
(Marty Stanfield image)
78
The Kershaw
Reverb XL.
(Pat Covert image)
BLADE (ISSN 1064-5853) is published monthly (Vol. XLVI,

®
No. 5), with an additional issue in November, by Caribou

Media dba Gun Digest Media LLC. Corporate headquarters
is 224 Kingsbury Grade, Stateline, NV 89448. Periodicals
postage paid at Appleton, WI 54913, and at additional mailing
offices. Canadian Agreement No. 40665675. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to BLADE Magazine, Box 420235,
Palm Coast, FL 32142.
FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0 blad ema g.co m 5

RE ADE RS RES PON D |
Standard Sharpness Rating observers feared CATRA’s equipment

might be used by some to rate the entire when I first started trying my hand
I
live in Ferring, a village on the English knife, which would not take into account at making a folder. For some reason I
Channel coast, 50 miles south of Lon- other elements that also are important picked him to pester. After several calls,
don. I am a member of our University to performance, such as balance, he finally made me understand what I
of the Third Age, an academic organiza- ergonomics, materials, blade and handle needed to know.
tion for the “retired-but-still-curious” shapes and geometries, and other critical The main thing I am thankful to him
community. We have a science group that factors. That’s to say nothing of the for is when, for medical and fi nancial
meets regularly to discuss scientific mat- operator’s personal preferences. reasons, I had to leave the Guild. He
ters in the news and of general interest. The hardness of blade steel as was Guild president at the time and I
A question was posed recently determined on the Rockwell hardness called to tell him. He strongly suggested
asking how to rate the sharpness of scale, on the other hand, is indeed that I write a letter explaining why I was
a blade. I have been in touch with an an industry standard. For one thing, leaving to be put in my fi le. So, instead
organization here that tests blades to because there are benefits to using steels of being dropped for cause, I left as a
internationally recognized standards. heat treated to lower or higher Rockwell member in good standing.
A spokesperson for the organization hardnesses depending on use, having
explained to me that there is no word a standardized system for gauging Tim (R.V.) Alverson, knifemaker, a
or words to rate sharpness, as every hardness helps identify steels best letter via e-mail
blade differs in matters such as type and suited for certain jobs. However, while
quality of material, purpose, weight, What Happened to Spec Sheet?
a steel’s hardness is related somewhat
H
angle of grind, etc., which makes to sharpness, there are other factors just ey, I missed BLADE® field editor
absolute sense. However, I suspect it is as important if not more so to consider, Kim Breed’s “Spec Sheet” last is-
possible that different cultures may in including wear resistance, the grade of sue. What happened?
fact have a term to rate differing degrees steel and its chemistry, blade geometry,
of sharpness. Are you aware of any? the quality of the sharpener used to Emory Blanchard, a letter via-email
sharpen the edge and the level of skill
John Manning, a letter via e-mail applied in sharpening it, etc. As a result, Editor’s note: Thanks for noticing. It’s not
the Rockwell hardness scale is not suited that Kim didn’t write one—we simply
Editor’s note: It may come as a surprise, as a standardized sharpness measure. didn’t have room for it. It appears this
but the cutlery industry has no Meanwhile, we’ll wait for the letters to time on page 71. We hope you enjoy it.
standardized measurement system to roll in to opine on the subject.
rate sharpness—or at least none of which For the latest knives, knife news,
we are aware. Members of the knife trends and more visit blademag.com,
industry rely on various cutting tests to Godfather of The Guild BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @
I
get a sense of performance, but, to our enjoyed the article about BLADE blade_magazine, and on Facebook
knowledge, there isn’t a standardized Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® and Twitter.
scoring system for rating an edge. member Frank Centofante (July
Many knifemakers will tell you, “It’s BLADE®, page 71). It brought to mind
sharp when it’s sharp.” Others might call
a keen edge “scary sharp,” “crazy sharp,”
etc. Across cultures and history there
have been different words for that same How to Reach Us!
idea, but it’s been that way for as long as Visit us online at www.blademag.com to: BACK ISSUES FOR SALE: Subject to Availability.
anyone at BLADE® can recall. • Sign up for our free newsletter. Call 920-471-4522.
At least one entity has addressed such • Renew your magazine subscription. There’s a
subscription link in the nav bar. ADVERTISING: Contact Lori McDaniel at
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• Comment on our site stories written by BLADE®
Trades Research Association (CATRA). staff members and others. request a media kit by writing to: BLADE, 5600
It has equipment that tests knives for W. Grande Market Dr., Appleton, WI 54913.
LOOK FOR BLADE MAGAZINE ON:
sharpness and other factors affecting LETTERS OR ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS:
performance, and offers testing services Steve Shackleford, Editor
and other related products as well. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Visit us on the Web BLADE Magazine
Buck Knives used CATRA (catra.org) at www.blademag.com or call 877-485-6426. 5600 W. Grande Market Dr.
testing equipment a number of years Outside USA: 386-246-3419. Ste. 100
ago, though the results never seemed Appleton, WI 54913
to catch on as an industry standard. BOOK SALES: Visit us at www.gundigeststore.com or email steve@blademag.com.
or call 920-471-4522.
Why? One school of thought is that some
NEED A KNIFE?
COVER STORY |
Our online store is better,

faster, & easier to use.
IF IT CUTS,
WE CARRY IT.
SMKW.COM
• TOP BRAND CLOSEOUTS

T
he cover piece is the latest in a se-
• ANTIQUE & CUSTOM KNIVES

ries of stunning folders by Javier
Vogt. Winner of the award for
Best Folder at both BLADE Show 2019 • LIMITED EDITION KNIVES
• DAILY FLASH SALES
and the 2019 BLADE Show West, Vogt
specializes in automatics with clever re-
leases, among others, and the cover piece
is a classic example.
Deploying via a guard release, the CELEBRATING
OUR 40TH
4.75-inch blade is a ladder-pattern
damascus forged by Marcial Dos
Santos. The antique tortoise handle
houses a lockback mechanism. Closed ANNIVERSARY
length: 5.5 inches. The knife carries in
an elegant leather zippered case and
stores in an expertly crafted wooden box
custom made by Vogt. Knife Treasures’
price: $8,500.
For more information contact Javier
Vogt, Dept. BL2, 409 N 2915, Villa Elisa,
Buenos Aires 1894 Argentina javi_lp@
hotmail.com; Carlos Lopez, c/o Knife
Treasures, Dept. BL2, 10097 Cleary Blvd.
Ste. #113, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33324 954-
520-1287 clopez@knifetreasures.com;
and/or see the story on page 12.
The image of the cover knife is by
SharpByCoop. The inset shot of the
repro of the Matt Gaskill World War I
trench knife is by Gaskill and is edited EST. 1978
EST
by Caleb Royer.
For the latest knives, knife news, trends

and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
popular Instagram page @blade_
magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter. Facebook: /SmokyMountainKnifeWorks . Twitter: @SMKWCom
Instagram: @SmokyMountainKnifeWorks

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BLADE ® Magazine, (ISSN 1064-5853) is published monthly plus

one extra issue in November, by Caribou Media Group, LLC dba
Domestic Producers of sheet and plate products for the knife industry. Gun Digest Media LLC. Corporate headquarters is 5600 W. Grande
Stainless and tool steel grades, all CPM knife steels plus new: Market Dr., Suite 100, Appleton, WI 54913. Periodicals postage
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UN SH EATHED | BY STEVE SHACKLEFORD
ARE CUSTOMS REALLY

WORTH THE MONEY?
H
ow much are custom knives really worth?
It is a question we’re asked about as much
as any, the answer to which we, as well A Bob Loveless Hideout model sports a handle
®
material rare for Loveless—camo Micarta .
as many who frequent the knife scene, seek constantly. According to John Denton, Loveless used the
Reader James Banevicz wrote a passionate letter to material in 1992 only, and on as few as two
us on the subject. “I am a lifetime BLADE subscriber,” he h knives total. (Bad Bob Knives image)
began. “I enjoy the articles, the new product informattion,
the ‘Readers Respond’ section, the whole magazine. It is a very
well-made product. Thanks.
“What I don’t like is the way of the so-called custom
knifemakers’ prices. A case in point is in the October isssue, page
34, and the price of $40,000 for a pocketknife. Really! Like Les
Gold on Hardcore Pawn might say, ‘Where did you comee up with
that price?’ That is an extreme example but I see pockketknives
and fixed blades going for one, two or even three thousand t
dollars. For years now I have been silent. Not now.
“These knives are not worth that kind of money,” he
maintained. “No knives are worth that kind of moneey. These
makers are taking advantage. They should be ashamed d. This is
wrong and will ruin part of the knife industry. You are prromoting
wrong with it for $1,000, $2,000 or even
these people by giving them exposure. Please stop.”
$3,000 and you might get trampled in the
First of all, we thank Mr. Banevicz for his letter. He oobviously
ensuing stampede of eager buyers.
feels very strongly about the subject and states his case well.
w
Another example I’ve heard a number of
Some say a knife is worth as much as someone is willing w to
times is where new or relatively unknown custom
pay for it. While that statement may seem disingenuous, think
makers ask up to around $250 or less for each of
about it: If, for example, a person is searching for a specific knife
their knives and can’t sell one. Then, when the same makers raise
to “complete” his or her collection, chances are he or she will pay
the price to, say, $350 or higher for the same knife, it sells. The
more—sometimes much more—for the knife than someone who
thinking here seems to be that if the maker doesn’t ask a high
does not collect such knives. Ergo, in such an instance the knife
enough price for the knife he must not think it’s worth much, and
is worth what the person is willing to pay for it.
customers sense this and/or agree and won’t buy it. Meanwhile,
As for the $40,000 “pocketknife” to which Mr. Banevicz refers,
when the maker asks the higher price for the same knife, he must
it is a Credit Card Folder made by German knifemaker Jurgen
think it’s worth it, and customers sense this and/or agree and buy
Steinau. The price is one long-time custom knife purveyor Dave
it. Whether that’s really the reason customers won’t buy the knife
Ellis of Exquisiteknives.com, who well knows high-dollar knives
at the lower price but will at the higher one I don’t know, but I’ve
and what they fetch on the market, was asking.
talked to several makers who say that seems to be the case. Call
Steinau has been making some of the most distinctive, high-
it “perceived value,” if you will, and as the man says, in today’s
quality custom knives for many years, and has built up a collector
world perception often is reality.
base that will buy his knives, usually no matter what the cost.
Beginning next issue, to address the preceding questions and
Is he ashamed people will pay that much for one of his knives?
others we will begin a multi-part series called “How To Buy
I doubt it. If he is, he shouldn’t be. In fact, there is at least one
Custom Knives.” Knife, maker, price, value and more all will be
maker who has sold a knife for more than twice that $40,000
covered in our continuing effort to help you get the most out of
amount—but I digress.
your cutlery experience. See you then.
Perhaps not a better question but one that can be vexing as
well is when are the prices of custom knives not high enough? For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.
Consider the knives of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and
member Bob Loveless. According to purveyor John Denton on Facebook and Twitter.
(page 12), you will not find a Loveless for under $4,000 today
unless the handle is damaged or something else is wrong with
the knife. Consequently, try selling a Loveless with nothing
WH AT ’S HOT | BY STEVE SHACKLEFORD
WARM YOUR HANDS

WITH SOME OF TODAY’S
HOTTEST COLLECTIBLE
CUSTOM KNIVES
Knife: Automatic dagger. Maker and engraver: Alex Gev. Knife type:
Art knife. Blade length: 4 1/8”. Blade steel: Damascus. Handle: 420
stainless steel. Opening mechanism/lock: Wedge Lock opens and closes
via the wedge (inset) at the guard. Closed length: 5 7/8”. Sheath:
Zippered pouch. Knife Treasures price: $34,000.
W
hat collectors
look for in the Knife: Art Knife Folding Auto. Maker: Javier Vogt. Blade
hottest customm length: 4.75”. Blade steel: Ladder-pattern damascus
by Marcial Dos Santos. Opening mechanism: Automatic
knives is embodied in 14 ou ut- guard release. Handle: Antique tortoise. Lock: Linerlock.
standing examples of fixed fi Closed length: 5.5”. Knife To Know: Vogt knives won the
blades and folders submittted to Best Folder Award at both BLADE Show 2019 and the
BLADE® by several top industry pur- 2019 BLADE Show West. Knife Treasures price: $8,500.
(SharpByCoop image)
veyors. The knives are built by some of
the most talented makers extant, makers
with talent levels that seem to be going
nowhere but up.
When it comes to show wcasing the
world’s top custom makers in terms of
knife mechanisms and locks, it’s hard to
beat those who build folders. Argentina’s
Javier Vogt is making some off the slickest
and best looking autos anywhere,
including his Art Knife Folding Auto,
this issue’s cover knife. Vogt has the vote
of Carlos Lopez of Knife Treaasures.
“He is a young knifemak ker that has functionality of a tactical flipper,”
a very bright future. He is one of the stated Andrew McMichael, director of
hottest makers out there and d his knives consignment sales for Arizona Custom
are very hard to come by,” Lopez noted. Knives. “What is most extraordinary is
“His knives and presentation n are a 10!” that this knife is not just a flipper but a
Another auto in Lopez’s stable is front flipper. Enrique has designed the
the Automatic Dagger by Alex Gev. action in such a way that all ranges of
Sporting spectacular engrav ing, also by knife enthusiasts will be able to operate
Gev, the folder opens via the t maker’s it with proficiency and enjoyment.”
ingenious Wedge Lock on the knife’s In addition to collectible folders with
integral guard. “It is an amazzing locking clever contraptions are those of the
mechanism that works incredibly well smaller, dressier variety. An example is
and is easy to operate,” Lopez observed. the Joule by Jonas Iglesias. FIXIN’ to
“The knife’s engraving is just top notch “Jonas’ combination of size, organic Fixed blades, especially those of
and the best.” feel and excellent mechanics have the forged variety, continue to be
A graduate of the Bill Ruple School of definitely caught many collectors’ hot, including those by makers who
Knifemaking, Enrique Pena makes the attention,” wrote Recon 1’s Sako have been in demand for some time
Trapper Front Flipper, a hybrid of a classic Rouchanian. “The design of the Joule in now. According to Les Robertson
slip-joint pattern and a tactical folder. particular has been most desirable, with of Robertson’s Custom Cutlery, the
“This knife has the timeless class collectors today going more towards the popularity of such knives is in part due
of a traditional slip joint and the smaller folder.” to some high-priced custom folders.
Knife: Bowie. Maker: Ben Breda. Blade length: 10”.

Blade steel: Ladder-pattern damascus. Blade finish: Acid
etched. Handle: Amber ironwood. Guard: Stainless steel w/
damascus and stainless steel spacers. Overall length: 15”.
Sheath: Leather, custom made by maker. Maker’s price
for a similar knife: $1,550. (Ben Breda image courtesy of
Robertson’s Custom Cutlery)

WHAT’ S HO T |
Knife name: Joule. Maker: Jonas Iglesias. Blade length:

3.3”. Blade steel: Norris Damascus. Handle: Carboquartz/
black Timascus™. Closed length: 4.2”. Knife To Know:
BOKER PLUS TAKARA | A Kansei Matsuno design | D2 blade steel | Cocobolo handle scales (also available with carbon fiber or G10) | Blade: 3.15” | Overall: 7.09” | Model No.: 01BO895
Hidden hardware, custom-milled zirconium pivots and
textured borders. Price the knife sold for in an open-bid
auction: $8,400. (image courtesy of Recon 1)
Knife: Trapper Front Flipper. Maker:

Enrique Pena. Knife type: Hybrid of a
slip joint and a tactical folder. Blade
length: 2.75”. Blade steel: CPM 154
stainless. Blade finish: Hand-rubbed
satin. Handle: Micarta® scales over
titanium frame. Lock: Linerlock.
Sheath: Zippered case. Closed length:
33.625”.
625” M Maker’s
k ’ price
i ffor a similar
i il
kknife: $895. (image courtesy of
AArizona Custom Knives)
bokerusa.com
Knife name: Onca (Belgian for “jaguar”).

Maker: Sam Lurquin. Knife type: Fighter.
Blade length: 10”. Blade material: W2
tool steel w/double hamon. Handle: Dyed
curly maple. Overall length: 15.75”.
Knife To Know: Copper spacer, blued
steel guard and the fullered blade is
double edged. Sheath: Custom leather
by Aaryn Sybrant. Exquisiteknives.com
price: $4,400.
“With so many folding knives
selling in excess of $5,000, collectors
became accustomed to seeing those NORDIC
numbers. These prices have helped
introduce collectors to fi xed blades, KNIVES
both at the introductory level and at See our Gallery
the higher end,” he observed. “San mai on 8th Street,
and damascus fighters and bowies are Boise, Idaho
garnering more attention these days
due to a combination of factors. The Featuring the finest in
quality and craft smanship are Custom & Randall
obvious. One person builds the knives, knives since 1971
so there is no outsourcing of parts
or construction. Many of the larger
forged blades are viewed as having a
value price—that is to say the price is We buy, sell & consign
perceived to be fair, thus providing entire collections
value for your money.”
An example is the sheath knives of
Belgium’s Sam Lurquin, including one
of his latest, the 15.75-inch Onca. “Sam’s Buy with confidence,
knives have been not only hard to get but your satisfaction
is guaranteed
sell extremely well,” wrote Dave Ellis of
Exquisiteknives.com “The Onca is a new
model and really fits in with Lurquin’s
stylish knives. It has overall balance and www.nordicknives.com

WH AT ’S HOT |
Knife name: Narwhal. Maker: Kevin Foster. Knife type: Tactical flipper/EDC.
Blade length: 3.125”. Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless. Blade finish: Hand-
rubbed satin. Handle: Titanium. Lock: Framelock. Closed length: 4.25”.
Knife To Know: Heat-colored hardware and standoffs, milled pattern/texture
on handle and black Timascus™ pocket clip. Recon 1 price: $1,300.
Knife name: Dagger. Maker: Bob Loveless. Blade

Knife name: Fif 20. Maker: Philippe Jourget. length: 4.5”. Blade steel: ATS-34 stainless. Blade
Blade length: 3.5”. Blade steel: RWL-34 grind: Double. Handle: Stag. Engraving: Jeff Parke.
stainless. Blade finish: Hand-rubbed satin. Overall length: 9”. Sheath: Leather. Knife To Know:
Handle: Ironwood. Bolsters: Titanium Made in 1995, the blade sports the rare Loveless
anodized bronze. Weight: 6.7 ozs. Maker’s signature logo. According to John Denton, Loveless
price for a similar knife: $1,500. (iimage daggers are possibly the most beautiful knives from
courtesy of Steel Addiction Custom Knives) the Loveless shop. This one is in mint condition.
Bad Bob’s Knives price: $14,000.
looks, as well as a simply vicious blade.”

Also riding the wave of big-forged-
blade popularity are the Sobral brothers,
otherwise known as CAS of Arggentina.
“CAS knives have been hot for a
while now,” Ellis began. “They are a big
hit at both BLADE Shows, th hey sell
everything that they create,
Knife Name: Cardiac Arrest Damascus Bowie. Maker: Steve
and know how to market
Randall. Blade length: 10”. Blade steel: Cardiac Arrest
themselves as well as their pattern damascus in 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy
great knives. I have been selling steels. Handle: Ancient walrus ivory. Guard, ferrule and
their work for many years and still have buttcap: Damascus. Sheath: Leather, custom made by
a lot of requests for most anything that maker. Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,500. (Steve
Randall image courtesy of Robertson’s Custom Cutlery)
the boys from Argentina create in their
shop.”
The fixed blades of BLADE Magazine
Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob
Loveless are not forged but they remain
hot, as they have for many decades. John
Denton of Bad Bob’s Knives said this past
October and November were the best sales
wise for Loveless knives in almost 35 years.
“It seems everything with Loveless on
it is selling,” Denton noted. “[Cutlery Knife: Framelock flipper. Maker: Jens Anso. Knife type: Dress tactical. Blade
Hall-Of-Famer] A.G. Russell said years length: 3.375”. Blade steel: RWL-34 stainless. Handle: Zirconium and titanium
w/mokume inlay. Lock: Linerlock. Closed length: 4.625”. Knife To Know: Fine
ago, ‘There is no one like Loveless when milling pattern on the frame. Sheath: Canvas and leather pouch by SoMMER.
it comes to design, balance and resale.’ Arizona Custom Knives price: $3,800.
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WH AT ’S HOT |
Knife name: Thunderbolt. Maker: CAS/the Sobral So far that has been true. Other knives
brothers. Knife type: Sub-hilt fighter. Blade length: 12”.
seem to fade in and out of fashion, but
Blade steel: Ladder-pattern damascus. Handle: Sculpted
and colored stag. Guard: Blued damascus. Knife To Lo
Loveless is so pure and the design so
Know: The blade sports EDM fullering. Sheath: Artfully strong, he sets the benchmark for
tooled leather by Marcello Sobral. Overall length: 18”. knife trade.”
Exquisiteknives.com price: $5,500. Just about anything Loveless
sells, sells well and sells for a lot
o money.
of
“LLoveless knives now all start at
aboutt $4,500 and go on up,” Denton
wrotee. “There are no run-of-the-mill
Lovelless knives for $3,800 anymore.
Some
Sometimes if the handle is split or
something is wrong, then you will see
one for under $4,000. It’s a crazy world
and I’m always amazed.”
Editor’s note: Some of the blade and

overall lengths of the pictured knives are
approximate.
For the contact information for the knives

Knife name: Hardline. Maker: Chad Nell. Blade length: 3.5”. Blade steel: CTS in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
XHP stainless. Blade finish: Hand-rubbed satin. Handle: Ironwood. Weight: page 64.
5.7 ozs. Closed length: 4.5”. Knife To Know: Polished zirconium bolsters and
textured pivot rings. Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,550. (image courtesy
of Steel Addiction Custom Knives) For the latest knives, knife news, trends
and more visit blademag.com,
BLADE
BLADE®’ss popular Instagram
page @blade_magazine, and
Chris
on Facebookk and Twitter
Reeve
Knives
Knife:
Semi-Skinner.
Maker: Bob
Loveless. Blade
length: 3.75”.
Blade steel:
ATS-34 stainless.
Handle: Green
IMPINDA Micarta® w/all stainless
bolts. Overall length:
7.5”. Sheath: Leather
a modern slip joint
pouch. Knife To Know:
“This one has no guard,
just a smart collar,” John
Denton noted, and “the rare
improved handle.” This one
Order at chrisreeve.com also is in mint condition. Bad
Bob’s Knives price: $5,100.
T HE KNI FE I C ARRY |
My everyday knife is
the ABKT Tanto in
the Thin Blue Line Series to
commemorate law enforcement
officers. It’s a great knife and has
thin, blue-line anodized liners.
It’s a beautiful knife.”
Ricky Neely,
Covington, Georgia
I carry a JPT-3S drop-point I pocket an E6 by

BP folder by Ontario. Joe William Henry Knives.
Pardue, Mel’s son, designed it. Like It’s a great EDC. The M390 blade
father like son, eh? I like the recurve steel is borderline brutish.”
blade and the handle fits me a like
a glove.” Rodney J. Mansfield, Jr.,
a letter via e-mail
Sol Smith,
a letter via e-mail
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular
Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
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 May 15. Mail to: BLADE ®, POB 789,
Ooltewah, TN 37363-0789, 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.
2 0 BL ADE FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0
KNI FE TA LK | BY ED FOWLER BLADE® FIELD EDITOR
IMAGES COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
Where Do
Knifemakers
Come One of the author’s earliest knife memories is
seeing his grandfather sharpen a pencil.
From?
ED FOWLER RETURNS TO SHARE
HIS HOMESPUN WISDOM ON
YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT
The author mans his exhibitor table at a past

(BLADE ® fi
BLADE Show. (BLADE file
le image)
Editor’s note: It’s been a long time since
High Endurance Performance Knife
master smith/BLADE® field editor Ed
Fowler last wrote for BLADE—since th he
September 2017 issue, to be exact. Ill heaalth According to the author, a pocketknife like
forced one of our favorite scribes to atttend this one is what many used to sharpen
pencils back in the day.
to something much more demanding off his
time than writing: his own well-being. H He’s
better now, though, and back—and you u’ve
got him! Enjoy!
O
ften I find myself wonderring or sharp, thus I was always
where my desire to make kniives in some kind of trouble. Up
originated. I often come up with
w to that time, if I asked for a sharp
many little pieces of my personal histtory pencil I got a crayon.
that pointed me in the direction I usually I did have a clandestine stash of
find myself. This article covers one tiny
t pencils. When they needed sharpening I
piece of many experiences that led me to would wait until my grandfather came to
what I do. visit and let him sharpen them. Today I
can still see his hands working while he
EARLY LESSONS sharpened a pencil. I still do not feel that
One of my early knife recollections I can put as beautiful a point on a pencil
is seeing my grandfather open his as he could. Many times my mind turns selling pencils was 40 miles away from
pocketknife and sharpen his pencil. It was back to his work when I sharpen a pencil. my house and that posed a problem.
World War II. My father was in France and One thing I learned and continue to learn Back home I walked to the dime
my family was living in Denver, Colorado. is that the sharper the knife, the better store. It had unsharpened pencils for
I was just about in kindergarten. While point you can develop on your pencil. a nickel each. I earned a dime from my
my mother preferred I use crayons, I did After the war we all moved to Idaho
have access to a few pencils, but they were Springs, Colorado, where my fath her sett up
all dulled on purpose. Being a nurse, my his medical practice and I got to be
b a
mother was terrified of anything dirty kid. While Idaho Springs was
in the mountains, my mother
kept me pretty close to home,
which was in the geographical
center of town. U.S. Highways
6 and 40 ran right in front of
my house. I would sit on the
sidewalk and signal the universall
“hello” to truckers, holding myy
closed fist up and pumping it up p
and down suggesting the truckerrs
hit their air horns. Many did. It
was fun until neighbors starteed
complaining to my mother abo out
the noise and I had to stop (ju ust
one of the “joys” of living in the
city).
BIRTH of a BUSINESSMAN
Sometimes we went shoppingg in
Denver. One day I saw a man sitting
on the sidewalk wearing a paair of
dark glasses holding a tin cup full
f of
pencils, and folks would buy them.
I noticed that the pencils werre not
sharpened and thought, wow, I could
As a youth in the 1940s, the author make some extra money sharpening i According to the author, both John
borrowed his grandfather’s pocketknife to pencils if my grandfather would let me Steinbeck and Ernest Hemingway wrote
sharpen pencils and sold them in a can. borrow his knife. Trouble was, the man their great novels with pencils.
FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0 blad ema g.co m 2 3

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mother and bought two. I borrowed my

grandfather’s pocketknife that he kept in
his shop and sharpened them. I got an
empty can from the garbage to hold the
pencils, put a rag in the bottom to keep
from breaking the points, and wrote a
little sign on a piece of paper: “Sharpened
Pencils 10 Cents!”
I started selling pencils in front of
the post office. I stood just like the
“businessman” in Denver and held my
can with my merchandise. They sold fast!
Folks who bought them were happy. As I
sold them I took the profits to the dime
store, bought more pencils, and soon I
had enough money to fill the can with
them. Folks laughed and bought them,
and I knew I was going to be rich! About
the second can of pencils someone went
to my folks’ medical office and told my
mother I was selling pencils in front of
the post office. It did not take her long to
find me.
Knowing that she usually did not
appreciate my ideas, I rarely asked
permission. I had not discussed my
business with her or my grandfather.
From her tone of voice as she approached
I knew it was best not to say too much. You
would have thought I was selling stolen
www.quinaultvalleygunsandblades.com | 360-288-2652 goods or something. She was furious!
K NI F E TA L K |
A knife dealer gave this knife to the author. “Guess

what, she was just like one of my first knives, given
to me because she did not have a point that could
hurt me,” the author wrote. “She held a great edge
and was a friend for years.”
While she led me home by

my left ear and a little hair,
she wanted to know where I
got the pencils—and even accused
me of stealing them! She confiscated
my remaining inventory and my profits
for the day. I had more money in my
pocket but did not say anything. She kept
talking about a bum and I wondered what
that was.
“THE VALUE OF A KNIFE him and took out his knife,

VARIES WITH WHAT YOU started to carve on a stick stick,
and, not knowing about the wooden leg,
CAN DO WITH IT.” stabbed the knife into his leg. I helped him
walk home and when his mother wanted
—THE AUTHOR to know what happened, he told her he
stabbed his knife into his own leg. She
shook her head and asked, “What in the
THE WOODEN LEG hell were you thinking?” Her son told her
For me, the value of a knife varies with there was a guy at the park bench who did it
what you can do with it. all the time. I don’t think she believed him.
My grandfather would show me how
to make rabbit traps and whistles, sling CHANCE to be a HERO
shots, pointed sticks, play mumblety-peg Later, around the 4th grade, my grandfather
and many more uses for a knife. Another gave me my first, very own, personal
old friend who encouraged my interest in knife. One day we had a great tragedy.
knives was an elderly gentleman who was The 4th-grade pencil sharpener broke
usually found sitting on the park bench in and education came to a standstill. Many
front of city hall. He was always carving of you will remember how necessary it
wood, making large pointed sticks into was to sharpen a pencil. It was to be my
smaller pointed ones until there were moment of glory. I had a knife and could
only shavings on the ground, soon to sharpen a pencil pretty well. I was a hero!
become mulch. My first client needing a pencil sharpened
He was special. Somehow, if you was Lorelai Silverstine, who was also my
watched his hands, the work he was girlfriend at the time.
doing with the knife seemed to add to the
conversation. He had many great stories KNIVES in PICTURES
and a wooden leg. He never said how he I do not remember seeing any photos
lost his real leg. I mention the wooden of knives that were not in someone’s
leg because of his favorite trick. When a hands being used. I never thought of
new kid was present and the elderly gent a pocketknife as a weapon until I saw
wanted to roll a cigarette, he would stab Catcher in the Rye. I remember being
the knife in his wooden leg so he could amazed. It seemed wrong—that was not
use both hands. New kids would go what pocketknives were for! They were
“Wow!” but no one ever said anything. not weapons in my mind but tools for
One kid who was a little slow watched making constructive stuff, a tool no man
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K NI F E TA L K |
One of the author’s recent acquisitions, a penknife

by Joseph Rodgers & Sons, “Cutlers To Her Majesty.”
As the author noted, “she’s a real pencil sharpener!”
or kid should ever be without. as examples. Our schools are no longer

Looking back I feel it was not the fact a place for practical learning, making
that I could make money with knives, but tools or being prepared for emergencies.
that I could make things with them. All I People have forgotten that knives save
needed was time, some coaching, practice more lives than they take. However, we
and the knowledge that knives were very still have places in which to teach. There
important tools for a kid to have. I was so are church camps, scouting events, your
proud of that first pocketknife. I was the yard, picnics, family gatherings, maybe
luckiest kid in town. I had a knife, a dog even a city park. Don’t give up! These are
and could ask for no more. just a few places that I remember and
I did a little research for this article, inspired me to write an article again.
looking for the price of a pencil in 1946. To me the knife is a very special
I was unable to find how much one cost implement that has contributed more
back then, but I did read that the first to our quality of life since man became
sharpened pencil was sharpened with a a user of tools. I am proud to be a
knife! Henry David Thoreau worked in knifemaker, proud of what my knives can
his father’s pencil factory and invented a do. Had I never sold a knife, I would still
pencil that was voted best of all pencils. be making them and searching for the
Ernest Hemingway and John Steinbeck legend of Excalibur. I am very thankful
both wrote their great novels with pencils. to the friends I have made down through
the years while talking and teaching about
ENCOURAGE the NEXT and making our champion, the knife.
GENERATION So where do knifemakers come from?
Today the knife gets a bum rap. Folks Memories!
consider it a weapon and are more afraid Thanks for sharing time with me.
of knives than guns. Schools banning
knives have made our children more Yours truly,
dependent on someone else to save them Ed Fowler
from jammed seat belts and exigent eafwb@wyoming.com
circumstances that could easily be relieved edfowler.com
with a simple, friendly pocketknife.
If we wish to invest in the future of our For the latest knives, knife news, trends
champion, the using knife, we will be and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
well advised to spend a little time with popular Instagram page @blade_
kids, showing them the value of a knife magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
and teaching them to use it for what
they are interested in doing. There are
lots of games and crafts that can be used
FORTY YEARS
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PAS T M ASTERS | BY MIKE HASKEW BLADE® FIELD EDITOR
Ted Dowell popularized the integral knife

made from one piece of steel. The way
Ted made one-piece knives was known as
integral hilt and cap, with the guard/
hilt and cap/buttcap connected by
a tapered tang, with cutouts for
the pinned handle scales.
(SharpByCoop image)
TED DOWELL SCHOOLED Ted and Betty Dowell

hold Ted’s plaque for
AN INDUSTRY ON FINE winning the Red Watson

Memorial Friendship
Award at the 2005
KNIFE CRAFTSMANSHIP Guild Show in Orlando.
“He was extremely intelligent,” observed
Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer B.R. Hughes. “He
was proficient in terms of intellect, and his
ability to communicate was outstanding—
probably because of his background in
education.”
Ted was first a teacher of mathematics,
progressing to a teacher who made knives
with his first effort in 1967 and finally
becoming a full-time knifemaker in 1975.
“When we met in that calculus class, Ted
was a math major and I was struggling,”
Betty laughed. “I thought that if I ‘hitched
my wagon’ in the right place, I might make
it!” The two were married on Oct. 3, 1953,
and the union lasted until Ted’s death in
2012 at age 83—two days after their 59th
wedding anniversary.
The journey was long, challenging and,
ultimately, quite rewarding. Ted was born
Dowell trues up the surfaces of one of his integral-hilt-and-cap designs. (BLADE ® file photo) in Waltham, Massachusetts, a suburb of
Boston, and Betty was originally from
W
hen T.M. “Ted” Dowell made a said, “Ted was very quiet—until he got to Maine. They found their home in Oregon
knife, the sum of the parts was know you.” after a bit of friendly advice from one of
almost always something of ex- A commitment to excellence in Ted’s Navy buddies.
cellence. Known as one of the best custom any endeavor is serious business, and, “When Ted graduated from college in
knifemakers of his era, Dowell understood compared to the rest, Ted had a head start 1951, it was the height of the Korean War,”
the sweep of the curve and the subtleties when it came to getting things right. His Betty remembered. “He got a draft notice in
of the angle. And when he finished, every- undergraduate and master’s degrees in January and a deferment until June. When
thing added up. After all, he was a math- mathematics from Boston University were he finished school, Uncle Sam was waiting
ematician, too. Go figure! proof enough of that. (Ironically, he met at the bottom of the stairs. He had joined
Many who met Ted during a knifemaking Betty in an integral calculus class.) the Naval Reserve while on deferment
career that spanned more than four decades
recall seeing him at a show dressed in a suit
and tie, a table of fine, handmade knives
laid out before him with his wife, Betty,
at his side. The two of them never missed
a Knifemakers’ Guild Show for 40 years,
proud of an unbroken string of perfect
attendance that stretched until 2010.
Dowell popularized the integral knife,
made from a single piece of steel and
known to many as the integral hilt and
cap. He was best known for his hunting
and skinning knives, and also his art
knives and the precision-built Funny
Folder. He was one of 11 original founding
members of the Guild in 1970, serving as
the organization’s president from 1975 to
1976, and championing the development
of the Guild Show into one of the industry’s
premier annual events.
“Ted was a serious person who was also
courteous and professional,” remembered
Dave Harvey of Nordic Knives, who hosted
the Solvang Custom Show* for many years.
BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame®
The Funny Folder was one of Dowell’s best-known designs. (SharpByCoop image)
member Dan Delavan of Plazacutlery.com

PA S T M A S T E RS |
After Light Comes the
and went to officer’s training in Newport,
Rhode Island. Then, he served as a gunnery
officer aboard the battleship USS Missouri
in Norfolk, Virginia.”
Ted remained an avid hunter and
fisherman his entire life, and while he and
Betty had talked of moving to Alaska, Ted’s
sailor friend extolled the virtues of Oregon,
its natural beauty and abundance of wildlife.
When Ted was discharged, the couple made
a big decision; it was a “calculated” risk.
“We decided that if we were ever going
to make a big break, that was the time to do
it,” Betty recalled. “So, we packed up our ’46
Ford and a trailer and moved to Oregon—
without a job. Sometimes now, I think, ‘Did
we really do that?’”
PROBLEM SOLVER
Right away, Ted got used to solving
problems. He worked briefly as a mechanic
but soon found a job teaching in Salem and
the YOJIMBOTM 2 then Madras, Oregon, finally spending 10
Now available with black DLC-coated blade and all- years as an instructor at Central Oregon
black hardware and Compression Lock® mechanism spyderco.com 800 525 7770
Community College in Bend, where
USA MADE the Dowells made their home for years
and raised children Jeff, Lynn and Scott.
Tragically, they lost Scott in a car accident
in 1975.
Ted’s first job in the classroom was an
You’re not just making a knife, adventure with youngsters who had proven
somewhat difficult with earlier teachers.
you’re making a statement. “On his first day of teaching, he had 7th-
and 8th-graders. He came home for lunch
High-quality steel worthy of your artistry. and said, ‘Honey, what do I do?’” Betty
laughed. “I told him to keep them busy. I
added that if he could last two-and-a-half
weeks until Christmas, he had it whipped.
“He came home at the end of the day
and said that when he had gotten back to
Our commitment to service and the classroom, the desks were all in a circle.
value is as strong as our products.You When he asked what the reason was, one
can count on us for the widest selection of of the more-adventurous kids told him
blade stock, internationally renowned quality, and that afternoons were spent square dancing.
accurate on-time delivery of any size order. Bar sizes Evidently, the kids had been so disruptive
and full sheets or plates from 1/32” to 1/2” in stock. Small that the teachers had given up by afternoon.
quantities are always welcome. He looked at them with steely eyes and
Stainless Nickel
said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, your square-
• • Alloy •
High Carbon Titanium
dancing days are over. Get these desks back
• • Tool Steels •
Low Carbon Damascus
into rows—we’ve got some learning to do!’”
• • Precision Ground •
Stainless (Incidentally, one of the would-be square
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Visit our website and order online at www.admiralsteel.com,, then.)
call 800-323-7055, or email us at sales@admiralsteel.com ™ While teaching, Ted became interested
4152 West 123rd Street in handmade knives. He received a math
Alsip, Illinois 60803-1869 teacher’s scholarship from the National
Admiral is a registered trademark of Admiral Steel LLC. Admiralsteel.com Science Foundation to study for a year
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PAS T M ASTERS |
that he couldn’t afford not to buy because it

was such a bargain.”
Ted’s knife business flourished with
Betty doing the bookkeeping. He never
took a deposit and amassed a backlog
of orders that, at one time, stretched to
seven years. When the customer’s order
number came up, a phone call confirmed
that he still wanted the ordered knife,
and the work began. It didn’t take long
for the rest of the budding custom knife
community to take note.
Three old friends share time at a past ONE-PIECE WONDER

Art Knife Invitational, from left: BLADE In 1973, Hughes wrote that Ted made 11
Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame ® member Bob
Loveless and Ted and Betty Dowell. Ted and models of functional design, using carbon-
Bob spent hours on the phone developing the tungsten tool steel and standard handle Ted Dowell circa the early 1970s.
bylaws of the Knifemakers’ Guild. materials. Today, he stands firm in his
assessment of Dowell’s work. produce a superior cutting tool, not just an
he visited Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bo “For one thing, it was far above average attractive knife. He was also quite versatile,
Randall’s knife operation in Orlando. He in terms of slickness and cleanness. He able to produce fancy art knives, folders and
read books and worked at making knives, was one of the first makers I am aware of great hunting knives.”
teaching himself. who used the one-piece blade, tang and However, the integral remains Ted’s
“He taught school and continued that as buttcap, and one of the few who offered legacy. Delavan confirms that, “more
a sideline,” Betty explained. “At that time, an aluminum guard and buttcap that gave makers started doing integral designs after
custom knives were in their infancy. He a knife better balance. Ted’s designs were Ted, and the high-end work pushed others
basically had two jobs—teaching school smooth. He set himself apart with his to do so as well. At the time there was a
and making knives—and then he made the workmanship,” Hughes stated. handful of makers, and Ted was among the
jump to full-time knifemaker.” B.R.’s favorite Dowell creation is the best. The Funny Folder was also really well
For some, that would have been a leap of Model 5 fixed-blade hunter with an made. There were no loose parts and the
faith. For Ted, it was a step ahead. aluminum guard and cap. Hughes once workmanship was the best.”
“He hated the bookkeeping, and I had owned a Model 5—with its sweet little
plenty to do in the house. So, he was in the curvature to the handle that made it such LASTING IMPRESSION
shop, and I was taking care of the business a pleasure to hold—but it was stolen. Betty says her husband’s proudest
end. That’s the way it worked for 40 years,” “Ted’s knives were beautifully shaped, with achievement was the development and
she said. “I had to pay for all the equipment flowing lines,” he added. success of the Guild Show. Ted was fond
he suddenly decided he had to have and Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Phil Lobred, of saying it was achieved in the face of
organizer of the Art Knife Invitational, was considerable opposition from those
an admirer of Ted’s work and called upon
him to help get the AKI off the ground.
Reluctant at first, Ted finally obliged. He
eventually made several art knives, and the
public found that he was equally adept in
multiple genres.
Ted’s son, Jeff, has managed to acquire
some of those rare art knives, now keeping
them in the family. In addition, Betty bought
an integral from a collector friend a couple
of years ago. Family members still use sets
of kitchen knives Ted made, and Betty brags
about their edge-holding quality.
“Ted was one of many makers who
contributed to the early appeal of custom
knives,” Harvey related. “There were certain
makers who set themselves apart from the
Fancy integrals were also part of the Dowell others through excellent craftsmanship and
repertoire, as done here in a double-fullered superior designs. Ted certainly took his Ted was known for such creative designs as
blade. (Weyer International image) knifemaking seriously and always strove to this sword cane. (Weyer International image)
who felt it couldn’t be done successfully.
Previously, the Guild Show had been held
in conjunction with a gun show, but, under
Dowell’s leadership, the event came into its
own as an all-custom-knife show.
Mrs. Dowell also remembers Ted’s work
on the Guild bylaws and that he spent
hours on the telephone with Cutlery Hall-
Of-Famer Bob Loveless (page 12) to put the
tenets together. The two knifemaking giants
had a mutual respect for one another, and
Loveless taught Dowell how to make the
wet-form sheath.
After so many years, Betty reflected on
her husband’s life and work.
“He wanted to be known as a ‘straight
arrow’ who kept up his orders,” she
commented. “That’s a typical New
Englander, I guess, because he was brought
up in that area. He was a rebel. A school
administrator once said that if he asked
Ted a question, he knew he was going to
get a straight answer. He never hesitated to
express his opinion.”
Throughout his life, Ted Dowell managed
to solve those stubborn equations that
confronted him. Anyone who picks up one
of his knives feels that lasting impression.
*Dave Harvey moved his Nordic Knives

retail knife shop to Boise, Idaho, where the
Solvang Show will be reincarnated as the
Nordic Knives Invitational Knife Show May
2 at the Grove Hotel (page 56).
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and

more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
popular Instagram page @blade_
magazine, and on Facebook
and Twitter.
Dowell also made

lockback folders,
including this one
with scroll engraving.
(SharpByCoop image)

KEEN BENEFAC T ORS | BY DANIEL JACKSON
IMAGES COURTESY OF THE PARTICIPATING KNIFEMAKERS
CARING KNIFEMAKERS
LEAD THE WAY
BY SUPPORTING
WORTHY CAUSES
Lucas Burnley’s Cypop is part bottle opener, part “pocket

sculpture.” He indicated the Cypop fan base seems to have
eclipsed his knives. He raffled off 33 Cypops in November,
netting $118,000 for Toys for Tots. The raffle’s first-place
winner netted this Cypop made of Mokuti and inlaid with three
diamonds. (Lucas Burnley image)
Lucas Burnley (left) and Marine Corps SSgt. Joshua Patterson push a cart
full of toys to be donated to Toys for Tots. (Lucas Burnley image)
Emerson Knives, Inc., auctions off special models
for charities on the company website. The Battalion
was auctioned to raise money for St. Jude Children’s
Hospital, an effort championed by Ernest Emerson’s
wife, Mary, who handles a good deal of the
company’s charitable efforts.
F
or some knifemakers, the work they items, especially custom knives that can and conservation of natural resources
do is more than pushing the craft, bring a good dollar value to auctions, raffles is important to the company, Buck
artistry and metallurgy to the limits. and more,” she noted. supports foundations well known around
Some have used the following they’ve creat- Buck supports a range of initiatives, from the hunting camp such as the Boone &
ed or the popular designs they’ve developed charities operating on a national scale to Crockett Club, Mule Deer Foundation and
to do good in the world by fundraising for local events. Like many big-name knife the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
charities near and dear to their hearts. companies, it has a page on its website “We also have a missionary program
Stephanie Young, Buck Knives marketing addressing how people can request a via which we send refurbished or repaired
and communications manager, said knife donation from Buck. According to Young, knives from warranty replacement claims
companies are uniquely suited to fundraise requests pour in weekly. “We look at the to missionaries in Africa to dole out or
for several causes, one of them being cause, the impact of the event, community trade during their efforts with the local
conservation efforts. Meanwhile, knives outreach, industry relevance [and other communities or tribes,” Young said.
appeal to a wide number of people—from factors],” she explained. However, it’s not just special programs.
avid cooks to veterans. “Knives are popular Because the promotion of ethical hunting “Our Blue Line and Red Line 722 SpitFires
have portions of the proceeds that go to
various organizations benefiting police and
Buck donates portions of the proceeds from sales of its firefighters,” she wrote.
Blue Line (shown here) and Red Line 722 SpitFires to
various organizations benefiting
benefiting police and fi
firefighters.
refighters.
Moreover, Buck produced the 245 Matt
Would Go knife, designed by U.S. Navy
SEAL Matthew J. Leathers, who was lost at
sea in 2013. Portions of the proceeds went
to MattWouldGo LLC, which raised funds
for the Navy SEAL Foundation.
JUST CAUSES
In a similar vein, Benchmade takes a portion
of proceeds from certain knives and uses
them to support various organizations that
might be of interest to people interested in
buying that particular knife.
For instance, a portion of the sales
from the company’s 15200ORG Altitude
goes toward Backcountry Hunters and
Anglers. Taking inspiration from President
Theodore Roosevelt, BCHA seeks to
preserve wild lands. Similarly, some of the
proceeds of Benchmade’s tactical-minded
Adamas family of knives go to two outfits
that help support special operations
veterans: the Three Rangers Foundation
and the Navy SEAL Foundation.

KEEN BENEFAC T ORS |
Spyderco donates portions of th

he
proceeds from its pink-handledd
Native 5 (right) and Squeak (be
elow)
to The Pink Heals Movement, ana
organization that helps women
battling cancer.
“Th Al
“The Altitude
i d is i one off the
h most
popular Hunt Series knives, so the
folks purchasing it are going to be the A portion of the sales from
enthusiasts who will most appreciate the Benchmade’s 15200ORG Altitude
support of BCHA and understand that goes toward Backcountry Hunters
part of their purchase is going directly and Anglers. BCHA seeks to
ensure North America’s outdoor
back to a mission they personally care heritage of hunting and fishing
about,” explained Matt Glass, Benchmade in a natural setting through
spokesperson. “The same goes for the education and work on behalf of
Adamas, because it is a massively popular wild public lands and waters.
option for folks in the tactical, military
and law enforcement communities.”
Benchmade also targets specific needs.
At the beginning of 2019, it announced that
because of the devastating Camp Fire in
2018, it was going to donate a portion of the
proceeds from the knives it sold for a few
weeks in January to the Tracy California
Highway Patrol’s Explorer Post 266.
Benchmade’s donations contributed $5,000
to that effort. The Camp Fire ravaged parts
of California and was one of the deadliest
forest fires in U.S. history.
“The Camp Fire support could be one of
the best finite examples of a success from
the company’s response to a specific need,”
Glass said.
FROM the HEART

Spyderco spokesperson Joyce Laituri said
that giving back has been at the core of
39th annual
june 5-7, 2020
CONNECT WITH US AT #BLADESHOW

In 2019, Lucas Burnley partnered with toy company Mattel

in his Toys for Tots campaign. Not only was he able to buy
toys at a reduced price as a result, he was also able to
purchase and donate some hard-to
hard-to-access
access gifts.
Emerson Knives, Inc., donates knife auction

proceeds to several military foundations,
including the proceeds raised for this CQC-6 to A portion of the proceeds from Benchmade’s
the family of U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle. tactical-minded Adamas family of knives
goes to two outfits that help support special
operations veterans: the Three Rangers
Foundation and the Navy SEAL Foundation.
Spyderco donates proceeds from This is the Adamas 375 fixed blade.
sales of the Sage Series, including
the Sage 5, to the Colorado Chapter what the company has been about ever
of the Alzheimer’s Association. since she started working there in 1995.
Spyderco’s website mentions the three
initiatives the company supports: Portions
of proceeds from the sales of the Mantra 2
and Mantra 3 are donated to the National
Parkinson Foundation; the Sage Series to
the Alzheimer’s Association, Colorado
Chapter; and the pink-handled Native 5
and Squeak to The Pink Heals Movement.
“All these charities have directly touched
the [company CEO Sal] Glesser family or
the Spyderco crew in some way,” Laituri
related. “The Sage Series is called Sage
because it represents a wise and worldly
person. Alzheimer’s sadly takes the ‘sages’
of the world away from us. Pink Heals helps
Lucas Burnley had been using his own vehicle to transport

his purchases for Toys for Tots until the organization surprised
him by arranging for Toys for Tots volunteers—all U.S.
Marines—to carry the toys in three 26-foot U-Haul trucks.
women battling all types of cancers, and Chokwe model—a new version of the through a stack of papers, trying to
Parkinson’s has taken so many of our great, Chokwe is coming out—helped an explain all the auctions his knife company,
iconic knifemakers. When the knives are organization called Keep a Child Alive, Emerson Knives Inc., has spearheaded over
being designed, a charity often just seems which raises funds for AIDS research. the past few years. “It’s tough, but we just do
to fit the knife, and the thought and timing Spyderco also donates a variation of it,” he said. “It’s never been something we’ve
are there.” its Native 5 to members of the military tracked or made a big deal of.”
As for knifemakers perhaps considering on deployment through a monthly Every year, the company runs two
their own fundraising work, Laituri said lottery—a practice the company started or three auctions on its website—but it
it has to start from the heart—a desire to in the aftermath of 9/11. never pulls a knife off the shelf. Rather,
be compassionate. “I don’t think Spyderco would want to Emerson “dresses it up” by engraving the
Over the years, Spyderco has necessarily share specific figures,” Laituri knife, hand-grinding the blade or turning
supported several different charitable said of the company’s dollar donations out a custom creation. The kind of money
efforts with assorted knives. One example to charity, “but I can tell you it is in the each auction brings in varies. Some raffles
is a Spyderco Delica that helped raise hundreds of thousands.” might fetch $1,200, others 10 times that
funds for the National Law Enforcement amount. However, in order to draw interest
Officer Museum Foundation. Some GIVING BACK in the auction, Emerson typically picks a
proceeds from the now-discontinued Knifemaker Ernest Emerson ruffled popular knife design. Each one has its own
Over the years Emerson Knives, Inc., has donated

proceeds from knife auctions to many worthy causes,
including the proceeds raised from this CQC-6 for the
Twin Towers Survivors Fund.

following. His well-known CQC-6 is one. To help fight Parkinson’s disease, Spyderco donates
portions of the proceeds from sales of the Mantra
He is careful to vet each charity to see
2 (shown here) and Mantra 3 to the National
how much of the company’s funds go to Parkinson Foundation.
the causes the nonprofit claims to help. He
warns that not all national organizations
steward funds wisely. Over the years,
Emerson Knives has lent its support to the
CIA Memorial Officer Foundation. It also
has raised funds for Fallen Navy SEALs
and Chris Kyle.
One charity Emerson Knives has
returned to again and again over the years
is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,
a charity championed by Emerson’s wife, horrific wounds that would have lled proceeds, he s id, went toward toys he’d buy
Mary, who handles a good deal of the soldiers of earlier years if it were not for and donate to s for Tots.
company’s charitable efforts. advances in emergency medicine. hat I love a ut Toys for Tots is that
“She champions that particular type its mission n to deli er hope. I think a
of charity because her mom and her CYPOPS for TOTS lot of people missi s the
t fa fact that even with
grandfather all donated large parts of their Lucas Burnley leveraged his social media something as simple as , you’re actually
income to St. Jude’s,” Emerson observed. following to raise funds for Toys for Tots. supporting a whole family,” Burnley said,
“It’s one of those organizations that spends Burnley, who lives on Cape Cod and has adding that play helps kids learn and takes
almost all the money it receives on research designed knives for companies such as stress off the parents.
and care for children [with] cancer.” Boker, won the BLADE Magazine 2019 When he was looking for something
Because he’s been blessed with so much, Industry Achievement Award (September to display at shows after his knives sold
Emerson feels duty bound to give back. He BLADE®, page 36) for his work with the out, he hit on the Cypop, which is part
naturally supports many military causes. Toys for Tots charity. bottle opener and part “pocket sculpture.”
When citizens sign up, they know they It began in 2013, when he put up one of According to Burnley, over time the fan
might return with debilitating PTSD or his Cypop models for a raffle. All the raffle base for the Cypops seemingly eclipsed
his knives.
The raffle he held in November 2019
netted $118,000 for Toys for Tots. He raffled
off 33 Cypops, with the first-place winner
netting one made of Mokuti and sporting
Masecraft Supply Co. offers the world’s largest line-up of three inlaid diamonds. The enthusiasts in
natural and synthetic materials for knife handles, gun grips,
pens, musical instrument inlays, pool cue inlays and endless the Burnley Knives group on Facebook
other creative applications. Several of these materials are
exclusive to us. egged each other on, encouraging one
another to donate to the cause and buy into
Our customers include some of the largest and well known
major manufacturers and artisans in the world. the $10-a-ticket raffle.
Our line-up of natural materials includes white Mother of Pearl,
In 2019, Burnley partnered with toy
Black Lip Pearl, Gold Lip Pearl, Paua, Green Abalone and company Mattel. Not only was he able to
many types of Laminated Shell Veneers (LVS) plus custom
shell inlays, India Stag, Bone, Horn and Exotic Woods. purchase toys at a reduced price, he also
was able to buy and donate some hard-to-
Our decorative synthetic materials include Alternative Ivory
and many other decorative Polyester and Acrylic materials in access gifts. For instance, as anyone close to
sheet, rod and bar form. We also offer a full line of Reconsti- a young girl knows, American Girl® dolls
tuted Stone slabs and blocks. We are adding new products
every year. We also offer a wide variety of Rigid Composite are pricy and popular. Mattel donated 500
Laminates in Canvas, Linen and Paper Micarta, G-10’s and
Carbon Fiber. of them!
By buying the toys himself, Burnley is
Masecraft supply co. specializes in large manufacture orders
and the individual needs of artisans and hobbyist alike. able to purchase toys beyond the $29.95
spending limit that Toys for Tots sets for
each toy per child. “So, we can do things
like buy bicycles,” he explained.
Toys for Tots, which was started in 1991
at the request of the U.S. Marines, ran a
Visit our new low-level “military” operation for Burnley’s
E-commerce store, Cypops for Tots charity: When he rolled up
www.masecraftsupply.com
full product selection with pictures Meriden, CT USA to Mattel in California, he could no longer
use his personal vehicle to cart all the toys
Call us today for a free catalog 1-800-682-5489 away. Instead, Toys for Tots volunteers—all
Marines—provided three 26-foot U-Haul

trucks to carry away his purchases.
Over the years, Burnley has tried to
keep a spontaneous, non-charity feel to the
raffle. His words of advice for knifemakers
seeking to use their work for charity are to
support a charity you believe in.
“The key for any type of fundraising or
any type of charity is that there are 1,000
reasons not to do it,” he observed. “You only
have to find the one reason that you have an
attachment point.”
Helping those in need is what it’s all
about, and these special knife folks give
their all.
For more on the knife charities in the story,

see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 64.

popular Instagram page @blade_magazine,
and on Facebook and Twitter.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

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WO ODCA RV ER S | BY ABE ELIAS BLADE® FIELD EDITOR
IMAGES COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR
CHIPS OFF
THE OL’
BLADE
AN EXPERIENCED CARVER OUTLINES
THE LATEST EDGED TOOLS FOR THE JOB
A good technique to remove material

is to stack a bunch of paring cuts.
The Flexcut short-bladed Sloyd knife
piles up curls in preparation for a
paring cut on the base of the stack.
Left row, from bottom: Condor Tool & Knife Curved Knife and Classic Carver and the Flexcut Sloyd Collection of five knives. Right-hand portion of
image: Smoky Mountain Knife Works’ Rough Rider 12-Piece Set and the Casstrom Curly Birch Knife (in the middle with the curly birch handle).
T
he past two years I have noticed all MSRP) is a hook knife and the Classic carving of a sort. Be advised, however, that
sorts of carving taking off in popu- Carver Model 62702 ($59.98 MSRP) is when you sharpen the Classic Carver for
larity—spoon to folk, chip carving a Sloyd-style knife (page 46). I had to do the first time, you will discover it is a very
and even relief carving. If you carve, you some edge maintenance on the Curved shallow hollow grind. I went to polish up
need something sharp to do it. Knife because it was not nearly as sharp the bevels on my belt grinder, only to find
Most of the edged tools in this article as it needed to be. Once I got it tuned the middle of the bevel was not cleaning
focus on spoon carving. One tool gets up, it worked well. Overall, it is true to up at the same rate as the sides.
into some detail carving. Because of the design—except that I feel the blade runs Both knives’ blades are 1075 carbon
number of edged implements reviewed, on the lightweight side. It still cuts but steel. I would prefer 1095 to get the
I will give you my impressions on each you might miss the mass, depending on Rockwell hardness higher. These two
company’s lines rather than a lot of detail what type of wood you are cutting. make for a good set, and Condor provides
about the specs, which you can research The Classic Carver has a traditional- a sheath for the Curved Knife.
via the Internet. I have been carving for a style blade with a full-tang design. The full
number of years now and want to give you tang gives the knife more of a robust build CUTTING PRETTY
a feel for the performance of these tools. while allowing for a trimmer handle cross In the past, I have reviewed a couple of
section. The Sloyd style cuts very well. Casstrom bushcraft knives. Both were
FULL-TANG TANGO The full tang makes it a great little knife excellent performers. Since Casstrom is
The Condor Curved Knife ($49.95 for bushcraft work, which essentially is in Sweden it shouldn’t be difficult for the

WO ODCA RV ER S |
The hook knife design of the Casstrom makes easy work of the bowl section on a
basswood spoon blank. The knife came sharp right out of the box, though with a bit of THE SLOYD KNIFE
edge maintenance by the author it went from sharp to crazy sharp.
A ccording to Blue Spruce Toolworks
(bluesprucetoolworks.com), sloyd is
a word derived from the Swedish word
slojd, meaning handiwork or crafts, and
a slojd knife could be considered a knife
made for such endeavors. The Teacher’s
Hand-book of Slojd written by Otto
Salomon in 1892 describes the original
sloyd knife as having a tapered blade
about 4 inches long and no more than
three-quarters of an inch wide. The edge
was straight and the tip came down at
an angle forming a blunt point—kind of
like a narrow, squared-off sheepsfoot or
wharncliffe blade. The handle was barrel
shaped. Blue Spruce Toolworks stated
that most contemporary sloyd knives are
not patterned after the original design.—
by BLADE® staff
company to nail a Scandinavian design,

and it does so with the Curly Birch Knife
($80 MSRP). The hook knife is spot on,
boasting good cross-section geometry and
mass, and the fit and finish are perfect.
I often hear people remark they don’t
The Condor Classic Carver has a trim care if their knife is “pretty,” they just want
handle and made nice, thin wisp-like it to work. If the blade is nice and shiny,
curls in a feathered piece of walnut. that usually means a smooth surface—
which means a lower coefficient of
friction when passing through materials,
thus making it a better cutter. Hence,
“pretty” isn’t so bad!
The curly birch handle also makes the
Casstrom a looker—something anyone
would be happy to own. A nice sheath
completes the outfit.
INEXPENSIVE HOBBY SET

To be fair, the Smoky Mountain Knife
Works Rough Rider 12-Piece Set is not a
high-quality outfit. Is it useless? No. It is
a good little hobby set—especially for the
price ($9.99 MSRP). I’ve used a similar set
for years on small jobs, such as inlaying a
sling mount on a gunstock.
Just for the heck of it, I actually tested
these knives on pine and ash for a small
relief-carving sample project. I had to
do some major power stropping before
I could get them to do any real cutting
as opposed to tearing. (Believe it or not,
softer woods are more difficult to carve
if your tool is not sharp. If your tool is
FREE KNIFE CATALOG
A complete catalog of knives, including
Damascus, collectors knives, tactical and
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To request a free catalog of

The Rough Rider Set is suited for detail
knives, visit our website at
work. To test the blades, the author carved www.bokerusa.com or call
part of a fl
flower
ower shape in a piece of ash. 1-800-835-6433
too dull and because the wood’s fibers

are soft, the tool will just push and break
rather than cut them.)
After a little work, I was able to get
several clean cuts from some of the profiles.
The set features a variety of skewed chisels,
straight chisels, gouges and a couple of
different-sized paring tools. However, I
can’t recommend the set for more than
simply playing around, or perhaps as a
small travel collection for rough work or
decorating a spoon or small bowl by the
campfire. At such a low MSRP, I will say
it is an inexpensive introductory set. As
a result, approach it as such, because the
inability to get much out of it might be
frustrating if you are expecting more.
TRIED and TRUE

Flexcut isn’t a knife company that happens
to include carving tools in its lineup, it
is a company that makes carving tools.
Flexcut’s line of tools is a favorite among
hobbyists and professional carvers. I am
not going to critique the designs in the www.blacksmithsdepot.com
company’s Sloyd Collection ($61.95 to Kayne and Son
$81.95 MSRP) because it is a presentation
of tried-and-true Scandinavian carving 100 Daniel Ridge Rd Candler NC 28715 USA
tools. Instead, my review is based on how PHONE: 828-667-8868
well the designs are executed. International Shipping available • Inquiries Welcome
All the barrel handles are well shaped

WO ODCA RV ER S |
The Flexcut double-beveled knife is probably the most

versatile in the company’s Sloyd Collection. It allows you
to work either right- or left-handed cuts, as well as away
from or toward you, while bracing and blocking the cut
for control and safety.
Following a lot of power stropping, the

The Casstrom that you can use to make works of art has an curved chisel from the Rough Rider Set was
“art-worthy” appearance of its own because of its classy curly the author’s favorite profile. After it was all
birch handle. The traditional barrel design, though simple, polished up, he was surprised at how well
provides a good deal of control. it cut.
and there are no hot spots. Steel is 1095

carbon, so you can get the tools razor sharp
and keep them that way for a while. The
grinds are high enough to make the tools
thin cutters while still having sufficient
thickness to prevent rolling and chipping.
The Sloyd Collection provides a
variety of different carving profiles, and
only you can decide which ones you
need. Undeniably, however, the straight
Sloyd knife is the anchor of the group.
Flexcut features a number of profiles on its hook knives. This is the Everything else branches out from it. It
company’s spear-point, variable-radius model. The author indicated
the broader radius is a bit easier to use. It works well across and is worth getting a good set of slip water
with the grain, yet still allows you to make small cuts. Here the knife stones to help sharpen the hook knife
tackles tough, varying grain. profiles. Otherwise, you can make strops
using different-sized wooden dowels
covered in leather and impregnated with
polishing compound.
Flexcut went with proven designs
and made them well. Pick a couple of
the profiles or get them all. They will
bring you hours of carving pleasure.
Do be careful, though; the shorter hook
knives come to a point, so invest in a
good carry system.
DEEPEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Carving can be loads of fun. There are so
There is enough selection among the major profiles of the Rough
Rider set to do several small jobs and enjoy some downtime.
many different available knife styles, so

you should be able to find just the right
one—even if you are only planning to
make shavings.
Give carving a try. Even a small amount
of time spent carving will deepen your
knowledge of blade geometry and knife
handling. By the way, carving knives and
edged tools are not toys, and can be very
sharp. Consequently, keep some bandages
nearby. Also, make sure you can drive one
handed. You know, just in case.
Editor’s note: In addition to making knives

and writing about them, the author works
part time at a specialty woodworking store.
For the contact information for the knives

in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
page 64.

Both the Casstrom (left) and Condor popular Instagram page @blade_magazine,
(right) hook knives come with sheaths
for safe, easy carry.

EDC NECKERS | BY JAMES MORGAN AYRES
IMAGES BY ML AYRES
In addition to the neck chain, similar to a dog-tag

chain, the Camillus Heater’s sheath has a clip, a
feature the author praised for its carry options.
THREE FACTORY NNECK KNIVES WORK

TIME-AND-A-HALFF ON THE JOB SITE
T
he popularity of neck knives has
increased over the past decade.
Many observers, however, have
opined that such blades lack any utility.
My team and I recently reviewed three
neckers with the focus on exactly that—
everyday utility.
After doing initial examinations to
see how sharp the knives were from
the factory, we put them to the test by
accompanying a friend who owns a
security alarm company and working
with him to install alarms. Our initial
sharpness test was to slice ripe tomatoes
and grapes. Forget about cutting paper
as a sharpness test. My daughter-in-law’s
$1.95 paring knife will cut paper. It will
not cut a wafer-thin slice from a grape
or a ripe tomato without squishing the
fruit. Each of the review neck knives
passed the wafer-slice test. That done,
we hung them around our necks and
headed out to job sites.
During a typical work day the tasks
we performed included cutting zip
ties and cord, slicing duct tape, cutting
through and trimming wall board, and
sharpening pencils. Pencil sharpening
(page 22) might seem frivolous for a
knife review, but sharpening pencils on
a job site with whatever knife is at hand
is a common occurrence. Many knives
have blunt bevels and will not sharpen a
pencil properly. Many are simply too dull. The three test knives, from top: Camillus Heater, Boker Magnum Challenger and CRKT Owlet.
Each of the test knives sharpened pencils
easily, slicing off thin curls of wood with
good control. In fact, none of the daily
BOKER MAGNUM
CHALLENGER
BLADE LENGTH: 2.125”
BLADE STEEL: 440A stainless
ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 56 HRC
BLADE WIDTH: .875”
BLADE THICKNESS: .1”
BLADE STYLE: Cleaver
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BLADE FINISH: Black
WEIGHT: 1.3 ozs.
OVERALL LENGTH: 4.75”
SHEATH: Black Kydex w/neck chain
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China The Boker Magnum Challenger passed the no-squish test
by wafer-slicing a tomato nice and thin.
MSRP: $29.95

EDC NECKERS |
CRKT OWLET
BLADE WIDTH: 1”
BLADE STEEL: 8Cr13MoV stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BLADE FINISH: Black stonewash
HANDLE: 8Cr13MoV stainless
WEIGHT: 1.7 ozs.
KNIFE TO KNOW: Built-in bottle opener
SHEATH: Glass-reinforced nylon
featuring a nylon neck cord w/slider
for emergency release
MSRP: $34.99
work-a-day tasks seriously challenged

any of the three knives.
Designed by RMJ Tactical, the CRKT Owlet
sharpened pencils easily, slicing off thin
LONG, THIN & HANDSOME
curls of wood with good control.
The Boker Magnum Challenger has
the longest cutting edge of the test trio
and performed all cutting tasks easily.
Though the handle is a tad thin, it is
reasonably comfortable. The Challenger
is a handsome little knife and has the
CAMILLUS HEATER
BLADE STEEL: 440 stainless
ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 54 HRC
BLADE FINISH: Carbonitride-Titanium ®
bonding
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BLADE PATTERN: Spear
BLADE FINGER HOLE: 7/8” in
diameter
HANDLE: 440 stainless w/camo
paracord loop
KNIFE TO KNOW: Built-in bottle opener
SHEATH: Molded synthetic w/clip
The author stated that cutting thin slices of grapes is a better test of and beaded chain
sharpness than cutting paper, and the Carbonitride-Titanium ®-coated
blade of the Camillus Heater accepted the challenge with no problem.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China
MSRP: $20.98
5,000-YEAR-OLD EDC
B eyond work-a-day use, tiny fixed
blades such as neck knives can be
used for bushcraft tasks. Otzi the Iceman,
a 5,000-year-old mummy discovered in
the Alps in 1991, made his entire outfit,
clothing, bow, backpack frame, etc., with
a knife that had a 2.5-inch flint blade.
I don’t have Otzi’s skills, but for some
years I have worn a 2-inch-blade neck
knife via a dog-tag chain. With it, while
demonstrating such skills for students,
I’ve made field-expedient bows, arrows,
atlatls and spears. I’ve split bone for
needles and fishhooks, cut scrap skins
into usable thongs and split various plant
stems to make cord. I’ve also used the little
blade to make fish traps from discarded
plastic water bottles and to dress fish and
small game for cooking. Most of the time
I don’t even notice it’s there under my
shirt—until I need it. I have other knives,
but it’s a comfort to always have that little
sliver of steel.
Yes, neck knives work.—by James
Morgan Ayres
appearance of having been scaled down

from a larger model.
The cleaver-style blade did not
penetrate as well as the other two review
knives’ pointed patterns. As a result, we
usually turned to one of the other blades
to punch through wallboard. We found
that the Challenger’s relatively long
edge paid off when trimming wallboard
or reaming out a hole for cables. The
The CRKT Owlet excelled at

penetrating wallboard.
D AV I D E L L I S
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exquisiteknives@gmail.com - www.exquisiteknives.com

EDC NECKERS |
sheath was secure and hangs from a side only. The unsharpened edge is,
dog-tag-like chain. nonetheless, fairly sharp. When pressing
down on the false edge with my thumb
DIMINUTIVE DAGGER to cut through wallboard, it was quite
The Camillus Heater is an interesting, uncomfortable. Even so, I like the design
eye-catching little blade in that it looks and found that the diminutive dagger-
like a tiny dagger. A black finish adds like blade performed well. If you need a
to the visual appeal. However, listed as small dagger, it would be relatively easy
a spear-point pattern in the Camillus to sharpen the other edge.
specs, the blade is sharpened on one Even with only one edge sharpened,
Zip ties fell quickly to the

relatively long edge of the
Boker Magnum Challenger.
the dagger profile proved good at

penetration. Its full 1.75 inches punched
through drywall with ease. The finger
hole provided a secure grip for cutting
or thrusting. The bottle opener is
unobtrusive and worked well, which
was appreciated by all. In addition to the
neck chain, similar to a dog-tag chain,
the sheath has a clip, a feature we liked
very much in that it provided more carry
options.
MINI CHEF’S KNIFE?

The CRKT Owlet is nicely proportioned
with a comfortable handle, bottle
opener, good point and adequate
working edge. The stonewash fi nish is
very attractive. Clearly designed as a
neck knife, it was my team’s favorite,
4857 South Orange Blossom Trail though by a small margin.
Orlando, Florida 32839 407-855-8075 The point penetrated wallboard with
scant effort and the edge was sharp
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With the sheath pulling double duty

as a handle, the Camillus Heater
opened bottles comfortably.
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Delicate jobs such as tape cutting

showcased the sharp edge of the
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enough to easily cut double-thick zip
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The sheath comes with a nylon cord
and a slider designed to release the cord
if it snags on something, thereby avoiding
an injury. Our example released two out
of three times. I prefer a dog-tag chain or
a thin buckskin cord designed to break
AMERICAN BLADESMITH SOCIETY
before it can cause injury. In Cooperation With
VIABLE ALTERNATIVES Texarkana College
We took turns using the test knives during 2500 N. Robison Road
two work days. We agreed that they are
viable alternatives to folders and perhaps Texarkana, Texas
handier. They are superior to razor-blade
utility knives because they’re stronger
and have good, usable points. In fact, 2020 Spring Bladesmithing Schedule
the knives’ points and edges withstood
twisting in drywall and some fairly rough CLASS DATE INSTRUCTOR
treatment without damage.
Intro to Bladesmithing January 6-17 Potier & Williams
Editor’s note: Be sure to follow all pertinent Intro to Bladesmithing February 17-28 Tomberlin & Williams
laws in your area concerning concealed
Damascus March 2-6 Marks
knife carry.
Handles & Guards March 9-13 Williams
For the contact information for the knives Intro to Bladesmithing April 13-24 Crowell & Cook
in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
page 64. Spring Hammer-In April 18-19 Williams, Director*
Bladesmithing Lab June 25-27 Williams
and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s For more class or registraƟon informaƟon, contact Madeleine Russell at 903-
popular Instagram page @blade_ 823-3014. ABS Contact: Mike Williams, 580-420-3051 or hfor e@ ine-
magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter. net.com. *To register online for hammer-in: www.americanbladesmith.com
(click store).

SHOW CA LENDAR | BY BLADE® STAFF
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MARCH 21 LITTLE ROCK, AR Arkansas com, Facebook: MasonDixonKnifeClub.*

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gia Knife Roadshow, Northwest Georgia Trade
JAN. 21-24 LAS VEGAS, NV The 42nd Shooting,
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tion Custom Knife Show, Brea Community Center. cutlery manufacturers, collectors, collections and
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LOCATION Williamspor t Red Men Club.
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Contact Bill Crilley 717-404-8766 crill9@hotmail.
828-400-7815 khall@hallenergyconsulting.com.**
2019 Knife Collaboration of the Year Winner!
An exceptional backwoods (or EDC) companion
AUG. 18-20 DENVER, CO Professional Knife-
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OCTOBER
OCT. 2-4 PORTLAND, OR The 3rd Annual
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The latest in custom and factory knives, awards
for same, 2nd Annual Chef’s Knife Cutting Cham-
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contact bladeshow.com.* **
CHAD NICHOLS DAMASCUS

OCT. 24-25 GARDEN GROVE, CA California
Custom Knife Show, Embassy Suites-Anaheim
South. Contact info@californiacustomknifeshow.
com 888-473-2661 californiacustomknifeshow.com.*
High carbon, high contrast Damascus
NOVEMBER
Stainless Damascus
NOV. 14-15 TULSA, OK Wanenmacher’s Tulsa
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NOV. 20-21 JERSEY CITY, NJ New York Custom Large quantities and wholesale
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pricing available
fiftyfiftyproductions.net.*
To ensure timely publication of your knife 662.538.5966 662.255.0524 www.chadnicholsdamascus.com

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L OC KBA CK EDC S | BY DEXTER EWING BLADE® FIELD EDITOR
IMAGES BY MARTY STANFIELD, MARTY STANFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY
CUT
WITH
FOR KNIVES YOU CAN RELY ON,
CARRY ONE OF THE LATEST LOCKBACKS
EDC lockbacks, from left: Cold Steel

Bush Ranger Lite, Case Cheetah, V
Nives Rocky and SOG Salute Mini.
L
ockbacks are some of the old-
est locking-blade folders extant.
Before the linerlock, the AXIS™
Lock, the Compression Lock®, the fra-
melock and more, there were lockbacks.
Operating off a lever principle, the
lockback has a spring bias that places
a tooth in the end of the bar into a
corresponding notch in the tang,
which in turn prevents the blade from
inadvertently folding closed. The release
or lockbar is situated at the rear of the
handle, though some lockbacks have the
release in the middle* for ease of one-
hand closing. Lockbacks appear more
in the outdoor, hunting and EDC folder
genres and rarely in today’s tactical
models. They cost less to manufacture
than most other locks as well.
FEATURE CREATURE
SOG’s Salute line of lockbacks exhibits
several hallmarks of modern tactical
folders: one-hand opening, pocket-clip
carry, a textured black G-10 handle and
a bead-blasted blade fi nish. The new
Salute Mini shrinks the Salute down
to a nice EDC size while retaining the
features that make SOG tactical folders
The wharncliffe blade of the V Nives Rocky excels at scoring famous. The 3-inch clip-point blade
materials such as linoleum. The defined point cuts with authority is 8Cr13MoV stainless steel and holds
and the straight edge is easy to sharpen.
an edge well while remaining easy to
sharpen in the field. The clip point’s
defi ned blade tip makes it good for
scoring and penetrating.
A notable feature is the ambidextrous
thumb stud that sits inside an oblong
slot in the blade. The setup enables
you to position the stud to personalize
the opening action to your taste. The
stud has a slot you can loosen/tighten
with a flathead screwdriver. You can
position the stud anywhere within the
slot and torque it down, personalizing
the opening action of the knife to your
liking. I know of the feature on no other
knife of the type.
The heavy-duty handle has two
stainless steel liners with a textured
black G-10 handle. The SOG logo is
machined into both sides. Scallops
cut into various areas of the liners
The thumb stud of the SOG Mini Salute has a slot promote a nonslip grip. A deep-carry
that loosens and/or tightens with a small flathead clip sports the SOG logo. I’d like to see
screwdriver. You can position the stud anywhere a more plain-looking clip used as the
in the slot and torque it down, personalizing the
opening action of the knife to your liking. cutouts that form the SOG logo may
compromise the clip’s durability.
Another Salute Mini feature—it’s on

L OC KBA CK ED CS |
the Salute, too—I would like to see more

manufacturers execute is the gimping
on the lockbar release. Th is ensures a
secure purchase when unlocking and
works very well even while wearing
work gloves. The blade opens with
either hand easily.
While the Mini’s 4-inch-closed size
makes it a breeze to carry on a daily
basis, the size can be a drawback for
extended use. I would prefer a bit more
handle to boost comfort. However, for
occasional use, the Mini is pretty much
all you need. The MSRP is $32.95 in the
bead-blasted blade and $35.95 in black.
“A NOTABLE FEATURE IS
THE AMBIDEXTROUS
THUMB STUDS THAT SIT
INSIDE AN OBLONG SLOT
IN THE BLADE.”
—THE AUTHOR
Seatbelts are no match for the Cold Steel
Bush Ranger Lite.
LITE up YOUR KNIFE
Cold Steel’s Bush Ranger Lite offers
the same great blade shape and handle
ergonomics of the company’s higher-
end Bush Ranger folder, but is more
budget friendly. The Bush Ranger is
a rough-use folding hunter based on
the company’s long discontinued Bush
Ranger fixed blade, and features CPM
S35VN stainless steel and brown G-10
scales. MSRP: $224.99. The Bush Ranger
Lite offers the same rugged design but
8Cr13MoV stainless steel and molded
glass-reinforced nylon (GRN) scales.
MSRP: $49.95.
There are other differences between
the two folders, including blade-
opening methods—a thumb disc for the
Bush Ranger and dual thumb studs for
the Lite, and Cold Steel’s proprietary
Tri-Ad Lock for the former and a
standard rocker-bar lockback for the
latter. There’s also a sliding safety switch
on the Lite, which remains a contender
New, for the Case Cheetah at least, is the
handle material of “black and white fiber,” for a heavy-duty folding hunter—and is
which is somewhat akin to carbon fiber. the knife tested herein. The wide clip-
point blade is thick enough to withstand
hard use and ground to a thin cutting
edge with plenty of bite. The large dual
thumb studs allow sure purchase with
either hand for smooth opening action.
The studs are also large enough to be
manipulated while wearing gloves.
The OD green handle feels rigid
and solid. A stippled surface texture
provides a secure, nonslip grip without
being overly aggressive. The Lite carries
blade tip up and the pocket clip is
ambidextrous. Rounded contours make
the handle user friendly, reducing hot
spots and promoting comfort over
extended use.
The blade opens and locks with a
crisp, assuring thwack. As a result you’ll
probably never need the safety, though
it’s nice to have just in case. The 3.5-
inch blade offers a good balance of edge
retention and sharpening ease.
With its various curves, the handle
feels as if it were made for your hand.
Flat grinds make the wharncliffe blade of the
Big, rounded and contoured—which V Nives Rocky an excellent slicer, penetrating
is one reason why it feels so good—it and cleaving through a variety of materials.
consumes a lot of room in a pocket.
Hence, you might want to consider an
aftermarket belt sheath. For enhanced
control, I also might suggest to Cold
Steel a run of gimping on the blade
spine where your thumb or index fi nger
falls to place more pressure. KNIFE AND GUN FINISHING SUPPLIES
The Lite easily handled all that I
asked of it. From cutting food to hoses Order Line Customer Service
to webbing straps, it is a great worker 1-800-972-1192 928-537-8877
and a hard-use lockback that holds up
Stabilizing – - Our Specialty since 1990
with the best of them.
NICE KITTY Blades Guards Handles Solder Books Adhesives

One of the latest iterations of the
Case Cheetah swing-guard lockback How To Grinders Belts DC Etching Buffers
offers the convenience of a lock-blade DVD’s Machines
folder and the look of a traditional Motors
pocketknife. While the Cheetah itself Buffs Horn Ivory Bone Flitz Scribes
is not new, its appearance in the handle
material in question is. The knife is in Screws Taps Drills Sheaths Pommels Rivets
the company’s Black and White Fiber
Series, which features handles of a Stabilized Knife Hermes Steel & 416 1080
composite weave material somewhat Wood Cases Abrasives Blades Stainless Steel
akin to carbon fiber. According to
Case, the material is used in automotive CM 154 440C 1095 D2 Pure
applications where a strength-to- Powdered Nickel
weight ratio is desired. Its large fiber Steel
strands are in black-and-white pattern
variations, which form a lightweight
yet fi rm handle material suitable for
pocketknives. 1972 Forest Ave www.knifeandgun.com
The swing-guard lockback has been Lakeside AZ 85929 csinfo@knifeandgun.com
around a long time. One reason the

L OC KBA CK ED CS |
pattern is so revered is its timeless old-

school lines. Two metal quillons riveted
to the blade tang pivot to form a cross
guard when the knife is opened. The
guard is small but effective at preventing
your hand from slipping onto the blade.
As you close the blade, the guard pivots
and returns to its resting state, tucked
in out of the way so as not to snag on
anything.
With a 3-inch blade and 4-inch
closed length, the knife is a bit big to
carry in the bottom of a pocket and
would thus benefit from the addition
of a pocket clip. Blade steel is Case’s
Tru-Sharp stainless (420 HC) in a
Gimping on the lockbar release of the SOG Salute mirror polish, and the blade is ground
Mini ensures secure purchase when unlocking, and
works very well even while wearing work gloves.
thin for sharpening ease. The lockback
mechanism engages with a crisp click.
The bolsters are polished nickel silver.
The handle has a diamond-shaped
shield with the company logo. Case
makes a belt sheath that will fit the
Cheetah. MSRP: $93.99.
“ONE REASON THE PATTERN

IS SO REVERED IS ITS TIME-
LESS OLD-SCHOOL LINES.”
—THE AUTHOR
The wide clip-point blade of the Cold Steel Bush

Ranger Lite is thick enough to withstand hard use and
ground to a thin cutting edge with plenty of bite.
KNOCKOUT KNIFE
The Rocky is one of V Nives’ best
users. It is your typical working
lockback with a lightweight handle
of FRN (fiberglass-reinforced nylon),
ambidextrous one-hand opening and
pocket clip. The 3-inch wharncliffe
blade is D2 for the tool steel’s enhanced
performance characteristics and
toughness. A PVD coating provides
corrosion resistance and reduces
glare. The wharncliffe’s straight edge
makes it easy to sharpen, and the point
pierces and scores well. If you don’t like
wharncliffes, V Nives has you covered
with the Rocky 2—same handle design
but with a modified clip-point blade.
MSRP for either version: $59.95.
The Case Cheetah is built for work but elegant The ergonomic handle has two curves
enough for everyday carry. Opening mail, that seem to adhere to your palm. The
packages or cutting cardboard—it’s up to the task. surface has extra deep, wide grooves
in a random pattern that sheds water,
If you don’t like wharncliffes, V Nives has
you covered with the Rocky 2—same handlee
design but with a modified clip-point blade.
The pocket clip is wider than normal to
withstand springing out of shape, and a
rippled pattern assists in retrieving the knifee
by providing a non-slip surface to grab onto.
dirt and mud, and accommodates your *Editor’s note: Lockbacks with the lock
hand wet or dry. The result is a tough in the middle are also called front locks.
handle that withstands daily beating Knifemakers W.T. Fuller and Harvey
and is user friendly and non-slip. McBurnette made such knives circa
The ambidextrous pocket clip carries 1980, if not before. Meanwhile, BLADE
blade tip up. It is wider than normal to Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame®
withstand springing out of shape, and a member Sal Glesser mentioned seeing
rippled pattern assists in retrieving the a “mid-lockback” made by Boker that
knife by providing a non-slip surface to dated to 1905.
grab onto.
The blade deploys simply with either For more on the lockbacks in the story,
hand, even with work gloves. The see “Where To Get ’Em” on page 64.
wharncliffe’s flat grinds make the blade
an excellent slicer, penetrating and For the latest knives, knife news, trends
cleaving through a variety of materials. and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
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LORI MCDANIEL:715-498-3768 • lori@gundigest.com
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX
A H Q
A.G. Russell ...................................... 8 Halfbreed Blades Australia Pty Ltd. . 2 QSP Knife ......................................... 5
Admiral Steel/Terry Summers ........ 32 Hawkins Knifemaking Supplies...... 55 R
American Bladesmith Society ........ 55 J Randall Made Knives ..................... 54
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Blue Ridge Knives ............................ 5 smith’s Depot ................................ 47 Smoky Mountain Knife Works.......... 7
Boker USA ................................ 14, 47 Knife & Gun Finishing Supplies ..... 61 Spartan Blades ............................... 57
Buckeye Engraving-Steel Stamps . 54 Knives Plus ..................................... 55 Spyderco, Inc .................................. 32
C Krudo Knives .................................. 65 T
CAS Iberia....................................... 57 M TFS Knives ..................................... 65
Chris Reeve Knives ........................ 18 Masecraft Supply Co ...................... 42 TOPS Knives .................................. 19
D MGE Wholesale.............................. 17 Tormach, LLC ................................. 27
Damascus, Nichols......................... 57 N Tru-Grit ............................................ 57
Dave Ellis/Exquisiteknives.com ..... 53 NC Tool Company .......................... 24 True North Knives........................... 43
Davidson, Edmund ......................... 65 Niagara Specialty Metals.................. 8 V
Denton, John-Vintage Loveless ..... 65 Nordic Knives.................................. 15 VZ Grips .......................................... 35
Dozier Knives.................................. 53 O W
E On Point Knives .............................. 24 We Knife Co., Ltd ............................. 3
Evenheat Kiln, Inc........................... 54 Ontario Knife Company .................. 84 White, Gordon................................. 65
F P
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Fenixlight Limited ............................ 26 Pro Tech Knives ............................. 15
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Don’t Miss The Next The advertisers’ index is provided as a reader service. Occasional last-minute changes may result in ads
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Lori McDaniel
Advertising Sales Issue Date Ad Deadline
Magazine 715-498-3768 April 2020 January 29, 2020
ORDER YOUR ADVERTISING TODAY! lori@gundigest.com May 2020 February 26, 2020

WH AT ’S NEW | BY BLADE® STAFF
KNIFE NAME: The Alzheimer’s Fight

MODEL NAME: Adaha Knife
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed-blade fighter
KNIFE TYPE: EDC folder
BLADE LENGTH: 9”
BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel w/ haamon
BLADE STEEL: 420 stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Harpoon
HANDLE: Stabilized bog oak and big leaaf
maple, ivory G-10 liners and spacers, brass
b BLADE GRIND: Hollow
pins and mosaic center pin w/maker’s logo BLADE THUMB STUDS: Ambidextrous
OVERALL LENGTH: 14” HANDLE: Textured wood w/integral single
KNIFE TO KNOW: Knife was made for the t guard, pocket clip and lanyard hole
Greater East Ohio Alzheimer’s Associaation LOCK: Linerlock
2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s; the maker CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5”
auctioned it on Instagram and Facebook MSRP: $28.99
and raised over $2,000, which went directly COMPANY: Smith’s Consumer Products Inc.,
to the Alzheimer’s Association C Shaw or R.
attn: C. R Dukes,
Dukes Dept.
Dept BL2
BL2, 747
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR R Mid-America Blvd., Hot Springs, AR R 71913-
KNIFE: $950 8414 501-321-2244 or 800-221-4156
MAKER: Jesse Miller, Jesse Miller Madee sales@smithsproducts.com,
Custom Works, Dept. BL2, 1784 Countyy smithsproductss.com
Rd. 144, Sugarcreek, OH 44681
330-260-1060 jessemillermade@
gmail.com, Instagram/Facebook: @
jessemillermade/Jesse Miller Made
Custom Works (SharpByCoop image)
KNIFE MODEL NO.: 4062RD

KNIFE TYPE: Folding Hunter
KNIFE MODEL: Bird & Trout DESIGNER: Bob Dozier
Keyhole Hunter BLADE LENGTH: 3”
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE STEEL: AUS 8A stainless
BLADE LENGTH: 4” ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 56-58 HRCC
BLADE STEEL: 1084 carbon BLADE THICKNESS: .11”
HANDLE: Gaboon ebony BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BOLSTER: 316 stainless steel BLADE WIDTH: .875”
OVERALL LENGTH: 8.5” HANDLE: Red Zytel w/reversible
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR KNIFFE AS pocket clip and a hole for a lanyard
SHOWN: $850 LOCK: Lockback
KNIFE TO KNOW: The maker is an a apprentice WEIGHT: 2.4 ozs.
smith in the American Bladesmiith Society CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25”
CONTACT: Andrew Geaslin, Grumpy Crow Forge, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Taiwan
Dept. BL2, 10 Swiss Ln., Wolcott, CT 06716 MSRP: $32.08
203-910-3915 grumpycrowforge@ @protonmail. COMPANY: KA-BAR, attn: J.
com, Instagram: @grumpycrowforge Bradley, Dept. BL2, 200 Homer
(SharpByCoop image) St., Olean, NY 14760 800.282.0130 fax
716-790-7188 www.ka-bar.com, info@
ka-bar.com
KNIFE MODEL: A1x
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade
KNIFE PATTERN: Fighhter BLADE LENGTH: 6.34”
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blaade BLADE MATERIAL: Laminated CoS staainless
BLADE STEEL: Mosaicc damascus steel
BLADE PATTERN: Clip ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 60 HRC
HANDLE: Ancient walrrus ivory in a BLADE THICKNESS: .28”
dropped design w/“S” guard BLADE FINISH: Satin
FITTINGS: Gun blued HANDLE: Thermorun synthetic over full-tang
KNIFE TO KNOW: Inlayys and maker’s construction w/integral single guard; hole
mark in 24k gold in the butt for a lanyard
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A WEIGHT: 14.14 ozs.
SIMILAR KNIFE AND SHEATH: OVERALL LENGTH: 11.18”
Contact maker for infoormation SHEATH: Locking
MAKER: Kyle Royer, Dept. BL2, MSRP: $472.95
9021 State Hwy. M, Clever, COMPANY: Fallkniven, attn: E.
MO 65631 417-247-55772 Hjortberger, Dept. BL2, Granatvagen
royerknifeworks@livve.com, 8, S-961 23 Boden, Sweden VAT #
kyleroyerknives.com (Caleb SE556494-8684-01, P +46 (0) 921
Royer image) 544 22 info@fallkniven.se, www.
fallkniven.com
KNIFE NAME: Anthropos

KNIFE TYPE: Folder
DESIGNER: Elijah Isham
BLADE MATERIAL: Chinese damascuss
ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 59-61 HRC
BLADE GRIND: Flat
MODELL NAME: Helix HANDLE: G-10 w/carbon fiber overlay,
KNIFE TYPE: Dress locking folder reversible stainless steel clip and G-10
BLADEE LENGTH: 3.25” backspacer
BLADEE STEEL: AEB-L stainless HANDLE THICKNESS: .47”
HANDLEE FRAME:
FRAME TTitanium LOCK: Linerlock
HANDLE MATERIAL: Marble carbon fiber LINERS: Stainless
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25” PIVOT BALL BEARINGS: Stainless steeel
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: WEIGHT: 3.28 ozs.
Contact maker for information CLOSED LENGTH: 4.15”
MAKER: Jeremy Krammes, Dept. BL2, 138 W. MSRP: $115
Penn St., Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 570- COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China
617-5753 blade@jkknives.com, jkknives.com, COMPANY: We Knife, attn.: Angel or Joe, Dept.
Instagram/Facebook: jeremykrammes_knives/ BL2, Yangdong, Yangjiang, Guangdong, 529500,
Jeremy Krammes (SharpByCoop image) China 86 662 6624678 weknife.com, sales@
weknife.com

WH AT ’S NEW |
KNIFE NAME: Duke 1988 Bird & Trout Knife KNIFE NAME: Tactical Kukri
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade
BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE LENGTH: 10.5”
BLADE STEEL: 440C stainless BLADE STEEL: 80CrV2 carbon
BLADE FINISH: Mirror polished ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 58-60 HRC
BLADE THICKNESS: 1/8” (tapered) BLADE THICKNESS: .25”
BLADE FILEWORK: In the vine style bby the BLADE FINISH: Sniper Grey Cerakote™
maker HANDLE: 3D-machined G-10 by VZ Grips
HANDLE: Stabilized California buckeye w/ OVERALL LENGTH: 15.5”
fancy flower pins and leather thong, and
a WEIGHT: 24 ozs.
whitetail antler button SHEATH: Friction-fit Kydex w/low-ride straps
BOLSTER: Jeweled 304 stainless steel w w/ MSRP: $495
finger groove; dovetailed to the handle COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
OVERALL LENGTH: 7” COMPANY: RMJ Tactical, Dept. BL2, attn:
SHEATH: Hand-fitted 6-to-7 oz. full Ryan Johnson, 3100 N. Hawthorne St.,
grain leather, pig suede lined, all by Chattanooga, TN 37406 866-779-6922 423-
the maker 756-4300 contact@rmjtactical.com, www.
KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is named rmjtactical.com
j
after the maker’s father (“Duke”)
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A
SIMILAR KNIFE AND SHEATH: $395
MAKER: T.W. “Tim” Churchman, Dept. BL2, 475
Saddle Horn Dr., Bandera, TX 78003 210-240-
0317 tim.churchman@nustarenergy.com
(Caleb Royer image)
KNIFE MODEL: Mountain Ti Gold, Small

KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade KNIFE TYPE: EDC folder
BLADE LENGTH: 10.5” BLADE LENGTH: 3”
BLADE PATTERN: Recurve clip point BLADE STEEL: 440A stainless
HANDLE: Water buffalo horn w/fine silver pin and ROCKWELL FINISH: 56-58 HRCC
textured bird’s-beak butt BLADE FINISH: Gold coating
GUARD: “S” style in wrought iron w/melted gold BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
accents HANDLE: 420JI stainless steel; hole
h in
MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: the butt for a lanyard
Contact maker for information POCKET CLIP: Yes
MAKER: Robert Burns, Dept. BL2, 104 W. LOCK: Framelock
6th St., Carver, MN 55315 412-477-4677 MSRP: $24.99
wildernessironworks@gmail.com, COMPANY: Browning, attn: R. Nielsen,
N Dept.
wildernessironworks. BL2, One Browning Place, Morrgan, UT
org, Instagram: @ 84050 801-876-2711 fax 801-8766-3331
wildernessironworks.org www.browning.com, craigwilson@
(Caleb Royer image) browning.com
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s popular
Instagram page at @blade_magazine, and on Facebook and Twitter.
SPE C SH EET | BY MSG KIM BREED 5TH SPECIAL FORCES (RETIRED)
ALL IMAGES BY THE AUTHOR UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
BATTLE OF THE
BLADE SHAPES
TWO KNIVES TAKE THE SIDEWINDER SKINNING TEST AND MORE
The Lucy by Stand To Blade includes
generous areas on the handle bottom
g
and above the ricasso to accept an
a
index finger and thumb, respectively,
KNIFE NAME: Lucy in
n a staa . KNIFE NAME: Outdoor Master
Stand To Blade Co. MAKER: Victorinox
NI tility fixed blad KNIFE TYPE: Utility fixed blade
BLADE LE GTH: 4.25” BLADE LENGTH: 4”
BLAD M RIAL 5160 carbon steel BLADE STEEL: Inox stainless
BLADE GRIND t BLADE GRIND: Scandi
HANDL Black willow and resin HANDLE: Micarta ®
OVERALL ENGTH 9” WEIGHT: 7.76 ozs.

SH A H ydex OVERALL LENGTH: 8 7/8”
MSRP $270 SHEATH: Kydex w/Tek-Lok attachment and
fire starter in sleeve
MSRP: $250
The Outdoor Master is the first-ever fixed-

blade Swiss Army Knife from Victorinox.
T
he Lucy and the Outdoor Master:
No, it’s not a matchup of an old-
school TV comedy queen and a
kung-fu-movie funnyman. Instead, it’s
a comparison of two using knives, the
former by Stand To Blade Co. and the
latter the first-ever fixed-blade Swiss
Army knife by Victorinox. Both knives
can accomplish a wide variety of tasks,
from EDC to outdoor camp use. I used
them for a few basic chores. Like I al-
ways say, no matter what size, thickness
or grind, a knife has to cut.
There was too much moisture in
The Lucy crunched to 76 cuts on the sisal rope the air for paper slicing, so I went
before the edge started to slide. straight to the single-walled cardboard.
The Lucy sliced quickly and straight

SPE C SH EET |
The Outdoor Master blazed to 190 crunching cuts

but had a very small nick in the edge—most likely
from too high of a Rockwell hardness.
for several cuts. The handle was Master bit deep but suffered another
comfortable, though the 90-degree small nick in the edge. The Lucy
thumb rest was sharp on my thumb. The chopped deep too but with no edge
Outdoor Master sliced the material very damage.
aggressively. The cardboard twisted
because of the blade’s Scandi grind. SIDEWINDER STYLE
Plastic board was next on the docket. It was hunting season and since I was
The Outdoor Master cut great with lucky enough to have harvested a
smaller cracking of the board. The whitetail deer, I could use both knives
Lucy cut the same but produced larger in a real field scenario. With my trusty
cracking. The 90-degree angle on the dog, Bella, supervising, the skinning
fi nger notch was uncomfortably sharp began.
on my fi nger. (Note to self: My plastic The Lucy penetrated the deer skin
board might be getting old.) easy and was controllable. The Outdoor
Jumping to the sisal rope for a Master was very sharp but I had to
sharpness/edge-retention test, the raise the edge up to get the cut started.
Lucy was up fi rst. I crunched to 76 cuts I skin sidewinder style with my thumb
before the edge started to slide. The on the middle of the blade to rotate it
sharp fi nger notch again was an issue, sideways. Care had to be taken with the
as well as the heavier edge geometry. Outdoor Master as it sliced through the
The Outdoor Master blazed to 190 hide quickly. I lost my grip three times.
crunching cuts but had a very small Some handle texturing would improve
nick in the edge—most likely from too the Outdoor Master’s grip. The Outdoor Master carries in a Kydex
high of a Rockwell hardness. The Lucy worked great. The thicker sheath with a Tek-Lok attachment and
includes a fire starter with lanyard.
Next was the 2x4 chop. The Outdoor blade was more controllable and the
The Outdoor Master bit deep into the 2x4 but suffered a small nick in the edge. The Lucy chopped deep too but with no edge damage.
As Bella (left) supervised, the Lucy was controllable and penetrated the deer skin easily.
The Outdoor Master was very sharp, though the author had to raise the edge up to get the
cut started.
handle shape performed very well. texture to the Outdoor Master’s handle.
Softening the thumb ramp and fi nger
notch would improve usability. Both REPORT
knives excelled in removing the Each knife worked for a wide range of
quarters from the deer. uses. Which one you prefer may well
depend on your taste in blade shapes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I would soften the edges on the Lucy’s Both makers warrant their knives
thumb rest and fi nger notch, and add against defects as long as the knives are
The Lucy rides in a tan Kydex sheath.
not abused. For more information on the

Lucy visit standtobladecompany.com or
Instagram @standtobladecompany. For
more on the Outdoor Master contact
Victorinox Swiss Army, Inc., Dept. BL2,
7 Victoria Dr., Monroe, CT 06468 203-
929-6391 swissarmy.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.
The Outdoor Master cut the plastic board great with smaller cracking of the board. The Lucy
cut the same but produced larger cracking.

MI LESTONES | BY MIKE HASKEW BLADE® FIELD EDITOR
IMAGES COURTESY OF GERI ELLIOTT
AWILLEY
50 YEARS!
Willey Knives truly is a family affair. Store

employees, from left: Faith and Grace
WILLEY KNIVES MOM-AND-POP RETAIL CUTLERY Elliott (Geri Elliott’s daughters); Bryce
(Matt Willey’s son) and Sylvia Willey;
STORE CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY Geri Elliott; Gerald and Matt Willey; Drew
Beyer; Doug Gould; Donna Kay Heberling;
and Donald Pearson.
with Gerald’s wife, Sylvia, daughter Geri “In 1970, I opened up my business in
and son Matt each contributing to the a room attached to my garage,” Gerald
operation. remembered. He was still working his day
Of course, it started with Gerald and job at the Air Force base. “My wife and I
his interest in knives that stretches back were living in a trailer at the time, and we
to his earliest memory. had handmade knives and retail knives.
“I grew up on a farm,” he remembered, I opened the store three nights a week
“and my father and grandfather always and on Saturdays,” he stated. “The first
carried pocketknives. I have liked knives company that I started selling in 1970 was
since I was 3 years old. There was a Victorinox. In 1973, I added Buck Knives
shop on the farm that had a grinder, and W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery, and it just
work bench, drill press and forge. They grew from there.”
butchered their own hogs every year, and
I could go up to the grinder and sharpen BASEMENT BLADES
the butchering knives, go to an oil stone Through the years, that growth has been
and then a leather strop, and the knives steady and sustained. In 1975 the Willeys
would be sharp enough to shave your built a house, and Gerald designed the
arm. I could do this when I was 10 years basement to serve as a new store.
old. It was a gift from God.” “That has been the home of Willey
Gerald Willey has liked knives since he was
Gerald also tried his hand at making Knives to this day,” he said. “We are in
3—so much so that he also makes them. knives, using old saw blades and standing a very rural area outside a small town—
The one he’s holding he made last year. In at his grandfather’s side while learning typically sitting in a soybean field, except
front of him, from left: the first two knives how to use the forge by the time he was when they plant wheat for the winter.
he made between the ages of 32 and 35, 16. He made fixed blades out of old truck It has taken years, but we have built a
the third one he built at age 16, and the
last two he made when he was 10. leaf springs. good business where we are, and we
“I would have had a knife store four would rather be here than paying rent
years before I did, but Vietnam delayed somewhere else.”
T
here was never any doubt: Gerald it,” he laughed. “I was a cook in the Navy After building a home and investing
Willey was always going into the during Vietnam, and I really enjoyed in the future, Gerald and his family have
knife business. After decades of cooking, too. I got out in 1969 but I didn’t spent the past half-century building
hard work and unwavering commitment, have enough money to start my business.” relationships throughout the knife
that business—Willey Knives of Green- Undeterred, Gerald got a civil service industry. Among these are several
wood, Delaware—celebrates its 50th an- job at nearby Dover Air Force Base, doing friends who remember working with the
niversary this year. essentially the same thing he did in the retailer for years. In fact, Columbia River
One of the premier retail cutlery Navy. He made hunting knives, and many Knife & Tool’s Rod Bremer appreciates
establishments in the United States, Willey of his customers mentioned that their the strong ties CRKT and the retailer
Knives grew from humble beginnings wives could use a good kitchen knife. have developed.
to rank among the most successful That kind of dialog turned the spark “I’ve known Gerald for more than
independent mom-and-pop cutlery into a flame. Still, there were plenty of 30 years—initially with Kershaw back
stores of its kind. It is a family business, challenges in the early days. in the late 1980s and subsequently for
Gerald mans the store today and in 1978 (right). If it cuts or

sharpens, Willey Knives has it. The store also has a full-time
sharpening service and about 90 restaurants as clients.

MI LESTONES |
about knives, friendly, knowledgeable key to longevity and success in a

and happy to share all they know with retail environment that has changed
anyone without hesitation. This starts so dramatically in recent memory.
with Gerald, right down through The advent of the Internet, shop-at-
his grandchildren. I can completely home options and discount online
understand how his business stands the “warehouses” have challenged the
test of time and generations.” mom-and-pop shop tremendously.
Nonetheless, Willey Knives consistently
MOM, POP and KIDS shows that personal, hands-on service—
The family connection at Willey Knives before, during and after the sale—wins
has enriched the success of the retailer as the day. Once customers experience the
well, providing long-term commitment personal touch, the impersonal process
and opportunities for family time, even pales by comparison.
when business is brisk and there is work “We do have a website,” Gerald
to be done. pointed out, “but that is not a very big
Willey Knives has hosted an annual fall open “My whole family is involved in the part of our business. We concentrate on
house since the early 2000’s. business,” Gerald noted with pride. “My getting more customers into our store.
wife, Sylvia, helps with accounts receivable Our niche is ‘show and tell.’ We want to
more than 25 years with Columbia River and payable. My son and daughter are help the customer find the right knife
Knife & Tool,” Rod began. “Gerald is just also in the business. My daughter, Geri, for their needs. Buying off the Internet
the plain nicest gentleman you’ll meet has helped me since she was 5 years old, can be convenient at times, but it is also
in this industry, always polite and very and she is now 46! After she graduated nice to be able to walk into a store and
respectful during conversations he has, from college, she worked elsewhere for handle the knives you are interested in,
and with great product insight. Gerald about five or six years—until she decided and also know that someone is able to
might be soft-spoken, which translates to make this her full-time job. Even when talk to you about the different steels
into you having to really listen, especially she worked elsewhere, she still helped and mechanisms.”
on a noisy trade show floor, but you learn me a couple of nights a week and on
quickly that he needs to be listened to and Saturdays. She now manages the store, OPEN SECRET
heard. He has so much knowledge about does most of the purchasing and delivers The open secret to success at Willey
the industry and its products that you’d to most of our restaurants. Knives is simple.
be crazy not to spend as much time with “My son, Matt, has worked here since “[Providing] service and treating
him as he can give you!” he was young. He is now 35. He also customers how I would like to be
Joyce Laituri of Spyderco has a long- worked for another company for about treated,” Gerald explained. “We also
standing connection to the Willey family five years before coming back to the have a sharpening service and service
as well. family business. He now runs the shop’s approximately 90 restaurants. Besides
“I met Gerald and his family at the sharpening service, helps in the store those customers who walk into the
BLADE Show years and years ago,” she when needed and does some purchasing store for sharpening, other customers
remembered. “They amazed me then— and delivering.” mail in knives to be sharpened. Our
and still do. They are truly passionate The family aspect of Willey Knives is a sharpening service is busy enough
BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Chuck Buck (left) Blacksmithing is another attraction of the annual fall open house.
attended about six of the Willey Knives fall open houses, signing That’s the Willeys’ house in the background. The retail store is in
knives and making friends at them all. the basement.
resonate with him, setting a standard for been in business for 50 years,” she said.
50TH-ANNIVERSARY the second and third generations of the “Time has gone by so quickly, and we
WILLEY GREAT EVENTS Willey family.
“Dad would get off from work at the
have seen changes in the knife industry. I
feel blessed that through all the changes,
I n recognition of the 50th anniversary

of Willey Knives, observances are in
the making.
Air Force base, and we would be open
at night from 7 to 9. He would still be
working after that. It is what he loves to
we have still been successful. Several of
the companies we are with we have been
with my entire life, and they are more
The company has two standing do, and mom was always supportive and than just vendors to us. They are like part
annual events: one celebrating Case helped him with it. We have great parents of our family. I always look forward to
knives in June and a fall open house. who have always guided us about how to the SHOT Show and BLADE Show—not
Case is making a limited-edition 50th- do business with people and treat people. just to see what’s new, but also to catch up
anniversary knife for the happening in I couldn’t ask for a better job with a better with the people.”
the spring, while Buck Knives will be family. My sister and I are proud and
contributing a 50th-anniversary knife for excited to keep this going, and we hope to PRINCIPLES INTACT
the autumn gathering. pass it along to our kids as well. The winning combination of family
“I am trying to plan a number of “Our company verse is Hebrews 4:12: commitment, excellent service and an
special things for our 50th anniversary ‘For the word of God is alive and active. unsurpassed buying experience have
in 2020,” Geri Elliott explained. “Besides Sharper than any double-edged sword, directed Willey Knives to its leading
our two events and the limited-edition it penetrates even to dividing soul and position among cutlery retailers across the
knives, I am planning on doing some spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the country. With these principles intact, there
giveaways in the store and on Facebook thoughts and attitudes of the heart,’” Matt are surely more milestones yet to come.
and Instagram. Matt and I talked with pointed out. “We, as a family, live by that
some of our companies at the SHOT verse, and that is why we are at a ‘Willey For more information contact Willey
Show in January, and we might be doing Great 50 Years’ in 2020!” Knives, attn.: G. Willey, Dept. BL2,
some other limited-edition knives besides Along with a large selection of cutlery, 14210 Sugar Hill Rd., Greenwood, DE
Buck and Case. In fact, we have already customers of Willey Knives find plenty of 19950 302-349-4070 sales@willeyknives.
been talking with David Yellowhorse ancillary items to choose from, including com, willeyknives.com, Facebook: @
about doing something, too.” Yellowhorse scissors, kitchen gadgets, knife blocks, willeyknives, Instagram: willeysharp. Store
has visited the store at least once in the cutting boards, sharpening stones and hours: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
past.—by Mike Haskew supplies, and flashlights. HDPE (high- EST and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST.
density polyethylene) cutting boards
are custom cut for restaurants and retail For the latest knives, knife news, trends
that we aren’t taking on any more shoppers. and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
commercial accounts.” Geri agrees that times have changed popular Instagram page @blade_magazine,
Matt remembers his father grinding for cutlery retailers, but she appreciates and on Facebook and Twitter.
blades in the basement shop years the staying power of the family business.
ago, and the impression continues to “It’s hard for me to believe we have
Since the fall open house regularly attracts 300 to 400 patrons, for Customers enjoy a fall open house inside the renovated chicken house.
the overflow the Willeys renovated an old chicken house on the farm
behind the store. It’s outfitted with five showcases full of knives,
tables and chairs, and free food for the patrons.

CAR ABI NER CAR RY | BY PAT COVERT
CARABINER KNIVES OFFER A

SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT OPTION
TO POCKET CLIP CARRY
The DPx Gear HEAT Hiker’s handle doubles as a carabiner and clips to a
belt loop. The Kydex sheath snicks tightly into place over the blade, offering
excellent protection.
A
growing favorite of the outdoor
crowd, carabiner knives and multi-
tools have carved out a niche in the
cutlery market. While not for concealed-
carry types, they are for those who like a
readily accessible knife or tool and who
make no bones about showing it off.
Spyderco might well have invented the
genre with its Snap-It series in 1993. The
most recent update of the Snap-It series
is the Snap-It Salt. The front-lock folder
features Spyderco’s H-1, an extremely
corrosion-resistant nitrogen steel, in a 2.96-
inch, fully serrated drop-point blade. The
bright-yellow FRN (fiberglass-reinforced
nylon) handle has black Kraton inserts.
Closed length: 5 inches. The star of the
show is the fixed shackle, which features a
spring-loaded wire gate for attachment to
carabiners, loops and D-rings.
The first thing you notice when opening
the Snap-It Salt is that the carabiner ends Carabiner knives and multi-tool, from left: the Lansky Roadie Multi-Tool, Kershaw Reverb XL,
up behind the blade in the Spydie hole area. Spyderco Snap-It Salt and DPx Gear HEAT Hiker.
It’s an unusual layout but the carabiner
loop covers the ricasso—not the cutting through the spring gate. outdoors—typical of DPx’s fixed-blade
edge of the blade. The fully serrated blade line. It can easily be clipped to a belt loop.
is a slicer, not a carver, which is typical of LITTLE WORKHORSE The Kydex sheath is snug and snicks tightly
toothy edges. And slice it does. The blade The sole fixed-blade entry in the test group into place over the blade, offering excellent
whipped through seatbelt webbing and 3/8- is the DPx Gear HEAT Hiker. It is 6.25 protection. DPx provides a cord if you
inch climbing rope with ease. inches overall, with 2.5 inches a deeply prefer neck carry.
The Snap-It carabiner clips to a belt loop ground drop-point blade. The 3.75-inch I tested the blade on hardwood by
or snaps onto a small dangler that’s mated handle is skeletonized to help make the pointing stakes, shaving bark and making
to a larger carabiner. A 5/16-inch-diameter carabiner portion of the knife. The steel is V-notches, as well as slicing strips of
carabiner I had nearby would not clear the CPM S30V stainless. A wide-mouthed wire harness leather. CPM S30V is excellent
spring gate and needed to be screwed open spring gate is on the handle’s lower belly. steel—the reason many manufacturers
and threaded through the loop. This isn’t Attachment points for mounting the knife use it on their top-shelf knives. The
a big problem, but you’ll need a smaller- on a shaft are located on the base and near blade is limited in size and gloves are
diameter carabiner if you want to snap it the choil. recommended for hard use, as with all
The HEAT Hiker is geared for the knives sans scales. Nonetheless, for chores
KERSHAW REVERB XL
BLADE LENGTH: 3”
BLADE STEEL: 8Cr13MoV stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Upswept
CARRY: Carabiner or pocket clip
tip-up
HANDLE MATERIAL: Carbon fiber
and G10/ stainless steel
SPECIAL FEATURES: Framelock;
groove opener
WEIGHT: 2.31 ozs.
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25”
MSRP: $49.49
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China The Kershaw Reverb XL dress tactical/EDC is sleek and handsome. The upswept 3-inch blade
of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel did an excellent job of dicing up a chicken breast.

CAR ABI NER CAR RY |
Spyderco might well have invented the

carabiner knife genre with its Snap-It series
in 1993. The most recent update of the
Snap-It series is the Snap-It Salt.
The Lansky Roadie Multi-Tool worked
well clipped to a keychain. The author
SPYDERCO SNAP-IT SALT attached the Roadie to a key ring—
not the keys—to keep the keys from
BLADE LENGTH: 2.96” binding while in a pocket.
BLADE MATERIAL: H-1 nitrogen steel
EDGE: Fully serrated base and has a wire spring gate.
A linerlock folder, the Reverb XL would LANSKY ROADIE
CARRY: Carabiner be right at home in an urban setting. Like MULTI-TOOL
HANDLE MATERIAL: Yellow FRN w/ the rest of the review knives, it can be
black Kraton inserts attached to a belt loop. However, Kershaw TOOL LENGTHS: .5”
LOCK: Front lock provides the option of a pocket clip, too. CARRY: Carabiner
WEIGHT: 2.5 ozs.
The company also offers a scaled-down HANDLE MATERIAL: Black-coated
CLOSED LENGTH: 5”
version of the knife. stainless steel
I tested the sleek Reverb XL blade by
MSRP: $140 performing meal prep on a fat leftover SPECIAL FEATURES: Carbide knife
sharpener, flat head and Phillips
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: Japan chicken breast. The blade had a nice factory
edge and worked well slicing the breast screwdrivers, variable hex wrench,
crosswise and then dicing back the other bottle opener, box cutter, pry tool, ruler
suited to its size, the HEAT Hiker is a little way. In no time I had the meat prepared. and line cutter
workhorse. The Reverb XL’s impressive good looks did
it all in style.
URBAN DRESS UTILITY MSRP: $7.99
The next entry makes no bones about its KEYCHAIN MULTI-TOOL COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: China
mission: It is a dress tactical. The Kershaw As its name implies, the Lansky Roadie
Reverb XL sports an upswept 3-inch blade Multi-Tool is designed for a multitude
of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel in a gray satin-/ of tasks. At 3.5 inches overall, it has a surface. The tail end of the multi-tool has
PVD finish. A slick opening groove follows carbide sharpener and incorporates a carabiner with a wire spring gate.
the lines of the blade in stylish fashion. The seven other tools: flathead and Phillips In researching the Roadie, I found it is
4.25-inch front slab is matte-blue-coated screwdrivers, a bottle opener, variable sometimes billed as a “keychain multi-tool.”
stainless steel with a carbon-fiber inlay. The hex wrench, pry tool, ruler and line As a result, my first thoughts were it would
back slab has the same gray PVD finish as cutter. The sharpener’s V-groove carbide tear up my pants and take out chunks of leg
the blade, along with a blade-tip-up pocket plates are approximately .25 inch deep meat if I carried it in a pocket. I was wrong.
clip. The carabiner is located on the rear and designed to be held upright on a flat Attaching it to a keychain that already held
DPX GEAR HEAT HIKER
BLADE STEEL: CPM S30V stainless
CARRY: Carabiner or Kydex neck
sheath
HANDLE MATERIAL: Skeletonized
stainless steel
SPECIAL FEATURES: Bottle opener/
nut driver
WEIGHT: 2.15 ozs.
The author put the DPx HEAT Hiker to work carving and shaving hardwood and slicing off
MSRP: $125
strips of harness leather. The knife is a little workhorse, though gloves are recommended for COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE: USA
tough tasks due to the lack of scales.
a bunch of spare keys, I bravely toted it

around for a week and received nary a poke
nor a stab. Granted, I wear cargo shorts and
they are loose fitting, so if you’re leery, clip
the Roadie to a belt loop.
I tested the Roadie’s various tools and
they worked very well. However, tools this
small are made for small tasks, so don’t plan
on rebuilding a lawnmower with them. The
The Lansky Roadie’s diminutive sharpener did sharpener did a very nice job of restoring
an excellent job of retouching the edge on the an edge on both a GEC Bull Buster folder
1095 carbon steel blade of a GEC Bull Buster. with 1095 carbon steel and the slightly
The carbide blades work on harder stainless dulled edge of the test DPx Gear HEAT
steels such as CPM S30V as well.
Hiker’s CPM S30V stainless blade. The tiny
sharpener is for touch-ups and, when used
that way, works quite nicely.
FUNCTION or FLASH
The carabiner is located on the rear All the carabiner models served their
base of the Kershaw Reverb XL and has
a wire spring gate. The folder also sports purposes well. If I had any druthers, it would
a pocket clip as a carry option. be for the manufacturers to design and
incorporate a spring gate that would clip to
a larger, 5/16-inch-diameter carabiner. That
said, there are workarounds for this, such
as using a dangler. Meanwhile, whether
for function or flash, carabiner knives are a
cool way to go.
For more on the carabiner knives and multi-

tool in the story, see “Where To Get ’Em” on
page 64.
None of the knives could accommodate a For the latest knives, knife news, trends
According to the author, the Spyderco Snap- 5/16-inch-diameter carabiner through the and more visit blademag.com, BLADE®’s
It Salt’s fully serrated H1 nitrogen steel spring gate. However, there are options. The popular Instagram page @blade_magazine,
blade is wicked sharp. It whipped through larger carabiner can be opened and threaded
through the carabiner loop. Alternatively, a
3/8-inch synthetic rope and seat belt
webbing—typical of Spyderco’s reputation small dangler-style carabiner can be attached
for delivering extremely sharp blades. to the knife and then clipped to the larger unit.

COOL CUST OM | BY BLADE® STAFF
KNIFE IMAGE BY CALEB ROYER
COMMOON-SENSE
ON SENSE KNIFE LAW
PAVES TTHE WAY FOR MATT
GASKILLL’S
L WORLD WAR I
SPEC ECK
CUSTOMM REPRO
MODEL NAME: Trench Knife
MAKER: Matt Gaskill
BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon steel w//hamon
BLADE GRIND: Dagger
HANDLE MATERIAL: Rubberized carbon fiber
LINERS AND HANDLE PINS: Brass
S
ometi ngs mustt come ttogether
th jjustt right
i ht ffor goodd
things to happen. Such is the case with Matt Gaskill’s custom KNIFE TO KNOW: Spikes on knuckle guard and skull
World War I trench knife reproduction. crusher on butt are hardened
A friend of Matt’s had been after him to make a trench knife and, OVERALL LENGTH: 11”
since the enactment of HB 1935 in Texas in 2017, it is legal for an
adult to carry any knife legal to possess anywhere in the state as longg MAKER’S LIST PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $650
as the blade is not over 5.5 inches.* At 5.5 inches, the blade of Maatt’s
ts
knife is not over the maximum length limit. Not only is the trench knife the
“I drew up my own version of the knife and revised it with my first model of the type he’s ever
friend a little,” Matt said. “The traditional trench knife had a lott of
o made, it also represents the first
brass and we didn’t want to go with that.” However, to commemor te time Matt Gaskill (inset) has
applied a dagger grind to a blade.
the original, Matt made the liners and pins of brass instead. He has been making knives for
The stock-removal blade is 1095 carbon steel with a hamon and four-and-a-half years.
the handle is the new rubberized carbon fiber, in this insta ce
supplied by A.J. Composites. There’s a spike on each knuckle of o
the guard and a skull-crusher butt. The entire build of the knifee is
chronicled on Matt’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/
channel/UCgMivppcIv2eg3OJJVxp8WQ.
*There are some exceptions to the new law. For more on them visit
https://kniferights.org/knife-rights-texas-hb-1935-bottom-line/.
For more information contact Matt Gaskill on Instagram and d or

Facebook at gaskillknives, or visit his website at gaskillknives.com.
For the latest knives, knife news, trends and more visit bladem g.
g
com, BLADE®’s popular Instagram page @blade_magazine, and on o
Facebook and Twitter.
Blade Carving Knives In The W
F lexcut knives are precision made for maximum performance. Their high-
carbon steel blades have durable points, hold an edge extremely well and
easily maintained by simple stropping. Each knife is expertly hand-sharpened
and tested before shipping, so it’s ready to use right out of the package.
Comfortable, curved ash handles allow for long periods of carving without ha
ĨĂƟŐƵĞ͘ ǁŝĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ŬŶŝǀĞƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůůǇ Žƌ ŝŶ ƐĞƚƐ͕ƚŽŚĂŶĚůĞ
ĞǀĞƌǇ ƚĂƐŬ ĨƌŽŵ ƌŽƵŐŚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ĮŶĞ Ě
Exclusively Made in U.S.A.

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EDC KNIFE SPECIAL ISSU

Gerald Willey of Willey Knives.

10 ARE CUSTOMS REALLY WORTH THAT MUCH? 50 BLUE-COLLAR BLADES

12 14 CUTS ABOVE 58 CUT WITH CONFIDENCE

22 WHERE DO KNIFEMAKERS COME FROM? 71 BATTLE OF THE BLADE SHAPES

30 PROFESSOR INTEGRAL 74 A WILLEY GREAT 50 YEARS!

36 THEY GIVE SO OTHERS GET 78 HANGING OUT!

44 CHIPS OFF THE OL’ BLADE 82 TEXAS TRENCH KNIFE

64 | WHERE TO GET ’EM

BLADE (ISSN 1064-5853) is published monthly (Vol. XLVI,

No. 5), with an additional issue in November, by Caribou

FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0 blad ema g.co m 5

Standard Sharpness Rating observers feared CATRA’s equipment

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FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0 blad ema g.co m 7

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FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0 blad ema g.co m 13

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FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0 blad ema g.co m 15

Knife name: Dagger. Maker: Bob Loveless. Blade

looks, as well as a simply vicious blade.”

Editor’s note: Some of the blade and

For the contact information for the knives

I carry a JPT-3S drop-point I pocket an E6 by

Tell us what knife you carry. Add a little history or an anecdote.

IMAGES COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

The author mans his exhibitor table at a past

FEBRUARY 2 0 2 0 blad ema g.co m 2 3

Both forges offer:

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mother and bought two. I borrowed my

A knife dealer gave this knife to the author. “Guess

While she led me home by

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TED DOWELL SCHOOLED Ted and Betty Dowell

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