BLADE 2018 Complete Knife Guide
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66 KNIVES REVIEWEDEDD Newew Knife Handlesdles BLADE 2018 COMPLETE page 344 SPRING 2018 FLASHLIGHT KNIVES CUT page 76 KNIFEMAKING CLASSIC SUPPLIERS page 22 1Ŗ DECADES OF KNIVES FOR BEER DRINKERS KA-BAR page 92 KNIFE BUYERS’ GUIDE pages 42-66 BEST BLADE STEELS page 28 RECURVE BLADES page 84 +plus KA-BAR USMC MAKE KNIVES Fighting/Utility Knife: Marine Standard Bearer FROM KITS FnL1 03 0076 Since WWII page 68 www.blademag.com BKG18CVRUS CAN NEW.indd 1 11/1/17 8:22 AM BL123117.indd 2 10/31/17 9:38 AM We are advocates for an American icon. We will preserve and nurture the legacy by sharing the stories and respecting those that have come before us, are with us now and will carry us for generations to come. We are proud to mark 120 years as an American manufacturer in Olean, NY, USA. KA-BAR.com BL123117.indd 3 10/31/17 9:38 AM BLADE 2018 COMPLETE 10 TOPS Knives new “unidentifi ed cutting SPRING 2018 object.” Puma USA SGB Buffalo Hunter. 84 76 From left: SOG Bladelight Folding Mini-Satin, Coast LK375 and Southern Grind Rhino. 7 COVER CUTTER 28 KEYS TO THE BEST 76 FLASH IN THE HAND It’s full speed ahead for the iconic fl ag- BLADE STEELS Today’s brightest fl ashlight knives shed ship model of KA-BAR. By BKG staff Each steel must be a happy middle light on the subject. By Pat Covert ground of important traits. By Dave Rhea 8 MOST BEAUTIFUL 84 THE INSIDE EDGE SYNTHETICS EVER? 34 WHAT’S YOUR HANDLE? See how four distinct recurve blade How Raffi r and Santa Fe Stoneworks got Natural materials hold on while hot styles affect function. By David W. Jung them to the USA. By Steve Shackleford synthetics gain momentum. By Mike Haskew 92 BLADED BOTTLE OPENERS 10 NEW KNIVES FOR 2018 Four knives can open your beverage but Steel your fi rst look at the latest knives 42 KNIFE INDUSTRY DIRECTORY can they cut? By James Morgan Ayres for the coming year. By BKG staff Your guide to all knives, materials, suppli- ers and much more. By BKG staff 98 3 MEMORABLE KNIFE CUTS 22 GO-TO GUYS OF SHARP Th e author wasn’t born a klutz—he had to work Suppliers are the ultimate resources for 68 KNIFE ASSEMBLY 101 at it. By Steve Shackleford many knifemakers. By Daniel Jackson Fun to build, three kits result in fi ne knives for the money. By Abe Elias 4 KNIFE GUIDE ANNUAL 2018 04-CONTENTS.indd 4 11/1/17 8:39 AM IF IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU’VE BEEN TO 67 | BLADE Shoppe 82 | Show Calendar SMOKY MOUNTAIN KNIFE WORKS 91 | Sharp Sources 97 | Ad Index WE HEARD YOU The Torrent from LOUD & CLEAR. Millit Knives. Our online store is better, faster, & easier to use. • SmartPhone/Tablet • More Product Compatible Features • Fast & Accurate • Pre-Ordering Search Capability 28 • Better Categorization • More Product Images • Enhanced Filtering • Comparison Shopping • More Product Videos • Easy Checkout Raffi r Uranium IF IT CUTS, composite handle WE CARRY IT. material. SMKW.COM 34 FOR NEWS, DEALS, AND GIVEAWAYS, FOLLOW US ON YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA! BLADE® (ISSN 1064-5853) is published monthly (Vol. XLV, No. 3), with an additional issue in November, by F+W, A Content + eCom- merce Company, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001. Periodicals postage paid at Iola, Wis., and at additional mailing offices. Canadian Agreement Number: 40665675. POSTMASTER: Send address Facebook: /SmokyMountainKnifeWorks . Twitter: @SMKWCom changes to BLADE, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0235. Instagram: @SmokyMountainKnifeWorks . YouTube: /user/SMKWcom ANNUAL 2018 KNIFE GUIDE 5 04-CONTENTS.indd 5 10/31/17 2:55 PM BLADE’S COMPLETE small and 2018 Publishers Of ® WORLD’S #1 KNIFE PUBLICATION Vol. XLV, No. 3, SPRING 2018 Editorial/Advertising Office: 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001 715.445.4612 • blademag.com [email protected] Editor STEVE SHACKLEFORD Managing Editor ERIN HEALY Online Product Manager BEN SOBIECK Graphic Designer TOM NELSEN Field Editors MSG KIM BREED, ABE ELIAS DEXTER EWING, ED FOWLER, MIKE HASKEW TM TM B.R. HUGHES, LES ROBERTSON LADYBUG 3 & DRAGONFLY 2 JOE SZILASKI, RICHARD D. WHITE and Field Editor Emeritus, Supercharged with an aggressive WAYNE GODDARD fully serrated SpyderEdgeTM ADVERTISING VP, Advertising KEVIN D. SMITH VP, National Sales/Business Development MICHAEL CASSIDY Sales Representative LORI HALLMAN ext. 13642 Sales Assistant MARY LUTZ Newsstand Sales See the complete Salt SeriesTM line at www.spyderco.com 800 525 7770 303 279 8383 SCOTT T. HILL [email protected] F+W, A CONTENT + ECOMMERCE COMPANY Chief Executive Offi cer THOMAS FX BEUSSE Chief Operating Offi cer TIM BRITTON JOE SEIBERT Chief Financial Offi cer Knifemaker JENNIFER GRAHAM Chief Content Offi cer STEVE MADDEN Chief Technology Offi cer JOE ROMELLO SVP, General Manager-F+W Outdoor and Small Business Groups RAY CHELSTOWSKI Managing Director-F+W International JAMES WOOLLAM VP, General Counsel ROBERT SPORN VP, Human Resources GIGI HEALY VP, Manufacturing & Logistics PHIL GRAHAM Director of Content-F+W Outdoor Group MIKE TOTH SUBSCRIPTIONS/CUSTOMER SERVICE U.S.: 877.485.6426 Canada & Foreign: 386.246.3419 P.O. Box 421751, Palm Coast, FL 32142-1751 BLADE® (ISSN1064-5853) is published monthly, with an additional issue in November, by Krause Publications, a division of F+W, A Content + eCommerce Company, 700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990- 0001. Periodicals postage paid at Iola, Wis., and at additional mailing office. Canadian Agreement No. 40665675. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to BLADE, P.O. Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142- NEW FROM TIM BRITTON...SYNTHESIS, 0235. BLADE and its logo are registered trademarks. Other names and logos referred to or displayed in editorial or advertising content may SYNTHESIS OF TRADITIONAL LOCKBACK, SEN-MAI STEEL, AND TACTICAL TYPE be trademarked or copyrighted. BLADE assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials sent to it. Publisher and advertisers are not liable MODULAR CONSTRUCTION. 3.5 INCH BLADE, 416SS HARDWARE $550 for typographical errors that may appear in prices or descriptions in advertisements. The possession, transportation and sale of certain types of knives is restricted or prohibited by federal, state and local laws. BLADE and F+W, A Content + eCommerce Company, rely upon www.timbritton.com | 336.923.2062 the fact that collectors, purveyors/dealers, exhibitors, advertisers and manufacturers are expected to know and comply with these regulations. P.O. Box 71, Bethania, NC 27010 COPYRIGHT © 2017 BY F+W. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. BLADE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF F+W. 6 KNIFE GUIDE 06-Masthead.indd 6 10/31/17 2:56 PM COVER CUTTER | ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF KA-BAR A-BAR celebrates its 120th anni- his Union Cutlery knife. Th e manage- powder coating. Th e handle has stacked versary in 2018, and one great way ment of Union Cutlery was so impressed leather washers and traction grooves. Ap- Kto observe the milestone is a cover by the letter they began to use KA-BAR as proximate weight: 11.2 ounces. Overall appearance of the iconic KA-BAR 1217 a trademark in 1924. Th e KA-BAR name length: 11.875 inches. MSRP: $104.90 (w/ USMC Fighting/Utility Knife. became world famous thanks to Union traditional leather sheath) or $114.45 (w/ Born from the ashes of the failed Brown Cutlery 1219C2 Fighting/Utility Knives hard plastic sheath). Brothers Razor and Tidioute Cutlery Cos., marked “KA-BAR” made their way into For more information contact KA- the Brown Family consolidated the hold- the hands of American Marines and sol- BAR, attn.: Joe Bradley, Dept. BKG18, ings of defunct knife companies, includ- diers around the globe during 1125 E. State St., Olean, NY 14760 800- ing their own Union Razor cutlery sales World War II. 282-0130 ka-bar.com. concern. Brothers Wallace and Emerson Today’s 1217 USMC Brown, alongside their father John, guided Fighting/Utility Knife For the latest knives, knife news, the Tidioute Cutlery Co. on the path to features a 7-inch blade trends, blogs and more visit success. Th e Browns moved the company of high-carbon cro- blademag.com. to Olean, New York, and adopted the name van steel with a Union Cutlery Co. to more accurately re- smooth black ep- fl ect their geographic location. oxy “baked” Th e Union Cutlery Co. produced hunt- ing knives and pocketknives. Th e name KA-BAR was adopted as a trademark aft er an Alaskan hunter sent a letter in describing an encounter with a Kodiak Salute KA-BAR’s 120th anniversary in 2018 with the company’s most famous bear. Th e bear mauled the hunter, who model of all: the KA-BAR 1217 USMC “K’d A Bar,” or “Killed A Bear,” with Fighting/Utility Knife. In addition to the USMC model, the 1217 also comes in The 1217’s handle of stacked leather washers and traction grooves is almost as Presentation Grade USMC, USMC Serrated, U.S. Army iconic as the knife itself. The 1217 is sold at all U.S. military post exchanges Serrated, U.S. Army and USN versions. (PXs). ANNUAL 2018 KNIFE GUIDE 7 7-CoverCutter.indd 7 10/31/17 2:57 PM TIP OF THE BLADE | BY STEVE SHACKLEFORD MOST BEAUTIFUL SYNTHETICS EVER? he latest and most advanced ma- department we did not have one scale Tterials drive the knife industry, set crack, and at the end of the block we and the BLADE 2018 Complete Knife retained a .020-inch veneer—anyone Guide focuses on some of the best exam- who has cut mammoth tooth knows ples in terms of blade steels and handle this is impressive.