Knives 2013: The World's Greatest Knife Book

1133 Pages·2012·19.07 MB·English

by  Joe Kertzman

KNIVES
2013
EDITED BY
Joe Kertzman
Dedication and Acknowledgments
ooking at the knives in this book, collectors and enthusiasts
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everywhere are reminded of something that they and hunters,
outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen, sportsmen and sportswomen,
farmers, linesmen, utility workers, ranchers, cabinet makers,
construction workers and millions of other people have pondered for
centuries. How could anyone, no matter their political slant, motivation
or agenda, want to outlaw knives of any kind, shape or form? Thumbing
through the pages of Knives 2013, it seems absurd to even consider
banning such handcrafted works of art. It’s implausible that a single
piece be considered a dangerous weapon in the hands of anyone but the
most deranged of human beings.
Yet, there are people, as witnessed for decades, who want to make it
illegal to own and carry anything from daggers to switchblades, from
swords to one-hand-opening spring-assisted flipper folders. In the name
of concerned citizenry and self-righteous politicians, they lobby to
outlaw edged tools, to permanently ink their demise through laws, on
dockets and by manipulation of the court system. There are those who
want to forever ban knives from public ownership and carry.
It is for these reasons and more that I not only acknowledge Knife
Rights and the American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI), but also dedicate
this book to these two organizations that actively protect the rights of
knife-carrying citizens in this country and across the globe. The
American Knife & Tool Institute (www.akti.org) is a nonprofit
association that has been a voice of advocacy for the entire knife
community since 1998, ensuring that Americans will always be able to
make, buy, sell, own, carry and use knives and edged tools. The AKTI is
recognized worldwide and respected as a credible, accurate source of
knife legislation information, legislative input and industry information.
The organization has a successful, proven record of accomplishments in
making effective changes to restrictive knife laws and promoting
reasonable and responsible laws and enforcement.
Knife Rights (www.kniferights.org) provides knife and edged-tool
owners an effective voice to influence public policy and to oppose efforts
to restrict the right to own, use and carry knives and edged tools. It
encourages safe, responsible and lawful use of knives through education
and outreach, enhancing positive perceptions of knives and edged tools
and their owners and users. It encourages the marketing of knives in a
responsible manner conducive to the organization’s goals, and it
cooperates with advocacy organizations that have complementary
interests and goals.
It is with pleasure that I recognize the work of Doug Ritter of Knife
Rights and Jan Billeb of the American Knife & Tool Institute, as well as
all their members, board members, presidents, vice-presidents,
contributors and supporters.
Additionally, I’d of course be remiss if I didn’t dedicate this book to
the F&W Media staff that helps make the Knives annual a reality each
year—Jim Schlender, Corrina Peterson, Steve Shackleford, Sharon
Bartsch, Lori Hallman and Bruce Wolberg. And finally to my wife, Tricia,
our kids, Danny and Cora, and my parents Jack and Cathy, all of whom
have helped shape me into the editor and man that I am today. Thank
you to each and every one of you.
Joe Kertzman
Contents
Introduction
2013 Wooden Sword Award
Features
Tips for Knifemakers—A Collector’s Perspective
Latest Friction Folders Are Freaky Good!
Arms of Malta … Sally Forth Into Pitched Battle
Fat Times for Slip-Joint Followers
The Knifemakers’ Guild—A Strong Alliance of Independent Artists
Art Knive$ A$ Inve$tment$
Large Folding Hunters Swallow the Hand
The Knife Aquatic
Formidable Tactical Folders
“Big” is in the Blood of the Claymore User
Trends Section
Foray into the Far East
Bowie Birthrights
21st-Century Fold-Downs
Finger Nick’n Good
Edged Combatants
American Stickers
Ride into the Dagger Zone
Automatics for the People
Runaway Grains
Little Shavers
Channeling Loveless
Blow-the-Door-Hinges-Off Bowies
Camp Grinds
Milky Mammoth & Mastodon Ivory
Horseman’s, Falconer’s & Huntsmen’s Swords
Tribal Warriors
Easy-Handlin’ Hunters
Amber Waves of Stag
Fiery Fighters
State of the Art Section
Sharp Dress Folders
Stone-Cold Steel Austenites
High-Art Handle Work
Cast Guards & Pommels
Take it to Your Graver
Rugged Steel Skins
Double-Take Damascus
Stippling the Ivories
Fine Feather-Damascus Friends
Mecca-Worthy Mosaics
Curly Wire & Maple Wood
Carved & Curvaceous
Factory Trends Section
Miracle in New Hampshire
Some Blade Brawn
Holed Up & Handy
Lightning-Fast Folders
A Trio Of Tantos
Directory
Custom Knifemakers
Knifemakers State-by-State
Knifemakers Membership Lists
Knife Photo Index
Sporting Cutlers
Importers
Knifemaking Supplies
Mail Order Sales
Knife Services
Organizations & Publications
On The Cover
here’s something for everyone to like on the front cover of Knives
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2013, starting with a Nathan Carothers fully integral dagger (far
left) machined from a single piece of CPM-154 steel, heat treated
by Paul Bos, then given four handle scales of resin-impregnated maple
burl made by “Simply Nicholas.” The pins are hidden, the steel hand
finished with stones before polishing, and the maple burl a dark green.
Standing to its right is “Seeing Scarlet,” a Ron Appleton creation
including a 440C blade with spherical contours, a red-anodized 6061-T6-
aluminum handle and a titanium InfiLock™ mechanism with “soft close
modification” in a fashion only Appleton could accomplish. Looming
large to its right is an impressive Steven Rapp knife, his interpretation of
a circa-1800-1850 Sheffield Wostenholm IXL piece—a bowie, but Rapp’s
is a dagger—shown at the Crystal Palace Exhibition, which eventually
became the World’s Fair. Rapp’s version includes a 13.5-inch, double-
ground 440C blade, a cast guard and pommel by Mark DeGraffenried,
and an ancient-ivory handle. So engraved and gorgeous we had to look
at it lying down (the knife, not us) is an Emmanuel Esposito “Rhino” tab-
lock folder showcasing Brian Hochstrat’s incredible Italian bulino-style
engraving and gold-appliqué depicting scenes from Homer’s poems the
Iliad (one side of the handle) and the Odyssey. It also sports an RWL-34
blade and 416 stainless steel frame. If that doesn’t satisfy the knife lover
in you, nothing will.

Introduction
onestly, knifemakers are helping to revive the U.S. economy. It’s
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a theory I’ve heard and read about, one that’s been bandied
around lately in newspapers, on television news and within
online forums and articles. Knifemakers are not specifically mentioned
or pinpointed, but they might as well be. The thought process goes like
this: after the bank bailouts, housing collapse and stock market crash (or
at the least the “great recession”), the unemployment rate skyrocketed
and people found themselves out of work, forced from their homes, in
debt, bankrupt or suffering extreme poverty. Large corporations like
General Motors, Lehman Brothers and Delta Airlines were also bankrupt,
and no one was hiring. There wasn’t a quick fix for reviving the
economy, and the only thing, theorized some, that would at least help
jump-start a recovery would be innovation, self starters—entrepreneurs
opening their own small businesses.
Enter the innovative knifemaker.
Starting a business is never easy, but the American spirit is not about
taking the easy way out, and knifemakers have been going it alone for as
long as hammers have been hitting anvils. Few of those hammerheads
strike gold, but there is pride in workmanship, in being a craftsman. The
quality of workmanship that modern custom knifemakers exhibit is
unsurpassed, and the innovation in custom knives has never been more
widespread. People unfamiliar with the state of custom knifemaking find
themselves flabbergasted by the knives made today, blown away by the
quality, craftsmanship and artistry. Those who are familiar still find
themselves in awe at the beauty of the knives and ability of the
knifemakers.
To say that knifemakers have a hand in reviving the U.S. economy is
not such a stretch after all, and to go further and say they’re working on
the world economy is not so farfetched. Knifemakers listed in the
“Custom Knifemaker Directory” of Knives 2013 represent 30 countries
around the world. Innovations in knives often coincide with those in the
steel industry. Yet there’s more to a knife than a blade, and thus
advancements in materials, mechanisms and patterns further propel