TTHHEE WWOORRLLDD’’SS GGRREEAATTEESSTT KKNNIIFFEE BBOOOOKK 35th STUNNING HANDMADE KNIVES IN FULL-ON COLOR! EDITION K35 N IV ES th EDITION Showcasing fi ne artistry isn’t a diffi cult job. Unlike museum curators, the knife book editors, designers and publishers don’t even need to display the items in a well-lit room. The pages of KNIVES 2015 come alive with the most utilitarian, artistic, unique and exquisite blades from around the world. The world’s fi nest edges—whether everyday carry pieces, hunters, bowies, belt and boot knives, camp knives, fl ipper folders or highly embellished works of art—fi nd a home in the 35th edition of the Bertie Rietveld’s “Seaspray Sahara” engraved by Julien KNIVES annual book. And each is accompanied by complete Marchal (Francesco Pachi image) K specifi cations, descriptions and editorial comments. Add in a comprehensive Custom Knifemaker Directory, N including email addresses, websites, phone numbers, specialties and technical information, and you can see I why collectors and enthusiasts own every volume of this coveted book. V • Engrossing feature articles delve into frame-lock E folders, blunt tips on tall ships, knives disguised S as other items, survival knives, “A Sword for a Warrior King” and plenty more STATE-OF-THE-ART • World’s most complete Custom Knifemaker 22 EMBELLISHMENTS Directory • The latest trends in handmade knives 00 • State-of-the-art engraving, scrimshaw, “Nezumi” kiridashi-style LATEST TRENDS fi xed blade in a stingray 11 jewel inlay, sculpting and carving skin grip by Jerry Brouwer IN DESIGNS AND 55 MATERIALS More knives, articles, information, trend-setting innovations and state-of- COMPREHENSIVE the-art embellishments than any other DIRECTORY OF book on the market! CUSTOM MAKERS Dan Dugdale “Marble Neck Knife” with a marble captured between handle scales ABOUT THE EDITOR: (SharpByCoop.com image) An avid knife enthusiast, Joe Kertzman is managing editor of BLADE Magazine. K E His other books include Art of the Knife and R US $32.99 T BLADE’s Guide to Making Knives, 2nd Edition. Z T1346 (CAN $36.99) M ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-4073-7 A ISBN-10: 1-4402-4073-6 N 53299 N EDITED BY A E JOE KERTZMAN C P U 0 FnL1 04 0120 01 JUYrVyBQdWJsaWNhdGlvbnMsIEluYyAo 02 SW9sYSBkaXZpc2lvbikPR3JlZ29yeSBL 03 cnVlZ2VyAFNpKQMCMTMDMTAwATEFVVBD 04 LUEMMDc0OTYyMDE3MzE0+A== 74962 01731 4 9 FnL1 04 0124 01 JUYrVyBQdWJsaWNhdGlvbnMsIEluYyAo 02 SW9sYSBkaXZpc2lvbikPR3JlZ29yeSBL 03 cnVlZ2VyAFOxLVEEMTAuNAI4MAExBkVB 04 Ti0xMw05NzgxNDQwMjQwNzM3AA== 781440 240737 TT11334466__CCoovveerr..iinndddd 11 77//11//1144 11::4466 PPMM KKNNIIVVEESS EDITED BY Joe Kertzman 001-056_T1346.indd 1 7/2/14 9:46 AM Copyright ©2014 F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a critical article or review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper, or electronically transmitted on radio, television, or the Internet. Published by Krause Publications a division of F+W Media, Inc. 700 East State Street • Iola, WI 54990-0001 715-445-2214 • 888-457-2873 www.krausebooks.com To order books or other products call toll-free 1-800-258-0929 or visit us online at www.shopblade.com ISSN 0277-0725 ISBN-13: 978-1-4402-4073-7 ISBN-10: 1-4402-4073-6 Cover Design by Sharon Bartsch Designed by Rachael Wolter Edited by Corrina Peterson Printed in United States of America 001-056_T1346.indd 2 7/2/14 9:47 AM Dedication and Acknowledgments F or years the KNIVES annual book has laid expert on knives and all aspects of self-defense. A claim to having the world’s greatest knife writ- member of Black Belt Magazine’s prestigious Hall of ers contributing feature articles on a myriad Fame, co-host of Outdoor Chan- of blade-related subjects. I acknowledge them and nel’s “The Best Defense” TV show, their contributions, and dedicate and founder of Martial Blade this, the KNIVES 2015, book to Concepts, he is also a prolifi c each of them. Rod Halvorsen knife designer. Jordan Clary is has always been fascinated with a freelance writer and professional indigenous and ethnographic blogger who became interested in cutting tools and weapons. knives while visiting a primitive Extensive travel has given him tribe of knifemakers in Burma. an appreciation for the blades of Pat Covert started seriously various cultures, designs he has collecting knives in the mid-80s been able to modify and explore and penning articles about them through knifemaking in his in 1996. He has been writing own shop. Greg Bean’s stud- for BLADE and KNIVES since ies of writing and history went 2010. James Morgan Ayres perfectly with his passion for has written over 50 articles for sharp, pointy things. He began BLADE, as well as eight books— writing for BLADE® Magazine four of them on survival, fi rearms and the KNIVES book series and knives. He served with the while working for C.A.S Iberia. 82nd Airborne Division and the 7th Accomplished custom knifemaker Special Forces Group (Green Be- Vince Evans’ interest in his- rets). Knife collector and purveyor torical knives and swords keeps Don Guild is a retired pharmacist him traveling internationally who had a chain of 24 stores in to research and study original California. He has written loads of pieces in museums. He makes articles on art knives for BLADE some of the most true-to-form re- and KNIVES. Evan Nappen productions of knives and swords has dedicated his life to fi ghting extant. Mike Haskew has been for gun and knife rights. He has writing for BLADE for 23 years, practiced law since 1988 and was and has developed a great ap- one of the fi rst attorneys to ever preciation for the industry and its get a federal injunction against a people. He is also an avid writer state gun law. He has written and of military history and general produced DVDs, and authored a number of gun rights interest articles, and is the au- books, as well as numerous articles that have appeared thor of more than a dozen books. in national magazines. There, how’s that for the world’s Michael Janich is an accom- greatest knife writers?! plished author and recognized Joe Kertzman 3 DEDICATION 001-056_T1346.indd 3 7/2/14 9:47 AM Contents Introduction .....................................................................................................................................6 2015 Wooden Sword Award .............................................................................................................7 Features “The First Knife I Ever Made” .............................................................................................................................8 Are Quality Knives Worth the Quid? ................................................................................................................14 Switching to Survival Knife Mode ....................................................................................................................20 A Sword for a Warrior King ...............................................................................................................................26 The Art Knife Goes International .....................................................................................................................32 Knives Hidden in Plain Sight .............................................................................................................................37 Knife Trading Along Emigrant Trails ...............................................................................................................41 Feeding His Fixed-Blade Fixation ....................................................................................................................45 Frame-Lock Fever! ..............................................................................................................................................52 Trends Section ...............................................................................................................................57 Sweeping Uppercuts ............................................................................................................................................58 Utility Knives & Choppers .................................................................................................................................61 Folds of Technology ............................................................................................................................................66 Belt and Boot Knives ..........................................................................................................................................72 Genteel Steel .......................................................................................................................................................74 Cool as a Camp Cutter ........................................................................................................................................82 Forever in Loveless .............................................................................................................................................83 Battle Honed .......................................................................................................................................................84 Telltale Temper Lines .........................................................................................................................................87 Picture-Perfect Pocketknives ............................................................................................................................90 Splayed in Their Coffi ns .....................................................................................................................................94 A Higher Class of Hunters .................................................................................................................................96 Push Dagger Presentation ................................................................................................................................105 Worldwide Weaponry ........................................................................................................................................106 Western Wares ..................................................................................................................................................112 A Bromance with the Bowie .............................................................................................................................114 Food Preppers ....................................................................................................................................................122 Natural-Handle Fighters .................................................................................................................................125 State of the Art Section ...............................................................................................................132 Handle Marquetry and Mosaics .......................................................................................................................133 Animal-Printed Points ......................................................................................................................................134 Ivory Artistry ....................................................................................................................................................136 Permanent Etchings & Engravings .................................................................................................................138 Gold Inlaid and Bladed .....................................................................................................................................146 Dyed in the Wood ..............................................................................................................................................149 Damascus Patterns Parade ..............................................................................................................................150 4 KNIVES 2015 001-056_T1346.indd 4 7/2/14 9:47 AM Carving Out a Knife .........................................................................................................................................158 San Mai Warriors ..............................................................................................................................................161 Sculpted Steel ....................................................................................................................................................162 Mosaic Makers Union .......................................................................................................................................164 Dressed-Up Daggers .........................................................................................................................................168 Sheathing Review .............................................................................................................................................172 Factory Trends Section ................................................................................................................173 Blunt Tips Rule Tall Ships ...............................................................................................................................174 Fly-Open Factory Folders .................................................................................................................................178 In the Hunt ........................................................................................................................................................179 Tomahawk Chop! ...............................................................................................................................................180 Knives for Veterans ...........................................................................................................................................181 DIrectory .....................................................................................................................................193 Custom Knifemakers .......................................................................................................................................194 Knifemakers State-by-State ............................................................................................................................282 Knifemakers Membership Lists ......................................................................................................................291 Knife Photo Index ............................................................................................................................................294 Sporting Cutlers ...............................................................................................................................................296 Importers ..........................................................................................................................................................299 Knifemaking Supplies .....................................................................................................................................301 Mail Order Sales ..............................................................................................................................................304 Knife Services ..................................................................................................................................................306 Organizations ...................................................................................................................................................310 Publications ......................................................................................................................................................311 On The Cover Fifty years working as a knifemaker, and when I medallion on the reverse side of the handle. To the right contacted American Bladesmith Society master smith of Keeslar’s piece, spanning the bottom of the front cover Joe Keeslar to ask him if he could send me a particular is knifemaker Jason Fry’s upswept bird-and-trout knife knife (far left, front cover) for possible inclusion on the parading a stabilized spalted-pecan handle handsomely KNIVES 2015 book, he was excited to be considered. Now partnered with juniper-burl bolsters, a 3 3/8-inch 154CM that’s saying a lot, not only for the KNIVES annual, but blade and a tapered tang. It comes with a tooled-leather also for Keeslar’s humility, particularly considering the sheath in a basket-weave pattern. In the center is a com- workmanship of this particular knife. The “Brut de Forge” pletely sculpted and 18k-gold-inlaid Ronald Best art folder clip-point (cid:191) xed blade is forged from a 19th-century French boasting a 4.25-inch Damasteel blade, a 416 stainless steel (cid:191) le, and all work is that of the maker, including the vine frame, lapis-lazuli handle inlays and more TNT Damasteel (cid:191) le work, “dragon scales” engraving on the bolsters and following the curve of the grip. All come together like silver wire inlay embellishing the curly maple handle. The the instruments of a symphony orchestra, and each of the 10-inch blade is left with (cid:191) le marks intact, and the knife knives is similarly well orchestrated, making for a (cid:191) ne also showcases a 50th year of knifemaking anniversary cover at that. (cover photo by Kris Kandler) 5 CONTENTS 001-056_T1346.indd 5 7/8/14 9:24 AM Introduction W elcome to one of the most fantastical worlds touting their qualifi cations. And besides, the Knives this side of Oz, Disney or Hogwarts. Scat- annual is known as The World’s Greatest Knife tered throughout the landscape are gem- Book. Then fl ip to pages 8-56 to get lost in illustrated stones, ivory, pearl, gold, meteorite and other pre- articles covering such subjects as knife trading cious commodities. Edges keep watch, knife points along early emigrant trails, one author’s fi xed-blade unsheathed, little soldiers standing guard. The fi xation, the popularity and quality of frame-lock artists have left their marks, engraving enchant- folders, what features make an ideal survival knife, ing images, scrimshawing ivory in brilliant hues, international art knives, blades used on tall ships, building bezels for diamonds and rubies, inlaying, hidden or disguised knives, a sword for a warrior overlaying and etching. Nothing is left to chance or king, whether quality outdoors, camp and hunting left alone. The place is populated with only good- knives are worth the extra cost and the fi rst knives looking beings whose ancestry has been researched some makers ever built. and recorded. It’s always fascinating to discover what Trends Population growth in knife fantasyland is the emerge each year in knife fantasyland, and the past most miraculous aspect of the world’s best place year proved fruitful and ultimately fulfi lling, with to live. Though there are some production pieces makers fashioning everything from technologically herein, most are handmade, and no assembly line or advanced folders to belt and boot knives. Some pieces manufacturing plant churned out those little num- are “Battle Honed,” while others are “Picture-Perfect bers. Instead they are one-of-a-kind creations, like Pocketknives,” “Cool as a Camp Cutter” and “Food snowfl akes or fi ngerprints, with no two being alike. Preppers.” Many knifemakers fi nd themselves in To keep up such a pace, propagating the population, “A Bromance with the Bowie,” and more fashion producers work long hours, often in less-than-ideal “Genteel Steel” and “Sweeping Uppercuts.” There conditions, pounding, grinding, churning until the are utility knives and choppers, pieces inspired by fi nished products are made, sharpened, shined and the late Bob Loveless, blades with telltale temper oiled. Then the little numbers go to market where lines, coffi n-handle bowies, high-class hunters, push they are displayed, priced and sold. And new pieces daggers and Western wares. Don’t miss the “Animal- take their places, building a market and satisfying Printed Points” in the State of the Art section, as the appetite of collectors who drink in this fantasti- well as etched and engraved knives, gold inlaid cal world as if it were fi lled with the lifeblood and pieces, damascus patterns, sculpted steel, ivory nutrients their bodies need. artistry, dyed wood, San Mai steel, mosaic damascus, This is where knives are made, showcased and dressed-up daggers, a “Sheathing Review,” carved lauded, and the Knives 2015 books captures them knives, and handle marquetry and mosaics. in glorious full color for all enthusiasts to see, drool Complementary Directories list Sporting Cutlers, over, covet. The makers are many, with 2,200 of Importers, Knifemaking Supplies, Organizations, them listed in the Custom Knifemaker Directory at and everyone from appraisers to custom grinders, the back of the publication, including their contact handle makers, engravers, etchers, heat treaters, information, specialties, patterns, technical informa- leather workers, photographers, sheath makers and tion, prices, remarks and descriptions of their tang scrimshaw artists. stamps or marks. Here’s hoping you enjoy your stay in this fantasti- They’ve left their marks in the Trends, State Of cal knife world, where a feast has been prepared The Art and Factory Trends sections of the book, as for you, spread out and served. While steely blades well as in the feature articles penned by some of the refl ect the light, exotic materials make themselves world’s best writers. Why the world’s best writers, known and embellishments pretty up the place, and who says so? Read the Dedication and Acknowl- welcoming onlookers and soothing their senses. edgements on page 3 for brief bios of the authors Joe Kertzman 6 KNIVES 2015 001-056_T1346.indd 6 7/2/14 9:47 AM 2015 WOODEN SWORD AWARD H oowww yyyoouu eevvveeenn eennvviiiissssiioonn ssuuuccchh aa ppiieeecccee ooff ffuuunnncctttiiiooonnaall aarrtt bbeeeeffffoorrreee ccrreeaattiinngg iiittt iiisss bbbeeeyyyyooooooonnnnddd mmmeee.. BBBuuuttt ttthhhhhheeeeennn aaagggaaaiiinnn,, III’’mmm nnnnnnnooottt aaa ttrruuee aarrttiisssaannn aaass iiss tthhee wwwiiinnnnneeerr ooff tthhee 220001155 WWWooooddeenn SSwwwoorrdd AAwwwaarrdd,, DDDooonnaalldd VVVooggtt.. VVVooogggtt’’ss ““SSShhhoooott aannnddd SSttaabb GGuunnn KKnnniiffee”” iiss aa ccooommmbbbiiinnnaattiioonn ssiinnngggllee---aaaccttiioonn aauuttooommmaaatttiicc kkknnniiifffeeee aaaaannnddd aaa ..333666--cccaaallliiiiiibbbbbbbbeeerrr pppooowwwdddeeerrr pppeeeerrrrrrrccccuuussssssiiiooonnn pppiiissstttooolllll ((((yyyeeesss,, iitt wwwooorrkkksss)).. LLeett’’ss ssttaaaarrrrtt wwwiitthh tthhee bbllaaadddeee... TThhee uuppsswweeeppptt,,, rree-- ccuuurrrvveedd,, aaalllmmoosstt PPPPeeeerrssiiaannn---llooookkiinnggg ffoollddiinnnggg bbllaaddeee iiiss RRoobbb and hardened 440C stainless steel. TTThhoommaass ddaaammaaaassssccuuss sstteeeell ttthhaattt VVVooggtt mmeettiiicccuullooouuussllyy eenn-- Blade length is 5.5 inches, the overall gggrraavveedd.. TThheee sssssccccuuulllppppttteeeddd,,,, cccaaarrrvvvveeeeeddd aanndd eenngggrraavvveeeeddd bboollsstteerrss,,, open length is over a foot long, at 12.25 ggguunn ttrriiggggeerrr,,, ggguuunn hhaammmmeerrrr aannndd gguunn bbaarrrrreeell aaarree aallssoo inches, and the gun barrel stretches 4 the same Thomas damascus steel, and the gun body inches. Because words can’t even begin to is 303 stainless steel. Mammoth-ivory handle scales, describe the piece, Vogt had several images taken carved by the maker in a fl oral/vine motif, fl ow into and sent to this KNIVES 2015 book editor, who was the bolsters, interlocking with them like puzzle smitten and impressed all at the same time, and pieces. The entire gun/knife, including such areas thus the 2015 Wooden Sword Award goes to Donald as the previously noted trigger and gun hammer, Vogt. Thank goodness guys like him follow through are carved using chisels on their incredible visions so the rest of us can enjoy and a chase hammer, and the fruits of their labor. 14k-gold and ruby inlays Joe Kertzman are set smartly on the top, or spine, of the gun/ knife, as is a gold plate stating the caliber—“36 Cal.” Oh, and while admiring the spine of the piece, note the vine and scrooollllll fififi llleee work on the titanium liners aaaanndd sstteeeell spacer, respectively. The kniiffeeee llllaaatttccchhh iiiissss cccaaarrrvvveeeedddd 7 2015 WOODEN SWORD AWARD 001-056_T1346.indd 7 7/8/14 9:24 AM “The First Knife I Ever Made” They’re not all pretty, and their makers aren’t always proud, but the “fi rstborns” remain special By Mike Haskew E verybody has to start somewhere. The greatest knifemakers the world has ever known, the up and coming, the dab- blers in knife kits and the absolute novices all share a common experi- ence—the fi rst knife they ever made. Looking back on that fi rst knife, there are more smiles than regrets, there is pride in progress, and there is real history. Begin- ning with the basics and using everything from saw blades to old springs, that fi rst knife has launched many a storied career in the custom knife industry. “I guess everybody has made a knife in school, out of a piece of iron or something,” rea- soned Bob Dozier, who at age 73 has passed the half-century mark in his knifemaking journey. “My grandfather, Milton Bihm, made knives At the age of 23, Bob Dozier was out on an oilrig, rough-necking in the Gulf of Mexico. out of 14-inch fi les, With time on his hands, he found a small fi le lying unattended on a bench. A nearby and we called them grinder drew him close like a magnet. In a few hours, he’d made his fi rst knife. 8 KNIVES 2015 001-056_T1346.indd 8 7/2/14 9:47 AM saddle knives. The deer hunters would carry them on thheeiirr saddles. They were big old choppers.” Dozier made his fi rst knife at age 12 with his grandd-- father at his side. “I went to Grandpa and asked, ‘Can you teach me how to do this?’ We built a forge out of thee bottom of a barrel and took my mother’s canister vacuuumm cleaner and reversed the hose on it, put a damper in thee pipe and controlled the fi re. And I forged. I was the onlyy grandson who showed interest in knifemaking,” he conttiinn-- ued, “and Grandpa showed me how to take a crosscut saaww blade, break it up and make knives.” That knife had lead alloy bolsters and an old hickorryy handle taken from a hammer. Bob says he made seven oorr eight pieces with his grandfather and admits that theyy were “terrible looking.” For several years, Dozier’s knifemaking went dormanntt.. He had read an article in True magazine about Randall knives selling for the princely sum of $18, and that notioonn stayed in the back of his mind. At the age of 23, he was out on an oilrig, rough-necking in the Gulf of Mexico. Wiitthh time on his hands, he found a small fi le lying unattendedd on a bench. A nearby grinder drew him close like a magnneett.. “In a few hours, I had a knife blade,” Bob grinned. ““II had that knife for years, and my wife and I used it to oppeenn cans in the kitchen. Then it got lost for a while. I found it again six or seven years ago mixed in with a bunch off other knife stuff. I made that knife after I was a grownn man, and my interest was rekindled, so I really call thaatt one my fi rst knife.” Functional, Usable Artwork Michael Ruth Jr. learned custom knifemaking fromm a couple of the best teachers around. It all started whenn Jerry Fisk wanted some business cards and came into tthhee Ruth family’s print shop. Jerry happened to have a few ooff his handmade knives and laid them out for everyone too The fi rst knife Michael Ruth look at. Jr. fashioned is “That was in the late 1980s, and we were all fascinateedd this hunter with a by his work,” said Michael. “These were clearly somethingg 5160 blade and an ironwood handle. He more than just tools—they were artwork—fully functionaall,, keeps it in a drawer usable artwork. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at knives thee in his shop and uses same way after that day.” one side of the handle Michael and his father, Michael Ruth Sr., made to experiment with new carving and cutting countless trips to Fisk’s shop, and B.R. Hughes, who ideas. The side he keeps brought Jerry into the Ruth’s print shop that day, pristine is shown. was a guiding presence as well. “Jerry taught us the process of creating each piece from raw materials to the fi nished product. B.R. was always there to help us understand the concepts of design and the standards of performance that the ABS [American Bladesmith Society] teaches its students,” Michael Jr. noted. 99 FFEEAATTUURREESS 001-056_T1346.indd 9 7/2/14 9:47 AM
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