Category: Blade Show

Every year, the finest knifemakers and manufacturers descend on Atlanta to reveal new knife models, talk shop, and receive awards at the Blade Show.

I’ve already delved deep into the past and laid out the “Overall Knife of the Year” winners since Blade Show first started in 1982.

In advance of the latest Blade Show, I thought I’d take a look back at a different category: the Most Innovative American-Made Design of the Year. This category (and its counterpart Most Innovative Imported Design of the Year) didn’t start until 1990, so that’s where we’ll pick up.

It gives a good insight into the thinking of the judges who pick the knives and whether any of these stood to the test of time (hint: many did!).

1990: Becker Knife & Tool Tactul II

The image features early Tactuls or possibly Divtuls — not sure which models or generations.

We’re starting with the very first entry in 1990: the Becker Knife & Tool Tactul II. These earlier knives are hard to nail down because they have evolved or gone the way of the dodo. You might not be familiar with the Tactul II, but you might know the modern day version better known as the KA-BAR Becker Tac Tool.

Before teaming up with KA-BAR, Ethan Becker had his own company who put out knives made by other manufacturers. The original description from Blade Magazine on the win says the knife is a “heavy duty diving/utility knife that is a saw, hammer/nail puller, screwdriver, chisel, pry bar and knife all in one.”

1991: Gerber Gator Serrated

A more recent version of the Gator.

The Gerber Gator feels like old news now but it was once one of the most innovative when first released. The overall design with the gator-like textured handle was superb. In fact, this — like the Tac Tool — remains a very good knife that’s still around.

1992: Equip USA El Diente

Image provided by Blade Magazine

I wasn’t able to find any information about the Equip USA El Diente, so I reached out to Blade Magazine (which sponsors the Blade Show) to find out more.

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With thousands of knives flooding the markets, it might seem like there’s so much overlap out there that all knives start to bleed together. If you actually believe that new knives no longer have much to offer, you have a lot of studying to do.

Every year manufacturers and designers work hard to bring something new and exciting to the table. To better illustrate how new knives are still proving their worth, we thought it’d be interesting to take a look at all the winners of Blade Magazine‘s “Overall Knife of the Year” award since the start.

The winners of this award are voted by attendees of the BLADE Show and a panel of special judges. These knives are typically prototypes at the time, but show real craftsmanship, expert designs, beautiful construction, and much more.

The first BLADE Show took place in 1982. From what I could find, the first Overall Knife of the Year award was given to a Fight’n Rooster knife, though I couldn’t pinpoint the model, so I didn’t add it here.

Also, the show did not have an Overall Knife of the Year winner in 1983. If I am wrong, please let me know. So with that, let’s start with the knife that won the award in 1984 and work our way to the present.

1984: Timberline Survival Hunter

(The image is of a skinner version of the knife made by Timberline’s Vaughn Neely. These old knives are hard to find.)

The Survival Hunter is a design by Vaughn Neely, who founded Timberline, and was a beloved knife. You still see these vintage Survival Hunters for sale but they tend to go very quickly. Like I said, these earlier knives are difficult to find information on, but it also won the American Made Design of the Year in 1985.

1985: Gerber Clip-Lock

The Clip-Lock from Gerber was a Black Collins design that’s now long discontinued. It had an unusual sheath design in that a clip locked it into place. Here is a quick video overview:

1986: Fight’n Rooster 7-blade Congress

I’m honestly not too familiar with Fight’n Rooster Knives, but I was able to find out that the company was started in the ’70s by Frank Buster. Most of them were traditional slip joint designs typically made in Solingen, Germany. This 7-bladed Congress was all I could find of the knife, but if it’s not the correct model, please let me know.

1987: Buck Titanium

The Buck Titanium was an interesting design with a titanium handle and an overall design reminiscent of the Buck 110 Folding Hunter. It had a monstrous pocket clip, which you can kind of see in the image above. It had a back lock and was just a solid knife.

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BLADE Show 2017 is in the books.

There were a ton of new knives to gawk at and custom knives to buy. But one of my favorite parts of BLADE Show is the awards. Awards are highly subjective and often forgotten but it’s always interesting to see which knives take home which prizes. I recently assembled a list of all the Overall Knife of the Year winners since the very beginning of the show if you’re so inclined.

Up next is a look at a handful of the winners along with the full list of winners at the end.

Overall Knife of the Year: Lionsteel SR-11

For the third year in a row, Lionsteel took home the top prize of the Overall Knife of the Year award. In 2015, it was the T.R.E.; in 2016, it was the KUR Metamorphosis; and this year, it’s the SR-11.

The Lionsteel SR-11 is a truly impressive piece of artistry that evolved out of the popular SR-1, which won the Most Innovative Imported Design of the Year award at BLADE Show 2010. This model features a ball-bearing flipper system, a tungsten carbide window breaker, Rotoblock frame-locking system, and a 3.7-inch Sleipner blade.

Here’s another look from SR-11 owner foldersunfolded on Instagram:

A dash of bright colour in the woods. My glowing #lionsteelsr11 captured at sunset by the Jansberg Lake… #lionsteelknives #molettadesign #sleipnersteel #flipperknife #orange #glowing #knifephotography #knifepics #knifeandnature #knifestagram #knifesociety #coltello #canivete #edcknife #usnfollow #colourful #knifelifestyle #foldingknife #knifeporn

A post shared by @foldersunfolded on May 20, 2017 at 5:00pm PDT

American-Made Knife of the Year: Spartan Blades Kranos

New from @spartanblades1, the Kranos folder. The name is Greek for helmet, and ties in with the subtle Spartan helmet outline on the titanium and G10 handle. The blade is S35VN steel, retail prices range from $515 to $545. #spartanblades #kranos #bladeshow #BangingBlade17 #sharpknivesmatter

A post shared by Breach-Bang-Clear (@breachbangclear) on Jun 3, 2017 at 8:00pm PDT

Winning the American-Made Knife of the Year is the Kranos from Spartan Blades. It features a modern look with an S35VN blade and a titanium/G10 handle. Kranos is apparently the Greek word for helmet, which is awesome because if you look closely, you can see the profile of a Spartan helmet in the handle design. Subtle but awesome.

Here’s a quick video:

A good look at our new Kranos flipper! #knifecommunity #knives #spartanblades #theknifeclub #knifefanatics #knivesofig #bestknivesofig #knifegasm #knifeporn #knifepics #knifenut #everydaycarry #customknives #knifestagram #usn #usnstagram #usnfollow #everyday_tactical #tacticalshit #tacticalgear #gearwhore #dailycarry #americanmade #merica #badassery #edcgear #useyourshit #knifegasm #theknifeclub #knifeaholics

A post shared by Spartan Blades (@spartanblades1) on May 31, 2017 at 4:15am PDT

Imported Knife of the Year: CRKT Crossbones

CRKT won Imported Knife of the Year with its Foresight back in 2012 and takes home the prize again this year for its Crossbones. Designed by Jeff Park of Hawaii, the Crossbones is a thin and streamlined flipper that’s lightweight and versatile. It’s based off Park’s first custom release and features IKBS ball bearing pivot system, brushed aluminum handles, and AUS 8 steel blade. That’s all in a  package that’s 2.4 ounces.

The NEW @crkt_knives CROSSBONES designed by @jeffparkknives, awesome knife! #knife #knives #folder #flipper #crkt #columbiariverknifeandtool #crktknives #crktcrossbones #crossbones #jeffpark #jeffparkbones #bones #ikbs #aus8 #newknife #new2017 #knifepic #knifenut #knifeporn #knifecommunity #edc #gentlemanscarry

A post shared by 7redi Knife Reviews (@7redi_knife_reviews) on Apr 1, 2017 at 4:04am PDT

Most Innovative American Design: Tighe Breaker Integral Automatic

Tighe Breaker Integral's BT&F #bladeshow2017 #blade2017 #briantigheandfriends #bt&f #briantighedesign #briantighe #briantigheknife #briantigheknives #tigheknives #tighebreakerintegral #tighebreaker #s30v #madeinamerica #madeintheusa #buttonlockflipper #knifenut #knifepic #knifeporn #usnstagram #usnstagram

A post shared by Brian Tighe (@tigheknives) on Jun 1, 2017 at 11:33am PDT

(The image is of the flipper button lock version of the knife but you can see the auto version in the video.)

One of my personal favorite awards surrounds innovation because these are some of the most interesting designs. Brian Tighe gets the nod this year with his Tighe Breaker Integral Automatic (I swear he’ll never run out of knife names based around his surname). This  version is the first integral automatic knife and features handles made from a  single piece of titanium. They’ll make even the manliest man swoon.

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With the 2016 BLADE Show in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at all those awesome knives that won the “Knife of the Year” awards. It’s fantastic that knives and knifemakers are honored for excellence at one of the biggest events in the knife world.

Like last year, we’ll take a look at some of the big winners from the 2016 BLADE Show, but you can find the full list at the very end of the post.

Overall Knife of the Year: Lionsteel Metamorphosis

For a consecutive year, Lionsteel took home the top prize of the Overall Knife of the Year with the Metamorphosis. Lionsteel is a family-owned operation founded in Italy in 1969. Its goal, which all other companies should strive for, is to produce knives using only the best materials with unparalleled quality control.

The Metamorphosis is a flipper with a textured aluminum handle featuring a special heat-sensitive coating. When the handle is held in the hand for a few minutes, it changes from black to camouflage. Check out the video:

The premium Sleipner steel blade is 3.43 inches and locks with a liner lock. Sure, the handles are just a luxury, but the knife itself is a real performer.

American-Made Knife of the Year: Spartan Blades SHF

The Spartan Harsey Folder, which goes by SHF, is an anticipated design from Bill Harsey Jr. Harsey has won a few American-Made Knife of the Year awards in the past and this folder is definitely worthy.

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It was yet another great BLADE Show down in Atlanta this year. We saw the arrival of a few new and exciting prototypes, drooled over all the custom knives, and watched the cutting competitions with captivation.

However, one of our favorite segments of the BLADE Show is finding out the winners of the Blade Magazine Knife of the Year Awards. Fifteen awards are handed out, but we’re only going in depth with a few. You can see the full list without all the commentary at the bottom.

Accessory Of The Year: Wicked Edge Generation 3 Pro

First up is the Accessory Of The Year Award. The recipient is the Generation 3 Pro from Wicked Edge. This $700 contraption is an astounding knife sharpener. With micro-adjustable ball jointed guide arms and precise angle adjustments, you can’t find a more accurate sharpener than the Generation 3 Pro.

Best Buy of the Year: Spyderco Byrd Knife Cara Cara 2

Spyderco won two awards this year, including the Best Buy. This is a knife that offers the best design and performance for the money. The Byrd Cara Cara 2 is a lightweight folder with a 3.75-inch blade made of 8Cr13MoV steel. The least expensive iteration has a handle made of Black FRN with a midlock to keep the knife open. Since Byrd Knives are a sub-brand of Spyderco, they have a modified Spydie hole that’s just as easy and quick to deploy.

This is definitely a well-deserved recipient.

Most Innovative Imported Design: Fox Knives Desert Fox

Nice to see one of our customers taking home an award for “Most Innovative Imported Design” with our Damasteel Björkmans Twist???? #damasteelab #damasteel #damascus #BjörkmansTwist #award #FOX #FoxKnives #DesertFox #Atlanta #BladeShow2015 #mostinnovativeimporteddesign

A photo posted by Damasteel AB (@damasteelab) on Jun 7, 2015 at 10:20pm PDT

As I’ve said previously, the award for most innovative is my favorite because it showcases the ingenuity still present in a field that’s been around for thousands of years. The innovative imported design goes to the Desert Fox from Fox Knives. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Fox Knives is known for making knives of the highest quality.

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Yet another fantastic BLADE Show came and went. There were a ton of things to take away and we’ll continue to cover those in the coming weeks, but first on to one of our favorite parts: awards.

There were 15 awards handed out overall, but we’re only going to show you a few. You can find the full list of winners, including more pictures, at the BLADE Magazine blog.

Accessory of the Year – SOG Blade Light Sheath

The accessory of the year went to the unique sheath for the SOG BladeLight. If you want one of these award-winning sheaths, the SOG BladeLight Camp, SOG BladeLight Fillets and SOG BladeLight Tactical each come with one.

Best Buy Knife of the Year – Kershaw/Emerson CQC

The knife that’s considered the best buy this year is the Kershaw-Emerson CQC. The CQC is designed by famed knifemaker Ernest Emerson and built by Kershaw. The Emerson Knives Inc. version of the CQC is a high-end knife that goes for more than $100 and is a highly respected knife. (You can find some of the Emerson Knives Inc. CQC knives here.) With Kershaw producing the knives, the price has come down quite a bit, giving knife enthusiasts a way to buy.

Most Innovative Imported Knife of the Year – Klecker Knives TI-KLAX

I don’t mean to be bias, but I love innovative knives, so this award always gets me excited, and the innovative imported knife from Klecker Knives is drool-inducing. The TI-KLAX is a brilliant creation that features a ton of things. Let’s just let the Klecker Knives site lay down what it has: “Titanium Ax Blade, Hammer Head, Hex Wrench Set, 1/4” Bit Drive Socket, Bottle Opener, Lanyard Hole, Caribiner [sic], Ruler and KLAX Clamping System.”

Most Innovative American Knife Of The Year – Spartan Blades Integral Frame Slipjoint Continue reading

Day 1 has come to a close at the Blade Show and we’ve checked out a lot of badass knives and met a bunch of awesome people.  Here are a couple of the highlights:

Creek Stewart, Survival Knife Expert

I started out the day chatting with Creek Stewart, survival instructor and author, about what he looks for in a survival blade.  Creek’s survival knife of choice is the Blackbird SK5 from Ontario Knives, which he was sporting in a sheath from Paul Schaffer of Hedgehog Leatherworks.  In addition, he was carrying a Spyderco folder and a pretty burly leatherman.

Creek had tons of good tips on picking out a good survival knife for every day carry.  A couple of his fundamentals were making sure your knife is a fixed blade, has a full tang and a heavy duty pommel.

We’re going to post a full-length interview with Creek later this week, but you’d be well advised to scope out his survival school in Indiana if you’re looking for an awesome spot to brush up on your survival skills.

Corrie Schoeman, South African Custom Knifemaker

For over 30 years, Corrie’s been making awesome knives and he showed us some pretty fantastic Damascus steel blades.  Corrie uses a lot of really exotic handle materials. Just from his knives on display, he had handles made of mammoth tooth, cape buffalo and (pictured below) kudu antlers. For those who aren’t in the know, the kudu is an African antelope that, according to Corrie, can jump six feet in the air.

Red Blade Knives

I was just kind of stumbling about lost in the frenzy of sheer knife power, when the Red Blade Knives booth caught my eye.  These are some of the burliest folding knives I’ve ever seen.  The pig ( pictured above) is 1/4″inch and made of CPM S30 steel, with titanium liners.

Red Blade Knives is run by Dan Rotbaltt, Robi Mukherjee and Sean “Griz” Coulter.  Rob, a veteran, said that one of the motivations for developing these knives was to create the sort of knife a solider would need, tough enough to take just about any sort of abuse. From a cursory glance, I’d say these blades are at that level.

That’s my quick and dirty rundown from today’s Blade Show.  Tomorrow, we’ll be checking out a bunch of awesome seminars and covering the World Cutting Contest, so stop by for more updates.

The 2012 BLADE Show down in Atlanta came and went, but not without showing off some awesome knives. One of my favorite events is the Knife of the Year awards, where the top knives are honored by Blade Magazine. For the second straight year, Kershaw’s Zero Tolerance took home top honors for Overall Knife of the Year after the Zero Tolerance 0777 model did so last year.

Here is a shortened list of the winners with photographs from this year’s BLADE Show. For a complete list of winners, check out this post from Blade Magazine.

Overall Knife of the Year: ZT 0888 by Zero Tolerance/KAI USA

Image from knifeblog.com

American-Made Knife of the Year: Socom Delta by Microtech

Image from Hollow Grind

Imported Knife Of The Year: Onion Foresight by CRKT

Most Innovative American Design: Autonomy by Spyderco

Most Innovative Imported Design: DPx HEST T3

The 2012 BLADE Show, dubbed the world’s largest knife show, is returning to Atlanta next month from June 8 to June 10.

The 31st annual event features BLADE Magazine’s Knife of the Year Awards, inductions into the Cutlery Hall of Fame, demos, workshops and the 10th BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition. Along with these events, there are booths and tables from hundreds of well-known companies and custom knife makers. All of this action is packed into three days.

If you’ve never been to a BLADE Show, you’re missing out. Take a look at some of the highlights from the first day of last year’s BLADE Show to get an idea of some of the things you can see.

You get to rub elbows with some of the world’s premier knife makers and see prototypes of new knives and designs. One of the things I’m looking forward to the most is the announcement of the Knife of the Year Awards because it gives respect to the finest knives. If you need proof, just look back at the 2011 Overall Knife of the Year Award recipient. The Zero Tolerance 0777 is definitely something to marvel at.

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Back in June, BLADE Magazine held their 30th annual BLADE Show in Atlanta and there was a lot of action to report.

One of the traditions of the show is to give out awards to the best knives, knifemakers and more. While a lot of focus was on the “Overall Knife of the Year,” which was a very beautiful Zero Tolerance 0777, another notable award is the “American-Made Knife of the Year.”

This year, none other than the Spyderco Native 5 (Fluted Titanium) won the honors. As you can see from the prototype above, the Spyderco Native features an amazing design on its fluted titanium handle. Although I’ve never held this knife, someone from the Spyderco Collector noted that the pattern didn’t seem too sharp and had a great grip.

The weight of this knife compared to the previous models of the Native is similar, but the blade is made from CPM-S35VN steel. It also has a lockback locking system, a thumb hole in the blade and a 4 position clip.

It’s hard to find much fault with this knife and probably one of the best aspects is that it’s made in the U.S.A.

Here are some more pictures from the Spyderco Collector.

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The annual Blade Show is the Super Bowl of the knife world, and I’ll be covering it from Atlanta all weekend.  This year, the show features over 900 exhibitors, in addition to a full schedule of speakers, demonstrations, contests and other events.  The exhibition hall opened at 2 p.m. today, and I spent the afternoon wandering through a sea of sharp objects.  Here were some of the highlights.

Interview with New Hampshire State Representative Jenn Coffey

A rising star in the world of knife advocacy and libertarian politics, Rep. Coffey was the driving force behind the recent passage of New Hampshire’s pre-exemption knife bill, which legalized knife possession across the state.  A former EMT, Coffey talked about her work in the New Hampshire Legislature and how she was driven to activism and politics by the influence of her husband.

Coffey said that on the job she used rescue knives, such as SOG’s and Benchmade knives. She added that “knives that can open quickly, like gravity knives, are extremely important. ”

Coffey was signing copies of her recently released book, Knife, Liberty and Lipstick, which is a call to arms for a return to liberty.  A portion of the proceeds for the book are going to Camp Constitution, a summer camp that teaches kids about “our American heritage of courage and ingenuity the genius of the United States Constitution.”

As for her knife advocacy, Coffey encouraged legislators and citizens to move past the glamorization of knives as dangerous weapons.

“I have dangerous knives in my kitchen,” she said, adding that anything, even an umbrella could be used as a deadly weapon.  “The emphasis should not be on tools, but on actual criminal acts.”

Getting Medieval with Albion Swords

It’s difficult to cruise by the Albion table without stopping.  These guys, based out of New Glarus, Wisconsin, carry a pretty big selection of medieval swords.  They’re pricey, most of them all over 1k, but you can play with them for free.  The swords range from French to Irish to Italian, most of the designs were carried by knights during their time.

Albion swords have been featured in a few different movies and their full stock of movie swords can be viewed here. Scope out the Conan the Bararian sword, it’s a must see.  Here are a few other burly-looking swords in their selection.

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