The Cutting Edge

Link Between Samurai Swords and Japanese Nuclear Plants

March 16, 2011 / Tim / 1 Comment

According to an article published today at Japolink.com, the walls of the imperiled Japanese Fukushima nuclear plant are made by a steel company that still forges samurai swords by hand.

Japan Works, a major steel company with over 5,000 employees, constructed the containers in a tedious process that utilizes a 14,000-ton press to shape a special steel alloy

The company has built almost all of the containers used in Japan’s 54 nuclear power plants, yet despite it’s high-profile nuclear manufacturing, it reportedly still has a sweet spot for making high-quality samurai swords.

Knives Save Lives: Sampson Parker

March 15, 2011 / Tim / 4 Comments

After watching the film 127 Hours about Aron Ralston and posting on the astonishing case of doctors having to amputate a man’s legs with a Swiss Army knife, I became fascinated with the concept of life-saving knives.

It’s no secret that knives are extremely helpful in everyday life, but there are also many examples when carrying a knife has saved someone’s life or prevented them from being significantly injured. Occasionally, I’ll be posting examples of these gripping tales I find around the web.

Although not all examples of knives saving lives involve amputations, the story of Sampson Parker was so amazing that it’s the first story we’re looking at.

Sampson Parker, a farmer from South Carolina, found himself in a terrifying life-or-death situation a little more than three years ago when a corn stalk became lodged in his giant mechanical picker. He mistakenly tried to get it out with his hand, which was instantly sucked into the machine.

His first idea was to simply pull as hard as he could until his hand would get loose, even if it meant literally pulling his hand off. Unfortunately, that’s when the situation turned even uglier.

Top 5 Coolest Movie Swords (That You Can Own)

March 13, 2011 / Tim / 5 Comments

Last week, I posted the Top 5 Movie Knives (That You Can Also Own), and, as promised, here is the next installment: the top 5 coolest movie swords (that you can own).

There are a few arbitrary rules I set for qualifications. Firstly, the sword has to have appeared in a feature film. Secondly, you have to be able to buy it either as an officially licensed or unofficial replica. Finally, it has to be awesome.

There are undoubtedly many movie swords that deserve to be on this list, so if you think I missed one, feel free to argue your addition in the comments section.

Without further ado, here are my top 5 coolest movie swords (that you can own).

0. Longclaw Sword of Jon Snow from The Game of Thrones ($334.99)

Ned Stark’s bastard son, Jon was raised at Winterfell on near-equal footing with his siblings. After joining the Night’s Watch he served as steward to Lord Commander Mormont. Instead of joining Robb on the battlefield, he remained up north to honor his vows to the Watch. While traveling beyond the Wall with the Lord Commander, he was separated from the rest of the group.

The Game of Thrones Longclaw Sword of Jon Snow was painstakingly recreated from the actual props used on HBO’s hit fantasy epic Game of Thrones. The officially licensed collectibles are made from the highest quality materials and have been crafted with special attention to reproduce the authentic details found on the props. Each sword is serialized and will come with a wall mount and a certificate of authenticity.

1. Maximus’ sword from The Gladiator ($68.95)

With the release of The Gladiator in 2000, we witnessed some of the gritty battles that took place in ancient Rome. The most impressive battle of the movie was at the very beginning when the main character, Maximus, leads his forces against Germania. In the scene, Russell Crowe uses a beautiful sword with a scabbard that fits around his shoulders. There are several types of unofficial replicas on the market, but all of them have about a 30’’ blade, an ivory handle and come with those really cool straps.

2. The Spartans’ swords from 300 ($29.66)

Say what you will about the violence in 300, but the movie spotlights a lot of exceptional weapons. The Sword of Sparta is prominently featured in the film with its unique shape and rugged appearance. The authentic replica is 34 1/4” overall and has a 27” blade. It also comes with a hand guard, so you can wield it easily.

3. Captain Jack Sparrow’s Cutlass from The Pirates of the Caribbean

It’s impossible to compile this list without having at least one cutlass, since there were so many movies with great cutlasses. For this we turn to the craggy Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, from The Pirates of the Caribbean series. Throughout the films, Sparrow is never far from his trusty cutlass that he uses in numerous battles. The great thing about the authentic replica is its sturdy construction and wear marks, so it looks weathered. The sword is about 30” and also comes with a display.

4. Robin Hood’s sword from Robin Hood (2010 version) ($44.99)

Even though Robin Hood may be known for his bow and arrow, the most recent edition of the Robin Hood story featured a truly awesome sword. Our second Russell Crowe movie shows a huge battle on the beaches of Dover with Robin Hood wielding his huge sword on a horse. The officially licensed sword of Robin Hood measures 40” with a blade of 33” made out of high carbon steel. The sides are engraved with two phrases: “Rise and Rise Again” and “Until Lambs Become Lions”.

5. Aragorn’s sword from The Lord of the Rings ($209.99)

The Lord of the Rings is a trilogy of epic proportions featuring a slew of cool looking medieval weapons, such as Frodo’s Sting sword and Gimli’s iconic axe. However, none of those weapons match the impressiveness of Aragorn’s heroic sword used in the final chapter of the series. In the film, the legendary sword is used to summon the army of the dead and battle countless orcs.

The officially licensed Anduril Sword of Aragorn is made at a massive length of 52 7/8″ overall with a blade measuring 40 5/8″. It features an inscription in Tolkein’s language of Quenya and a leather-wrapped steel handle. It also comes with a plaque that has the symbols of the Kingdom of Gondor. This sword is a must-own for any collector of awesome movie replicas.

Negotiating Knife Prices

March 11, 2011 / Tim / 2 Comments

If you’re an avid knife collector, there’s a good chance you’ll be buying some of your blades at knife shows or antique shops. In both of these situations, prices are usually negotiable. If you want to get the best deals, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of negotiating. Here are a few tips.

Ask a ton of questions

If you’re interested in a knife, you’ll likely have all sorts of questions, like: What’s the knife made of? How old is it? What kind of handle does it have? What’s the best way to sharpen it? Etc. Use these inquiries to not only find out information about the knife, but also loosen the seller up. People are generally more receptive to lowering prices for a buyer they feel they have a repoire with.

Don’t show too much excitement

Even if you’ve just stumbled onto an antique Bowie knife that you’ve been coveting for years, it’s important not to start drooling in front of the seller. If you make it obvious how enthused you are about a knife, it’s more difficult to bargain hard for a good price. Keep yourself in check and play it cool. If the seller thinks that knocking a few bucks off the price will turn you into a buyer, he’s much more likely to do so.

Don’t be unfriendly

One of the biggest misconceptions about the art of bargaining is that you have to be rude or confrontational to excel at it. If you approach a negotiation with this attitude, you’ll likely rub the owner the wrong way. Instead, be as amicable as possible. Make small talk, smile and don’t grow angry if you don’t get your way. When you’re drawing a line in the sand, do it with a smile.

Your Old Knives Can Fetch Big Money at Road Shows

March 10, 2011 / Tim / 5 Comments

With several collectible road shows popping up around the nation in the few next weeks, you could have a serious opportunity to make money by selling old knives or family daggers hidden away in your attic.

These road shows, like the Treasure Hunters Road Show taking place right now, seek out old knives and swords passed down from generations.

Some of the most lucrative type of collectible knives are those from World War I or World War II.

A great example of this is a recently sold dagger used by Germans in WWII. Although the dagger, called an SA Dagger, was not necessarily rare, its mint condition shot up the value three or four times the regular price.

The dagger, sold to the American Rare Collectibles Association, was passed down to the former owner from his father who was a U.S. soldier. During WWII, his father helped capture German supplies, which included new daggers.

Four Knives Women Love

March 9, 2011 / Tim / 4 Comments

Looking for a stellar gift for your girlfriend or wife? If you’re tired of doing the standard flower, candy, mediocre-looking necklace routine, then consider giving the love of your life something a bit sharper: a knife. Here are four knives that are especially popular among the fairer sex.

(1) Schrade Primos Linerlock Folder Knife with Drop Point Blade and Pink Aluminum Handle

This sweet-looking, single-blade, folding pocket knife will make any woman swoon. It is made of stainless steel and weighs in at a svelte 3.2 ounces, making it convenient to carry almost anywhere. The knife has a liner-lock closing mechanism and its handle is made of anodized aluminum.

Price: $18:99

(2) Transport Pink Buck Knife

This a great blade for gals on the go. Small, safe and convenient, this key chain knife has a small blade and a bottle opener. It’s great for opening boxes or cracking a cold one.

Price: $13.99

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Making Your Own Knife Out of a File

March 9, 2011 / Tim / 46 Comments

There’s nothing like finding that perfect knife with the right blade shape, handle size and original look that fits your predilection.

This is one reason why custom knife makers tend to do great business selling knives around the world.

The Chicago Tribune recently published a profile of a knife maker who turned a hobby into a successful worldwide business. Amazingly, the knife maker made his first knife out of an old file.

While making knives from scratch can be a tedious process, making your own custom knife from an old file is not overly difficult.

In fact, several very informative how-to articles lay out the process very clearly. The best article on how to make your own knife out of a file is written by Christopher Cody at Woods Monkey.

The process is straightforward but requires some tools, such as a hack saw, bench grinder, scroll saw, belt sander and drill.

To give you a general idea on what’s required, here are some of the steps in the process.

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Blade Magazine to Host 30th Annual Blade Show in Atlanta in June

March 8, 2011 / Tim / 3 Comments

Blade magazine will host its 30th annual Blade Show from June 10-12 in Atlanta, Georgia.

If you’ve never been before, the Blade Show is essentially the Super Bowl of knife collecting; if you have the time, it’s definitely worth checking out.

The event, which will be held at the Cobb Galleria, is the “world’s largest combined show of handmade, factory and antique knives.” It will feature 700 tables and approximately 175 factory booths.

An award for the 2011 Knife-of-The-Year will be given for factory knives and there will also be inductions to the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame.

Other highlights are: the 9th Annual BLADE Show World Championship Cutting Competition, forging demos and seminars on how to collect and make knives.

The Lowdown on Survival Knives

March 7, 2011 / Tim / 5 Comments

Dark Ops Survival Knife

A pocket knife is adequate for a number of outdoor tasks, but if you’re a bona fide survivalist, a serious hunter or a Rambo-enthusiast, you’ll want a bigger, burlier, survival blade. Here’s a look at how the survival knife changed over history and what it represents today.

Survival knife prehistoric history

The survival knife has likely existed in some form for thousands of years. When German hikers discovered Otzi the Iceman, Europe’s oldest mummy, he had a flint knife in tow. He likely used that knife to skin animals, start fires, build shelters and defend himself from everything from bears to human attackers.

Jim Bowie, survival knife inventor, fighting machine.

It’s difficult to imagine a historic figure manlier than Jim Bowie. Whether he was operating as a backwoods pirate in the swamps of Louisiana or slaying Mexicans with his back to the wall at the Alamo, Bowie was one of the toughest knife-wielding renegades of the 19th century and a key contributor to the legacy of the survival knife.

In 1930, Bowie designed the most famous version of his Bowie Knife, a monstrous 9.5-inch blade similar to a butcher knife. The knife blade curved at the end, making it especially apt for skinning dead animals; its straighter section was ideal for chopping or cutting smaller items.

However, the most infamous use of the Bowie knife was combat. In 1827, Bowie was a principal at a duel, later termed the sandbar incident, that ended in him being attacked and shot. Bowie defended himself with his Bowie knife, disemboweling one man and nearly slicing off the arm of another.

How Not to Get Your Pocket Knife Jacked by TSA

March 5, 2011 / Tim / 12 Comments

It happens to thousands of knife owners every year. You’re headed through security at the airport. You’ve taken your shoes off, removed your belt and diligently placed your laptop in the required bin. Then, as you’re walking through the metal detector, you hear the shrill beeping that signifies that something on your person is not allowed and you remember, suddenly, that you’ve completely forgotten about your pocket knife.

According to a 2009 CNN report, airports confiscate an estimated 13 million items annually. One of the most common are pocket knives. Many Americans carry a pocket knife everyday, either as part of their key chain or as a work tool, and too often they don’t remember to put it in their checked baggage. So, what can you do to avoid getting you knife swiped by TSA? Here are some tips.

Pack your knife in your checked bag

According to TSA guidelines, the only knives you can carry on are ones with plastic or rounded blades (butter knives). However, almost any knife can be transported to your destination, if it’s checked. Want to bring your sushi knife on Christmas vacation? You can check it. Just bought a new samurai sword that you don’t want to part with? Check it and you’re fine.

You can also check meat cleavers, sabers, ice picks, hatchets, axes and saws. What does all this mean? When in doubt, check your bag. Just remember, if you’re checking a sword, saber, dagger or other big blade, it needs to be properly sheathed.

But, what if you forget to check and get nabbed at security with your blade?

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