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Renowned knifemaker Blackie Collins killed in crash

July 22, 2011 / Glenn / 8 Comments

Knifemaker and all-around knife innovator Blackie Collins died in a motorcycle accident yesterday, according to Blade Magazine.

The 71-year-old was killed after his Triumph motorcycle veered to the right and struck a guardrail. Even though he was wearing a helmet, the crash was still fatal.

If you’re not familiar with Walter Wells Collins, aka Blackie, he was internationally known for his contribution to the knife world.

Here’s Blade Magazine’s description of his work:

Blackie was known for any number of different knives, knife materials and knife mechanisms, including the assisted opener, the first use of thermoplastic for knife handles (Gerber LST), the Bolt Action lock and much more. He also invented a number of sheath mechanisms for the diving knife industry.

Since Blackie was a young boy in school, he always wanted to make knives and guns. In fact, he used to recall an incident at his elementary school when his teacher asked each student in the class what they wanted to be when they grew up. Unlike the other students who wanted to be doctors and lawyers, he said he wanted to make guns and knives, much to the chagrin of his teacher.

Weird Knives: The Shark Knife

July 18, 2011 / Glenn / 15 Comments

This is the first in a series of occasional posts on very bizarre and strange knives we come across in our research.

If you’re the ultimate fan of the 1975-classic Jaws and have an undying love of knives, we found the item for you: the coveted Shark Knife.

As you can see from the image above, this outrageously impractical knife features an array of razor-sharp edges created in a way that represents the likeness of a fierce shark.

I have no idea where to actually buy it, but if you somehow find a seller and can’t live without this knife, it’ll set you back a few hundred bucks.

The knife seems like more of a hazard to the guy wearing it than anyone else. He’d get a big surprise if he forgets he has it on and puts his arm at his side.

Do you want a knife sharpener that sharpens every knife under the sun?

July 14, 2011 / Glenn / 1 Comment

Imagine, if you dare, a perfect world, where you spend your days being fanned by supermodels and drinking mojitos on a deserted beach.

If such a scenario existed–if you could have everything you heart desired–you’d also likely have a treasure trove of blades.

You’d own pocket knives, boot knives, Bowie knives, knives with tanto blades, serrated knives, gut hook knives, kitchen knives, filet knives and every other knife under the sun.

And how would you sharpen all of those blades? Well, a magical knife sharpener capable of sharpening every knife under the sun, of course!

But, wait, you don’t have to be enveloped in a day dream to own the world’s most versatile knife sharpener; all you have to do is buy it.

Introducing the Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener, the first knife sharpener designed to sharpen every knife you own.

The Knife & Tool Sharpener uses precision angle sharpening guides to ensure that you get the proper angle every time you sharpen.

This bad boy packs two primary guides,: a 50° guide for hunting and outdoor knives (25° per bevel) and a 40° guide for thinner blades and kitchen knives (20° per bevel).

Knife Depot Sponsors The First Louisiana State Throwing Knives and Tomahawk Competition

July 13, 2011 / Glenn / 4 Comments

We love throwing knives, that’s for sure, which is why we jumped at the chance to sponsor the first Louisiana State Throwing Knives and Tomahawk Championship. The event, which was held on May 14 and 15 in Arcadia, LA, featured some of the finest knife and tomahawk throwers in the South.

Thirteen throwers entered the competition, with seven in the men’s professional division, one in the women’s professional division, two in the amateur men’s division, two in the amateur’s women’s division and one in the junior division.

The results were as follows:

Men’s Professional Division:
1st place- “Red Bear”- Jim Day with a score of 141
2nd place-“Gator Tooth”- Wade Tucker with a score of 137
3rd place- “Old Dog”- Bob Pyle with a score of 135
4th place- “Walking Eagle”- Chuck Weems with a score of 133

Women’s Professional Division:
1st place- “Fox Trot”:-Tiffany Ingram with a score of 89

Amateur Men’s Division:
1st place- “Udder Lover”- Jesse Batson with a score of 52
2nd place- “Red Legs”- Walter Bailey with a score of 47

Amateur Women’s Division:
1st place- “Wanda Vou”- Wanda Bailey with a score of 63
2nd place- “Land Owner’s Sister”- Suzy Little with a score of 56

Junior Division:
1st place-Trace Bearden with a score of 60

True to form, many of the participants wore traditional frontier garb while competing. Check out a few pics below.

Pictures from inside the Swiss Army knife factory

July 13, 2011 / Glenn / 0 Comments

In an age of outsourcing, it’s amazing (and truly commendable) that Swiss Army knives have been made in Switzerland for more than 100 years.

On his 2011 Road Trip, CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman was given the opportunity to visit the Victorinox factory in a small town in Switzerland.

His article features a thorough history of the Swiss Army knife, but what’s most impressive are the stunning pictures taken at the factory.

The following picture taken by Kathleen Craig is one of the original models from the late 1800s. Aside from the colors, you can see the general design of the knife hasn’t changed much.

Knives Save Lives: Saved from a burning vehicle

July 10, 2011 / Glenn / 2 Comments

If it hadn’t been for one man’s initiative and quick access to a knife, a woman from Maine could have been burned alive in an accident late last week, which earns it a place in our Knives Save Lives series.

According to the Bangor Daily News, Laura Morgan’s 2004 Toyota Camry veered off the road and flipped on its side after crashing into a tree.

Luckily, 35-year-old Chad Curtis heard the ruckus and went to investigate. He saw the car quickly filling with smoke at the bottom of an embankment and rushed to the vehicle.

Here’s how the article described the situation:

He found Morgan hanging out the driver’s side door against her seat belt, which was making it hard for her to breathe. There was smoke coming from the ruined front of the car, but no flames yet. Curtis unfastened the lower portion of the seat belt, but the upper portion, which operates separately from the lower belt, was still tangled around Morgan.

Morgan was in and out of consciousness and people were slowly gathering around the accident, but time was sticking away with the woman still trapped in the volatile vehicle.

As he was trying to pull her out, an unidentified hero tossed Curtis a knife, which he promptly used to cut her out of the seat belt. They carried her to safety and in minutes, the car was completely engulfed in flames.

There’s no denying Chad’s action helped save her life, but without the knife of a mysterious bystander, he would have had a difficult time getting her out, which may have resulted in unimaginable ramifications.

Excessive swordplay with katana lands man in jail

July 5, 2011 / Glenn / 1 Comment

The next time you’re swinging your sword around your apartment, you might want to tone it down a bit.

According to The Capital Times, one man went a little overboard after his sword pierced the drywall and entered his neighbor’s apartment.

The 21-year-old man was using a sharpened Japanese sword as he recorded himself (I imagine in the same fashion as the Star Wars kid), but became a little too enthusiastic and plunged the sword through the wall.

He was taken down to the station on the charge of second-degree reckless endangerment because even though he was doing it in his apartment, it carried over into the neighbor’s apartment without warning.

Knifeslinger Contest Winners Announced!

July 3, 2011 / Glenn / 0 Comments

After hours of contentious discussion, we’ve settled on a first and second place winner for our Knifeslinger throwing hat contest. I want to personally thank all 68 of you that entered; there were some really terrific hats, all of which you can check out in our photo gallery.

If you don’t remember, the prizes are as follows:

1st prize: $100, a set of custom-made Jack Dagger throwing knives and an instructional video autographed by Jack Dagger.

2nd prize: A Hibben Throwing Axe.

We’ll be holding more contests in the future, so make sure to check our Facebook page regularly for updates. Without further delay, here are the winners.

Targets For Knife and Tomahawk Throwing

July 2, 2011 / Glenn / 14 Comments

Today’s post is by special guest Scott Gracia, who runs the knife throwing site The Great Throwzini.

Half the fun of throwing knives and tomahawks is trying to hit a target. Luckily, there are quite a few types of targets you can easily make for knife and tomahawk throwing. Here are a couple tips to get you started.

Planks of Wood

Perhaps the easiest target to make are from boards or parts of wood. Always place the grain of your target vertically, because the knife or ‘hawk will cut into the grain easier this way. Thin “planks” aren’t the greatest targets to have, but are better than not being able to throw at all.

To build a good target, get about four 2X12 planks, about 6 feet in length. Lay them out next to each other and attach them in the back with a few 2X4’s and lots of screws. Place a 2X4 on the top, bottom and middle of the planks and screw them down. Be sure to get a “softer” wood.

Log Rounds

These are my favorite target to throw at! Get them as wide across as you can. That way you can fit more targets on the face of the log and that will help prolong the life of the target.

If you only have one target on your log, you’re always throwing at the same exact spot (usually a bullseye), and that’s one sure way to chew up a target fast! (If you plan to compete in one of the many throwing competitions going on throughout the US, the standard target is 16″ so I would recommend getting a log with at least a 20″ diameter).

Jack Dagger throwing knives, Hibben axe, added to prize pool for the "Knifeslinger Giveaway"

June 30, 2011 / Glenn / 3 Comments

You like axes? We got an axe for you.

The Hibben Pro Thrower Axe is a powerful throwing axe that packs a a punch and does it with style. It’s made of stainless steel, is a foot long and comes with a great leather sheath. And it will now be given away to the second place winner in the “Knifeslinger Giveaway.”

And that’s not all the news we have. We’ve also updated the first prize to include not just any throwing knives, but a pair of custom-made throwing knives and an autographed instructional DVD from professional knife-thrower Jack Dagger. You also still get a $100 in cash.

Don’t remember how to enter? It’s so easy, it’s painful. Just listen to the Knifeslinger break it down here:

The Cutting Edge