The Cutting Edge

Eagle Scout Nearly Charged for Accidentally Taking Knife to School

September 1, 2012 / Tim / 0 Comments

Note: Not actual knife from story.

If you’ve ever gone on a camping trip with your usual backpack, you know how easy it is to accidentally leave some rope or supplies in your bag. However, for one Eagle Scout—the youngest one in the state of Colorado—accidentally forgetting a knife in his backpack meant potential criminal charges.

According to American Knife and Tool Institute (AKTI), the young boy had gone camping in the spring. He took a small knife with him on the trip, but he forgot to remove it before heading back to school. Needless to say, his school was not pleased with his mistake. He was charged with having a weapon at school.

It’s easy to imagine the fear and headache this whole ordeal was for the young boy. As an Eagle Scout, I’m sure he is a great student who never got into any major trouble, and being charged with having a weapon is a big deal.

Fortunately, his public defender was smart enough to reach out to the AKTI and measured the length of the knife with the AKTI Knife Measuring Protocol. Using the accurate measurement system, it was found that the boy’s knife was under 3.5 inches, meaning it should not be considered a weapon. All the charges were dropped.

Happy National Knife Day

August 24, 2012 / Tim / 3 Comments

Today is National Knife Day, a day that celebrates the ancient tool that has survived as long as man has—evolving from stone and obsidian to carbon and stainless steels.

Nearly everyone remembers receiving their first knife. It’s a rite of passage into responsibility and usefulness

I remember receiving my first knife, which was an old white Swiss Army knife. I looked for opportunities to use it around the house, like slicing tape or opening junk mail. The feel of opening up the tiny blade and using it purposefully was something I hadn’t felt until then. The tool felt like it fit perfectly in my hand.

But to many people, a knife isn’t just a tool, it’s a way of life. For the fisherman, the hunter, the doctor, the chef, the rescue worker, knives are an essential element. They save lives, aid in operations, skin the fish we eat, slice the rope we use. In nearly anything you do, you can’t avoid being the beneficiary of a blade.

Through the centuries, the knife has persevered, despite those who misuse the tool. Great companies like Victorinox, Cold Steel and Spyderco have created a custom of high quality knives for the everyday user.

Knife enthusiasts, collectors and casual users should take a moment today to pick up their knives—whether on their belt, in their pocket, around their neck or in a drawer—and admire the simplicity and purpose of a tool that man has used for millions of years and will likely use for millions more.

What to Do if You Need a Knife Repaired

August 22, 2012 / Tim / 1 Comment

If you’re an ardent user of knives, the unfortunate reality is that your favorite knives will become damaged. Sometimes when it’s a cheap knife you bought online, it’s easier to buy another one. But if it was your dad’s knife or a really expensive custom-made knife, going through the trouble of repairing it seems reasonable. Take a look at these tips to figure out the process you should go through when trying to repair your knife.

Factory-made knife

The first step is to determine whether the knife is factory-made or custom-made. Knives that you buy from companies like Gerber, Cold Steel, Kershaw, etc. are factory-made. These are mass-produced knives that come in packaging. You should start by contacting the manufacturer to see whether they will repair the knife for you. If it’s a new knife, the chances are pretty good they’ll repair the knife at no cost, depending of course on the damage. As it gets older, the odds diminish. However, some manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on certain damages, so it’s a good idea to contact the manufacturer either way.

An important thing to remember is that when the knife breaks, don’t attempt to repair it by yourself because it could void any warranty. Once a factory-made knife needs repair, immediately contact the manufacturer.

Custom-made knife

If the knife was commissioned to be made with modifications or from an original design, it’s a custom-made knife. These types of knives are a bit more complicated because the cost of repairing could be astronomical—sometimes even more than the knife is worth. But you should first go back to the original knifemaker. If you’re not sure who originally designed it, take it to a local expert or ask on a knife forum. Sometimes a knifemaker will give a lifetime warranty—as long as they’re still alive. Once the knifemaker is gone, however, you will have to go to the next step.

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How to Protect Your Knife From the Heat

August 19, 2012 / Tim / 0 Comments

July was the hottest recorded month in U.S. history, and with climate change seemingly past the point of no return, it will likely only get hotter.

For knife enthusiasts out there, excessive heat has always been an enemy of temperamental steels. So, to help you take care of your knife in the heat, here are some great ways to protect your knife from warping.

Avoid direct sunlight

This one is definitely common sense, but it’s absolutely vital to never leave your knife in direct sunlight. While most steels will not be damaged due to exposure from the sun, many handle materials will lose their shape and strength.

Keep knives out of cars

Temperatures inside sealed vehicles in direct sunlight can soar upwards of 135 degrees, so always take your knives out of your car. A great way to remember to do this is to put your knives inside a toolbox and simply take it out and put it in your garage when you’re parked for the day.

Keep special handle materials indoors on hot days

Whether you have a custom knife with an ivory handle or a standard factory knife with a wood handle, it’s important to keep your knives with sensitive handle materials indoors. Even exposure to the sun for a few hours while you’re using it could dry out some handle material.

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Knife Lost During Construction Returned 22 Years Later

August 14, 2012 / Tim / 1 Comment

We all know what it’s like to have a favorite a knife. That one piece of steel that conforms perfectly to your grip, never seems to lose its edge and gets you out of any bind. Chances are you also know what it’s like to lose your favorite knife.

That’s what happened to one construction worker 22 years ago, according to KCTV 5. While helping in the construction of St. Luke Hospital’s Heart Institute in Kansas City, Mo., Bill Wall dropped his knife into a wall and was unable to retrieve it. So, he made a sign saying he dropped his knife and would like it back. Then, he threw it in after the lost knife.

Twenty-two years later, that heart institute is being redone as a new neuroscience institute and one of the construction workers found the lost knife.

While construction worker Greg Dunwoodie sought out Bill Wall, he found his son Alan who explained that Bill had died three years ago.

Still, the fact that Dunwoodie went out of his way to return the knife to its original owner indicates a sort of kindness and appreciation for knives that’s hard to find in this world. By returning the knife, Dunwoodie allowed Alan Wall to reminisce about the humor and love for the absurd his dad embraced.

Thin Knives You Can Carry in Your Wallet

August 10, 2012 / Tim / 2 Comments

It’s the item most people grab when they’re heading out the door because it contains money, credit cards, drivers license, identification and… a knife.

While many people don’t keep a knife tucked away in their wallet, those who do claim it’s a great way to never forget your knife when you quickly step out the door.

Knives are made specifically for a lot of activities, whether it’s fishing, hunting, parachuting, opening boxes and more. However, sometimes you just need a small knife to open an envelope or slice a stray string. That’s why some manufacturers make knives small enough to fit into your wallet.

If you’re interested in picking up a small knife for your wallet, here are some of the best choices.

Iain Sinclair CardSharp2

This unique knife with a clever design is probably the perfect knife for a wallet. It folds up into the size of a credit card, so it can easily slip into the pockets of a wallet. It’s only 2.2mm thick, but it features a blade with a 65mm cutting edge.

SOG Access Card

Things Not To Do With a Knife: Laugh With One in Your Throat

August 7, 2012 / Tim / 0 Comments

The other day I found myself at the famed Coney Island, known for its hot dog eating contests, old rickety rides and the Coney Island Sideshow.

As I entered the freak show, I saw the typical display of talents: a man who can breath fire and hammer nails into his head, a woman who dances with a massive snake, a hilarious man who suffers from ectrodactylyl and, of course, Betty Bloomerz.

Betty Bloomerz, the beautiful female sword swallower, danced around the dim stage with these massive knives all the way down her throat. It was an amazingly impressive display that you should see in person at least once.

Except for Betty—a true professional who has performed around the world—swallowing knives is something you should never try to demonstrate at home.

Unfortunately, one 30-year-old woman from Atlanta didn’t get the memo.

Apparently, she had lost her gag reflex due to a battle with bulimia and was trying to demonstrate her lack of gag reflex to her friends with a butter knife. But, one of her friends made a hilarious comment that caused her to laugh and—gulp!—the knife slide down her esophagus.

She started feeling pain in her chest and vomiting blood, according to the New York Daily News.

Why You Should Own a Ceramic Knife

August 5, 2012 / Tim / 6 Comments

Boker Plus Anti-Grav Folding Knife 3-1/4″ Ceramic Blade, Carbon Fiber Handles

When you imagine the blade of a knife, chances are you picture a solid piece of quality stainless steel. However, an old material is gaining popularity—especially in kitchen knives—as an alternative to steel: ceramic.

Most people associate ceramic with those old Chinese vases with intricate flower designs, but the material has evolved tremendously over the centuries into a hard, sharp and brutal nonmetallic solid.

Ceramic knives often get a bad rap from diehards because they’re considered dainty or weak, but that’s the farthest thing from the truth. If you’re considering picking up a ceramic knife, these are some things that will help nudge you in that direction.

Stays sharp for years

The most important aspect of a blade is its edge and how sharp it is. Whereas stainless steel knives tend to lose some of their keenness pretty quickly, ceramic knives keep a speciously sharp edge for much longer. Zircon is the key material in ceramic blades because it makes them significantly harder than steel. When the blade eventually loses its edge a bit, most ceramic knife manufacturers will sharpen the knife for free.

Lightweight

It’s crazy to think how something so light and thin can be so sharp and dangerous. It’s easy to not take a ceramic knife seriously because of its weight, but that’s what gives it an advantage over steel. With minimal weight, you won’t be burdened when doing mundane tasks like slicing cheese.

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How to Display Your Knife Collections

July 31, 2012 / Tim / 1 Comment

So, you just bought a highly collectible KA-BAR at an auction and you’re eager to show it off. While you could probably carry the knife and pull it out when it casually comes up in conversation, it’s not the safest thing to do with a collectible knife. Fortunately, there are a variety of display options for knives.

Whether you’re interested in displaying a collection of knives you have stored under your bed or have one knife you want to put on your mantle, here are some tips for how to display your collection of knives.

Arrange your knife collection

The first thing you should do is gather all your knives together and organize them. Some will be the knives you use as your EDC and others will be knives strictly for display. Consider excluding your EDC so you don’t have to keep disturbing the collection. Once you have the knives you want to display, organize them. This is a matter of preference, but some of the ways to organize knives are by brand, year, size or style.

Choose your display case

There are a number of display cases out there specifically designed to showcase your knife collection. For example, there are presentation boxes, shadow boxes and other types of display cases. Again, the type you select is all a matter of preference. It also depends on how many knives you’re planning on putting in it. Some presentation boxes only have enough room for a single knife.

Lock ’em up

Missouri Law Repeals Ban on Switchblades

July 27, 2012 / Tim / 1 Comment

With the signature of Gov. Jay Nixon earlier this month, the ban on possessing, selling and manufacturing switchblades in Missouri has effectively been repealed, according to Knife Rights.

The new law, signed on July 14 and effective immediately, doesn’t word it as clearly, but here’s the main part of the bill concerning knives:

1. A person commits a crime if such person knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells:

Any of the following in violation of federal law:

(d) A switchblade knife.

What that essentially means is that it is still a crime to carry a switchblade, but only when it violates federal law. According to Knife Rights, that’s limited to interstate commerce, Indian reservations and anywhere federal regulations exist like national parks.