Pohl Force Knives

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Wilson

Pohl ForceDietmar Pohl is a German knife designer with over a decade and a half’s experience in the Soligen knife industry.  Pohl is the owner and designer for Pohl Force Knives, which are currently made by LionSteel in Maniago, Italy.

I got to play with a table full of the Pohl Force products at Blade Show.  Each one had excellent fit and finish.  The ergonomics of Pohl’s blades speak in the visual lines and tactile feel.  Though heavily ensconced in the Tactical/Military/Law Enforcement battlespace, if you are looking for the high speed, low drag appearance for your civilian pocket, search no further.  Pohl’s knives are as tough as Continue reading →

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Hogue/Elishewitz EX-F02 New Fixed Blade

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Wilson

IMG_3263This is the only shot I got at Blade Show of the new Hogue Knives Elishewitz-designed fixed blade called the EX-F02.  The blade steel will be A2 tool steel with an unnamed black coating.  Hogue cryogenically treats the blades and gives them a RHC of 57 to 59.  The steel thickness is .250″.

The OD green handles are an injection molded polymer.  They felt slightly soft in the hand and very grippy.  This was another hand ground Allen Elishewitz prototype made specifically for Blade Show.  I put the blade length at around 5″ with an overall length of around 10″ give or take.

This knife had a nice drop point with a section of fuller and jimping Continue reading →

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New Neck Knives From Hogue and Elishewitz

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Wilson

imageHere are two new neckers from Hogue Knives that were designed by Allen Elishewitz.  I was told at Blade Show that these prototypes had been hand ground by Mr. Elishewitz just before their arrival at the event.  One of the Hogue reps said she had not seen the pair of knives until the booth opened that morning.

The blades on these little buggers are made from 1/8″ 154CM steel.  They have a sort of tumbled or stonewashed finish that I hope is used on the production versions.  I imagine the sheaths will be a molded thermoplastic or Kydex.  As Hogue knives, they will, of course, be Made in the Continue reading →

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Boker Plus Sniper Bladeworks VLB

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Wilson

BokerSniperBladeworksSniper Bladeworks is a company founded by former law enforcement officer Lance Abernathy and veteran knifemaker Jody Muller.  I learned a secret when talking to the guys at their Blade Show booth:  most Sniper Bladeworks knives have names derived from Grateful Dead songs.  DMF–Dear Mr. Fantasy.  DF–Dark Hallow.  Now along comes the VLB–Viola Lee Blues.  Even the SBW logo is an homage to the Grateful Dead skull.

Not a Deadhead myself, the allusion is somewhat lost on me, but Sniper Bladeworks’ bold designs are not.  A signature feature of their folders is the handle to blade angle that brings the point down and allows the user’s wrist some relief in a forward grip.  Couple that with the large proportions of a SBW folder, and you have a handful of metal and laminate that is comforting to wield on the job or if in peril.

Of late, I have been showcasing some collaborations between small shops and production companies.  The VLB is yet another.  Sniper Bladeworks worked with Boker to bring this production version knife to the marketplace.  I examined and photographed the VLB over at Boker’s booth, then I scurried back to Sniper Bladeworks for their take Continue reading →

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White River Knife & Tool’s Knucklehead Knife

Posted on July 1, 2013 by Wilson

White River KnuckleheadMatt Cammenga, one of the owners of White River Knife & Tool, showed me their handy little Knucklehead neck knife.  Heck, he even played gaffer and provided some lighting support, saying he was something of a photographer himself.  Thanks, man!

White River Knives are Made in the USA.  Matt said their intent was to make knives here at home with high quality materials and offer them at a low price point.  Two of their models, the Knucklehead and Backpacker, come in at under $100.00 MSRP.

Most of White River’s knives, like the Knucklehead, are made with CPM S30V stainless steel.  A few of their hunters come in 52100 High Carbon steel and Fillet knives are Continue reading →

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DJ Urbanovsky’s Boker Plus Colubris

Posted on June 25, 2013 by Wilson

IMG_3333I somehow stumbled across knifemaker DJ Urbanovsky’s work on the Internet a few years ago.  DJ builds knives under the name American Kami, a kami being a Nepalese khukri maker.  It is out of his respect for their work that he named his business back in 2004.  DJ’s website is filled with mesmerizing photos of his truly unique designs, which have elements of far-off fantasy and functionality.

In conversing with DJ at Blade Show, I found out that he, too, had a collaboration with a “big maker,” much like Jason Brous.  He said it was for his Colubris model.  DJ had just done a semi-custom production run of Colubris’ that he called Mid-Techs.  This partnership with the large manufacturer would bring his design out at a lower price point.

Trouble was, after I excitedly talked to him, I promptly forgot which manufacturer was producing his work.  Not wanting unveil my lack of journalistic prowess (somehow forgot I had a notepad in that moment), I decided it was probably just one of the big boys with a full booth.  It was kind of comical as I trolled around peering Continue reading →

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Dewar’s Signature Review

Posted on June 23, 2013 by Daniel

Dewar's SignatureWith an upcoming landmark birthday approaching, I have been searching for a bottle of scotch to purchase.  My heart is currently set on a 30 year Glenfiddich.  While perusing my local establishment, I made friends with the owner who currently has a bottle priced for $327.99.  During our initial meeting, he provided me with any early birthday gift, a sample bottle of Dewar’s Signature.

Dewar’s Signature has been categorized as a Hyper-Premium Blended Scotch Whiskey that is among the company of Johnnie Walker Blue as well as Chivas Regal Royal Salute and has been said to rival some other well-aged single malt scotch’s.  Signature was developed by Dewar’s sixth Master Blender Tom Aitken.  While no age statement is made on the bottle, I have read that many believe a 27 year old Aberfeldy to be at the heart of this rich blend of superb distilleries.

Dewars lists that “there are over 160 years of blending traditions in every bottle of Dewar’s Signature Blended Scotch Whisky.  Carefully layered from the rarest whiskies from each of Continue reading →

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Colonial Knife Company Blackie Collins Signature Series

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Wilson

ColonialBlackieCollins2It was a sad day in July 2011 when it was announced that Blade Hall of Fame knife designer Walter “Blackie” Collins died in a motorcycle accident.  His ideas had traveled across many a manufacturer’s drawing board and his own bench.  Mr. Collins was a founding member of the Knifemaker’s Guild.  Colonial Knife Company’s Blackie Collins Signature Series contains the blades that may be Mr. Collins’ final production designs.

Just months prior to Mr. Collins’ death, he met with Colonial Knife Company‘s owner, Steve Paolantonio, at Blade Show 2011.  They agreed to collaborate, with Mr. Collins to design two blades for Colonial Knife’s Ribbed and Ameba automatic knife frames.

Paolantonio said he wanted to bolster the “cool factor” of their Made in the USA auto knives.  While happy with the unique DOW Isoplast polymer handles, which were done up by Adam Smith at the Rhode Island School of Design, Paolantonio and Collins felt the blades could be jazzed up a bit.

Mr. Collins came up with a tanto design for the larger Ribbed handle and a clip point for the diminutive Ameba model.  The tanto would be available in plain edge and half serrated; the clip, plain and full serrated.  Finishes on either blade could Continue reading →

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Kiku Matsuda Custom Knives

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Wilson

Kiki Matsuda KnivesI have always been drawn to the visual artistry and powerful lines of Kiku Matsuda’s knives.  Blade Show could have been my financial stateroom on the Andrea Doria, but by not bringing cash and stoically ignoring my credit card, I averted a trip to the bottom.  Shame, because I loved Mr. Matsuda’s table of treasures.

Kiku Matsuda

Mr. Matsuda uses a variety of Japanese steels which are ground on the flat of a large power disc. His grinding style is a convex form traditionally called Hamaguri-Ba.  The blades wear his signature acid etched finish.  Canvas Micarta scales are the usual handle material.   Continue reading →

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Jason Brous Triple Threat Becomes the SOG Growl

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Wilson

BrousTriple ThreatDespite my time being short at Blade Show 2013, I just had to swing by Jason Brous’ display to converse with him.  The backstory of this twenty-something year old maker is told in the unusual angles and curves in his work.  His knives are influenced by 10 years spent in his father’s CNC shop making precision medical equipment and by his love for biomechanical art.

Though Biomech art is most popularly represented by the striking visual work of H.R. Geiger in the Alien movie series, Jason credits Brazilian artist/tattooist Lango with sparking his desire to use knife making as a creative outlet.  Biomech art combines the mechanical and the organic in a fusion of disparate forms.  This can be seen in Jason’s work.

It seems that Brous Blades and its owner are on fire in the knife world.  Having been constructing blades for only about three years, Jason was approached by SOG Knives (a company at least as old as Jason) for two collaborations.  Jason has been making Continue reading →

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