FOG  HORN          2010  Blade  Show  Coverage        20  June  2010  

 
 
2010  Blade  Show,  Cobb  Galleria  Convention  Center,  Atlanta,  GA.  
By:  Sal  Palma  (Follow  me  on  Twitter.com/Twobirdsflying)
heavy-­‐duty  military  folders.    I  have  to  tell  you  that  I  
was  thoroughly  impressed  with  the  designs  and  the  
quality  that  went  into  these  knives.    

 
This   is   our   first   year   covering   the   Blade  
Show   in   Atlanta.   Our   focus   has   routinely   been  
military   trade   shows   and   conferences;   however,   at  
the   last   minute,   we   decided   to   include   Blade,   and  
we   are   glad   we   did.     Nevertheless,   if   I   miss  
something  blame  it  on  the  management.  

The   Blade   Show   is   an   annual   event   held   in   one   of  

ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛgreat  cities,  Atlanta,  Georgia.  The  event  is  
an  assembly  of  over  800  knife  and  tool  professionals    
ʹ  considered  by  many  to  be  the  largest  in  the  world.  
Here,   you   gain   a   true   appreciation   for   what   makes  
this   country   the   greatest   nation   on   earth;   here,  
organized   under   one   roof,   you   will   find   over   eight  
hundred   small   businesses   exhibiting   their   wares.   Of  
the   eight   hundred   exhibitors,   none   is   a   multi-­‐
national   corporation,   all   of   whom   are   bursting   with  
artistry.  It  is  America  at  its  best!  

In   our   coverage   of   Blade,   we   remain   faithful   to   our  

military   orientation;   however,   if   your   passion   is  
steel,  this  is  an  event  that  you  must  not  miss.  

DLJĨŝƌƐƚƐƚŽƉƚŽŽŬŵĞƚŽĞŶĐŚŵĂĚĞ͛ƐƚŚǁŚĞƌĞI  
met  with  Matt  Swanson.  Matt  took  me  through  their    
Copyright,  Sal  Palma  dba  Twobirds-­‐Flying  Publication,  2010.  All  rights  reserved.    
 
 
          FOG  HORN          2010  Blade  Show  Coverage        20  June  2010  
 
 
Quite   a   few   years   ago,   The   San   Francisco   Chronicle   release   design   that   features   a   locking   mechanism,  
ran  an  article  discussing  the  things  that  women  look   which  will  only  release  for  the  person  wearing  it.  
for   in   a   man.   One   of   the   women   interviewed  
responded  by  saying  that  she  looks  for  a  Rolex.  The    Jeff  was  also  instrumental  in  facilitating  a  review  of  
ƌĞƉŽƌƚĞƌ ĂƐŬĞĚ ŚĞƌ ǁŚLJ͘ ^ŚĞ ƌĞƉůŝĞĚ ƐĂLJŝŶŐ ͙͞Ă the   LMF   II.   Look   for  the   full  review   of   this  excellent  
Rolex   does   ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ƚĞůů ƚŝŵĞ͙͟   Well,   I   think   the   combat   survival   knife   ʹ   coming   soon   to   a   theater  
same  can  be  said  about  the  Benchmade  military  line.   near  you.    

Beautifully   constructed   anodized   aluminum   bodies  

with   superb   lock-­‐up;   available   in   a   variety   of   blade  
profiles.  

My   next   stop   took   ŵĞ ƚŽ 'ĞƌďĞƌ >ĞŐĞŶĚĂƌLJ ůĂĚĞƐ͛

booth,   where   I   had   a   great   time   chatting   with   Jeff  
Freeman.  

 
I   have   to   add   that   Gerber   knives   were   the   de   facto  
knives   of   my   time,   and   it   is   great   to   see   them  
continuing  to  produce  no  nonsense  combat  blades  ʹ  
when   a   Gerber   comes   out   of   the   sheath   ŝƚ͛Ɛ all  
business!  

Gerber   has   also   added   the   DMF   or   Dual   Multi  

Function   automatic   to   their   military   and   law  
enforcement   line.   This   hefty   and   rock   solid   tactical  
folder   deploys   the   blade   quickly   and   is   fully  
ambidextrous.  

 
Jeff   is   holding   the   L.H.R.,   a   new   fixed   blade   combat  
design.  At  first  glance,  my  thought  was  Chris  Reeve.  
However,   I   was   only   partially   right.   The   L.H.R.   is   a  
collaborative   design   between   Matt   Larsen,   Chris  
Reeve  and  Bill  Harsey.    The  sheath  is  a  unique  quick-­‐
 
Copyright,  Sal  Palma  dba  Twobirds-­‐Flying  Publication,  2010.  All  rights  reserved.    
 
 
          FOG  HORN          2010  Blade  Show  Coverage        20  June  2010  
 
 
Third   on   my   list   was   the   Busse   Combat   Knife  
Company   booth   where   I   spent   some   time   looking  
over   their   massive   fixed   blade   offerings.   Garth  
ZĞĐŬŶĞƌ͕ƵƐƐĞ͛ƐWƌŽĚƵĐƚŝŽŶDĂŶŐĞƌǁĂƐŽŶŚĂŶĚƚŽ
guide  me  through  some  of  their  offerings.  

 
So,   what   is   cool   at   SOG?   Everything   -­‐   but,   what  
caught  my  eye  was  SWEDGE.  Chris  Cashbaugh,  with  
SOG   Marketing,   turned   me   on   to   this   new   design  
and  I  will  be  doing  a  full  review  of  it.    

,ĞƌĞ͛ƐĂƐŶĞĂŬƉƌĞǀŝĞǁ͊'ŽƚŽƚŚĞ^K'ǁĞďƐŝƚĞŽƌ
your  favorite  SOG  dealer  and  get  one.  This  is  a  very  
  cool  knife,  read  my  upcoming  review!  
Although   I   lack   personal   experience   with   Busse   Spartan  Blades  is  a  veteran/service  disabled-­‐owned  
blades,   I   was   impressed   at   how   stout   these   knives   company.  USASOF  NCOs  formed  the  company  with  
are.  In  a  combat  role,  stout  is  a  good  thing  and  the   a  mission  to  produce  high  quality  combat  knives  for  
tool  strength  offered  by  these  knives  is  gargantuan.   law   enforcement,   military   and   commercial  
customers.   Spartan   Blades   is   located   in   North  
Busse  blades  are  made  from  INFI  steel  with  an  RC  of  
Carolina,   where   they   make   all   of   their   knives   to  
58-­‐60,  superb  edge  retention  and,  purportedly,  easy  
exacting  standards.  I  can  only  describe  the  Spartan  
to   keep   sharp.   Judging   from   what   I   saw   at   their  
knives   as   works   of   art,   and   at   this   event,   they  
table,   all   of   the   above   are   true.   These   Busse   knives  
received   Collaboration   of   the   Year   Award   for   their  
are   up   to   any   demand   or   any   task;   very   impressive  
Bill  Harsey  Model  1  Limited  Edition.    
and   we   hope   to   review   one   in   the   not   too   distant  
future.  

^K'͛Ɛ ďooth   was   a   visit   or   die   spot   for   me   -­‐   two  

reason   for   that   comment.   First,   they   make   great  
knives  and  tools,   in   fact   some   of   the   best  available.  
Secondly,  they  hired  Gunny.  R.  Lee  Ermey  and  he   is  
on  my  list  of  top  dog  people.  He  is  not  just  a  cool  guy  
but   he   does   so   much   for   our   servicemen   especially    
our  U.S.  Marines  -­‐  Well  done  Gunny  Ermey!  
^ƉĂƌƚĂŶ͛Ɛ   designs   are   innovative   and   forward-­‐
In   my   travels,   I   ran   across   one   of   my   favorite   blade   looking,   but   no   safe   queens   here.   Spartan   blades  
designers,   Alan   Elishewitz;   during   the   encounter,   I   are  very  high  performance  practical  tools  designed  
had   the   pleasure   to   meet   his   lovely   wife,   Valerie.   from  the  ground  to  complete  the  mission.  
Together   they   design   and   deliver   investment   grade  
knives  -­‐  a  class  act  and  a  great  couple.    
Copyright,  Sal  Palma  dba  Twobirds-­‐Flying  Publication,  2010.  All  rights  reserved.    
 
 
          FOG  HORN          2010  Blade  Show  Coverage        20  June  2010  
 
 

 
/ ŚĂǀĞ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ďĞĞŶ Ă ĨĂŶ ŽĨ ŚƌŝƐ ZĞĞǀĞ͛Ɛ ŬŶŝǀĞƐ͖
there  is  a  certain  Je  ne  sais  pas  about  a  Reeve  blade  
that  is  both  unique  and  unmistakable.  Chris  and  his  
lovely   wife   Anne   have   been   winning   awards   for  
years   -­‐   ranging   from   Kitchen   Knife   of   the   Year   to  
Knife  of  the  Year.  Their  success  is  a  clear  indication  
of   their   talent,   creativity   and   commitment;   2010  
was   no   different.   Chris   Reeve   Knives   took   home  
Manufacturing   Quality   Award   and   Overall   Knife   of  
the  Year.    

 Next   on   the   flight   plan   was   a   quick   trip   to   Zero  

Tolerance   (ZT)   knives   where   I   spent   some   quality  
time   with   Steve   Michels,   Sales   Manager   Law    
Enforcement  &  Military  Division.     This   year,   they   deviate   from   that   with   the  
introduction   of   the   DB-­‐L   NSN   ʹ   same   characteristic  
ZT   knives   are   the   product   of   a   collaborative   effort  
look   but   with   a   G-­‐10   handle.   This   new   addition   is   a  
between  Kai  USA  Ltd.,  Ken  Onion  and  Strider  Knives.  
welcomed   departure   from   the   cord   wrap   and   it  
d ŬŶŝǀĞƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ tŚŽ͛Ɛ tŚŽ ŽĨ
should  do  very  well  for  Strider.  
professional  and  combat  knives  for  years,  and  as  the  
name   implies   they   deliver   a   no   compromise   edged   My   last   stop   for   the   day,   before   I   go   hang   out   with  
tool.   the  Knife  Broker.Com  chicks  is  the  Spyderco  booth.  
You  will  find  their  ZT  100  fixed  blade  design  serving   Like  many  of  the  companies  represented  here  today,  
in   both   Iraq   and   Afghanistan   supporting   our   service   Spyderco   beams   with   patriotism.   To   them   ŝƚ͛Ɛ   not  
members.   The   same   holds   true   for   their   highly   just   a   word,   it   is   how   they   live   their   lives   and   run  
regarded   combat   folders   and   utility   tools.   My   their   enterprise,   and   their   knives   reflect   that  
personal   favorite   is   the   Ranger   Green,   which   is   a   sentiment.  
Strider  design  featuring  S30V  steel  and  G-­‐10.  

Also  ŽŶŵLJ͞ŵƵƐƚƐĞĞ͟ůŝƐƚŝƐ^ƚƌŝĚĞƌ<ŶŝǀĞƐ.  Strider͛s  

marquee  is  the  combat  capable  cord  wrapped,  tiger  
stripe   look.   Not   a   personal   favorite;   however,   they  
have  done  very  well  in  the  marketplace.  

 
Copyright,  Sal  Palma  dba  Twobirds-­‐Flying  Publication,  2010.  All  rights  reserved.    
 
 
          FOG  HORN          2010  Blade  Show  Coverage        20  June  2010  
 
 
 

Work  is  now  officially  over  and  it͛Ɛ  time  to  mingle  and  enjoy  everything  this  show  has  to  offer!  

À  la  prochaine!  

                  -­‐SP  
 

Copyright,  Sal  Palma  dba  Twobirds-­‐Flying  Publication,  2010.  All  rights  reserved.