Knife Magazine

The Purge Continues: TTAG Facebook Page Removed

January 15, 2021 9:28 am

The Firearm Blog | Editorial, Knives in the News

On Monday, January 11, the social media giant Facebook unpublished the page owned by The Truth About Guns. As a media platform, TTAG is known for news, reviews, editorials and political discussions surrounding the ownership of firearms in the United States. At the moment, it is unclear why the TTAG Facebook page was removed or if it will be allowed to return in the future.

The news comes only a few days after AR15.com, a thread-based forum for all types of firearms and general discussions, was unregistered by the internet company GoDaddy. The site returned after working from a backup site and changing registrants. Almost two years ago, Instagram deleted TFB’s account without warning and without the help of industry experts, it may have never returned.

Truth To Power – TTAG Facebook Page Unpublished

Then, late Monday afternoon, Facebook unpublished The Truth About Guns’ page. No warning or explanation was given and we haven’t been able to publish anything to our timeline there since. The matter has been escalated through the usual impenetrably opaque processes, but we’ve heard nothing and have to assume at this point that the Zuckerborg has no intention of restoring the account. TTAG Facebook

While TFB embraces a non-partisan approach to discussing guns, we have never downplayed the significance of the freedom to express and debate these opinions. As important as it is to discuss firearms in a non-partisan environment, it is equally important to have a home for the discussion of political topics surrounding the legal ownership of weapons by citizens in a free society. TTAG is one of those important platforms.

As regular readers know, I used to be the Managing Editor of TTAG sister site The Truth About Knives. There has been a long standing rivalry between The Firearm Blog and TTAG, but it is good to see them supporting the other team in this frightening time.

Ben Franklin once said, ““We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” . Wise words indeed.

View Article

Leave Comment

Review: WE Knife Co. Mini Synergy

January 15, 2021 8:24 am

Everyday Carry | EDC, Knife & Accessory Review, Production Knives

Sometimes the secret to making a great knife even better is the size it down to fit more people’s everyday carry needs. That’s the approach WE Knives took with their new Mini Synergy, a more pocket-friendly version of their original collaboration design with custom knife maker Jim O’Young. And you’d be mistaken if you assume that the smaller knife can’t cut it in the field, especially since the Mini Synergy packs in the same premium materials and ergonomic construction you’ve come to expect out of a well-designed high-end EDC folding knife. The only difference is that you won’t have to leave this knife behind when you go out the door with limited space in your pockets.

The full size isn’t that unwieldy, but I am looking forward to getting my hands on one of these.

View Article

Leave Comment

January 14, 2021 9:49 am

| Industry News / New Products, Production Knives

Spyderco has published their 2021 catalog online. Click on the image above to launch.

This catalog contains all of their current models, including those from the end of year Reveal Book 6.

Spyderco Reveal Book 6 is here!

Reveal Book 7 is on its way, and we will give it the “Above the Fold” treatment and breakdown when we have a chance to see what Spydie has coming down the pike. Hopefully a web meeting with Joyce as well.

0 |

Leave Comment

From AKTI: Ohio Knife Laws go positive

January 14, 2021 8:13 am

American Knife and Tool Institute | Knife Law, Knives in the News

Cody, Wyoming (January 11, 2021) – The American Knife & Tool Institute (AKTI) applauds the very positive changes that are coming to Ohio knife laws with SB 140 having just been signed by Governor Mike DeWine. The new law had bipartisan support in the legislature, and provides economic benefit to Ohio businesses.

Consistency will be gained to the relief of knife owners and knife businesses. Currently Ohio law does not prohibit the ownership or possession of automatic knives, but they may not be manufactured, possessed for sale, sell or furnished to any person other than a law enforcement agency. SB 140 removes that restriction and will now allow knife manufacturers to make the knives and retailers to sell the knives that individuals have been able to own all along.

Clarity will be provided that a concealed item (knife, razor or cutting instrument) is NOT a “deadly weapon” or “weapon” unless it is actually used as a weapon. This has been a point of confusion not only for knife owners, but also law enforcement and in the courts. Currently any knife may be considered a “deadly weapon,” defined as “any instrument, device, or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or possessed, carried, or used as a weapon.” (2923.11 A). Ohio law, 2923.12, has provided that it is an offense to “knowingly carry or have, concealed on the person’s person or concealed ready at hand” any “dangerous weapon.”

“Ohio knife law changes have been a priority for the American Knife & Tool Institute since 2013,” said CJ Buck, AKTI Legislative Chair and CEO of Buck Knives. “We sincerely thank all those involved in this team effort to get clarity and consistency for Ohio individuals and knife businesses. Thank you to Senator Roegner and Senator Obhoff for their work this session and for joining former Senator Uecker as cosponsors, Representatives Wiggam and Lang for their tremendous efforts in the House to pass the bill and Governor DeWine and his office for meeting with us and hearing our request to sign the bill.”

“Many individuals and organizations joined to make these positive knife changes a reality,” said Buck, “and we thank our partners, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, and our members and knife industry businesses in Ohio for their testimonies at hearings and contacting their personal representatives to support SB 140.”

Knife laws of all of the fifty states can be reviewed on the AKTI website www.AKTI.org as well as detailed articles about understanding knife laws and court decisions.

View Article

Leave Comment

Remains of Medieval Soldier Found With Sword & Knives in Lake

January 13, 2021 12:06 pm

Vintage News | Knife Stories, Knives in the News

Medieval crime? Lakes and rivers sometimes act as more than fun places to pass a hot day, dipping in and out of cool water to ease the discomfort of a blazing summer sun. They’ve been known to function as crime scenes and graves, too.

Sometimes criminals dump their victims into deep waters to hide the evidence, so to speak. After all, unless law enforcement officials know where to look, seldom do divers explore an area’s waters just on a hunch bodies might lay on the bottom.

For that reason, a lake can make an excellent cover for a bad guy looking to dispose of his victim.

Lakes and rivers are also the places where literally hundreds of thousands of soldiers, perhaps millions of them who participated in the wars that have occurred globally over many generations, have fallen after battle.

In World War II alone, the number of soldiers who slipped beneath the surface of oceans, rivers and lakes across Europe is almost inconceivable; they died and fell into the murky depths, their bodies never recovered.

That was the fate of a medieval soldier whose remains were recently discovered in a lake in Lithuania. Experts know he was a soldier because two knives and a sword were found near the body, all of which were amazingly well preserved, said the archaeologists and divers involved in the retrieval.

While my field was human paleohistory, as a former Archaeology student, I love this stuff.

View Article

Leave Comment

The world’s biggest gun forum was booted off the Internet because they can be

January 13, 2021 9:31 am

The Federalist | Editorial

AR15.com, the biggest gun forum in the world, was deplatformed on Monday by web hosting company GoDaddy.

“ARFCOM IS DOWN. We’ve been booted from GoDaddy and are looking for an alternative solution,” the site announced Monday afternoon on Twitter.

The swift termination by internet host GoDaddy forced AR15.com’s leadership to think on their feet and quickly create a temporary URL so “freedom lovers and firearm enthusiasts” could continue to access the information and resources on the site.

Instead of offering specifics about kicking the gun site off the internet, GoDaddy merely claimed that AR15.com violated its terms of service, which resulted in instant termination.

“On Monday, January 11, 2021, I received notice from our site registrar that AR15.com had violated their terms of service and that AR15.com would be shut down immediately,” President and Co-Founder of the gun site Juan Avila told The Federalist in a statement. “The registrar’s decision to de-platform AR15.com was final and no method to appeal was offered.”

“It remains unclear specifically what content allegedly violated the registrar’s terms of service,” he added.

As a general rule we shy away from political discussions, and gun discussions for that matter. The gun community is much more diverse than it is given credit for, but still doesn’t represent as wide a swath as the knife community. We try to avoid alienating the latter in support of the former. Or, to put it in the words of a knifemaker friend who wants to stay anonymous, “Liberals buy knives too”.

That said, what starts in the gun world, often ends up spilling over into the knife industry. For example, Hogue Knives got caught up in Obama’s “Operation Choke Point” which was used to cut funding off to companies engaged in legal, Constitutionally protected commerce.

Wells Fargo Denies Hogue Knives Banking Services Over Weapons Concern

While I am sympathetic to the position that private companies can serve who they wish, the internet has become more of a utility than a private service. and this Orwellian orgy of cancellations is getting quite chilling.

View Article

Leave Comment

Ohio Knife Law Reform Bill Signed!

January 13, 2021 8:27 am

Knife Rights | Knife Law, Knives in the News

Knife Rights’ Ohio Knife Law Reform Bill, SB 140, was signed today by Governor Mike DeWine. We sincerely thank Gov. DeWine for signing this important bill. Thanks, also, to all of you who used Knife Rights Legislative Action Center for the hundreds of emails and calls to the governor.

NOTE: The new law does not take effect until April 10, 2021, 90 days after signing. Existing law is still in effect until then.

NOTE: We have not yet passed Knife Rights signature knife law preemption in Ohio, so individual cities and towns may still have knife ordinances more restrictive than state law. Knife Rights’ LegalBlade™ Knife Law App will be updated when the new law goes into effect. LegalBlade™ App includes laws in a number of Ohio cities as well as provides links to find municipal codes of many Ohio cities and towns.

SB 140 reforms Ohio knife law by making two separate substantive changes:

1. The ban on manufacture and sale of “switchblade,” “spring blade” and “gravity” knives is repealed;

2. It clears up the vague and confusing Ohio law regarding carry of ANY knife by defining a knife, razor or cutting instrument as a “deadly weapon” or “weapon” ONLY if it is used as a weapon. This would allow carrying any knife concealed under state law.

Knife Rights was honored to work closely with a number of Ohio legislators over the past six years to get this bill introduced and passed.

Former Senator Joe Uecker, SB 140’s original sponsor, said, “When Knife Rights approached me about this bill, it made perfect sense to me. A completely legal item to possess should be completely legal to manufacture in Ohio. A knife should not be considered a deadly weapon unless it’s used as one. That’s just common sense.”

Uecker continued: “After four years of effort, it is clear that we’d never have gotten this done but for the simple fact that Knife Rights showed up, every time! As anyone successful in getting legislation done knows, being there, in the Capitol, at critical moments, is what makes the difference. Todd Rathner from Knife Rights did that. I sincerely appreciate that he and Knife Rights showed up every single time we needed him at each critical juncture.”

Uecker concluded, “I would also like to thank my fellow legislators who kept this bill moving and especially Chairman Lang for getting SB 140 to the House floor.”

Representative George Lang, Chairman of the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee, said, “SB140 is just good policy. It is good for Ohio businesses and will create jobs and it is good for Ohio citizens. Decriminalizing simple possession of a knife is much needed criminal justice reform. I was proud to work with Todd from Knife Rights. He was here every step of the way, there’s no substitute for that.”

Co-Sponsor Senator Kristina Roegner, said, “Manufacturing jobs are the lifeblood of Ohio. The fact that you cannot legally manufacture an otherwise legal product in Ohio makes no sense. This is why I co-sponsored SB140; it’s just good policy for Ohio. I’d like to thank Knife Rights for their support and hard work on SB140.”
Rick Hinderer of Hinderer Knives, said, “I was fully prepared to take our manufacturing of automatic knives to a neighboring state. Then Knife Rights stepped up to fix the law here in Ohio. I worked closely with Todd Rathner from Knife Rights and saw him in action in the Capitol. He easily worked with members from both sides of the aisle. There is no question that without his efforts at the Capitol SB140 would never have been passed. Decriminalizing knife carry was frosting on the cake that I was proud to help make happen. By showing up and doing the hard work, Todd and Knife Rights got the job done for us and all Ohioans.”

Representative Scott Wiggam, Rick Hinderer’s Representative, said, “When I was approached by a constituent who wanted to manufacture automatic knives under contract to the U.S. Government and he told me he couldn’t because of an outdated Ohio statute, I knew we had to fix it. SB140 is the right policy for Ohio and Ohioans. Thanks to Knife Rights and Todd Rathner for being here in the Capitol to make it happen.”

Knife Rights would also like to thank Ohio Second Amendment activist Jim Irvine for his support and assistance in getting SB 140 passed and signed. We also appreciate the support we received from American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and Buckeye Firearms Association.

Knife Rights is America’s grassroots knife owners’ organization; leading the fight to Rewrite Knife Law in America™ and forging a Sharper Future for all Americans™. Knife Rights efforts have resulted in 33 bills enacted repealing knife bans in 23 states and over 100 cities and towns since 2010.

View Article

Leave Comment

Knife Rights’ Texas Location Restricted Knife Law Reform Bill Introduced

January 12, 2021 11:25 am

Ammoland | Knife Law, Knives in the News

Long time Texas Knife Rights sponsor Representative Harold Dutton has introduced HB 956 that would remove from statute a number of places where Location-Restricted Knives are banned. The locations being removed includes restaurants and bars that derive 51% of their income from sale or service of alcoholic beverages, amusement parks and places of religious worship.

In 2013 Knife Rights’ repeal of Texas’ switchblade ban was enacted. In 2015 Knife Rights’ signature Knife Law Preemption was enacted, nullifying all local knife ordinances more restrictive than Texas state law, including two of the “10 Worst Anti-Knife Cities in America” at the time, San Antonio and Corpus Christi. In 2017 our bill removed all of the “illegal knives” in Texas law, finally allowing Texans the right to carry a Bowie knife, dagger and others in public. In 2019 our bill removed the ban on carry of clubs (including tomahawks) and possession of knuckles (including trench knives and the like).

Unfortunately, during the 2017 legislative process, as a result of a tragic University of Texas stabbing just blocks from the Capitol, a minor amendment was added to stipulate that knives with blades over 5 1/2 inches are now defined as “location-restricted knives.” These knives may be carried throughout the state except in a narrow list of places such as schools, colleges, correctional facilities, amusements parks, houses of worship, and bars that derive more than 51% of their income from alcohol sales, as well as some other locations. Minors are also restricted as to when they can carry these knives. CLICK HERE for a complete listing of the current bans for Location-Restricted Knives.

As noted above, HB 956 would remove a number of commonly visited restricted locations from the list.

Knife Rights will let you know as soon as it is appropriate to contact your Texas lawmakers to support this bill.

View Article

Leave Comment

Ontario Knife Company Opens 2021 with Trio of Models

January 12, 2021 10:21 am

KnifeNews | Industry News / New Products, Production Knives

Ontario Knife Company has begun revealing its new for 2021 products, with a new folder and two new fixed blades on their way.

Ti 22 UltrablueThe Ultrablue’s major selling point is the handle. It has been given an iridescent anodization that definitely catches the eye, but for most knife users it will be the handle material itself that intrigues. Even with an MSRP around $50 the Ultrablue comes with full, front and back titanium scales…

Hiking Knife and TAK-2

Alongside the new folder, OKC is rolling out a pair of fixed blades. The Hiking Knife is designed as a companion outdoors blade, with a weight-saving but still capable 3.4-inch drop point blade, made from 420HC steel.

OKC is one of the more forgotten of the legacy companies. They have upped their new releases the past few years, after sitting pretty stagnant for years.

View Article

Leave Comment

’21 Collection: Benchmade Mini Osboorne family

January 12, 2021 9:17 am

Benchmade Knife Company | EDC, Industry News / New Products, Photography, Podcasts, & Videos, Production Knives

I have the complete 2021 Benchmade unveil ready to go, but it is embargoed until midnight tonight.

0 |

Leave Comment

Knife Magazine

Weekend Open Thread: Granting Wishes Edition

Gerber 2021 lineup and Tin Cup Whiskey Tasting

5 from the Grinder: Johnny Kraken (Kraken Tactical EDC)

Become a Premium Online Member today

Gerber 2021 lineup and Tin Cup Whiskey Tasting

Benchmade Unveils their 2021 Collection

5 from the Grinder: Johnny Kraken (Kraken Tactical EDC)

Jim Frost passes away at 79

Weekend Open Thread: The cause and the solution to all of life’s problems…

Knife Magazine Newsfeed

The Purge Continues: TTAG Facebook Page Removed

Review: WE Knife Co. Mini Synergy

From AKTI: Ohio Knife Laws go positive

Remains of Medieval Soldier Found With Sword & Knives in Lake

The world’s biggest gun forum was booted off the Internet because they can be

Ohio Knife Law Reform Bill Signed!

Knife Rights’ Texas Location Restricted Knife Law Reform Bill Introduced

Ontario Knife Company Opens 2021 with Trio of Models

’21 Collection: Benchmade Mini Osboorne family