KNIFE Magazine is an oversized, glossy, full-color monthly print magazine, the biggest and (we believe) most beautiful publication in the world of knives. What you are visiting now is just our digital side! In 2015, KNIFE Magazine was launched as the successor to the much-beloved and oldest running monthly knife publication, KNIFE WORLD (since 1975). KNIFE Magazine continues the KNIFE WORLD tradition of publishing a diverse mixture of articles by the most knowledgeable writers in the knife business, on topics of interest to knife collectors and enthusiasts. We think you’ll find our publication refreshing, in a world awash with crass commercialism. (We like to say that KNIFE Magazine is a publication designed for those who read it, not those who advertise!) For more on our history, read “KNIFE WORLD Turns Silver! a history of KNIFE WORLD magazine from 1975 to 2002“.

OUR TEAM

Owner-Publisher-Editor

Mark D. Zalesky has been a ‘knife guy’ practically all his life, a second-generation knife collector who started swapping knives out of gun show junk boxes at age five and had his first professional knife article published as an undergraduate in 1989. Mark served as the Editor of KNIFE WORLD from 1997 until purchasing the business in 2015. He has penned hundreds of articles about knives, has served as an appraiser, museum and auction house consultant, a museum exhibit curator, as a Director of the American Bladesmith Society and the Antique Bowie Knife Association, and has edited several knife books as well as having co-authored the 15th Edition of “The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives” and “A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America.” He’s a recipient of two Blade Show Publisher’s Awards (once personally and once as Editor of KNIFE WORLD) and has also received the ABS’s Don Hastings Award and the Knifemakers’ Guild’s Nate Posner Award, each organization’s highest honors awarded to non-knifemakers. While Mark’s favorite specialty is antique bowie knives, his knowledge of a broad range of knives and related items is widely recognized.

 

 

Digital Editor

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives – spending his last five years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at KNIFE Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the KNIFE Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor to and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

 

 

 

In Loving Memory of C. Houston Price (1935-2014)

Mr. Price was the Publisher of KNIFE WORLD from 1979 until his death in 2014. He was the author of the last six editions of “The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives,” and coauthor of Master of the Forge, the highly acclaimed coffee table book about Bill Moran. In 1989, Price was the recipient of the ABS’ coveted Don Hastings Award. He was inducted into the Cutlery Hall of Fame in 1994 and the American Bladesmith Society Hall of Fame in 1997. “Houston” was a Southern Gentleman and a true friend to many in the knife community, as well as a mentor to us – and we miss him dearly.

 

 

 

 

Whut Izzit Editor

Bernard Levine:  A native of Boston, Bernard is the leading writer on knives and cutlery in the world, covering both the history and identification of knives and the art and technology of knifemaking. He has published hundreds of feature articles for knife industry magazines. Since 1978 he has written the popular monthly “Whut Izzit” feature for Knife World and Knife Magazine, in which he identifies, explains, and evaluates unusual knives. He serves as an advisor on cutlery for many leading museums and has testified as an expert witness in knife related court cases around the country. He now lives in Eugene, Oregon, where he is active in the Oregon Knife Collectors Association.

 

 

 

 

Military Editor

Frank Trzaska: “I originally started writing about knives in 1996, to keep my thoughts and notes on my collection in order. It just grew from there, including the collection. The subjects are varied but they usually sway back to the intended subject, U.S. Military Knives. My favorite recreations include convertibles, whiskey and wandering the aisles at gun, knife and antique shows. I have spent much of my active working life in the big cities of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Washington and Atlanta, not that I like them, that’s just where the museums and archives are. We currently reside in the People’s Republic of New Jersey. Married to my high school sweetheart, Karen for 40 years, we have two married adult children, Jake (Kelly) and Lauren (Cody) and three Grandchildren Rhett, Nash and Chloe.”

 

 

 

Editor at Large

J. Bruce Voyles holds membership in the Cutlery Halls of Fame of both Blade Magazine and the American Bladesmith Society. Over 40 years in knives he has produced 18 knife books, the “knife” section of World Book Encyclopedia, and hundreds of magazine articles and columns. He has been an expert witness in Federal court, and appraised items donated to the Smithsonian Institution and the NRA. Bruce is co-founder of The Blade Show, and pioneered television knife shows for four TV networks. He started NKCA Magazine, owned Blade Magazine, and edited Knives Illustrated. Bruce was awarded the Nate Posner Award from the Knifemakers’ Guild and the Don Hastings Award from the ABS, the highest awards either gives non-knifemakers. Today, Bruce runs his auction company, manages knife shows in Dalton, GA and Pigeon Forge, TN, and writes two columns for KNIFE Magazine.

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Del Corsi (Kamloops B.C.)

I have always had a passion for knives and motorcycles, though my early career was in the forest industry. For over twenty years I operated skidders and D6 cats in steep mountain terrain. In 1999, following an accident, I met knifemaker Steve Price. As I recovered from three back surgeries Steve took me under his wing, teaching me how to make knives. Knives Illustrated Editor Bud Lang also became a mentor around this time; he taught me how to take knife photos and encouraged me to write about knives and motorcycles. To this day I am blessed to continue making custom knives, as well as writing about both of my passions.

 

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Steven Dick (Castle Rock, WA) grew up an avid hunter, fisher on an Illinois farm. He enlisted in the army, serving in Viet Nam on a Ranger Long Range Patrol team. He studied forestry at Washington State and later worked for a large timber company.  In 1977 he began writing on cutlery, firearms, survival and military topics for many different publications. In 1994 Harris Publications asked him to edit a new knife magazine called “Tactical Knives” that lasted almost 21 years. He then joined Athlon Publications to restart “Survivor’s Edge” magazine. Currently, he serves a contributing editor of KNIFE Magazine. Steve has had a life-long interest anything that goes cut. He collects wilderness camping knives and classic woodcraft manuals. Over the last 15 years he has added Asian cleavers and their uses to his passions. making many trips to Asia to advance his knowledge of the subject.

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Roger Eckstine is an award-winning author and lecturer. His “Shooter’s Bible Guide to Knives” series for Skyhorse Publishing has been recognized for Outstanding Achievement by the Professional Outdoor Media Association and has garnered Best Book awards from the Texas Outdoor Writer’s Association. Introduced to knife handling by his father at a very young age, the family’s supply of steak knives was soon exhausted only to be found rusting in a pile behind a makeshift-throwing target. Mr. Eckstine began writing for KNIFE Magazine’s forerunner KNIFE WORLD in 2012 and currently resides in Houston, Texas.

 

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Dennis Ellingsen (Eugene, OR) has contributed to our publications since 1981. “In the 1970s my interest in firearms expanded when son Ray found a utility knife in a park. That interest in knives has never slowed. Our collection of utility knives is a four digit number now. We then added handmade knives and the collection continued to grow. I have taken the knives as an inspiration to write articles about the discoveries I find with the knives. Some 45 years ago we started the Oregon Knife Collectors Organization. The Show has grown to be one of the top Shows in the world. My moniker of “ibdennis” has followed me for many years, and many just know me by that signature.”

 

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

B.R. Hughes (Texarkana, TX): Even as a kid, I liked guns and knives, and while my career as a gun writer began in the late 1950s, my knife writing began in 1960 for such publications as Guns, Gunsport, and Gun World. I authored the first book devoted entirely to handmade cutlery with American Handmade Knives of Today in 1972, and in 1973 I co-authored, with Jack Lewis, The Gun Digest Book of Knives followed by The Gun Digest Book of Folding Knives in 1977, the same year I began writing for KNIFE WORLD (now KNIFE Magazine). All told, I have authored more than 500 knife-related articles. I was one of the four founders of The American Bladesmith Society in 1976. I began writing for Blade Magazine in 1985, and in 1993 I was honored by being elected to the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame. In 1996, I was inducted into The American Bladesmith Hall of Fame. That was the same year my biography of W. F. “Bill” Moran, Master of the Forge, was published. It’s been a fun trip!

 

 

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Stephen J. Masello (Wilmette, IL): “My enjoyment of pocket knives (and, soon thereafter, fixed blades) dates back over 60 years to my first blue, Delrin-handled Cub Scouts of America folder.  I have never lost my youthful enthusiasm for the outdoors and the associated gear and knives, in particular. Camping, upland hunting, and fly fishing, have afforded me the opportunity to put fine knives to the test. Along with my full-time position as an English professor and university administrator, I have pursued freelance writing about the outdoors and sports afield, publishing in many magazines and journals, including among others, The Upland Almanac, Pointing Dog Journal, MidWest Outdoors, Shotgun Sports Magazine, Field and Stream (I “earned” an interview for the magazine’s “Close Calls” page thanks to my misadventure in a Michigan quagmire), Great Lakes Angler, Gun Dog Magazine, and, of course, my favorites:  KNIFE WORLD and KNIFE Magazine.

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

M. Willson Offutt IV (Annapolis, MD) was first published in KNIFE WORLD in 1994, and since 1998 has penned our Field Trials feature: “Early on, I traveled the country with my National Match M-14, competing in rifle matches, on the road to Camp Perry. Then gun shows buying and selling knives and guns for profit, and assembling personal collections. Law school crowded out dreams of an Olympic shooting medal. Employed in suburban Maryland, I met area knife makers, and was befriended by Bill Moran and Rob Hudson in whose shop I forged damascus billets and blades. Bill Moran had me cut up a sapling tree with one of his (now almost priceless) Camp knives. I was hooked. I studied knife and gun control, and litigated weapons cases in court. Dozens of times, I attended gatherings of knife makers, collectors, hammer-ins, shop visits, Blade Show, SHOT Show. Now I write for KNIFE Magazine and operate farms in Maryland and Virginia, venues for knife use and testing, in the endless search for the most perfect knife.”

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Matthew Parkinson (Wolcott, CT): Matthew was inspired as a child by watching a blacksmith in a living history museum. This seemingly small moment stuck with him his entire childhood. His first pocket knife, given to him by his grandfather, solidified the direction his life would take. Under the direction of his grandfather, Matthew made his first knife from an old file – further inspiring him to not just own knives but to make knives. Matthew is a self-taught smith and has been a full time blacksmith and bladesmith since 1998. Since 2007 he has taught blacksmithing and bladesmithing at numerous schools and shops around the U.S. He has won several awards and has had work featured in multiple publications, as well as writing for KNIFE Magazine. In 2015 Matthew won the first episode of “Forged in Fire” on the History Channel, making a katana that split a bullet. He returned to “Forged in Fire” in 2016 for a champions round and placed second making a Scottish claymore that also split a bullet. In 2016 Matthew attained the rank of Journeyman Smith in the American Bladesmith Society and is currently readying his Mastersmith submission.

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Neal Punchard (Bloomington, MN) (pictured above with the Sheffield Year Knife): “Here we go, another tale of an old guy and his knife affliction. Yes, I carried a pocket knife in the 1960s because my dad did. Yes, I was in the Boy Scouts and earned a whittling merit badge. Yes, I collect old knives, but… “I’ve learned more about history, traveled to more places, and met more great friends because of knives. In my case, collecting led to questions and questions led to research. Writing was just an extension of acquired information which simply snowballed down a hill. Over the years, dozens of articles and five books materialized with my name on them, some winning awards. I would encourage everyone to collect, study, question, and write if the mood strikes. While some interests have come and gone, the knife hobby has never left my side, or pocket.”

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent

Richard D. White (Thornton, CO) is a retired high school teacher, who uses his skills as a photographer to document examples of unique cutlery specimens. Richard’s interest in knives began as an offshoot of decoy carving, when he received his first W.R. Case knife as a gift from a close relative. Richard’s book “Advertising Cutlery” explores the use of advertising imprinted on knives. In addition to being a staff correspondent and writer for Blade Magazine and KNIFE WORLD for over 40 years Richard is also a Field Editor for Blade Magazine, where his articles have regularly appeared in the yearly annuals. Living near Boulder, Colorado, Richard has concentrated his collection and interest in Western Cutlery. An informal apprenticeship with a former Western Cutlery employee helped to establish the “Western Way” of knife production, dating, and further enriched Richard’s knowledge of Western cutlery. The “thrill of the hunt” finds him regularly at the flea markets and shows in Denver.

 

 

 

Staff Correspondent and Archival Material Preparation

Bryan and Alexa Wyszkowski (Rockaway, NJ); Bryan has carried a knife in his pocket since the age of ten, and vows to never break the habit. Professionally trained in blacksmithing and metalworking, it was his degree in Design that sealed his passion with the artistry of cutlery. Starting out by refurbishing vintage pocketknives, his skills and knowledge grew to the point of wanting to share his enthusiasm with the readers of KNIFE WORLD (and subsequently KNIFE Magazine). His very first article on Adolph Kastor earned a him cover slot, and over the past ten years Bryan has attained eight cover articles, multiple feature narratives and a five-year run of the popular column “I Found This Knife…”. Now considered a seasoned expert on vintage German cutlery and pocket-knife tool kits, Bryan has expanded his background into custom knifemaking and auction-house appraisals. Factory or handmade, Bryan can likely tell you something about it! Bryan’s daughter Alexa is a student at New Jersey’s County College of Morris and assists us with preparing material for the KNIFE Magazine website.

 

 

Staff Correspondent Emeritus

Stephen Garger (Post Falls, ID): “I learned the care and use of knives working with my dad seven years in the family restaurant. Mining coal I carried a hawkbill folder for opening “rock dust” bags and cutting tubing. In Education I was well served by a Swiss Army “Classic.” “Currently my sheath knife for hiking or fishing is a Ruana “Steelhead.” Bundled up against winter weather, there’s a David Kurt necker while a Dr. T folder is my EDC. Knowing those makers and carrying one of their knives provides special meaning to me. “I am incredibly pleased writing knifemaker profiles and highlighting some of our talented community members and their work. Scribing about local Post Falls/Coeur D’ Alene (Idaho) business owners is a new focus. Meanwhile floating around out there somewhere is an Education “best seller,” academic pieces, and varied popular articles. Stephen passed away in 2021, but he was a valued part of the KNIFE Magazine family.

 

 

 

 

Knife Glossary Coordinator

Our friend “Uncle” Ron Bucher was a longtime subscriber to Knife World and KNIFE Magazine, a well known eBay seller with a passionate interest in antique pocketknives as well as the proper use of established terminology to describe them. He was the perfect man to tap for the ambitious glossary we planned for this website, and the 507 initial entries he submitted just blew us away. We will forever regret that he did not live to see his efforts come to fruition, as he left this world in April, 2019. Our knife glossary will forever be dedicated to the memory of “Uncle Ron.”

 

 

 

Composition and Design

Katie Conner – Katie joined the Knife Magazine team in March of 2022. She graduated from Maryville College in the spring of 2021 with two degrees: a BA in Design and a BA in Writing Communications. New to the professional and cutlery worlds, she finds herself learning something new every day at KNIFE Magazine. You may find her bopping around Knoxville, Tennessee during her time off, but she’s likely at home cuddling with her cat, Ziggy Stardust.

 

 

Office Manager

Vince Harris – Vince came to us in the Spring of 2022, taking over the Office Manager position from Kim Knott, who had been Knife World even prior to Mark’s arrival. Vince’s most visible knife industry role was as a long time employee of Smoky Mountain Knife Works, but has also worked as a school band director and music instructor, as well as working as a touring drummer with a local band.

 

 

 

Knifemaker Database Coordinator

Mike Losicco

Design Consultant

Brian Wilhoite

Specialty Photographer

Jim “SharpByCoop” Cooper (Norwalk, CT)

Official Representative

John Zalesky’s primary role at this time is mostly restricted to the occasional office task, but you may encounter him as our representative at knife shows and other events that are close to our home base of Knoxville, Tennessee. Knife swappers: be forewarned that he can be a tough negotiator.