A New Knife Magazine?

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As many of you may know, I had the honor of introducing Knives Illustrated magazine 14 years ago. During that period I traveled throughout the U.S., Canada, Scandinavia and Europe, attending shows, meeting with makers and collectors, and visiting shops and factories everywhere. In the process, I met some of the finest people ever. Last month I resigned my position at KI, and the response I received via e-mail and at the recent Blade Show told me I do have a few friends out there in knifeland. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported me over the years.

At this time, an associate and I are working with some special people in an effort to create a new cutlery magazine that will tell it like it is. It will feature custom knives and high quality factory knives from around the world. Lots of tech stuff, exceptional photography, down-to-earth evaluations. But, not being one to strut around shows like I'm God Almighty, waiting for people to come to see me, I'll still be walking past maker's tables, saying hello, checking on what's new, just being one of the guys. And I'll still make a knife once in awhile to know what it's like to live in the real world. What I would like to ask all of you is a few very basic questions:

What would YOU like to see in a cutlery magazine, month after month? If that magazine provided you with what you want, would you support it?
 
hello bud,

I have enjoyed KI ever since I found it in a book store over a year ago. I believe you did a great job there. I would like to see a knife magazine that would have classy knives from around the world in as large a diversity as possible. Although I have no real interest in knives for selfdefence but more in knives that look good but will perform when needed. just a couple of suggestions I am sure that whatever you do will be good and I would support your magazine regardless.


good luck



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When a man wants to murder a tiger he calls it sport; when a tiger wants to muder him he calls it ferocity.-George Bernard Shaw
 
Thanks for asking.

These are the things that I would like to see month after month in a knife magazine:

1. A regular monthly feature on a knife law or statute. Perhaps start with federal law(s) and then moove on to each state and possibly even local laws or foreign laws. Include a section on pending and recently enacted laws.

2. An on going chart of knife laws listing what is legal/illegal for each jurisdiction such as types of knives, blade length, etc.

3. A regular article talking about knife manufacturers/makers, their story, history, etc. Purpose: to inform readers about knife makers, history, etc.

4. Regular articles on pocketknives, folders, and fix blade knifes. One article for each in each issue.

5. A story about a knife - perhaps solicited from readers. Stories about how a knife saved the day, used in a survival situation, grandpa's knife, etc.

6. Letters from readers.

7. Article on how to care for and sharpen knives. A different article each issue.

8. A section where readers can write in and tell about their carrying knife.

 
Howdy There..Mr. Lang,
I certainly would support a new magazine. I enjoy KI and I look forward to each issue when it comes out. I am like most readers, that I enjoy a monthly magazine not a bi-momthly issue. I personally would like to see more of the following items in a new pubication.
1. More how articles for the entree level makers. Articles on the proper methods of making knives and their parts.
2. Greater review of the smaller makers in various parts of this country as well as the world.. Cover more of the local folks that you not see on the national scale. Because I know that there are a great deal makers that no one knows about because they always stay in their local areas.
3. Also cover some of the new handle materials that begin use and brought onto the market, how to us them and how to work the materials, this I guess would be involved as part the "How To" section.
I certainly hope that your involvement in a new magazine goes well, and I am looking forward to its presents on the market. Thanks for caring about us consumer opinions.


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Thomas Clegg
 
Hey Bud, I'm going to move this to the General Discussion forum, I don't think it's suppossed to be here in the Political Arena... my apologies if it was your intention to put it here.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Hi Bud,
I think that more knife magazines can only help educate the general public about knives, and generally spread truth about knives and knife makers. It would be great to have another magazine!

I'd like to see a substatial section dedicated to the reviewing of various knives. These knives could be from custom makers, but preferrably be production knives. Each mag. issue could feature the testing of a different company.

I haven't had the chance to read Knives Illustrated, but I've read Blade magazine, and that's been great. Good luck on your new venture!

-Andrew Lynch
 
Hi Bud! Good luck in your future project.

What would I like to see in a future magazine? One of the things most knife magazines underestimate is the willingness of their readers to learn and go more in-depth on knives, designs, and materials in general. I'd like to see a knife magazine that isn't afraid to include more in-depth discussions.

One of the things I never liked in KI were the knifemaker profiles. It's not that I don't like knifemaker profiles, it's that learning about what kind of power buffer the guy uses, and how his new shop is coming along, with just pictures and cursory discussion of the knives, is not what I'm looking for. Keep doing knifemaker profiles, but focus on the knives. Get the knifemaker to go through each knife, discussing in as much detail as possible why he made the design choices he did. E.g., "I made the guard curved for more comfort on thrusts", "I chose this handle design for maximum security, and the kinds of designs I rejected are [...]", "I chose mokume bolsters because aesthetically, they go best with the handle material, whereas solid stainless bolsters don't look as good", etc.. Don't let him get away with "I chose ATS-34 because it worked best for me" -- make him talk about what other kinds of steels he looked at, and how he evaluated them. Now that would be a knifemaker profile. And it would teach the readers about how makers make the decisions they do.

The other thing we'd like to see, of course, is true knife performance evaluations. There are 3 kinds of knive reviews I see:

1. Knife reviews that just barely go into performance. These are mostly reviews by eye and feel. There may be some very cursory performance info, but it's not really useful. Most magazine reviews are like this.

2. Knife reviews that go into the look and feel of the knife, and also work the performance of just that knife. This is the other kind of review I see in magazines. Unfortunately, again the performance information isn't that useful. Why? Because knowing that the knife took 50 cuts in rope to get dull means nothing to me, since I don't know how soft your rope is, etc. Performance information in a vaccuum only gives the illusion of a true performance evaluation, but it is mostly useless.

3. Performance evaluations where multiple knives are tested at the same time. This is rare in magazines, but more popular here on the net. Because there are multiple knives tested, I get an idea of how knives perform versus each other. If you test an endura, an ascent, an apache, and a voyager, I can see how they rate compared to each other. More importantly, since I own an endura and understand its performance very well, I can get a feel for the absolute performance of the other knives. This, in my opinion, is the only type of performance evaluation that really passes along the maximum information.

For an example on how to do this, look at Cliff Stamp's reviews. Now I'm not saying you have to do the hardcore edge-testing Cliff does, if you do not believe that the knives were designed for this type of work. But rather, look at Cliff's methodology, how he tests multiple knives, presents the data and separately the conclusions he thinks can be drawn from the data, and tries to include "benchmark" knives in the same tests, so we can see how knives in different tests perform against the same benchmark.

Beyond that, purty pictures always make my heart go pitty pat, and the first magazine to get pictures of a new knife always gets my gratitude.

Lastly, there are some very good reviewers here on the internet, who have their own testing styles and points of view that are not the typical "institutionalized magazine reviewer" type views. Why not seek a few out, for the fresh perspectives they have, and get them to write some reviews for you?

Joe
jat@cup.hp.com
 
Tell it like it is - don't pull back from saying such and such a knife is crap. Good luck
wink.gif

 
I'd like to see something like Consumer Reports where you guys actually bought the knives and were free to say if they were any good or not. This could mean some problems because you would not get them early like other magazines, but I and others would appreciate candid reviews.
 
Good luck on the new venture. I've always liked KI and I expect you'll come through with a great offering.


I'd like to see a schedule of upcoming Knife shows throughout the states. Something where we can see, in advance, when and where the events are.


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Clay
www.balisongxtreme.com
Because......
getting 'em open
is half the fun!
 
A better Q&A...
One that answers questions from readers. This part of the mag should answer the question in several ways instead of just one opinon. Let the readers makeup there mind what version they like or parts of one or the other. Get opinions from choosen un-named knifemakers.
No buddy system here like a lot of mags do..


Do real life testing on products in a manner for intended use. Some of the testing done is not germain to the product. Also NO FREE KNIVES to the testers... Bias is deleted this way. No steel specs until the testing is over. This way there is no bias..This would wake the dead im sure... and delete BS.

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Web Site At www.darrelralph.com

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 06-10-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 06-10-2000).]
 
The above posts all have good ideas and I would like to add the following: I would like to see work done by lesser known or not known makers work and knives made around the world, not just US made knives. When you get ready to run, I'll subscribe.

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The thorn stands to defend the Rose, yet it is peaceful and does not seek conflict
 

you know those times when someone borrows your nice sharp knife to cut ,lets say rope, and then they try to mash the edge straight into it and saw it. then go on about how you need to learn to sharpen your own hair popping knife... we've all been through that agony I'm sure. I'd like to see a magazine that includes the basics so people (those electricians i work with) can stop gashing their fingers open when the try to cut ty-wraps.(it's gotten so bad that if there is one more OSHA reportable injury from this that we won't be able to carry knives at work). and i hate being told by a guy that carries a rusted case trapper with a broken blade how to sharpen my micro tech!
so personally I'd like to see some info published on USING knives. proper cutting technique for different blades on different materials and so on. i say educate them! that would be a value to all. in my opinion anyway.

take care
 
I would like to see the truth in every review.I dont see much of that in the current knife mags!

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Jay
Life is like a box of chocolates,never know what your gona git!
 
A new magazine would be cool...I would like to see hi-quality photos (i.e. Ichiro Nagata) hi-quality paper, and good, real writing; with articles that actually have the author using the knife, and not re-hashing a press release and making that press release into an article...

--dan
 
Bud,I don't know that I can add much to the ideas above. And I assume that this is what you are looking for. My suggestion is to pose this same question on other venues. Some sites that i enjoy are www.swordforum.com www.customknifedirectory.com/ This site is just starting to take off and www.expage.com/page/neotribalmetalsmiths There are suttle differences in each of these sites but each have knives in common. one other site of interest for you may be www.keenjunk.com this is a blacksmith site and a lot of them make knives myself included. Maybe you already thought of this. I do like the shop tours, and always want to ask more questions of the maker featured. Good fortune in your new venture, I have enjoyed your past work very much.
 
HAHAHAHA!!!!

Hey, how about a Tom & Jerry column in the new mag? We can talk about the lighter side of knifemaking, the small and insignificant things... like Tom's knives for instance.
smile.gif


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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
I think Spark hit the nail on the head. lots of HONEST reviews, lots of color pictures. I will subscribe even if it stinks. One can never have too many knife mags
smile.gif


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Louis Buccellato
http://www.themartialway.com
Knives, Weapons and equipment. Best prices anywhere.
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"only the paranoid will survive"
 
Bud, it was good to visit with you in Atlanta, glad to hear that the knifeworld wont be losing you!! As for your new mag., I'm sure you will keep us informed on the latest trends, your shop tours are very informative, and I notice that its not uncommon to see you trying your hand at it! thats what sets you apart, your hands on approach to knives..One small issue needs to be resolved though... what color shirt will you be wearing at the shows? I could always spot that bright red shirt mingling in the crowds!!! GOOD LUCK BUD !!! Sign us up !! Mike & Audra
 
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