Blade Magazine

Phil705

Phil705

Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
360
I am trying to decide whether or not to re-subscribe to Blade Magazine. I usually find one or two articles of interest for me, a hobbyist knifemaker. But mostly it seems to be about skulls and dragons and fantasy knives that have little or no function in the real world. And, the magazine devotes much of its space to promoting its own knife shows and then rehashing the knife show in the next edition. (I might feel differently if my knifemaking were of a caliber that merited being featured in the magazine, I admit.)

I know that it is a difficult or impossible task to satisfy the many tastes in knives, tactical, fantasy, functional, forging, stock removal, etc, but the magazine is pretty clearly off the mark for me.

What do you think? Is there a better alternative?

Phil705
Winthrop WA
 
Phil705 said:
I am trying to decide whether or not to re-subscribe to Blade Magazine. I usually find one or two articles of interest for me, a hobbyist knifemaker. But mostly it seems to be about skulls and dragons and fantasy knives that have little or no function in the real world. And, the magazine devotes much of its space to promoting its own knife shows and then rehashing the knife show in the next edition. (I might feel differently if my knifemaking were of a caliber that merited being featured in the magazine, I admit.)

I know that it is a difficult or impossible task to satisfy the many tastes in knives, tactical, fantasy, functional, forging, stock removal, etc, but the magazine is pretty clearly off the mark for me.

What do you think? Is there a better alternative?

Phil705
Winthrop WA
Click to expand...

I agree that their content is somewhat shallow, and some of the ads are downright offensive, so I let my subscription expire. Now I just buy a copy from Barnes and Noble when I hear about my work being featured in it.

I was subscribed to Knives Illustrated for a while, but their content isn't much better.

I like Bladeforums. :)
 
I had the very same thoughts a few years ago. I had YEARS of Blade issues piled up around the house and shop....I would always be excited when the magazine came in the mail, but would usually see all I cared to on the walk from the mailbox to the house. I dropped my subscription for a couple of years, then decided to give it another try last year....same old, same old. I think one thing that frustrates me is that I can remember when (before Krause Publication purchased the Magazine) it dealt nearly exclusively with custom knives and makers...now its become a magazine for whomever spends the most dollars advertising.

I can understand that to a point..they have to make a profit, but many of the ads border on offensive, and many are down right silly...and there are more ads than content. I'm like Phil. I will look at it at the local Barnes and Knobles, and ever now and then will buy a copy if something "good" is in it.
 
I don't like how, every time they mention someone who is in their "hall of fame" they are referred to as "so-and-so Blade magazine cutlery hall of famer". I mean, occasionally is fine, but with every name mention it screws up the word flow and can sometimes get a little bit retarded.

Some of the advertisements are more for the mall ninja crowd - so I don't leave them sit out when company comes so they don't get the impression that I'm a mall ninja...

Other than that, I like the magazine. I had KI and when it came time to choose just one I went with Blade. Yes, there is some goofy stuff in there from time to time, but I think that overall they do a good job, especially considering how wide a spectrum they're covering and how small a nitch they're in.
 
It is really getting too "Mall-Ninja-ish". I have been really disappointed as of late with their content. Too bad that there isn't a rag devoted strictly to customs. I doubt that will ever happen because "MONEY" is the key to publishing. The kids with the most marbles wins the game.

Seems like when you look through the pages, all you seem to see is a National Living Treasure Ship, a China wanna-be company, or someone who makes the latest and greatest tactical folders from the latest and greatest steel (which by the way looks like the latest and greatest tactical folders you saw last month).
 
I had not heard the "mall ninja crowd" before, but it fits exactly. You helped confirm that I will not renew my subscription. Thanks!
 
I started subscribing to Blade when people I knew started showing up in it, that said, the rest of the magazine is kinda worthless

-Page
 
I just noticed that one the spine of the mag, it says F + W. Could this mean "Forget-it - Worthless?

Nah, I just had an ugly moment:)

It could be a great mag if money didn't get in the way. "He who pays, plays".

R.D.
 
I have a subscription, but don't plan to renew when it ends soon. I just find myself flipping through it in 5 minutes on the John, though I do occasionally find a good article or two. Mostly my wife just gets frustrated that they're laying around so I toss 'em. Hate to pay for something that doesn't get used beyond a few mintues every month. I do enjoy the pieces and pictures of the custom makers.

--nathan
 
Based on past subscription arrivals, the June 2010 issue ought to be in my mailbox in January.
 
I don't think I will reup either as it is a whole lot of nothing in it. Before this thread was even started i had said to myself what a waste of $$ this magazine was.
 
Let me preface my words with the fact that I too plan on letting my subscription lapse. I just have no interest in reading it anymore. It has become very repetitive. BUT I wholeheartedly support the Blade Show. :thumbup:


Here are my thoughts:

1 - magazine people aren't idiots. They are obviously publishing what they feel will sell the most magazines and subscriptions. Unfortunately, that niche no longer includes me (and from what I see many other custom knifemakers). But they will do nicely without our money...they probably pick up 20 other sales for each one of us that drops it.

2 - I do agree that the articles seem more and more focused on "art knives", historical pieces, fantasy knives, high-dollar production knives and less on practical users.

3 - what do you guys think about Tactical Knives? The issues I've read have been more interesting and engaging...and more reality-based.




I also want to mention that I have stopped reading newspaper comics as well. Maybe it's just me.

0.02
YMMV

Dan
 
I think Blade magazine is very much consumer oriented. What we need is a magazine for makers. I guess that's what Shop Talk is for, but not everyone has Internet, so a print magazine would be nice. Written by makers (NOT makers with their heads in the clouds) for makers.

We don't have any parakeets, so don't see much point in getting any newspapers. :D
 
Okay. I'll take a contrary view. I subscribe to both Blade and KI and look forward to receiving both. I find enough to read in each to warrant the subscriptions. I also subscribe to Knife World. I've only gotten into collecting recently and the more I can read, the better.
 
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