Bud Lang & Knives

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I just returned from the Blade Show, and must say I was amazed at the support I received from makers and collectors alike. Believe me, I had no idea so many people liked what I was doing with KI. Yes, I know KI sells more copies per issue than Blade or TK, but I did know I had such support.

Spoke with Bruce Voyles, who says he will be guiding KI in the future. I wish him luck.

What are my plans for the future? A journalist friend and I are working on a totally new cutlery magazine, that may be called International KNIVES. It will be a fresh departure from the other packages out there, and will be an improvement over KI. We are working with investors at this point, and will keep you informed.

All I can promise is if you liked KI, you will love this new magazine. While we have some definite ideas of what the mag will look like, I would like some prompt feedback from listers. Please tell me what you would like to see in a cutlery magazine. What kind of articles appeal to you most? Come out and say it! More tech stuff, more how-to's, more evaluations, and I mean real evaluations, more what? Let me hear from you. I know what I want in a top-flight knife magazine, but I am not the consumer. You are! And I have to please your needs, not mine. Thanks for listening, and I appreciate the chance to express myself on this forum.

Years ago, if you recall, we published a couple of pieces or so on the internet, not being afraid to involve this avenue in the magazine. In short, I wasn't afraid of the "competition."

Thanks, Bud Lang

 
Bud,

It's real refreshing to hear that there is going to be a new magazine in which the "Top Dog" wants to be deeply involved
smile.gif


One thing that I personally would like to see is honest reviews of knives. Not the fluff that most mags write about to sell ad space. If a person is going to purchase a knife based on a recommendation from an article in a magazine, he should get the real story. That persons life may depend on that particular knife someday.

Also, how about some "different" kinds of reviews? When was the last time you saw an article about kitchen knives in a mag?

The magazine should be about ALL types of knives. Not just high end art pieces or low end factory stuff, but all knives. A nice mix for the people that can't afford custom pieces.

How about spotlighting a certain state. Pick a couple of makers from a certain state and showcase their knives with a short write up about each maker.

And you definitely have to have shop tips of some kind. Try to keep it simple for those that are interested but don't fully understand how to make knives.

I'm sure others will come up with more things, and once again.....Thanks for caring
smile.gif


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C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "


[This message has been edited by Jailhack (edited 06-08-2000).]
 
Bud,
It was a pleasure getting a chance to speak with you at Blade. We talked for a while in front of Richard Rogers table. My interests lean more towards the Custom end of things and I really have enjoyed the maker articles, techinical articles and equipment articles the most.

Good, honest and complete evaluations will be a tough cookie, but they are sorely needed in both the factory and custom areas.

Whatever you decide it is obvious you have quite a lot of support.


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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.
 
Well, here's a start. I'll buy 6x ad placements the first year. Plus, I'll donate a knife for a new subscribers' give-away offer. Let me know where to send the knife, and who's selling ad space. Good luck with it Bud. I mean that,

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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
 
Bud,
It was really nice to meet and talk to you at the Kershaw table. I really will subscribe to the new mag. Please have more articles/reviews of different knives; kitchen, garden, hunting, not just the next biggest baddest superduper modified semi-tanto pointed canopener. Articles that really tell how the knife was used and if it could "cut the mustard". Most of us have had our fill of reviews that go on for days and never really try the knife at cutting anything but "Boy it sure was Prutty".

Jailhack and Gus posted first and really hit the nail on the head on sugestions.

Hope it comes together soon. Good luck.

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Dwight

It's a fine line between "a hobby" and "mental illness".

[This message has been edited by pyrguy (edited 06-08-2000).]
 
Bud, very glad to hear of the new magazine and the direction you seem to want to take it. As stated, please stay away from the fluff articles and wasted space. Try not to have to many articles full of rope cutting. Maybe a few articles on sharpening, not the ones that just push the newest gadgets, but REAL articles on how to sharpen. I like to see articles on all kinds of knives...art, one-handers, traditional. I think the articles should be geared towards using the knife in realistic settings. Good luck with it...I cant wait to see it. Do you have any idea when it may begin?



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Richard
icq 61363141
Just some knife pictures
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=110070&a=4518795
 
Mr. Lang,
I just got the Aug. issue of KI. YOU! were KI... Thanks! I really like 'Shop Tour' maybe for the new venture you could have some historical stuff? Bernard Levin stuff? stuff on the weird and unusual working knives in the world...Knives from foreign countrys etc. etc.
I agree with Jailhack, 'different' and 'ALL knives' and the People behind them!...Regards, and best of luck! Barry
 
Bud,

It was great to see you again in Atlanta. Glad to hear that you are still going to be covering knives with the new magazine. All the best in getting your new operation off to a good start.

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AKTI Member # A000005
NC Knife Knuts Member
Living life "on the edge"
 
Bud
If you need anything from me let me know. I am tickled to see you go on and do other things. For an old man you sure do move things around a lot.
 
Thanks for asking for feedback, Bud. Good luck. Here are my thoughts:

Monthly issues - there is plenty of info out there to support 12 issues per year.
Customs, customs, customs...
smile.gif

Shop tours
How to's
More, more, more beautiful photography
Real opinions, not BS
How about some tips on the business side of knifemaking and selling?
Shop tips from the masters

I'm sure I'll think of more...

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Kelly
SenatorsPlace.com
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice
 
Bud,

I think that you were absolutely leading KI in the right direction. I know it is hard to do meaningful knife tests for various reasons including standardization, and advertising considerations, so just give us as many great pictures of great knives as you can, with as much information of any kind, technical, maker backgrounds, etc., as you can get.

Good luck, and I can't wait to see your new mag.

Sincerely,

Steve Harvey
General Discussion Forum Moderator WWW.Knifeforums.com WWW.Tacticalforums.com
 
Bud, let us know what we can do to help as well!

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Bud, in addition to what others have mentioned, articles involving knife history (blade styles, use, making, etc.) would be welcome also.

Harry
 
GREAT KNEWS FOR THE KNIFE WORLD!!!!! I'll be buying your new magazine too. We'll see about subscribing though... I just looked at getting a subscription of Cosmo for my girlfriend but the price for Canadians is ridiculous!!! It is actually cheaper to buy it off the shelf here than subscribe! If the subscription price is too high for Canadians then I humbly beg Mr. Hossom to have a Canadian giveaway too.

Here are my suggestions.
1) reasonable subscription price for Canadians

2) shop tours are VERY informative

3) how to's but listen to the readers. How many of us on Bladeforums have asked (check the shoptalk forum right now- there are two posts on this) how to wrap knife jandles the Japanese way only to get the answer, "there was an article in a 1990 issue of KI...) GEEZ! Like there are zillions of these laying around!!! Thanks to the efforts of some here they have provided the info. But, if there are popular how tos like that, print em (and re-print em if you have to)

4) How to updates- I just got an older copy (1998 I think) of KI that had an article on how to satin finish that listed the way several makers do it- it would be great do redo this article again and again once in awhile to see what other makers do and what new methods there are. This would apply to many how to articles.

5) I too call for honest reviews. I think I have read only one article in a knife mag that said to apss on a knife. Now I don't want to hear about $4.50 surgical stainless steel bowies (we know not to buy these) but there are some knives thet have been reviewed that I wonder why the heck the reviewer praises the knife so much (e.g. American Slider!!!) I don't want to read a review that is so full of wows that criticism is left out. How many people bought tantos only to find out that the tip, although useful, does not have as many applications as a dropped point or spear point! This is the kind of stuff we want to read about.

6) Fixed blades exist too. It seems to me that if you pick up any knife mag the folder content covers(or at least seemingly covers) a disproportionate amount of the entire corpus of knives.

7) HISTORY PLEASE!!! I am willing to bet many of my Canadian pesos that most who would read your magazine would love an article on how katanas are polished- the japanese way. Especially important is technical info- what stones are used, what strokes, info on sword polishers, etc.

8) Please don't make it a fashion magazine. I love to look at Randalls and so I would love to read more articles about them. I do not have $90 U.S. for the Randall book but I do habe money for knife mags so please don't focus on the latest, greatest knives but talk about all of the great knives, including Randalls, Loveless knives (the drop point hunter, the Big Bear, etc.), and the list goes on.

well, that is all I can think of for the moment. Thanks Bud for making a new magazine!!!! And thanks Jerry for donating a knife for the new subscription giveaway- that is really generous and kind of you to do, and thanks to all the forumites and knife makers (e.g. Spark, Lynn, J. Hossom, etc.) for supporting this too. With your help we'll ahll have another knife mag to read, headed by Bud Lang!!!!!

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"Come What May..."
 
Bud,

Best news I've had in awhile!! Like the others have said, send me ad space info. and subscription info. Anything I can do let me know.

Best of luck with the new magazine and I hope to see you in Denver at the PKA show.

Take Care,
Gary B

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Gary Bradburn
Bradburn Custom Cutlery
www.toptexknives.com/bradburn.htm

"You can only protect your liberties in this world by protecting the other mans freedom. You can only be free if I am"
 
Go get em Bud!!!
How about a Canadian shop tour in every issue I know there are lots of high quality Canadian makers, this will entice us little guys to bigger and better things it will also promote your new endever in Canada.
You also have to continue with the "how to"
section, maybe even getting a bit more technical.
How about a reasonable rate for small business card size advertizing for us little guys.
Highlites of new items be they machine or material.
Bud, JUST DO IT !!!!


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Robert
Flat Land Knife Works
rdblad@telusplanet.net
http://members.tripod.com/knifeworks/index.html
 
Howdy There Mr. Lang,
Sorry that I didn't get to talk to you at the Blade Show, because if I could have I would have told how much I enjoy and look forward to each issue of KI. Sorry to hear that you are leaving KI, but also glad to hear that you a starting a new mag. I can't wait to subscribe. I to have some comments to offer on the subject of the new mag.
I for one would like to see more detailed articles about custom knife making, on how to preform various steps in build a custom knife.
I would also like to see more infromation and discussion on equipment and evaluasion of this equipment for us furture custoum makers.
And to add to that topic, more shop tours with how to set up shops and what ways and equipment work best for different operation preformed.
More indepth articles on some of the less know or noted makers aroumd this country and the world, not just the "big Boys" but the smaller shops and makers that aren't really into knife making for am living ,but as a hobby or alternate source of income and enjoyment. I know that there where a few smaller makers at the show that I feel need to be noticed for there efforts and there work.
I sincerely hope that this thoughts will help you understand what we consumers are looking for in a knife mag. Thanks for your time and please up the same quality with your new project, and let us know when and where to subscribe..!


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Thomas Clegg
 
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