Interesting.
Just picked up the latest Tactical Knives and was tickled to read Chuck Karwan's make-over of his now decade old original article for Fighting Knives Magazine (which Chuck was, for whatever reason, compelled to describe as being "now-long defunct"). The article is an updated effort to present the personal customization of a KA-BAR combat-utility knife, or what Chuck enjoys noting is a "KAR-BAR"
I thought the current article was wonderful. This is how I felt when I commissioned the first article from him for Fighting Knives. And Karwan is correct when he notes having gotten many, many journalistic miles out of the original piece as published by Fighting Knives.
The magazine may have been discontinued by its publisher (after a good 7 year run with marginal support by the same publisher) but the impact the title and magazine made, based on the truly innovative, creative, no-nonsense editorial approach taken by myself and those many writers (of whom TK's Chuck Karwan and Steven Dick were long time paid contributors), is the vehicle that gave birth to and ensured an article such as Chuck's original "Kar-Bar" story could and would not only survive this many years, but still render him due honors from those that read it first in FK.
It's for this reason I had to shake my head in sadness regarding Karwan's unnecessary dig at the magazine that provided him the forum it did for this specific article - and the basis for the current make-over in TK. What, pray tell, is the point?
Parallel to both Karwan and Dick's early invitation to write for FK - of which a more than fair amount of their work appeared during its seven year life span - I noted my personal and professional appreciation for both gentlemen when in my book "Battle Blades" from Paladin Press I wrote the following caption for a picture featuring Chuck, Bob Lum, and Steve:
"Seen at the 1993 Oregon Custom Knife Show were Chuck Karwan (left), cutler Bob Lum (center), and Steven Dick (right). Where Lum is easily one of the finest combat custom cutlers working today, both Karwan and Dick are members of an elite circle of accomplished - and blooded - combat knife writers. Look to their work for honesty, battle proven expertise, and no-nonsense rcommendations." (Battle Blades, Page 143, Paladin Press, 1993).
Felt that way then and essentially still feel that way now.
So why beat up on Fighting Knives with such a snide editorial shot? From an editor's point of view it added nothing to the article and in fact detracted from it. At the very least, have the editorial courage and gumption to "Name that Name" and not leave anyone wondering ("Sporting Blades"? "Combat Knives"? What???
).
In fact both TK and Karwan/Dick have long been rankled, IMHO, at Chuck's unhappiness to lay claim to the successful introduction of the 21st Century KA-BAR Fighting Knife ("The Next Generation") despite TK's several articles from Chuck alluding to just this. Reading the original FK article on the "KAR-BAR" reveals the discussion between myself and Chuck about the long understood shortcomings of the original "kabar" design, materials, and manufacture - and that modifications such as Chuck presented in his article had long been affected by those wanting to improve, for their own purposes and needs, the knife's handling and performance.
Hence Chuck being commissioned to modify a "kabar" for FK's audience.
And hence I can understand his not wanting to share copies of the original article...as it describes collaboration and not sole authorship.
We published it and it went over very well. And Chuck got paid for it.
TK's post-FK editorial slant became so skewed re: the NG project it prompted me to author "KA-BAR - The Next Generation of the Ultimate Fighting Knife" published by Paladin Press in 2001. The book details with supporting documentation and proper attribution the origin point and development of the 21st Century KA-BAR, specifically acknowledging for the first the direct involvment and sponsorship of Mr. Robert Reinschreiber, the project manager, who I name as the "...father of the Next Generation Fighting Knife from KA-BAR Knives."
Unlike Mr. Karwan and TK's editorial "oversights" in their treatment of this subject - to include FK's original story from Chuck on the "KAR-BAR" - I ensured Chuck being appropriately mentioned in "KA-BAR" (Page 17, NOTES" and Page 51).
The latter quotes Chuck's review of the Next Generation in an issue of TK stating "Clearly the designers of this knife had their heads screwed on right...The Next Generation is easily one of the best military combat knives on the market today...")
However Chuck and TK were absent when noting who the design team at KA-BAR was...an editorial oversight corrected when "KA-BAR" was released by Paladin Press.
And as Bob Reinschreiber shared with me both before and after "KA-BAR" was released - the book accurately identifies who truly was involved in this project and why. He also noted never being interviewed for any of TK's articles on the NG KA-BAR...which I found very interesting.
Karwan's most recent "how to" regarding the KA-BAR is a great piece of work.
As such, IMO, he did not need to detract from it by not giving fair and appropriate credit to the original title that presented his first story and for which he has, by his own admission, enjoyed a long term benefit in terms of accolade and appreciation.
(Or just leave mention out entirely or simply say "Ten years ago I authored a story on how I customize my "kabars" and it went over so well I have updated it here for TK."
)
Or perhaps TK's editor slipped that one in sans Chuck's knowledge...
In the end it wasn't necessary - and added nothing to the otherwise strong piece.
Since the first run of NG KA-BAR fighting knives was released I've enjoyed watching the product evolve and broaden under the careful parental eye of KA-BAR. However, evolution of the KA-BAR and its variants is a historical journey taken by many, many individuals dating back to the knife's introduction during WW2 and continuing today.
As I note in "KA-BAR" - Vietnam-era warriors such as Al Mar, Mike Walsh, and Barry Enoch have long modified and commented on the "kabar"...custom knifemaker Tom Hetmanski (also covered in FK) has long made customized KA-BAR versions...Bob Reinschreiber made the Next Generation happen along with the expert insight and help from folks like Tim Wegner at Blade-Tech, Carey Litteer, Engineering Manager for KA-BAR, Special Forces colonel and H&K Offensive Handgun Project consultant Gus Taylor (ret.), and a select group of equally excellent team members and teammates who have extensive experience with the "kabar" design and a love for it that sees its popularity and improvements / modifications / enhancements continue to blossom on many fronts.
For example, that Dozier KDBI looks doggone hot
So come on Chuck/Steve - let it go. FK was good for both of you and your work was good for it.
As a title it may be "now-long defunct" but your work as appeared between its covers clearly lives on You can't have it both ways. Either acknowledge it properly or let it fall by the wayside and move on.
Greg Walker, author/editor
Just picked up the latest Tactical Knives and was tickled to read Chuck Karwan's make-over of his now decade old original article for Fighting Knives Magazine (which Chuck was, for whatever reason, compelled to describe as being "now-long defunct"). The article is an updated effort to present the personal customization of a KA-BAR combat-utility knife, or what Chuck enjoys noting is a "KAR-BAR"
I thought the current article was wonderful. This is how I felt when I commissioned the first article from him for Fighting Knives. And Karwan is correct when he notes having gotten many, many journalistic miles out of the original piece as published by Fighting Knives.
The magazine may have been discontinued by its publisher (after a good 7 year run with marginal support by the same publisher) but the impact the title and magazine made, based on the truly innovative, creative, no-nonsense editorial approach taken by myself and those many writers (of whom TK's Chuck Karwan and Steven Dick were long time paid contributors), is the vehicle that gave birth to and ensured an article such as Chuck's original "Kar-Bar" story could and would not only survive this many years, but still render him due honors from those that read it first in FK.
It's for this reason I had to shake my head in sadness regarding Karwan's unnecessary dig at the magazine that provided him the forum it did for this specific article - and the basis for the current make-over in TK. What, pray tell, is the point?
Parallel to both Karwan and Dick's early invitation to write for FK - of which a more than fair amount of their work appeared during its seven year life span - I noted my personal and professional appreciation for both gentlemen when in my book "Battle Blades" from Paladin Press I wrote the following caption for a picture featuring Chuck, Bob Lum, and Steve:
"Seen at the 1993 Oregon Custom Knife Show were Chuck Karwan (left), cutler Bob Lum (center), and Steven Dick (right). Where Lum is easily one of the finest combat custom cutlers working today, both Karwan and Dick are members of an elite circle of accomplished - and blooded - combat knife writers. Look to their work for honesty, battle proven expertise, and no-nonsense rcommendations." (Battle Blades, Page 143, Paladin Press, 1993).
Felt that way then and essentially still feel that way now.
So why beat up on Fighting Knives with such a snide editorial shot? From an editor's point of view it added nothing to the article and in fact detracted from it. At the very least, have the editorial courage and gumption to "Name that Name" and not leave anyone wondering ("Sporting Blades"? "Combat Knives"? What???
).In fact both TK and Karwan/Dick have long been rankled, IMHO, at Chuck's unhappiness to lay claim to the successful introduction of the 21st Century KA-BAR Fighting Knife ("The Next Generation") despite TK's several articles from Chuck alluding to just this. Reading the original FK article on the "KAR-BAR" reveals the discussion between myself and Chuck about the long understood shortcomings of the original "kabar" design, materials, and manufacture - and that modifications such as Chuck presented in his article had long been affected by those wanting to improve, for their own purposes and needs, the knife's handling and performance.
Hence Chuck being commissioned to modify a "kabar" for FK's audience.
And hence I can understand his not wanting to share copies of the original article...as it describes collaboration and not sole authorship.
We published it and it went over very well. And Chuck got paid for it.
TK's post-FK editorial slant became so skewed re: the NG project it prompted me to author "KA-BAR - The Next Generation of the Ultimate Fighting Knife" published by Paladin Press in 2001. The book details with supporting documentation and proper attribution the origin point and development of the 21st Century KA-BAR, specifically acknowledging for the first the direct involvment and sponsorship of Mr. Robert Reinschreiber, the project manager, who I name as the "...father of the Next Generation Fighting Knife from KA-BAR Knives."
Unlike Mr. Karwan and TK's editorial "oversights" in their treatment of this subject - to include FK's original story from Chuck on the "KAR-BAR" - I ensured Chuck being appropriately mentioned in "KA-BAR" (Page 17, NOTES" and Page 51).
The latter quotes Chuck's review of the Next Generation in an issue of TK stating "Clearly the designers of this knife had their heads screwed on right...The Next Generation is easily one of the best military combat knives on the market today...")
However Chuck and TK were absent when noting who the design team at KA-BAR was...an editorial oversight corrected when "KA-BAR" was released by Paladin Press.
And as Bob Reinschreiber shared with me both before and after "KA-BAR" was released - the book accurately identifies who truly was involved in this project and why. He also noted never being interviewed for any of TK's articles on the NG KA-BAR...which I found very interesting.
Karwan's most recent "how to" regarding the KA-BAR is a great piece of work.
As such, IMO, he did not need to detract from it by not giving fair and appropriate credit to the original title that presented his first story and for which he has, by his own admission, enjoyed a long term benefit in terms of accolade and appreciation.
(Or just leave mention out entirely or simply say "Ten years ago I authored a story on how I customize my "kabars" and it went over so well I have updated it here for TK."
)Or perhaps TK's editor slipped that one in sans Chuck's knowledge...
In the end it wasn't necessary - and added nothing to the otherwise strong piece.
Since the first run of NG KA-BAR fighting knives was released I've enjoyed watching the product evolve and broaden under the careful parental eye of KA-BAR. However, evolution of the KA-BAR and its variants is a historical journey taken by many, many individuals dating back to the knife's introduction during WW2 and continuing today.
As I note in "KA-BAR" - Vietnam-era warriors such as Al Mar, Mike Walsh, and Barry Enoch have long modified and commented on the "kabar"...custom knifemaker Tom Hetmanski (also covered in FK) has long made customized KA-BAR versions...Bob Reinschreiber made the Next Generation happen along with the expert insight and help from folks like Tim Wegner at Blade-Tech, Carey Litteer, Engineering Manager for KA-BAR, Special Forces colonel and H&K Offensive Handgun Project consultant Gus Taylor (ret.), and a select group of equally excellent team members and teammates who have extensive experience with the "kabar" design and a love for it that sees its popularity and improvements / modifications / enhancements continue to blossom on many fronts.
For example, that Dozier KDBI looks doggone hot
So come on Chuck/Steve - let it go. FK was good for both of you and your work was good for it.
As a title it may be "now-long defunct" but your work as appeared between its covers clearly lives on
You can't have it both ways. Either acknowledge it properly or let it fall by the wayside and move on.Greg Walker, author/editor
