Need your expert help! Choppers!

[knif3buy3r]

You know, ya gotta see it in action, quite cool -

 

[Maniacal Pete]

You know, ya gotta see it in action, quite cool -

I believe that. Plus, everyone enjoys their hobbies in their own ways.

pete

 

[Jose Diaz]

Sorry it took so long to post, but here it goes...

Hello everyone,

As the executive director of BladeSports, I'll try to answer these questions.

Wow, all GREAT answers, thank-you much! Wouldn't it be cool to see some infi in these "BladeSports" competitions?

Best,

Knif3buy3r

--

We as an organization would love to have any company, especially Busse Knives participate in BladeSports competitions. I believe that their expertise in making real world choppers would be invaluable, and information gained by their participation would benefit the industry and the sport.

The fusion handles are too long. The overall length will disqualify it.

If you had a version without the choil, and nubbed the exposed tang would probably fit the bill.

But the problem will be getting a production knife approved.

#14 Production Knives

* A knife will be considered a “production knife” if more than 20 of the same design are manufactured commercially by a BladeSports International, Inc. sponsor in a 1-year period.
* Two (2) finished models and one (1) heat-treated blade blank must be sent to a designated BladeSports International, Inc. official for testing prior to approval.
* Production knives must conform to all current BladeSports International, Inc. knife specifications.
* Each approved production knife will have a certificate designating it as a tested and approved model.


Sounds like in order to use a production knife it has to be approved, a sponsor, and they have to have two sharpened versions and a heat treated blank for testing before the event.

The rule about sponsorship is 2 fold. First sponsorship allows a company to sponsor a cutter, who can test and provide feedback to the company about what makes a good competition knife. Keep in mind a competition knife might not work in other situations. Kinda like a Formula One race car would not make a good commuter. This feedback is a collaboration process, and helps the company successfully create a product that would strong, safe, and effective in competition.

Secondly, Sponsorship allows a company to become aware of rules regulations, and criteria for competition knives. It gives them access to the knowledge that BladeSports has accumulated. It also allows the company to influence the sport. The process of approving a production knife for competition is very thorough, and does include some potential destructive testing. This information is relayed to the company and allows them to make changes to the product before releasing it to the market. The process of creating a production competition knife then becomes a cooperative effort, pointing to success of a product.

I followed the link to the rules. If I'm reading them correctly one of kind knives are what are encouraged? Somebody care to enlighten me?

There are no restrictions as to the type or style of knife. There are some measurement restrictions, but the cutting tasks in a competition do not lend themselves to knifes that are not "chopper" style knives.

If I remember correctly, the original rules were that the blade had to be custom made by you or some one else.

Might have even been hand forged if I remember right.

Seems kind of crappy to have a rule that only allows a production knife to be used if that company sponsors the event/orginization, and you have to provide them with three pieces to examine (two full done sharp versions, and one heat treated blank, ahead of time to destroy or test or something).

Pretty much excludes any one who just wants to show up with a well made production piece and bang away.

To participate in a cutting competition, the competitor must have had safety training by a BladeSports certified trainer. The knife that the competitor uses must be a tested knife that fall into the specifications (15"x10"x2"), be custom made by a member of BladeSports or be an approved production knife. Right now there are two knives that are approved. The Benchmade 171, and the Browning Crowell/Barker Competition Knife.

These rules are an attempt to make a dangerous sport just a little safer.

Respectfully,
Jose Diaz
washclimber@yahoo.com