Just suppose you found Aladdin's Lamp and had just one wish and that wish was "You could have any knife you wanted, no matter the cost". What would it be?

It's not often that I'm at a loss for words. 

I've been thinking about this years Anniversary Blog for some time now,  What will I add this year, what theme will we go after,…

   I think it is our Members and of course the Knives.

   What do you think, it is?

These are some pics of a 2 ton granite ball that rotates on top of it's base for some unknown reason in a cemetary in Sullivan, IL. It broke free from it's base a couple of years after it was erected, and very slowly revolves- The name Johnson was originally straight across the ball- In the 1940's they used a crane and recemented it in its original position. After about 2 years. it broke free again and started rotating again- If you notice the chip in one of the photos. that it where it…

A long while back an ex-member said "there is just so much you can say about knives" and that we would run out of things to talk about. I personally don't think so. I could talk knives all day long and the night too. There is so many aspects of knife collecting and using that we may be talking for years to come.

  One question I'd like to pose to ya'll is "what is your favorite knife topic"? Steels, handle materials, history etc.

   My favorite topic is Hammer Forging knife…

As I write this blog I am thinking about my brother and sister collectors on the iKnifeCollector forum as well as the passion of collecting in general.  These deep thoughts are prompted by roughly six to nine months of trying to find a really decent American made woodworker's vise that I could afford and realizing they are extremely difficult to find because there are people out there who have a garage or barn full of American made vise's that they do not use – they…

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) Doesn't Want Them

Remington, one of the world’s largest gun manufacturers, will join Gov. Robert Bentley (R-AL) to announce they are bringing over 2,000 jobs to Alabama.

Most of the jobs will be relocated from their Ilion, NY plant, and the initial investment in Alabama will be $87 million.

Founded in 1816 in upstate New York, the company is one of the…

My father was laid to rest yesterday as most of you know-I just wanted to share a couple of photos of my father- THE MAN- My favorite photo of dad-Worn out from a hard days labor on the farm- Faded shirt-Faded jeans-Faded couch- BUT NEVER, EVER, faded hopes and dreams of making a better life for his family- You can rest now-DAD !!

And one of mom and dad from a…

Ever since I won that Canal Street on the last Chat, I have gained interest in that area of NY where it was made. I understand that a merger of several Cutleries was bought by Taylor and then outsourced to China. Then in 2004 Canal Street Cutlery began. That…

Allright. The losers have been weeded out. Time for the heavy hitter to take each other on in a massive 3 way. I bring you Battle of the blades!

For a 4 inch blade (cutting edge)

Vote Here: http://poll.pollcode.com/12217687

The contestants:

The clippoint

The Spearpoint…

 http://hhhcustomknives.com/product/auction-march-2014/…

VOTE HERE: http://poll.pollcode.com/51843249

Last of the pre-rounds in Battle of the bladeshapes the one of the immensely populair.

Wharncliffe. I'm no stranger to this bladeshape. I quite enjoy making them. They have a LOT a functionality in that pointy bladeshape.

Here's a couple of versions I've done of this bladeshape.…

An open letter to my IKC friends and family-

You have no idea how much your condolences and prayers meant to me after the loss of my dear Father- Your kindness and support is helping me cope with this difficult and traumatic time, in ways you cannot imagine- To the uninformed, this is just another knife forum- But in truth, this place is so much more than that, the other sites pale in comparison.This is a place, first and foremost, of good caring people who I feel honored to call my…

My beloved father Robert passed this morning ,one day after he and my mom celebrated their 69th Anniversary. He was a farmer,  a lover of God and family, and the hardest working man I have ever had the honor to know- As this is a knife site, these are 2 of my father's well used EDC's that I have treasured for years, but as of today are beyond all value. Both will be in my pocket at his funeral next Monday- A 1945-55 Hammer Brand and a Colonial Barlow which has the  faint image "Bojac Seed…

And thus we come to Round # 2

You can vote here: http://poll.pollcode.com/85437337

Contestant #1

The modified Sheepsfoot, made famous by the Böker Rhino and the Benchmade Bone collector among others:…

Some more shots from the visit…

The knife nut's Valhalla!  This is simply a place you have to visit to believe.  The sign is correct.

I don't think I could have ever imagined seeing this much stock, old and new as exist in this place.  Old, new, historical, it's all there.  The staff is friendly and helpful and the checkout system is very efficient and effective.  The number of interesting displays…

Allright people. In trying to decide which bladeshape I'll be creating we're have a Battle of the bladeshapes.

Vote here: http://poll.pollcode.com/14658787

Today's contestants

The bullnose (as in the Bullnose Skinner as demonstrated here in this knife by John McCain)…

Just wanted to communicate my experience with SMKW. It was my first time to visit and it was great. I spent nearly four hours in the store. I did not realize they had vintage knives for sale in addition to the new ones. I bought a Case trapper from 1984 that had the new grind blades on it. This is the first one of these I have seen , although I had read about this time period. I also bought an Opinel and a large and medium Case John Deere stockman. I had a peanut in my orders at the…