iBlade: A new cutting-edge iPod

iKnifePhone

You may remember a few months back, I designed the iKnifePhone. It was a refitted iPhone with a toenail/sunfish honker master blade- talk about a killer App- well, evidently that invention is outdated now, as far as hi-tech knives go.

Rumor is Apple is rolling out the new iBlade very soon and will make it available at its Apple stores nationwide.

The iBlade will be the newest generation iPod, and a cutting-edge one at that!

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In a related note, there is an unconfirmed report iKnifeCollector, the next generation knife collector community, has a leg-up in vying against Amazon and the iTunes store to be the exclusive online distributor of the iBlade (kind of like the relationship AT&T has with the iPhone). So, to get one you’ll need to sign up at iKC, otherwise, you’ll have wait in record breaking lines. My guess is sales of the iBlade for the first weekend will exceed the million unit sales of the new 3rd Gen 3Gs iPhone in its early days, so why fight the crowds?

Photo credit: iBlade- to whoever made it.

You can tell I’m just having some knife collecting fun today

For the knife fan with all the toys

Earlier this week, we reported Victorinox diversifying its product line by offering non-knife items, like perfume, watches and other personal items.

For the knife fan with all the toys

Now they are really stepping out with a joint venture with Airstream- maker of high-end recreational travel trailers. The two are now offering the ultimate knife guy’s toy- great for hitting the show circuit in.

This special edition Airstream commemorates Victorinox’s 125 anniversary. It comes loaded- the Airstream way and is only a cool $59,000. I’m sure they are only offering this as a limited edition so better hurry to reserve yours today.

Now there is no excuse for not taking the whole family on the road with you.

Just think, you will have it paid by saving on the hotel rooms for the shows- 789 nights stay at $75 per night room charge and you will have paid for this puppy. Sounds like a deal to me. This assumes you can park it somewhere for free and doesn’t include the extra gas you’d burn pulling it.

OK, so most of us won’t live long enough to stay that many nights at shows, but my gracious, we can’t cost justify most of our knife purchases either and we bought them anyway .

Thanks to KC’s Tech blog for making us aware of this opportunity.

The Next Generation Knife Collector Community

I want to join a knife community. I’ve looked at a bunch. Searched the web- deep and wide- and it ain’t there. Not like what I’m looking for.

What I am looking for is a combination- 24/7 Knife Show, YouTube, Flickr, MySpace, FaceBook, Yahoo Group, Cutlery News Journal and knife forum- all rolled into one, all exclusively for knife collectors.

There’s a thin line between a knife and a razor

I have always been a gadget nut. Most often it is electronic gadgets, but gadgets, nonetheless. The other day while researching for an upcoming post on tool knives, I ran across a hybrid knife.

This knife is a Blue Point large lock-back knife and is made by Snap On. Really the more I looked at it the more it struck me as a Transformer.

One of the bragging rights of this knife is you never need to sharpen it. Knives experience blade loss over time. Eventually sharpening causing the owner to throw the knife in the trash because the blade(s) is worn to a nub.

The Blue Point lock-back, on the other hand, features doubled-ended blades. You simply turn the blade around use the backside of the same blade. Then once you have thoroughly used that blade, a new one is swapped in.

Granted I see limited uses for this so-called knife, mostly cutting- but no stabbing. No prying. No hacking. But I bet this baby will cut, like nobody’s business.

Think you are buying a knife soon, well think again. You may have already bought it.

Many people not familiar with the sales process think the purchase is made at the cash register, or when clicking a button on the keyboard. Retailers know the purchase is made before then. And this fact is known among the Knife Industry too, and for a long time.

 

“Millions of dollars’ worth of cutlery is purchased everyday by people on the sidewalks looking in at window displays. Although the actual transaction takes place in the store, the decision to buy is made standing on the street.”                                                  The Cutlery Journal, December 1931

While most of us no longer walk down Main Street, we may, however, drive through town while on our way to check out knives at the Bass Pro Shop or WalMart .

So, is the decision to buy made at the point we are walking up and down the isles looking over their knives?

In some cases, yes, but most of the time we made the decision even before that point. Knife companies know we decide to buy very early in the sales process, and sometimes at the point we first see a knife. Because of this, they place ads and messages everywhere we are sure to see them. We know about ads in magazines and on websites, but what about the ones on the drive over to the store?

Here’s one of my all time favorites. And while it isn’t for a knife we carry or collector, it is one we regularly use.

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Henckels, the knife company advertising along the roadway, was born on June 13, 1731, when Peter Henckels registered the Gemini twin (Zwilling) with the Cutlers’s Guild in Solingen. 278 years later the knife manufacturer from Germany is a global player.

Editors note: This photo was not altered by CNJ. We have contacted the US division of Henckels to verify the billboard’s legitimacy and are waiting for a response from their corporate headquarters in Germany, however, based on our research to date, we believe it to be authentic.

 

2009 Shot Show News Update

CNJ’s roving reporters were out on field assignments this past weekend, so we weren’t able to cover the 2009 Shot Show in Orlando. The official daily news summaries provided by their news reporters and are loaded on their site.

Looks like some good knife stuff got introduced. I know Case was rolling out their 09 product line there too. 

I was able to find out Case officially introduced a new TrapperLock, as reported in ShotDaily.

 

“The new Case TrapperLock offers a more modern liner-locking clip blade that opens with just one hand. It is offered with a stainless-steel saber blade, concave ground and fitted with a specially engraved torque screw for smooth one-handed opening. Other features include nickel-silver end bolsters and a Case oval shield on the handle. The new Case TrapperLock measures 41/8 inches when closed and weighs 3.4 ounces.” 

Manly men own knives

Doesn’t every man want to be a “manly” man?

Well, we were pushed to become sensitive men there for about 10 years or so.

 

Now being a manly man is popular again. Thank goodness, because Terms of Endearment just flat tore me up.

Yesterday, I ran on a list that peaked my curiosity. It is  The Art of Manliness Holiday Gift Guide published on Art of Manliness.com.

I was very pleased to see pocketknives made the list!

The publishers of the site didn’t want to re-create the typical men’s holiday guide with tech toys and video games; instead, the list is “full of manly- quality items that will last a lifetime.”

The site goes further to say, “Every man should carry a pocketknife. If your loved one has not been initiated into this manly tradition, it’s time to help him along by giving him a quality knife.” Don’t you just love that! 

Check it out and forward it to your loved one who is probably still trying to decide what to get you for Christmas. I already bought my knife for me from my family. They would have never been able to find it, so I just helped make life easier by buying it for me for them. It’s a Case Brothers 5250. Now, that knife is pure testosterone, wouldn’t you say?

Introduction to Great Eastern Cutlery’s Knife Patterns

 

GEC Cuban Cigar Stockman

While at Parker’s Knife Show this past weekend, I had a chance to chat with Ryan Daniels, Sales Manager of Great Eastern Cutlery of Titusville, Pa. They produce high quality knives from vintage patterns and he takes a minute to share a few of their knives with us. 

Great Eastern specializes in collectible and premium pocket, hunting and kitchen knives. Their brands include Tidioute Cutlery, Northfield Un-X-LD and Great Eastern Cutlery.

Ryan invited us to come up and tour their factory in Titusville. When you are up in their area, give him a call and see their knives made first-hand.

Talk about a High Tech Knife

CNJ is on the forefront of bringing you cutlery news, even when it is a bit out of the “collecting” realm. I would be remiss if, with CNJ being a purely electronic news source, I didn’t inform you about some of the technological concept advancements in knives.

Today’s feature is the epitome of a High-tech knife (by definition High tech- “technology that is at the cutting edge…”). 

No, I’m not talking about a super-duper steel, or some outer space multi-colored handle material, or any of the typical topics when you think of high-tech knives.

Instead, I am talking about a knife that actually measures the temperature of what you are cutting. Sounds pretty futuristic doesn’t it, like something used on the Jettsons, or Battlestar Galactica.

This high tech wonder is cutlery in the strictest sense of the word and is actually part of a three piece set with the fork and spoon (they also preform some cool feats themselves). It is called Intelligent Cutlery- IC3.

Here is their pitch and photos-

The pen is mightier than the sword?

When was the last time you came up on a bear out in the woods and didn’t have a gun or knife, but there in your shirt pocket was an ink pen?  

One of my Google Alerts

Well, the other night I was logging off when one of my Google Alerts came dinging into my Mac’s email.

One of the links said: “Is it a knife? It it a pen? No, it is both!“

My curiosity got the best of me and I followed its trail. It took me to Gun and Game. It is a gun forum and one of its posts was about this pen/knife weapon. 

Then I followed it further to the maker of this fine writing instrument. The maker is Benchmade. The pen is the 1100 Series Pen:  Right there in black and white it says: “These Pens are definitely mightier than the sword.”

Here are its selling points:

• Ergonomic Knurling Pattern Provides Superior Grip and Comfortable Texturing 
• All Surfaces Have Been Anodized for Both Appearance and Wear 
• CNC Machined 6061 T-6 Aluminum or Stainless Steel Body, Cap, and Grip 
• Non-Reflective Components for Tactical Applications  
• Ink Cartridges Manufactured by Fisher Pen Company 
• Generation II BP-1 Coated Stainless Pen Clip 

Benchmade 1100 Series Pen

 They really are positioning this pen as a weapon. I must admit it is pretty cool, plus it comes in different colors. Prices range from $120 to $180.

I would show them to you but Benchmark prohibits the use of the pictures from its site. So here it is from one of their dealers- One Stop Knife Store. You can order one or more directly from them.

If you want you can give me one for Christmas. I might need one next time I am writing in my knife journal (don’t ask…) and someone interrupts me.