The Bladeology Podcast

This week we talk to one of the original modern commercially available Damascus forgers, Mike Norris! We discuss technique and styles along with being one of the great stainless steel forgers of the current era. Norris is known internationally for his outstanding twist style patterns like Fire Clone and Hornets Nest.

This week we speak to Michael Vagnino about his early forging work and transition into folders and automatics with the help of D.B Fraley and Larry Chew. Vagnino also tells us about his recent team up with Patrick Mah of Prometheus Design Werx to form Terrain 365 and utilize cast Cobalt blades and Patrick's famous Invictus Design along with Michael's premiere P38 knife.

This Episode we go over the second half of the interview with Nate Clark of Nate Clark Knives. The new century has begun and Nate is venturing forward grinding a fury into the future!

This week we talk with Brian Biegler of Biegler Bladeworks about his early beginnings in knife making and its ties to his practicing of traditional Filipino martial arts. Brian manages a full time gym in the same facility as his knife shop that also houses a part time muscle car garage.

This week we talk with Nate Clark of Nate Clark Knives about his early beginnings in Oregon working with the Rainy Vallotton in the shop and learning the basics of switchblades and growing into machining along with hours of hand sanding and and attending the Oregon Custom Knife Show

This week we speak to Walter Halucha of Latama Cutlery about the rebirth of his brand and his history reading and eventually taking over the "Automatic Knife Resource Guide and Newsletter" better known in the automatic knife circles as just the "Newsletter" along with Walters direct and personal connection with legendary Italian knife making families including the Beltrames.

This week we talk with Craig Camerer, Forged in Fire "Warhammer" champion and avid maker. Craig hosts "Hammer Ins" at his house as often as he can and also builds full custom Balisongs and in the last couple of years came out with the Continuum Mid-Tech Balisong series. We hear about future projects and Craig tells us about the ABS.

This week we speak with Les Adams of Cape Coral Florida about his sole authorship carbon fiber knives. Les makes a flipper and an "Always On Safety" push button automatic designed for use in the bomb squad. Les shares the development of these models through his time in the Miami-Dade county law enforcement program during the hay day of drug running and Vice squad.

This week we speak to Paul Panak of Burn Knives, a long time switchblade maker who tells us of his early days customizing Italian Stilettos and selling them on BladeAuction.com and then eventually fabricating them from scratch and developing his OTF mechanism. Paul is now a full time maker still doing Stilettos in the classic way along side making his Custom OTF's.

This week we pick up where we left off in Episode 36 Part 1. This is Part 2 with Rainy Vallotton going over some more details and history of the Vallottons and the way to convert knives and the Mechanisms that make the world spring to action.

This week we talk with the outstanding Rainy Vallotton of Rainy Vallotton Custom Knives. Rainy is the son of the late Butch Vallotton, we talk about growing up immersed in switchblades and dual actions. Rainy has been to 30 Blade Shows over the years with his dad and has the stories to prove it! Stay tuned for part 2.

This week we talk with Jason L Williams fifty percent of the team that came up with the now famous Axis lock along with William J McHenry. Jason regales us with stories from A time ago in Rhode Island meeting and joining forces with William "Bill" and working on many a project together and eventually hitting the show circuit.

This week the gang catches up on some day to day updates with a few announcements of things to come, we also go over the 2020 show schedule while discussing the merits of the guitar solos on the legendary Led Zeppelin 4 VS those found in The Who's Quadrophenia

This week the gang sits down with the venerable knife collector Cliff Wilson or Cliff Talon as he is more well known, Cliff tells us about collecting knives for the past 35 plus years and his times on base buying from Walter Brend. Cliffs tastes are varied and his collection deep! (Yes there were some server issues that effected the recording) Cliff will most likely be a somewhat regular guest in...

This week we check in with Grant and Gavin Hawk over at Hawk Knives about some mechanical additions to the shop, OTF manufacturing during a pandemic and some news about future finishes on the next batch of Deadlocks. G&G are nearing the end of this batch and looking to the future!

This week the gang sits down with venerable knife designer Justin Lundquist to talk about his early years in photography and product development that helped him on his way to make and eventually design Knives full time!

This week we talk to the California samurai himself Dave Brown from Vasana Bladeworks, Dave has taken the community by storm in the last few years with his merging of tactical style with ancient weaponry. Dave hollow grinds full size Katana in his workshop and we delve deep into this and many other of his mindsets.

This week we sit down with Larrin Thomas of Knife Steel Nerds and talk about his training as a Metallurgist and his intense passion for all things steel! Larrin has steel in his blood in more ways than one as his father is famous Damascus Maker Devin Thomas.

This week the gang talks with Fernando Medina of Medina Custom Knives. We go over the makers early history and current work along with his connection to full handmade using no CNC and stylistic choices in grinding.

This week the gang sits down with ABS Master Smith J.D. Smith to go over his lifetime in the knife industry and connections with the New England switchblade movement. J.D. is a master of many things as we find out in this episode! Thanks to special guest host this week, Chuck Gedraitis!

This we talk to New England knife maker Richard S Wright about his very early days in Rhode Island teaching himself how to make knives along side Wlliam "Bill" McHenry and the development of the New England Switchblade Movement.

This is the second part of Episode 24, we go over many things paramount of which is the development of the now famous HAWK knife collaboration with the industries most awesome juggernaut brand Microtech. We also dip into some design theory and go over in Reese style many other great stories.

This week the gang sits down with custom knife maker Matthew Christensen of Christensen Knifeworks. Matt tells us about his current work and the early days of his introduction to knives and the 2020 show schedule.

This week the gang goes over Switchblade history with the one and only Reese Weiland, infamous creator of the modern button lock used on 90% of side opening automatics in the industry and designer of the Microtech HAWK. Sit back and get cozy, this is only Part 1.

This week the gang sits down with Jason Luhmer of Luma Blades and goes over his current work and scans his past for the roots of his entrance into the world of knives and his teachings and friendship with famed knife maker Sal Manaro.