Magazine Articles by Les Robertson

APR

2022

What Defines the Best Custom Utility Hunting Knife? Part 1

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If you are a knife maker wanting to enter a utility hunter for judging at the 2022 Blade Show, you should read this first… Very popular in his home country of Slovakia, Jan Hafinec outfits his custom utility hunter (shown above) with a 5-inch blade of forged C105 carbon steel sporting a flashy double Hamon. The handle is made of...

OCT

2020

Collecting Custom Hunting Knives

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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In the recent 3-part article in Blade Magazine, HOW TO COLLECT CUSTOM HUNTERS, Les discusses 1. Sept. issue) Collectible Users 2. Oct. issue) Investment Users 3. Nov. issue) Collectible Influencers. Often, the first custom knife someone buys is a hunting model. Perhaps a skinner, semi-skinner, caper, bird & trout, or even a filet knife....

AUG

2020

Blade Magazine Custom Hunters Part 1

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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“How to Collect Custom Hunters” With the Blade Show cancelled for this year, and hunting season upon us, check out Les’ 3-part article on collecting hunting knives in the current issue (Sept) of Blade Magazine. Les begins discussing collectible users on page 30. A knife that is a collectible user may sound odd at first....

MAR

2020

FORGED SUB-HILTS FLOURISH- MARCH BLADE MAG.

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

Tags : BLADE Magazine, Custom Knives, Forged Knives, Jim Siska, Schuyler Lovestrand, Sub-Hilt Fighter, Tim Hancock

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Don’t miss the latest Blade Magazine article March 2020, “FORGED SUB-HILTS FLOURISH” by Les Robertson The article, starting on page 12 through page 18, discusses the pros and cons of building one of the most challenging fixed blades; the SUB-HILT-FIGHTER. Some featured world-class knife makers in the article: Bob Loveless,...

SEP

2019

USER DRIVEN DESIGN – Custom Hunters

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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My article, User Driven Design on hunting knives is in the October 2019 issue of Blade Magazine pages 50-53. There is an overview of different types of knives used by hunters. Specifically, the designs and how they are used. I even discuss the dimensions, steels, guard, and handle material of the styles and purpose of these blades. Basic...

MAY

2019

“Collecting the Art of Steel” Blade Magazine

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Don’t miss Les’ latest article, “Collecting: The Art of the Steel,” published on pages 82-87 in the current June issue of Blade Magazine. Today’s hottest forged knives are boasting flashy San-Mai and Damascus blades. More so than any time over the last 30 years, Damascus and San Mai blades are no longer the...

FEB

2019

Handmade Knives’ Cyclical Nature

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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KNIVES 2019 Be sure to pick up a copy of Knives 2019. In addition to all the incredible photos, you can read my article, “The Cyclical Nature of Handmade Knives.” Starting on page 8, I discuss my take on the custom knife market from 1984 to now. Oh, the photo is ABS Master Smith Steve Randall’s First Sub-Hilt Fighter!

JAN

2019

4 Paths to Collector Glory Blade Mag. 1/2019

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Please check out Les’ article on “4 Paths to the Collector Glory” in the Jan. issue of Blade Magazine pages 22-25.

JAN

2014

Z OPENERS

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Will Zermeno’s Saigo! BLADE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2013 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor Click here to read article

NOV

2013

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A FORGED KNIFE

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Part 1 Proportion and Balance, Handle Styles, Blade Traits and more. BLADE MAGAZINE • SEPT 2013 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor Click here to read article Conclusion Standards of Quality, Delivery Times and Deposits, Bladesmith Business Practices and more. BLADE MAGAZINE • OCT 2013 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor...

NOV

2013

Call in a Guinea Hog, Soo-ey!

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Scott McGhee’s Bushman, a Combination Forged Blade with a Tactical Look. BLADE MAGAZINE • MAY 2013 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor Click here to read article

NOV

2013

Subtle Simplicity

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Daniel Winkler and Karen Shook Team Up to Create a Unique Knife Style KNIVES ILLUSTRATED • JULY 2011 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor Click here to view article

NOV

2013

They’ve got the “Look”

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Paul Letourneau’s Tactical Knives Feature Form, Fit and Function KNIVES ILLUSTRATED • JULY 2011 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor Click here to read article

OCT

2013

Keys To Making Knives Full Time

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Building Outstanding Knives is Crucial, but there is a lot more to it. David Broadwell, Jerry Fisk, Don Hanson, Shawn McIntyre and Daniel Winkler BLADE MAGAZINE • APRIL 2011 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor Click here to read article

AUG

2011

Exceptional Handles, Exceptional Knives

Posted By : Kathy Robertson

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Jason Knight’s Knives Are Built Tough and Are Built to be Used KNIVES ILLUSTRATED • AUGUST 2011 • By Les Robertson, Custom Knife Field Editor Click here to read article

What Defines the Best Custom Utility Hunting Knife? Part 1

Collecting Custom Hunting Knives

Blade Magazine Custom Hunters Part 1

FORGED SUB-HILTS FLOURISH- MARCH BLADE MAG.

USER DRIVEN DESIGN – Custom Hunters

“Collecting the Art of Steel” Blade Magazine

Handmade Knives’ Cyclical Nature

4 Paths to Collector Glory Blade Mag. 1/2019

Z OPENERS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A FORGED KNIFE

Call in a Guinea Hog, Soo-ey!

Subtle Simplicity

They’ve got the “Look”

Keys To Making Knives Full Time

Exceptional Handles, Exceptional Knives

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