First published in 1973 under the title American Blade by Southern House Publishing Co. with Blackie Collins as the editor. The headquarters was in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The magazine's title was changed to Blade in 1982 after its purchase by Jim Parker and Bruce Voyles. In the 1980s, the magazine served as the launching point for an annual convention for knife collectors, the Blade Show; established a Cutlery Hall of Fame; and spun off a trade magazine, Blade Trade. In 1994, Voyles, then the sole owner, sold the publication and its properties to Krause Publications,[2] which increased its frequency to monthly. F+W Publications Inc. purchased Krause Publications and Blade in 2002[3] and published it under its brand beginning in October 2004. In 2018, Gun Digest Media LLC acquired Blade, Blade Show and all related properties.
Coverage in the magazine ranges across the knife hobby, including military knives, kitchen cutlery, and manufacturing and legislation issues. The magazine publishes several identification columns and values for collectible knives.[4]
Blade sponsors two annual knife shows every year. The Blade Show, held in Atlanta, Georgia every Spring and the Usual Suspect Gathering held in Las Vegas, Nevada in September.[5][6]
Cutlery Hall of Fame
Every year, Blade enters a new person into the "Cutlery Hall of Fame". The Cutlery Hall of Fame is composed of knifemakers, authors and persons who promote knife making, Bladesmithing, and Knife collecting. Each year, the living members of the Cutlery Hall Of Fame nominate and vote on the latest inductee to join their ranks.[7]
Henry D. Baer - Knifemaker, President of Schrade Knives and namesake of the "Uncle Henry" brand of pocketknives.
