All Knife Articles

An Interview with Bear Grylls About Survival Knives

/ Ben / Leave a comment
At the time of this interview, Bear Grylls partnered with Gerber to produce a line of survival knives. If you'd like to read the entire article, click the image and download the full issue. (BLADE image)

At the time of this interview in 2011, Bear Grylls partnered with Gerber to produce a line of survival knives. (BLADE image)

And now for something a little different.

I started my full-time career in the publishing industry as a crime/government reporter wayyy back in 2007 for a newspaper called the STAR. That led to a position with BLADE magazine as a print editor the following year.

I didn’t know a ton about knives at the time, but I grew into the role soon enough. I still work with BLADE and its parent company, F+W, although my days in the editorial realm are few and far between. I suppose that’s why I get nostalgic for things like an interview with Bear Grylls I did for the July 2011 issue of BLADE.

I never met Grylls in person, but we did work out this interview about survival knives via e-mail. At the time, he was launching a line of Gerber survival knives that went on to become a staple at sporting goods stores across the U.S. I thought it’d be fun to post it here. Continue reading →

Is This the World’s Deadliest Knife?

/ Ben / 2 Comments

TLDR: “Deadly” is a relative term, especially given how creative some fiction writers can get with their stories. Gimmicks, on the other hand, are another matter.

The Turkey Baster from Hell

The replaceable cartridges are pictured next to the WASP Injection Knife. Gun not included. (Image via WASPKnife.com)

The replaceable cartridges are pictured next to the WASP Injection Knife. Gun not included. (Image via WASPKnife.com)

The world of knives might seem mundane if you don’t know where to look. Knives cut things. End of story. They’re pretty interchangeable from one to the other. Nothing to see here, folks, right?

Not so fast, chump, especially when there are things like the WASP Injection Knife, which made its debut in 2008 as “the world’s deadliest knife.”

Those outside the knife world might not have heard of it, likely because no one they know owns one given that $500 price tag. Why the steep tab? I’ll let this description from KnifeCenter do the talking: Continue reading →

On Writing Weapons: Is it Better to be Accurate or Cool?

/ Ben / 11 Comments
How to Write Switchblades in Fiction

Like blue jeans, some weapons in fiction are standard fare for characters. Ubiquity doesn’t equal accuracy, though. How do you know where to draw the line? (Shutterstock photo)

“But ‘Switchblade’ Sounds Cooler”

I’ve beat the drum about “switchblades” and “assisted opening knives” nearly to death (see here, here and here for examples), so I wasn’t surprised to get a little pushback to my (alleged) dogma. If you don’t care to read up with those links, the nut of it is that any time you get the itch to write “switchblade” in a story set in modern times, replace it with “assisted opening knife” or “assisted opener.” One writer thanked me for the explanation, “but ‘switchblade’ sounds cooler,” so that would remain the preferred term.

Continue reading →

7 New Year’s Resolutions for Writing Weapons in Fiction

/ Ben / 8 Comments
Just like your other resolutions, expect this list to be recycled at this time next year. (Photo by Shondra Hull via sxc.hu)

Just like your other resolutions, expect this list to be recycled at this time next year. (Photo by Shondra Hull via sxc.hu)

It seems everyone and their brother has a list of resolutions for the new year. I’m no exception. Here are seven resolutions for writing weapons in fiction. I hope this year was good to you, and that there is plenty to look forward to in 2016.

Continue reading →

Most Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Weapons in Fiction: 2015 Edition

/ Ben / 2 Comments
Does anyone use pens like this one anymore? I don't know, but they make for nice photos, eh? (Wojtek Wolañski photo via sxc.hu)

Does anyone use pens like this one anymore? I don’t know, but they make for nice photos, eh? (Wojtek Wolañski photo via sxc.hu)

The analytics running behind the scenes here at The Writer’s Guide to Weapons offer interesting insights into the depraved minds creative undertakings the writerfolk pursue when researching guns and knives for writing fiction. Here’s a review of 2015’s traffic. Continue reading →