Ozark Folk Center Cutting Competition

[Ed Schempp]

Friday morning I picked up my friend Jose Diaz in Ellensburg and we headed for SeaTac to catch a plane to Dallas then on to Littlerock Arkansas. After a sandwich in downtown Littlerock we started on the last leg to our destination, 2.5 hours on a winding 2 lane we rolled into the Ozark Folk Center arriving about 2 AM.

It is official International Cutting Competition Trail no longer exists and the group is now non-profit Bladesports International. Warren Osborn, Gayle Bradley (Spyderco sponsored) and Scott Devanna are the board members.

The competition was a timed course cut. 18 different cuts are possible 10 are chosen for each event. The cutting tasks were as follows: 2x4 chop, cut a flex straw fixtured above the flex joint, a one inch rope, A 3.5 inch mailing tube 2.5 inches tall of .25 inch material, a 1.5 inch rope, a vertical water bottle cut (you must cut the cap in two), a 2 inch rope, a seltzer can pyramid (2 swings possible cans must be standing), a forehand/back hand cut on mailing tubes (points for each washer cut), rolling tennis balls, and finishing and timing out on a two by four chop.

Of the 16 contestants Gayle Bradley (Spyderco Sponsored) won the cut. Gayle was one of two to accurately cut the vertical water bottle and the only contestant to cut the straw. Gayle also set a new water bottle record with 18 bottle. My friend Jose was pushing with 16 bottles. Jose and I finished the competition in the middle of the pack. The cutters were like a cheering section for whoever was competing.

Gayle knife was M4 ground to a very thin sub .005 edge. Gayle's exceptional performance sustained a 5 point deduction from a small chip in the blade. Jose used a 5160 blade and my edge was 52100; neither of our blades had point deductions but they had stronger geometry.

The area was beautiful, the folks were very friendly, the competition was good...Take Care...Ed

[KaliGman]

Flex straws and rolling tennis balls? Truly impressive. I would love to see a video.

Thanks for sharing, and an additional thanks for the design work on the Kris--what a great folder.:cool:

[flyguy]

Sounds like quite a sight to see. Thanks for the report. Are there any pictures from the event posted (somewhere)?

[The Mastiff]

This is very impressive stuff. There are a bunch of skills necessessary if the contestants have to prepare their blades, and then compete with them.Getting this all accomplished all on the same edge, with the correct swing for each trial is much, much more difficult than it would seem to a non knife person.

Ed, including preparing the blade could you estimate how many man hours you had getting ready for a competition like this?

Are you getting more than one competition out of your knives or is it a new, refined knife and heat treatment every time?

Is 52100 where you are going to stay?

Thanks for keeping us updated Ed. Joe

[Darkfin]

I too would love to see a highlight video. Are these the folks who will be running the BLADE show competition? I have that one marked on my schedule!

[David Lowry]

That's awesome. I would love to see the vertical water bottle cut. That has gotta be awesome cutting the cap in half and all. :)

[jaislandboy]

thanx for a most interesting read Ed.....
Congrats to Gayle Bradley .... sounds like she's got some Serious Skills with the knife! glad she's on "our" team.... ;) :cool:

[cgjones]

thanx for a most interesting read Ed.....
Congrats to Gayle Bradley .... sounds like she's got some Serious Skills with the knife! glad she's on "our" team.... ;) :cool:

Don't assume gender based on the name.

[UK KEN]

Ed

It sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing the day with us. :)

It would be great if at some time in the future we were able to organise a UK invitation cutting competition. I could use more details about the way the bottles, ropes and cans are set up. Also, what are the restrictions as to length and weight of the knives?

We have got some excellent knife makers over here and a little "across the pond" competition would be another step towards bringing more "brothers of the knife" together.

Regards, Ken

[Ed Schempp]

Bladesports International is the name of the current group that is really trying to grow the sport. It is not about money it is about demonstrating the practical and safe use of a large knife. Fees have been cut and barriers to entry are being reduced to the point where I hope money is not an issue.

There is a revisited handbook that is in the works that covers safety and procedure. There is still precertification to cutting. All the tasks are reviewed and the certifying person does all the tasks possible to acquaint themselves for the cuts. The safety procedures are most important. The procedure is putting the lanyard on and waiting for the safety official to give the cutter the start. Then the cutter unsheathes the knife and begins. The clock starts when the blade makes contact with the 2x4. Look for all materials about safety and procedure to be posted at the web site.

Depending on time and motivation practice takes many forms. Most of the cutters have built themselves a practice bench to best approximate the competition cuts. I have volunteer Russian Olive trees that I remove with the knife. I use finesse snap cuts to delimb and power cuts to take down the actual tree. 5-6 cuts will generally take down a 3-4 inch tree. I usually cut some 2x4's for practice along with some target cuts like standing golf ball or golf tees. At this point I have made 5 different blades. All but one have been 52100.

Gayle Bradley is a very motivated athletic competitor. He also make very nice lock-back folders. Gayle will be competing at the Blade Show. If you are there help me cheer him on to victory. Gayle, Warren Osborn and Scot Devanna have put a lot of work and planning into this new organization.

I'd be happy to help in certification effort in Europe. I'm on that side of the pond in March and September; I'd be happy to run a certification program. If that doesn't fit I'd be happy to make sure that you have all information to proceed. It would be nice if all my knife brothers and sisters would have the opportunity to participate. Ken let me know if there is anything I can do to help...Take Care...Ed

[jaislandboy]

Don't assume gender based on the name.

my apologies to Mr. Bradley....:o

[UK KEN]

Ed

Thanks for the help. When we last met and we talked about cutting competitions and how it might be possible to have one in the UK I was very interested how it might be organised. I remember Gail being pretty excited about the idea too. :D I am now gathering information from a number of sources to see what would be involved and how many people would be interested.

The members of British Blades hold a cutting competition at their hammerins and though it is not my intention to tread on anyone’s toes I am interested in seeing if both makers and cutters would like to take this sport to a whole new level in the UK. It would be remarkable if .....in time..... we were able to give you chaps a run for your money!:D

This would be another opportunity to get more knife people together to share their knowledge and demonstrate their skills. As you say, money doesn't come into it and I am prepared to put in whatever time is needed to make this idea come to fruition.

Regards, Ken

[dialex]

Hi Ed, thanks for the great story and infos. Looks like you had some fun there. For my part, I still can't believe there are people out there who can cut rolling tennis balls and flex straws... :eek: It sounds even better than in Kill Bill and familly ;)

[UK KEN]

Ed

Warren Osborne and I have been in touch and it looks like there are some makers and cutters in the UK who are interested in Blade Sport International.

It might take some time to get organised but Warren is sending me some updated information when it is ready. I have already passed on the ICCT knife specifications/regulations to some of the UK makers so they can think about their designs. :) I am not trying to rush anything as I feel it would be better to build a strong base where this sport is concerned in the UK.

Thank you for your help and for getting me so interested in the sport when we spoke in Leeds. I will keep you informed as to any progress we make. :D

Regards, Ken