Both model IDs refer to the Calphalon Contemporary 17-Piece or 21-Piece Knife Block Set, respectively. The set features knives forged from German stainless steel, all fitted with black handles and stored in a wooden knife block.

Reports cite that these knife block sets pose a laceration hazard. The 8-inch bread knife and 8-inch slicing knife can both protrude out of the wooden storage block on the bottom row. According to these reports, Calphalon issued product recalls after receiving one report of a cut finger due to an exposed knife blade tip.

Recalled sets were manufactured in China by Calphalon Corp. of Atlanta. Products were sold both in stores and online anytime between 2007 and May 2011. Approximately 217,000 knife sets have already been recalled in the U.S., while 300 have been recalled in Canada.

Those wishing to fix their defective knife block set can contact Calphalon at 800-766-5652 or visit www.calphalon.com for more information. Affected customers will receive a free repair kit in the mail.

Source:  The Associated Press

During his time as a chef, however, he discovered another skill that he continues to be quite proficient in:  knife sharpening. Over time, he was known for sharpening every single knife in his kitchen by hand, every time -- and after a while, his colleagues encouraged him to go into business as a specialist.

Garretson has now opened the Town Cutler, a shop in San Francisco that's solely dedicated to cutlery sales and custom sharpening. It's ideal for customers who get stressed about sharpening their knife at the wrong angle, or who just don't have time in their busy schedule to get all their knives functioning like brand new again.

To sharpen knives, Garretson uses imported Japanese whetstones. His technique is to finish the knife's edge on a 10,000-grit whetstone, then polish them on a leather razor strop.

The shop displays collectibles and antique cutlery along with current, modern products that customers can browse (and purchase if desired) while they wait. Brands include Wusthof, Masamoto, Kanematsu, Zanmai, Kikuichi, and F. Dick.  They're all top of the line.

Additionally, the cutlery display that holds all these knives was built by San Francisco metal sculpture artist Oliver DiCicco, who is renowned in several other fields including music and engineering. As owner of Mobius Music Recording, DiCicco has been nominated for several Grammy Awards. He is also a builder of avant-garde musical instruments and an expert in kinetic sound sculptures.

Town Cutler, owned by proprietor Galen Garretson, is located at 1005 Bush St., San Francisco, CA.

Source:  San Francisco Chronicle

The William Henry Studio created a one-of-a-kind knife just for the show that's worth $10,000 (pictured at right). It's a folding knife in WHS's B12 pattern. The blade is a Damascus spear point hand-forged by Mike Norris, a specialist in stainless Damascus steel. The handle and sheath are beautifully engraved by Don Patch and feature genuine diamonds set into the thumb stud and lock button.

Another William Henry knife up for grabs is an E6-5 (with serial number 065), a collectible box elder burl folding knife. It's a Matt Connable creation with a satin-finish D2 steel blade.

A silent auction will also be held for a Randall 5-4 Knife, a modified Bowie donated by Northern Knives.  Its standout feature is a stag handle decorated with a brass hilt and black, red and white spacers. Funds raised from the auction will go to support the AKTI Legislative Fund.

The 2011 Blade Show, the largest event of its kind that also hosts the Blade Magazine Awards and Cutlery Hall of Fame inductee ceremony, will be held June 10-12 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta.

Source:  AKTI.org

Executive chef Michael Garaghty will give product demonstrations on how to use this kitchen cutlery. He believes that knives can be classified into four categories: paring, serrated, chef's, and Asian santoku. Each category of knife has its own purpose, technique, and maintenance.

Since Wusthof knives have a lifetime warranty, Garaghty will show viewers how to protect the knife's edge and sharpen each blade correctly so as to get the maximum usage out of it.

"Good knives used the right way will change your cooking methods, and you don’t have to be an Executive Chef to use them properly,” said Garaghty during the taping. "They may cost a little more up front, but quality knives will last you a lifetime."

"The Balancing Act" starring chef Michael Garaghty and other portions of the show's myCuisine series will air April 15th at 7:00 a.m.

Source:  PR Log

Grand Master Michael Kleppin was on hand to show off some sweet samurai moves and explain the history of the beloved swords to a group of students gathered in the Mueller Student Center. Kleppin is a third Dan in Iaido, a form of Japanese sword art. He is also included in the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame and specializes in ancient Okinawan weapons.

Kleppin describes the swords as the "soul" of the Samurai. "If you hit at the wrong angle or trajectory, the blade will bend," he advised. "So it's not as easy at it looks."

He then went on to explain the thoughtfulness and intent behind the armor design of Kendo warriors. He described Kendo as a sword style more similar to fencing.

The festival also included other aspects of Japanese culture for crowds to enjoy, such as homemade smoked salmon or ahi tuna sushi, origami, puppets, and pottery.

Representatives from the city of Decatur's Sister Cities program were also on hand to collect donations for Japan tsunami relief efforts.

The exhibit will remain 0pen in Richland Community College's David Erlanson Gallery through April 8, 2011.

Source:  Herald-Review.com

WSJ's "Best Bargain" went to the Accusharp, a small, handheld sharpener with a retail price at only $9.  It doesn't produce a razor-sharp edge, and it's not a very long-lasting product, but it does quickly take a knife from dull to sharper in an emergency.

The Chef's Choice 1520 knife sharpener was awarded a title of "The Industrialist." This is an electric sharpener was was very easy to use by the WSJ testers, although they also mentioned that it was as loud as a key-making machine at the hardware store. It works best on Japanese and other Asian blade angles for kitchen cutlery.

For gadget lovers, the Edge Pro Apex 2 was labelled "The Gearhead" due to its customization capabilities. No matter the bevel, the Apex 2 model has a waterstone to match. This one is also best used on Japanese cutlery, and its jig mount keeps the blade honed at precise angles so that the end result is extremely sharp. However, it does take a while to use, and it is the most expensive model that the WSJ listed.

The "Blue Ribbon" award went to the Sharpmaker 204MF by the well-known tactical knife maker Spyderco. It's the sharpener for anything in your house or garage that needs sharpening, from kitchen knives with odd angles to hunting knives to shears. The learning curve can be a bit tricky at first, but it comes with a DVD to show you how to use it properly.

Last but not least, Shapton's GlassStone sharpener was awarded a "Lifetime Commitment" title. Extremely durable and versatile, the GlassStone did not require as much pre-soaking as other models that were tested. Although the risk for accidents is high (holding the knife at the wrong angle, or letting fingers slip), the GlassStone provided a sharp enough edge that no polishing stones were needed.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Benchmade filed several complaints in the lawsuit, and federal Judge from the District of Oregon Ancer Haggerty ruled in favor of Benchmade for all sixteen counts. The court found the accused guilty of patent infringement, copyright infringement, false advertising, and libel.

The court also awarded Benchmade an additional cash settlement due to Benson failing to honor deadlines

Les de Asis, Benchmade CEO and company founder, said that he is extremely pleased with the court's ruling. “Over the past twenty years, we’ve spent a great deal of time and money building the Benchmade brand and we take great pride in building a quality, USA-made product. We’re happy to have this case behind us once and for all.”

Source:  Ammoland.com

The festival is bringing in some special guests known for their TV shows and professional know-how. Featured speakers include logging industry expert Bruce Belanger, former In-Fisherman host Dave Csanda, archery's "Aspirin Buster" Frank Addington Jr., bowhunting instructor Marlene Odahlen-Hinz, fishing pro Ted Takasaki, and author Todd Amenrud.

Frank Addington Jr., "The Aspirin Buster," will host demonstrations showing off his skills with a bow and arrow. Belanger will set up a station dedicated to wood carving, axe throwing, and cross-cut sawing. Csanda is a Walleye Unlimited USA Man of the Year Award recipient and will host seminars on fishing walleye and trophy pike. Odahlen-Hinz is a famed female bowhunter who works for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and will be hosting three seminars this week. Fisherman Takasaki will host encore seminars on Sunday for those who cannot attend on Saturday. Amenrud, a well-known hunter and writer in the northern U.S., will focus his seminars on whitetail deer.

Vendors will also be on hand to talk shop about the latest and greatest in RVs, boating, hunting, fishing, outdoor travel, and kid-friendly activities.

The RRV Sportsmen's Show starts on Thursday, March 3, with Marlene Odahlen-Hinz's seminar "Scent Control: Fooling A Deer's Nose." Additional schedule information and ticket pricing can be found on the Fargo Sports Show website.

Source:  InForum.com

"I found a box of these horseshoe nails and I just fell in love with them," said Raeburn after the show. "They're simple, straightforward and iconic-looking. And each one of them has this little Swiss flag emblem [stamped] into them."

Raeburn's previous collections have capitalized on current military fashion trends, like his Remade In England label which uses re-appropriated military materials such as parachute and uniform fabrics. This week's Victorinox Capsule collection continues the trend and debuts as Remade In Switzerland.

Victorinox actually created a special knife to be used in Raeburn's collection, pictured at right. The horseshoe nails were melted and used as exterior scales in place of the hard, red handle for which Swiss Army Knives are well known. It is a limited edition collectible; only 100 pieces will be sold at select Victorinox boutiques and other retailers in September.

Other limited edition pieces in the collection are all made from surplus Swiss Army antique material, some of which date back over 50 years. Pieces include a sentry scarf made from military blankets, a recycled tarpaulin duffel backpack, and a cocoon blouson that Raeburn pointed out as his favorite.

"It's made from surplus Swiss military sleeping bags and has this waterproof sleeping bag outer [shell] and some of the original buckles," he said, "so it can be rolled right up and stored just like a sleeping bag."

Source: L.A. Times

There are a lot of big changes that the folks running the show have implemented for this year. Over 300 companies are setting up their displays for the first time, including Benchmade Knives, Savage Arms, Benelli, Kodabow and Innerloc Broadheads. Plus, they're including a lot of family-friendly activities and pricing options for admissions and meals.

Another new feature is the Fishing Experience, which is located on the north end of the festival. You'll get to mingle with the likes of fishing legends Hank Parker and Babe Winkelmen. And you can even enter your fishing-savvy kids into the CastingKids competition if you go on Sunday. (This is similar to what you'd see from the NFL's Punt, Pass and Kick events.)  Each fishing youngster will get to try their best at casting, pitching, and flipping casting lures with a fishing rod and reel. The winner on Sunday will go on to compete on a statewide level at the Harrisburg Bass Pro Shops location at the end of July.

The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show is open weekdays and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors ages 62 and up, and $6 for children.

Source:  Pennlive.com