- Ken Onion
Infobox Person
name = Kenneth L. Onion
image_size =
caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1963|1|16
birth_place = USA
occupation = Knifemaker
spouse = Noel OnionKen Onion (born
January 16 1963 ) is an American award-winning custom knifemaker based inKaneohe, Hawaii , USA who invented the "SpeedSafe" assisted opening mechanism forKershaw Knives . [cite web
last =Onion
first =Kenneth L
title =Opening and closing assisting mechansim for folding knife
work = US Patent and Trade Office
publisher = google patents
date =2000-11-14
url =http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6145202&id
accessdate =2007-01-18 ] Ken Onion is the Premier Knife Designer forKershaw Knives . [Cascio, Pat(2007). 'Kershaw's Latest Tactical Folders', "Knives Illustrated", February 2007] [Cascio, Pat(2007). "Ken Onion Knives Stolen", "Knives Illustrated", February 2007] [Gardner, Jim(2004)"Sweet Onions", "Guns Magazine", June 2004]Designs
While serving as a US Marine, Onion devised a helicopter mechanism that was adopted for use by the military.cite news |last=Ayres|first= James |title=Cutlery Rejects Turned Gold Mines|publisher =Blade Magazine|date=2003-09-01|pages=58-68|volume=30|issue=9|accessdate=2008-08-05] In 1989, Ken’s wife, Noel, made arrangements through a friend for Onion to meet custom knife maker, Stanley Fujisaka. The two became friends and Onion learned his basic knifemaking skills from Stanley, building his first knife in 1991. Seven years later, in 1996, Doug Flagg, then with
Kershaw Knives met Onion while calling on an account for Kershaw and the two discussed an arrangement for the assisted-opening mechanism, which led to a contract. This contract led to Kershaw expanding it's factory and number of employees to accommodate the demand for these knives.Onion holds 36 design patents on different items including locks, mechanisms, and knife designs. [cite web | last =Onion | first =Kenneth L | title =Locking knife blade with moving locking mechanism on blade | work = US Patent and Trade Office | publisher = google patents | date =2002-01-15 | url =http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT6338431&id | accessdate =2007-01-18 ] Most notable of these is the Speed-safe mechanism used by Kershaw Knives. For these many designs and his work throughout the cutlery industry promoting the art of knife making, Onion was inducted into the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame at the 2008 Blade Show in
Atlanta, Georgia as the 45th and youngest living member.cite web |title = Mr. SpeedSafe Joins the Club | work = Blade Magazine| date = 7/22/2008 | url = http://www.blademag.com/article/Ken%20Onion-Hall-Of-Fame-Induct| accessdate = 7/24/2008 ]Celebrity knives
A recent article in Blade Magazine asserts that some celebrities, such as
Steven Seagal ,Steven Tyler ,Nicolas Cage ,Kid Rock ,Pamela Anderson ,Wayne Newton , Stephen Lefebvre,Wayne LaPierre andZiggy Marley own custom knives made by Onion. [Ewing,Dexter. (2007). "Rock-Star Knifemakers Conclusion", "Blade Magazine", February 2007] [ Cascio,Pat. (2003). "Steven Seagal's Knife", "Tactical Knives Magazine", November 2003]ee also
References
External links
* [http://www.uspto.gov/ US Patent and Trademark Office]
* [http://www.kenonionknives.com/ Official Ken Onion website]
* [http://www.thekershawstore.com/Kershaw_Knives_Articles_of_Interest_s/92.htm Brief Ken Onion Story]
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