2019 Knife In The Hat (KITH) official info and rules:

1. Participation Rules:

  a. Only paid members of the TKG are allowed to participate. No minimum years experience required; however, there will be two pools of names to swap, one for Lone Star Knifemakers and one for General Members.

  b. If you would like to participate in this year’s KITH please follow these directions:

     i. Type “I’m in” as a comment to the official Facebook post

     ii. Send an email to tkgkith@gmail.com containing your NAME, PHONE NUMBER, EMAIL ADDRESS, and MAILING ADDRESS.

     iii. The participant must make, finish, and box the knife before the TKG Fall Hammer-In on September 21.

     iv. The knives will be randomly swapped at the hammer-in.  Anyone who is participating in the KITK but not able to attend the Hammer-In will be sent the name and address of the person who will be receiving their knife.  This is a BLIND swap, meaning you will not know whose knife you will receive until the knives are completed.

  c.  Every KITH participant will make the knife of their choice.

2. Knife-In-The-Hat Design Requirements:

  a.  There are two categories of KITH knives this year:  (1) LoneStar Makers and General/Other.

  • To be in the LoneStar Maker Category, you must be a Lonestar Knifemaker AND make a knife that utilizes a multi-piece handle that contains either a guard or a bolster.  The material of the guard/bolster as well as handle/scales is completely up to the maker’s choosing.
  • All other knives will be in the General/Other category.  *Note that all knives that do not contain a bolster/guard will be in the General/Other category regardless of the maker’s membership level.  Also note that all non-LoneStar Knifemakers will be in the General/Other category regardless of knife construction.

  b.  The knifemaker is free to choose the construction type: full tang, hidden tang, folding knife, etc.

  c.  The knifemaker is free to chose the steel type and thickness.

  d.  The knifemaker is free to choose the grind style (hallow, flat, convex, etc.) as well as grind height, blade finish, and embellishments (file work, engraving, etc.)

  e.  The knifemaker is free to choose the method of construction – stock removal, forged, tribal, CNC, etc.

  f.  The knifemaker is free to chose the handle materials and design.

  g.  The knife must include some type of sheath, display stand, pouch, or blade protector.

3.  Everyone is encouraged to show Work-In-Progress pictures or videos of their process but not required. Remember, no one knows whose knife they will receive, so this will wet everyone’s thirst.

4.   Once you receive the knife, be sure to inspect it and give positive critique to the maker.  Sometimes you will receive a knife better than the one you made and sometimes you will receive a knife that you feel is worse than the one you made.  If you are not OK with potentially receiving a knife worse than yours then do not sign up to the KITH!  REMEMBER this is for fun and education.  Knives will not be sent back to the maker for repair or modification.  If you receive a knife from a LoneStar Maker that you feel is below the standards of LoneStar certification, send an email with pictures to tkgkith@gmail.com to express your concerns.