BladeSports Competition: Keystone Cut and 2026–2027 Season
Sep 2nd 2026
The 2026–2027 BladeSports season is underway, bringing competitive cutting events to locations across the country and giving knife enthusiasts an opportunity to see the performance of both cutter and knife put to the test.
One of the first stops of the new season brought BladeSports to Meadville, Pennsylvania, for the Keystone Cut at Peters’ Heat Treating on August 22.
Ben Propst took first place in the competition, followed by James Clifton in second and Michael Clifton in third.
The event was held as part of Peters’ Heat Treating's company picnic, giving competitors and spectators more than just a day of cutting. Attendees also had the opportunity to tour the Peters’ facility, meet members of the team, enjoy food trucks, and learn more about the knife industry.
The Keystone Cut was a great example of what makes BladeSports unique: competition, knife performance, safety, skill, and the knife community all coming together in one place.
Ben Propst competes at the 2026 BladeSports Keystone Cut in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he finished first overall.
What Is BladeSports?
For someone seeing a BladeSports competition for the first time, the sport can look simple: a competitor has a knife and a series of objects to cut.
There is much more happening at the cutting table.
BladeSports International is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting knife safety, providing workshops and cutting events, and educating the public about the safe use of knives as tools. Competitive cutting grew out of a long tradition of makers and users testing both the capabilities of their knives and their own skills.
A BladeSports competition tests the combination of the cutter and the knife rather than either one alone.
Competitors encounter cutting challenges that can include 2x4s, free-hanging rope, multi-station courses, and other materials selected for an individual event. Some events are timed, while others use elimination or point-based formats.
Success requires much more than swinging a knife as hard as possible. Technique, speed, accuracy, control, endurance, edge geometry, knife design, heat treatment, and the overall condition of the blade can all contribute to how a competitor performs.
That makes competitive cutting especially interesting to knifemakers and steel enthusiasts. A competition knife has to handle a wide range of cutting tasks while remaining controllable and dependable throughout the course.
Safety and Training Are Part of the Sport
BladeSports also places a major emphasis on safety.
Competitors cannot simply arrive at an event and enter the competition. Cutters must be at least 18 years old and hold a valid BladeSports Cutter Certification. Certification can be earned by completing a recognized BladeSports cutting school or through personal training and certification with an approved instructor.
Competition rules also require cutters to attend safety meetings, follow event officials' instructions, wear eye protection, and use knives that meet BladeSports specifications. Competition knives are inspected before events, and the organization establishes limits including a maximum 10-inch blade length and 15-inch overall knife length.
That structure is an important part of BladeSports: competitors learn how to use these tools under controlled conditions with proper training, equipment, and supervision.
For anyone interested in becoming a competitor, BladeSports offers cutting schools and clinics designed to train new cutters while also developing instructors and officials.
The 2026–2027 BladeSports Season
The Keystone Cut is only the beginning.
Competitions are scheduled around the country throughout the fall, eventually leading to two of the biggest events of the season: BladeSports Nationals in April 2027 and BladeSports Worlds in June 2027.
September 5, 2026 — Mid-TN Cut
Location: 166 Alpha Dr., Gallatin, Tennessee
Cut Time: 2:00 PM
October 3, 2026 — Kokomo, IN Cut
Location: 12472 S 100 E, Kokomo, Indiana
Cut Time: 11:00 AM
October 17, 2026 — Tar Hill Cut
Location: 168 Warlick Dr., Mooresville, North Carolina
Cut Time: 10:30 AM
October 24, 2026 — Smoky Mountain Knife Works Cut
Location: 2320 Winfield Dunn Pkwy, Sevierville, Tennessee
Cut Time: TBD
November 7, 2026 — Battle of the Blades
Location: 3490 W. Hwy 7, Sulphur, Oklahoma
Cut Time: 11:00 AM
The Road to Nationals and Worlds
After the fall competitions, the season turns toward the two championship events.
April 24, 2027 — BladeSports Nationals Competition
Location: Rock Creek Farm
475 Dry Fork Creek Rd., Gallatin, Tennessee
Cut Time: TBD
June 5, 2027 — BladeSports Worlds Competition
Location: 2 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, Georgia
Cut Time: TBD
Rather than viewing each cut as an isolated competition, the 2026–2027 season creates a road that ultimately leads to Nationals in April and Worlds in Atlanta in June.
Each stop gives competitors another opportunity to test themselves, compete alongside other cutters, and build momentum as the championship events approach.
For spectators, the season also offers plenty of opportunities to experience BladeSports firsthand. If you are interested in knives, knifemaking, specialty steels, heat treatment, or simply want to see what competitive cutting looks like, attending an event is one of the best ways to understand the sport.
For competitors, safety meetings are generally held 30–60 minutes before the scheduled cut time. Competitors should confirm event-specific registration, safety meeting, and participation information before traveling.
Follow the 2026–2027 BladeSports Season
Niagara Specialty Metals is excited to continue supporting BladeSports and the knife community throughout the 2026–2027 season.
From local cuts like the Keystone Cut to Nationals and ultimately Worlds, there will be plenty to follow over the months ahead.
We'll be sharing competition results, photos, videos, and additional BladeSports content as the season progresses — including the journey toward the 2027 BladeSports World Competition in Atlanta.
If you've never watched a BladeSports competition before, find an event near you and see competitive cutting in action.
Learn more about the sport, cutter certification, competition rules, and BladeSports International through the official BladeSports website.
Looking to learn more about industry relationships or recent events? Check out these related blogs:
Peters Heat Treating: From a Small Garage Shop to a World-Class Thermal Processor
Blade Show Atlanta 2026: What We Learned from the Knife Industry
SHOT Show 2026 Recap: Supplier Recognition, Growth, and What’s Ahead
For more information, check out our other blogs.
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