Abstract: An award trophy is provided that can be presented to an individual for participation in a selected event. The trophy generally includes a base adapted to rest on a support surface, an ornament supported by the base in the form of a fanciful character, such as a bear, engaged in an activity corresponding to the selected event, and a riser interposed as an item associated with the selected event. The trophy may further be provided with an identification member secured to the base having a top edge and a bottom edge spaced therefrom, and including a photograph of the individual. A method of customizing an award trophy is also provided, including the steps of obtaining a selected photograph that includes an image of the individual, cropping the photo image to a selected width and height, transferring the photo image to a substrate, and securing the substrate to the trophy base.

Abstract: A ceramic cutting blade includes a cutter portion having first and second side edges which converge at a distal acute angle to form a distal cutting tip and a cutting edge formed by first and second cutting faces oriented at a bevel angle. At least one of the cutting faces includes striations having a grain direction substantially perpendicular to the cutting edge, and these striations have a width of between 20 and 40 microns. The distal acute angle is preferably less than forty degrees, and the cutting tip is truncated along a straight line at an angle of truncation of at least forty degrees with respect to the cutting edge. The blade may be received by a handle or may be integrally molded with a handle portion.