2014 KnivesIllustrated PDF

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
VOLUME 28, NO. 1
www.knivesillustrated.com
64
26
COVER STORY
14 The Strongest Survivors
Four knives you can depend on when it really counts
BY ABE ELIAS
FEATURES
26 Light & Streamlined
The Helle Harding scores as an effective utility knife
BY ABE ELIAS
34 Black Sea Legacy

From Turkey comes a storied history of knifemaking
BY ANGELA WALDRON
50 The Beauty of Simplicity

The Victorinox Hunter Pro is an ideal, no-nonsense
blade for the outdoorsman
BY JIM WEISS AND MICKEY DAVIS
58 Walking Tall
The Busse Gemini LB, featured in The Walking
Dead, is a reliable survival and combat knife
34 BY CLINT THOMPSON
68 Up and Coming
Nicaragua-based Mike Deibert is making waves
in the knifemaking world
BY LES ROBERTSON
72 A Continuing Evolution
Tim Steingass custom knives offer
affordable excellence
BY LES ROBERTSON
76 An Old Craft, a New Era

How Jay Fisher turned a traditional
hobby into a thriving 21st-century career
BY BEN NAGY
KNIVES ILLUSTRATED (ISSN 0898-8943) Vol. 28, No. 1 is published 9

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Volume 28 Number 1
EDITORIAL 72
Editorial Director: Doug Jeffrey
Editor: Bethany Miller
COLUMNS
Managing Editor: Jeffrey Rick
Art Director: Ronald Abella
Creative Director: Eric Knagg
CONTRIBUTORS
Mickey Davis, Abe Elias, Terrill Hoffman, Ben Nagy,
Les Robertson, Clint Thompson, Angela Waldron, Jim Weiss
8 Editors Letter
ADVERTISING 10 Points of Interest
Gabe Frimmel: Ad Sales Director (714) 200-1930 The latest goings-on within the knife world
GFrimmel@beckett.com
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Mark Pack: Senior Account Executive (714) 200-1939 22 Behind the Scenes
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DIRECT MARKETING GROUP
John Bartulin (866) 866-5146 ext. 2746 44 Bells & Whistles
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Ryan Lauro (866) 866-5146 ext. 2756
Mary Ann Jaca (866) 866-5146 ext 2716
64 Tactical Techniques
OPERATIONS How to effectively use your knife in a fight
Gus Alonzo: Newsstand Sales & Marketing Manager
Celia Merriday: Newsstand Analyst
Amit Sharma: Business Analytics Manager
Mohit Patel: Newsstand & Production Analyst 83 Show and Tell
Alberto Chavez: Senior Logistics & Facilities Manager Readers show off their favorite knives
John Cabral: Creative Graphic Designer
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BUT WHAT IF THE WORST SHOULD HAPPEN?

EDITORS WHILE DOOMSDAY PREPPER-STYLE
STOCKPILING MAY BE OVERKILL FOR MOST OF
LETTER US, THERES NOTHING TO BE LOST AND MUCH

TO BE GAINED BY HAVING A PLAN B.
Ready for Anything

ome of you may be in law en-
S forcement, the military or oth-

er special forces, and for you,
danger may be a daily reality. For
others, danger is only the unlikely
worst-case scenario.
No matter the odds of finding yourself in

a perilous situation, preparation is key.
Sure, that catastrophic earthquake may
never strike, and sure, maybe youve hiked
this trail a hundred times before and cant
imagine anything leaving you stranded.
But what if the worst should happen?
While Doomsday Prepper-style stockpiling
may be overkill for most of us, theres noth-
ing to be lost and much to be gained by
having a Plan B, gathering a few supplies
just in case, or adding a good survival knife
to your collection.
Youll notice a theme of preparation
throughout this issue. In our cover story, we
review four tough knives that could save
your life and recommend eight acces-
sories to go along with them. Believers in
the zombie apocalypse can prepare to take
on the shambling undead with the knife
used by Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead.
We take a look at the Helle Harding, a utility
knife great for everyday tasks both routine
and unforeseen, and for the first time,
weve even got tips for making the most of
your pocketknife should a scoundrel jump
you in a dark alley.
So whether youre a seasoned survivalist
or a vigilant everyman, we hope youll find
something useful in these pages. Remem-
ber: Prepare for the worst, hope for the
best! KI
PHOTO BY JIM COOPER
Bethany Miller
8 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 knivesillustrated.com

KI-1402-9-47-TEASER 12/17/13 12:25 AM Page 9
Things
to Come
Photo courtesy
of
JAY FI SH ER
JAY FISHER DOMOVOI
For more custom

knives, please see
our special section
starting on page 66.
knivesillustrated.com KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 9

KI-1402-10-13-NEWS 12/17/13 12:30 AM Page 10
UPCOMING EVENTS
POINTSof
Dates and locations subject to change; please contact the
show managers before arranging your travel.
ONGOING THROUGH JUNE 22
INTEREST
LITTLE ROCK, AR
A Sure Defense: The Bowie Knife in America
(501) 324-9351
www.historicarkansas.org/whatsnew
Name the Maker

JAN. 14-17
LAS VEGAS, NV
Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show
(855) 355-7468
www.shotshow.org
JAN. 17-19
CORRECTLY IDENTIFY THE MAKER OF THIS

LAS VEGAS, NV
Antique Arms Show and Invitational Knifemakers Show
(760) 202-4489
KNIFE TO WIN A FREE SUBSCRIPTION gunshowpro@aol.com
www.antiquearmsshow.com
PHOTO BY JIM COOPER
JAN. 25-26
SAN ANTONIO, TX
American Bladesmith Society All Forged Blade Expo
HINT: This craftsman (512) 446-3111
made his first knife in harveydeanknives@gmail.com
1983 at age 12. He www.absknifeexpo.com
received his ABS FEB. 1-2
Journeyman Smith NOVI, MI
stamp in 2004, and Wolverine Knife Collectors Show
today he specializes (586) 786-5549
www.wolverineknifecollectorsclub.com
in a wide variety of
Damascus patterns, FEB. 1-3
including mosaic. He LAKELAND, FL
also has completed Gator Cutlery Club Custom, Modern & Antique Knife Show
(813) 754-3908
GRS training in hand coolnifedad@wildblue.net
engraving. www.gatorcutlery.com
FEB. 22-23
LITTLE ROCK, AR
Arkansas Custom Show
arknifeassn@yahoo.com
www.arkansasknifemakers.com
FEB. 28-MARCH 2
JERSEY CITY, NJ
East Coast Custom Knife Show
(417) 866-6688
www.fiftyfiftyproductions.net
MARCH 28-30
JANESVILLE, WI
Annual Badger Knife Show
(414) 479-9765
badgerknifeclub@aol.com
www.badgerknifeclub.org
APRIL 4-6
HARRISONBURG, VA
Greater Shenandoah Valley Knife Show
(540) 828-0778
clubmail@svkc.org
www.svkc.org
APRIL 12-13
EUGENE, OR
Oregon Knife Show
okca@oregonknifeclub.org
www.oregonknifeclub.org
MAY 3-4
MYSTIC, CT
Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association Annual Show
(401) 742-6779
lcliff1@verizon.net
HOW TO WIN www.ncca.info
If you correctly identify the maker of the featured knife, you will be entered into a drawing for a free JUNE 6-8
one-year subscription to Knives Illustrated. If youre already a subscriber, you may choose to extend ATLANTA, GA
your current subscription or to receive a subscription to one of our sister magazines, Gun World or Bow Blade Show
(877) 746-9757
& Arrow Hunting. bladeshow@fwmedia.com
All entries must be received by 4 p.m. PST on February 14. www.bladeshow.com
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KI_1402_11 12/17/13 3:49 AM Page 11
Visit our new website today!

www.KnivesIllustrated.com
The premier knife magazine

s4HEHOTTESTKNIVESANDLATESTINNOVATIONSINSTEELANDDESIGN
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KI-1402-10-13-NEWS 12/17/13 12:31 AM Page 12
Knives in
the News
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
NOVEMBER 2013
North Carolinas Archdale-Trinity News reported the story of three
custom knifemakers George Icard, Tim Troyer and Jesse Hemphill who
recently traveled to Africa to teach knifemaking to orphans and at-risk chil-
dren in Bamba, a small village in Uganda, Africa. Amidst trafficking, sexual
abuse, extreme poverty, and widespread AIDS and HIV, Ugandan youth sel-
dom have opportunities to pursue a better future. The knifemakers worked
with Bamba Forge, founded by nonprofit organization The Reckoning Inter-
national, to help young men develop a profitable, practical skill. The Reck-
oning International is currently working to market the knives crafted at
Bamba Forge. For more information, visit www.thereckoning.org.

KI-1402-10-13-NEWS 12/17/13 12:31 AM Page 13
2014 PENDING
LEGISLATION
Florida
The bill: SB 458
Proposed by: Thad Altman, Republican
state senator
Summary: This bill, known as law
preemption, would prevent city
governments from imposing more stringent
restrictions on knives than existing
restrictions at the state level. Florida state
law currently allows the carry of
pocketknives. The bill also imposes
penalties on civil governing bodies that fail
to repeal restrictions that conflict with
those in place at the state level or who
enact further restrictions.
Tennessee
The bill: SB 1438
Proposed by: Mike Bell,
Republican state senator
Summary: This bill would legalize
the sale and ownership of
switchblades and knives with
blades measuring longer than 4
inches. Such blades are currently
banned, and a measure to repeal the
ban failed in the state House of
Representatives after the Tennessee
Sheriffs Association spoke out against it.
Prominent Second Amendment intoxicated that he slept for 10 hours un-
scholars David Kopel, Clayton Cramer and aware of a 5-inch knife lodged in his back.
Joe Olson published a groundbreaking The victim did not remember being stabbed
DID YOU KNOW?
The worlds fastest knife thrower is David
analysis titled Knives and the Second during a fight during a drunken brawl the
Adamovich, nicknamed The Great
Amendment in the University of Michi- night before. Fortunately, his wound was Throwdini. Adamovich holds a Guinness
gan Journal of Law Reform. This article not life threatening and the knife was safely World Record for throwing 144 knives at a
supports the inclusion of knives as removed at the hospital. KI target in under one minute.
weapons under the right to bear arms
outlined in the U.S. Constitution by study-
ing types of knives, crime cases and the
evolution of weapons-related legislation.
The full text can be read online at
www.kniferights.org.
DECEMBER 2013
An unassuming convenience store in
Klondyke, Louisiana, has been dubbed by
visitors the Knife Capitol of the South, the
Tri-Parish Times reports. Owned by and
named for businessman Roland Henry,
Rolands Klondyke Mini Mart opened in
1983 and sells (alongside the expected
sandwiches, snacks and beverages) a di-
verse array of knives. Selections include not
only affordable everyday utility blades, but
also high-end novelties such as swords.
According to the New York Daily News,

a 42-year-old New Jersey man became so
knivesillustrated.com KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 1 3

KI-1402-14-21-SURVIVAL 12/17/13 4:26 AM Page 14
The
STRONGEST
SURVIVORS
FOUR KNIVES YOU CAN DEPEND ON
WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ABE ELIAS

n a world besieged with hurricanes, flooding, fires,
I economic meltdowns, the threat of nuclear war and

some say even an impending zombie apoca-
lypse, its no wonder survival has become a buzzword.
The knife industry, too, has become swept up in the trend of be-
ing survival-minded, and rightfully so. A trusty, solid knife is a ne-
cessity in any bug-out bag and could even make the difference
between life and death. But what distinguishes a survival knife
from any other blade?
Simply put, a knife is a cutting tool and the action of cutting is
categorized by three styles: chopping, slicing and chiselling. So
when someone mentions a survival knife, I often ask what a sur-
vival knife has that a regular knife doesnt.
To get a feel for what the current market dubs a survival-worthy
knife, I grabbed four popular models: the Camillus Les Stroud SK
Mountain Ultimate Survival Knife; the Schrade SCHF9 Extreme
Survival knife; the CRKT Redemption by Ken Onion; and the ESEE
Laser Strike. Each of these represented the various schools of
thought behind a survival knife. So how did they hold up?


ONE: CAMILLUS/LES STROUD Camillus SK Mountain,

designed in
SK MOUNTAIN
partnership with
Camillus partnered with the TV sur- survivalist Les Stroud,
vivalist Les Stroud to design a series of comes with a partially
four survival knives. Of these, we chose to serrated blade. At the
top, you can see the
evaluate the SK Mountain Ultimate Sur- notch used for striking
vival knife. a fire steel.
First off, its a midsize knife, which is
valued for its nimbleness and ability to
help the user craft items through carving
more so than, say, a chopper would. A
midsize is also apt for slicing and chisel
cutting.
The SK Mountain measures 7 inches
overall, its hollow-ground blade measur-
ing 4 7/8 inches. The blade, the first third
of which is serrated, is made from 440
stainless and has a bonded titanium coat-
ing. The handle is a combination of
molded rubber and plastic with a
checkered steel pommel on CAMILLUS PARTNERED WITH THE TV
the end. The pommel SURVIVALIST LES STROUD TO DESIGN
makes it back-heavy, but
great for hammering or pounding. A SERIES OF FOUR SURVIVAL KNIVES.
SK MOUNTAIN
LENGTH: 7 inches
BLADE: 4 7/8 inches, 440
stainless steel with bonded
titanium coating
HANDLE: Molded
rubber/plastic with steel
pommel
MSRP: $57.99
The partial serration on the SK

Mountain makes it less effective
in its power zone the portion
of the blade best used for
carving or making shavings. The
user must instead use the front
of the blade for these tasks.

One critique I have

of the blade design is 3 QUICK
the serrated power FACTS
TV survivalist
zone. In the wilder-
Les Stroud
ness, serrations have assisted in the
limited practical use. design
For example, when Valued for its
making shavings or nimbleness
Solid,
carving, serrations take
comfortable grip
away the most effec-
tive part of the blade
for that duty. The blade also sports a
groove on the spine for striking a fire steel,
but the titanium coating makes it impos-
sible to get sparks.
The rest of the knife includes a sheath
system with ceramic sharpener,
whistle/small LED, fire steel, signal mirror
and a paracord wrap. A hybrid sheath, the
body holding the knife is a plastic plat-
form mounted to a nylon base. Overall,
the SK Mountain is a serviceable knife,
and the combination rubber plastic han-
dle and broadly rounded edges of the The SK Mountains sheath doubles as a compact survival kit. Pictured are a whistle/LED and fire steel. The sheath
handle make for a solid, comfortable grip. itself also includes a sharpener, signal mirror and small hidden compartment.
TWO: CRKT/KEN ONION

REDEMPTION REDEMPTION
Columbia River Knife and Tools Ken LENGTH: 15 inches
Onion design falls squarely into the large BLADE: 9.5 inches, O1 steel
chopper category. Named the Redemp- HANDLE: G10
tion, this blade has a formidable pres- MSRP: $300
ence.
The overall length of the Redemption is
15 inches, with 9.5-inch blade measuring
.25 inches thick. A modified drop-point re-
curved blade profile is used in conjunction
with contoured pistol grip-style handle
made of black G10. The re-curve blade
provides a pocket for power cutting, but
the use of it on a large chopper helps the
user exert control on the large blade while
slicing through wood.
Ken Onions modified style provides a
more aggressive tip to
a drop-point than usu-
al, but the tradeoff is
3 QUICK
FACTS
that it takes away
Re-curve
some weight from over blade provides
the sweet spot. When a pocket for
the front of the blade is power cutting
thinner, compared to a Aggressive
chopper
full bolo section at the
Comfortable
front in a re-curve de- grip
sign there is a loss of A combination of weight and high, thin grind give the Redemption solid penetration on each swing.

forward weight. Nonetheless, the Re-

demption is still an aggressive chopper
because of its high, thin grind. When you
lift the Redemption, the weight seems to
be in the ricasso area.
The grip is comfortable for chopping,
tightly locking in your finger placement.
The included sheath is reversible, with a
reversible moulded insert and large utility
pocket. Made from O1 steel, the blade is
easy to sharpen and holds a long-lasting
edge. At its weight, it dispatches wood
well for both chopping and cutting.
Ken Onions design comes with a contoured G10 pistol

grip-style handle with extra lanyard holes for the pins.
NAMED THE REDEMPTION,

THIS BLADE HAS A
FORMIDABLE PRESENCE.
ITS IN THE DETAILS
Cutting-edge geometry or the
geometry of a cutting edge is crucial, but
this is something many would-be
survivalists forget. A common
misconception is that heat treatment is the
most important part of forging a blade, and
while it certainly matters, its not the
ultimate make-or-break. Because a knife
has many parts, its vital that those parts
are designed properly.
When it comes to a blade, good
geometry is simple geometry. We know the
less surface area you have to pass through
another mass, the easier it is to do. So also
the angle at which the one mass passes
through the other is important. An object
must be streamlined to move easily. So
when youre looking at a knife to serve you,
keep in mind what you want the knife to do The CRKT Redemption comes
and consider whether the blade geometry is with a low-rider rig,
designed to fulfill that task. complete with quick-release
leg strap and utility pocket.
1 8 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014

LASER STRIKE
LENGTH: 10 inches
BLADE: 4.75 inches, 1095 steel
HANDLE: Canvas Micarta scales
MSRP: $120
The ESEE Laser Strikes thin, full flat-ground blade gives you great cutting control for woodcraft tasks.
THREE: ESEE LASER STRIKE grind keeps the edge from being too ob-
ESEEs Laser Strike falls into the mid- tuse.
size category, with an overall length of 10 When gripping the Laser Strike, you will
inches with a blade length of 4.75 inches. notice a two-stage grip: a standard grip
Its blade is made from 1095 steel, and the and a choil position choking up grip. The
handle features green canvas Micarta choil allows the user to creep up on the
scales. As an added feature, the Laser blade and use his fine motor skills when
Strike includes a bow-drill divot in the manipulating objects between the index
right side scale. It also comes with an am- finger and thumb.
bidextrous Kydex sheath. Overall, the Laser Strike is a good utility
The blade profile is a simple spear- knife with thin blade geometry, much like
point design, which will a lot of the other ESEE knives. However, I
allow the user to cen- 3 QUICK would love to see the company put a little
ter pressure in line with FACTS more contouring into their handles to
the tip while drilling or Ambidextrous make them more comfortable to use.
piercing. The cutting Kydex sheath
Good utility
edge is a simple, plain
knife with thin
edge great for wood- blade geometry THE CHOIL ALLOWS THE
craft cutting or meat Great for USER TO CREEP UP ON THE
woodcraft
processing. The steel
thickness is .1875 inch- cutting or meat
BLADE AND USE HIS FINE A full-tang design and thick scales provide a full grip.
While the grip is solid as is, it would be better if the
es, but the high, flat
processing
MOTOR SKILLS scales were contoured slightly.

CONTACT
CAMILLUS
60 Round Hills Road
Fair Field, CT 06824
Phone: (800) 835-2263
Website:
www.camillusknives.com
CRKT
18348 SW 126th Place
Tualatin, OR 97062
Phone: 503-685-5015
Website: www.crkt.com
ESEE
P.O. Box 99
Gallant, AL 35972
Phone: (256) 613-0372
Website: www.eseeknives.com
SCHRADE
1043 Ford Town Road
Kingsport, TN 37663
Phone: (800) 251-0254
Website:
www.schradeknives.com
The Laser Strike comes with full Kydex sheath and a metal spring belt clip. The back mounting panel for the clip is reversible,
allowing for left and right side carry.
FOUR: SCHRADE SCHF9 enough for cutting, but could have been accommodate the angle of the bolster
EXTREME SURVIVAL improved with better geometry. The han- area of the scales, but as a result the
The Schrade SCHF9 Extreme Survival dle is a full 5.7 inches in length, which pro- sheath is not ambidextrous. Also included
falls into that no-mans land: Its not vides a little wiggle room for the user to is a piggyback utility pouch for your
small enough to be a midsize knife, yet safely drop back on the handle and do sharpening stone or multi-tool.
too small to be a chop- some wrist-snap chopping. Schrades SCHF9 is a good knife on the
per. Overall, it meas- 3 QUICK With a quarter-inch-thick blade and whole, though I would like to see a thinner
ures 12.1 inches, with FACTS weighing just less than a full pound, this handle and thinner steel. As a small chop-
the blade making up High-carbon knife is borderline indestructible. This is per, it translates its weight into some solid
blade features a
5.9 inches. not necessarily a goal for a knife; its a hits because of its balance being slightly
rust-preventative
Its a full-tang de- coating provision for those who lack common forward.
sign with large, tex- Featuring a sense.
tured thermoplastic, quarter-inch- For carrying the SCHF9, Schrade pro- IN CONCLUSION
injection-molded thick blade and vides a nylon sheath with plastic blade These four knives comprise distinguish-
weighing almost
scales. The 1095 high- protection insert. The insert is angled to ing features. Some include survival acces-
a pound, the
carbon blade features knife is durable
a rust-preventative Nylon sheath WITH A QUARTER-INCH-THICK BLADE AND WEIGHING JUST
LESS THAN A FULL POUND, THIS KNIFE IS BORDERLINE
coating and a drop- features plastic
point re-curved profile. blade protection
It performs well
insert
INDESTRUCTIBLE.
SCHF9 EXTREME
SURVIVAL
LENGTH: 12.1 inches
BLADE: 5.9 inches,
1095 high-carbon steel
HANDLE: Thermoplastic
injection-molded scales
MSRP: $39.95
Schrades SCH9 is one of the heavier survival knives, with a spine width of inch. This also makes it nearly indestructible.
sories, while others stand alone as cutting

tools. In summary, no one knife style
stands out as the perfect survival knife; as
with any other knife, the most important
thing is for you as the user to determine
your needs and decide how well a knife
will meet those needs especially when
your life may be at stake. KI
The SCH9 comes with a nylon sheath that has a Velcro

easy-open belt loop and a removable utility pouch for The pocket of the SCH9s re-curve blade helps center the force of the cut, but a thicker edge makes it difficult to
carrying survival gear, a folder or sharpening stone. shave smoothly.

KI-1402-22-25-QA 12/17/13 2:06 AM Page 22
BEHINDthe
SCENES
The Mark of
EXCELLENCE
BY BETHANY MILLER PHOTOS COURTESY OF HALLMARK CUTLERY

KI-1402-22-25-QA 12/17/13 2:06 AM Page 23
WE DECIDED, AS A FAMILY,
TO START ONCE MORE DOING
WHAT WE LIKE: KNIVES.
his month, we spoke with Jessi- ABOUT THE

T
ing/manufacturing partnership with Kevin
ca Hall-Maples, vice president INTERVIEWEE Pipes and John Parker of Smoky Mountain
of HallMark Cutlery, who gave NAME: Jessica Maples Knife Works to fill in the product gaps
us an inside look at this family-run TITLE: Vice President they werent finding in the marketplace
business. HOW LONG EMPLOYED starting United Cutlery.
THERE: Since 2007 Jacob and I started our knife careers as
KNIVES ILLUSTRATED: Can you give us a young kids, making boxes, sweeping the
brief rundown of your company history, including how warehouse and assembling sheaths during school
you became involved with the knife industry? breaks and summers at United Cutlery. We both worked
JESSICA MAPLES: My brother, Jacob, and I were pret- our way up through the business, starting at entry-level
ty much raised into the knife business. Our father, David positions, and then developing into department heads.
Hall, was the right-hand man to Phil Martin at Blue Ridge Once the company was purchased, we decided, as a
Knives for a number of years. The two began a sourc- family, to start once more doing what we like: knives.

KI-1402-22-25-QA 12/17/13 2:07 AM Page 24
COMPANY INFO
How long have you been in business? We were
an official business in 2006, but it was 2007
when we really got everything rolling.
How many employees? Five, all family
members.
Website and contact information:
www.hallmarkcutlery.com
P.O. Box 220
Kodak, TN 37764
(866) 583-3912
KI: Is there a particular philosophy that

drives the way you run your business?
JM: Our family has always focused on
offering a quality product for an afford-
able price. We want you to be proud to
carry our products, but not have to break
the bank to do so.
KI: What is your research and development

process like? How do you conceptualize new
products? Who is responsible for that process,
etc.?
JM: Product development is definably a
process. Our father was always very good
at product development and attention to
detail. Jacob is our primary PD person
now. He has our dads eye for whats cool
and any trends on the horizon. We both
try to stay in touch with industry media
resources.
HallMark is currently working with cus-
tom knife designers Sean Kendrick and
David Mosier with our new tactical line,
Bad Blood. These guys are talented mak-
ers and we are factory producing their
custom designs. We will buy their custom,
handmade pieces and reverse engineer The Yokai
them at the factory level. From there, we
will spec the handle materials, blade ma-
terials and finishes we want the produc-
tion knife to include (that meet our price
requirements).
Any other products (which fall under
our Robert Klaas, Chief and HallMark
brands) are considered based on three
Bad Blood Partisan Folder
criteria: one, whats missing from our own
lines; two, whats missing from the mar-
ket; and three, a specific customer order.
We listen to our customers and take their and David Mosier are cool makers whose KI: What upcoming product or line are you
feedback seriously. style is a different voice from what almost excited about?
ready exists. JM: My favorite upcoming product is
KI: What product or line are you most proud Jacob has done an excellent job picking the Yokai, which is a dual collaboration
of, to date, and why? the line and developing the upcoming re- between Sean Kendrick and David
JM: Our new Bad Blood designer line is leases. He actually developed the name Mosier. To our knowledge, its the first
definably our flagship line. Sean Kendrick and logos for Bad Blood. double collaboration that has been fac-

KI-1402-22-25-QA 12/17/13 2:07 AM Page 25
WE WANT YOU TO
BE PROUD TO
CARRY OUR
PRODUCTS, BUT
NOT HAVE TO
BREAK THE BANK
TO DO SO.
tory produced and its a super-cool

design.
KI: Personally and from a companys per-

spective, what have been your greatest chal-
lenges in this industry? What challenges do you
foresee ahead?
JM: I think the economy is going to con-
tinue to be a challenge for everyone.
KI: What keeps your customers coming back?

JM: We really aim to go out of our way
to provide the best customer service pos-
sible. We always want your experience
with HallMark to be pleasant.
KI: What are HallMarks goals as a company

for the near and distant future?
JM: We are looking to increase distribu-
tion and brand awareness; we are also
trying to grow our social media presence.
The custom Bad Blood lines are in devel-
Bad Blood Crossfire Tanto opment for the next 18 months and we
will be working on whats next. KI

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 2:21 AM Page 26
THE HELLE HARDING SCORES AS

AN EFFECTIVE UTILITY KNIFE
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ABE ELIAS
YOU could call it a global invasion.

Knives from Russia, Italy, France and New
Zealand have arrived in North America over
the last few years, and this has created a
large, new selection of knives on our soil.
There are two reasons why this is happen-
ing. On one hand, collectors are yearning for
new product; in other instances, its the de-
mand from a rising category of users. You
probably have noticed that Helle Knives
from Norway is playing a large role in this in-
flux. And for good reason.

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 2:21 AM Page 27
HELLE KNIVES
SHOWCASE A UNIQUE
BLEND OF ART AND
UTILITY.
THE ORIGIN OF
SCANDINAVIAN
KNIVES
Norway
Denmark
Sweden
Finland
Faeroe Islands
Iceland

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 2:22 AM Page 28
THE DESIGN, THE SPECS

Helle knives showcase a unique blend
of art and utility. Some of their knives are
no frills a clean fit and finished; other
models have the added flare of design el-
ements, making them almost too attrac-
tive to use. I have had a number of Helle
knives over the years; this time I selected
the Harding.
Designed by Erling Opstal in 1986, the
Harding, as do most of Helles designs,
features a stick tang, which leads to many
arguments about the sturdiness of the
knife in wilderness survival and bushcraft
situations. When I hear those discussions,
my response is always the same. If youre
using a knife for what its designed, you
should have no problems. Obviously, a
full-tang design has more strength be-
cause of the sheer extra mass of metal.
But consider this: maybe that only serves
to give someone too much confidence, so
they may over-stress a knife, thinking the
full tang has their back.
A stick tang does allow for greater lati-
tude in creative handles, and the Harding
is a good example of that. In orderfrom
the ricasso to the butt of the handlethe
materials are walnut, leather washers,
curly birch, another leather washer and
walnut.
The Harding is 8.3 inches long. The
blade, constructed out of a triple-laminat-
ed stainless steel, is 3.9 inches long, and it
has a Scandinavian zero grind, which is
about 5/16 of an inch high with a 7/8-
inch-wide blade. That plays to the tradi-
tional 1/3 ratio of the Scandinavian grind.
The thickness of the blade is 4/32 of an
inch.
SPECIFICATIONS
OVERALL LENGTH: 8.3 inches
WEIGHT: 3.7 ounces
BLADE MATERIAL: Triple-laminate stainless steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Curly birch, leather, walnut
SHEATH: Genuine leather
The Helle Harding features a

trim, lightweight design thats
great for bushcraft chores or as
a camping sidekick.

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 2:22 AM Page 29
Helle uses a North American-

style pouch sheath with plastic
insert, but the belt loop design
is very reminiscent of the
Scandinavian dangler design.
A STICK TANG DOES

ALLOW FOR
GREATER LATITUDE
IN CREATIVE
HANDLES, AND THE
HARDING IS A GOOD
EXAMPLE OF THAT.

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 2:22 AM Page 30
Helle accents the Hardings utility with an attractive

handle made from various woods and leather washers.
The laminated blade

provides a strong edge
capable of all any
bushcraft-related task.

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 2:22 AM Page 31
CREATIVITY THROUGH EXPOSURE

Theres the Brusletto from Norway, the Lauri
from Finland and the Mora from Sweden. And
there are others, of course, but there are too many
to note here.
For more than a decade, weve seen the
Scandinavian-styleknives. Of course, most of the
For secure carry, the Helle
Harding includes a
attention has been on the differences between
pommel cap flap that will our North American styles.
fit over the nub and hold it They all carry the cultural and regional
in the sheath. similarities of that part of the world, but take a
closer look. That will show how they differ from
area to area, however minimal that difference. We
tend to see the similarities between the areas
because we focus on the Scandinavian grind itself.
In fact, they actually have a number of designs
that have flat grinds on them and
that incorporate features from
North American knives.
So instead of viewing the knife
designs in strictly a geographic
relationship, we can see that they are
closely related to nationalities and trade
routes (cultural exposure). A good example is
the obvious similarities between some Northern
Russian designs and many cultural pieces from the
Scandinavian countries. As we see many more
cultures bring their knives to the world market, we
will see many variations and creativity through
their exposure.
The geometry of the blade forms a keen nimble cutter great

for carving and cutting wood for bushcraft projects. The blade
features a drop-point design that keeps the point above center,
but the gentle upward curve of the blade still provides a useful
slicing angle and aggressive tip.
The added benefit of a laminated blade is that it features a
thin, hard core that holds an excellent edge while being sand-
wiched between two softer layers. This allows the blade to be
more flexible. When put to work, the knife has done well on
harder jobs.
My hand is a little more than 4 inches wide, and I find the
handle a tad small for my hand, making the otherwise well-
contoured handle a bit of a hot spot holder for me. My index fin-
ger tends to ride up on the front finger guard contour and the
same for the heel on the back of my hand.
The entire knife weighs only 3.7 ounces so its light, lively and
very controllable with the full contour of the handle. If you have
a wide hand like mine, however, you might feel a little crowded.
CARRY NOTES
To carry the Harding, Helle provides a pouch-style sheath
that locks the knife securely. A button flap secures to the pom-
mel cap, which keeps the handle in place.

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 2:22 AM Page 32
The sheath comes with a plastic pro-

tective insert, and the belt loop accom-
modates a 1 -inch wide belt. That, how-
ever, is the limit, so you would not be able
to wear a duty belt.
Overall, the system for carrying the
knife is much like the knife itself: light and
streamlined.
CONCLUSION
Helle has a full line of knives in various
configurations and sizes. The Harding,
which is not hard on the eyes at all, is one
of their midsize models, and it has a good
range of utility effectiveness.
If you would like to get into a higher-end
Scandinavian knife model, the Helle line
would be worth looking at. Im impressed
with Harding although I need one of their
larger models for larger hands. KI
Canadian resident Abe Elias is a regular

contributor to Knives Illustrated and other
Beckett Media publications.
CONTACT INFO
Sport Hansa (distributor)
10 Business Park Circle
Arden, NC 28704
Phone: (828) 398-4880
Email: info@sport-hansa.com
Website: www.sport-hansa.com

KI-1402-26-33-HELLE 12/17/13 5:00 AM Page 33
is rust holding you captive?
break free.
dive in. SPYDERCO SALT SERIES
get wet. FOLDERS AND FIXED BLADES
ARE MADE WITH H-1,
A NITROGEN BASED,
NON-RUSTING BLADE STEEL
See your local dealer or

visit us at www.spyderco.com
FB31SYL
820 SPYDERCO WAY
GOLDEN, CO 80403
800.525.7770

KI-1402-34-41-SURMENE 12/17/13 2:38 AM Page 34
BLACK SEA
LEGACY
FROM TURKEY COMES A STORIED HISTORY
OF KNIFEMAKING
STORY BY ANGELA WALDRON
PHOTOS BY ANGELA WALDRON
AND ALAN LAVALLEE
nside a small, weathered building attached to their family home
I in the Turkish district of Srmene, brothers Remsi and Fevzi

Snmez are carrying out a living legacy.
This building, a knife workshop, contains the two small, well-lit rooms
crammed with tools of the trade: a stove, a vise, and a wheel stone for sharpen-
ing blades. A humble stump and low stool serve as the workbench. As we walk
from one room to the next, the silence is broken by the sound from the wood,
horn and bone debris-strewn floors crunching beneath our feet.


When we enter Fevzi's workroom, he The emergence of the distinctive dol-

disappears for a minute, re-emerging car- WHILE EXCELLENT IN phin-head knife has become a symbol of
rying an object wrapped in cloth. Some- Srmenes resilience and, like the dolphin,
what furtively, he unwraps the cloth, re- CRAFTSMANSHIP, is a revered symbol that represents the
vealing a silah, or weapon: the historic
THIS KNIFES TRUE VALUE continuity of past and present rather than
kama dagger. While excellent in crafts- the kamas connotations of vengeance
manship, this knifes true value comes COMES FROM ITS STATUS and death.
from its status as a symbol of an era long
bygone, and of the tradition that remains. AS A SYMBOL OF AN ERA A NEW GENERATION
LONG BYGONE Of the few remaining traditional knife-
A RICH TRADITION makers, the Snmez brothers are among
While the cities of Bursa and Yagatan
are better-known Turkish blade-making
epicenters, Srmene is unique for the pro- Fevzi Snmez is one of
duction of iron ore in the area going back an elite few
knifemakers who still
some 3,000 years and for its knifemak-
craft the traditional
ing tradition since the late Byzantine era.
kama blade.
In the mid-17th century, Ottoman
knives, swords, daggers and armor of
Damascus steel were readily available
within the Empire and highly coveted in
Europe. The expertise of the local knife-
makers in producing, engraving and
sharpening weapons was nearly un-
matched.
One fine blade in particular is
Srmenes arm of choice, standing out
from among the rest for its lethalness: the
nearly 12-inch-long, double-sided, sharply
tapered, and grooved kama dagger. The
kama was a mark of prestige worn and fa-
vored by the tribal Laz for duels, blood
feuds and in the ceremonial horon folk
dance, and worn with pride by the crafts-
men who made them.
But in the last 100 years, Srmenes
knifemaking has significantly declined.
First, the provinces iron mine was closed.
Then, in 1952, daggers were banned in-
cluding the kama. While once the sound
of blades being hammered from the
forges of 250 home workshops resound-
ed through Srmenes historic Glonsa
neighborhood, today, a mere handful of
master knifemakers remain in Srmene.
For those few knifemakers, however, a
new sense of purpose has emerged. While
the kama may be a symbol of the regions
past, the master craftsmen who remain to
carry on the tradition have found inspira-
tion in another ancient Black Sea symbol
fallen on hard times: the dolphin, long a
symbol of destiny and good fortune, and
now, like the kama, an endangered
species.

Srmene, population 15,000, is located halfway

between the Black Sea cities of Trabzon and Rize.
those who best exemplify adaptation of The loophole is that the dagger is a his- fixed blade. First, we watch him draw the
the centuries-old tradition. They trained toric object and is therefore legal for re- shape of the blade upon a long sheet of
as apprentices with their now-deceased production, but not for sale or use. thin sheet metal, cut it out, and place the
father, Haji Hasan Sonmez, one of the raw blank in the coals of the wood-fired
renowned masters of the Srmene tradi- IN THE MAKING stove. In the past, a young apprentice
tion. As luck would have it, when we arrive would fan the fire by hand with a large
According to demand, the Snmez Fevzi is beginning a new dolphin-head pair of leather bellows. Today, an electric
brothers earn their living through their ex-
tensive repertory of bread, fish, fruit and
butcher knives, penknives, cutlery sets
and the special dolphin-head knife. Be-
cause of their unique sense of place and
superb execution, these knives (especially
antique blades) are highly sought after by
Turkish collectors and other knife afi-
cionados.
Fevzis kama dagger has a 5-inch, dou-
ble-edged, well-tempered stainless steel
blade. A blood groove runs down one
side, tapering to an exceedingly thin razor-
sharp point (reminiscent of a European
dirk) and attached to a nearly 4-inch-long
horn hilt inlaid with silver.
As part of a set, the kama comes with a
matching fixed-blade knife. While Fevzi
reiterates the official line forbidding the
production and sale of daggers, ancient
traditions die hard, and kama and other
daggers are still made and sold (not to
this foreigner, but not for lack of trying).
WHERE TO FIND SRMENE KNIVES

As a rule, Srmene craftsmen make knives to order
and sell from local shops. A small selection of
handmade knives may be found on websites such
as www.surdovbisa.ticiz.com or The Snmez workshop, a humble building attached to their house, is located high in the verdant hills
www.yerelmarkt.com. above Srmene.

SRMENE
IS UNIQUE
FOR ITS
KNIFEMAKING
TRADITION
SINCE THE LATE This dolphin-head knife is
BYZANTINE regarded as a symbol of the
resilience of Srmenes
ERA. knifemaking tradition.
After a blade is completed, its ground freehand using an ancient wheel stone like this one a skill that requires exacting precision and many years of
experience. This practice is being replaced with modern belt grinders.

The 19th Annual
R AN SA
fan activates the resting coals inside.
Once the blank is red hot, its removed
from the coals with a long pair of pliers
and carefully hammered into shape, re-
A K S CUSTOM KNIFE SHOW
FEB. 22 & 23, 2014
heated back on the flame, then quenched
in fish oil and repeated as often as neces-
LITTLE ROCK, AR
sary to strengthen and harden the steel.
With the blank back in the coals, Fevzi
goes to the next room and continues
Open to the Public Robinson Center Exhibition Hall
working on a nearly finished knife. He's al- 424 W. Markham (by DoubleTree Hotel)
$10 Admission
ready welded the 4-inch blade to the hilt,
S AT: 10-5 S UN : 10-3 DOUBLETREE HOTEL: 800/937-2789 501/372-4371
SPECIAL HOTEL SHOW RATE:
a luminous piece of black ox horn. Fevzi
$112 SINGLE/DOUBLE $122 TRIPLE $132 QUAD
has carved the horn into a dolphin head,
Friday Night Knife Photos by:
complete with silver inlaid eye, using a sil- Donated Knives to be Given Away at the Show: Chuck Ward
Reception
ver collar in between to secure it. Grand Prize
He then sands and files the newly at-
tached hilt, taking great care to get it to
just the correct shape and smoothness.
Traditionally, Srmene knives are orna-
GRINDER
mented with arabesque engravings on the donated by
BURR KING
silver collar or calligraphic inscriptions on
the blade itself, such as Srmene, or
some talismanic slogan such as Release
Lee Ferguson
me, I will protect you. The use of an elec-
Brion Tomberlin James Scroggs
tric engraver is the only concession to
Bill Kirkes Jerry McClure
modernity. Suppliers:
After the blade is completed, Fevzi J. R. Cook, AR Alan Hutchinson, AR Keith Murr, AR James Scroggs, MO Abrasives, Inc.
Gary Crowder, OK Larry Inman, AR Allen Newberry, AR Richard Self, TX American Bladesmith
sharpens it on an ancient wheel stone, Mike Allen, TX Jim Crowell, AR Gary Johnson, AR Ron Newton, AR Ben Seward, AR Society
David Anders, AR Steve Culver, KS Lacy Key, AR Cliff Odell, TX Butch Sheely, OH Alabama Damascus
then burnishes it with a piece of sheeps Karl B. Andersen, MN Jesse W. Davis, MS Robert P. Smith, MO Ankrom Exotics
Ray Kirk, OK Cliff Parker, FL
felt. Finally, he places the knife in a hand- Reggie Barker, LA Bill Duff, OK Bill Kirkes, AR Logan Pearce, AR Craig Steketee, MO Culpepper & Co.
Jim Batson, GA Fred Durio, LA Knifeology, KS John Perry, AR Douglas Stice, KS Forrest Cases
carved alder or boxwood scabbard cov- Bill Behnke, MI Rodger Echols, AR Jerry Lairson, OK Fred Pittman, LA Ed Sticker, MS Giraffebone, Inc.
ered in a stitched calf-leather sheath. All Gayle Bradley, TX Lee-Linda Ferguson, AR David Lemoine, AR Larry Pridgen, GA Charles Stout, AR Glendo Corporation
Kim Breed, TN Tom Ferry, WA Ken Linton, TX Mike Quesenberry, CA Johnny Stout, TX Green River Leather
Snmez-made sheaths sport a distinctive Craig Brewer, TX Jerry Fisk, AR David Lisch, WA Vernon Red, AR Kurt Swearingen, NM Knife World
Tim Britton, NC Ronnie Foster, AR Larry-Gail Lunn, AR Lin Rhea, AR Tim Tabor, FL Kochheiser Ivory
metal or leather bead detail at the very Benoni Bullard, AR Brian Thie, IA Paul Long Leather
Tommy Gann, TX Tad Lynch, AR Robert Rhodes, AR
tip. With proper care, the knives will resist Bill Burke, ID Brett Gatlin, TX Bill Lyons, NE Raymond Richard, OR Brion Tomberlin, OK Ozark Knifemakers
Sam Butler, AR Gordon Graham, TX Jim Magee, KS Ralph Richards, AR Bobby Toole, MS Pop Knife Supplies
rust or tarnish. Typically, it takes one mas- Bill Buxton, MO Bob Ham, AZ Roger Massey, AR Ron Richerson, KY Pete Truncali, TX Riverside Machine
ter a full 24 hours to make two blades. Craig Camerer, IL Don Hanson III, MO Jerry McClure, OK Kyle Royer, MO Terry Vandeventer, MS Rowes Leather
Doug Campbell, MT Douglas-Gail Hardy, GA Robert Merz, TX Michael Ruth, Jr., TX Gary Wheeler, TN Spa City Woodworks
As the brothers have no knives in stock, Dan Cassidy, CO DAlton Holder, AZ Bill Miller, MO Mike Ruth, TX John White, FL Charles Turnage
Joel Chamblin, GA John Horrigan, TX Sidney Moon, LA Lyle Schow, MO Mike Williams, OK C. Ward Photography
we walk back downtown to a small knife Jon Christensen, MT Raymon Hunt, TX Joel Worley, OH Wood Lab
Gary Mulkey, MO Terry Schreiner, OK
shop we'd been in earlier to ask for direc-
tions. Here, we purchased contemporary David Etchieson 501.554.2582 arknifeassn@yahoo.com www.arkansasknifemakers.com
GLOSSARY
Bak: knives
Bak: knifemaker
El yapm: handmade
Kama: dagger
Sivri: sharply pointed blade
ak bak: fixed-blade knife
Silah: weapon
Discover the
Paslanmaz elik agizi: stainless steel blade
Elma: silver collar
Premier Knife
Kn: sheath or scabbard
Sap: hilt Magazine
Bileyci: wheel stone
Boynuz: animal horn Visit our new website Today! www.knivesillustrated.com

KI-1402-34-41-SURMENE.CX 12/18/13 12:18 AM Page 40
After tempering the blade

and grinding it on the
wheel stone, Fevzi hand
files it several times to
achieve the proper finish.

ONE FINE BLADE IN

PARTICULAR IS
SRMENES ARM OF
CHOICE, STANDING OUT
FROM AMONG THE REST
FOR ITS LETHALNESS.
Intricate detail work

is a hallmark of
Srmene-made
knives.
Srmenes signature piece, a knife hand-

crafted by Fevzi Snmez, similar to the
one we had just seen in the workshop,
with a graceful black horn handle carved
in the stylized shape of a dolphins head.
Not only does this blade represent
Srmenes legacy of fine craftsmanship,
its also an enduring symbol of the Black
Sea coast and a source of livelihood for
fishermen and craftsmen alike. KI KI

KI_1402_42 12/17/13 3:25 AM Page 42
J A N T Z Your C
ESSENTIALS ALABAMA DAMASCUS
The forging process on our damascus billets
BLADE STEEL
All steel offered below by JANTZ is mill nished
starts out a mixture of 13 layers that include steel and made in the USA. Other widths and
Heat 5160, 203E, 15N20 and 52100 high nickel, high thicknesses available. Visit www.knifemaking.com
Treat alloy steels and then folded 5 times to produce
a high contrast 416 layer damascus billet. All
to purchase blanchard ground and precision ground
steels. We also have available 154CM, 1095, 5160,
Ovens sizes are approximate. Sizes are over sized in 15N20, O1, A2, CPMS 90V and Cowry Steels
thickness up to .010".
In Stock Now 440C
for Immediate Shipment. Random Pattern CAT.# SIZE PRICE
These Evenheat Knife Ovens are equipped with CF418 1/8 x 1 x 18 14.95
the Rampmaster Control. The Rampmaster CF518 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 18 19.95
Control allows up to 12 programs and uses a CF558 1/8 x 2 x 18 24.95
numerical keypad for data entry. Available in CF618 5/32 x 1 1/2 x 18 22.95
four sizes, all models measure 10 width x 6.5 CF658 5/32 x 2 x 18 30.95
height inside chamber. Maximum temperature CAT.# SIZE PATTERN PRICE CF718 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 18 26.95
is 2200 degrees F.-all are 240 volt, single phase. AD100 3/32 x 3 x 15 Random 119.95 CF758 3/16 x 2 x 18 34.95
For more information visit www.knifemaking. AD120 1/8 x 3 x 15 Random 119.95 CF778 3/16 x 4 x 18 64.95
com. Actual shipping charges apply. AD140 9/64 x 3 x 15 Random 139.95 CF918 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 18 34.95
CAT.# DEPTH SHIP WEIGHT PRICE AD155 5/32 x 3 x 15 Random 139.95 CF958 1/4 x 2 x 18 44.95
AD190 3/16 x 3 x 15 Random 149.95
KF135R
KF180R
13.5
18.0
87 LBS
95 LBS
1013.00
1070.00 Ladder Pattern CPMS 30V
KF225R 22.5 104 LBS 1122.00 CAT.# SIZE PRICE
KF360R 36.0 200 LBS 2089.00 LF118 1/8 x 1 x 18 23.95
LF218 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 18 32.95
Knife Sharpening Wheels LF228 1/8 x 2 x 18 42.95
Kit includes LF318 5/32 x 1 1/2 x 18 40.95
two wheels, LF328 5/32 x 2 x 18 56.95
one wheel is CAT.# SIZE PATTERN PRICE
LF418 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 18 51.95
slotted for AD300 3/32 x 3 x 15 Ladder 119.95 LF428 3/16 x 2 x 18 65.95
polishing AD320 1/8 x 3 x 15 Ladder 119.95 LF448 3/16 x 4 x 18 125.95
and the AD340 9/64 x 3 x 15 Ladder 139.95
other wheel AD355 5/32 x 3 x 15 Ladder 139.95 CPMS 35VN
is coated AD390 3/16 x 3 x 15 Ladder 149.95 CAT.# SIZE PRICE
with silicon
carbide grit for sharpening, white rouge, silicon
Raindrop Pattern HF118 1/8 x 1 x 18 24.95
HF218 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 18 33.95
carbide grit, lubricant, appropriate bushings &
HF228 1/8 x 2 x 18 39.95
instructions. 7 1/2 diameter x 3/4 thick with 1
HF318 5/32 x 1 1/2 x 18 43.95
arbor hole & reducers for 1/2, 5/8 & 3/4 holes.
HF418 5/32 x 2 x 18 58.95
CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE HF508 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 18 51.95
WKS800 Knife Sharpening Wheel Set 34.95 CAT.# SIZE PATTERN PRICE HF518 3/16 x 2 x 18 69.95
HF548 3/16 x 4 x 18 129.95
AD400 3/32 x 3 x 15 Raindrop 119.95
Knifemakers Center Scribe
Use this precision scribe
AD420
AD440
1/8 x 3 x 15
9/64 x 3 x 15
Raindrop
Raindrop
119.95
139.95
CPM 154
for marking center lines as AD455 5/32 x 3 x 15 Raindrop 139.95 CAT.# SIZE PRICE
a guide for grinding knife AD490 3/16 x 3 x 15 Raindrop 149.95 PF118 1/8 x 1 x 18 23.95
blades. It is designed for PF218 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 18 30.95
accuracy, this scribe can Ferric Chloride PF228 1/8 x 2 x 18 39.95
be adjusted from 0-1/2. PF318 5/32 x 1 1/2 x 18 39.95
Adjusts 1/32 per revolution PF328 5/32 x 2 x 18 52.95
using fine adjustment screw. Used to acid etch damascus after PF418 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 18 46.95
Replaceable carbide tip heat treating. Dilute with distilled PF428 3/16 x 2 x 18 60.95
marks even the hardest knife water or vinegar as needed. Keep PF448 3/16 x 4 x 18 116.95
bottle sealed tightly and stored in a
steel. Made In USA.
cool place. Can Not Ship Air. CMP 3V
CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE
CAT.# SIZE PRICE
JS304 Scribe without Adjustment 29.95 CAT.# DESCRIPTION SIZE PRICE
VF618 5/32 x 1 1/2 x 18 37.95
JS305 Scribe with Adjustment 39.95 BS110 Ferric Chloride 16 oz. 14.95 VF628 5/32 x 2 x 18 49.95
JS307 Replacement Carbide Tip 9.95
VF718 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 18 43.95
Hardened File Guide ChevronTexaco VF728 3/16 x 2 x 18 57.95
70 Quench Oil VF748 3/16 x 4 x 18 113.95
This versatile tool can be used for holding your Premium quality quenching oil designed to VF918 1/4 x 1 1/2 x 18 55.95
knife blades to do complex file work, filing slots provide controlled cooling of steel which is VF928 1/4 x 2 x 18 73.95
for guards to reach angles needed when hand important in steel hardening. When quenching VF948 1/4 x 4 x 18 143.95
is started, Chevron Quenching Oil 70 provides
sanding your blades. Our file guide is precision
machined and ground from A-2 tool a high initial cooling rate inducing maximum D2
hardness, yet once the critical transformation CAT.# SIZE PRICE
steel and hardened to temperature is passed, the ideal fluid cooling
62RHc for long wear. rate decreases to eliminate the possibility of YF218 1/8 x 1 x 18 13.95
Overall length 3.250, stresses and metal distortion. This highly stable YF318 1/8 x 1 1/2 x 18 18.95
maximum blade width oil resists the oxidizing effects of quenching and YF328 1/8 x 2 x 18 24.95
2, each jaw is 3/8 is less sensitive to the effects of agitation. It is YF518 5/32 x 1 1/2 x 18 21.95
x 3/4. Made in highly heat resistant. No additive replacement YF528 5/32 x 2 x 18 29.95
is required and, in normal service, the product
the USA.
retains the original viscosity indefinitely. YF718 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 18 26.95
YF728 3/16 x 2 x 18 34.95
CAT.# DESCRIPTION SIZE PRICE YF748 3/16 x 4 x 18 63.95
CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE BS101 Quench Oil 1 Gallon 49.95 YF818 1/4 x 2 x 18 41.95
FG100 File Guide 49.95 BS105 Quench Oil 5 Gallon 149.95 YF848 1/4 x 4 x 18 78.95
KI_1402_43 12/17/13 3:27 AM Page 43
Complete Source For

USA MADE BLADES STABILIZED WOODS
JANTZ custom quality blades are 100% made Hand selected for gure and color then impregnated
DESERT IRONWOOD
We have the largest selection of ironwood burl
in the USA. Flat ground from the best USA made completely through with resins. Scales are 2-piece available. Ironwood is the hardest, rarest and most
steels available and cryogentically heat treated you matched sets. stable wood on earth. It will not shrink or move.
will not nd a better product or value. This naturally stable wood is easy to work. Scales
California Buckeye are bookmatched for perfect mirror imaged sets.
Pattern 21 All sizes are approximate.
High Contrast
CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE

Overall 7 7/8, Blade 3 1/8, 1 1/8 wide and 5/32 thick.
TW119 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 39.95
CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE TW419 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 24.95
J2189 Pattern 21 Damascus Blade 99.95 TW219 1 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 39.95 CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE
J2108 Pattern 21 440C Steel Blade 31.95 EW170 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 16.00
J2128 Pattern 21 D2 Steel Blade 31.95 Spalted Birch EW270 1-1/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 21.00
K218 1/4 Brass Bolster and Rivets 9.95 EW370 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 14.95
K219 1/4 Stainless Bolster and Rivets 9.95
Dark Exhibition Burl
Pattern 22
TW141 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 29.95
TW441 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 19.95
Overall 8 3/8, Blade 3 1/2, 1 3/32 wide and 5/32 TW241 1 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 29.95
thick. CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE
CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE Maple Burl EW171 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 30.00
EW271 1-1/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 35.00
J2289 Pattern 22 Damascus Blade 99.95 EW371 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 24.95
J2208 Pattern 22 440C Steel Blade 31.95
J2228 Pattern 22 D2 Steel Blade 31.95 Exhibition Burl
K228 1/4 Brass Bolster and Rivets 9.95
K229 1/4 Stainless Bolster and Rivets 9.95

Pattern 31 TW113 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 29.95
TW413 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 19.95
TW213 1 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 29.95
Reddish Spalted Maple EW172 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 35.00
Overall 7 5/8, Blade 3, 1 1/8 wide and 5/32 thick. EW272 1-1/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 40.00
CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE EW372 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 27.95
J3189 Pattern 31 Damascus Blade 99.95
J3128 Pattern 31 D2 Steel Blade 31.95 Presentation Burl
J3198 Pattern 31 1095 Steel Blade 24.95
K318 1/4 Brass Bolster and Rivets 9.95
K319 1/4 Stainless Bolster and Rivets 9.95 CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE
TW135 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 34.95
Pattern 38 TW435 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 24.95
TW235 1 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 34.95
Black Palm
EW173 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 40.00
EW273 1-1/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 45.00
Overall 7, Blade 2 1/2, 15/16 wide and 5/32 thick. EW373 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 36.95
EW473 3/16x1-1/4x3-3/4 Scales 26.95
J3838
J3898
Pattern 38 CPMS 30V Blade
Pattern 38 1095 Steel Blade
39.95
24.95 CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE
1-800-351-8900
K388
K389
1/4 Brass Bolster and Pins
1/4 Stainless Bolster and Pins
7.95 TW191
7.95 TW491
3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales
1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales
29.95
19.95
ORDER ONLINE
TW291 1 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 29.95
Pattern 33 Black Ash Burl
KNIFEMAKING.COM
Send orders to:
JANTZ SUPPLY
Overall 7 1/8, Blade 3 3/16, 5/8 wide and 1/8 thick. 309 W MAIN
Davis OK 73030
ADD $9.95 FOR SHIPPING
J3348 Pattern 33 154CM Steel Blade 24.95 CAT.# DESPRIPTION PRICE Download Free Online.
J3328 Pattern 33 D2 Steel Blade 19.95 TW117 3/8 x 1-1/2 x 5 Scales 39.95 JANTZ Catalog $5.00, Free with order
K338 1/4 Brass Guard and Pins 7.95 TW417 1/4 x 1-1/4 x 4 Scales 24.95 Knifemaking supplies, tools, equipment, leathercraft,
K339 1/4 Stainless Guard and Pins 7.95 TW217 1 x 1-1/2 x 5 Block 39.95 engraving and more.
KI-1402-44-46-ACCESSORIES 12/17/13 2:46 AM Page 44
Black Widow
BELLS & Mechanics Gloves

Prepare to keep your grip even in
WHISTLES
nger-numbing cold or slippery
conditions with these gloves.
Made from a high-performance
material and featuring
non-slip treading on the
palms, these gloves will
t your hand as snugly as
The latest
your hand ts your tool.
One size ts most. Available
from Major Surplus.
MSRP: $14.95
survival
accessories for
knife owners
BY BETHANY MILLER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS
his month, to complement our cover story,
T weve chosen a selection of survival-worthy

accessories.
TOPS Survival
Neck Wallet
Speaking of compact, this
wallet packs 16 necessities
into a palm-sized pouch. The
wallet comprises a
transparent ID window, two
interior pouches, a zippered
money pouch and rear pouch
with 3M highly reective
backing. The wallets contents
include a restarter, compass,
shhooks, screwdriver and
more. A bonus highlight: this
wallet was designed in
collaboration with Knives
Illustrateds own Terrill
Hoffman.
MSRP: $49.95
Photo by
Terrill Hoffman

SOG Firestarter/Sharpener
This handy tool allows you to kill two birds with one stone
while still being ultra compact and when youre
packing a bug-out bag, the more compact your
items, the better. Featured are a glass-
reinforced nylon handle, a at diamond
sharpening pad and a cylindrical
sharpener, which can be used
for serrations.
MSRP: $20
FAMARS USA SRT Rescue

When traveling light is of the essence, the most valuable tools
are those that can perform multiple functions. This multitool
was designed for EMT use and therefore promises to be
invaluable in times of catastrophe. Crafted from 440C and
154CM steels, the SRT Rescue includes a one-handed opening
liner lock knife thats razor sharp and hollow ground, as well as
internal LEDs, a belt cutter, scissors, wire cutter/pliers, Phillips
and athead screwdrivers, and a bottle/can opener.
MSRP: $199
United Cutlery Rust Eraser

CRKT Key Ring Emergency Tool
A rusty blade is inconvenient at best and dangerous
Like the SRT Rescue, the Key Ring Emergency Tool (K.E.R.T.) was at worst neither of which you can afford to risk in a
designed by Ray Kirk with emergency service professionals in mind, survival scenario. Fortunately, the Rust Eraser, made
ensuring excellent performance in a crisis. As durable as it is useful, the by United Cutlery and sold by Smoky Mountain Knife
K.E.R.T. is razor sharp and ready to cut seatbelts, webbing other other Works, provides a quick and easy solution. Ready for
brous materials. But thats not all it can do: other features include a use right out of the package, it can remove almost
screwdriver, oxygen tank opener, bottle opener and 14-inch hex any rust spot, no matter how stubborn. Available
wrench, all in one keychain-sized package. Includes a vinyl slip sheath. from Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
MSRP: $7.99 MSRP: $3.99

Modern Combative Systems Mercharness CONTACT INFO

A.G. RUSSELL
The Mercharness is touted by Modern Combative Systems as revolutionary, and www.agrussell.com
it is indeed unique. This comfortable, lightweight shoulder holster can be worn for (800) 255-9034
left- or right-handed carry, will not pinch the skin, and is easily adjustable and
accessible even while being worn. Made from military-grade parachute cord, the COLUMBIA RIVER KNIFE & TOOL
Mercharness is easily concealable under even a T-shirt. Its suitable for carrying www.crkt.com
any Kydex sheath with eyelets. (503) 685-5015
MSRP: $9.99
FAMARS USA
www.famarsusa.com
(855) 326-2771
MAJOR SURPLUS
www.majorsurplus.com
(800) 441-8855
MODERN COMBATIVE SYSTEMS

www.moderncombativesystems.net
(717) 693-2085
SMOKY MOUNTAIN KNIFE WORKS

www.smkw.com
(865) 453-5871
SOG KNIVES & TOOLS

www.sogknives.com
(425) 771-6230
TOPS KNIVES
www.topsknives.com
(208) 542-0113
A.G. Russell
Field Sharpener
Described by A.G. Russell as universally
useful, this sharpener is both versatile and
compact, ensuring your knife remains
reliable. Two diamond rods and two ceramic
rods, each measuring four inches long, fold
out at a 30-degree angle from one another.
This compact design is inspired by the work
of sharpener innovator Louis Graves.
MSRP: $39.95 KI

KI-1402-9-47-TEASER 12/17/13 12:25 AM Page 47
Things
to Come
of
Photo courtesy
JAY FIS HE R
JAY FISHER HORUS
For more
Jay Fisher knives,
please see page 76.

KI_1402_48 12/17/13 3:55 AM Page 48
TWO is better than One

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KI-1308-Spotlight 6/3/13 8:20 AM Page 47
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KI-1402-50-56-VICTORINOX 12/17/13 2:59 AM Page 50
THE BEAUTY OF
SIMPLICITY
THE VICTORINOX HUNTER PRO IS
AN IDEAL, NO-NONSENSE BLADE
FOR THE OUTDOORSMAN
STORY AND PHOTOS BY
JIM WEISS AND MICKEY DAVIS
IN 1884, Karl Elsener had a revolutionary idea.

He had opened a workshop where he would design and make cutlery
specifically for the soldiers of the Swiss Army. His idea was for a com-
pact, sturdy knife that would combine many functions within a single
tool. This invention has since become a legend: the original Swiss Army
knife.
Over the years, while the business has remained in the family (its CEO
is the founders great-grandson, Carl Elsener), the Swiss Army knife has
evolved to meet changing customer needs and technology while up-
holding its reputation as an essential, reliable tool.
Simultaneously, the company now known as Victorinox has con-
tinued to develop new products that will serve its customers just as well
as the original icon. The latest of these developments is the Hunter Pro.
Overview
The Hunter Pro is a tactical knife with a new folding blade designed
for easy, one-hand access. Its heavy-gauge, stainless steel blade locks
securely in place, and the ergonomic grip allows for easy maneuvering.
The blade can be re-sharpened repeatedly, something thats important
to all users.
The Hunter Pro comes with a nylon pouch (in olive drab) that features
a wide belt loop and braided lanyard.
Paul Grangers Review of the Victorinox Hunter Pro

The blade of the Victorinox Hunter Pro opens fairly easily, something
custom knifemaker Paul Granger demonstrated by using both his weak
and strong hands. The knife can also be closed using just one hand.
While it can be used for skinning, its not quite as ideal as a gut-hook
bladed knife.


Handle made of polyamide and nylon, and the Unfortunately, the knife wasnt de-
The Hunter Pros handle has a grip that blade lock built into the top of the knifes signed with a lanyard hole, something
feels good in hand when using the for- handle is the first locking knife made by that would be helpful for a camper or
ward, reverse and inverted forward grips. Victorinox to employ the back lock de- hunter.
The four finger grooves fit the hand sign.
well, and are spaced for a normal knife The spacer, between the handles to the Blade
users hands. Some knifemakers believe rear of the lock bar, has a snug fit and the The top of the blade has a raised area
that four grooves might not be well suited lock bar itself leaves little space for dirt to that houses a thumb hole, which makes
for all hands, but Granger believes that, get in. The liners are recessed into the the knife easier to open. Spyderco is cred-
except for people with particularly large or handle material. ited with the development of such a hole
small hands, these grooves work well.
The first finger groove is slightly larger
than the others, and builds into an inte-
gral guard feature. Raised portions of the
handle give it a measure of drag so it will
be less likely to slip.
The handle is
THE HUNTER PRO

FEATURES:
High-carbon matte stainless
steel blade locks securely in
place
Designed for easy one-hand
access
Ergonimic grip allows for easy
maneuvering
Olive drab nylon pouch
features wide belt loop and
braided lanyard
Lifetime warranty
Intense fatigue testing
ensures maximum sharpness
for blade over extended time
One-hand locking blade
SPECIFICATIONS
Length: 5 inches closed,
9 inches open
Blade length: 4 inches
Weight: 5.7 ounces The blade is a low, flat
MSRP: $80 grind, and has a fine,
bead-blasted finish.

Back
Issues
Available
The Hunter Pro comes with a nylon pouch that features a wide beltloop and braided lanyard.
in the blade. The idea caught on, and now many manufacturers
offer variations of thumb holes.
The blade features a swedge, or false cutting edge, for nearly
half of the top of the blade, going back from its spear point.
This swedge facilitates the puncturing abilities of the blades
point. Depending upon the intended use of the knife for ex-
ample, for defensive purposes as opposed to hunting the
swedge could be sharpened about a quarter of an inch.
The blade is a sabre grind; i.e., a low, flat grind, and has a fine,
bead-blasted finish. Jimping on the top of the blade at the
guard area is fine and smooth.
Sheath Call us at
The sheath is a belt-carried or MOLLE-compatible pouch
style that is standard issue to Swiss Army soldiers. Granger 1-800-764-6278
found that the flap folding over this pouch was astonishingly
easy to open because of a knotted cord built into the knife hold-
ers cover flap. www.engagedmediamags.com
A wide area of Velcro grips the flap to the pouch-body of the
holder. This pouch-type sheath works well when carried verti-

cally on a belt; when worn on a thin belt, it I immediately began

can be carried horizontally. handling this Swiss lock-
Another well-thought-out feature of blade knife built for their coun-
this pouch-style sheath is the openings trys army. After three weeks of car-
on both sides of the bottom, which will al- rying and using this Hunter Pro, I think
low water to drain out, a handy feature this knife likely will be highly sought after.
should the knifes handler fall into a creek. As a rule, I do not think much of pock-
The sheath is rubber-coated nylon that etknives that fold. Companies build and
has been factory tested in an accelerated market folders as tactical for profes-
manner to the equivalent of three years sionals who hunt monsters, and for folks
for all components. who may have to defend against things
that go bump in the night.
Mark Allen Princes What most of the companies, and, dare
Field Evaluation I say, most of the consumers of such
The Hunter Pro knife arrived at the cas- knives fail to understand is that folders
tle on a beautiful autumn day. fail to fit this critical area of
The Victorinox Hunter Pro is an excellent choice for a

hunter or military person looking for a hardy, no-
nonsense folding knife.
ABOUT PAUL GRANGER

Paul Granger specializes in making fixed-
blade knives of his own unique design as well as
in traditional patterns. He has created a line of
lightweight, non-metallic, non-ceramic knives
currently in use by the American and Canadian
military forces, multiple police departments, and
both the FBI and the CIA.
ABOUT MARK ALLEN PRINCE

Mark Allen Prince is a professor of law
enforcement technology/special operations at
Central Ohio Technical College. A former USDOE
SRT operator, he spent 20 years in local law
enforcement special operations and training.
Prince has developed and teaches courses in
homeland security and special operations for
military, state, and local special operations
personnel and organizations, and is an instructor
trainer certified by the late Colonel Rex
The Hunter Pros four finger grooves will fit the average users hand well, though those with exceptionally large or Applegate.
small hands may find the grip uncomfortable.

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WHATS
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The blade features a swedge, or false cutting edge, and a thumb hole for ease of opening and closing.
combatives/defense. Why? Because the While on the range, I performed range 50 repetitions on the tip, 50 in the mid-
locks fail. Period. master tasks of cutting cardboard, cutting dle, and 50 on the proximal end. At no
Even the sexy, ninja-cool, as-used-by- cheese for crackers at lunch, and used it time did the lock fail. I found that to be
(pick your own spec ops unit), expensive to clear a double feed in the loading port impressive.
ones do. I know this from firsthand experi- of a Remington 870 shotgun. I did not abuse the Hunter Pro, but did
ence. Be that as it may, I always carry a Around the castle grounds, I batoned not baby it either. I found the pouch to be
folder of some sort, and have felt glad to wood for the grill, whittled a spear tip, low tech, but very secure and appropriate
have it in a few dicey situations. deftly carved a gorge hook for a survival for such a field knife.
Im happy to inform folks that the Vic- kit for fishing, and carved veggies and fat I believe the Victorinox Hunter Pro would
torinox Hunter Pro is not marketed as a juicy meat in the kitchen. be an excellent choice for a hunter or mili-
tactical blade. Its simply a folding knife, I attempted to see if the lock on the tary person looking for a hardy, no-non-
designed to be carried in a pouch, that back of the handle would fail by striking sense folding knife. And as the knife sells
locks open to be used by hunters and for the spine of the blade rather forcefully for under 100 bucks, its right up anyones
general outdoor use. How basic, how re- against a two-by-four board 150 times: alley. Nice job (again), Victorinox! KI
freshing, and how serious this little knife is
indeed!
I first began carrying the knife in my
pocket for day-to-day usage. The dual-
density handles are ergonomic but a bit
large. I ran with it in my shorts pocket, but
found it to be too heavy, so I took to carry-
ing it on my daily jogs tucked in my waist-
band. As it does not have a pocket clip
(again, how refreshing!), I needed to be
cautious with how I secured it in my un-
derwear/running shorts waist area, but
was successful in the end.
I carried it onto the firearms range
where I spent three weeks with police
cadets at Central Ohio Technical Colleges
Basic Police Academy, in Newark, Ohio. The overall length is 9 inches when open, 5 inches when closed.

KI_1402_57 12/17/13 4:01 AM Page 57
COASTS PATENTED DOUBLE-LOCK DX355.

FIXED BLADE SAFETY IN A G10 FOLDER.
LYSTEEL
PO
The Double-Lock safety mechanism works
LE
M
CH
in conjunction with a primary Liner-Lock to D
A
IN E D H A N
prevent disengagement. It includes a safety

LOCK ON
detent-action that is fully tension adjustable.
TENSION
ADJUST
LOCK OFF
DOUBLE-LOCK DX355 DOUBLE-LOCK

U.S. Patent 5,596,808
COAST Products Portland, OR

COASTportland.com dealer.help@COASTportland.com
STRONGER. ARPER.

DEALER INQUIRIES CALL 800-548-0835

OR VISIT WWW.UNITEDCUTLERY.COM
KI-1402-58-63-BUSSE.CX 12/18/13 12:20 AM Page 58
WALKING
TALLTHE BUSSE GEMINI LB, FEATURED IN THE
WALKING DEAD, IS A RELIABLE
SURVIVAL AND COMBAT KNIFE
STORY AND PHOTOS BY CLINT THOMPSON
ONLY my daughter is a bigger fan.

I dont know how many of you out there are
fans of the AMC hit The Walking Dead, but I
can be counted as the biggest fan just behind
Angie. I never miss a new episode, and Ive been
hooked from the beginning.
I know what youre probably thinking. A cop
who has faced real danger in real life for more
than 40 years watches a show in which dead
people walk around trying to bite the living? Yes,
I do.
THE BUSSE GEMINI LB

WOULD FIT THE BILL FOR MY
SURVIVAL IN A WORLD OF
WALKING DEAD.

KI-1402-58-63-BUSSE 12/17/13 3:04 AM Page 59

KI-1402-58-63-BUSSE 12/17/13 3:04 AM Page 60
The Gemini LB appears in The Walking Dead as part of character Daryl Dixon's anti-zombie arsenal. Courtesy of
www.walkingdead.wikia.com
THE TIP TOOK THIS ABUSE IN GRAND STYLE. DESPITE ALL

THIS, I SAW NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE. The Gemini may be overkill for general
patrol duties, but it would be a great
complement for those who frequently
Daryl, one of the characters on the inches. The Busse Gemini LB would fit the put their lives on the line, such as
SWAT officers or Navy SEALs.
show, is equipped with various weapons, bill for my survival in a world of walking
including the Browning Hi-Power 13-shot dead. Lets take a look at it.
9mm handgun, a single-shot crossbow
and the Busse Gemini LB 7.75-inch blade APPEARANCE, FEEL, CLEANING and unknown protein hidden in the wrin-
combat knife. Professionally, I like Daryls First, lets talk appearance. I really like kle/crinkle.
choice of weapons for the zombie apoca- the knifes looks and design, and I think I dont know about Daryl, but Im some-
lypse hes facing. The Browning Hi-Power Busse has a winner here. The Gemini LB what of a clean freak. To clean my Gemini
has enough ammo in one loading to eradi- wrinkle/crinkle coat of tanker gray is visu- LB, I used hot soapy water and a stiff
cate 13 zombies before reloading. The ally appealing. brush. Im not concerned about rust, as
crossbow is quiet and the bolts, icky zom- I also like the grip. If you have a medium the Gemini LB has a one-of-a-kind INIF
bie brains aside, are reusable. to small hand, then this grip might feel a steel developed by the people at the
But the most interesting weapon is the little big. The balance is to my liking, as I Busse Combat Knife Company. Anytime I
Busse Gemini LB. Daryl uses this to venti- like this type of knife to be blade heavy. clean one of my knives, stainless or not, I
late the heads of the mindless biting zom- When it is, it works better as a tool than if always wash it in very hot water, dry it off
bies. If I were to be cast out into a zombie it were more balanced toward the handle. and place a thin layer of oil such as Quick
apocalypse and I could only take one As youre about to read, I really put this Release or Frog Lube on it. If youre tradi-
weapon or tool, it would be a good, strong knife through a lot of abuse. When I was tional, then use 3-IN-ONE Oil, which Ive
combat knife with a blade of at least 7 done, the knife showed signs of dirt, wood also used for many years.

KI-1402-58-63-BUSSE 12/17/13 3:04 AM Page 61
SPECIFICATIONS
LENGTH: 13.75 inches
BLADE: 7.25 inches, INFI steel
WEIGHT: 1.07 pounds
MSRP: $387
CONTACT
BUSSE COMBAT KNIFE COMPANY
11651 County Road 12
Wauseon, OH 43567
Phone: (419) 923-6471
Email: info@bussecombat.com
Website: www.bussecombat.com
The Gemini LB comes with a Spec-Ops Basic Modular Coyote Brown sheath. Spec-Ops products, made in the USA, are among the finest in the world.

KI-1402-58-63-BUSSE 12/17/13 3:04 AM Page 62
FAST FACTS ABOUT THE GEMINI LB

Made in the USA
Can withstand extensive use and abuse
Best for hands with a medium to large grip
1/3 pound lighter than the previous Gemini model
Ideal for officers in high-threat situations
THE GEMINI LB HAS A USE FOR THOSE TIMES WHERE THE

ONLY THING AVAILABLE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE IS COLD STEEL.
While Ive never encountered the walking dead myself,

I believe the Gemini LB would work quite well for
stabbing through a zombies skull. Daryl prepares to put the Gemini LB to good use in a scene from The Walking Dead. Courtesy of AMC

KI-1402-58-63-BUSSE 12/17/13 3:04 AM Page 63
RIGOROUS TESTING hand hold, I dangled my 210-pound frame 1.07 pounds. I believe this is within an ac-
To date, I have put this knife through to see if the Gemini LBs blade would ceptable weight for such treks up a
quite a bit. snap. It did not. In fact, I would still be mountain.
I first stabbed it into hard wood and hanging there, but I had to get ready to For those parts of the military who do
then twisted the blade to see what would suit up so I could go out and protect and most of their patrols via mechanized vehi-
happen to the tip. I stabbed the knife into serve. cles, I believe the Gemini LB would be ac-
a cured hardwood board and took a rub- To this point, I can say the Gemini LB is ceptable as well. If you happen to be a
ber mallet and drove it in further. I pulled an excellent USA-made product of the crew member of armored units such as
and pushed the handle back and forth to first order. heavy or light tanks, I would suggest get-
see if I could damage the tip. Next, I assessed the knife to see how it ting a smaller combat knife as the Gemini
The tip took this abuse in grand style. would work for the military and police. might hang up on quick evacuation from a
Despite all this, I saw no signs of damage. burning vehicle.
And then I did more. MILITARY, For those high-threat units in the law en-
Next, I found a willow and chopped on POLICE USE forcement profession, I can say that the
several branches, all of which were about For use by the military, I believe the Gemini LB has a use for high-threat entries,
3 inches thick. With one angling whack, I Busse Gemini LB would be a good match cutting branches away for clear shots and
cut right through all of for special operations units. for those times where the only thing avail-
these with no problem. Eddie, a current Navy SEAL, able to save your life is cold steel.
Please keep in mind that DID YOU KNOW? once told me when they
when cutting through Busse Combat knives have hike up mountains to set a GETS THE JOB DONE
been featured in the
branches to make an emer- trap, he would carry only In closing, in my evaluations thus far,
following movies and TV
gency shelter or other struc- shows: the barest equipment, and this combat knife has held up as an excel-
ture, pick the softer woods, The Walking Dead that means he would carry lent product that bears consideration for
as they respond better to Marvels Avengers only his special and custom the serious people who go in harms way.
the forming of the structure. NCIS M-4 rifle and ammo and a Check out the Busse Gemini LB online
I then stuck the blade into
Torchwood
Underworld: Awakening combat knife. The Busse and make your own determination. KI
a railroad tie, which was Jack Reacher Gemini LB is 1/3 pound
about 6 feet off the CSI lighter than the first-run Clint Thompson, a law enforcement officer,
ground. Using a double- And many others! Gemini and weighs in at is a regular contributor to Knives Illustrated.

KI-1402-64-65-FIGHTING 12/17/13 3:12 AM Page 64
TACTICAL

TECHNIQUE
HOW TO MAKE YOUR KNIFE
YOUR BEST DEFENSE
Pridgen Custom
Knives Kandahar
PHOTOS BY CLINT THOMPSON AND

COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS
W
hile most people do not walk out their doors each day to the There comes a
threat of being attacked, it pays to be prepared for the worst. It point when an ag-
would be impractical for most people to choose a fighting knife as gressive defense can
their everyday carry; but if the worst should happen, the right pocketknife make the attacked become
can do double duty as a not only a handy tool but as a defensive weapon. the attacker; use your judgment
to avoid this. Know when defense
If you want to be prepared for such a ends and offense begins. Do only whats
CRKT Ignitor absolutely necessary to preserve your
situation, I recommend a pocketknife that
has a locking blade measuring at least 3.5 own life. Some aggressors will not be
inches. (But first check your city ordi- bold enough to continue attacking if you
nance regarding what type and size knife fight back, so do not stab straight toward
is legal to carry.) The rest of the knifes the jugular when an attacker first reaches
design is of little consequence as long as toward you; try instead to cut the palms
it suits you and feels comfortable in your of his hands. If an attacker manages to
hand. The CRKT Ignitor and the Bench- grab you in his arms, stab toward his
made Balisong are good candidates, as armpits, groin area, or the insides of his
well as the Kandahar by custom mak- you and him with the knife arm slightly arms or legs.
er Larry Pridgen, which I designed bent at the elbow. Above all other precautions, you must
with my Navy SEAL buddy, Eddie. If the attacker still comes toward you prepare yourself mentally to survive and
Equipping yourself with a trusty and reaches out or throws a punch, fight back. One good way to do this
knife is the first step; the natural sec- only then should you quickly would be to enroll in a martial arts class
ond step is learning how to effectively strike out and back with your to train not only your body, but also your
use it. If confronted by an attacker, knife. Dont keep your knife mind. Once youre proficient, it will not
first step back and deploy your knife. arm extended too long, be difficult to adapt those skills
Then back up as this gives the at- to include a knife in your
slowly two tacker a chance to hand.
steps, keeping grab you. Of course, the
the knife between first keys
W.R. Case Sodbuster

KI-1402-64-65-FIGHTING 12/17/13 3:12 AM Page 65
EQUIPPING YOURSELF WITH A

TRUSTY KNIFE IS THE FIRST
STEP; THE NATURAL SECOND
PROVEN,
STEP IS LEARNING HOW TO
EFFECTIVELY USE IT. LIKE THE
TEAMS THAT
USE THEM.
FORGED
OUT OF TRADITION.
HARDENED
IN THE FIELD.
HONED
FROM EXPERIENCE.
to safety are alertness and avoiding po-
tentially dangerous situations altogether.
But should danger be unavoidable, youll
do well to prepare yourself to confront it SOG knives and tools are born of the military, preferred
by U.S. Special Forces teams for decades. So whether
through whatever means necessary. KI
youre answering the call of duty or arming yourself with
innovation, lead the way with SOG. sogknives.com
TAKE POINT.
TM
Benchmade
Balisong
KNOW WHEN DEFENSE ENDS

AND OFFENSE BEGINS.
KI-1402-66-67-CUSTOM INTRO 12/17/13 3:13 AM Page 66

KI-1402-66-67-CUSTOM INTRO 12/17/13 3:13 AM Page 67
MADE TO
ORDER
PHOTO BY JIM COOPER
or all the excellent mass-produced knives on
F the market, nothing quite compares to a blade

custom crafted just for you. These one-of-a-
kind knives some made by machine, others by hand
can range from sturdy, practical pieces to exquisite
works of art, all of them with a particular draw for
collectors. In this special section, we take a look at
three craftsmen who are making their mark on the
custom knife landscape.
68-71 Mike Deibert

72-75 Tim Steingass
76-79 Jay Fisher

KI-1402-68-71-DEIBERT 12/17/13 3:23 AM Page 68
NICARAGUA-BASED MIKE DEIBERT

IS MAKING WAVES IN THE
KNIFEMAKING WORLD
STORY BY LES ROBERTSON
PHOTOS BY JIM COOPER, ERIC EGGLY
AND CHUCK WARD
any knifemakers today take a roundabout
M route into the craft, and Michael Deibert is

no exception.
After getting his degree in graphic arts, Deibert started

blacksmithing as a hobby. As he examined and learned
about forged blades, he developed a fascination he felt
compelled to explore. With the encouragement of fellow
American Bladesmith Society (ABS) Journeyman Smith
Butch Sheely, Deibert shifted directions and began his ven-
ture into knifemaking.
INFLUENCE
Deibert credits not only Sheely, but also ABS Master
Smiths Jason Knight and Burt Foster as well with training
him in the craft and their collective influence has become
obvious as Deibert has gained recognition for his work. First,
Deibert received his Journeyman Smith stamp in 2012. Next
the ABS awarded him with the prestigious George Peck
Award. This honor is given to the maker within a Journeyman
Smith stamp-seeking class who submits the best knife.

FIRST, DEIBERT RECEIVED HIS

JOURNEYMAN SMITH STAMP
IN 2012. NEXT THE ABS AWARDED

HIM WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS
GEORGE PECK AWARD.

bottom provides improved control by the

movement of your forefinger. The handle
features great ergonomics and a flared
end of the handle to improve your grip.
Overall, this is an excellent large-sized
knife.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Located in Nicaragua, Deibert has limit-
HARPOON BOWIE ed access to some types of steels. Prima-
BLADE LENGTH: 9 inches rily, he uses 5160 from a local source and
OVERALL LENGTH: 12.75 inches 1095 stainless steel donated by fellow
BLADE STEEL: 1095 with Hamon (temper line) custom knife craftsman Bill Wiggins.
GUARD: Blued carbon steel Because Nicaragua faces deforestation
HANDLE MATERIAL: Desert ironwood troubles, Deibert works only with stabi-
SHEATH: Leather, custom made by the maker lized woods for his handles. His stock fea-
PRICE: $650 tures Oregon maple, curly maple, red-

wood, sycamore and desert ironwood. He
plans to soon incorporate stag as well.
Currently, the price range a Deibert
DEIBERTS TRADEMARK CONTOURED HANDLE hunting knife is $350 to $450. Meanwhile,

GIVES THE [HARPOON BOWIE] his Choppers and Bowies range from
EXCELLENT ERGONOMICS.
$650 to $850. Deibert regularly attends
both the Blade Show in Atlanta and the
ABS Blade Expo.
Not only is Deibert recognized by the
NOTEWORTHY WORK curve-style blade gives a little extra steel ABS as one of the most promising custom
The knife that earned Deibert the dis- towards the front while helping the bal- makers on the scene today, hes easy to
tinction was his Mid-Bowie. Modeled after ance. The sharpest part of any edge is work with qualities that are likely to put
the historical Bowie design, this knife is along the curve. An extended guard on the him in high demand! KI
crafted from 1095 carbon steel and stabi-
lized spalted maple. It measures 13 inches
long on the short side for a Bowie, CHOPPER
hence the name and features a guard BLADE LENGTH: 10.5 inches
and pin made from cold-blued mild steel. OVERALL LENGTH: 15.5 inches
The Harpoon Bowie is more along the BLADE STEEL: 1095 with Hamon (temper line)
lines of a traditional Bowie. It features GUARD: Blued carbon steel
clean, crisp lines and impeccable balance. HANDLE MATERIAL: Desert ironwood
Moreover, Deiberts trademark contoured SHEATH: Leather, custom made by the maker
handle gives the knife excellent ergonom- PRICE: $850
ics.
Deiberts Chopper knife is a fan fa-
vorite. The name says it all. This knifes re-
CONTACT
Mike Deibert will be attending the 2014 Blade
Show and ABS Blade Expo. In the meantime, you
can reach him online through the following
options:
Website: www.deibertknives.com
Email: mike.deibert@mvnicaragua.org

MID-BOWIE
BLADE LENGTH: 8.5 inches
OVERALL LENGTH: 13 inches
BLADE STEEL: 1095
GUARD: Blued mild steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Stabilized
spalted maple
PRICE: $400 (for similar model)

KI-1402-72-75-STEINGASS 12/17/13 3:29 AM Page 72
A Continuing
EVOLUTION
TIM STEINGASS CUSTOM KNIVES
OFFER AFFORDABLE EXCELLENCE
STORY BY LES ROBERTSON
PHOTOS BY CHUCK WARD
mong all the talented custom knifemakers
A working today, Tim Steingass is one who will

give you the most bang for your buck.
His range of specialties is broad, meaning he can build

almost any knife, and whereas many custom knives sell
for prices in the thousands of dollars, most of Stein-
gass are priced comparably more affordable in the
low hundreds.
Steingass work has been earning him high
praise and recognition among knife enthusiasts.
Exemplifying his high-quality designs are the
Game Master and the Battle Bowie.
THE KNIVES
The Game Master is offered in two styles. First is the Presenta-
tion Game Master; featuring W2 steel with a hamon (temper line),
stainless steel hardware and presentation-grade handle material.
The second version, the Field Game Master, features 3V steel,
satin finish, a stainless-steel guard and synthetic handle material.
To create a total package, Steingass has fashioned a custom
leather sheath for both versions.
The Battle Bowie (my personal favorite of Steingass knives)
melds two styles of knives: a sub-hilt fighter handle and a Bowie
blade. The Battle Bowie features great ergonomics, balance and is
quick in the hand, all of which enable this knife to excellently per-
form its intended function: battle!

BATTLE BOWIE
BLADE STEEL: W2 with hamon
GUARD AND SUB-HILT: 416
stainless steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Presentation-
grade desert ironwood
SHEATH: Leather, custom-made by
Steingass
PRICE: $650

CONTACT
Tim Steingass is a regular attendee of the Chesapeake
Knife Show in Timonium, Maryland. You can also contact
him via his website, www.steingassknives.com, or via
email at tksteingass@frontier.com.
PRESENTATION
GAME MASTER
GUARD: 416 stainless steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Presentation-grade Koa
SHEATH: Leather, custom-made by Steingass
PRICE: $400
STEINGASS
PREFERRED
MATERIALS
BEHIND THE SCENES the maker to perfect the balance of the knife,
FOR BLADES: Steingass uses a wide variety of steels for his which requires more skill to craft than a basic tang.
S30V blades, including S30V, 3V, D2, O1, 1095, W2, 1095,
3V CPM 154 and now Damascus. These many options GET YOUR OWN
D2 allow Steingass clients to select a steel according Steingass knives can sell for prices as high as
O1 to the type of knife they want and the function $1,200, but many of them cost as relatively little as
1095 they wish it to serve. $300 to $400. This price range encompasses
W2 Handles are available in a broad range of op- camp knives, Bowies, fighters and several styles of
1095
tions as well. Steingass tactical knives typically hunting and utility knives.
CPM 154
feature with Micarta or a rubber handle material Steingass is shifting from crafting his knives
Damascus
(my personal favorite). His standard knives, on the part-time to working as a full-time custom maker.
FOR HANDLES: other hand, tend to use wooden scales. Steingass Currently, he has a very reasonable delivery time of
Micarta favorites are desert ironwood and stabilized spalt- five months. As his demand grows (and it surely is
Rubber ed maple. bound to!), custom knife collectors would do well
Desert ironwood Another particularly appealing aspect of Stein- to seize the opportunity now to order one of his
Stablized spalted maple gass-made knives is the tapered tangs. This allows fine works of craftsmanship. KI

FIELD GAME
MASTER
GUARD: 416 stainless steel Cutting Edge Artists Choose Tormach Mills
HANDLE MATERIAL: Black Micarta
Knifemakers around the world are using Tormach PCNC milling machines to add new dimensions to
SHEATH: Leather, custom-made by Steingass their craft. Todays top blade artists are embracing CNC technology to shape and sculpt blades and
PRICE: $350 handles, cut precision blade locks and other mechanisms,
and customize designs with engraving and detail.
Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3

starting at
$8480
(plus shipping)
Follow knifemaker John Grimsmo as he

makes his own knives with a PCNC 1100 on
his web series, Knifemaking Tuesdays, at
www.tormach.com/kmt.
Shown here with optional

stand, LCD monitor, machine
arms, and accessories.
Grimsmo Knives milling a xed blade, called

The Tor, on a Tormach PCNC 1100.
www.tormach.com/knives
SILENT HUNTER
BLADE STEEL:CPM-154
BLADE FINISH: Mirror
GUARD MATERIAL: 416 stainless steel
HANDLE MATERIAL: Desert ironwood
SHEATH: Leather, custom-made by Steingass
PRICE: $400

KI-1402-76-79-FISHER 12/17/13 3:35 AM Page 76
An Old Craft,
a New Era HOW JAY FISHER TURNED A
TRADITIONAL HOBBY INTO A
THRIVING 21ST-CENTURY CAREER
BY BEN NAGY
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAY FISHER

KI-1402-76-79-FISHER 12/17/13 3:35 AM Page 77
ounding steel, sweat hitting the floor, sparks
P flying in the face of a knifemaker sharpening

his latest project.
These romantic ideals of the labor and more will be found in

the workshop of any custom knifemaker and Jay Fisher is no
exception. And with one look at his knives, its clear that theres
something extra special about his craftsmanship. His style is
one of both form and function, as he creates true works of art,
yet strives to ensure that the knife is an interactive tool, not just
an ornament.
A LIFELONG CAREER
One of the striking challenges was being taken seriously,
says Fisher of the beginning of his career in 1979. Knifemaking
just wasnt a common trade for a professional; it was mainly
considered a hobby, and often still is.
But Fisher was undeterred. While he worked at a power plant
to pay the bills, on the side he continued to learn more and more
about knives and the process of making them, evolving his hob-
by into a trade. He picked up bits of information anywhere
he could, including the few books and trade magazines
available then.
But turning his hobby into a business was a complicat-
ed task. Back then, there were not many avenues to
sell knives, Fisher explains. Catalogs were sent by mail. FROM PAST TO FUTURE
Knife magazines and publications could help, but they were Fisher was making a living by traveling show to show, carrying
limited in scope and exposure. with him a wide variety of his knife designs. However, he says, all
So Fisher began traveling, displaying and selling his knives of that changed with the advent of the Internet in the mid-
at knife shows, gun shows, craft shows and any other event he 1990s.
could find. I made my living going to shows, he says. All of my Fisher knew a groundbreaking opportunity when he saw one,
time was spent getting ready for a show, traveling to a show or and in 1996, he launched his own website, jayfisher.com a
recovering from a show. Sales were uncertain; you never knew move that saw a significant positive impact on his business.
what a potential client attending a show would want perhaps Fisher had opened up a whole new market of people who could
a knife you didnt have. find his work without needing to attend a show. Not only that,
In 1988, Fisher decided to tackle turning his knifemaking into but he also made the site a resource for information on knives
an official business. I made the transition to full time when my and knifemaking in general.
commitments to a show schedule overwhelmed my industrial I built an uncomplicated site, and have added to it ever since,
job, he says. I knew that the time was right when I saw I would Fisher says. People would ask questions, Id answer them and
be losing knife sales by staying in [the electrical] industry. He expand and detail them on the site, and have added to it ever
began attending more trade shows, selling his own designs and since. Today, jayfisher.com boasts more than 500 pages and
taking on custom requests from customers. some 15,000 photos.
This investment has paid off. I derive all of my sales through
the website and the referrals the website creates, says Fisher. I
had to drop my 19-year membership to the Knifemakers Guild
back in 2005 because I couldnt attend shows, as the website
TRIBAL keeps me in continuous backorders.
TYPE: Knife sculpture, investment and collectors
Of course, technology alone is worth little without an appeal-
BLADE: Hand-engraved 440C
FITTINGS: Hand-engraved 304 stainless steel ing product to sell. Fishers sales indicate that his work fits the
HANDLE: Pilbara Picasso jasper gemstone bill, but what is it, exactly, that sets his knives apart?
SHEATH: Hand-carved, hand-dyed leather
STAND: 304 stainless steel, walnut, mesquite,
THE PRICE OF EXCELLENCE
lauan, ash hardwoods
Fishers simplest projects range in cost from $800 upwards. His knives are
considered fine collectibles, and have consistently appreciated in value.

KI-1402-76-79-FISHER 12/17/13 3:36 AM Page 78
KNIFEMAKING JUST WASNT A COMMON TRADE FOR A PROFESSIONAL; IT WAS MAINLY

CONSIDERED A HOBBY, AND OFTEN STILL IS. Jay Fisher
A LIFE OF CREATIVITY historical works and foreign de-
One look is enough to betray DID YOU KNOW? signs to digital fantasy media,
Jay Fisher has made
the artistry behind Fishers cre- Fisher is always on the hunt for
more gemstone
ations, perhaps the greatest some new inspiration for his
handle knives than
draw for his customers. Be- any other works. Ive been doing this so
tween his custom orders and knifemaker in the long that I realize theres some
his personal designs, Fishers world. They are his innate sense of perspective and
workload is steady and his cal- favorite knife to balance that seems right for
JAY FISHER ON THE WEB endar is full. I asked him design and create. each type of theme, he says.
Some features on Fishers website, whether he designs for what he To explain, he refers back to
thinks his customers want, or according to his days as a traveling craftsman. In
www.jayfisher.com, include:
what he himself wants to create. many of my early works, displaying at art
A knife encyclopedia
I try to balance my work from both per- and craft shows meant my knives had to
Thousands of knife photos spectives, he responds. For each custom have a softer, more gentle appearance.
Samples of Fishers writing order, I try to make one of my own design, This was a big mistake; I was trying to ap-
A guide to blade and handle materials finish, embellishment and materials. This peal to an audience rather than make
Entertaining letters Fisher has received 1:1 ratio of custom knives to creative works what I felt was right. I learned that making
allows me to satisfy my patrons, and also what I believe in being true to myself
Biographies of Fisher and his stepson
grow as an artist, while continuing to offer was being true to the tradecraft.
and son-in-law, who collaborate with him
new knives to the public. After decades of experience, Fisher cer-
Behind-the-scenes videos He actively searches for new designs tainly has established a reputation as a
And so much more and ideas for these creative pieces. From craftsman who is indeed true to himself.

KI-1402-76-79-FISHER 12/17/13 3:36 AM Page 79
ANZU
TYPE: Tactical Combat Knife
BLADE: CPMS30V
FITTINGS: 304 stainless steel
HANDLE: Tiger-stripe G10
SHEATH: Digi-camo kydex, locking, with belt loop
extender and accessories
As a result, not only are his one-of-a-kind

designs in high demand among collectors,
but his combat knives have also been
commissioned for some of the worlds
most elite military and counterterrorism
units.
Fishers creativity extends even beyond
the workshop: Hes also a hobbyist writer
of both fiction and nonfiction. He has
written a thriller titled The Knife Maker,
an excerpt of which is available on his
website, and hes currently writing a book
on the modern knifemaker and the state
of the industry today.
A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

One of the aspects of his trade that
Fisher enjoys most is connecting with his
customers and fans. The most interest-
ing thing about knifemaking, he says, is
the people who I make knives for. Their
lives, occupations, experiences and per-
sonalities are wide-ranging and fascinat-
ing, deserving of any reality show. (Fish-
ers studio, in fact, has been interviewed
by five reality show production companies
since 2012.)
But above all, Fisher considers himself
a family man. The most important thing
in my life is family, he says, for without
their love and support, I would not be able
to do what I do. He feels particularly for-
tunate that his family shares his love of
knifemaking.
Fishers stepson, Rusty Russom, and
son-in-law, James Beauchamp, are ac-
complished craftsmen in their own rights
and often collaborate with Fisher. Some
of Fishers 12 grandchildren, too, have tak-
en an interest in knifemaking, and Fisher
is thrilled at the idea of fostering a legacy
of three generations of knifemakers.
If the next generations continue to pro-
duce knives that match the level of
artistry Fisher has established, that legacy
is sure to be a vibrant one, lasting many
years to come. KI

KI-1402-80-AD INDEX 12/17/13 3:00 PM Page 80
AD INDEX
Arkansas Custom Knife Show 39 Niagara Specialty Metals 71
Bear and Son Cutlery 3 Ontario Knife Company 55
Blue Ridge Knives 71, 79 Paracord 79
Back Coast Products
Coast Products
57
57, 81
Randall Made Knives
SOG Specialty Knives

80
49, 65
Issues Colonial Knife Company
HallMark Cutlery
41
79
Spyderco Inc.
Tandy Leather Factory

33
49
Available Jantz Supply
John H. Davis Custom Knife Ma

42-43, 55
81
TOPS Knives
Tormach LLC
83
75
Katz Knives 81 Tru-Grit, Inc. 75
Kershaw Knives 84 United Cutlery Corporation 57
Knife and Gun Finishing Supply 41, 49 W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. 2
Knife Center Of The Internet 65 WILSON COMBAT 75
Call us at
1-800-764-6278
www.engagedmediamags.com

KI_1402_81 12/17/13 4:27 AM Page 81
Find us on
Be prepared when
disaster strikes.
www.facebook.com/americansurvivalguidemagazine
KI-1402-82-READER 12/17/13 3:37 AM Page 82
SHOW
& TELL
BY KI STAFF
Show & Tell appears at the end of every issue of Knives Illustrated. In it, readers tell
us about their favorite knives from their personal collections. Interested in showing
off your knife? Email Bethany Miller at bmiller@beckett.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JASON FLOOK
ABOUT THE OWNER

Name: Jason Flook
Residence: Thaxted, Essex, United Kingdom
Occupation: Horticulturalist
ABOUT THE KNIFE

Manufacturer: Opinel
Model: No. 9 Carbon Steel
1.How long have you had this knife?

Ive had this particular knife since March 2013, but have been using this
model for about 20 years.
2. What made it catch your eye?

On the surface, this knife looks very simple, but in hand it feels very com-
fortable, with a solid grip.
3. What is its most unique feature or your favorite feature?

My favorite feature is the secure locking mechanism, which allows me to
use it with confidence. The design is also a classic, which is why I have
used this model my whole career. I depend on them so much that I buy
them in multiples so that Im never without one.
4. How do you use this knife? Do you have any stories of when it
came in especially handy?
This is my primary knife, which I use every day at work. During a typical
day, I use it for deadheading, taking cuttings, opening bags of compost
and fertilizer, cutting twine and ties, and opening pallets.
5. Who else would you recommend this knife to and why?

I would recommend this knife to anyone who appreciates a good cutting
tool. It will appeal to gardeners, hunters, outdoorsmen and bushcrafters,
as the blade takes a super-sharp edge and feels good in hand. KI

KI_1402_C3 12/17/13 4:12 AM Page C3
KI_1402_C4 12/17/13 4:14 AM Page C4
KERSHAW 4.0 IS COMING

Something big is coming to Kershaw. Several somethings, actually. Exciting things.
Bigger-and-better-than-ever things. This-is-what-40-looks-like things.
WERE PRETTY PUMPED ABOUT ITAND THINK YOU WILL BE, TOO.
All will be revealed

1.15.14
at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas
Come join us there or watch our website and
social media on that day. kershawknives.com

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KI-1402-COVER 12/18/13 6:02 AM Page US_C1

Engaged Media By Beckett

Ready whenever you are,

Now Case brings you Carbon Fiber pocket knives

Available at Case dealers everywhere.

Knives not shown at full scale.

Additional models available

Sod Buster, Jr. Trapper Folding Hunter

Lockback Medium Stockman Sod Buster

34 Black Sea Legacy

50 The Beauty of Simplicity

76 An Old Craft, a New Era

KNIVES ILLUSTRATED (ISSN 0898-8943) Vol. 28, No. 1 is published 9

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Method of Payment Check enclosed Credit Card Money Order

EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE

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This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that

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Your guide to the best knives -- hunting, chef s, tactical,

BUT WHAT IF THE WORST SHOULD HAPPEN?

LETTER US, THERES NOTHING TO BE LOST AND MUCH

Ready for Anything

S forcement, the military or oth-

No matter the odds of finding yourself in

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For more custom

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ONGOING THROUGH JUNE 22

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Visit our new website today!

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According to the New York Daily News,

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY ABE ELIAS

I economic meltdowns, the threat of nuclear war and

1 4 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 knivesillustrated.com

knivesillustrated.com KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 1 5

ONE: CAMILLUS/LES STROUD Camillus SK Mountain,

The partial serration on the SK

1 6 KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 knivesillustrated.com

One critique I have

TWO: CRKT/KEN ONION

knivesillustrated.com KNIVES ILLUSTRATED JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014 1 7

forward weight. Nonetheless, the Re-

Ken Onions design comes with a contoured G10 pistol

NAMED THE REDEMPTION,

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sories, while others stand alone as cutting

The SCH9 comes with a nylon sheath that has a Velcro