John Dennehy carries on a family tradition with a Model Alpine 1 for Kristi Noem.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and her leadership skills have captured the imagination of many Americans, including Colorado knifemaker John Dennehy.
John’s been looking for a place to retire, and Noem’s handling of the pandemic put South Dakota square on his list of places to consider. “The state stayed open and came out of the pandemic with a strong economy,” John noted. “I like Kristi’s no BS approach and her conservative Christian values.”
Kristi Noem with her custom Model 1 Alpine.
As a result, Dennehy decided to carry on a family tradition started by his father, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame member Dan Dennehy, of making knives for notable individuals that he admires. John reached out to Kristi’s office and offered to make her the knife of her pick of his DAN-D models. One of Kristi’s aides got back to John and told him Kristi wanted the Model 1 Alpine general-purpose field knife.
John completed the knife and personalized the handsome leather sheath with Kristi’s initials and turquoise from King’s Manassa Turquoise mine near Manassa, Colorado. Though John didn’t get to talk to Kristi directly, she had a picture made of her holding the knife and had it sent to him. The smile on her face speaks volumes of how pleased she is with her sharp new gift.
Tony Cetani has left his mark in the kitchen knife niche grinding it out at Hourglass Knives.
When asked why he makes knives, Anthony “Tony” Cetani of Hourglass Knives grinned and states, “It’s cheaper to make them than buy them.” It was while recovering from knee surgery that he got the idea to make one. “After weeks of reading forums and watching YouTube videos I bought a single-burner forge, a 4×36-inch belt sander, a set of files, a hacksaw and a bar of 1084, and in March 2017 made my first knife,” he recalls.
Tony Cetani specializes in such kitchen knives as his Honesuki. It features a 9-inch blade of Riptide cu-mai copper damascus from Baker Forge & Tool and an amboyna burl handle with cu-mai pins and liners. (Baker Forge & Tool knife image)
“It took me a few years to figure out what my niche in the knife world was going to be,” Cetani continues. “With so many amazing makers and designs I wanted to try and set myself apart. In late 2020 I made my first kitchen knife and fell in love. I started with some traditional Japanese styles and put my own spin on them. I love a knife where everything flows together and there are no straight lines in the profile. Though I love making all types of knives, kitchen knives have become a huge part of what sets Hourglass Knives apart.”
In seven short years, Tony has made his mark in the custom knife realm.
“My grinders are my most-used machines in the shop,” he offers. “Whether I’m grinding bevels, contouring handles, getting in tight corners with my small wheels, sharpening a pencil, or chasing scratches on a finished blade that I end up ruining, I use my KMG grinders for everything. Both of these machines have been invaluable to me. Having 1.5-inch tooling-arm slots gives me a ton of different options for attachments and fixtures. Switching belts is quick and easy with no tracking issues. Beaumont makes a tough and very reliable machine.”
From grinding bevels to chasing scratches on a finished blade or what have you, Tony uses his KMG grinders for most everything. This is his classic variable speed model. (In his rush to have the picture taken of him grinding for the story, Tony forgot to don his safety glasses.)
Cetani lauds his Foredom SR flexible shaft rotary tool. “There’s a few rotary tools out there I’ve tried but the Foredom has been my favorite. It has tons of different attachments, bits, accessories and the hand pieces can fit most rotary tool bits,” he explains. “The Foredom has given me the ability to do fine detail work on plunge lines, spines, tangs and the like that no other tool can. This rotary tool has helped my finish work immensely.”
For his exquisite knife grips, Tony shares his key to success. “The Palmgren Powergrind-XP 8-inch, 1-horsepower, variable-speed buffer has changed my handle game. For years I ran a 3600-rpm buffer and was really happy with my results,” he reports. “I only use buffing compound when finishing my handles, and the change I saw after using the Palmgren variable speed buffer was phenomenal. Starting at 3600 and being able to drop it down slowly to 900 rpm really helps bring the most out of the wood. Being able to adjust speeds when buffing oxides off or polishing steels has been huge as well. The variable speed buffer is the one tool I wish I would have bought early on in knifemaking.”
The Palmgren Powergrind-XP 8-inch, 1-horsepower, variable-speed buffer has changed Cetani’s handle game. “I only use buffing compound when finishing my handles,” he notes, “and the change I saw after using the Palmgren variable speed buffer was phenomenal.”
For sanding Cetani uses a Edward Braun hand-sanding fixture. “I always disliked hand sanding because of the amount of times I stabbed and/or cut myself. When I first saw Edward Braun had a few hand-sanding fixtures for sale,” he recalls, “I knew I needed one. The fixture makes it fast and easy to secure your knife and start hand sanding. Adjusting the clamp is quick and allows for multiple holds for the specific knife you are working on. Since buying one I still don’t like hand sanding but I haven’t hurt myself!”
These beauties look as good to the eye as they feel in the hand.
Synthetics have made great strides in knife handles and rightfully so. They can be tough, ergonomic and attractive. But there’s something about the innate beauty and warm feel of natural handle materials that synthetics, try as they will, probably will never duplicate—not that they won’t keep trying.
Michael Deibert: Curly Maple
A curly maple handle on the steering end of a 6-inch ladder-pattern damascus blade gives ABS journeyman smith Michael Deibert’s hunter a rich natural look. The guard is stainless steel. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Denis Tyrell: Maple Burl
A maple burl handle fluted and wire wrapped and a 10-inch blade of spectacular Ocean Sunset damascus forged in a collaboration with Rick Hall top off Denis Tyrell’s dagger. Overall length: 16 inches. (SharpByCoop image)
Anthony Stovall: Sambar Stag
Anthony Stovall opts for a Sambar stag handle and a bronze guard and buttcap for his hunter in a blade of Robert Eggerling damascus. Overall length: 9 inches. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Scott Gallagher: Biggs Jasper
ABS master smith Scott Gallagher goes what for him is a different route with the Escalante, a lockback folder in a mirror-polished frame of 416 stainless steel and inlay of Biggs jasper stone. Blade and closed lengths: 3 and 4.5 inches. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Frank Edwards: Mother-Of-Pearl
A handle of mother-of-pearl with 24k-gold borders and nitro-blued liners and a 4-inch blade of feather damascus highlight an automatic folding dagger by Frank Edwards. Closed length: 5 inches. (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Jim Perkins: Stabilized Maple
An orange stabilized maple handle and a 9-inch blade of a damascus of 272 layers of 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels complete a Filipino barong by Jim Perkins based on one his wife used as a child. Overall length: 13.5 inches. Blade grind: convex. (SharpByCoop image)
Casey Vilensky: Koa Wood & Mammoth Tooth
Koa wood and a mammoth tooth bolster complete the handle of Casey Vilensky’s gyuto. The 12.5-inch blade is carbon damascus. Casey’s list price for a similar knife: $4,000. (SharpByCoop image)
A bonnie blade to be sure, Kemper makes a statement with his Scottish dirk.
Derick Kemper celebrates his Scottish heritage with his sprawling reproduction of a Scottish dirk. It’s overstated to salute the legend and lore of his Scottish Highlander ancestors who fought so valiantly for their independence from Great Britain, beginning with the Jacobite rising of 1745.
The edge of the stunning damascus blade is a simple twist pattern of W2 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels. The three bars above it are Derick’s version of Robert Eggerling’s paisley pattern—a modified twist of 203E carbon steel for the bright section and W2 and 15N20 as well.
The habaki has Derick’s Damselfly Forge stamp of two damselflies and his initials in the middle engraved on one side, and the white rose of Scotland’s “Bonnie Prince Charlie” (1720-1788) on the other.
Derick Kemper
The chess-piece-like handle is oversized as well, with the pommel engraved in Latin, Qui Optime Regnare Ius Habet. The English translation is “Who hath best right to reign,” a slogan that appeared on the flags and accouterments of many of the Highlanders in the 18th century.
Damascus, high-performance stainless and straight carbon steel standouts.
Always on the lookout for the new and exciting when it comes to edged gems, Blademag.com has collected a bevy of beautiful new knives hitting the market. This includes both custom and factory knives with a particular eye towards damascus, high-performance stainless and straight carbon steel standouts in this round.
Bertie Rietveld: Flirt
BLADE LENGTH: 7” BLADE MATERIAL: Nebula damascus BLADE GRIND: Hollow FRAME MATERIAL: Zirconium BOLSTER: Zirconium ENGRAVING: Of fine silver by Bertie Rietveld KNIFE TO KNOW: Stanhope lens in butt of handle OVERALL LENGTH: 12” MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $6,000 MAKER: Bertie Rietveld, rietveldknives.com (SharpByCoop image)
Keith Barthelmes: Serpent Chef’s Knife
BLADE LENGTH: 9.5” BLADE GRIND: Flat that tapers to a convex edge BLADE MATERIAL: Serpent damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel steels HANDLE MATERIAL: Curly koa BOLSTER: Black canvas Micarta® OVERALL LENGTH: 15” MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,600 KNIFE TO KNOW: Keith is an ABS apprentice smith and hopes to take his ABS journeyman smith test in two years MAKER: Keith Barthelmes (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Matt Humphreys: Lockback Folder
BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE MATERIAL: Damascus forged by Jim Poor BLADE GRIND: Hollow HANDLE MATERIAL: Ancient ivory inlay, 24k-gold and fine silver inlay, 14k-gold and sterling silver chain FRAME MATERIAL: 4130 carbon steel ENGRAVING: By Matt Humphreys CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $5,500 MAKER: Matt Humphreys, outlawwaterjetdesign.com (SharpByCoop image)
Shayne Carter: Coffin-handle Bowie
BLADE LENGTH: 8.25” BLADE MATERIAL: A mosaic explosion damascus pattern of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE MATERIAL: Mammoth ivory FRAME MATERIAL: Damascus OVERALL LENGTH: 13.25” MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $3,200 KNIFE TO KNOW: Shayne Carter is a master smith in the American Bladesmith Society (ABS) MAKER: Shayne Carter, (SharpByCoop image)
CRKT: Monument 4001
DESIGNER: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Michael Walker BLADE LENGTH: 3.07” BLADE MATERIAL: Rose damascus by Damasteel BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE PATTERN: Modified sheepsfoot HANDLE: Titanium w/white dragon scale inlay PIVOT: Damascus in a Bluetongue pattern by Damasteel ACTION: IKBS ball bearings LOCK: Linerlock POCKET CLIP: Deep-carry design WEIGHT: 3.9 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.17” COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Italy MSRP: $500 COMPANY: CRKT, crkt.com
TOPS Knives: Steel Eagle 105C
BLADE LENGTH: 5.13” BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon steel BLADE THICKNESS: .25” BLADE FINISH: Black Traction Coating HANDLE MATERIAL: Black linen Micarta® WEIGHT: 15.3 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 10.5” SHEATH: Black Kydex w/rotating spring clip WEIGHT W/SHEATH: 18.6 ozs. MSRP: $240 KNIFE TO KNOW: Sawteeth, full-tang construction COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A. COMPANY: TOPS Knives, topsknives.com
Spartan Blades: Poros
DESIGNER: Curtis Iovito KNIFE PATTERN: Flipper folder BLADE LENGTH: 3.75” BLADE Steel: 154CM stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE FINISH: Black titanium nitride coating BLADE PATTERN: Drop point PIVOT: Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) HANDLE MATERIAL: Scalloped black G-10 LOCK: Linerlock HARDWARE & LINER: Stainless steel w/electro-deposit powder coating POCKET CLIP: Deep carry WEIGHT: 5.28 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 5.25” MSRP: $180 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A. MAKER: Spartan Blades, spartanbladesusa.com
Hardcore Hardware: MILF-02PS
KNIFE TYPE: Tactical flipper folder BLADE LENGTH: 3.54” BLADE STEEL: CPM S30V stainless BLADE @ WIDEST: 1.18” BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE FINISH: PVD coated WASHERS: Phosphor bronze HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 FRAME & LINER: 420J2 stainless LOCK: Framelock POCKET CLIP: Reversible tip up or down, ambidextrous WEIGHT: 7.34 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 5.51” MSRP: $280 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia and Taiwan COMPANY: Hardcore Hardware Australia, hardcorehardware.com.au
Civivi: Vaquita II
DESIGNER: Nate Matlack KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 3.2” BLADE Steel: Nitro-V stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE PATTERN: Kukri BLADE FINISH: Black stonewash HANDLE MATERIAL: Dark green canvas Micarta® WEIGHT: 1.28 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 6.23” SHEATH: Black Kydex COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $69.40 COMPANY: Civivi, civivi.com
Morakniv: Bushcraft Knife
BLADE LENGTH: 4.05” BLADE STEEL: Recycled Swedish stainless BLADE THICKNESS: .098” BLADE PATTERN: Drop point HANDLE MATERIAL: Bright ash wood CONSTRUCTION: Full tang WEIGHT: 6.8 ozs. OVERALL LENGTH: 8.38” SHEATH: Vegetable-tanned leather w/belt loop; compatible with the Morakniv Dangler 10 w/button KNIFE TO KNOW: Blade spine compatible w/a fire starter MSRP: $240.07 (at press time rate of exchange) COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Sweden COMPANY: Morakniv, industrialrev.com
DP Custom Creations & Zero Down Forge: Fighter
BLADE LENGTH: 7.5” BLADE STEEL: 300-layer, 4-bar, alternating twist damascu BLADE GRIND: Flat HANDLE: Blond claro walnut, thorn and vine accent copper spacers, and copper pin FITTINGS: Twisted damascus guard and center spacer OVERALL LENGTH: 12.5” MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,100 KNIFE TO KNOW: Don Penny is an ABS apprentice smith MAKER: DP Custom Creations & Zero Down Forge, (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Barry Wood’s split-handle folder inspires Darriel Caston’s clever keychain knife.
Inspired by the split-handle folding knife made famous by the late, great custom knifemaker Barry Wood, the Imp by Darriel Caston is a clever keychain knife ideal for EDC.
Like the Wood folder, the blade opens by pivoting one of the scales clockwise and closes by pivoting the same scale counterclockwise. At the same time, slots at the ends of the Imp’s scales accept a keychain when they’re open and form an enclosed elliptical oval to hold the keychain when they’re closed.
Instead of a ball detent affixed to the blade to help hold the knife open and closed, Darriel uses magnets affixed to the handle. Darriel and his daughter, Bella, were trying to come up with names for the knife when she observed that it was “a little booger,” and he said, “Yeah, like a little imp.” And another knife name was born.
The Imp Specs Blade length: .82” Blade steel: M390 stainless Blade grind: Modified compound tanto Handle material: Titanium Closed length: 1.75” Maker’s price for a similar knife: In the $185-$200 range
We round up a dozen dazzlers that are certain to make your wish list grow.
One thing nobody has ever said: “I have enough knives.” In that sprite, we’ve gathered up a ton of new knives that have hit the market in recent months, each one sharp as a razor in looks and function.
Maverik Knives Cleaver
KNIFE TYPE: Cleaver BLADE LENGTH: 6.5” BLADE MATERIAL: 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels in a zebra-twist damascus pattern BLADE GRIND: Flat w/convex edge BLADE AT THICKEST: .135” HANDLE MATERIAL: Amboyna burl BOLSTER: Antiqued bronze OVERALL LENGTH: 12” KNIFE TO KNOW: Maverik Murdock is an ABS apprentice smith MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,400 MAKER: Maverik Knives (SharpByCoop image)
S.K.MO Knives Fi
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 13.25” BLADE MATERIAL: Canister damascus of 1095 powder and nails BLADE PATTERN: Harpoon HANDLE MATERIAL: Black palm and water buffalo horn w/nickel spacers and star pin GUARD/BOLSTER: Stainless steel OVERALL LENGTH: 17.75” KNIFE TO KNOW: S-guard and dropped-handle designs MAKER: S.K.MO Knives (SharpByCoop image)
KNIFE NAME: Viking/Nordic seax KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 9.33” BLADE MATERIAL: Sup9 by Jake Mantel/Firepants Fabrication, w/proximal and distal tapers BLADE GRIND: Flat; secondary bevel w/convex edge BLADE AT THICKEST: .177” HANDLE MATERIAL: Stabilized, Northern-Territory-grown, figured coolabah wood OVERALL LENGTH: 14.96” MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $500 KNIFE TO KNOW: Francois Mazieres is an ABS apprentice smith and a member of both the Australian Knifemakers Guild and The Knifemakers’ Guild MAKER: Yandiwa (Rod Hoare image)
Tobin Hill Comanche
KNIFE NAME: Comanche KNIFE TYPE: Folder BLADE LENGTH: 3.75” BLADE STEEL: CPM 154 stainless BLADE GRIND: Hollow HANDLE MATERIAL: Ancient mammoth ivory GUARD/BOLSTER: 410 stainless CLOSED LENGTH: 4.75” KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is a collaboration between Tobin Hill and ABS master smith Jason Knight MAKERS’ PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $3,500 CONTACT: Tobin Hill (SharpByCoop image)
Steve Gatlin Chute
KNIFE NAME: Chute KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 4.5” BLADE STEEL: CPM 154 stainless BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE FINISH: Mirror polish HANDLE MATERIAL: Desert ironwood w/red liners GUARD/BOLSTER: 416 stainless OVERALL LENGTH: 9.125” SHEATH: Custom made of leather MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,400 MAKER: Steve Gatlin, (SharpByCoop image)
Allen Matthew Custom Knives Bushman’s Knife
MODEL NAME: Bushman’s Knife KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 12” BLADE MATERIAL: 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels in a damascus-clad san-mai construction HANDLE MATERIAL: Ancient mammoth molar tooth w/stabilized and dyed amboyna burl and yoskizaki; Starmascus glow in the dark spacers & brass highlights GUARD/BOLSTER: Damascus OVERALL LENGTH: 19” KNIFE TO KNOW: Bulldog Damascus forged the blade material MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $2,300 MAKER: Allen Matthew Custom Knives (Rod Hoare image)
J.R. Cook Vaquero
KNIFE NAME: Vaquero BLADE LENGTH: 8” BLADE MATERIAL: Damascus steel in a wolf-tooth pattern HANDLE MATERIAL: Stag FITTINGS: 416 stainless steel engraved in 24k gold by J.R. Cook OVERALL LENGTH: 10.25” SHEATH: Custom-fitted, tooled-leather belt model KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is sole authored; J.R. Cook is an ABS master smith and a past Arkansas Living Treasure MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $6,200 MAKER: J.R. Cook (SharpByCoop image)
Kizlyar Supreme Delta AUS8 Black Titanium
KNIFE NAME: Delta AUS8 Black Titanium KNIFE TYPE: Tactical fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 6” BLADE MATERIAL: AUS8 stainless steel BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE THICKNESS At GUARD: .185” BLADE PATTERN: Harpoon HANDLE MATERIAL: Contoured black Kraton/ABS synthetic w/lanyard hole CONSTRUCTION: Full tang OVERALL LENGTH: 11.1” SHEATH: MOLLE compatible w/three-point locking system KNIFE TO KNOW: Integral single guard, finger traction ridges on blade spine COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Russia MSRP: $149 COMPANY: Kizlyar Supreme
Emerson Knives Overland Renegade
KNIFE NAME: Overland Renegade KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 4.3” BLADE STEEL: 154CM stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 57-59 HRC BLADE GRIND: Conventional “V” BLADE AT THICKEST: .125” BLADE FINISH: Stonewashed HANDLE MATERIAL: Black G-10 (also in Richlite) OVERALL LENGTH: 9” KNIFE TO KNOW: The Renegade is also available in a folding configuration COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A. MSRP: $262.95 COMPANY: Emerson Knives
A.G. Russell Knives Skinny Brute
KNIFE NAME: Skinny Brute KNIFE TYPE: Utility folder BLADE LENGTH: 3.25” BLADE STEEL: CPM S35VN stainless BLADE GRIND: Flat BLADE PATTERN: Drop point BLADE FINISH: Satin HANDLE MATERIAL: Carbon fiber (also comes in green G-10) POCKET CLIP: None LOCK: Lockback CLOSED LENGTH: 41/8” KNIFE TO KNOW: The knife is an update from the original released in the 1970s; the handle is a “skinny” linerless design that is just over .5” thick at the center swell COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China MSRP: $135 ($99 in green G-10) COMPANY: A.G. Russell Knives
Bear & Son Cutlery Auto Bold Action XV
KNIFE NAME: Auto Bold Action XV KNIFE TYPE: Automatic folder BLADE LENGTH: 31/8” BLADE STEEL: Sandvik 14C28N stainless ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 58-60 HRC BLADE GRIND: Hollow BLADE PATTERN: Reverse tanto BLADE FINISH: Black HANDLE MATERIAL: Black aluminum POCKET CLIP: Carries blade tip up LOCK: Lock safety WEIGHT: 2.6 ozs. CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5” KNIFE TO KNOW: Ball-bearing pivot; safety lock switch just below the push button opener COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.A. MSRP: $179.99 COMPANY: Bear & Son Cutlery
