One of the most satisfying things an artist can experience is large-scale exposure, and the San Francisco Chronicle would qualify as a mass audience. American Bladesmith Society master smith Aaron Wilburn was recently featured in a human interest news story written by Tom Stienstra on the San Francisco Gate online blog. It also goes to show that the general public is interested in learning about age-old handcrafts brought current into the modern era. Not everyone is solely a reader of sensational headlines, and in-depth stories like this one should be shared. 

(Michael Short / The San Francisco Chronicle photo)

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The VP-100, aka the Ultimate Combat Dagger, the Regimental Combat Dagger of the renowned Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), was born from the collaboration between the PPCLI and BESH Knives Inc.

The “VP” stands for Victoria Patricia, the first Colonel-in-Chief of the PPCLI Regiment. The “100” signifies the Regiment’s prestigious 2014 Centennial Anniversary. This design is the culmination of years of passion, research, and real world experience. A symbol of elite forces, this dagger is fast, strong, and deadly serious.

The VP-100 is one of the most unique combat daggers ever produced and is distinctly different than other dagger designs. One hundred years in the making, the VP-100 was commissioned to commemorate a century of ultimate sacrifice, dedication and loyalty to Canada.

To honor those who have served, are serving and will serve, the partnership produced this low-profile, 12-inch, full-tang, fixed-blade, MOLLE-compatible combat dagger to occupy a small foot print on body armor. The VP-100 was custom designed with the PPCLI by knifemaker/designer, Brent Beshara of BESH Knives Inc. – a Patricia, retired Special Forces/Clearance Diver and veteran martial artist. It features Beshara’s revolutionary BESH Wedge® geometry: two diagonally opposed primary bevels converging to create a third cutting edge, allowing for full thickness of the blade right to the very tip to create the one of the strongest knife tips in the world.

A significant evolution of the traditional combat dagger, the BESH Wedge® eliminates the tip weakness of the conventional dagger design and provides one of the strongest point profiles ever offered on a dagger. This extraordinary construction creates a truly battle-worthy reinforced tip – advantage through design.

The VP-100 is not a field knife. It is mission-specific geometry designed and engineered to meet the needs of today’s soldiers and the demands of the modern battlefield. Balanced with weight forward for fast response and precision machined from AUS-8 stainless steel, the VP-100 includes a custom-designed Rapid-Draw Sheath, a versatile 8-Hole Multi-Position Belt Buckle and mounting plates for vertical or horizontal attachment to any MOLLE platform. Its ergonomic handle features strategically placed scallops and texturing that together with an integral double guard ensure a positive combat grip, whether forward or reverse, with or without gloves, even under the most demanding circumstances.

The innovative features that define the VP-100 are a direct reflection of the PPCLI’s ongoing commitment to forward thinking. This incredible knife proudly displays the laser-engraved unit crest of the Regiment on its blade.

Click here to order the PPCLI VP-100.