Knife collecting is an extremely rewarding experience for knife enthusiasts. There truly is a knife for everyone. Many increase or hold their value throughout the years, making collecting knives something to pass on to the next generation of knife collectors.
Josh Blount reproduces Chingachgook’s gunstock war club.
ABS apprentice smith Josh Blount recently rewatched the 1992 version of The Last of the Mohicans, and the gunstock war club of the character of Chingachgook in the film inspired him to make his own stunning version.
Josh patterned his reproduction after the movie piece* but with his own spin, including a low-layer-twist damascus blade and curly maple stock decorated with silver wire inlay in assorted mountain images: a daytime scene with hawks circling the sun, a nighthawk nighttime scene amid moon and stars, etc. “My background is wildlife biology, so I live birds and chasing wildlife,” he noted. “So, I put a little bit of that in there.”
Josh and son Elliott appear here (inset) after beginning to forge a Scottish dirk for Elliott’s 10th birthday.
Josh’s mentors include the late Ron Claiborne and Larry Harley, and, of course, ABS master smith Daniel Winkler, who made some of the knives and tomahawks for Mohicans (February 1993 BLADE®). In fact, Josh visited the Winkler shop just over 20 years ago. Josh was bladesmithing then too, but life happened and he went to college. Now he’s back to hammering hot steel in Franklin, West Virginia, and hopes to test for ABS journeyman smith in the near future.
Gunstock War Club Specs Maker: Josh Blount Blade length: 6.5” Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Handle/stock: Curly maple from Dunlap Woodcraft, w/pewter pins and deerskin wrap from Crazy Crow Trading Post Overall length: 40” Maker’s price for a similar piece: $800
*The gunstock war club in The Last of the Mohicans was made by the movie’s prop department.
A question often asked is, “How in the world do I sharpen seat belt cutters?” It’s not really as difficult as you might think. All you need is the correct sharpener.
The Best Sharpener for Seat Belt Cutters
The DMT FSKC serrated sharpener is a great choice for tuning up seat belt cutters. (DMT image)
Because you’re sharpening a cutting tool that has limited access to the actual cutting edge, I recommend something like the DMT FSKC serrated sharpener. It is a coarse-grit, diamond-coated, tapered rod commonly known as a rattail file.
Sharpening Seat Belt Cutters
Working the cutting edge from the ground side only, carefully work the file with light pressure, ensuring you run it over all of the exposed cutting edge.
On the reverse side of the blade, which is flat, feel very carefully for the burr that will form. Once you feel the burr, you know you have done it right. On the flat side, take the rattail file and, holding it as flat to the blade as you can, lightly “wipe off ” the burr. You might have to return to the ground side to wipe it back to the flat side.
Stropping Seat Belt Cutters
Another thing that helps is stropping the inside of the hook with a leather shoelace. Have someone hold the unsheathed/opened blade by the handle for you, then firmly grasp both ends of the shoelace and lightly “floss” the inside of the cutting hook. Move the leather string only in one direction—down the cutting edge. If you move into the edge, it will cut the shoelace in two.
Repeat the correct motion a few times to strop the ground side. It is basically the same principle as stropping a straight razor.
Sharpening Tips
Provided you don’t use the cutting hook for anything outrageous, such as cardboard, and you use it sparingly, you won’t need to sharpen or strop often. However, in the event you do need to restore the edge, this is how it’s done.
Is the assortment of knives in your house as appropriate as it should be?
At one time I thought I wasn’t a knife collector. I am a knife enthusiast, knife user, knifemaker, knife writer, maybe even a reluctant knife expert, but not a knife collector.
Back when I thought that way, I looked around and noticed I had a dozen knives within arm’s reach, plus the tools in the kitchen, plus the customs of my own and a few from others, plus all the factory knives. Turns out I had nearly 100 knives, which means I’m definitely a knife collector, or at least an accumulator.
In my usual ADHD stream-of-consciousness fashion, my next thought was, “I wonder if I have a knife in every room of the house?” followed immediately by thoughts of which kind of knife would go in each room. Come along on my imaginative journey as we explore the idea of a knife for every room.
Kitchen
Knives in the kitchen are a given but including one by bladesmith Salem Straub is not. In the author’s perfect household cutlery world, one would be. An example: Salem’s Guimard chef’s knife in mosaic damascus. (EatingTools.com image)
The kitchen is intuitive. Most people have knives there, whether the knives are economy store cheapies, a mishmash random drawerful accumulated over years, a matching production set, or even dedicated custom household cutlery. On my imaginary journey, I can afford the good stuff, like a damascus chef’s knife from bladesmith Salem Straub. But that’s too easy. Why not a whole knife-fork-and-spoon-damascus set, like one from Nate “Tuna” Grant?
Garage
For the garage, the author suggests a factory utility knife of the replaceable-blade variety such as the Civivi Elementum.
The garage isn’t too tough either. My first thought was a utility knife of the replaceable-blade variety. In the past few years there’s been innovation in the custom knife world when it comes to replaceable blade knives, but for utilitarian and “I can use this and not be sad if I scratch it,” I think I’ll go with the Civivi Elementum that uses standard box cutter blades.
Living Room
If the living room has a fireplace mantle, it’s a great place to display a custom sword. If you’re feeling medieval, the author recommends something like a hand-and-a-half piece by Ryan Breuer. (Ryan Breuer image)
The living room has the fireplace mantle, which is a great place to display a custom sword. If I were feeling medieval, I’d choose something like a hand-and-a-half piece from Ryan Breuer. Conversely, if I were feeling loud and Japanese, I might choose a fine bright katana like one from David Goldberg with an epic hamon.
Study
Along with studies, game rooms are also great for storing knife collections. Avid bowie collector Chris Nolen keeps his collectibles in a game room display designed by his son-in-law, replete with a statue of Jim Bowie and slide-out drawers that hold around 10 bowies each. (Chris Nolen image)
The gentleman’s study is dark, filled with books and memorabilia—the perfect place to store and display the “real” knife collection. Personally, I’d like a collection of custom bowies. I’d include pieces like a fully forged integral mosaic model from ABS master smith Mike Quesenberry, or an exquisite collaboration like The Knifemakers’ Guild award-winning piece by Nick Orr and Bailey Bradshaw. Or maybe I’d go rustic like ABS master smith Lin Rhea’s Preacher Bowie named after a mountain man. I’d round out the room with an engraved silver cigar-cutter-and-match-box set by Travis Payne engraved by Matt Litz for when the guys and I want to relax with a puff.
An engraved silver cigar-cutter-and-match-box set by Travis Payne engraved by Matt Litz for relaxing with a puff among friends would round out the author’s dream study. (Matt Litz image)
These days most tend not to receive letters, only junk mail and bills, and most of the junk mail goes straight to the trash unopened. But if I had a home office and I received good mail, I’d have to open it with a custom letter opener like one in a set from Deon Nel. He made a matching set of 16, so I bet he could spare one.
Outdoors
The backyard isn’t exactly part of the house, but that doesn’t exempt it from being a part of the author’s imaginary knife journey. If you have a standard grill, consider something like a san-mai brisket slicer from Dan Tompkins. (SharpByCoop image)
The backyard isn’t exactly part of the house, but that doesn’t exempt it from being a part of my imaginary knife journey. For those with a standard grill, you might consider something like a san-mai brisket slicer from Dan Tompkins. Or if you’ve got a fire pit, don’t forget Will Stelter’s damascus and mammoth ivory marshmallow fork. Or if you live in the woods, you might want a forged axe like a laminated wrought iron one from Nick Bachtel.
Bedroom
The author’s dream bedroom pillow dagger would be like Buttercup’s in The Princess Bride. If he were Buttercup’s beau, Dread Pirate Roberts, the author stated he might give his lady something like a poignard by Jamie Bishop. (SharpByCoop image)
Bedroom knives are a bit of a stretch. Personally, I have my hunting knives in my bedroom closet. If I were rich and fancy, though, I’d have to have a pillow dagger—you know, the dagger you keep under your pillow just in case. I’m reminded of the scene in The Princess Bride when Buttercup pulls out a fine stiletto in the bedroom, and the great Dread Pirate Roberts line that goes with it: “There is a shortage of perfect breasts in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours.” If I were Dread Pirate Roberts, I might give my lady friend something like a poignard by Jamie Bishop, or even something dainty and feminine like a fine small piece from ABS master smith Veronique Laurent. For under my personal pillow, I’d go with something extravagant like an art dagger from the Sobral Brothers.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are for hygiene and sometimes that takes a knife. To clean your fingernails or pull a splinter in style, the author recommends something like the fine Dourado collaboration between ABS master smith Dionatam Franco and Evan Nicolaides. (Mitchel Cohen image)
Bathrooms are for hygiene and sometimes that takes a knife. If you want to clean your fingernails or pull a splinter in style, I recommend something like a fine collaboration between ABS master smith Dionatam Franco and Evan Nicolaides. The pearl scales will shimmer in the vanity lights, and there are enough tools included to take care of many different tasks. Or if you want to play “Mack the Knife” in a dark alley then come home and comb your hair, Rick Lala can hook you up with his two-tool blade/comb folder.
How Close Are You?
You may not have a knife for every room, but I suspect that many BLADE® readers come very close. Here’s to improving the quality of your knife collection—even the bedroom knives!
Some knife warranty claims stretch the limits, while others are just plain bizarre.
It’s an honorable option, a sensible aspect of a purchase contract, but can be the source of confusion, head scratching and plain ridiculousness.
The warranty is the buyer’s insurance policy. It’s the seller’s willingness to stake a reputation for quality on the performance of the product—in this case, a knife—or at least that’s what it’s meant to be. However, there are times when real life strains what is actually believable. So, when we explore the nature of the warranty with some of the finest knife companies in the world, a few of their warranty claims simply flirt with the edge of reason.
Wacky warranty claims, contentions from supposedly “dissatisfied” customers, are out there. Frankly, when some of these are brought to light, they are simply unbelievable. Give a nod to customer creativity, but then get real and consider what happens to a solid performing knife that is not simply put to good use, hard work and tough labor. Beating a knife with a hammer, soaking the handle and blade in corrosive liquid for an extended period, or shooting the defenseless edged tool with a gun are all beyond the pale. Follow such escapades with a dose of sheer audacity and what you get are warranty claims that would make a rational individual shake his or her head.
After an Army Special Forces soldier used his Chris Reeve Yarborough to cut a live electric cable during a mission, he sent in the damaged knife with $50 asking for repairs. The company sent the $50 back along with a new knife. Anne Reeve keeps the original knife, shown here, in her safe deposit box.
“A customer put a MagnaCut blade in a glass of saltwater for seven hours and claimed the rusting and pitting should be covered by our warranty!” recalled Anne Reeve of Chris Reeve Knives. “Another requested we replace the packaging of the parts he ordered because they smelled too strongly of perfume or lotion. A customer sent a knife in for a re-blade, and the original blade had an arrow and a smiley face welded onto it.”
Really? Try a few more from Chris Reeve Knives. A customer complained that the phosphor bronze washers of his Sebenza had stains on them and simply would not accept that it was normal patina. He also complained that the knife was not sharp and he had to sharpen it himself. He ground half the blade away and then said he should get a completely new knife. A customer shot his knife with a 9mm pistol and then sent the company a photo of the broken knife while requesting a new one under the standard warranty.
At Chris Reeve Knives, reputation is everything, and the company stands by its knives. But let’s sanity check. Warranties are not “get out of jail free cards” for new knives.
“We try to keep consistency in our warranty, but we do sometimes vary on case-by-case situations,” Anne explained. “Over the years we have tightened things up a bit because often we felt we would give an inch and the customer would take a mile.”
“Normal blade finish wear is not covered under warranty,” Daniel Winkler observed. “Working knives should look used.” The Winkler Hunter Axe LT shows some normal finish wear here. (Covert image)
Still, going out of their way to accommodate, the folks at Chris Reeve Knives have had some remarkable experiences.
“Mostly the customers who push back are simply rude,” Anne related. “Some just hang up or threaten to sell their knife. A customer informed us once that they had cut very acidic fruit multiple times and refused to clean the knife afterwards. They were furious we would not warranty their now rusted blade. Another customer took his brand new Umnumzaan and stabbed in into a tree. He then pried it 90 degrees to ‘tip test’ it. The tip snapped, and he claimed we should warranty the blade because what he did should not be considered misuse or abuse.”
Among unusual requests that Chris Reeve Knives went beyond the call of duty, or warranty, to make right, Anne has great memories. When a customer sent a 5.5-inch Green Beret in for recoating and it was lost in return shipping, the company made a custom iteration of the discontinued 5.5-inch knife from a 7-inch Green Beret blade blank. A sheath was available from the company archives and both were sent to the customer. When Reeve knives were abused by U.S. Customs officials, the company removed the scratches caused by bouncing around loose in transit, making the owner happy even though there was no warranty obligation. After an Army Special Forces soldier used his Yarborough to cut a live electric cable during a mission, he sent in the damaged knife with $50 asking for repairs. The company sent the $50 back along with a new knife.
Anne Reeve said a customer put the MagnaCut stainless steel blade of a Chris Reeve knife in a glass of saltwater for seven hours and claimed the rusting and pitting should be covered by the company’s warranty. Of course, like all stainless steels, MagnaCut stains less but is not stain proof. Quite understandably, the warranty request was denied.
“That original knife lives in my safe deposit box now,” Anne smiled. “On a few occasions we have older knives returned for sharpening and we can tell that the knife has been lovingly sharpened so many times that the blade is worn out. We have replaced the blades. When we made the One Piece Range, the paperwork specifically said that it was not a throwing knife and breakage from throwing would not be covered by warranty. A couple of times we had knives returned that were broken in two. The dings made it quite obvious that the knife had been thrown. Back then, we would replace the knife and give the customer a verbal slap on the wrist.”
Though Reeve, like other companies, has found it necessary to scrutinize warranty requests more closely in recent years, the dedicated effort to make the customer happy remains strong. At Chris Reeve Knives, the warranty is, as Anne puts it, “phenomenal.”
Judgment Calls
When did the rules change? Where does the line between normal expectation and radical knife recklessness blur?
A closeup of the blade and edge damage the Chris Reeve Knives Yarborough incurred after being used by the SF operative to cut a live electric cable is a tribute to the toughness of the company’s knives.
“We’ve had a few forgeries sent to us for repairs,” commented BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Daniel Winkler of Winkler Knives. “Reactions from customers can get hot when they learn they have been duped. Not many warranty requests are really ‘crazy’; normal sharpening or sometimes fixing a damaged tip. People also request a re-finish for worn blades. If a knife fails for any reason we will either fix it or replace it, and normal blade finish wear is not covered under warranty. Working knives should look used.”
Winkler is sensitive to certain situations and sees extraordinary conditions for what they are.
“On a few occasions we have sent replacement knives without receiving damaged ones back,” he remarked. “One was a military user that used his knife to destroy a communications location in a war zone. He fried the power supply, and it fused the knife in the connection. Another was a hiker who saved his dog in a rockslide. His knife fell to the bottom of a gorge, so we replaced it, too. A third was used in a home situation where a man used his Winkler knife to stab an intruder to save his family. His knife was held as evidence, so we sent him a new one.”
A tornado destroyed a home and carried away a safe full of knives, including several TOPS Knives models. Two to three years later, the safe was found. The knives were intact and basically undamaged. When TOPS was contacted for help with slight rust on the blade and engraving, the company obliged at no cost.
There lies the real judgment call in rendering the warranty verdict. Does the customer’s story pass the simple test of reasonableness? If so, most companies might feel a pang of compassion and try to resolve the request in the interest of good customer relations. Still, it’s a tough challenge sometimes. As much as a customer might feel slighted if a warranty request is dishonored, the maker might well feel used when the circumstances are not plausible or strain the normal standards that most people would accept.
“We go out of our way to promote positive customer relations,” Daniel added. “We have replaced or refunded knives and axes that we probably shouldn’t have due to how they were damaged in abuse, like prying or throwing. We will normally take the hit, but if it happens again we do not honor any warranty.”
Case-By-Case Decisions
At TOPS Knives, warranty requests are evaluated with the best outcome in mind. “Our philosophy on our warranty is that we have some things that will void a warranty or won’t be covered under warranty, but we still handle them all on a case-by-case basis,” remarked general manager Craig Powell. “The people that are honest and level with us are way more likely to get their issue handled under warranty—even if it shouldn’t be—than people that are rude or clearly lying to us.
“I always find it funny when someone says something happened to their knife and then the actual damage to the knife in no way matches their description,” Powell continued. “Like, maybe they think we don’t actually use or test our own gear and so we don’t know what would cause certain things to happen. But really, in the end very few people that contact us with an issue treat us poorly. So the vast majority get help under warranty.”
Back to the TOPS Tom Brown Tracker that was lost in the Iraqi IED incident: the local who originally found it after the explosion used it to split wood. The saw teeth had basically been mushroomed out of existence from the local beating on the knife with a piece of metal. Considering how the U.S. serviceman originally lost the knife, TOPS fulfilled the warranty.
Powell remembers certain circumstances that were somewhat unusual prior to a warranty request.
“When I had only been working here for a year or two, I took a call from a guy that was concerned about an issue with his Silent Hero. I talked to him for probably 15 minutes trying to figure out what was wrong. He kept saying that the knife was getting deformed and all he was doing was [batonning the blade spine to make] firewood. It probably took me longer than it should have, but I finally thought to ask what he was using as a baton. Turns out he was using the hammer side of a hatchet as his baton. So, a thick piece of metal is what he was using rather than a stick. I chuckled to myself and then we talked through the process of having a hatchet in your hand and choosing to use a knife to process firewood rather than the hatchet. He said ‘Oh!’ Then he basically apologized and said he understood. We didn’t end up fixing that knife for him, but that was because he realized what he had done and probably kept it as a reminder or trophy.”
On another occasion, a tornado destroyed a home and carried away a safe full of knives, including TOPS models. Some two to three years later, the safe was found. The knives were intact and basically undamaged. When TOPS was contacted for help with slight rust on the blade and engraving, the company obliged at no cost. Hikers have been known to lose TOPS knives on the trail and then miraculously find them months later. When the owner of one of these calls for warranty assistance, the TOPS folks fix the knives up, cleaning and refurbishing before sending them back in the context of a lesson learned: hold onto your valuables while out in the woods, especially your knife.
Extreme Situations
Military experiences have brought up several warranty requests, and these are sometimes caused by extreme situations. A Tom Brown Tracker was lost during the horrific explosion of an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq. The soldier involved was a chaplain, who returned some time later to the village where the explosion occurred. An old lady came forward with his knife after an interpreter and a $20 bill did some talking. The knife had been used in splitting wood.
“It was beat to hell,” Powell remembered. “The saw teeth had basically been mushroomed out of existence from this lady beating on it with a piece of metal. We swapped the soldier a new one and still have that knife [above] here today.”
A TOPS Knives Black Rhino was lost when a desert barracks burned to the ground. The scales were completely gone and the knife could not be repaired. TOPS sent the destroyed piece back to the serviceman along with a brand-new Black Rhino like this one.
A Black Rhino was lost when a desert barracks burned to the ground. The owner recovered the knife. Its scales were completely gone and the knife could not be repaired. TOPS sent the destroyed piece back to the serviceman along with a brand-new Black Rhino.
“While our policy isn’t a no-fault policy, we still cover most issues,” Craig said. “We know what we’re making is quality, and we strive for that on every knife. So anything that a customer’s knife should be able to do but doesn’t is going to get covered.”
In the broadest sense, the warranty works both ways. It protects buyer and seller and invokes the sense of quality and pride of craftsmanship, with reasonable performance expectation and use. There are outliers, but for the most part both knifemaker and knife user work together with warranties to achieve positive resolutions.
Knife sheaths usually don’t get a lot of press. However, occasionally some particularly interesting developments in the area necessitate attention. While it may seem a rather mundane topic to expound on how to get your knife from here to there in a manner other than carrying it in your pocket or hand, there are some vehicles of transport that require notice.
Derick Kemper’s Sailor’s Delight
Derick Kemper’s Sailor’s Delight rigging set incorporates 30 individual pieces into a sheath outfit that makes mobile a rigging knife, including a marlinspike with individual sheaths for each, all harnessed together on a free-swinging swivel system.
(SharpByCoop images)
Smith & Wesson Bullseye Combo Sheath
The Smith & Wesson Bullseye Combo sheath holds two tools as one unit and orients them in opposite directions. This offers full purchase of each handle without interference of the other, and doesn’t take up as much space by having the axe handle hang down on your leg. Blade steel: 420 stainless. MSRP: $54.96
The sheath, knife and axe come as a set.
Benchmade 10 Rescue Hook Boltaron Sheath
The shape of the Benchmade 10 Rescue Hook’s Boltaron sheath is a symmetrical polygon, allowing it to cradle and engage the detent from either a left- or right-side mounting. By designing the sheath to allow multiple mounting positions, it increases the versatility of how the tool can be accessed. MSRP for the knife and sheath: $75.
Brian Tighe Fighters Sheaths
Brian Tighe matches the carbon fiber handles of his Tighe Fighters with a carbon-fiber pattern with the accompanying sheaths.
Like Creativity in Knives? You’ll Love BLADE Show 2018
The world’s largest and foremost knife show, BLADE Show, is taking place June 1-3 in Atlanta. You’ll find the planet’s most innovative knifemakers in one spot. Learn more about how to attend BLADE Show 2018 here.
This summer’s crop of custom knives brings damascus front and center. From twisted and ladder patterns to stainless blends and copper-clad creations, each blade in this collection highlights not just the maker’s skill, but their artistry with steel. Whether forged for daily carry, culinary precision, or collector prestige, these knives turn heads with standout materials—think crystallized titanium, crosscut mammoth, and ringed Western Myall—paired with performance-driven designs. Featured makers range from journeyman smiths to Guild members, each offering a unique take on the timeless beauty and cutting power of damascus steel.
Carlos Queiros Thorn Persian TRS
Knife type: Folder Blade length: 3.35” Blade material: Chad Nichols Starfire stainless damascus Blade grind: Flat Scales: Vintage bright red linen Micarta® Bolsters: Crystalized titanium Pocket clip: Yes Closed length: 4.53” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $4,700-$4,800 at press-time exchange rate Maker: Carlos Queiros (SharpByCoop image)
Casey Brown Dagger
Blade length: 5.5” Blade material: Ladder-pattern damascus Blade grind: Flat Scales: Desert ironwood Guard/fittings: 416 stainless steel Overall length: 10.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $900 Knife to know: The maker is an ABS journeyman smith Maker: Casey Brown (SharpByCoop image)
Luka Allen Petty Knife
Blade length: 5 5/8” Blade material: Bjorkman’s twist damascus by Damasteel Blade grind: Flat Scales: Cottonwood Fittings: Brass Overall length: 9.75” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $450 Maker: Luka Allen, lukaallen.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Micah Dunn Chef Bread Knife
Blade length:7.5” Blade material: Baker Forge & Tool copper-mai Surge pattern Blade grind: Flat Scales: Spalted chestnut burl and vintage Micarta® Overall length: 12.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200 Maker: Micah Dunn, mdedgeworks.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Dennis Friedly Art dagger
Blade length: 9” Blade material: Mike Norris damascus Blade grind: Hollow Scales: Picasso marble Fittings: Blued steel Embellishment: 24k-gold inlay by Ray Cover Jr. Maker’s price for a similar knife: $7,200 Knife to know: The maker is a voting member of The Knifemakers’ Guild Maker: Dennis Friedly, friedlyknives.com (SharpByCoop image)
Dane Standen Cleaver
Blade length: 7.3” Blade material: 243-layer textured damascus of 1084 carbon- and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Blade grind: Flat Scales: Colored resin Pins: Copper Overall length: 12.2” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for info Knife to know: The maker is a probationary member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild Maker: Dane Standen (Rod Hoare image)
Josh Howard Folding Hunter
Action: Slipjoint Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: Pattern-welded deer hunting scene Blade grind: Hollow Scales: Amber stag Handle frame & bolsters: Stainless steel Closed length: 5.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact the maker for info Maker: Josh Howard, deerlickridgeforge.com (SharpByCoop image)
Chad J. Jones Hunter
Blade length: 3.75” Blade material: Mike Norris Hornet’s Nest stainless damascus Blade grind: Flat Scales: Crosscut mammoth tusk Liners: Black and white G-10 Bolster: Zebra carbon fiber Overall length: 8” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,250 Maker: Chad J. Jones (Jocelyn Frasier image)
William Manning Hunter
Blade length: 3.35” Blade material: Random-pattern damascus of 1084 carbon-and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Blade grind: Flat Scales: Antler w/copper spacer Guard: 416 stainless steel Overall length: 8.27” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for info Knife to know: The maker is a probationary member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild Maker: William Manning, manningblades.com (Rod Hoare image)
Francois MazieresMedium Paring Knife
Blade length: 5” Blade material: Pattern-welded damascus in 150 layers of 1084 and 1075 carbon- and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels embossed using chevron dies for the final pattern Blade grind: Flat Scales: Stabilized South-Australian ringed Western Myall wood shaped in a composite Western/cowboy style Spacers: G-10 and stainless steel Bolsters: Scalloped, pinned and soldered 416 stainless steel Construction: Hidden tang Overall length: 10” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $320.62 at press-time exchange rate Knife to know: The maker is a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild and a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker: Francois Mazieres, Yandiwa.com.au (Rod Hoare image)
Nate “Tuna” Grant Utility Fixed Blade
Blade length: 4” Blade material: Rietveld Dragonskin damascus by Bertie Rietveld Blade grind: Flat Handle: Titanium, nickel silver, fiber liners, laser engraved Overall length: 8” Sheath: Guster leather; inlaid w/exotic animal skin; belt model with snap Maker’s price for a similar knife: $5,000 Knife to know: The maker’s utility fixed blade won Best Utility at the 2024 Lost Pines Knife Show Maker: Nate “Tuna” Grant, madebytuna.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Bryan Montalvo Basset
Knife type: Folder Blade length: 3.25” Blade material: Grabak damascus by Damasteel Blade grind: Hollow Blade pivot: Skiff caged ceramic bearings Handle: Same material as blade Lock: Linerlock Pocket clip: Same material as handle Closed length: 3.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,000 at press-time material costs Maker: Bryan Montalvo, keanisonknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
The hip kids know that the latest knife video craze involves rusty knives, knife maintenance tools and elbow grease. There’s something strangely satisfying about watching a beater knife that couldn’t fetch a quarter at a garage sale return to its former glory.
Here are the best “rusty knife rescue” videos from around the web.
Keep Your Knives Looking Their Best with This Guide
