More contact information:
Stephen D’Lack
Dept. BL5, POB 313
Turners, MO 65765
417-866-6688
fax 417-866-6693
Knife Profile: Shrike Out Hits A Home Run
Scott Topper’s off-the-charts out-the-front is a multi-part marvel, the Shrike Out, brings an artistic twist to the automatic.
It’s hard not to like the Shrike, a custom out-the-front dual-action automatic by Scott M. Topper.
The blade is cryogenically treated AEB-L stainless steel. According to Scott, since AEB-L’s micro-structure allowed for a finer edge, it originally was a go-to steel for disposable razors. He indicated the version of the material he uses competes well against crucible steels, and is made through a conventional metallurgy technique.
The six inside springs are hand wound stainless steel. The four locks are independent. The brown lock parts are Teflon-impregnated Delrin for permanent lubricity. The black Richlite scales are inlaid with white to add contrast to the engravings.
The knife comes nested in a velvet-lined walnut box. Plain and all-stainless versions of the Shrike are also available. According to Scott, the various styles of the knife are available through the PVK Showroom (888-878-5643 pvk.com) in Las Vegas.
Shrike Out Specs
Knife: Shrike Out The Front Dual Action Auto
Blade length: 4”
Blade steel: Cryogenically treated AEB-L stainless
Frame material: 416 stainless steel
Handle material: Paper phenolic composite
Closed length: 5”
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Best Gentleman Knife: Top Lookers And Doers (2023)
Today’s gent’s knives are what they are instead of what they used to be.
In years past, there was a genre of knife small, fancy and unobtrusive. It went by gent’s knife or Sunday-go-to-meeting knife, the latter where the hard-working sodbuster was laid down on the day of rest for something to better match the formal Sunday duds. Loosely defined, that knife consisted of fancier materials and a blade less than 3 inches long
However, the argument can be made that today’s gent’s knives are exclusively gent’s knives no more. According to officials of the knife companies that make them, all kinds of people spring for the knives popularly known as gent’s knives. There are sub genres, and their popularity is growing.
Take, for instance, A.G. Russell Knives, whose customers tend to gravitate not toward EDCs or tactical knives but smaller gent’s-type knives.
“In the past year or so, we are seeing an increase in interest in these smaller knives that can be carried unobtrusively, both with pocket clips and without,” the team at A.G. Russell wrote in an e-mail. The knives worn with the Sunday best tend to be more traditional, according to the company’s spokespeople. It’s a subcategory of small knives that sport a sharp appearance that includes premium handle materials. Added the Russell team, “A great gent’s knife is not too large, has an elegance about it, but still performs well.”
A.G. Russell Knives Vest Pocket Semi-Skinner
For an example of a piece that represents the new generation of gent’s knife, look no further than the A.G. Russell Vest PocketSemi-Skinner. Designed by the late company founder and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame member® A.G. Russell, the knife is a mix between classic design and contemporary materials—the latter being a carbon-fiber handle and premium CPM S35VN stainless blade steel.
The heart of the knife is the bigger-than-it-should-be semi-skinner blade. As the company website noted, A.G. loved the semi-skinner blade, a pattern he credited Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Bob Loveless for introducing to him. “A.G. saw the need for a small, lightweight pocket knife that would sit comfortable in any pocket, especially vest pockets, and the opportunity to create one with the blade he liked so much,” the site explains.
It is a blade shape that excels with work done at the tip, which is critical for a smaller knife.
“A good gent’s knife is really good at detail work,” the site notes,“in which blade and tip control are very important.” As a result, the Vest Pocket’s blade is at ground and boasts a thin edge geometry ideal for slicing cuts.
The stainless steel bolster is also critical to the design, as it covers the squared-off heel of the blade that connects with the lockbar. Unprotected, the heel could wear away at the fine fabrics of a vest pocket, for instance.
A.G.’s sketch of the knife (pictured below) was scanned into a CAD program in March 2018. Un-fortunately, he didn’t get to see the knife in production, as the iconic knife entrepreneur passed away in October of the same year before the design could be fully realized.
A.G. Russell Knives Vest Pocket Semi-Skinner Specs:
Designer: A.G. Russell
Blade Length: 2.53”
Blade Steel: CPM S35VN stainless
Blade Grind: Flat
Handle Material: Carbon fiber
Pocket Clip: None
Bolsters: Stainless steel
Lock: Lockback
Weight: 2.5 ozs.
Closed Length: 3.125”
Country Of Origin: China
MSRP: $100
Maserin Knives Turtle
No discussion of gent’s knives would be complete without mentioning the classic designs that hail from all over the globe. Take for example the Turtle, a timeless design Maserin injected with traditional materials and refinement throughout.
In 2006, Italian knifemaker Claudio Volpato designed a small knife with a blade under 2 inches and sent the prototype to Maserin. “We industrialized it,” recalled Claudia Maserin, along with her two brothers owner of Maserin, and the Turtle was born. “ The knife is still popular considering we first showed it long ago. The best handles are ebony and briarwood, and the damascus blade version is still very appreciated.”
Some of the small knife’s more notable features are the pivot pin with its concentric lines, and the skeletonized titanium clip anodized blue. Part of the goal was to take classic materials and transform them “We looked for elegant and traditional materials,” Claudia explained, “wooden handles like ebony and olive.”
Realizing that some women were gravitating to the Turtle because of its small size, Maserin officials handled the knife in pink giraffe bone several years ago. “We don’t design a knife thinking of final users in terms of gender but in projecting elegant knives,” Claudia stated. “We know they can be perfect both for women and men.”
Early versions of the blade were at ground of 440C stainless steel. Now, they are N690 stainless. The result is a knifes mall enough to slip into the small pocket of a pair of jeans and that opens easily one-handed.
“Our gent’s knife is good for everyday carry,” Claudia maintained. “You can open an envelope, a parcel, cut a fruit. It is the knife you need when you find yourself saying ‘If I had a knife …’
Maserin Knives Turtle Specs:
Designer: Claudio Volpato
Blade Length: 1.56”
Blade Steel: N690 stainless or stainless damascus
Blade Grind: Flat
Handle Material: Woods of bocote, briar, ebony, olive or walnut
Pocket Clip: Skeletonized titanium anodized blue
Lock: Linerlock
Weight: 2.05 ozs.
Closed Length: 2.5”
Country Of Origin: Italy
MSRP: Depending on options, from about $77 to $19
Spyderco Pochi
Rigid definitions of a gent’s knife don’t quite cut it in Joyce Laituri’s book. The Spyderco spokesperson met a knife enthusiast at a knife show out to acquire some knives. The man towered well over 6 feet and was “built like an NFL linebacker, with paws like a bear,” she recounted. Though he appeared gentle-manly, a blade under 3 inches would be too small for him.
“In today’s industry,” Laituri began,“there is a broader view of what constitutes a dress knife. Is it its size, cost, function, materials, appearance? That definition is unique to each knife carrier.”
For some, a gent’s knife may be a small, elegant knife. Others, Laituri points out, decide that the most gentlemanly knife they can carry on their wedding day is a 5-inch folder or even a Spyderco Military model. The company eschews the term gent’s knives for prestige knives, Laituri said, in order to better describe the breadth of people who carry such edged tools. Meanwhile, a Spyderco knife that has attracted knife carriers for a whole slew of reasons is the Pochi, a flipper-folder collaboration with Japanese custom knifemaker Kazuyuki Sakurai.
“There is a market for anyone look-ing for the non-traditional,” Laituri said,“and the Pochi has been well received—surprisingly so—because it is so different from traditional pocketknives.
Some Pochi users, she added, like the design because they find it both charming and functional. Others are attracted to its upswept blade hollow ground from high-end CPM S45VN stainless steel. Some, attracted to the zoomorphism of the design, carry it because they like dogs, Laituri said.
Pochi, which roughly translates to the most common name for a dog in Japanese, has all the essential canine elements, resembling something like a pug on the go. Like many small Spyderco knives, Laituri said the Pochi is designed to bring large cutting power in a small package. “ The dog tail rotates out to create a pinky shelf,” Laituri noted, “adding length to the handle for a better grip.”
Spyderco Pochi Specs:
Designer: Kazuyuki Sakurai
Blade Length: 1.58”
Blade Steel: CPM S45VN stainless
Blade Grind: Hollow
Handle Material: Titanium
Pocket Clip: Titanium anodized blue;closed knife carries blade tip up
Lock: R.I.L. (Reeve Integral Lock)WEIGHT:1.7 ozs.
Closed Length: 2.6”
Country Of Origin: Taiwan
MSRP: $270
Bear & Son’s Bold Action
According to Matt Griffey of Bear &Son Cutlery, the world of gent’s knives has been changing and part of that has been due to the evolving nature of the workplace.
“We see less manufacturing professionals and more office setting careers,” he said. “Gentleman’s knives t the workforce movement and the lifestyles that come with it—accounting, computer techs, engineers and so on—with the knife having a small or slim physique and constructed from higher quality materials.”
At the same time, Griffey notes some of the slim knives are growing in size, and in the forefront of that change has been the increase in autos.
“Automatic knives have always intrigued both the traditional and modern knife enthusiast,” Griffey wrote, “and to-day more states are approving the daily carry and ownership of these types of knives.”
Trying to comply with many of the new auto laws, Bear & Son introduced the BearOPS Bold Action 14. The result is a knife available in a selection of color choices with its anodized aluminum handles and also the Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel blade, all made at Bear’s plant in Alabama.
Aluminum is a lightweight, low-maintenance material and 14C28 has a reputation of being corrosion resistant, durable and “an awesome performance steel”—essential features on a knife with a smaller blade and plenty of tasks to do.
“The Bold Action 14’s typical use would be common cutting chores around the office/home like opening small packages, cutting cordage and opening envelopes,”Griffey said, noting the knife can handle bigger tasks, too.
Meanwhile, expect more gent’s knives—or whatever you want to call the small fancy folders—in the future
“There is a market space for gentleman’s knives,” Griffey said. “Today, there are a lot of different choices and we’re lucky to and so many knife designers pushing the limits with materials, sizes and overall de-sign in the category.
Bear & Son’s Bold Action Specs:
Designer: N/A
Blade Length: 1.75″
Blade Steel: 14C28N Sandvik
Blade Grind: Hollow
Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Pocket Clip: Reversable
Bolsters: N/A
Lock: Auto
Weight: .14 oz
Closed Length: 2.50″
Country Of Origin: USA
MSRP: $140
CRKT Pilar
Designed by Danish knifemaker Jesper Voxnaes of Vox Knives, the size and blade shape of the CRKT Pilar are well matched for heavy cutting jobs. The handle is very comfortable and secure in the hand.
How could CRKT and Voxnaes make the knife even better? The answer is to offer a new larger version for 2019. The Pilar II offers the same performance and ergonomic advantages as the original, including robust framelock construction with an all-steel handle. The 2.6-inch blade is 8Cr13MoV stainless steel and offers a great balance of edge holding and maintenance ease. It is the Chinese equivalent of the Japanese-made AUS- 8. Due to the increase in size and blade mass, the Pilar II features a flipper, something the Pilar lacks.
Voxnaes is known internationally for his straightforward designs with a nod to utility and outdoor applications. Originally he made prototypes of the Pilar in two versions: one with a flipper tab and one without. “With lots of people asking for a flipper version, it was an easy fix,” Jesper notes. The blade rides on Teflon washers and flips open nicely without the use of pivot bearings. It also sports an oblong hole for ambidextrous opening.
The stainless steel handle supplies heft and a solid backbone. The grip’s edges are chamfered, offering comfort and eliminating hot spots or general discomfort. A solid steel spacer adds handle strength. A steel pocket clip carries the knife tip up or down for right-hand carry only. If you prefer half-and-half-type handle construction with your framelock folder—that is, each handle side comes in a different material, in this case stainless steel and lightweight G-10—the Pilar II is so equipped. The G-10 offers a bit more weight savings plus a nice grippy texture. The all-steel-handle version has weight-saving pocket reliefs milled into the inside of the scale.
“At first it may seem we simply upscaled the original Pilar design, but the knife was actually redesigned from scratch to make the ergonomics feel perfect,” Jesper concludes.
Don’t let the gent’s knife label for the large Pilar fool you. It’s a knife that isn’t afraid to get down and dirty with its rugged build and utility-friendly blade shape. Like its little brother, the large Pilar is easy to carry and rides securely in a pocket. The choil indexes your grip and the rest of your fingers fall naturally around the handle. Due to the handle shape and size, those with larger hands may find the knife too small.
However, for those whose hands are filled nicely by the grip, the large Pilar is very comfortable to hold.
CRKT Pilar Specs:
Designer: Jesper Voxnaes
Blade Length: 2.40″
Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
Blade Grind: Plain
Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Pocket Clip: Stainless Steel
Bolsters: N/A
Lock: Frame Lock
Weight: 4.20 oz.
Closed Length: 3.53″
Country Of Origin: China
MSRP: $39
Fallkniven FH9 MOP
The Fallkniven FH9MOP is dressed to the nines with a mother-of-pearl handle accented by abalone and a mirror-polished blade. This is the knife you want to carry to dressy social functions, as the handle treatment sets the tone for an upscale outing or maybe even church on Sundays. According to Peter Hjortberger, Fallkniven president, the design is based on a folding hunter and a traditional lockback system.
Employing Fallkniven’s best blade material, a laminated 3G powder steel with a Super Gold steel core with a Rockwell hardness of 62 HRC, the FH9MOP is built for use. The 2.5-inch drop-point blade is neither too small nor too large. The knife is by far the best looking of the test bunch. The pearl handle and abalone accents create a stunning visual effect.
Structurally, the FH9MOP is built quite solid with dual stainless steel liners, steel bolsters and a steel handle spacer. Inlaid Fallkniven logo shields in the handle cap things off, and the blade sports a nail nick on each side for easy ambidextrous opening. A nice suede slip sheath protects the knife from rubbing up against keys, coins, etc., in your pocket.
The blade came out of the box razor sharp. I had no problem using it to open mail, cut stray threads, or any other similar gent’s knife duty. It is too beautiful a knife for the same jobs as a tactical folder, so use would be limited.
It sure is an eye-catcher, though. For a model more suited for general utility needs, step down to the standard FH9, which gives you the same blade steel but with the more work-friendly Micarta® handle material. Either way, the knives are sharpened pocket jewelry at its best.
Fallkniven FH9 MOP Specs:
Designer: N/A
Blade Length: 2.6″
Blade Steel: 3G
Blade Grind: Plain
Handle Material: Mother Of Pearl
Pocket Clip: None
Bolsters: Steel
Lock: Lockback
Weight: 3.35 oz.
Closed Length: 3.625″
Country Of Origin: Sweden
MSRP: $540
GiantMouse ACE Nibbler
“A great gent’s knife is a fully functioning tool that stands strong in the ‘looks and class’ department,” explained Jim Wirth of GiantMouse. “It’s a knife that is capable of cutting tasks but also for social events, Sunday church or a Thursday evening cocktail.”
GiantMouse makes a bold statement among gent’s knives with the Nibbler, a compact, efficient folder that Wirth says works as a great EDC in areas and situations where size matters. “Although the Nibbler is small, it packs a serious punch,” he pointed out. “Our definition of a gentleman’s knife is a knife that you can EDC in almost any environment, from the church to the office so to speak, a knife that does not raise eyebrows but will be welcomed when put to use. This could very well be the modern definition of this type of knife.”
The Nibbler is bound to fill the bill for that light-cutting job and to exude a positive image. “It’s inspired by the fictional character Nibbles ‘Tuffy’ Mouse from the hit cartoon series Tom and Jerry,” Jim explained. “Nibbles may be small but he sure is mighty, just like our new ACE Nibbler, a petite folder that packs a serious punch and doesn’t lack in the fun department, either.”
Wirth concludes that both men and women will find the Nibbler a great choice for EDC. “We don’t think that making a pink handle on a knife will make it more suitable for women,” he reasoned. “We don’t believe in designing specifically for a gender; all our knives are equally suited for men or women.”
GiantMouse ACE Nibbler Specs:
Designer: Jens Anso, Jesper Voxnaes
Blade Length: 2″
Blade Steel: N690
Blade Grind: Plain
Handle Material: Alunimum
Pocket Clip: Wire
Bolsters: N/A
Lock: Liner Lock
Weight: 2 oz.
Closed Length: 2.76″
Country Of Origin: China
MSRP: $95
Pro-Tech Newport
At Pro-Tech, Dave Wattenberg takes pride in the Newport, a gent’s knife that exudes personality. “It’s our thinnest and lightest full-size auto,” he commented. “It packs three inches of S35VN steel for all your EDC tasks into a precision-machined aircraft-aluminum frame that is only .38 inch thick.
The thoughtfully designed deep carry clip and the thin, light carry of the Newport make it a great choice for someone wearing a nice trouser or dress slacks, as it won’t tear up the pocket or be heavy enough to make it sag.”
Dave is excited about the versatility of the Newport, its swift deployment, unobtrusive profile, and variety when it comes to materials while running the gamut from EDC to investor/collector-grade presentations.
“From solid aluminum handle/stonewash base models all the way to investor customs, there’s a Newport model to suit just about any taste and budget,” he remarked. “Pro-Tech is well known, of course, for superior coil-spring-action auto knives, and while the Newport is no exception to this, users will find the action controlled, smooth and satisfying—not the huge snap of one of the tactical response series, but a more gentlemanly switchblade action.”
Pro-Tech Newport Specs:
Designer: N/A
Blade Length: 3″
Blade Steel: S35-VN
Blade Grind: Plain
Handle Material: Aluminum
Pocket Clip: Tip-Up
Bolsters: N/A
Lock: Auto
Weight: 2 oz.
Closed Length: 4.125″
Country Of Origin: USA
MSRP: $240
Sandrin Torino
The Sandrin Torino exemplifies the ideals of the gent’s knife, and Sandrin’s Rob Bianchin says he knows why. “The Torino is exceptionally lightweight at only 2.29 ounces,” he remarked. “It’s pretty easy to forget that you have it in your pocket. The lightweight characteristics are deceiving as the blade performance exceeds that of a steel knife for edge retention. For anyone who can appreciate metallurgy, the polyhedral tungsten carbide blade is a state-of-the-art super metal and was not thought possible just a few years ago.”
According to Rob, the entire Sandrin knife experience is centered around the blade material. Polyhedral tungsten carbide is not steel. Instead, according to Sandrin, it is an engineered “super metal” invented and patented for blades by Sandrin director Alessandro Colombatto. “Tungsten carbide can be used for cutting steel or for wear parts that undergo extraordinary stress and corrosion,” Bianchin added. “Polyhedral tungsten carbide has advantages over steel, such as consistent molecular structure. It cannot rust and typically is in the 71 [HRC] Rockwell hardness range* or higher.”
The polyhedral tungsten carbide blade lends itself nicely to the Torino gent’s knife presentation, and Rob sees a natural fit. “In my view, the definition of a gent’s knife has evolved with the times and includes knives of quality that are also effective cutting instruments and not just for show. The Torino can be carried and used daily but is also a point of conversation as it is still exceedingly rare to own a knife made from new metal.”
The appeal of the Torino once again embraces the spectrum of potential users—both men and women, factory or office workers. “Gender is not a design consideration,” Rob said. “The Torino is suited for men or women. Men are the predominant consumers of pocketknives, but I suppose in today’s world the industry should call such knives a ladies’ or gentlemen’s folder.”
Sandrin Torino Specs:
Designer: N/A
Blade Length: 2.95″
Blade Steel: HRC71
Blade Grind: Plain
Handle Material: G-10
Pocket Clip: Titanium
Bolsters: N/A
Lock: Recoil
Weight: 2.29 oz
Closed Length: 4″
Country Of Origin: Italy
MSRP: $260
Case Black Sea Dichrolam Tear Drop
Case has long been a star performer in the manufacture and presentation of gent’s knives, and the company continues the tradition with the Black Sea Dichrolam Tear Drop, a beauty with a composite handle material that mimics the luster of an opal gemstone. Fitting nicely within the spectrum of gent’s knives, the Black Sea Dichrolam Tear Drop brings excitement to the Case fan base.
“Based on our interactions with knife enthusiasts at consumer events, our Classic Case folding patterns like the tear drop are considered by many as a ‘Sunday-go-to-meeting knife,’” commented Fred Feightner, Case director of marketing communications. “But more modern knives are more and more often carried and considered to be a ‘gentleman’s knife.’ The definition lies in the eye of the beholder.”
With the new tear drop entry, Case has bridged any perceived gap between men and women as far as carrying a dressy, functional knife. “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in people carrying Case pocketknives over recent years,” Fred continued, “and they realize that a good, sharp knife is handy to have on your person for all kinds of reasons, from hiking and camping to doing detail work that’s done by hand. Whether kept in a pocket, purse or hanging on a carabiner, a pocketknife is a must have for most any person.”
For occasions when an unobtrusive EDC knife is in the mix, Case fashioned the Black Sea Dichrolam Tear Drop. “Our tear drop pattern has a single spear-shaped blade,” Fred related. “The long, sharp edge can cover everything from cutting threads on clothing to gathering fruit or nuts outdoors. The tip adds functionality for tasks like piercing through a clam shell package or scoring leather to fashion a sheath.”
Case’s tear drops, particularly the Black Sea Dichrolam, perform as excellent light-duty tools, according to Fred. The slim design and small “form factor” make them great for close-up and close-in work, handy little EDC knives that are not only up to the tasks a gent’s knife is meant to perform, but easy on the eyes as well.
Case Black Sea Dichrolam Tear Drop Specs:
Designer: John Blazy
Blade Length: 2.44″
Blade Steel: Trusharp Surgical Steel
Blade Grind: Plain
Handle Material: Dichrolam Composite Laminate
Pocket Clip: None
Bolsters: N/A
Lock: Slip Joint
Weight: 1.4 oz.
Closed Length: 3.63″
Country Of Origin: USA
MSRP: $106
Editor’s Note: Dainel Jackson, Dexture and Mike Haskew contributed to this post.
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9-11 Knives: Custom Memorials To The Tragic Day
The atrocity that shocked the world continues to transform it, and knives, too. Here is a look at some of the memorials 9-11 spawned from that fateful day.
It began as an ordinary Tuesday. It ended with the world changed forever.
The atrocity of the terrorist attacks at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Sept. 11, 2001, will never be forgotten. Now, 20 years after planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, retrospect brings not only memories of sadness and profound loss, but also an acknowledgment of the heroism of 9-11 and the humanity that emerged.
A measure of that humanity took the form of custom knives made from the twisted and scarred steel of the World Trade Center (WTC) buildings—forged once in the conflagration of that terrible day and then again in tribute to lives lost, and for the benefit of those who miss them and live on.
Ladder Company 131 (L131) and Engine Company 279 (E279) of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) were housed in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn on 9-11. Keith Kaiser was a member of L131. Moved later to enlist the support of several custom makers to produce knives with blades made from WTC steel, Keith remembers the horrific day vividly.
“Because of the proximity to lower Manhattan, both companies started to gear up,” he recalled. “As we were approaching the tunnel into lower Manhattan, we saw the second plane hit the south tower. The engine company went into the buildings first, and the ladder company soon followed. L131 was in the lobby of the hotel on the ground floor of the south tower when it fell. We breached a wall and got out a group of civilians before we realized what was going on. The engine company was never found.”
Five members of E279 were killed, and the FDNY lost 343 firefighters in all. Since then, according to Kaiser, nearly as many have died from 9-11-related cancer and other illnesses. His older brother, Wayne Kaiser, an electrician who worked to restore communications in the wake of the terrorist attack, recently died of illness due to extended exposure to toxic dust and debris.
Keith was seriously injured on 9-11. “Oddly enough, my getting injured probably saved my life because I was not able to dig in the pile subsequently,” he said. “I was looking for something to occupy my mind and time, and one of the men lost from my company, Christian Regenhard, was a knife collector. I thought I would try to get my hands on some steel and get knives made out of it for charity and to keep me involved.”
Early efforts to get the project started were difficult, but Kaiser persisted. Eventually, he contacted several of the biggest names in custom knives and secured their commitment to contribute to a benefit for the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation. Bob Terzuola, Bob Dozier, Jerry Fisk, Pat and Wes Crawford, Allen Elishewitz, and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® members Gil Hibben and Mel Pardue made one knife each with blades incorporating steel from the fallen twin towers (page 90, August 2003 BLADE®).
“It was planned with the help of Christian’s father, who was a New York City police detective,” Terzuola said. “Seven knifemakers, including myself, volunteered their time and materials. Keith presented the idea to us and offered to supply a piece of steel from the wreckage of the fallen towers to each knifemaker, from which they could make a knife of their choosing.”
The knives included signature works: a Dozier damascus folder; an Elishewitz folder; a CQB from Terzuola; a Hibben dagger with scrimshaw handle; a skeletonized folder from the Crawfords; a damascus folder from Pardue; and a damascus stag Sendero hunter from Fisk.
The task brought the added challenge of making the Trade Center steel usable for knife blades. “It was low carbon structural steel,” Dozier related, “and I asked Daryl Meier to make damascus for me. At the first show after 9-11, Keith brought some steel to me and wanted me to make a knife with it. I wouldn’t take it. A friend of mine who was a state police investigator here in Arkansas said to leave it alone because it was evidence. Then about a month later, a big cardboard box came in the mail and there was the steel. I cut it into pieces and Daryl made some ladder-pattern damascus.”
Once the knives were gathered, they became tangible remembrances. “They were placed in a beautiful cocobolo box with a beveled glass top that was etched with the World Trade Center,” Terzuola commented. “The idea then was to put them up for auction for the benefit of the burn center. Keith sent them around to various museums prior to the auction, and after several years they almost became permanent exhibits in some places.”
Keith reached out again to Terzuola, who helped arrange an auction, and the set sold in June 2020 with the proceeds benefiting the hospital. “Keith sent me the knives, and I cleaned them up and got hold of Rock Island Auction in Illinois, one of the top auction houses for knives and firearms,” Bob states. “They did a beautiful two-page spread in their catalog and after the auction sent a check directly to the burn center.”
Murry Carter Knives 9-11 Custom
Like so many others, the atrocity of 9-11 touched custom knifemaker Murray Carter significantly. He was asked to partner with FDNY343, an organization of retired New York firefighters dedicated to keeping the memory of those lost on 9-11 alive, and Building Homes for Heroes, a charitable enterprise that provides homes for those injured while serving their country and in the 9-11 attacks.
Carter has produced several kitchen and outdoor knives, each incorporating a laminate of Trade Center steel with a 1084 carbon steel core. The motivation to produce the knives was strong, and Murray notes that the components of fire, water and stone were present both in the 9-11 incidents and the making of the knives. He reasons that fire enabled the forge, water quenched the blades and stone honed them into tools. Conversely, fire brought the towers down, water hampered rescue efforts, and lives were lost in the crush of stone.
“So, the same elements are here in the knives, and they bless people daily,” Murray explained. “When iron is red hot, that’s how we get steel, and some of the victims were burned, the elements fused in a chemical trade. The depth of the fusion was dependent on time and it was brief. So, I didn’t want to do much grinding in order to leave these elements in the surface of the steel.”
One of Carter’s kitchen knives was auctioned for $10,500 and the proceeds were given directly to Homes for Heroes. He calls the effort, concluded in the spring and autumn of 2017, an honor and one of the most humbling tasks of his long knifemaking career.
RMJ Tactical 9-11 Spike Hawk
Ryan Johnson was just starting up his Chattanooga, Tennessee-based RMJ Tactical when 9-11 shook the world. He had always been interested in tomahawks, and was making pipe and spike hawks before that desperate day. Then, things changed quickly.
“I had made a spike hawk and a gentleman saw one of them on my website,” Ryan remembered. “He was with Air Force security forces and said, ‘We’ve got some guys securing air strips, and we’re looking for something that will punch through body armor.’ He said my French-and-Indian-War-style hawk looked perfect for the job.”
The first shipment of five spike hawks had just gone out before 9-11. “The same guy called me up and he was already in the Gulf,” Ryan said. “He said to get busy making these things because they would be big.”
Like lightning, the demand for hawks soared—not only with the catalyst of 9-11, but also with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that followed. “I received a call from a gentleman working as an attaché to Donald Rumsfeld [Secretary of Defense] and made him a hawk. He sent me a picture back of him in his office at the Pentagon with a letter that said when the planes hit the towers, all the brass in the Pentagon were out in the hallway in front of his office passing that hawk around. A few moments later, a plane hit the Pentagon. Just before that happened, an admiral had walked by and said, ‘This war will be fought by hawks at the ends of the hands of soldiers.’”
A short time later, a story on Ryan’s hawks appeared in the Chattanooga newspaper and was picked up by the Associated Press, ultimately appearing in countless media outlets. “The article was on making hawks for the military,” Johnson recalled, “and before long Green Beret units were getting in touch with me and asking why they weren’t getting hawks. When you look back at the early days of the wars, Task Force Dagger included the first 300 special forces and others into Afghanistan. We had hawks going in with them.”
Orders kept coming, and civilian deliveries were postponed to fill the demand from the military as RMJ Tactical got started. Twenty-five Eagle Talon hawks went to Marines in the town of Najaf, Iraq, just before the battle for control of the city of Fallujah.
“I got a phone call concerning those 25 hawks,” commented Ryan, “and it was from the wife of a Marine officer. She said there was a plane leaving that night with room aboard for the shipment if we could get it ready. I called my friend Richard Carmack and knew his kids might have the time to help wrap the handles if I could provide the pizza and a movie. Now, Richard makes sure things run right here, his son Jonathan is our production manager and I’m still working in design.”
Conclusion
The atrocity of 9-11 and the lengthy conflicts that emanated from it continue to echo through the lives of every American. Remembrance is tinged with vigilance and the pledge to never forget the sacrifices of those lost.
Though nothing is for sure at this time, there may yet be other knives produced with the venerated World Trade Center steel. Terzuola still has a small amount of the steel but probably not enough for another knife blade. He is considering a knife with Trade Center steel bolsters and G.L. Hansen Micarta® that includes a thin blue line in its composition. Proceeds from the sale of such a knife would go to benefit a law enforcement officers relief fund.
Cool Custom: Harvey Dean And Turnbull Restoration Set
Master smith Harvey Dean teams up with Turnbull Restoration Company to produce a throwback set made to droll over.
An 1873 knife/restored-pistol-and-rifle set collaboration from ABS master smith Harvey Dean and Turnbull Restoration Co. is sure to set the knife-and-gun collector world on fire.
In a spinoff of Harvey’s Olympus dagger design, the 9-inch blade is his thunderstorm damascus. It’s complemented by a guard based on an antique one Harvey modified a bit to resemble a cloud that ties in with the thunderstorm theme. He picked the coffin handle because it was a design popular circa 1873. The damascus cross features a 14k-gold pin, as does the balance of the walrus ivory handle, and 24k-gold inlay. The handle frame is 42 layers of twist damascus to tie in with the fact that Harvey is the 42nd U.S. ABS master smith.
The restored pistol and rifle pair are part of a 150th anniversary set by Turnbull Restoration Co. The pistol is a Colt M1873 Peacemaker 1907Model P Single Action Army. Some of the most famous outlaws and lawmen of the Old West carried original examples of the handgun, including Billy The Kid, Jesse James, Butch Cassidy, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. The rifle is a Winchester Model 1873 lever action from 1904. Originals of which also were extremely popular in the Old West, it was the go-to for market hunters, cowboys and stagecoach drivers through the remainder of the 19th century and into the 20th.
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Cool Customs: Blount’s War Club Dusts Off Mohican Memories
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’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.
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