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Midweek Maker Military-Style: Allan Reid

Erin Healy
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Midweek Maker Military-Style: Allan Reid
Allan Reid is the talent behind ARctc Knives.
Allan Reid of Allan Reid Cut Throat Custom Knives is a part-time knifemaker who is a nurse by trade. He served in the U.S. Army. as a combat medic, obtaining the rank of sergeant.

Allan Reid of ARctc Knives, which stands for Allan Reid of Cut Throat Custom Knives, is a part-time maker who currently works as a nurse. He served for six years as a U.S. Army combat medic, achieving the rank of sergeant. In 2005-2006 he deployed on Operation Iraqi Freedom. Most recently, he earned his registered nursing credentials.

Allan Reid of ARctc Knives served in the U.S. Army as a combat medic.
Allan Reid of ARctc Knives parlayed his combat medic training into a nursing career. He has completed his schooling and is awaiting his state board certification.

Allan has been fascinated with blades and martial arts since childhood. “I was exposed to several custom knives while on deployment, which spurred my interest in knifemaking,” he noted. He learned about stock-removal methods by reading and asking questions on knife forums. He is now learning to forge blades under the mentorship of close friends James Helm and Tobin Nieto.

Allan is the father of four with another on the way. He and his family live in San Antonio, Texas.

  • Best-selling knife patterns: tactical, utility and bushcraft; Alpha-1, Nessmuk and Mini-muk models
  • Favorite blade steels: high-carbon and tool for edge retention; 1084 for ease of heat-treat and durability. “I also utilize 5160 spring steel for my larger blades, and often incorporate O1 and 1095.”
  • Blade grinds: full flat or saber
  • How he tests his knives: If Allan knows the intended use, those mediums will be cut, however, almost all of his blades are tested on 2-by-4s.
  • Favorite handle materials: G10 and Micarta for toughness, durability, color selection and low maintenance
  • Price range: $145-$400
  • Knife shows he attends: Texas shows, BLADE Show 2018
  • Forums he participates in: BladeForums.com when time allows
The Alpha-1 is just one of many knife designs offered by ARctc Knives.
As a former soldier, knifemaker Allan Reid of ARctc Knives is a fan of easy-to-maintain and cost-effective handle materials.

The Alpha-1 above has a 5-inch blade made out of 1084 steel with a full flat grind and acid stonewashed finish. The scales are Camo Micarta fitted with Black Micarta pins. Overall length is 9 ¼ inches. Maker’s list price: $165.

Allan Reid tried out a kwaiken design on his latest edged creation.
The ARctc Knives kwaiken-design knife has a 4.5-inch combination-ground blade made out of O1 tool steel. It’s 9 inches overall. The handle features an epoxy-sealed red paracord base under a black Japanese lace wrap. Maker’s list price: $180 with Kydex sheath and belt attachment.

Contact Allan Reid at [email protected], on Facebook at Allan Reid and on Instagram @arctc_knives.

Factory Friday: Spartan Blades Hybris Combat/Utility

Erin Healy
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Factory Friday: Spartan Blades Hybris Combat/Utility

The co-owners of Spartan Blades, in keeping with the company name, decided to call their 10 7/16-inch reverse-tanto sheepsfoot-bladed combat/utility knife, Hybris. Those familiar with Greek mythology might vaguely recall indirect reference to her hubris (over-inflated pride), insolence and arrogance. However, she is also the goddess of violence and outrageous behavior, necessary traits in elite warriors, no matter the era or place in which they fight. According to myth, she was the last among her peers to marry, so Polemus, the god of war and battle, married her. Clearly, an ideal christening for Spartan Blades Hybris Combat/Utility Knife.

Spartan Blades' Hybris Combat/Utility Knife is available in a number of different blade, handle and sheath colors.
The 5 7/16-inch reverse-tanto sheepsfoot blade on the Spartan Blades Hybris Combat/Utility Knife is made with CPM S35VN steel with a black or earth finish. Handle comes in black or green canvas Micarta. MSRP: $330. Contact Curtis V. Iovito, Spartan Blades, LLC, 625 SE Service Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387; 910-757-0035, [email protected], www.spartanbladesusa.com.

Should you want to accessorize, Spartan Blades offers an appropriately warrior-looking line of beads in spartan helmet, skull with beret, shield and crusader cross designs, MSRP: $5-$10. However, there’s also a line of beads in sterling silver and bronze, including the exclusive-to-Spartan-Blades plumed spartan helmet, crafted by GD Studios in Latvia and exclusively imported by veteran-owned GD Skulls USA in Florida, MSRP: $98.

Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey co-founded Spartan Blades in 2008. The two retired from U.S. Army Special Forces with over 40 years combined service. They prefer to focus on providing military personnel and outdoor enthusiasts with functional, durable knives, rather than chasing the latest innovations, which may or may not have staying power. They stick to using U.S. materials, and batches are small so that quality control can remain exacting. Accompanying sheaths are made by American- or U.S. veteran-owned businesses. At the BLADE Show® Spartan Blades’ Kranos framelock flipper model won the BLADE Magazine 2017 American Made Knife Of The Year®.

Since Curtis and Mark taught at the U.S. Army Special Operations Command sniper school (Special Forces Sniper Course), they continue to support the school and USASOC International Sniper Competition. At one event, they ran into guest speaker Sebastian Gorka, intelligence analyst, best-selling author of “Defeating Jihad, The Winnable War” and now-former deputy assistant under President Donald J. Trump.

Sebastian Gorka, military and intelligence analyst, stopped to chat with the co-owners of Spartan Blades, Curtis Iovito and Mark Carey.
American military and intelligence analyst, author of “Defeating Jihad, The Winnable War” and former deputy assistant to President Donald J. Trump, Sebastian Gorka (center), spoke at a U.S. Army Special Operations Command event attended by the co-owners of Spartan Blades, Curtis Iovito (right) and Mark Carey (left).

Read About New Releases From Knife Manufacturers In BLADE

A U.S. subscription to BLADE magazine, 13 issues, is $21.98.
An annual U.S. subscription to BLADE is $21.98. You can get your 13 issues sent to Canada for $39.98 and internationally for $49.98. Or go green and get your issues sent digitally for $17.98.

Each month BLADE Magazine features new knives from manufacturers and custom makers in its What’s New section. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out. You can also read about some of them here on our website. Be sure to Like and Follow us on Facebook at BLADE Magazine.

 

 

Videos: Watch Rusty Knives Restored Back to Life

BLADE Staff
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Videos: Watch Rusty Knives Restored Back to Life

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

how to sharpen a knife
Remember: A knife saved is a knife earned!

BLADE put together a guide all about knife sharpening and maintenance so you don’t have to perform extreme renovations like these. Get it here.

 

Here Are The Top 5 U.S. Military Knives

Steve Shackleford
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Here Are The Top 5 U.S. Military Knives
ATCF and BLADE
Bob Terzuola’s ATCF remains among the most iconic of tactical folders and is featured in the latest BLADE®.

The Gunny is n BLADE.
The Gunny shares his ample knife knowledge in the special military issue of BLADE®.

What are the top 5 U.S. military knives of all time? What’s it like to be married to the military, each other and knives all at the same time? Can the modern knife age be divided into two eras—before and after tactical folders? The latest issue of BLADE®, our special annual military issue, answers these questions and more, and is on newsstands and/or available in the digital edition now!

The top 5 U.S. military knives of all time–wow, that covers a lot of ground, don’t you think? BLADE polled such military veterans as USMC Staff Sgt. R. Lee “The Gunny” Ermey, Special Forces MSG/BLADE field editor Kim Breed, Navy EOD Chief Petty Officer Rob Cude, Special Forces/Green Beret Mark Carey, USMC Sgt. Les George and others to determine the elite knife grouping. Find out the results on page 42.

Trench Cleaver and BLADE
Michael Zieba’s Trench Cleaver includes a handle from the iconic World War I Trench Knife in the latest BLADE®.

Army SFC Michael “Rod” Rodriguez (retired) of the 7th Special Forces Group and SFC Kelly Rodriguez and also CW3 Jeremy Valdez (retired) and Sgt. Rachel Valdez (retired) are respective husband-and-wife teams who saw action in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now design knives for CRKT in the company’s “Forged By War” series. Read how these military heroes served their country above and beyond the call and their connection to knives—including Rod, who forges knives and had his portrait painted by President George W. Bush for Bush’s book, Portraits of Courage: A Commander In Chief’s Tribute To America’s Warriors—and more in Erin Healy’s story, “On-Point With Love & War.”

Ever since tactical folders became the hottest knives of all in the 1990s, knife observers have predicted time and again that the folders had peaked and/or were on their way out. Now, about a quarter of a century later, tactical folders maintain their lofty position as being among the most popular knives anywhere. Get the complete story on the longest-lasting knife trend going in Mike Haskew’s “The Renaissance Knife.”

Top 5 U.S. Military Knives and BLADE
See how many of the Top 5 U.S. Military knives of all time you can pick in the latest BLADE®!

There’s much more in the latest issue but you’re going to have to buy it to find out what all that entails. Get your copy on newsstands or the digital edition, or subscribe to the domestic, Canadian or international print editions, or to the digital edition now!

Midweek Maker Military-Style: Tracy LaRock

Erin Healy
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0
Midweek Maker Military-Style: Tracy LaRock
Tracy LaRock is known for his TimberJack and TimberJack Jr. traditional slipjoints.
In BLADE®’s continuing series entitled Midweek Maker, we are in our third installment of Midweek Maker Military Style: Tracy LaRock of LaRock Knives.

Tracy LaRock grew up on a dairy farm and spent every spare moment hunting, trapping and fishing. He served as a mortarman in U.S. Marine Corps from 1990 to 1995, but he didn’t stay out for long. In 1997 he signed on with the Texas Army National Guard, in artillery and recruiting, and still serves today. “So knives have been a part of my daily life since the beginning,” he commented.

“In 2008 Atmar Lester was showing a knife he made to some folks at church. I asked him some questions and he pointed me in the direction I needed to go,” Tracy related. “To start off it was basic tools and head-scratching, then I discovered the forums and tutorials.” Thomas Rucker and Percy Richardson let Tracy visit their shops. In 2014 he started making slip joints. After completing a few he reached out for help and received helpful insights from knifemakers Luke Swenson, Jared Oser and Enrique Pena among others.

“I hope to become a full-time maker in a couple years when I hang this uniform up for the last time,” he noted. Tracy lives in Lufkin, Texas with his wife, Mia, and their three sons.

  • Best-selling knife patterns: TimberJack and TimberJack Jr., traditional slip joints
  • Favorite blade steels: W2, 1095, O1. “Most are W2 because I have long since fallen down the hamon hole,” Tracy quipped.
  • Blade grinds: flat
  • How he tests his knives: rope, cardboard
  • Favorite handle materials: green canvas Micarta and ironwood
  • Price range: $350-$850
  • Forums he participates in: Facebook Group like Making Slipjoints and Lockbacks
Mia LaRock runs the LaRock Knives Facebook Group, and it is a lot of fun.
As Tracy LaRock retires from the military, he will be able to focus more time on making his TimberJack slip joints. His wife Mia LaRock does a terrific job running the Facebook Group at LaRock Knifes.

The above TimberJack has a 3-inch blade of W2 with hamon. The handle is fashioned from canvas Micarta scales. Overall length is 7.25 inches. Maker’s list price: $425.

Tracy LaRock is set to rock his retirement with knifemaking. His wife, Mia, handles his social media.
This Tracy LaRock creation is also a TimberJack with a 3-inch blade of W2 steel with hamon. The handle is American flag Carv-X. Overall length is 7 3/4 inches. The screw construction is done with titanium screws from TiConnector. Maker’s list price: $750.

Contact Tracy or Mia LaRock at 936-238-9077, [email protected], on Facebook at LaRock Knives or on Instagram @tracylarock.

Subscribe To BLADE For More Stories Like This

A U.S. subscription to BLADE magazine, 13 issues, is $21.98.
An annual U.S. subscription to BLADE is $21.98. You can get your 13 issues sent to Canada for $39.98 and internationally for $49.98. Or go green and get your issues sent digitally for $17.98.

A one year’s subscription to BLADE® will ensure you’re the first to read all six Knifemaker Showcase stories. You’ll also get the latest knife news, knifemaking how-tos, knife reviews, plus knife history and articles that tap into the knowledge of both the legends and the up-and-comers. Don’t miss out. Subscribe.

BLADE Will Make You Sharper

Steve Shackleford
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0
BLADE Will Make You Sharper
Subscribe to BLADE
BLADE will make you sharper. Subscribe here now.

BLADE® will make you sharper. How do we know? Because for almost 45 years now, BLADE has kept the world of knives abreast of all that cuts, slices, dices, severs, skivs, hacks, whacks, perforates and, yes, sharpens. That includes the latest knives, knife trends, knife events, knifemakers, collectors, cutting competitions, hammer-ins, knife awards and all else that stays on, around or anywhere near the edge.

You can subscribe to your choice of the print, digital, Canadian and/or international editions. It will, quite honestly, be the best bang for your blade buck anywhere.

Get sharper now with BLADE.

Midweek Maker Military-Style: Chris Rowley

Erin Healy
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Midweek Maker Military-Style: Chris Rowley
Chris Rowley owns Nomad Customs in Rainier, Washington.
In the second of BLADE’s Midweek Makers series we continue with our armed forces active-duty members and veterans. This week: Midweek Makers Military-Style: Chris Rowley of Nomad Customs.

Chris Rowley was a farrier for 12 years or more before he joined the Army at age 34. During his seven years of service he deployed six times to Afghanistan with 2nd Battalion, 75 Ranger Regiment, winding up his service this year as a weapons squad leader with the rank of staff sergeant.

He always loved blacksmithing and found time after work and on weekends to keep his hand in it by making knives. “Pretty soon half of 2nd battalion had one of my knives,” he said.

When Chris entered blacksmithing competitions, his horseshoes were hammer-finished, essentially going from the forge to horse. He tries to carry those shaping skills over to his knives, completing as much work in the forge as possible. Although not applicable with all steels or designs, many of his knives maintain a richly textured hammered finish.

Chris lives with his wife in Rainier, Washington.

  • Best-selling knife patterns: small everyday carry knives and 4- to 10-inch bowie-fighters
  • Favorite blade steels: 1084, 1075 and 15N20 for ease in forge-welding and the contrast with 1084 and 15N20; also W2
  • Blade grinds: hollow and flat
  • How he tests his knives: cardboard and random materials for everyday carry knives; chopping kindling and prepping game for camp-oriented knives
  • Favorite handle materials: resin-and-burl-wood combinations by Voodoo Resins and J Hue Customs. “Both finish really well,” he added.
  • Price range: $275 and up
  • Forums he participate in: BladeForums.com
Chris Rowley of Nomad Customs was a farrier for 12 years before joining the U.S. Army.
The diamond hole you see in Nomad Custom knives is representative of the U.S. Army unit in which knifemaker Chris Rowley served, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

This knife has a 9-inch flat-ground forge-welded blade of 1084 and 15N20 steels. The handle is made of redwood burl with Voodoo Resins spacers and G10 liners. His maker’s mark is a diamond cutout to represent the Ranger Battalion emblem. Maker’s list price: $500 with sheath.

Watch Chris Rowley Cut Out His Maker’s Mark

The diamond-shaped insignia is used to represent the battalion within the Ranger Regiment. Often in comments, you will see it typed as < 2 > for 2nd Battalion, for example.

The Scroll Factory sells all kinds of U.S. Army Ranger apparel and accessories.
This sticker, offered by Scroll Factory, shows what the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment diamond looks like that bladesmith Chris Rowley of Nomad Custom Knives & Tools cuts out of his blades as his maker’s mark.

 

Contact Chris Rowley, [email protected], on Facebook at Nomad Customs and Nomad Custom Knives & Tools and on Instagram @nomadcustoms03.

Subscribe To BLADE For More Stories Like This

A U.S. subscription to BLADE magazine, 13 issues, is $21.98.
An annual U.S. subscription to BLADE is $21.98. You can get your 13 issues sent to Canada for $39.98 and internationally for $49.98. Or go green and get your issues sent digitally for $17.98.

A one year’s subscription to BLADE will ensure you’re the first to read all six Knifemaker Showcase stories. You’ll also get the latest knife news, knifemaking how-tos, knife reviews, plus knife history and articles that tap into the knowledge of both the legends and the up-and-comers. Don’t miss out. Subscribe.

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