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Flipping In: The Rise Of The Custom Flipping Folder

Mike Haskew
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Custom Flipping Folders Are Becoming More And More Popular By The Day. These Are Some Of The Coolest Custom Flippers.

The energy surrounding the custom flipper folder market is rising to new heights these days with the fit and finish, good looks and liveliness of high-quality materials, incredible skill, and, best of all, imagination.

A look at the current trends among some of the best in the class offers the custom knife market perspective on the future while also allowing a moment to appreciate and absorb the excellence around us. The commitment to make flipper folders isn’t taken lightly; it involves a concentrated effort to achieve, meet, and overcome the challenges in bringing this type of custom knife to life.

Dan Thornburg – Albuquerque, NM

Of his flipper folders Dan Thornburg said, “Little things like the cutout on the lockbar or depth of bearing pockets all affect how smooth the action will be.” The blade is Moku-Mai by Baker Forge and the handle is ancient walrus ivory. Closed length: 5 inches. His price for a similar knife: $2,000. (Image: SharpByCoop)

“I really enjoy making flipper folders because of the challenge they present in both mechanical function and working with different materials,” explained Dan Thornburg of Albuquerque, New Mexico. “I like figuring out how things work or why something doesn’t.”

Thornburg got started in flipper folders after meeting Paul Lusk at a Houston knife show years ago. “This guy is one of the smartest people I’ve ever met and is one heck of a good businessman,” Dan said of Paul. “His encouragement helped my knifemaking get to the next level.”

Evidence of that next level is readily apparent in Dan’s flipper in a handle of ancient walrus ivory with damascus bolsters. Made by Baker Forge, the blade material is Moku-Mai—mokume forge welded over 80CrV2 carbon steel. Dan said it’s not unlike a san-mai construction using mokume. The product of his ingenuity reflects an intense technical appreciation. 

“I don’t think I’ve changed the design as much as refined the design,” he reasoned. “Little things like the cutout on the lockbar or depth of bearing pockets all affect how smooth the action will be. I do try to keep it simple and not reinvent the wheel, so to speak.”

Thornburg succeeds handsomely in his mission, paying close attention to detail and applying a natural talent for precision. He indicated he likes the flipper tab to double as a single guard and fashions it with the same material as the blade. Then, he advises the owners of his flipper folders to learn their safe operation.

“I think, just like most things, operating a flipper folder is a learned thing,” he said. “The more you flip it open, the easier it becomes. My dad still couldn’t open the best and smoothest folder I’ve made—too old school I guess! For someone that owns and loves flippers, most will fly open.”

Eliot Maldonado – Bulverde, TX

“Having a shorter tab is easier on pockets and looks cleaner,” Eliot Maldonado stated. “When the knife is closed, the tab doubles as a guard, but it is still short enough so that it does not ‘ouch’ your finger when closing.” His flipper employs a tanto blade of Moku-Mai by Baker Forge Steel and a marbled-carbon-fiber handle and Micarta® bolsters. Closed length: 4 inches. (Image: SharpByCoop)

Eliot Maldonado of Bulverde, Texas, started his custom knifemaking career making slip joints and then saw an opportunity. About 15 years ago, he had helped knifemaking friend Alan Davis work with slippies, and Davis assisted Maldonado with linerlocks in turn.

“Soon after, and knowing the function of linerlocks, I experimented with flippers,” Eliot explained. “It was a successful outcome and the passion for flippers started.”

Eliot’s flipper in Baker Forge damascus, a Micarta® bolster, and a marbled carbon-fiber handle demonstrate his appreciation of the finer points in the endeavor. His use of materials has also progressed from the early days. Back then he used basics just in case something went wrong. As he has become more proficient, upgrades to higher-quality blade and handle materials followed.

“I also started changing up patterns, those patterns that appealed to me,” Maldonado said, “like, I enjoy making folders with a classic kind of western—cowboy—look but still make more traditional tactical-type flippers as well.”

Eliot pays special attention to the flipper tab, applying a technique that enhances the action of blade deployment.

“Of course, the use of bearings changes the game when it comes to flippers, and I like a shorter tab with a checkering or ridge for traction. I feel having a shorter tab is easier on pockets and looks cleaner. When the knife is closed, the tab doubles as a guard, but it is still short enough so that it does not ‘ouch’ your finger when closing.”

Eliot is a firm believer in the assertive action of a flipper folder, and he makes no apologies for being a purist. 

“I believe a flipper should snap to open position when flicked by a finger,” he related. “Anything other than that is just not acceptable to me. The way I achieve that is by using caged bearings, stop pin position, the liner relief cut, and the perfect tolerance on the blade and back spacer. The result should be a fast opening with zero blade play and strong lockup.”

Todd Rexford – Florissant, CO

Todd Rexford’s futuristic flipper folder features a stainless damascus blade and a handle of DarkTi zirconium and titanium overlays. The overlays extend into the inside of the frame, while the mechanism features an inlaid lockbar and detent pin. Closed length: 4.6 inches. (Image: SharpByCoop)

The flipper folder genre has changed since Todd Rexford of Florissant, Colorado, began his journey some years ago. He credits demand as the catalyst for focusing his creativity on flipper folders.

“They were in their infancy when I started making them,” he commented. “There were some very good makers doing it, but back then the thumb stud still ruled the folder world. It was really my customers that wanted me to start making them, and I had ideas for my own flippers as well, for what I wanted to see and what the way forward was for my knives.”

The way forward for Todd is clearly indicated by a fine flipper folder of stainless damascus with a handle of DarkTi zirconium and titanium overlays. The overlays extend into the inside of the frame, while the mechanism features a hardened stainless pivot, inlaid lockbar, and detent pin with the Rexford radius bearing system integrated. A titanium pocket clip and back spacer complete the stunning package.

Todd sees the operation of the flipper folder as a critical element of the overall presentation, but hesitates to favor fully opening vs. more of an assisted movement. 

“I don’t judge,” he offered. “If a wrist snap is needed, then so be it. We can’t forget that when I make a stiff-detent lockbar flipper, you won’t be able to open it slowly. It will open with authority and everyone around you will hear it. This goes to show that each detent force has its own place depending on the end users and their task requirements.”

Nonetheless, the smooth operation of the flipper folder is a hallmark of a successfully completed professional effort. 

“The detent force, and how much preload you can place on the system before it overcomes the detent, is one factor that determines if the knife will fully open or not,” Rexford asserted.

“The other factor is the person and his or her finger,” he continued. “Through my years of building flippers, I’ve built everything on the spectrum of this force. Take a stiff detent to a show and half the people love it; half the people can’t open it. I’ve had users time some of my very fast knives in a pseudo drag race using camera-frame timing because they love it, but for a lot of people they may not be able to open that knife. At the end of the day it’s a preference, and I have stopped ‘standardizing’ my force. Yes, a flick will open the knife, but the velocity of the tip may change to suit different customers.”

The Skiff Family – Broadalbin, NY

The Culprit flipper folder by Steven Skiff, Jr. and Sr. won Best in Show at the 2022 NCCA Show. The blade is Damasteel stainless damascus in a Fafnir pattern. Closed length: 4.25 inches. The makers’ price for a similar knife: $1,495.

The father-son team of Steven Skiff, Sr., and Steven Skiff, Jr., from Broadalbin, New York, collaborates to make their own bold statement in the flipper folder realm. While Steven, Sr. makes the blades and does fit and finish, Steven, Jr. handles the CNC milling and produces blade bearings for the Skiffs’ projects, as well as bearings for other customers in the knife industry.

The Skiffs enjoy tackling the relative intricacy of flipper folder construction and relish the opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency, particularly with their team approach. 

“Making flippers is a challenge,” Steven, Sr remarked. “They are deceptively simple looking to make. It can be difficult to get the action exactly the way you want. It’s that challenge that I enjoy and it makes me prefer making them over other knives.”

The Skiffs’ Culprit framelock flipper folder features a blade of Damasteel stainless damascus in a Fafnir pattern, and a titanium handle with zirconium accents and seafoam anodizing. The result is dazzling, and Steven, Sr. credits custom knifemaking greats Andre Thorburn, R.J. Martin, and Kirby Lambert for “having a hand in increasing my interest to continue making flippers.”

The flipper construction process has progressed in the years since the Skiffs began to concentrate on the style. One aspect of that progress is the addition of an over-travel stop. 

“That’s an example of one important advancement that [a number of] us makers started using on framelocks a while ago,” Steven, Sr. observed. “Another advancement includes the evolution of using bearings instead of thrust washers, and we also use a hardened insert in the lockbar to prevent wear.”

The Flipper Folder Continues To Grow

The firm foundation of the flipper folder, both in popularity and mechanical and aesthetic quality, sets the stage for the future.

“I do predict we will see further refinement in materials, as well as in material quality over the coming years,” Rexford assessed. “We have also seen new locking mechanisms being adapted for the flipper category of knives.”

Maldonado looks ahead to “future advances in making a double-action flipper/auto. Of course, using new and exotic blade and handle materials is always something that keeps evolving.”

Future generations of collectors and users come to mind with Thornburg’s ideas of tomorrow. He commented, “I like to use materials that are not common when making my flippers. Mammoth, walrus and elk antler are my main scale materials, and my idea is a fine gentleman’s flipper folder for the upscale customer that will be handed down to their children.”

Altogether, the custom makers and their colleagues are doing their part to ensure that the flipper folder has staying power.

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Knife Review: Kizer Drop Bear

Mike Ableson
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The New Kizer Drop Bear Is An Excellent EDC, And The Clutch Lock Is A Worthy New Addition To The World Of Axis Lock Knives

In the ever-growing world of EDC knives, finding ways to stand out is difficult. So many brands, so many steels, so much of everything. And even in that crowded field, the new Drop Bear from Kizer finds ways to catch the eye.

Boasting a high-quality blade, simple handle, and innovative lock, the Drop Bear is the kind of knife you’ll want to use every day … more so, it’s the type of blade you’ll go out of your way to use. 

Getting The Drop On The Drop Bear

The Drop Bear in both of its colorways: Gunsteel on top and Black, with the bright purple thumb stud, below.

First that name. For those wondering it originates from a beast of Australian folklore that–as the legend goes–drops from trees to attack humans. Pleasant.

However, Kizer’s Drop Bear (MSRP $158) allure isn’t its reference to free-falling arboreal bruins. Instead, it’s Kizer’s twist to Benchmade’s Axis™ lock configuration.

Called a Clutch Lock by the China-based company, the mechanism provides a dead-tight lockup. I put this through the wringer, but we’ll get to that in a moment. And while few locking mechanisms have ever sold a knife, this adds enough of a spin to the traditional drop point to make it stand out.

So, let’s talk a little bit about the Drop Bear’s Clutch Lock.

Clutch Player

The clutch lock seen after removing one of the scales. The lock can be adjusted, and scales replaced, in less than two minutes.

As the fidgety type, I have to confess up front I love this knife. Right off that should give some indication of what the Clutch Lock brings to the table.

Where Kizer gets it correct is by not improving an already proven system, with the blade unlocking similar to most other Axis-type locks. For those unfamiliar, a pair of buttons situated on either side of the knife–in this case behind the pivot–are retracted, thus releasing the blade. As mentioned, it’s an ideal lock for those of us who fidget.

However, Kizer has improved the system by tinkering with the pair of Gemini springs hidden beneath the scales. The rub here, their tension is adjustable. This is a big deal.

This concept is not entirely foreign to those bold enough to have skunk worked spring tension for years. Many times the results were less than optimal, which is why Kizer’s setup is desirable. Basically, you won’t make the Drop Bear a victim of shoddy kitchen-table knifesmithing.

The tension adjustment itself is simple, even for the mechanically challenged. The frame has five holes on each side in which the spring is loosened or tightened. If you want a faster open and tighter lockup, crank it up to the holes closest to the blade. Desire a looser action, dial it down.

Interestingly, and probably grasped by the mathematically inclined in the audience, the five holes on each side don’t add up to five settings. Instead, it’s 5X5 settings for a total of 25. Boy, if you can’t find what you’re looking for in that range, then nearly any knife is likely to leave you cold.

Bear Necessities 

The Drop Bear is a sleek, nimble knife as seen from above.

Novel as the Drop Bear’s Clutch Lock is, it wouldn’t add up to a pile of scrap if Kizer didn’t finish the job with all the parts to make a solid knife. Overall, they make it worth the price of admission.

With a quality EDC knife in mind, Kiser outfitted the Drop Bear with a blade a shade under 3-inches long–legal in most jurisdictions. The 154CM stainless steel, again becoming popular in this role, offers a Rockwell hardness of 58-61 HRC.

Topping off this end of the knife, Kizer applies a flat grind to help create the edge. Good choice, because it comes out of the box frighteningly sharp. Outfitted with moderately sized thumb studs with plenty of clearance, this attribute is quickly deployed.

In the hand, the knife feels light–listed as 3.7 ounces–but not light as air. This is a good middle ground for this class of knife, where it feels substantial in your hand yet won’t tear the rivets out of your jean’s hip pockets.

Much of the weight savings come from an attractive skeletonized frame, under the aluminum handle scale. With an ergonomic swell toward the middle of the handle, the Drop Bear offers purchase and plenty of control.

As for aesthetics, the knife comes in two colorways. The first style is a gun steel blade with a satin finish and black thumb stud. The second has a black blade with an eye-catching purple thumb stud.

Finally, a tip-up clip keeps the knife at hand and riding deep in the pocket.

Testing The Drop Bear

The Drop Bear was a joy to test and cuts most types of material with ease.

It’s an EDC so I wasn’t going to try and chop through the vines slowly overtaking the corner of my backyard fence. I used it around the house for a few days. 

It cut through plastic and tape like there was nothing there at all. It’s a perfect letter opener. The Drop Bear easily handles the daily tasks you’ll see every day. Taking it a step further, I used it as my only knife when prepping dinner for my wife and I.

First was the romaine lettuce, which the knife handled with ease. Whether holding the Drop Bear in the pinch grip like a chef’s knife or by using the jimping and pressing down with my thumb from the top down, the knife dispatched the lettuce easily.

Up next was the tomatoes, and it was the best experience I’ve had with a flat-edge knife cutting tomatoes. They were Campari tomatoes, so smaller and more delicate than beefsteak or Roma tomatoes, and the Drop Bear went through the flesh easily. This was best done in a pinch grip and got incredibly thin slices of tomato for the salad.

Celery is stiff and crunchy, and it was no problem for the Drop Bear. The chicken breast was easy too. I preferred cutting the chicken by utilizing the jimping, and the knife bit down easily and sliced through the meat without a hiccup.

My single favorite cutting task was the bell pepper. I chose to cut the pepper through the skin side as that is traditionally more difficult than cutting through the interior flesh. I have never cut through a bell pepper easier than I did with the Drop Bear. It left me thinking that this could reasonably replace a paring knife.

However, the Drop Bear did meet its match against a large carrot. The knife did not enjoy fighting through the harder, denser flesh, forcing me to switch to a kitchen knife to finish the job.

Beyond the kitchen, the Drop Bear shined. It gets through cardboard boxes like nothing. The corrugated cardboard can be the test upon which many knives fail, but the Drop Bear didn’t even blink. 

Additionally, I tested it on some brand new ⅜-inch polypropylene cord. I figured that the cord would provide some sort of fight for the Drop Bear. Instead, it was a first-round knockout as the blade smoothly sliced through the rope, leaving a clean cut with little in terms of frayed strands.

As for the action, I preferred the knife a little looser and set it at the second position. And the lock, I put the strength of the lock through the ringer. I did everything I could to break it. I bent it backward, sideways, every which way I could to flex the knife. The lock held firm and never budged.

Final Cut

Overall, the Drop Bear makes the cut for me. 

The knife has enough mechanical allure to make it intriguing while remaining practical. For tinkers and fidgeters, this is a big plus. For those less inclined to get wowed by engineering wizardry, Kizer’s creation still shows sharp.

The Drop Bear is more than ready to tackle most EDC jobs, though you might not want to push it too far out of its comfort zone. What knife isn’t that true for? But for the price, it seems Kizer has hit the mythological sweet spot for this class of knife.

Knife Specs

MSRP: $158

Blade Material: 154CM stainless

Blade Length: 2.97 inches

Blade Style: Drop Point

Full Length: 7.15 inches

Handle Material: Aluminum

Handle Length: 4.17 inches

Opening Mechanism: Thumb Stud

Lock: Clutch Lock

Pocket Clip: Tip-Up

Weight: 3.7 ounces

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The Gerber Mark II: A Historic Fighting Knife

Mike Ableson
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The Gerber Mark II Is One Of The Most Famous Combat Knives Ever Issued To The American Military. First Introduced In 1966, It Still Endures Today.

When it comes to military knives, few are as universally beloved as the Gerber Mark II. First issued for use by U.S. service personnel in the Vietnam War in 1966, the knife has stayed in production since with the exception of 2000-2008.

The Mark II was successful due largely to its well-designed blade and lightweight. The blade is 6.5 inches long, and contemporary versions of it are made from 420 HC stainless steel. The handle is made from die-cast aluminum which helps keep the weight to just eight ounces. 

What Makes The Gerber Mark II Special?

The Mark II stands out thanks to its blade design. There are many combat knives and bayonets, such as the M7 and M9, that are modeled after the classic dagger or spear point. The Mark II also has a double-edged spear point blade but with one massive exception: the wasp waist.

The wasp-waisted blade has a narrower section of steel, akin to how a wasp’s body narrows at its waist. On the Mark II, this narrower section comes toward the guard, and the edge on both sides has small serrations. Not the deepest you’ll find on a knife, the serrations are still there to cut.

Very few modern combat knives have the wasp waist (other famous American models like the M7, USMC fighting utility knife, and M9 don’t have it), and it is the visual signature of the Mark II.

Can I Buy A Gerber Mark II Today?

Yes, you can, but it’s not so straightforward. Gerber is, of course, still in business and thriving, but go to its website and you won’t find a Mark II for sale. There are other serrated tactical knives but no Mark II.

To purchase a Mark II today you’ll have to either go to sites like ebay or retailers such as Knifecenter, Smoky Mountain Knife Works, etc. Other makers offer knives similar to the Mark II, but if you want the real deal you’ll have to dig a little bit to purchase one yourself. 

However, the ones of recent make that are available are reasonably priced at right around $100-$115.

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Six Fixed Blades Ready To Go To Work

Josh Wayner
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A Good Work Knife Is Worth Its Weight In Gold. These Half-Dozen Blades All Excel At Something Outdoors From Gardening To Felling Trees.

Serious work knives are going to be fixed blades. Strength is something that can’t be sacrificed, and while many folders are incredibly rigid, they have mechanisms and moving parts that can and do become worn or damaged with hard use.

Modern folders are great knives. However, once mud, grit, sand, and the unexpected rock an inch underground comes into play, they tend to fail. Few folders are strong enough long-term for use as a trowel—fewer still can be safely batonned through wood. On the merit of ergonomics alone, the folder is usually slab-sided in profile and isn’t comfortable to hold for long periods, nor does it allow for easy cleaning. As such, the fixed blade is superior when the woodchips or dirt need to fly.

Defining work knives is merited by the individual task at hand. Some of the knives featured herein are not suitable to assume the role of another. Specialization is the name of the game and the knife you need for splitting wood is far different than one for working the ground. The main characteristic, across the board, is that these knives simply must hold up for their intended role and be at least serviceable in others should the need arise.

The test knives were all put to heavy use during an exterior cleanup, pulling up rotten posts, planting vegetables and bulbs, cutting down saplings and small trees, starting fires, making kindling, opening fertilizer and feed bags, and all sorts of things you would use a knife for in routine outdoor chores. They were exposed to rain, soil and, on occasion, cleaning supplies. I evaluated the edges and finishes for how well they cut and the handles for how well they felt in the hand after extended use.

Case Winkler Recurve Utility No. 6

The Case No. 6 was perfect for slicing straps on hay bales, removing small limbs and cutting various hoses and line.

A collaboration between Case and Winkler Knives, the Case Winkler Recurve Utility No. 6 is large, beefy, well-made, and very, very sharp. It arrived with a much finer edge than most Winkler designs, which made it all the more interesting when compared to the other Winkler knife in this article. 

One of this issue’s cover knives, the No. 6 is not machete size but is big and heavily built. The deep belly and recurve result in a wide, rounded curve up to the tip, with about an inch-and-a-half of front-facing edge to the point. It is excellent at digging but not great at penetrating materials.

Where the knife really excels is in deep, long cuts. The recurve shape and handle angle make it want to sink right in. It can be batonned through wood around 2.5 inches in diameter with ease, can make tinder and is great at striking. The knife comes with a leather sheath that includes a polymer clip for a Zippo mini lighter. This is probably the only downside to this overall fantastic knife—the polymer clip isn’t strong enough to keep the lighter firmly in place and it can and does fall out.

In terms of general utility, I used the No. 6 hard and heavily for just about every task I could think of in the yard/garden. It chops well for a standard-sized knife and takes down medium branches as well as a small saw. It wants to work and, due to its shape, is simply useful and never got into a place where it was too much or too little. Overall, it is a fantastic work knife that should last you a lifetime.

MSRP: $430.99

Winkler Knives Drop Point Crusher

As a medium chore cutter, the Winkler Drop Point Crusher was great and easy to carry. The glass breaker/striker pommel is wickedly effective.

A classically styled working knife, the Winkler Knives Drop Point Crusher is a rugged gentleman’s knife with an appearance that doesn’t immediately give away its abilities. It was the only test knife with a wood grip but this never became an issue despite it being the most organic in composition. It was, like the others, exposed to rain, sap, dirt and dried wood. In addition, and thanks to the glass breaker/striker pommel, it was also used to bust down rotten posts and break glass out of a damaged windowpane.

It is a lightweight knife and easy to carry all day long. While Winkler makes knives for some of the most tactical dudes in the world, this one doesn’t draw that sort of attention in the slightest. It looks old, like something your granddad may have carried while hunting, and most people just look past it. 

As an heirloom-quality knife it is hard to want to use it, but like all the Winkler blades I have looked at over the years, it wears nicely and simply gains character. For basic work the knife is great at everything but is just a bit thin for heavy batonning, though it can be used to split smaller pieces. 

As a work tool, it is firmly in the everyday use category but like the Earth Skills knife is best set aside for heavy work. This is the knife I ended up wearing the most and using for the greatest number of tasks as it was so effortless to carry.

MSRP: $375

Condor Tool & Knife Woodbuster

The Woodbuster split firewood easily.

The Condor Tool & Knife Woodbuster is the biggest knife I’ve tested for BLADE®. Because of the knife’s name, I decided it best to use it on as much wood as possible, from taking down branches to dropping small trees. Designed by Joe Flowers, it sailed through things like they were hardly there. It approaches machete size, though it is heavy and the energy you need to get it moving is wasted on small brush.

I chopped firewood and reduced sections of trunk 12 inches wide into firewood with the Woodbuster. It can be batonned with surety and is great in that it has no real tip, so you don’t risk catching your hand or fingers if the blade sticks in the wood. It chops as well or better than a camp axe and with less physical effort in preparing firewood. 

In taking down trees care is needed, but it is as good as an axe on anything under a foot across, which isn’t small by any stretch. The Woodbuster is 100 percent a working knife and is easy to become proficient with.

The only downside is the grip, which is rather round in profile. Smaller hands may have a hard time with it. The grip is also a bit smooth, though not all that noticeable if you wear work gloves. It becomes a bit hard to hold when wet and can roll in the hand after repeated strikes. This isn’t a serious problem, just something to be aware of.

MSRP: $171.58

KA-BAR Jarosz Camp Turok

The Camp Turok is a large knife that can handle branches, cutting chores, and light chopping.

The KA-BAR Jarosz Camp Turok is large but not as beefy as the Woodbuster, and much lighter. With the exception of heavy wood cutting and batonning, it performs most outdoor tasks. The blade is thick but draws to a relatively fine point.

Designed by Jesse Jarosz, the Turok is a great general-purpose outdoor tool in that it’s easily maintained and stays sharp when handling chores. It’s a bit too large for EDC and is, like the Woodbuster, something you will want to carry until you don’t; it’s an overt item. 

It is, however, the test tool that has the most utility for the price and the broadest range of uses. The only thing I don’t like is the grip—too smooth for my taste and slippery when wet. However, the scales are removable, making the knife easy to clean and maintain.

MSRP: $129.69

Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter

The handy Benchmade 162 Bushcrafter is eminently useful for most outdoor work, and easy to carry and maintain. Designed by Shane Sibert, it arrived with a very sharp edge, though more notable was the grip profile. It’s a relatively small knife and the handle is unusually shaped, almost like a dog bone in geometry, and is very easy to get a firm, solid grip on. It can’t really be used for chopping large materials but is exceptional for fine work. It’s great at making fire and excellent in the garden and for pruning.

While billed as a bushcraft blade, it’s really a fine everyday knife and graciously civilian in appearance. It doesn’t look tactical at all and won’t draw attention anywhere from the farmer’s market to the barnyard. It held up exceptionally well and maintained a sharp edge in use. 

It was used like the others to open feed and fertilizer bags and to cut cord and roots. The only downside is the sheath. While aesthetically pleasing, it has a suede feel and once wet tends to stay wet for a long time.

MSRP: $260

TOPS Knives Earth Skills Knife

The Earth Skills knife was at home in the garden and far more effective than a trowel at getting though tough roots.

The Earth Skills Knife from TOPS Knives is large and has a very atypical profile. Matt Graham designed it as a type of survival knife, though not necessarily a heavy-duty one. It is quite thin and has a generous Scandi grind, making it absolutely wonderful for working the earth, cutting through rooted soil to plant new bulbs or vegetables, and light work like cutting branches and digging up old wire netting. It’s great as a close work tool and for preparing food but has little value for hard-use tasks.

The edge geometry and thin spine are not suitable for batonning, though the blade is great scraping tinder and striking on a rod. Because of these special features, the knife is at home in the garden or camp in that it likely won’t be used for initial setup, but rather for cutting food, root vegetables, harvesting forage and as a light machete. The grip is very comfortable but quite large. The blade stayed very sharp through testing and accomplished tasks easily with minimal wear.

MSRP: $260

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East Beasts: Four Parangs Built To Last

Dexter Ewing
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This Quartet Of Knives, Inspired By The Parang Of The Malay Archipelago In Southeast Asia Are Tough, Rugged Fixed Blades.

There’s something about large blades with an Eastern flair, an exotic look, and that offer devastating function. They generally are built stouter and able to complete multiple hard-use tasks beyond those of a machete. Such knives clear vines and weedy vegetation, take out small saplings, and split wood for campfires. They are equal parts tool and, if necessary, weapon.

Condor Tool & Knife Pack Golok

Batoning the Condor Tool & Knife Pack Golok is easy. The convex edge bites right in and tackles the task with gusto.  

Originating in the Malay Archipelago, the golok is used primarily in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Varying in size and weight, it is typically anywhere from 10 to 20 inches long. Often shorter and heavier than machetes, the golok is used for bush and branch cutting. Cutting edges tend to be convex, preventing the blade from being stuck in green wood. Carbon steel is often the preferred blade material, usually with a softer temper for ease of sharpening.

A good modern production example is the Condor Tool & Knife Pack Golok. The 11-inch upswept blade is 1075 carbon steel with a convex edge great at not sticking in green wood. The handle curves down near the butt and flares out a bit to prevent the knife from sliding out of your hand while chopping. The rich brown appearance of the walnut handle material elevates the Pack Golok’s appearance. Three large brass rivets secure the walnut slabs to the tang. A thong tube provides a hole for a lanyard.  The overall length is 17 inches, long enough to tackle heavy work but not too long for belt carry or easy storage.

In use, the Pack Golok feels very sturdy and comfortable. The large diameter of the rounded walnut handle turns down a bit to help keep your hand in place. The generous diameter makes the handle easy to grip and fills the hand nicely. You feel in control of the knife at all times.

The solid convex grind puts a maximum amount of meat behind the edge for durability and helps resist chipping and rolling through heavy chopping.  The edge is very sharp and easy to maintain so the knife serves well in the field.

The Pack Golok performs like a larger knife without being one. Of the test bunch, it’s the best chopper. It also excels at baton work. Conversely, it works just as well for finer tasks such as whittling.

The leather sheath is extremely well done. It features two button snap closures to secure the knife. Unsheathe it by simultaneously lifting the handle and pulling it out. There’s a large loop for belt carry. 

MSRP: $107

DPx Gear HEFT 12 Chop

Chopping is what the DPx Gear HEFT 12 Chop does. It’s like an axe—swing up, let gravity take the blade down and it strikes with plenty of inertia. Chopping is almost fun with the HEFT 12.

DPx Gear’s HEFT 12 Chop is a serious piece of kit. Robert Young Pelton, aka RYP, is the founder of DPx Gear, a noted journalist, and a documentary film director who spent considerable time in Iraq and elsewhere covering various conflicts. Based on the parang, which also is a favorite in the Malay Archipelago, the HEFT 12 Chop is optimized for cutting woody growth. Sporting a sweet-spot belly for chopping and forward-weighted balance, the parang is a multi-use cutting tool that can be quite handy in the wilderness.

In the HEFT 12 Chop, RYP wanted a tool that would serve as a machete, hatchet, and large survival knife all rolled into one. As a result, one knife can be carried instead of several. This is especially beneficial on long treks—the old “less is more” maxim. 

The 12.5-inch blade is flat-ground D2 tool steel, a proven and highly consistent performer for hunting and survival knives. A black mil-spec blade coating enhances corrosion resistance and low reflectivity. The green G-10 handle is 3D machined and contoured for comfort with no hot spots to speak of. The grip turns down and flares out somewhat to act as a catch and prevent the hand from sliding backward. Three large Torx-head screws fasten the G-10 slabs to the full tang. There’s also a lanyard hole in the exposed tang. A single guard keeps the hand from sliding forward.

At 18.6 inches overall, the HEFT 12 Chop is a formidable cutting tool. Made in Italy by Lionsteel, it looks great with the black blade and OD green handle. When you lift the HEFT 12 Chop, you immediately notice the heavy blade-forward balance. This enhances chopping, building momentum, and using gravity to your advantage as you swing the blade. If you go into it with all muscle, trust me, you will get tired. Relax and let gravity do the job.

Rest the guard on your hand as if you are choking up and let the handle pivot a bit in your paw for additional power. A semi-loose grip works best—or at least it did for me. As you chop you can feel the power with each blow and where the blade’s sweet spot is (just behind the angled tip). The HEFT 12 takes out smaller and thinner vegetation with abandon—a testament to RYP’s design vision.

This is a wonderful blade for baton work. You can use the length for leverage as you pound the spine. The full flat grind is like a wedge, splitting wood effectively and quickly. The HEFT 12 Chop does not come with a sheath. It’s a bit on the pricey side but the design is backed by RYP’s years of real-world experience.

MSRP: $375

APOC Chop House

The APOC Chop House is a good chopper, though the author indicated the handle does raise some hot spots. Wearing gloves is a way around that.

Boasting a flared reverse-tanto-style tip, the Chop House from APOC Survival Tools is based on the dao, which originated in China as a single-edge sword primarily used for slashing and chopping. The blade’s moderate curvature and angular tip are effective for thrusting. A 12.75-inch blade and overall length of 18 inches puts the Chop House right in the middle of machete territory. It boasts 9260 carbon blade steel, full-tang construction, and a black G-10 handle. A black oxide coating reduces glare and enhances rust protection.

Featuring 3D-machined and contoured facets, the handle is certainly one of the knife’s most interesting elements. Three sets of Torx®-head screws fasten the G-10 slabs to the tang. A prominent finger groove trails a recessed grip area, and the handle flares out to create a catch for your hand, stopping rearward sliding. 

An integral double guard provides additional protection. Wrap your hand around the handle and feel your fingers nestle in and lock into place. Depending on your hand size, you might feel some hot spots around the palm. In fact, those with bigger hands might find the grip objectionable.

The Chop House feels agile and has more of a neutral balance than the rest of the test bunch. As a result, it excels more at such machete tasks as cutting tall weeds, grass, vines and maybe taking out the occasional sapling. To be an effective chopper, the balance must bias toward blade-heavy, something the Chop House does not do. It has a balance more typical of a standard machete. This isn’t bad, it just means carefully selecting what you use it for.

The factory edge did not last long out of the box and I wound up resharpening the blade to my liking. It might be wise to apply your own edge before putting the knife to use as well. 

MSRP: $159

Fox Knives Parang

Don’t let the Fox Parang’s short length fool you. It chops quite well, with plenty of bite to the blade.

The Fox Knives Military Division (FKMD) Parang is an outstanding example of a compact fixed blade that serves as a chopping, camp, and kitchen knife while remaining easy to manipulate and carry. Taking design cues from the traditional parang with the forward-weighted feature, the 7-inch blade has a bulbous, rounded tip great for slicing and as a skinning knife if need be. 

The N690 stainless blade steel has a layer of black Cerakote® for additional corrosion protection. N690 is higher-end steel that exhibits an excellent balance of edge holding, corrosion resistance, and sharpening ease.

The ergonomic handle is Forprene, a molded thermoplastic tacky to the touch. Several large scallops on the grip section accommodate the user’s fingers comfortably. Along with the main groove, the largest scallop seats the index finger. This locks in your grip and the rest of the fingers fall naturally into place. The tang has a choil and gimping ahead of it to promote a secure choke-up grip for finer cutting tasks that require additional control. Though the handle is boxy, the edges are rounded to soften things up.

In action, the Parang—one of this issue’s cover knives—is impressive. As a chopper, the blade bites in deep and hard. The flat grind and excellent edge quality out of the box help make this possible. The Fox entry can give some larger knives a serious run for the money in terms of chopping effectiveness. When you choke up, tasks that require control like whittling are as easy as chopping. The knife feels comfortable and balanced in the choke-up grip. The large blade belly slices very well and the grip is no slip.

The Forprene handle mitigates some shock from impact when chopping. Its slightly tacky quality makes for a good grip with wet, dry, hot, or cold hands. Some may think the handle material looks cheap but the Forprene offers function rather than aesthetics—crucial when considering an outdoor blade for hard work. I wear gloves when using big fixed blades and even with gloves, the Forprene still felt very secure.

The Parang seems the most useful of the review models as it serves well as a chopper/camp and kitchen knife. If you stash a chopper in your vehicle, the compact length makes it ideal for the role. You can do the same with the other test knives but their additional length may pose an issue.

A very nicely made ballistic nylon sheath with Kydex liners for rigidity and protection from blade puncture comes standard. A wide dual-snap retention strap fastens around the handle. A smaller strap secures the knife at an additional point below the main retention straps. 

This might seem redundant but when wearing the Parang on your belt in the wilds, you don’t want it to exit accidentally! A loop accommodates a variety of belt widths. There are MOLLE attachment points and a leg tie, too.

One drawback: the sheath is OD green and the Forprene handle is tan. I’d prefer the handle color to match the sheath. An aluminum box with a snap-on lid that contains common assorted survival items is included. 

MSRP: $365

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Bad And Beautiful

Pat Covert
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Few Patterns Are As Stunning And Audacious As Daggers And Fighters. These Four Makers From Around The World Show What Elite Craftsmen Are Creating Today.

Knives with attitude always have been popular among many makers and cutlery enthusiasts, and, if you’ve ever been to a BLADE Show, chances are you’ve seen some eye-popping examples. Many have in-your-face themes, with daggers and fighters getting lots of love among them.

Wardog Fighter By Samuel Lurquin

The Wardog Fighter by Samuel Lurquin includes a handsome leather pouch sheath with logo by Jeremy Guillaume, a sandblasted-then-blued blade, a tight-waisted bird’s beak handle, and a dog tag with appropriate verbiage and logo. Overall length: 12.8 inches.

If Samuel Lurquin’s Wardog Fighter looks familiar, that’s because it is—it served as one of three cover knives for the June BLADE®. However, due to space requirements, we were unable to give the knife its just due in that issue, so we correct that oversight here.

Sam is an ABS master smith from Belgium who makes bullet-proof tactical fixed blades ticketed for extreme “rough ’n tumble” use beyond the call of duty. Sam’s English is somewhat limited, so we turned to Dave Ellis, proprietor of Exquisite Knives, who specializes in upscale cutlery from around the world. Dave is California’s first ABS master smith who has since retired from hammering steel to become a purveyor of fine custom knives. Dave’s overview of the Wardog is insightful. 

“Sam’s combat knife was designed to be very concealable, nothing flashy that sticks out! Twenty years discussing the needs of end users helped him design a knife to be used hard in the field,” Dave observes. “Rather than taking credit for the knife’s design, Sam instead deferred to the many experts when it came to ergonomics, concealment, and design to ultimately come up with this sleek fighter.”

The beefy clip-point blade is 7.5 inches to go with the 5.3-inch black G-10 handle. 

“I asked Sam if he considered this to be the perfect combat/field knife,” Dave states. “His response was quite sincere. He said, ‘There’s never just one perfect knife.’ Use dictates the design of each piece, and this design Sam hopes is one that he could stake his own life on. This is very important to Lurquin—that if all else fails, his knife will prevail.”

Dave explained the Wardog’s finish process: “The blade was sand blasted then cold gun blued. The bluing produced a forced rusting [patina] that Sam removes with steel wool. The blade is stonewashed for the final finish, one that will stand up to hard use.”  

Sam designed the thick, all leather sheath and had his friend, Jeremy Guillaume of 8 Ball Leather, make it. “It’s double welted and has double latches to keep the knife secured on many media—belts, backpacks and the like,” Dave concludes. “Sam felt that Kydex is too noisy, thus the use of leather.”

Commando Dagger By Joe Israel

Joe Israel offers his Commando Dagger with the smaller Shrike EDC knife. A big fan of the Fairbairn-Sykes dagger of World War II fame, Joe patterned the handle on that of the F-S classic. The Kydex sheaths are by Harry Savage.

One of this issue’s cover knives, Joe Israel’s Commando Dagger is born out of Joe’s intense fondness for the armed forces knives with a double edge. 

“I’m inspired by all the great military daggers like the Case V-42, Fairbairn-Sykes, Gerber Mark II—these knives have always fascinated me,” he observes. “I wanted to create something both beautiful and a bit sinister which, after all, is what I think daggers are.”

Though very stylish, Joe’s knife is meant to be used. 

“For the Commando Dagger, I start with 3/16-inch CPM 154 stock that I flat grind by hand and heat treat myself, including a liquid nitrogen cryo. The blade is 6 inches long and the overall length is 11 inches,” he states. “It’s then hand sanded to 3,000 grit and mirror polished.” 

The blade is sharpened on both sides. If the curvaceous handle smacks of a certain famous World War II combat knife, it is purely intentional. 

“I always loved the shape of the Fairbairn-Sykes handles and I try to emulate their elegant shape in my Commando Dagger,” he comments. “The knife is full tang with a brass guard that I pin and solder in place old-school style.” The scales are black linen Micarta® with blood-red G-10 liners secured with brass pins.

Joe supplies his knives with no-frills, all-business black Kydex sheaths, and also offers them in leather. “Harry Savage makes the sheaths for the daggers and he’s just great to work with,” the maker opines. “His work is always top-notch. The small knife in the picture accompanying this story is my Shrike EDC. It’s available in a variety of steels and handle materials. I offer Kydex and leather sheaths for my other knives, too.”

The Toothpick By Matthew Roberts

Matt Roberts chose ladder-pattern damascus for his Toothpick dagger because it complements the symmetrical blade profile, and the coffin-handle design for its simplicity and flowing lines.

Matthew Roberts is an ABS journeyman smith with a passion for forging. 

“I modeled the Toothpick after the Gold Rush daggers and Arkansas toothpicks of the 19th century,” he explains. “I have no knowledge whatsoever of historical knives and their dimensions. I made this because it looks vicious. Utility was an afterthought for this build.

“I forged the blade from 15N20 and 80CrV2 steels,” he continues. “I chose ladder-pattern damascus because it complements the symmetrical profile. The blade geometry is very acute with a full distal taper—the point is ground to near zero.” The Toothpick has a 7.25-inch blade length and is 12 inches overall. The blade is 1.2 inches wide at the widest and has about a .165-inch maximum thickness.

Matt chose a coffin handle design for its simplicity and flowing lines. The radius of the handle profile mirrors the blade profile. The handle material is African blackwood that Matt faceted heavily. 

“Blackwood seemed to be an appropriate choice because I wanted the blade to be the focus of the piece,” he notes. “Also, blackwood is a very heavy wood which helped bring the point of balance well into the handle.” The guard and spacer are 416 stainless. The spacer fluting is mirror polished.    

Matt chose a simple sheath to reflect the clean lines of his dagger. “It’s buffalo hide over bridle leather,” he states. “The hide has a matte finish and is very soft.”

Coffin Dagger By Julian Sacco

Julian Sacco’s Coffin Dagger features a W2 tool steel blade made via the stock-removal method and an unusual smoky hamon he chose for an “ominous feel.” The African blackwood handle is configured in what the maker calls an “old-school-coffin” style.

Julian Sacco’s dagger redefines the word sleek—and that only begins to describe the distinctiveness of his take-down-construction Coffin Dagger. 

“The inspiration for this piece came from seeing a lot of other makers do coffin-style bowie knives,” Julian relates. “I felt a shape like a coffin would fit really well on this dagger, as it’s an entirely mirrored piece all the way around. Essentially I wanted it to have an old look and feel to it and I think the coffin style fit that profile perfectly.”

The blade is ultra-slim and has a notable hamon.

“The blade is W2 tool steel and is done in the stock removal method,” he notes. “I don’t have much experience with hamons but, as per the theme of this dagger, I tried to create a smoky pattern to give it an ominous feel.” The knife has a 7-inch cutting edge and is 13 inches overall. “I wanted this to be more of a nimble and easy maneuvering piece,” Julian states, “somewhat like a stiletto dagger, but not quite.”

The grip’s modified wasp waist exudes creativity as well. 

“The handle is shaped entirely to look like an old-school-style coffin, which I think it resembles quite well. I wanted to have an aggressive look to the overall construction, which is why I shaped the pommel with such sharp lines,” he remarks. “To match the guard I kept those similar shapes and lines on the outside while smoothing the areas that would be gripped in order to make it comfortable for the user. The brass pommel and guard were an excellent choice as I knew they would patina in a way that would fit the overall rustic look and feel I was going for, while the African blackwood handle complemented that look exactly how I hoped it would. It perfectly fits the profile of an old coffin with its rich lines and bold grain, tying the entire theme of the piece together.”

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A Dazzler For Kaz

Bobby Kazmir
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A Father, With The Help Of His Uncle, Works To Make A One-Of-A-Kind Knife For His Son After Living The Life Of A Military Kid.

The hardest question for my son Zachary “Kaz” Kazmir to answer is “Where are you from?” His answer usually falls along the lines of, “Home is where the military takes your family.”

Zach’s answer is true for just about any token “military brat.” Military families often move every two to three years—that’s a rate of 10 times more than average civilian families. Living this kind of life for a child requires tremendous resilience, exceptional adaptability, and an uncommonly high maturity level. Zach would repeatedly get settled in a routine, a school, a friend group, and community activities, only to pick up, leave it all behind and start fresh again. 

Oh, and the trials of life do not stop there. He persevered through my frequent deployments, earthquakes, accidents, and even a direct hit by one of the strongest tornadoes ever recorded while he was living in Moore, Oklahoma. Zach’s life led him on a journey spanning two countries, four states, and five schools.

Bobby Kazmir and his son Zach.

I wanted to give the young man something special on the occasion of his 21st birthday. Even with all the places he’s lived and the experiences he’s had, Zach’s fondest memories always gravitate to his time in Okinawa, Japan. The first memories of his life were created there. Okinawa will forever hold a special place in his heart. With that, I set out to have a knife crafted in hopes of capturing and honoring these priceless memories for him.

Uncle Stanley

I could think of no better place to turn for such a task than my uncle, Stanley Buzek. Uncle Stanley is a knifemaker from Caldwell, Texas, and is most certainly the right man for the job. There’s no one I know who puts as much heart into his craft as Uncle Stanley. He guided me through the many options, and I closed in on what would become the most meaningful and elegant 4.5-inch, two-blade Texas trapper I’ve ever seen.

My uncle crafted the frame and liners from raw bars of integral 416 stainless steel. As with each of his knives, he added a personal touch to the spine. This was truly amazing to witness. I’ve seen many of his finished knives over the years, but I hadn’t realized the level of precise craftsmanship he put into the pieces that non-makers like myself often take for granted. Most of us just naturally look to the business end of a blade.

In thinking of the knife for this gift, I aimed to give Zach a glimpse into his resiliency through my eyes. He has been stretched so thin that at times his only choice to keep from breaking was to fold over in the fetal position to regain his strength. He’s been heated, hammered, pressed to the edge of his capabilities, put back in the fire, crushed, bent beyond his limits, beaten down even more, and subjected to unrelenting pressures in different directions.

Nonetheless, he emerged from the fire stronger than ever before, with a character that can only be described as beautiful—just like the banding and mottling of damascus. The beautiful steel forged by Bill Poor couldn’t be more fitting for this knife. Bill transformed raw 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels into an extra-fine River of Fire pattern with elaborate feathering that perfectly captures how I view Zach’s coming-of-age: indicative of many intense moments, but not scarred. Instead, radiating with a unique, luxurious magnificence that exemplifies resilience.

Making The Knife Handle

The next essential element on my mind was the scale material. (I called it the “side of the knife” but you know how knifemakers are about educating the ignorant.) The scales had to be more than just the perfect material, they had to be uniquely sourced. I wanted my son to have a literal piece of his childhood that he could hold in his hands whenever he wanted. 

Scanning the beach for seashells while barefoot along the shoreline of Okinawa’s Devils Cove is no doubt among Zach’s favorite island memories.

I reached out to a military friend stationed in Okinawa to acquire a piece of one of the famed, colossal banyan trees from the island. With travel restrictions, import/export regulations on agricultural items, and COVID-related shipping delays, it proved much more difficult than we expected. However, my contact was able to come through! After nearly a year, a heavily worn, 5-by-10-inch piece of banyan tree finally arrived in the mail.

Uncle Stanley was reluctant to use banyan. He cautioned me not to get my hopes up because he knew how challenging it can be to properly stabilize such a soft wood. In addition, the sample was very weathered, extra-soft, and had several deep cracks inflicted in transit during shipping. In other words, there wasn’t a lot of room for error! 

Uncle Stanley sent the wood to the very capable Terry Dunn of TNT Enterprises, and I was truly blown away by what he was able to do. Dunn not only stabilized the wood, he preserved its beautifully subtle grains and the small, intricate pitch pocket. The latter is a cavity in the wood where the tree suffered some sort of damage over its life, or a small knot of sorts if you will.

Stanley assembled the sleek trapper, affixed the scales, and presented me with a truly remarkable knife. Then he took it from my hands and said, “Now it’s time to go get it ‘scratched up.’”

Engraving The Knife

A slight fear came over me. I worried that an engraver could potentially damage this work of art. However, the worry left me as quick as it came when I learned the engraver was Alice B. Carter. I’ve seen her amazing work in the past. I knew she could add another layer of beauty to the piece.

To my surprise, Alice asked so much more than, “What would you like me to engrave?” She had an authentic interest in the story of the knife and its eventual recipient. I think she asked me more about Zach than she did about art that day. I shared with her the things Zach tends to reminisce about from his time in Okinawa, and we honed in on a few specifics.

One of the first memories of his life is enjoying the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Okinawa’s capital city of Naha. The festival draws crowds of thousands each January to see the city streets completely encased in the vibrant blooms. Zach also speaks of how massive he remembers the banyan trees being there. If you’ve never seen a 200-year-old banyan, the behemoths appear to be as old as time and so wide they seem to fill the sky with a majestic, towering presence as if from a fantasy movie. 

Alice’s smile grew wider and wider as we continued to talk through a few other details. She drew inspiration from our chat and created an absolute masterpiece. Engraving for more than 40 hours and inlaying more than six feet of 24k-gold wire, she created so much more than a scene or picture. Her art marvelously captured the emotions connected to the memories.

Reaching from corner to corner on the upper bolster of the facing side shines the island of Okinawa in pure, radiant gold. The shading effect seems to literally draw the island’s shape out from the knife. Carefully inlaid in the exact location of Kadena Air Base where Zach lived on the island, a one-millimeter copper marker memorializes his time there. 

The lower bolsters hold a personal message from father to son: Ichi-go ichi-e. Emblazoned in bold Japanese Kanji, it is an idiom roughly translating to “for this time only.” Reaching from corner to corner on one side of the upper bolster shines the island of Okinawa engraved by Alice Carter in 24k gold. The knife’s oversized shield brilliantly gleams Zach’s nickname of “KAZ” in Japanese-styled English letters. (SharpByCoop image)

On the opposite side in exquisite detail is an ancient, powerful banyan tree spanning from edge to edge. In a beautiful complement to the gold inlay, the banyan’s leaves are adorned with Alice’s self-alloyed green gold. Zach can view the upper bolsters in remembrance of the land he once knew.

As is customary in the military, a servicemember’s last name becomes his or her first name. It’s the military way. Kazmir was shortened to “Kaz” almost immediately, and that nickname stuck for the entire two decades I served. As Zach approached adulthood, he began to go by this moniker as well. The knife’s oversized shield brilliantly gleams “KAZ” in Japanese-styled English letters—an embodiment of how I’ve passed on my name to my boy.

Finally, the lower bolsters hold a personal message from father to son: Ichi-go ichi-e. Emblazoned in bold Japanese Kanji, the message is an idiom roughly translating to “for this time only.” It means that Zach’s experience in Okinawa was truly a once-in-a-lifetime episode that can never be duplicated, and he should treasure it forever.

Alice brought all the components together by incorporating gorgeous cherry blossoms engraved with intricate detail resulting in what I see as the perfect gift. Zach received it as a Christmas present and shed some heavy tears as I explained each element. He and I are both still amazed at how everyone came together to help me make this one-of-a-kind knife happen.

Uncle Stanley once told me that nearly every knifemaker is an expert at something, but no knifemaker is an expert at everything. He described knifemaking as a network of experts who bring their talents together to make the impossible possible. In the military, we have a term for this—it’s called synergy. With this beautiful piece, I’m convinced the knifemaking community is synergy at its finest.

For more information about the knife, contact Stanley Buzek, Dept. BL8, P.O. Box 621, Caldwell, TX 77836 346-412-2532 [email protected], s.buzekknives.com.

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