One of a Kind Knives

  First introduced in 1993 as the Model 14R1 The Cold Steel Military Classic was patterned after the Randall Model 1-7 Fighting Knife and manufactured in Taiwan of 400 Stainless Steel. It came with a classic brown leather sheath featuring a pouch with sharpening stone, a feature which was retained throughout the life of the model. A total of 3 different blade steels were offered until the final version using Sanmai III steel was produced in 2006. I n 2000 Cold Steel shifted production to Seki, Japan to produce the model as the 14R1J using AUS 8 Stainless Steel. The right side of the blade was now marked AUS 8A Stainless, Made in Japan. Finally in 2006 the AUS 8A model was upgraded to a VG1 core called Sanmai III retaining the 14R1J model number designation. Production of this last version ended in 2012 . Cold Steel describes the knife;  ”The Cold Steel was based on the Randall Model 1-7 Fighting Knife. But make no mistake, our R1 Military Classic is not just a showpiece. The b...

An Easy Knife Test Most men and many women have a fixed blade knife they keep for defense, survival, hunting or to be carried in a bug out bag or vehicle in case of an emergency. It could have been given to them as a gift, they inherited it, or saw one and decided they needed to own one. Often the only use this knife has seen was to take it out of the sheath, examine it and maybe opened a box or two with it. In reality, it should be a knife you have used, tested in an outdoor environment by hunting, camping, or used in a bush craft class but many times it just gathers dust until an actual emergency exists. You bought it and than put it away confident in it's design and feel. I like to barbecue and have found that is a great excuse to put a knife to the test and also in the kitchen doing prep work. I can slice vegetables, cut up a chicken or slice beef for stir fry. I get a good feel for how it fits my hand, how maneuverable it is and how well it cuts and holds an edge. ...

Over half a century ago the United States Air Force was America's primary nuclear deterrent. This was accomplished by its long range bomber aircraft operated by the Strategic Air Command, the B-36, the B-47 and later on the B-52. ICBMs came along even later. To maintain razor sharp proficiency in the nuclear mission long range training missions were an daily occurrence and took airmen over every corner of the world. The Air Force became interested in refining its survival kits and equipment, particularly for arctic and alpine regions, as the fastest way to the targets in the Soviet Union was often over the polar route. Training missions sometimes turned into real life survival events. In the late 1940's, General Curtis LeMay, the head of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), authorized the creation of a survival kit for the crews of the long range bombers. Requirements were to be an effective tool for survival in the wild, with the ability to perform a number of functions to inclu...

S&W Survival series. In 1972 Smith and Wesson worked with well known and innovative knife designer Blackie Collins to introduce the company into the knife business. This program was announced in 1975 and seven knives were initially offered. Called the Survival Series they included a Bowie, Outdoorsman, Survival, Skinner a folding hunter knife, a fisherman knife and a filet knife. The Outdoorsman and the Survival knife featured a Hollow Handle for the storage of Survival supplies. The blades were forged from modified 440 Series Stainless Steel. A total of 47 operation from forging to hand polishing are performed on the blade before fitting to the handle on the Survival knife. The amount of work necessary for these knives caused S&W to fall behind on production and delivery to the retailers. Smith and Wesson produced in house a few other knives but none that required the amount of hand fitting as this series. The most beautiful knives S&W ever pro...

T akao FUKUTA, began making pocket and hunting knives inSeki, Japan then around 1970, he went to the United States to sell his TAK FUKUTA products. Takao FUKUTA’s passion for knives continued to develop, and in 1978 he was recognized by Robert Wald “Bob” Loveless, known as the “god of knives” in the United States, with whom he began an apprenticeship.  The same year, he was the first Japanese person to be accepted into the American Knife Guild for his high-quality work the “Loveless folding knife.” Since Mr. Loveless appreciated Takao FUKUTA, he shared with him all of his skills in making hand-crafted knives. When he got back to Japan, Takao FUKUTA continued creating very useful handmade knives that were simultaneously handy, strong and elegant.  Over the years, his factory in Seki, Japan also produced knives for Parker, Valor, Gutmann, Explorer, Frost, and Browning among others. Valor model 373 Long Commando knife Model: Valor 373 This is a rare Valor l...

In 1992 – 1996 Kershaw introduced a series of 3 Bowie Knives;  #4070 a 6" Bowie, #4071 a 7 1/2" Bowie and the #4072 a 9" Bowie (pictured below) This Knife was made in Texas by a Custom Knife maker Dan Harrison and featured a harness leather sheath. Knife is # 412. http://harrisonknives.com/index.php/about-dan-co/ "The Magnificent blades of Kershaw's presentation-grade Bowie Knives are wrought in premium quality tool steel and diemakers stainless steel alloy, triple tempered to assure optimum hardness and edge holding qualities, before they're double hollow ground and polished to a mirror finish. For the handle, multiple layers of natural hardwood veneers, pressure-laminated and sealed are cut along a bias and than individually shaped and finished to fit over the massive full length tang of the blade. High polished brass guards and buttcaps complement the intricate woodgrain patterns, Designed in 3 blade lengths these remarkable Bo...