Tactical Customs
What’s new in customs. Focusing on the art and craftsmanship of the handmade knife.
Clifford O’Dell’s “Predator” folder offers a 3-inch Damasteel stainless blade on a mammoth tooth handle. The ambidextrous thumb studs have mother-of-pearl inserts. O’Dell can be contacted at cliff@odellknives.com
Mike Ruth’s “Dog Star Stag Bowie” offers a 9-3/4-inch Damascus blade of 1084 and 15N20 steels. The handle is sambar stag with a 416 stainless guard. The maker can be contacted at mike@ruthknives.com
Wayne Hensley calls this 12-inch Damascus fighter the “Persian.” The hilt is rosewood with a Damascus guard. Hensley can be contacted at rebwayhe@bellsouth.net
Don Llewellyn’s first “Fighter” offers a 6-inch blade of CPM154 stainless on a handle of sandblasted Micarta. The maker can be contacted at www.dlknives.com
As most long-term readers of Tactical Knives know, one of our contributing editors, Bob Kasper, passed away a couple of years ago. A Vietnam vet, Bob was equally involved in recent covert, anti-terrorist military actions in several countries. He also helped write the current USMC close-combat manual. Using this real-world experience, he designed what I consider the classic “tactical folder” for Pat Crawford. Pat is now offering a limited run of 50 Kasper Commemorative folders with linen Micarta handles and 3-7/8-inch S30V stainless blades. Each knife comes with a hard-side collector case. Pat Crawford Knives, www.crawfordknives.com
J.W. Randall’s “Clip-Point Bowie” features an 8-3/4-inch Damascus blade forged from 15N20 and 1084 steels. The handle is blue mammoth ivory with a Damascus guard. The maker can be contacted at jw@jwrandall.com
Peter Crowl’s 10-3/8-inch-bladed “Bowie” is forged from 5160 carbon steel. The handle is ironwood burl and the guard 416 stainless with copper spacers. Crowl can be contacted at pete@petecrowlknives.com
Bob Dozier no longer takes orders for his heavy-duty handmade folders, but if you are lucky and quick, you can usually find a few on his table at most major knife shows. This one came from the November New York Custom Show. The D2 blade is 3.5 inches long and the handle linen Micarta. An oversize linerlock holds the blade open. Dozier Knives, www.dozierknives.com
George Garner’s folding art knife offers a 3-1/2-inch blade of heat blued 1095 and 15N20 Damascus. The bolsters are Robert Eggerling mosaic Damascus and the thumb studs each sport an opal inlay. The handle is mammoth ivory on a titanium frame. The maker can be reached at razorbackblades@msn.com
Jim Crowell’s 11-inch “Big Knife” is mounted on an ebony hilt with a guard of 416 stainless. The maker can be contacted at crowellknives@yahoo.com
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