Ever since I was a kid I've been into knives. Especially survival style knives and even more especially those seen in movies.
After 'Commando' and 'Predator' I was a full fledge knife junkie.
In the summer of 1989 I saw 'The Abyss' in the theater and instantly took a liking to the dive knife used by Michael Biehn as Lieutenant Coffey.
Although the knife gets very little screen time and is never fully shown in it's entirety it was enough to peak my interest and set me on a quest that would last for 20 years.
Over the years I tried to find the maker of the original knife with no luck but my luck changed in 2005 when someone answered my question. Well now I knew who made the knife but he was retired and had only made a handful of the knives for some Navy SEAL's.
I was out of luck until 2009 when I contacted Shane Sibert. I asked him if he'd be interested in making me a replica of the knife. It turns out he's a huge fan of the knife and the movie as well.
Luckily Shane had an old magazine article with a great picture of the knife so we could base the replica on that as well as the screen captures I provided.
Luck again came to be on our side as Shane eventually contacted the original maker of 'The Abyss' knife (George Lainhart) and got his full blessing and endorsement to do my replica.
Shane was not only able to re-create this knife, but do it better than the original. This is no movie prop mind you, this is thing is built like a tank. It's 1/4" thick Crucible S30V steel and weighs over 18 ounces.
The fit and finish far exceeds that of the original.
Anyway, enough rambling, here it is after 21 years, 'The Abyss' Lt. Coffey knife by Shane Sibert. 1 of only 2 ever made. Shane kept the other one.
I even had commemorative patches made up for the occasion.
Thanks for looking.
Screencaps-
