I have, rather reluctantly, decided to let this likely one-off piece go.... The blade is marked 'ENGLE' whick is apparently maker William Engle of Booneville, MO. From the little I had originally found on him, a quality maker who stays out of the limelight, but who's work has been in Tactical Knives...
When I showed this knife to Jim Siska...he immediately said: "That maker spent some time with Walter Brend!" I don't know whether he did, or not, but as one who has had several Brends, I'll say that it definitely has that look and feel...
A well-executed and imposing piece, with a broad hollow-grind, high flat/rib and the least 'false' false edge I have seen...that is, it isn't sharpened, but the two top grinds definitely have 'intersection'. 1/4" stock, I believe ATS-34 and the hilt, sub-hilt and butt-cap I believe are 416 S/S. Fine bead-blasted finish. Classic rag-micarta slabs, nicely scuplted....unless you have a particularly large, or small, hand you will find that this handle has a made-to-fit feel. Blade is 8 7/8", and handle is 5 1/8", for an OAL of 14". Blade is just under 2" at the broadest.
There are a few small spots of staining or beginning-oxidation, which should clean up readily if a concern. I did reshape the forward ends of the guard a bit, along with the bottom-outer of the butt-cap, to obtain more of the Brend profile...and did not do a final finish. I had intended to further the reshaping a bit, then file or sand to a Brend-like grace...but never did finish...which you may have the pleasure of doing... No use apparent, and edge is mint.
Quality leather sheath was blacked-out on the front, but is still brown on reverse. I, apparently, removed the white thread stitching on the sheath...probably intending to re-do with line of some sort, but did not get to finish.
An excellent sub-hilt fighter, very-much in the Brend manner...WITH a butt-cap. ********************SOLD*******************
When I showed this knife to Jim Siska...he immediately said: "That maker spent some time with Walter Brend!" I don't know whether he did, or not, but as one who has had several Brends, I'll say that it definitely has that look and feel...
A well-executed and imposing piece, with a broad hollow-grind, high flat/rib and the least 'false' false edge I have seen...that is, it isn't sharpened, but the two top grinds definitely have 'intersection'. 1/4" stock, I believe ATS-34 and the hilt, sub-hilt and butt-cap I believe are 416 S/S. Fine bead-blasted finish. Classic rag-micarta slabs, nicely scuplted....unless you have a particularly large, or small, hand you will find that this handle has a made-to-fit feel. Blade is 8 7/8", and handle is 5 1/8", for an OAL of 14". Blade is just under 2" at the broadest.There are a few small spots of staining or beginning-oxidation, which should clean up readily if a concern. I did reshape the forward ends of the guard a bit, along with the bottom-outer of the butt-cap, to obtain more of the Brend profile...and did not do a final finish. I had intended to further the reshaping a bit, then file or sand to a Brend-like grace...but never did finish...which you may have the pleasure of doing... No use apparent, and edge is mint.
Quality leather sheath was blacked-out on the front, but is still brown on reverse. I, apparently, removed the white thread stitching on the sheath...probably intending to re-do with line of some sort, but did not get to finish.
An excellent sub-hilt fighter, very-much in the Brend manner...WITH a butt-cap. ********************SOLD*******************
