I Never Thought I Would View The CLAX as "Wimpy"......

C

Claxton

Joined
Jan 29, 2012
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16
........until I ran across this MONSTER. It is the first prototype of "The Gladiator" made by Joe Cordova back in 2000. He also made a few special-order pieces (very, very few of them ever produced) that were smaller in size than the prototype. This one has 18 karat gold plaques on both sides indicating it is a Cordova made piece and the material used on the other (420v = s90v, one of the strongest and best wearing stainless steels ever used on knives, one of the CPM "super metals"). This is what Gerry Norrell of Certified Knives had to say about the piece:

.............."EXTREMELY RARE. ONE OF A KIND. CPM 420V, FULLY INTEGRAL, WAR MACHINE DAGGER. THIS MONSTER IS 16" LONG. THE BLADE IS A FULL 10" LONG. THIS AWESOME PIECE WEIGHS IN AT OVER 2 POUNDS AND IS OVER A 1/2" THICK AT THE RICASSO. IT WAS BORN FROM A SOLID BAR OF CPM 420V SUPERSTEEL. HOW THE MAKER, MR. JOSEPH CORDOVA MANAGED TO GRIND THIS KNIFE SO ARTFULLY AND SKILLFULLY, SIMPLY BLOWS MY MIND. TO CREATE A BLADE OF THIS THICKNESS DOWN TO A RAZOR SHARP EDGE IS PRACTICALLY UNTHINKABLE. THE GRIND LINES ARE PERFECTION. THE BLOOD GROOVE REALLY STANDS OUT ON THIS BLADE AND BECOMES AN ARTISTIC FOCAL POINT FOR GIVING THE BLADE LENGTH, FORM AND TEXTURE. WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. THIS KNIFE WAS COMPLETELY CUSTOM MADE FOR A CLIENT AND BEARS TWO 18K GOLD EMBLEMS ON EACH SIDE OF THE RICASSO. ONE BEARS THE MAKERS MARK AND YEAR MADE. THE OTHER SIDE REVEALS THE KNIFE MATERIAL, THE FACT IT WAS CUSTOM MADE AND ANOTHER MOST IMPORTANT FACT - IT IS A PROTOTYPE. IF YOU ARE A SERIOUS COLLECTOR, THIS IS THE KIND OF PIECE TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT. A ONE OFF INCREDIBLE DAGGER BY ONE OF THE FINEST MAKERS IN THE KNIFE WORLD. JOE CORDOVA BECAME A MASTER SMITH IN 1993. IS A STUDENT OF BOTH BILL MORAN AND BOB LOVELESS, IS A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL IN BOTH THE FORGING AND STOCK REMOVAL METHODS OF CREATING CUSTOM KNIVES, UNUSUAL FOR SURE IN THAT MOST MAKERS TEND TO LEND THEIR EXPERTISE TO ONE OR THE OTHER. JOE WAS HIGHLY SKILLED AT BOTH - AND FOR MANY YEARS. THE SUPER PREMIUM LEATHER SHEATH WAS CUSTOM HANDMADE FOR THIS KNIFE BY MR. CORDOVA AND BEARS HIS MARK. IT EVEN SPORTS THE BLOOD GROOVE DETENT DOWN THE CENTER TO MATCH THE DEEP BLOOD GROOVE IN THE BLADE. THE SCALES ARE OF PREMIUM BLACK MICARTA WITH HUGE STAINLESS RIVETS"................

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I hate to say it, but while it's pretty...DAMN is that overbuilt! Like, to the point where it becomes a nuisance to carry and function is diminished. Just my thoughts based on looking at it. Stunning workmanship though, and the lines are very nice.
 
I can't help but think this was a "see if I can do it" for Joe, or maybe a "dare". Remember this thing was made by the stock removal method on a solid piece of CPM s90v (or 420v). Why isn't it used more for knife blades if the finished product is so good (+60 RC capabilities and excellent edge retention/corrosion resistance) ? Because the material is simply hard to work. Take that into consideration, and then look at the results. Overbuilt ? Probably. But DAMN WHAT A KNIFE !
 
Very impressive! Is that big boy yours or are you just showing us an example of of Mr. Cordova's excellent work?
 
Claxton said:
I can't help but think this was a "see if I can do it" for Joe, or maybe a "dare". Remember this thing was made by the stock removal method on a solid piece of CPM s90v (or 420v). Why isn't it used more for knife blades if the finished product is so good (+60 RC capabilities and excellent edge retention/corrosion resistance) ? Because the material is simply hard to work. Take that into consideration, and then look at the results. Overbuilt ? Probably. But DAMN WHAT A KNIFE !
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I can definitely understand it as a challenge piece. :)
 
marcinek said:
Very impressive! Is that big boy yours or are you just showing us an example of of Mr. Cordova's excellent work?
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It's a new purchase from Gerry Norrell. It was his dagger collection centerpiece for the past many years. Can't wait to experience this thing in hand.
 
The best reason to own something is definitely "Just because." This is definitely one of those moments. That thing is just so awesome. It's totally mental. I would feel like the Hulk or a viking if I picked that up. I bet it feels invincible in hand.
Claxton said:
TO CREATE A BLADE OF THIS THICKNESS DOWN TO A RAZOR SHARP EDGE IS PRACTICALLY UNTHINKABLE.
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You're most likely not going to use that thing, but I'm dying to know how well it cuts paper since the whole thing is so thick.


Finally, reading in all caps becomes an exercise. Just saying. I know you were excited in posting this, but I quit reading after the above quote. Eye strain.
 
Apologies Hark....... that section was a cut and paste as received. And I agree, doubtful it will ever be used in the field, and purchased more as a collection piece. The blade appears to be hollow ground from the central groove, but from all indications, it is razor sharp all the way around. Would think that it would be extremely difficult to convex curve something from that thick of stock for the width. Like you say, this is one of those "Just Because" pieces that you either love or hate on first sight. Some of us buy small compacts (cars, etc.) while others like Hummer H-1s, overbuilt or otherwise. I suppose overbuilt or underbuilt both have their advantages or disadvantages, depending on the purpose and need of the tool. Again, as you say, doubtful this one will ever see field use, so really a moot point being a one-of-a-kind piece.

BTW, new to the forum here, but have been reading and enjoying the posts for quite awhile. Can never get enough.........
 
I think someone here once posted a fixed blade knife that was made from 1 inch bar stock. I think it got the nickname of submarine because the blade shape kind of resembled one. It was pretty cool to see.

Are you going to slice paper with it once just to see what it can do? heh.
 
2 pounds, 18k gold ornamentation, looks like a wall hanger for someone with a lot of money they don't need.
 
How much did this project cost?
 
killgar said:
2 pounds, 18k gold ornamentation, looks like a wall hanger for someone with a lot of money they don't need.
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And what's wrong with that? I wish I could possess a wall hanger for someone with a lot of money they don't need.
 
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