Keith Ouye / Bruce Shaw "Flottiglia MAS"

[time4me]

New member here, so hello to everyone.

I recently worked with Keith Ouye to have this custom knife created, and engraved by Bruce Shaw with images related to the "Flottiglia MAS" - Italian Navy Frogmen of WWII. The skull with the rose is from the Flottiglia MAS insignia badge, and the torpedo subs on the front scale are what the frogmen rode underwater to place bombs on the hulls of ships. The back scale has the full Flottiglia MAS insignia badge.

My interest in the Flottiglia MAS frogmen stems from my passion for Panerai watches. The original Panerai watches were made by Panerai for the Italian Navy commandos.

Anyways, here are some pics of my new Ouye / Shaw knife...

 

[SharpByCoop]

Hi there....(?) Welcome.

Congratulations on this. I understand why you'd be so proud of this story and tradition. Compelling.

Keith and I share a friendship as well as a professional relationship. He truly is one of my favorite knifemakers, and his style is completely recognizable and unique.

Always the jeweling in the window, and the clip always mirrors the shape of the frame. Bruce does a great job with his 3-D carving and engraving.

Sidebar: I knew about the Panerai style going back to the 2nd WW, and they were suppliers for the Italian military. Wasn't the very original design created by Rolex and then transfered to Panerai for the contract? Educate me.

Thanks again, congrats and welcome!

Coop

 

[time4me]

Hi Jim,

My name is also Jim. Let me first say that it was probably your photographs of Keith's knives on his website that incited my desire to obtain one. Your photos are amazing.

To answer your question about Rolex and Panerai, Panerai designed and developed a unique prototype watch in 1936, with production of a modified model beginning in 1938. The movement, caseback and winding crown were marked Rolex, but the watch was designed and produced by Panerai. In fact, in 1990, Rolex wrote a letter stating "We would like to make it clear that Rolex has never made military watches. A single exception, if it can be so defined, is the Radiomir Panerai produced for the Italian Navy in the 1940's by our agents in Florence. This watch was specifically created for the famous teams of underwater raiders and it was designed and made by the company mentioned above. Rolex limited itself to providing movements, and for this reason the watches do not carry our name." So, the watches were made by Panerai but used Rolex movements, and in the beginning other parts as well such as the screw down winding crown.

Thanks for your interest, and for your kind remarks regarding my new knife.

Jim

 

[SharpByCoop]

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the clear explanation. I can see why you enjoy this genre--you know enough facts to make it fun, interesting and diverse.

I have (3) of Keith's knives heading here as I type. More of his good stuff!

Thanks for the props. I appreciate it, and so does Keith.

Coop

 

[peterinct]

Welcome Jim, and Congratulations on your Ouye/Shaw knife.

Interesting history and the knife commemorates it very well.

Thanks for posting it,
Peter

 

[Win Heger]

Welcome, Jim, I really like the way you had this knife created. Themes don't always work well but this one is very well done. I am a big fan of Panerai but don't currently own one. Thanks for sharing,

Win

Here's a collage of a sculpture I own, based on the original submarines:

 

[r connally]

Welcome Jim! Cool concept, great execution.

There are a lot of "knife guys" that are also "watch guys". Have to believe there are many watch affictionados who haven't been exposed to knives. Perhaps an opportunity for a maker to seize as there are so many watches with design stories that can be translated into a knife theme. Hmmmm...think this is ripe material for a thread. Thanks for stimulating my thinking so early in your tenure here, Jim!

 

[time4me]

Welcome, Jim, I really like the way you had this knife created. Themes don't always work well but this one is very well done. I am a big fan of Panerai but don't currently own one. Thanks for sharing,

Win

Here's a collage of a sculpture I own, based on the original submarines:

Thanks Win. The torpedo sub you have is awesome.

I saw "RIP, Bob" in your signature line, and was curious about that. I had a friend named Bob who passed a little over a year ago, who was big into Panerai watches - in fact, he was a moderator over at Paneristi.com, and many of the members over there have "RIP Bob" in their signature lines. I know its a long shot, but any chance this is the same guy? My friend Bob was from Elk Grove, CA.

 

[HangLoose]

Stunning knife Jim! Thanks for the pics and facts!