Masters Of Defense knives

In response to the Ladyhawk pic I'm not saying all MODs are made using 154CM. Some models use S30V, A2 and Titanium. Its the ATS-34 on this particular knife that is rare for me to see as I just looked at my 1999 catalog of the original 5 (Tempest,Razorback,Trident,Hornet,Ladyhawk) and it has the blades as being 154CM.
 
NCCNC said:
I work with several guys that machined MOD knives for years. I don't know where they were originally made, but for years the entire line was made in asheville nc in a machine shop called turnamics. My wife's father came on as GM there in 2005 and they were already in full swing producing all the knives in MODs lineup. Turnamics is still in business, and you could probably call and ask them more specific questions if you had any. They make I-9 bike wheels now. The pawn shops around here have lots and lots of them collecting dust, simply because they made them out of the factory as seconds or whatnot.
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What he said ^^^^^

I know LE guys that bought some there at a steal...may have been seconds though... Also back in 2008 we had some fundraisers for an officer shot/paralyzed in the line of duty and they donated a shatpot load of knives to the cause-the officer was a fan of the CQD and had been to Dieter's school...
 
Garciela Casillas is/(was?) a tenth-degree black belt in Kung Fu according to Giggle. Looks like it may have been a presentation knife to her or limited run dedicated to her; she may have been nicknamed Lady Hawk Maybe this is a proto of the produced Ladyhawk, especially in light of the steel.

Here's another one:
http://www.sharperdeals.net/auction...hawk-black-belt-hall-of-fame&auction_id=87202

btw, the blade on my Watson Trident is 154CM---polished. #14. So yours is out of the boxed set too?
 
David From NC said:
What he said ^^^^^

I know LE guys that bought some there at a steal...may have been seconds though... Also back in 2008 we had some fundraisers for an officer shot/paralyzed in the line of duty and they donated a shatpot load of knives to the cause-the officer was a fan of the CQD and had been to Dieter's school...
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Yeah, I was just trying to narrow down the dates of the original company. Those are the only MOD's I'll buy. Looks like they only made five models that I'm interested in.

It was over by '04. NCCNC's father-in-law apparently got there after the sale had taken place.

Lotta good info here though. Learned some things so far.
 
What an awesome thread and great info. I'm still on the search for a Tempest manual. If someone has contact info for those NC pawn shops, please PM me.

Great article on the Tactical-Life site. Mike Janich is definitely one of the industry nice guys, and an incredible instructor. I've even asked him if he has a spare Tempest laying around that he would sell... sadly no. Kelly McCann is also a great instructor and super nice guy. I have one of the original Crucible folders and trainer. Mike Janich helped Kelly refine the Crucible design. If you have a chance to train with either of these gentlemen, do not hesitate.
 
Turborocket said:
What an awesome thread and great info. I'm still on the search for a Tempest manual. If someone has contact info for those NC pawn shops, please PM me.
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I'm wanting a Tempest too, has to be pre---'04 though. I have a feeling it may be the Blackhawks mostly in those pawn shops.
 
This thread is definitely an interesting read. I didn't realize just how short lived the original company was.

Always liked the looks of the Caracara and wanted one.
 
I remember walking into my local knife shop around 2005 and seeing
a MOD Caracara with carbon fiber inlay, it looked so nice that I bought
it. As I remember it was around $300.00. Brought it home and for some
reason never carried it. It has been put away for all these years untouched.
Totally forgot about it till I saw this thread.
 
Mod knives were being made in North Carolina until 2009. That is when Blackhawks contract ended with turnamics and they went over seas. Auto Mark 1 's were 50 bucks to employees and leo. Harkins triton were 75.00. Deiter and speigel (owner of turnamics) were the origional investors. Sold to blackhawk in 03/04. Blackhawk contracted with them to keep producing the knives for 5/6 years. They made the entire line u of mod knives, as well as some blackhawk branded blades. Someone mentioned there was never a mark 2 with a belt cutter. That is wrong. There were 10 made with belt cutters, and 10 made with belt cutters and damascus blades. The last three years saw 12,000 knives a year out of the shop, with 20 people hand assembling, checking and laser engraving them. 30 mins was the average for assembling and fitting the folders. And on a side note, lots of the blades marked 154cm were actually d2. Lol
 
Here is a junky one I picked up at the flea market last weekend for a dollar. Gonna clean it up and use it for a beater.



 
EChoil said:
I have a feeling it may be the Blackhawks mostly in those pawn shops.
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If you mean knives that are labeled mod (doesn't say Blackhawk on them), and made in the USA, then yes. They may be "Blackhawk" knives. They are not the Chinese made Blackhawk line of "MOD" knives though.
 
I have a tempest auto I bought in the early 2000s while in the military. I carried it on multiple deployments and everyday in AZ for a couple of years until I moved back to IL. Great knife and lotsa memories.
 
NCCNC said:
Someone mentioned there was never a mark 2 with a belt cutter. That is wrong. There were 10 made with belt cutters, and 10 made with belt cutters and damascus blades.
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What I actually said was that I was unaware that they were made with the seat belt cutter. That knife is rare indeed and I'd love to see a pic of it. :thumbup: This is what I have documented so far...feel free to add your info to this...

MOD CQD Mark II Black Blade, p/e m/a 80-3
MOD CQD Mark II Black Blade, s/e m/a 80-4
MOD CQD Mark II Black Blade, auto, p/e 80-7
MOD CQD Mark II Black Blade, auto, s/e 80-8
MOD CQD Mark II Bead Blasted Blade, m/a s/e 80-2 MSRP $239
MOD CQD Mark II Tungsten DLC Damascus (black coating over damascus blade), auto or m/a? (#'d 10) (Auto version verified)
MOD CQD Mark II Silver Damascus, auto (#'d 200) 80-8D-SL (not sure where SL was added, original MOD model # is w/o SL)
MOD CQD Mark II Silver Damascus, m/a 80-4D2 (Blackhawk sale price $374.97 in 2004)
 
I believe mod - Jon said there was no such thing. It was just very limited. I asked my FIL to bring his to the shop, but he had already given it to the son of our quality control guy, right before his deployment. The knife is in Iraq somewhere I suppose. I am going to try and get a few pics of his whole collection next time I am over there. Lots of folders and fixed blades.
 
Not an MOD, but while they were being made here, blackhawk would send freebes from their Japan manufacturers. He grabbed this on when it came in. This is a Seki Japan knife that looks to be a first production run. Obviously something to do with crucible, but I cant find much info about it. I know there was a fixed and folder version of this knife in their line. I rarely see either for sale though. I would aprriciate any info if any one has seen or knows about this thing.

 
NCCNC said:
Not an MOD, but while they were being made here, blackhawk would send freebes from their Japan manufacturers. He grabbed this on when it came in. This is a Seki Japan knife that looks to be a first production run. Obviously something to do with crucible, but I cant find much info about it. I know there was a fixed and folder version of this knife in their line. I rarely see either for sale though. I would aprriciate any info if any one has seen or knows about this thing.

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Gorgeous Crucible.
 
I don't think this is from a boxed set. The blade isn't polished or satin like other sets I've seen. It has the DLC serrated blade with the number 2 just left of the thumb stud and the box is labeled (Trident Serrated #2) . I was trying to find out more info about it myself.
 
NCCNC said:
Here is a junky one I picked up at the flea market last weekend for a dollar. Gonna clean it up and use it for a beater.



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That is an odd-looking duck...MK II blade with an AFCK handle...what is it really?
 
I don't know but it fits together well and fires hard. Figured I couldn't go wrong for a dollar. I know the guys I work with now, said they would peice knives together from scrap parts and take them home. May be one of those deals.
 
NCCNC said:
Mod knives were being made in North Carolina until 2009. That is when Blackhawks contract ended with turnamics and they went over seas. Auto Mark 1 's were 50 bucks to employees and leo. Harkins triton were 75.00. Deiter and speigel (owner of turnamics) were the origional investors. Sold to blackhawk in 03/04. Blackhawk contracted with them to keep producing the knives for 5/6 years. They made the entire line u of mod knives, as well as some blackhawk branded blades. Someone mentioned there was never a mark 2 with a belt cutter. That is wrong. There were 10 made with belt cutters, and 10 made with belt cutters and damascus blades. The last three years saw 12,000 knives a year out of the shop, with 20 people hand assembling, checking and laser engraving them. 30 mins was the average for assembling and fitting the folders. And on a side note, lots of the blades marked 154cm were actually d2. Lol
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Good info here. From all your posts it sounds like you are in an area where there are MODS everywhere. I may need to take a buying trip to Asheville, although it sounds like many of them are probably post-'04 manufactures. Love the town. In fact, I am in Asheville's official Bicentennial photograph, taken at a park festival the day of their Bicentennial celebration back in the '90's.

Thanks again.
 
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