MATRIARCH?

Endura handle with modified Civilian-style blade. For sale in South Africa and Israel, where the need for a cost-effective defensive blade outweighs the social stigma such a knife might carry elsewhere. I understand a limited number will also be available through Bladeforums.

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I swiped this pic from a previous thread on the topic - Hans is the originator, as noted. The knife labelled "Harpy" is actually its Zytel counterpart, the Merlin.
 
Tim,
the photo given above shows a PROTOTYPE of the Matriarch. The REAL McCoy will have a fully serrated blade for that extra super dooper ('duper' ?) edge!!! See the other threads for more info...

Public apology & general discalaimer from this point forward:
Sorry for the error on the naming of the Merlin! I was in a bit of a rush, looked at the blade shape, etc. etc. (excuses! excuses!)
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I KNOW I've slipped up bad that time!! (as many of the good fellow-forumites dutifully pointed out!)
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[This message has been edited by Heyns van der Merwe (edited 12 August 1999).]
 
I still prefer the plain edge. Don't get me wrong, I'll take the serrated if that is all there is. Anyway to buy the prototype?
 
Tim,
I just realised that your question could be about the MEANING of the word "Matriarch", and NOT about the Spyderco model named this way....?
 
Heyns,

Let me apologize to you! I was rushing when I posted above, and even with the pic right in front of me I referred to you as "Hans" for some reason! Very sorry. Thanks so much for taking this pic - I would be lost about what a "Matriarch" was if hadn't seen it. i hope you don't mind that I reproduced it here.

I'm quite curious about the origin of the "Matriarch" name as well.

-Drew
 
Well, I wasn't actually asking about the origin of the name itself, but sure, it'd be interesting to know where it came from.
-Tim
 
Maybe it means "Don't mess with mama bear! Or the lioness!"?
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When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He will shout to scare the monster who will often turn aside,
But the she-bear thus acosted rends the peasant tooth and nail,
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male!"
- Rudyard Kipling
Click to expand...

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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001


[This message has been edited by James Mattis (edited 12 August 1999).]
 
The knife was originally designed for South Africa.

The "Matriarch" is the name of the leader of the Elephant herd. She leads the herd with experience, wisdom and courage.

The African Elephant is somewhat unique. They have no natural enemies (except humans) which places them at the top of the food chain in their environment. Although they eat the lowest of the environment in shrubs and bark. Kind of like "looping" the food chain. They can move their immense bulk through the bush silently. They grow until they die and cause of death is starvation because their teeth wear out.

The original design had sculptured elephants on each side (each being different). Tooling costs and SKU numbers dictated that we use the Endura handle.

The name was the result of respect for the elephant in South Africa, the "original" handle design. Combined with the more "peacekeeping" spirit of the blade design (as opposed to an aggressive "Martial" spirit). And as a tribute to the superiority of the elephant in it's environment. (Spyderco donates to the anti poaching arm of the South African Govt.) Hope that helps.

sal
 
Now that I know the story, I think I like the Matriarch even better.
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How about selling them to Yanks who just gotta have them (pant! lust! drool!), but selling them at full price, with a pamphlet explaining the elephant connection, and earmarking a chunk of the price for elephant conservation?


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
I really appreciate that the "elephant connection" is kept low-key, like the "native connection." That shows where the motivation is - not in sales but in a genuine desire to give something back to the world.

I've just received word that a friend of mine who is down at Fort Knox would really like me to get him a Matriarch, if at all possible. Not that it has any particular military value (these folks have M-16s, after all), just that he'd like to reserve his plain-edge Civilian for "drawer duty." Will there be some way to get these in the US if the BF idea falls through? For folks in uniform? Pretty please?

-Drew
 
Drew - It seems that the original idea to make a BF model is not working. Spark is still sitting on BF Natives which was not the plan. To try to offer them through BF might again cause complications for Mike & Spark. We made 500 gray Matriarchs. Only 200 will go to collectors with numbers. I'll figure something out. Maybe offer them to forumites through the Outlet Store, or if there aren't enough forumites to purchase 300 pcs (not for resale) or we can just offer them through the outlet store.
sal
 
OK, much appreciated. FWIW, my buddy is also a forumite, just mainly a lurker and not able to get online right now.

-Drew
 
Thanks for the update & for being so responsive to ELU wishes by producing the gray Matriarchs, Sal. I've said it before, but you and your crew are the best!

Since the idea originated here, it would be a shame if these are not available through BF but it is understandable how Mike & Spark might be reluctant to take on another special at this time. I know I plan on getting at least two and would like the proceeds to benefit BF; however, if that can't happen, I'm just glad that they will be otherwise available.

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

 
With a point that is a little beefier and less radical than the Civilian's point, would a Matriarch that isn't dedicated to peacekeeping, with its vorpal factory edge, be an efficient garden tool?


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
Given that they'd all be serrated, for fine pruning it doesn't seem suited. What advantage would the larger blade and S-curve give over a Merlin for garden work?

-Drew
 
Actually, probably no advantage over a Merlin. Just trying to think of a politically correct purpose for it.
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And a plain C25 Centofante would be better for precision work. Also the left-side chisel grind of an Emerson CQC7 is traditional for grafting.


------------------
- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
 
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