Mystery knives

[H0tspur]

1. DKZ. Good workmanship. Just wondering for any information about the maker.
2. Peregrine Forge. Again good workmanship, just can't find anything about the maker.

I'm in Tempe, AZ; maybe they're AZ makers?

6 knives

 

[jmgruber]

Click on the emoji

 

[Arathol]

DKZ was apparently the mark used by Kuzach Knives, owned Kevin Johnson in North Las Vegas Nevada. The knife itself is cheap Pakistani damascus. Johnson may have purchased blanks and finished them, or just imported knives for resale. Many Kuzach made knives have sheaths with snaps marked with the Great Seal of the State of
Oklahoma, a sure sign of Pakistani origin.

 

[killgar]

The maker behind Peregrine Forge was Noah Edmondson Hales. He passed away in 2020. Obituary- https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/lansing-mi/noah-hales-9276975

His knife company Peregrine Forge is mentioned in the comments.

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[H0tspur]

DKZ was apparently the mark used by Kuzach Knives, owned Kevin Johnson in North Las Vegas Nevada. The knife itself is cheap Pakistani damascus. Johnson may have purchased blanks and finished them, or just imported knives for resale. Many Kuzach made knives have sheaths with snaps marked with the Great Seal of the State of
Oklahoma, a sure sign of Pakistani origin.

Thanks for that. When I first became aware of Pakistani Damascus knives many years ago I thought they were so cool. Then I learned how they make the Damascus and have avoided them ever since. They workmanship on this specimen is good and there is no OK seal on it, so I was hoping for a better outcome. BTW, I wonder how they settled on that seal?

 

[SharpBits]

When you’re trying pass off your goods as US made, just pick a state right in the center of the country! I have no real idea, of course.

 

[Arathol]

Thanks for that. When I first became aware of Pakistani Damascus knives many years ago I thought they were so cool. Then I learned how they make the Damascus and have avoided them ever since. They workmanship on this specimen is good and there is no OK seal on it, so I was hoping for a better outcome. BTW, I wonder how they settled on that seal?

30 some odd years ago Oklahoma started a tourism project that was supposed to use them on clothing and jackets. The project was canceled and all the unused snaps and buttons marked with the seal were sold as surplus to some factories in Pakistan.