Need Help Identifying A Knife....

[Mack_Bolan]

I used to own this knife as a teenager and lost it. Was given to me from a lady whose son was a Marine. The included picture is from the back of an old USMC boot camp grad book. Haven't seen a knife like this since. Anybody have any clues as to what it is and a little history on it?

https://imgur.com/a/8ciofNg

 

[Mack_Bolan]

So, I'm gonna play devil's advocate for a minute.
The knife you have a picture of from the Marine's brochure is in a sheath. Size is kind of unclear. Is it stainless? Is it carbon? Is it damascus? Does it have a swedge? Is it single or double-edged? Sawback?
Shiva would work with you, the buyer, to create whatever you wanted, using whatever materials you liked....or, he'd just make what he wanted.
You're looking for a vintage Shiva Ki.
Unless you can have a productive conversation with Shiva (or someone with a REALLY early catalog or specific memory) about a knife made 40-50 years ago, you're just gonna have to cast a wide net. A lot of us have been where you are. Some of us win....some of us lose. It's just the nature of the game.
Best of luck!
-Mark

Just what I can remember...9-10"blade, stainless, swedged, sinlge edged

 

[Mack_Bolan]

Btw, I really appreciate all the help and info

 

[dax0007]

This is a long, long, shot, but maybe try emailing Dominique Beaucant. His email is listed here -

https://www.arizonacustomknives.com/products/1092537/ .

He is Shiva's friend, occasional hypeman, and was a long time collector of his work. He might have some knowledge of old models.

For what it's worth, you're probably looking for a knife from 1981-85 or so. I looked through a bunch of old Blade magazines, etc..., and as Polish Avenger mention, his style changed. You really see it from 85 - .

good luck with that.. He is extremely hard to have a conversation with!! Everything YOU HAVE IS SHIT and everything he has is the best of the best!

 

[dax0007]

I used to own this knife as a teenager and lost it. Was given to me from a lady whose son was a Marine. The included picture is from the back of an old USMC boot camp grad book. Haven't seen a knife like this since. Anybody have any clues as to what it is and a little history on it?

https://imgur.com/a/8ciofNg

I own 4 Shiva knives 3 are 40yo! . I have seen many shivas... The sheath looks possible with the long stitching but I highly doubt it. he made lots of 1 offs, but pic is so rough.. Usually his standard sheath back in the day was brown not black

 

[polish avenger]

dax, Shiva himself confirmed this is his work.

 

[OPSEC-C-C]

Original Rigid knife from the 70's Rigid knives were made in California. Sometime in the 80's they were sold under the same name by another owner and made in Japan. The knife we are looking at here is one of the original Rigid knives but without seeing the blade, unknown on the model.

 

[killgar]

Original Rigid knife from the 70's Rigid knives were made in California. Sometime in the 80's they were sold under the same name by another owner and made in Japan. The knife we are looking at here is one of the original Rigid knives but without seeing the blade, unknown on the model.

The OP's knife doesn't match any in your picture. Several details are different. For example, the OP's knife has a handle pin in the middle of the handle, the Rigid knives have no middle pin.

The top bolster of the OP's knife (hilt) has a flat bottom and a flat top, the top bolsters on the Rigid knives have a concave bottom and a curved top.

The bottom bolster on the OP's knife (pommel) has a straight angle on top, the bottom bolsters on the Rigid knives have a concave top.

Since Shiva Ki has looked at the picture of the OP's knife, and confirmed that it's his work, I would have to consider it likely that it's one of his.

 

[OPSEC-C-C]

K killgar - Thank you so much for your opinion.​

#1. "the OP's knife has a handle pin in the middle of the handle, the Rigid knives have no middle pin." You do not know this is the middle pin as only two can be seen. So you are guessing there are three pins. Many knife makers make slight variations to their knives over the lifespan of their manufacturing life like handle shape, having pins and not having pins, pin location, and so on. If you are unfamiliar with this, just look at the Gerber Mark II and how many variations it went through over 36 years of production.
#2. "The top bolster of the OP's knife (hilt) has a flat bottom and a flat top, the top bolsters on the Rigid knives have a concave bottom and a curved top."- As stated with variations, or many people modify their knives after purchase.
#3. "The bottom bolster on the OP's knife (pommel) has a straight angle on top, the bottom bolsters on the Rigid knives have a concave top." Without the knife in hand, the knife looks like it is in a different sheath (very common), and the knife sits inside the sheath. It only looks like it is straight, as it is under the straight entrance to the sheath.

Before disproving someones ideas, you might want to have some of your own examples as to what it is.

 

[knarfeng]

K killgar - Thank you so much for your opinion.​

#1. "the OP's knife has a handle pin in the middle of the handle, the Rigid knives have no middle pin." You do not know this is the middle pin as only two can be seen. So you are guessing there are three pins. Many knife makers make slight variations to their knives over the lifespan of their manufacturing life like handle shape, having pins and not having pins, pin location, and so on. If you are unfamiliar with this, just look at the Gerber Mark II and how many variations it went through over 36 years of production.
#2. "The top bolster of the OP's knife (hilt) has a flat bottom and a flat top, the top bolsters on the Rigid knives have a concave bottom and a curved top."- As stated with variations, or many people modify their knives after purchase.
#3. "The bottom bolster on the OP's knife (pommel) has a straight angle on top, the bottom bolsters on the Rigid knives have a concave top." Without the knife in hand, the knife looks like it is in a different sheath (very common), and the knife sits inside the sheath. It only looks like it is straight, as it is under the straight entrance to the sheath.

Before disproving someones ideas, you might want to have some of your own examples as to what it is.

You forgot the part about, "Shiva Ki identified the knife as one he had made."

 

[OPSEC-C-C]

I stand corrected.