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New Pics....the Airborne Ranger Combat Knife!!!

Andy Prisco

Andy Prisco

Joined
Nov 2, 1999
Messages
2,805
"Airborne" because its a thrower at heart, "Ranger" because it's THAT tough...THAT cutting edge for the battlefield.

Hair-popping sharp, in stock, ready-to-rock, the new Airborne Ranger is TOTALLY a do-all combat knife to add to your kit, that we WANT you to throw.

Simple, straight forward, extremely well made, tough-as-nails, and only $185, we don't think there's much more value that can be purchased at a higher price.

Sheath pics to be uploaded ASAP.

Enjoy!

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Specs are as follows:

H-13: .375 thick or 3/8ths
Overall Length: 11.75
Blade Length: 6.5
Width at Guard: 2
Blade Width: 1.5
Rc C: 54-56
Finish: glass bead blast
Sheath: to be announced
 
The shemagh (arab scarf) is a good back drop for that photo.
Shemaghs will be all the rage-must have fashion for the coming excursion in Iraq...cheers!
 
Agreed on the Shemagh...it has become my preferred head gear while riding the Harley in cold weather. I even prepared a photo as an endorsement of the product for Brigade. I'll throw it up here if I can find it.
 
Very Nice! Looks like you did your homework on this one, Andy.
I hope that it will become part of your regular line, as it will be awhile for me to fit it into my budget. (Spent all my fun money on a new house.):rolleyes:
But I will get one in the future if it is still offered. It would be a blast to have one paired with my Vietnam Tactical.

take care
Greg
 
Thanks for the kind remarks.

Sand Man...yes, the knife is here to stay and will be part of our regular line-up, so no worries. When you can do it, it will be here.

Hope you are well and safe my man...
 
Yep Andy, I got one of the rare British issue tan and brown shemaghs coming from over the water soon. I have three sheaghs already and I have found good use for them with the unusually colder weather we have had. Cheers!
 
Boy, I was hoping it be more along the pricing of the Brend Hatchet: Field Grade.
Any hopes of a Field Grade version?
 
The quality built into this knife (e.g. design features, machining and hand finishing operations) smokes many knives as much as twice the price in our opinion. It is a field grade product, meant for extreme abuse...as well as the rigors of throwing, which other knives in its category aren't designed to handle or endure.

Micarta/G-10 handles, tanto points, clip points, powder coats, and thinly flat ground or hollow ground bevels are nice indeed...but can ALL be permanently effected or damaged relatively easily when thrown...and I've done it, to a few of the $300-$400 wonder-knives already.

At $185, we feel the Airborne Ranger is priced MORE than right, as it cuts well, chops well, throws well, and holds it edge well...and stays that way. We're not saying its the BEST cutter, the BEST chopper...but, for something that cuts, chops, AND throws...find another knife that does all of it that doesn't become permanently scarred, marred, or otherwise wounded.

There are GREAT throwers that couldn't cut their way out of a paper bag. There are great cutters and choppers that can be damaged in moments during a throwing session. The Airborne Ranger was designed to do all of that...well, and stay intact.

Could we make something that looks like it, but a little cheaper...probably. Would it be the same knife...no way.

This totally overbuilt knife is not for everyone and we know that. However, for something that truly performs, throws, and is tough, this is it.
 
Andy,

Thanks for the reply! I hope I didn't tick you off as I did not mean to.
I guess my request would for a smaller, less expensive thrower for those of use who don't need the overbuilt quality of the A.R.. I did not mean to imply that it was overpriced, just more than I assumed it would be. I just assumed that it be in the Brend F.G. range.

_SB
 
Totally understood Sharpy and in no way did I take offense at all.

We just built the knife the way we wanted to build it, and priced it accordingly.

We probably should make a straight-up throwing knife, but Bobby Branton's are pretty unbeatable in terms of design, performance, and value for the money.
 
Very appealing design, Andy-- just as with the RR 'hawk, it strikes me as a modernization of a classic frontier design.

Could you please post the weight of this knife?

Thank You
 
The light slowly dawns...

The more I think about this design, the more I like it! It seems to be truly (correct me if I'm wrong) unique in the market. A true, one-blade solution? I haven't seen anything closer...
As to price, I was way off. Andy is right. This is an incredible bargin. I have a 3.5" knife that lists for around $250. The AR at $185 is almost too good to be true. I guess I can live without a V-Tac or Spike Hawk.;)

[edited for spellin']
 
All you guys should be lining up for one of these! I just took possession of the pre-production prototype from Andy yesterday. It is a must have for ATC fans. It really is rather impressive appearing, and is shave the hair off your arm sharp. Descibing it as BEEFY would be an incredible understatement. It is a huge hunk of steel, 3/8ths of an inch thick and weighs 21.48oz., yet it throws like a charm.
 
Thanks Kop.!!!

...let me quickly interject as well that 21 oz. is not by any means an unusual weight found among knives in the "hard use" category.

Just check out some of the weights of popular models sold as "heavy duty" knives and you'll see very quickly in some cases, the Airborne Ranger is actually lighter. Very cool...
 
Andy,

I was wondering if you could tell us what machining is done in the making of these cool knives? I'm always curious about construction stuff, since I make knives as a hobby too.

I hope to see these on next year's episodes of the Best Ranger competition!
 
The profile is laser cut, like our Brend Hatchet and most other knives in the industry.

However, the well radiused plunge lines from the ricasso, the clean bevel lines, and all the "hogged out" steel is performed in a machining operation known as fly-cutting.

The laser cut blank is fixtured, and the cutter spins at very high velocity to precisely remove the amount of steel desired, per the CAD program for the knife. Imagine a merry-go-round with a giant spear sticking out from a random part of the ride. Then, speed up the carosel to an insano velocity, put it on wheels, and drive it around the park. You would then have an amusement park horror show OR a giant "Monster Garage" fly cutter! :eek::D

This method allows for high precision, high accuracy, very close tolerances, and in short, a very high quality product. No abrasives are used until the hand finishing operation, to remove the heat treat scale before bead blast. Then of course, we use abrasives again (i.e. belts) to hand sharpen.

As for Best Ranger, we are spearheading a "NEW" mystery event this year, which I can't mention unfortunately. I will right after the competition however.

Hope this helps...
 
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