Simonich Tanto Prototype

edmoses

edmoses

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I thought that you may like ot see my latest knife.

This is a Rob Simonich Tanto prototype (nice grind!!) with a Strider style Tiger Stripe finish.

This is a great knife and I am very happy to have it in my collection.

Thanks to Rob for making it.

Thanks to the boys a TAD for making sure I got it.

No thanks to USPS for sending it by ship. :mad:

Enjoy the picks - perhaps Rob will be kind enough to provide an insight into this knife?

Regards,

Ed
 

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You're a lucky man Ed. Rob really put everything into a first line military blade with this one. What are the specs BTW?

Taking the pic next to the Sandhurst emblem is a nice touch too.
 
Jerry,

The specs that I have are:

Blade type = 7" combo ground experimental tanto in 154CM
Upper edge is sharpend to cut crate bands and chopping
Hollow ground main bevels
Flat gtound tanto tip for strenght
ROB'S INTERPRETATION OF THE "STRIDER TIGER STRIPE FINISH"
OAL = 12.5"
Black and Green linen micarta scales

This is taken directly from the TAD site.

The blade is marked with Rob's logo on one side (shown in picture), the reverse is marked protoype.

For a "wary" blade, I figured the RMA logo was appropriate. The do a mean line in training and even pay you to show up.

Regards,

Ed
 
Glad you like the knife!

As far as design, I was trying to come up with a versatile combat knife, not a fighter. It will perform in a fighter roll but not near as good as a pure fighter. I wanted a knife to dig fighting holes, pop steel bands, pry open crates, chop, cut, and spread your peanut butter on your crackers. Dont let that tip fool you, I poked it right through a kevlar vest rated for 44 mag with a hard thrust. I chose 154 CM for the proto because the latest 154 has been very good indeed, and at 57 HRC should be a very tough knife with a combination of decent edgeholding, corrosion resistance, ease of resharpening and stand up to about any chore a person may ask of it. The stripes on this one are heat treat oxide, and about as tough as gun blueing. I have several more blades like this getting the Boron Carbide stripes put on, and they are very very wear resistant but expensive.

After I made this knife and some pictures circulated, one kind fellow knifemaker and designer pointed out to me how close in design it was to the Carson U2, and a quick look told me he was right! I guess I am several years late! :)
 
Gorgeous!
By ship?

Rob,
Did you design the El Tigre as a combat knife or a pure fighter?
 
HJK, El Tigre is much more of a fighter, thinner steel, thinner grind, more point, lighter and faster.
 
Rob,

I am very pleased with this knife - I loved it at first site and was onto Patrick right away. It has a nice functional feel to it!! (not so sure about the sheath though...). I am also happy that it is a one of a kind protoype - I am always on the look out for something different.

HJK - The ship reference is because the international post was being sent by ship during the week 9/11 - I cannot think why? It just meant that I had to wait two weeks longer to get the knife.

Regards,

Ed
 
I always suspected that UPS put my packages on a slow boat. This explains alot :)

Rob, do you ever sharpen the top edge towards the tip on these fighters, or is there a risk of weakening the blade?
 
HJK, I can and do sharpen the false edge at customers request on fighters, but rarely if neve on Combat knives. I am not so concerned with toughness in a fighter but more concerned with deep cutting ability.

edmoses, tell me more about Sandhurst?
 
Classic Simonich!!!

Better not let the SAS get a hold of that one! ;)
 
Rob,

Sandhurst is the place that your West Point is based upon. The proper name is Royal Military Academy. All officers in the British Army over the past few hundred years have spent some time getting to know the place very well.

If you want more info have a look at:
http://been.at/sandhurst

I am proud to have been there, even though it was only on the Reserves course.

I thought that my old t-shirt was a great background for such a nice knife.

Regards,

Ed
 
I WANT ONE:D :D :D That looks like a kick arse blade that can take all kinds of abuse!! Besides it would just look so kool on my SOE Force vest :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Hummmmm wonder if I can trade the spousel unit in for one :eek:
 
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