TAH
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2001
- Messages
- 6,122
THE Hollow Handle Knife Thread
- Thread starter Sam Wilson
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2007
- Messages
- 463
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2008
- Messages
- 5,548
Bwhahahaha dont forget to paint it.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1G3EMZ4CZq3e6Od2MejcURKtGR2gisXB6
https://drive.google.com/open?id=13pp0nLrYmRKpc7ZnEJW2RcFbEGR9QRgN
Prototype Martin Knives Apparo 7"
This is the one he sent to Boker for their "collaboration"
https://drive.google.com/open?id=13pp0nLrYmRKpc7ZnEJW2RcFbEGR9QRgN
Prototype Martin Knives Apparo 7"
This is the one he sent to Boker for their "collaboration"
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2008
- Messages
- 5,548
Very nice Ian, what size compass did you use, i need to replace a couple.
Another from the Hollow Handle history book. A 1967 Harvey Draper D - Guard -
.
http://rmcustomknives.com/HarveyDraperSurvivalKnife.html - The page will show the specs, and if you click on the picture, it will bring you to a bunch of more detailed ones. An interesting thing is that the original customer drawing for the Randall #18 wanted it to have a handle similar to this Draper ( http://books.google.com/books?id=E6NZd17WtWoC&pg=PA363&dq=randall+18+knife&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx1r7I7O7XAhUiQt8KHcLxCOUQ6AEINjAD#v=onepage&q=randall 18 knife&f=false - drawing of the propose #18 ). I wonder if the designer (John Wells) had seen those earlier drawings.
http://rmcustomknives.com/HarveyDraperSurvivalKnife.html - The page will show the specs, and if you click on the picture, it will bring you to a bunch of more detailed ones. An interesting thing is that the original customer drawing for the Randall #18 wanted it to have a handle similar to this Draper ( http://books.google.com/books?id=E6NZd17WtWoC&pg=PA363&dq=randall+18+knife&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjx1r7I7O7XAhUiQt8KHcLxCOUQ6AEINjAD#v=onepage&q=randall 18 knife&f=false - drawing of the propose #18 ). I wonder if the designer (John Wells) had seen those earlier drawings.
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 16, 2010
- Messages
- 9,347
So OTT - I like it.
Really dig those lines to the blade.
Really dig those lines to the blade.
Mark Knapp
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2009
- Messages
- 4,421
Just finished this...thought you might like to see it.
10 1/4" O-1 blade, 5 3/8" 316 stainless handle including aluminium cap.
Ian.
Ian, this knife looks spectacular. I have a question though, it appears that the tooth gullets are just ground into the spine without any relief angle on the tops of the teeth. It this the case? You will find that the saw will work 100 percent better if the teeth have 5 to 10 degrees of relief angle to them. That is to say that the cutting edge should be the highest point of the tooth without the rest of the top of the tooth dragging on the material, interfering with the cut.
Otherwise, really nicely done.
TAH
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2001
- Messages
- 6,122
What do you all make of this knife on eBay? I've never seen or heard of it before. There are several more photos of it on the auction. The description says it is "single, one-piece construction", but it also states the joints have been TIG welded. 
ETA: It also states that the knife was made in 1980, which predates Lile's First Blood knife. I'm not buying it - literally and figuratively.
Godoy Luxe is extremely pleased and proud to present this c.1980, unique, USMILSPECOPS (U.S. Military Special Operations) Survival Knife—a “Presentation Trophy” (Mirror Finished) Model No. HDPT-1 of Prototype Survival Knife model no: HD-1.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives were originally manufactured in response to a USAF RFP for a “Virtually Indestructible Survival Knife.” The U.S. Air Force wanted to provide its combat pilots with an efficient, multi-purpose survival tool and powerful warfare weapon, they could use to escape from a downed plane (smash through a jammed canopy or cut through the fuselage), and survive in extremely hostile territories.
The key requirements for the survival knives were to: (1) deliver the exceptional toughness required to withstand extreme usage in hostile territories; i.e., superior resistance to shock, stress, rust, corrosion, sea water (air proof/water proof), weather and temperature variations, as well as reliable performance, durability, and longevity; (2) provide the user with “an efficient, multi-purpose survival system tool, as well as a powerful and effective warfare weapon.”
In response to the RFP, four sets of Prototype Survival Knives were custom manufactured at a multi-million-dollar aerospace facility to rigorous, mil-spec/aircraft manufacturing standards, using the latest equipment, best materials, and exacting processes it took to meet the “virtually indestructible” mil-spec requirements of the RFP.” The four sets of Prototype Survival Knives that were custom manufactured consisted of three knives each, in three sizes: Heavy Duty; Warfare; and Personal.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife we’re offering for sale at this time, is a one-of-a-kind, collectible masterpiece—A “Presentation Trophy” Prototype Model of the 22” Heavy Duty (HDPT-1) model of the USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife—and No. 1 of the four “Trophy Models” manufactured of this prototype knife. It comes equipped with a Sheath, custom manufactured by the purveyor of leather sheaths to Randall Made Knives; a custom-made Utility Backup Skeleton Knife, and a honing stone.
Unfortunately, in the end, the extraordinary aerospace facilities, equipment. materials, processes, and expertise it took to manufacture the prototypes of these remarkable knives, made it impossible to reproduce them at a cost that made them viable for mass production. The prohibitive costs associated with their manufacture, scuttled the project after two years of R&D and extensive field and destruction testing.
In 1980, R&D and prototype production of the USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife ceased. The few, rare prototype knives that were produced (12), were boxed in airproof military containers, placed in secured storage, and never released to anyone. The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife—like many other legendary weapons that streaked across the firmament like shooting stars and then vanished—was an ambitious dream that unfortunately required more resources than anticipated to make it a viable reality. The awe-inspiring, limited runs and prototypes of remarkable weapons like the AUTOMAG Pistols, Digital Revolvers, Laser Guns, and the KODIAK American Fighting Knives quickly disappeared into the hands of a few fortunate buyers, private collectors, and museums where they now reside, increasing in value and market demand every year—like precious works of art.
This USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife, and the entire final production run that was produced in response to the RFP, were acquired by KODIAK Knifeworks principals in 1983. As part of the transaction, FOUR (4) knives were given to the seller, and the remaining EIGHT (8) knives went to the KODIAK Principals’ private collections. At the time, since the knives only had numerical IDs, they were re-christened with the KODIAK Trademark, and all eight (8) knives remained in these collections until 2006.
After several years of protracted negotiations, Godoy Luxe acquired the rights to market and sell the USMILSPECOPS KODIAK Survival Knives, and is now finally able to offer these unique, masterpieces for sale. They are presently being readied for sale/auction for the first time, ever.
Here’s a brief synopsis about what makes these knives so special.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives were researched and developed, designed, custom manufactured, and tested to destruction by a “Skunk Works” R&D machining and manufacturing industrial company based in Burbank, California. The company specialized in the production of complex, critical, high-stress, jet aircraft parts, and had the facilities, equipment, and expertise to manufacture steel parts and components that had to meet extremely high mil-spec quality standards.
Their initial R&D evaluation concluded that to meet the RFP mil-spec requirements for the specialized survival knife, the knife had to be manufactured out of the finest, toughest stainless steel available—and all typical weaknesses inherent in commercially available knives; i.e., the joints (weak spots) between the three, elemental components of a knife, the handle, the guard, and the blade. had to be eliminated;
This meant the knife—including its complicating requirement: an air/waterproof handle storage compartment and a “sledgehammer guard”—had to be one single, fully-integrated piece of steel with none of the joint and structural weaknesses typically present in commercially available knives.
The KODIAK USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives have no equal. They were manufactured out of alloy-reinforced, custom-forged, 440C super steel billets, vacuum heat-treated under rigorous aerospace manufacturing standards, and carefully quenched with liquid nitrogen to achieve the highest-quality, tempered steel blade at 59-61 RC. The knives have no joint weak spots. The joints between the: (1) tubular handle/critical survival supplies storage compartment and the “sledgehammer guard;” and (2) the “sledgehammer guard” and the blade, are aircraft-framework-quality welded, using GTAW / TIG aerospace standards to produce seamless, fully-integrated, permanent bonds that withstand destructive testing at comparable levels of strength and resistance as the original base metal (440C Stainless Steel). This makes this knife “virtually indestructible”—as well as unique and aesthetically beautiful.
The KODIAK USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife is a one-of-a-kind, super-collectible masterpiece. The multi-million-dollar aerospace facilities, processes, equipment, materials, and expertise it took to produce it—enormous costs that sowed the seeds of its eventual commercial demise—are now the surety safeguard that ensures it will never again be produced, copied, or cloned to its “virtually indestructible” standards. A comfortable assurance of its long-term uniqueness and excellent investment value for generations to come.
Words, even pictures cannot do justice to the grandeur of this rare, “once-in-a-lifetime” collectible masterpiece. The photographs presented here provide the visual images words cannot convey, but to fully appreciate this imposing instrument you need to hold it in your hand. Once you’ve experienced the feel of its remarkable power, you’ll understand the alluring mystique of its uniqueness and never let it go.
This offering is a unique opportunity to acquire one of those legendary weapons that become special family heirlooms to be passed on to future generations.
KODIAK SURVIVAL KNIFE SPECIFICATIONS
Made in the USA
Circa: 1980
Single, One-piece Construction—No Joint Weak-spots.
Aircraft Welded—GTAW/TIG—into a single, integrated, structure
OAL: 22”—Excluding the screw-on, stainless steel conical crusher/perforator
Blade: Alloy Reinforced 440C Steel;
Finish: Mirror Polished (“Trophy Prototype Model”)
Overall Length: 22"
Blade Length: 12"
Blade Width below Choil: 2.625"
Blade Thickness: .25”
Blade Spine Serrated—Thick, single-cut, heavy-duty serrations-7.25”
Integrated Steel Guard, and screw-on Butt Cap: 440C
Integrated Handle: Knurled 440C Steel
Handle Length: 6" without butt cap – 8.25 with cap affixed
Handle Interior Storage Space: 14.84 cubic inches
Total Knife Weight: 4.2 lbs. (Unloaded)
ETA: It also states that the knife was made in 1980, which predates Lile's First Blood knife. I'm not buying it - literally and figuratively.
Godoy Luxe is extremely pleased and proud to present this c.1980, unique, USMILSPECOPS (U.S. Military Special Operations) Survival Knife—a “Presentation Trophy” (Mirror Finished) Model No. HDPT-1 of Prototype Survival Knife model no: HD-1.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives were originally manufactured in response to a USAF RFP for a “Virtually Indestructible Survival Knife.” The U.S. Air Force wanted to provide its combat pilots with an efficient, multi-purpose survival tool and powerful warfare weapon, they could use to escape from a downed plane (smash through a jammed canopy or cut through the fuselage), and survive in extremely hostile territories.
The key requirements for the survival knives were to: (1) deliver the exceptional toughness required to withstand extreme usage in hostile territories; i.e., superior resistance to shock, stress, rust, corrosion, sea water (air proof/water proof), weather and temperature variations, as well as reliable performance, durability, and longevity; (2) provide the user with “an efficient, multi-purpose survival system tool, as well as a powerful and effective warfare weapon.”
In response to the RFP, four sets of Prototype Survival Knives were custom manufactured at a multi-million-dollar aerospace facility to rigorous, mil-spec/aircraft manufacturing standards, using the latest equipment, best materials, and exacting processes it took to meet the “virtually indestructible” mil-spec requirements of the RFP.” The four sets of Prototype Survival Knives that were custom manufactured consisted of three knives each, in three sizes: Heavy Duty; Warfare; and Personal.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife we’re offering for sale at this time, is a one-of-a-kind, collectible masterpiece—A “Presentation Trophy” Prototype Model of the 22” Heavy Duty (HDPT-1) model of the USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife—and No. 1 of the four “Trophy Models” manufactured of this prototype knife. It comes equipped with a Sheath, custom manufactured by the purveyor of leather sheaths to Randall Made Knives; a custom-made Utility Backup Skeleton Knife, and a honing stone.
Unfortunately, in the end, the extraordinary aerospace facilities, equipment. materials, processes, and expertise it took to manufacture the prototypes of these remarkable knives, made it impossible to reproduce them at a cost that made them viable for mass production. The prohibitive costs associated with their manufacture, scuttled the project after two years of R&D and extensive field and destruction testing.
In 1980, R&D and prototype production of the USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife ceased. The few, rare prototype knives that were produced (12), were boxed in airproof military containers, placed in secured storage, and never released to anyone. The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife—like many other legendary weapons that streaked across the firmament like shooting stars and then vanished—was an ambitious dream that unfortunately required more resources than anticipated to make it a viable reality. The awe-inspiring, limited runs and prototypes of remarkable weapons like the AUTOMAG Pistols, Digital Revolvers, Laser Guns, and the KODIAK American Fighting Knives quickly disappeared into the hands of a few fortunate buyers, private collectors, and museums where they now reside, increasing in value and market demand every year—like precious works of art.
This USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife, and the entire final production run that was produced in response to the RFP, were acquired by KODIAK Knifeworks principals in 1983. As part of the transaction, FOUR (4) knives were given to the seller, and the remaining EIGHT (8) knives went to the KODIAK Principals’ private collections. At the time, since the knives only had numerical IDs, they were re-christened with the KODIAK Trademark, and all eight (8) knives remained in these collections until 2006.
After several years of protracted negotiations, Godoy Luxe acquired the rights to market and sell the USMILSPECOPS KODIAK Survival Knives, and is now finally able to offer these unique, masterpieces for sale. They are presently being readied for sale/auction for the first time, ever.
Here’s a brief synopsis about what makes these knives so special.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives were researched and developed, designed, custom manufactured, and tested to destruction by a “Skunk Works” R&D machining and manufacturing industrial company based in Burbank, California. The company specialized in the production of complex, critical, high-stress, jet aircraft parts, and had the facilities, equipment, and expertise to manufacture steel parts and components that had to meet extremely high mil-spec quality standards.
Their initial R&D evaluation concluded that to meet the RFP mil-spec requirements for the specialized survival knife, the knife had to be manufactured out of the finest, toughest stainless steel available—and all typical weaknesses inherent in commercially available knives; i.e., the joints (weak spots) between the three, elemental components of a knife, the handle, the guard, and the blade. had to be eliminated;
This meant the knife—including its complicating requirement: an air/waterproof handle storage compartment and a “sledgehammer guard”—had to be one single, fully-integrated piece of steel with none of the joint and structural weaknesses typically present in commercially available knives.
The KODIAK USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives have no equal. They were manufactured out of alloy-reinforced, custom-forged, 440C super steel billets, vacuum heat-treated under rigorous aerospace manufacturing standards, and carefully quenched with liquid nitrogen to achieve the highest-quality, tempered steel blade at 59-61 RC. The knives have no joint weak spots. The joints between the: (1) tubular handle/critical survival supplies storage compartment and the “sledgehammer guard;” and (2) the “sledgehammer guard” and the blade, are aircraft-framework-quality welded, using GTAW / TIG aerospace standards to produce seamless, fully-integrated, permanent bonds that withstand destructive testing at comparable levels of strength and resistance as the original base metal (440C Stainless Steel). This makes this knife “virtually indestructible”—as well as unique and aesthetically beautiful.
The KODIAK USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife is a one-of-a-kind, super-collectible masterpiece. The multi-million-dollar aerospace facilities, processes, equipment, materials, and expertise it took to produce it—enormous costs that sowed the seeds of its eventual commercial demise—are now the surety safeguard that ensures it will never again be produced, copied, or cloned to its “virtually indestructible” standards. A comfortable assurance of its long-term uniqueness and excellent investment value for generations to come.
Words, even pictures cannot do justice to the grandeur of this rare, “once-in-a-lifetime” collectible masterpiece. The photographs presented here provide the visual images words cannot convey, but to fully appreciate this imposing instrument you need to hold it in your hand. Once you’ve experienced the feel of its remarkable power, you’ll understand the alluring mystique of its uniqueness and never let it go.
This offering is a unique opportunity to acquire one of those legendary weapons that become special family heirlooms to be passed on to future generations.
KODIAK SURVIVAL KNIFE SPECIFICATIONS
Made in the USA
Circa: 1980
Single, One-piece Construction—No Joint Weak-spots.
Aircraft Welded—GTAW/TIG—into a single, integrated, structure
OAL: 22”—Excluding the screw-on, stainless steel conical crusher/perforator
Blade: Alloy Reinforced 440C Steel;
Finish: Mirror Polished (“Trophy Prototype Model”)
Overall Length: 22"
Blade Length: 12"
Blade Width below Choil: 2.625"
Blade Thickness: .25”
Blade Spine Serrated—Thick, single-cut, heavy-duty serrations-7.25”
Integrated Steel Guard, and screw-on Butt Cap: 440C
Integrated Handle: Knurled 440C Steel
Handle Length: 6" without butt cap – 8.25 with cap affixed
Handle Interior Storage Space: 14.84 cubic inches
Total Knife Weight: 4.2 lbs. (Unloaded)
Last edited:
Congratulation on finding this: I cannot find the original listing myself, but you did find quite an incredibly elaborate trap for the would be HH collector...
Here's what this reminds me of: About a year ago, one of the dwellers of this thread, who called himself "Demonbeast", posted a similar knife on another thread he started ("Big Ass Knives" I think it was): That knife was large, all black, with a somewhat similarly dubious sawback, and it was indeed custom made to his request as far as at least printing a name on it. That knife also claimed to be "one piece", even though it had long slender guard quillions, which would have made it outrageously expensive as a one piece knife to make: It was painted, and the way the guard and handle all joined strongly suggested welded construction: Similar trouble, in other words, for the maker to distinguish "one piece" and "welded pieces". That is the giveaway right there...
Here he tried to obfuscate the welding issue (unavoidable without paint) with really mysterious "aerospace industry welding" high tech mumbo-jumbo.
Back to the "Demonbeast" knife: Since all makers provide info as to where they make stuff, the lack of such basic info as maker name and location made me (and others) say it was a Paki made welded knife, made somewhat to customer specs in Pakistan. The seller was very dodgy as to WHO the maker was, and especially WHERE he was, which usually means Paki crap.
So Paki crap is getting quite ambitious nowadays... They are still dodgy on a lot of stuff, but they sure have amped up the back story here... This is almost a marriage of Rambo and James Bond...
The way the story is written means they have hired a truly shameless US Science Fiction writer of some ambition... Notice the useful caveat of 3 sizes to get around the fact that no military procurement would be interested in a 12 inch blade knife..: Probably someone who read the big "Buckmaster" book and all its weird prototypes... Some specs are quite absurd: Just 1/4" thick yet 64 ounces weight!?!
Handle is just 6 inch long but it has 14 cubic inches of interior space? Pretty much like the TARDIS right there...
The way these fraudsters think is that with someone to buy the story, even a costly single one off can be jacked so high it becomes a profitable operation for them... If they get the design a little less Paki-like and more functional, then I guess some people will start believing it. It unsettles me that the assumption here, with such a fuzzy no-specifics background story, is that only Hollow Handle fans are stupid enough to buy this kind of thing... An amazing, and good-looking, attempt nonetheless, and surely a milestone for this thread.
Gaston
PS: The screw-in skull crusher is definitely a Buckmaster guard spike "influence", so yes, not a 1980 knife...
G.
Here's what this reminds me of: About a year ago, one of the dwellers of this thread, who called himself "Demonbeast", posted a similar knife on another thread he started ("Big Ass Knives" I think it was): That knife was large, all black, with a somewhat similarly dubious sawback, and it was indeed custom made to his request as far as at least printing a name on it. That knife also claimed to be "one piece", even though it had long slender guard quillions, which would have made it outrageously expensive as a one piece knife to make: It was painted, and the way the guard and handle all joined strongly suggested welded construction: Similar trouble, in other words, for the maker to distinguish "one piece" and "welded pieces". That is the giveaway right there...
Here he tried to obfuscate the welding issue (unavoidable without paint) with really mysterious "aerospace industry welding" high tech mumbo-jumbo.
Back to the "Demonbeast" knife: Since all makers provide info as to where they make stuff, the lack of such basic info as maker name and location made me (and others) say it was a Paki made welded knife, made somewhat to customer specs in Pakistan. The seller was very dodgy as to WHO the maker was, and especially WHERE he was, which usually means Paki crap.
So Paki crap is getting quite ambitious nowadays... They are still dodgy on a lot of stuff, but they sure have amped up the back story here... This is almost a marriage of Rambo and James Bond...
The way the story is written means they have hired a truly shameless US Science Fiction writer of some ambition... Notice the useful caveat of 3 sizes to get around the fact that no military procurement would be interested in a 12 inch blade knife..: Probably someone who read the big "Buckmaster" book and all its weird prototypes... Some specs are quite absurd: Just 1/4" thick yet 64 ounces weight!?!
Handle is just 6 inch long but it has 14 cubic inches of interior space? Pretty much like the TARDIS right there...
The way these fraudsters think is that with someone to buy the story, even a costly single one off can be jacked so high it becomes a profitable operation for them... If they get the design a little less Paki-like and more functional, then I guess some people will start believing it. It unsettles me that the assumption here, with such a fuzzy no-specifics background story, is that only Hollow Handle fans are stupid enough to buy this kind of thing... An amazing, and good-looking, attempt nonetheless, and surely a milestone for this thread.
Gaston
PS: The screw-in skull crusher is definitely a Buckmaster guard spike "influence", so yes, not a 1980 knife...
G.
Last edited:
Mark Knapp
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2009
- Messages
- 4,421
What do you all make of this knife on eBay? I've never seen or heard of it before. There are several more photos of it on the auction. The description says it is "single, one-piece construction", but it also states the joints have been TIG welded.
ETA: It also states that the knife was made in 1980, which predates Lile's First Blood knife. I'm not buying it - literally and figuratively.
Godoy Luxe is extremely pleased and proud to present this c.1980, unique, USMILSPECOPS (U.S. Military Special Operations) Survival Knife—a “Presentation Trophy” (Mirror Finished) Model No. HDPT-1 of Prototype Survival Knife model no: HD-1.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives were originally manufactured in response to a USAF RFP for a “Virtually Indestructible Survival Knife.” The U.S. Air Force wanted to provide its combat pilots with an efficient, multi-purpose survival tool and powerful warfare weapon, they could use to escape from a downed plane (smash through a jammed canopy or cut through the fuselage), and survive in extremely hostile territories.
The key requirements for the survival knives were to: (1) deliver the exceptional toughness required to withstand extreme usage in hostile territories; i.e., superior resistance to shock, stress, rust, corrosion, sea water (air proof/water proof), weather and temperature variations, as well as reliable performance, durability, and longevity; (2) provide the user with “an efficient, multi-purpose survival system tool, as well as a powerful and effective warfare weapon.”
In response to the RFP, four sets of Prototype Survival Knives were custom manufactured at a multi-million-dollar aerospace facility to rigorous, mil-spec/aircraft manufacturing standards, using the latest equipment, best materials, and exacting processes it took to meet the “virtually indestructible” mil-spec requirements of the RFP.” The four sets of Prototype Survival Knives that were custom manufactured consisted of three knives each, in three sizes: Heavy Duty; Warfare; and Personal.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife we’re offering for sale at this time, is a one-of-a-kind, collectible masterpiece—A “Presentation Trophy” Prototype Model of the 22” Heavy Duty (HDPT-1) model of the USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife—and No. 1 of the four “Trophy Models” manufactured of this prototype knife. It comes equipped with a Sheath, custom manufactured by the purveyor of leather sheaths to Randall Made Knives; a custom-made Utility Backup Skeleton Knife, and a honing stone.
Unfortunately, in the end, the extraordinary aerospace facilities, equipment. materials, processes, and expertise it took to manufacture the prototypes of these remarkable knives, made it impossible to reproduce them at a cost that made them viable for mass production. The prohibitive costs associated with their manufacture, scuttled the project after two years of R&D and extensive field and destruction testing.
In 1980, R&D and prototype production of the USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife ceased. The few, rare prototype knives that were produced (12), were boxed in airproof military containers, placed in secured storage, and never released to anyone. The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife—like many other legendary weapons that streaked across the firmament like shooting stars and then vanished—was an ambitious dream that unfortunately required more resources than anticipated to make it a viable reality. The awe-inspiring, limited runs and prototypes of remarkable weapons like the AUTOMAG Pistols, Digital Revolvers, Laser Guns, and the KODIAK American Fighting Knives quickly disappeared into the hands of a few fortunate buyers, private collectors, and museums where they now reside, increasing in value and market demand every year—like precious works of art.
This USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife, and the entire final production run that was produced in response to the RFP, were acquired by KODIAK Knifeworks principals in 1983. As part of the transaction, FOUR (4) knives were given to the seller, and the remaining EIGHT (8) knives went to the KODIAK Principals’ private collections. At the time, since the knives only had numerical IDs, they were re-christened with the KODIAK Trademark, and all eight (8) knives remained in these collections until 2006.
After several years of protracted negotiations, Godoy Luxe acquired the rights to market and sell the USMILSPECOPS KODIAK Survival Knives, and is now finally able to offer these unique, masterpieces for sale. They are presently being readied for sale/auction for the first time, ever.
Here’s a brief synopsis about what makes these knives so special.
The USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives were researched and developed, designed, custom manufactured, and tested to destruction by a “Skunk Works” R&D machining and manufacturing industrial company based in Burbank, California. The company specialized in the production of complex, critical, high-stress, jet aircraft parts, and had the facilities, equipment, and expertise to manufacture steel parts and components that had to meet extremely high mil-spec quality standards.
Their initial R&D evaluation concluded that to meet the RFP mil-spec requirements for the specialized survival knife, the knife had to be manufactured out of the finest, toughest stainless steel available—and all typical weaknesses inherent in commercially available knives; i.e., the joints (weak spots) between the three, elemental components of a knife, the handle, the guard, and the blade. had to be eliminated;
This meant the knife—including its complicating requirement: an air/waterproof handle storage compartment and a “sledgehammer guard”—had to be one single, fully-integrated piece of steel with none of the joint and structural weaknesses typically present in commercially available knives.
The KODIAK USMILSPECOPS Survival Knives have no equal. They were manufactured out of alloy-reinforced, custom-forged, 440C super steel billets, vacuum heat-treated under rigorous aerospace manufacturing standards, and carefully quenched with liquid nitrogen to achieve the highest-quality, tempered steel blade at 59-61 RC. The knives have no joint weak spots. The joints between the: (1) tubular handle/critical survival supplies storage compartment and the “sledgehammer guard;” and (2) the “sledgehammer guard” and the blade, are aircraft-framework-quality welded, using GTAW / TIG aerospace standards to produce seamless, fully-integrated, permanent bonds that withstand destructive testing at comparable levels of strength and resistance as the original base metal (440C Stainless Steel). This makes this knife “virtually indestructible”—as well as unique and aesthetically beautiful.
The KODIAK USMILSPECOPS Survival Knife is a one-of-a-kind, super-collectible masterpiece. The multi-million-dollar aerospace facilities, processes, equipment, materials, and expertise it took to produce it—enormous costs that sowed the seeds of its eventual commercial demise—are now the surety safeguard that ensures it will never again be produced, copied, or cloned to its “virtually indestructible” standards. A comfortable assurance of its long-term uniqueness and excellent investment value for generations to come.
Words, even pictures cannot do justice to the grandeur of this rare, “once-in-a-lifetime” collectible masterpiece. The photographs presented here provide the visual images words cannot convey, but to fully appreciate this imposing instrument you need to hold it in your hand. Once you’ve experienced the feel of its remarkable power, you’ll understand the alluring mystique of its uniqueness and never let it go.
This offering is a unique opportunity to acquire one of those legendary weapons that become special family heirlooms to be passed on to future generations.
KODIAK SURVIVAL KNIFE SPECIFICATIONS
Made in the USA
Circa: 1980
Single, One-piece Construction—No Joint Weak-spots.
Aircraft Welded—GTAW/TIG—into a single, integrated, structure
OAL: 22”—Excluding the screw-on, stainless steel conical crusher/perforator
Blade: Alloy Reinforced 440C Steel;
Finish: Mirror Polished (“Trophy Prototype Model”)
Overall Length: 22"
Blade Length: 12"
Blade Width below Choil: 2.625"
Blade Thickness: .25”
Blade Spine Serrated—Thick, single-cut, heavy-duty serrations-7.25”
Integrated Steel Guard, and screw-on Butt Cap: 440C
Integrated Handle: Knurled 440C Steel
Handle Length: 6" without butt cap – 8.25 with cap affixed
Handle Interior Storage Space: 14.84 cubic inches
Total Knife Weight: 4.2 lbs. (Unloaded)
Wow, that's pretty crazy, what's the bid at?
- Joined
- May 16, 2010
- Messages
- 9,347
Crazy.
TAH
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2001
- Messages
- 6,122
I remember Demonbeast's thread well. I would say that your assessment of this knife is pretty accurate. Search words "survival knife seamless" will take you to the auction.
No bids yet, but the opening bid is set at $8500.
Not from where I am, or my search engine, as it leads nowhere for me, no matter what I try.
I've noticed this for some knives on the site. I definitely want to download pics before someone calls it out as fraud...
Note the teeth have definitely a funky "Arabian" look to them: Lovely touch!
Gaston
The leather looks well treated, but definitely on the thin side... Especially under the handle area of the piggyback knife: The main leather outer edge looks really thin...
That the mouth of the sheath was doubled-up also suggests thin leather, and you can see that the presence of the knife does bulge the face of the sheath near the mouth, despite the doubling. This is not horrible looking from here, but is below what one would expect at this level. The belt loop looks on the thin side as well.
(As a side note, thin leather is generally much easier on a mirror finish than thick leather would be: Thick dry leather can be absolute murder for scratching, the worst I have seen being my old-style beige Fallkniven Odin sheath...: It could be that this thin sheath is real easy on the mirror finish.)
Other things are apparent: The center grind line on the left is crisp, but really rounded on the right side. Also the clip grind is straight on the left side and concave on the right: Not a big deal, but definitely not precision manufacture. The edge looks like a convex edge, and a very good feature is that it is dead straight, with no recurve or hesitation, and perfectly lined up with the tube handle. For that alone it doesn't look like junk: Despite being obviously hand made with not too many jigs, it does looks straight and sound (better than the really "hesitant" original grind on my Colin Cox).
As another plus, the point is really crisp and sharp. The teeth vary quite a bit in chord, if you look at them individually, but they manage not being obnoxious about it.
The lack of a hollow grind for such a huge knife, making it a mid flat saber grind, adds a huge amount of weight and is very odd for that kind of design: It suggests to me a lack of serious tooling that a simple flat grind was used on such a heavy saber grind...
I like the concept and outrageous size. Especially how the blade profile broadens at the clip, and of course the lack of notches on the clip!!!!
Honestly, they could have asked for $600-700 for it. Maybe even $800 with thicker leather on the sheath. "Honestly" being the key word here...
Gaston
That the mouth of the sheath was doubled-up also suggests thin leather, and you can see that the presence of the knife does bulge the face of the sheath near the mouth, despite the doubling. This is not horrible looking from here, but is below what one would expect at this level. The belt loop looks on the thin side as well.
(As a side note, thin leather is generally much easier on a mirror finish than thick leather would be: Thick dry leather can be absolute murder for scratching, the worst I have seen being my old-style beige Fallkniven Odin sheath...: It could be that this thin sheath is real easy on the mirror finish.)
Other things are apparent: The center grind line on the left is crisp, but really rounded on the right side. Also the clip grind is straight on the left side and concave on the right: Not a big deal, but definitely not precision manufacture. The edge looks like a convex edge, and a very good feature is that it is dead straight, with no recurve or hesitation, and perfectly lined up with the tube handle. For that alone it doesn't look like junk: Despite being obviously hand made with not too many jigs, it does looks straight and sound (better than the really "hesitant" original grind on my Colin Cox).
As another plus, the point is really crisp and sharp. The teeth vary quite a bit in chord, if you look at them individually, but they manage not being obnoxious about it.
The lack of a hollow grind for such a huge knife, making it a mid flat saber grind, adds a huge amount of weight and is very odd for that kind of design: It suggests to me a lack of serious tooling that a simple flat grind was used on such a heavy saber grind...
I like the concept and outrageous size. Especially how the blade profile broadens at the clip, and of course the lack of notches on the clip!!!!
Honestly, they could have asked for $600-700 for it. Maybe even $800 with thicker leather on the sheath. "Honestly" being the key word here...
Gaston
- Joined
- May 16, 2010
- Messages
- 9,347
Judging from those pics, that saw looks worse than useless.
Outrageous description. As if any MIL outfit would want that thing.
No doubt some keyboard commando will fall for the blurb how ever.
When you can invent a background to a bowie magically discovered with initials, knock everybody who doubt said story, sell the blade to an aging pop star for a fortune and have him donate the knife to a certain crumbling fortification defeated by Santa Ana, the sky seemingly is the limit for these fantasy knives.
Outrageous description. As if any MIL outfit would want that thing.
No doubt some keyboard commando will fall for the blurb how ever.
When you can invent a background to a bowie magically discovered with initials, knock everybody who doubt said story, sell the blade to an aging pop star for a fortune and have him donate the knife to a certain crumbling fortification defeated by Santa Ana, the sky seemingly is the limit for these fantasy knives.
TAH
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2001
- Messages
- 6,122
Try these search words: "ULTIMATE SURVIVAL KNIFE*USMILSPECOPS*RFP PROTOTYPE*C.1980*SEAMLESS!!" or this number: 132422056409.
As for the sheath, the description states: "It comes equipped with a Sheath, custom manufactured by the purveyor of leather sheaths to Randall Made Knives..." The style of the hone pocket is used by Sullivans, but there are no photos of the back of the sheath to see stamps. Sullivans didn't start making sheaths for Randall until the late 80s. If it is a Sullivan sheath, which it appears to be, it is probably decent quality.
Agree!
Especially for Air Force pilots as the description states. Typically, pilot knives are small and compact.