The Silent Sentry Removal Tool (SSRT), aka the Rhino, has a unique place in the hearts of Emerson users. In a world where the phrase "Grail knife" is bandied about for everything from production knives that number in the thousands to prototypes that actually cost in the $thousands... this is a Grail.
For most of the decade 1995 to 2005, it was the absolute rarest, most desired, most storied Emerson folder around. The Original Usual Suspect T-shirts (of which there may be 25 or so ever made) featured it on the back by virtual unanimous acclamation. There may be a Suspect or two who have that title just based on the fact that they owned one once!!
Why was this so? First of all, there were only five made. Three had top edge serrations and two were plain edged on top. All were black on black, with black liners to boot. All had SpecWar logos, and each had the thick, hand sculpted micarta handles that fit your mitt so very well in all conditions. And, in keeping with the mission specs Ernie had received, each one had a small hole drilled in the handle near the back. Of the five, one was tested to "near destruction" by the shoo-shoo boys. Three definitely made their way into collector's hands, and the last one - I never found out whether it sold or was kept by its maker. A serrated one sold for $875 in 1995 (which I believe is the dead lowest price for these), and a plain edge sold for the then-unheard of price of $1,000 even that same year. This when you could buy a CQC6 for around $700.
Why else so desired? It was a knife that was designed specifically for an elite military unit whose mission profile included the need to be able to quietly remove a enemy sentry. This happens to be a skill taught to troops passing through the base at Coronado, for example. As the design shows, it revolves around drawing the knife generally towards you in a manner that does not allow for an outcry. These same end users might reasonably be expected to parachute from time-to-time, and that little hole in the handle was to allow you to put a paperclip in as a safety. This way, the double edged blade couldn't pop open during the rapid velocity changes one experiences during a jump.
The knives were ultimately deemed to be too specific to justify carrying, and other knives that had greater versatility were later made for these users. I believe another five were made sometime before 2000, these were similar but without the hole and more modified black handles. Since then, a very very few bolstered, satin version knives have also surfaced from the laboratory Ernie calls his shop. I'm pretty sure the prices have risen since 1995 too.
There you have it, the big triple in tac knives: extreme rarity, close association with extremely tactical users, and a purpose that denies any utilitarian use. Plus the black out look from a maker who hadn't used that much up till then, and you have the recipe for a knife that immediately became legend.
(As an interesting side note, just in the same manner that both Newton and Liebnitz independently invented the Calculus unbeknownst to each other, Steve Ryan built two satin bladed knives with nearly identical features as a design exercise for himself at the same time. He never made any more, though.)
[Photo not mine; Jackstraw photo credit]
For most of the decade 1995 to 2005, it was the absolute rarest, most desired, most storied Emerson folder around. The Original Usual Suspect T-shirts (of which there may be 25 or so ever made) featured it on the back by virtual unanimous acclamation. There may be a Suspect or two who have that title just based on the fact that they owned one once!!
Why was this so? First of all, there were only five made. Three had top edge serrations and two were plain edged on top. All were black on black, with black liners to boot. All had SpecWar logos, and each had the thick, hand sculpted micarta handles that fit your mitt so very well in all conditions. And, in keeping with the mission specs Ernie had received, each one had a small hole drilled in the handle near the back. Of the five, one was tested to "near destruction" by the shoo-shoo boys. Three definitely made their way into collector's hands, and the last one - I never found out whether it sold or was kept by its maker. A serrated one sold for $875 in 1995 (which I believe is the dead lowest price for these), and a plain edge sold for the then-unheard of price of $1,000 even that same year. This when you could buy a CQC6 for around $700.
Why else so desired? It was a knife that was designed specifically for an elite military unit whose mission profile included the need to be able to quietly remove a enemy sentry. This happens to be a skill taught to troops passing through the base at Coronado, for example. As the design shows, it revolves around drawing the knife generally towards you in a manner that does not allow for an outcry. These same end users might reasonably be expected to parachute from time-to-time, and that little hole in the handle was to allow you to put a paperclip in as a safety. This way, the double edged blade couldn't pop open during the rapid velocity changes one experiences during a jump.
The knives were ultimately deemed to be too specific to justify carrying, and other knives that had greater versatility were later made for these users. I believe another five were made sometime before 2000, these were similar but without the hole and more modified black handles. Since then, a very very few bolstered, satin version knives have also surfaced from the laboratory Ernie calls his shop. I'm pretty sure the prices have risen since 1995 too.
There you have it, the big triple in tac knives: extreme rarity, close association with extremely tactical users, and a purpose that denies any utilitarian use. Plus the black out look from a maker who hadn't used that much up till then, and you have the recipe for a knife that immediately became legend.
(As an interesting side note, just in the same manner that both Newton and Liebnitz independently invented the Calculus unbeknownst to each other, Steve Ryan built two satin bladed knives with nearly identical features as a design exercise for himself at the same time. He never made any more, though.)
[Photo not mine; Jackstraw photo credit]
Attachments
Last edited:
