What happened to George Lainhart?

S

S. Sibert

Joined
Sep 21, 2003
Messages
159
Anyone know if George Lainhart is still making knives? Seems like he dissapeared after a promising start in th early 90's.
 
I wrote to him about 3 months ago and got no reply. He made the knife used by Michael Biehn in "The Abyss". I was in high school when the movie came out and couldn't afford the knife, now I'll never be able to get one I guess. Neat looking knife too.

See my handmade knives here...
 
Originally posted by S. Sibert
Anyone know if George Lainhart is still making knives? Seems like he dissapeared after a promising start in th early 90's.
Click to expand...


United Cutlery is making one of his knives for Colt. It has an aprox 4" blade, skeleton handle and coated with tefflon.

It was originaly manufactured by a different company. Colt bought the design and has united making it with cheaper steel.

Drew
 
Originally posted by PlaceKnives
I wrote to him about 3 months ago and got no reply. He made the knife used by Michael Biehn in "The Abyss". I was in high school when the movie came out and couldn't afford the knife, now I'll never be able to get one I guess. Neat looking knife too.

See my handmade knives here...
Click to expand...

I remember that knife, It was on the cover of Blade when it came out. It had a long section, (Like 2") between the guard and where the blade grind began. They never explained why except to make some remark like "if you don't know you wouldn't understand."

It did look like a very usefull working/survival knife. I liked the handle design very much.

Drew
 
That's right, it did have the space on the blade with no grind, thanks for the reminder. I'll have to buy "The Abyss" on DVD and capture some images of the knife.
 
JP

You do some nice work, I enjoyed the nessmek knife so much I have it as my screen saver.



Cheers
 
G. Lainhart, now that's a name which made quite an impact in the late 1980's through to the early 1990's.
Due in part to The Blade Magazine's article on diving knives (???)
Which told of his work with the SEALs.
Had a partial picture of his custom made knife with a unique form of serration which was widely spaced.
Later, (at that point of time) there was talk of a collaboration with SOG Knives on the future of one of his designs.
Which I am guessing, fell through.
Later, United Cutlery announces these blades (which today was/is Colt marked)
Lainhart designed (originally they were made of ATS-34, and were by no means cheap)
http://www.zvis.com/knives/knimgtmpl.shtml?/images/knives/fix/usmc1.jpg
The machete, too was another effort which didn't quite pick up
http://store3.yimg.com/I/gyby_1758_261068240

It's a real shame, that Lainhart seemed to have played his cards wrongly.
As he had the media exposure and talent to back it up.
Or was it just a matter of a litte bad timing.
I too, am curious to know what has become of the man.

S.Sibert?
As in SHANE Sibert ???
If I didn't shoot myself in the foot here, just would like to say that Sibert Knives are awesome.
I really am taken by this design
http://www.primoknives.com/sibert002.html
Either way, just keep making 'em good.



Krizzard, out

"...Whoever kills with the sword must be killed by the sword... "
- The New Testament, Revelation 13:10
 
I have one of his knives....funny, I think I got it back in 95 or 96....back then, you sent him a copy of your ID card and he would make you one.....funny....it doesn't look anything like that pic anymore though....almost all of the knife has lost the coating through many years of use, and it almost has a recurve blade from dings and dents being ground out of the edge. I would have bought one of the UC ones, except now they use 440 and the serrations look ridiculous. The original serrations are/were designed so you could sharpen them in the field with a stone.....
 
I have that SEAL machete in ATS 34. I kind of thought it would be an all hype knife especially coming from UC. But I gotta tell ya it is a helluva chopper with great steel that you can actually field sharpen. It is around a 58RC so it isn't as difficult to sharpen as a fully hardened ATS heat treat. The hanlde is extremely comfortable to use, the blade stays sharp and is easy to get sharp, it is easy to use in the role of an all around chopper and survivaly type knife. Hey for a UC knife you can't do much better. The Birdsong coating has stood up to much chopping especially after this years ice storm. I can't belive this knife isn't or wasn't more popular than it was. It has no distal taper to it either so the point and the blade keeps its strength right out to the point which is a nice thing when prying. Keep'em sharp
 
The original ATS34 blades were manufactured by Camillus for United.
These were expensive knives - the machete was initially offered by retailers at $169.00.
 
I believe that cover story was for FK around 1988. The knife was feature on the cover in that shot of a rubber glove "holding" the knife on a deep blue background...with a grid! Very eighties!

Anyway, in that article written be former SEAL Randy Storm (?) there is mention of the large ricasso with a quote saying "You know what that's for!"

Funny thing is I never knew! I'm guessing it was to provide a good area to choke-up on for cutting a sentry's throat to the bone.

Just a guess!
 
I appreciate the information on these knives from you and longbow. Not knowing anything about them, but knowing United Cutlery I was skepical. I bought three for $ 35.00 each,about 5 years ago and figured it was probably a $ 50 knife. The confusing thing ,was that it was a great big piece of ATS-34 especially for $ 35 each. Mine holds an edge very well, and sharpens like good steel should. If the handle dissolves at some point, I plan to replace with micarta.
 
nosmiley said:
The confusing thing
Click to expand...

What I find confusing is that your conversing with someone that posted 3 yrs ago
and their reply was to someone 3 yrs before that.
And this is your first post.........and you've been here for 3 yrs!
Ah, the craziness.

:D

mike
 
Really interesting, I have one now.

George%20Lainhart%20from%20Madfreak666_zpsrzo12dpz.jpg
 
"Randy Storm" was a pen name for Greg Walker, the Editor of FK. He served in Army Special Forces, not the SEALS. I believe that Mr. Lainhart worked for Delta Airlines in their Security Department, might have taken more of his time, or went off to work as a contractor overseas, when they were offering very high pay. No actual knowledge, just a WAG. John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top