Last issue we looked at knives designed by Special Operators, and this time out we’re going to see knives made by Special Operators. Each one comes from a SEAL, Green Beret, or Marine Corps Scout Sniper. Most are custom knives, but a few were made by retired SF soldiers who own their own knife companies.
When we think of a tactical knife, do we think of a plumber, engineer, mechanic or even a judo master as having a say on what goes into that design? No, most of us think of the battle-hardened Special Operations warriors who rely on them daily.
These designs are the culmination of different elements that these men deemed necessary in a knife, whether for use on the battlefield or use in civilian life as an EDC or working blade. In some instances, they took sound, proven designs and used them in different applications.
You can see this in nearly every aspect of each knife from the raw material used to the contours of the handle, the profile of the blade and even the sheath systems of a few of the fixed blades.
This article was long in the making and a few of these blades have been tested and used for well over a year.
(MORE) BEST KNIVES BUILT BY SPECIAL OPERATORS
Corvus Knife and Tool Carrion
Jerry Saunders served as a Scout Sniper and was chief survival instructor at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California. He is a veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Haiti. His experience with further survival and instruction would take up an article of its own.
The Carrion represents the important and robust elements that Saunders needed in a daily working knife. Built from 80CRV2 steel, the blade performs and deploys quickly when you need it most. The handle conforms to the hand, and the sheath is another engineering marvel from a design perspective.
PROS:
- The ergonomics are incredible. This is due to a jute cord handle impregnated with epoxy to make a handle material similar to Micarta.
- 80CrV2 is a tough as nails workhorse of a steel that excels at edge retention.
- The ambidextrous sheath is a superb design if you commonly change your mode of carry from right to left-hand side.
CONS:
- The handle, although ergonomic, can feel a bit too short at times.
Tracker Dan Bloodshark Edge and Half
Tracker Dan’s designs have become the hottest tactical fixed blades on the custom knife scene. Dan is a SEAL, Kali instructor, and survival instructor who once trained with the legendary Tom Brown. The Bloodshark is his design for an ideal tactical EDC fixed blade that can be carried in the front pocket for quick access. The Bloodshark Edge and Half is a slight variation on this idea with a partially sharpened top edge.
The handle is gutted 550 paracord wrapped in a Japanese style over hemp and then resin-coated for a non-slip grip and durability. It has a real Japanese look to it.
The Kydex sheath is designed to ride in the pocket and features a deep carry clip designed by Dan.
PROS:
- Classic design reminiscent of a Scottish Sgian-dubh or Viking-style dirk
- Shaving sharp with a Magnacut blade, this one is a real-world performer for self-defense and basic survival.
- The sheath setup is ingenious for discrete pocket carry. Dan pioneered this trend.
CONS:
- There may be a few jurisdictions which frown on carrying a concealed fixed blade, know your laws.
- These knives can be hard to come by, and aftermarket prices can be four to five times what the maker charges at a table.
SH9 Knives Stinger
Shane Hiatt is a Navy SEAL veteran and founder of SH9 Knives. After serving on both coasts and as an instructor for the Naval Special Warfare Center, Hiatt started making knives a decade ago as a hobby but turned it into a full-time business.
The Stinger is a classic everyday carry piece for the street or for the field. Slightly smaller than his standard forged drop point, the Stinger is easier to carry concealed either on the belt or around the neck. Despite its compact size, this blade is a performer.
Hand-forged of 1095 carbon steel, the Stinger boasts a sharp edge and has excellent edge retention.
PROS:
- Shane’s custom blades excel regarding ergonomics.
- Its 1095 blade is tough, razor sharp, and has an easily maintainable edge.
- The sheath provides plenty of options for mounting and carry.
CONS:
- A high carbon stainless steel can rust if not maintained. Cerakote is an option, but ensure you take care of your steel as you would a blued firearm.
- The sheath started out a little too tight, but gradually wore in.
Weimy Cutlery FS1
Brendan “Weimy” Weimholt is a custom bladesmith based in Texas who proudly served as a U.S. Navy SEAL. His knives are hand-forged using Hitachi White carbon steel core laminated with SUS410 stainless for a very artistic and decorative look while still being fully functional.
Although he’s famous for his outstanding kitchen knives, Weimy carried this same technique over to his outdoor and tactical models such as the FS1.
While it may have the look of an artistic bespoke blade, this is a full-on worker for EDC tasks.
PROS:
- This blade is forged from Hitachi White carbon steel core laminated with SUS410 stainless. This alloy that Weimy selected has been nothing short of impressive on all fronts.
- Each forged blade has a unique look. No two will ever be completely alike.
- Extremely sharp with a well-honed edge
CONS:
- The blade is an alloy of carbon steel; you need to maintain it as you would a blued firearm and oil after use.
- As with any custom knife in high demand, knives can be hard to come by at times.
Spartan Blades Phrike
This model was designed by two retired Green Berets and made by their company: Spartan Blades. The Phrike is named for the Greek goddess of fear and horror. The end result is a slender fixed blade knife capable of daily tasks and a formidable defensive blade.
This is a solid and graceful fighting knife intended for covert carry inside the waistband. The G10 scales are not fitted all the way to the tang, making it very easy to handle but probably a bit less grippy for most folks.
PROS:
- Super light at 4.2 ounces. This is a fast-handling knife despite its size.
- Magnacut steel really makes this knife special if you carry it close to the body, in the rain or in a maritime environment as it is a very rust resistant steel.
- The sheath allows for covert IWB carry.
CONS:
- The scales don’t go all the way to the edge of the handle, which might make it less grippy for those with 7XL-size hands. Scales fitted all the way to the edge should be a future option.
Half Face Blades Crow Scout
Half Face Blades is a custom knife-making company founded by former Navy SEAL and Hollywood actor, Andy Arrabito. He makes handcrafted blades with strong visual appeal intended for hard use.
Although they are handmade knives with artistic flair (buffalo horn, Koa wood, and other exotic materials are commonly found on these pieces as well as the G10 found on this model), many of Arrabito’s knives have found their way downrange on various war fronts.
The Crow Scout is one of his more well-known designs and is a tough everyday working knife. It’s equally capable skinning a deer, opening boxes, making kindling, or as a self-defense piece.
PROS:
- The aesthetics are phenomenal on this model — it almost looks too good to put to use
- S45 VN steel is a great one regarding toughness, corrosion resistance and edge retention, and the model can be had in a variety of other steels, including Damascus.
- Although this one features a custom leather sheath, the Kydex offerings are top notch in design.
CONS:
- These knives are in high demand and can be hard to come by if you miss a drop or higher priced on the secondary market.
- S45-VN can be difficult to sharpen for a novice sharpener.
FOBOS Alaris
Eric Hansen is a retired Green Beret Medic and CIF (Commander’s In-Extremis Force) veteran who deployed to Afghanistan numerous times. As a civilian, he founded FOBOS Knives. FOBOS, For Operators By Operators, is a veteran owned, service-related disabled business — and all the knives are designed with Hansen’s unique special operations approach, particularly regarding his sheaths.
Most sheaths seem like an afterthought, but a common theme through FOBOS (and to be fair, the other fixed blades in this guide) is how robust and practical they are. The Alaris is a deep belly fixed blade knife made from high-quality CPM-3V steel and features a utilitarian drop point that makes it an amazing choice if you’re venturing off the grid for a while.
You can tell that a lot of thought went into this design. It chops, slices, and dices with all the authority of a camp knife and is still portable enough to carry as an EDC blade.
PROS:
- CPM-3V steel is as tough as a tool steel and offers great edge retention and wear resistance.
- Ergonomically, it fits the hand well in both the forward and reverse grip.
- This is an excellent off-the-grid or camp knife, as it can accomplish a number of tasks with relative ease.
CONS:
- Hansen’s knives are in high demand, and it can be a bit of a struggle to find one of the Alaris variants to your exact specs, as there are multiple variations out there.
- This one could have come a bit sharper. It took a bit more time than usual with a diamond stone to get it to where it needed to be.
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