Backup100BLK

A Custom Folding Dagger with Red/Black Carbon Fiber just sold for $1495 on Nordic Knives. Congrats to the new owner for a great knife at a great price.

Just watched a Small Field Grade Dagger (mis-listed as a Stalker), with a leather sheath made by Bob, not sell on Ebay for $800. Given that's really not much over Bob's table price, it surprised me. Market adjustment? Or is the Dagger not a popular design? Or is the Small size an issue?

Bob's influence in the custom knife making world is still going strong. A custom knife maker named John Barker, from Cummins GA, came out with a fixed blade tanto named the Hokkaido that clearly shows Bob's influence. What's significant is that he has been able to execute Bob's clean lines and tip treatment, while still able to include his own personal design touches. The blade profile is among the best I've seen in the spirit of Bob's work. Below are a few of his original pictures of his latest offering.

Two recent Hunters were posted on Ebay. One was a classic style Hunter with Ivory Micarta scales, and the other was a very nice Stag Skinner with Integral Finger Guard. The Ivory Micarta one closed for slightly over $800, but has been relisted. Not sure what happened there. The Skinner closed at around $600. Which is a extremely low price for a stag handled knife by Bob. So a great score by the buyer. Congrats.

Benchmade announced a new smaller model of the Onslaught in their 2011 Catalog, the Model 746. It will have a 3.45" blade as has a MSRP of $160. The catalog also lists that it will be available in the same four variations that mirrors those of the larger Onslaught; Plain, Serrated, Plain Black, and Serrated Black.

Last week the new Spyderco production Carbon Fiber handled model of Bob's Medium Chinese Folder started to ship and should be available in the stores now. Makes a great present for the Holidays.

A little known fact, but the well known maker Jimmy Lile made a Fighter model that he named the Deathwind. The knife first appeared in the early to mid-1990's. I first saw it on Mr. Lile's table at one of the New York Custom Knife Shows (year unclear). What struck me was the similarity between the Deathwind and Bob's Stalker Model. When I asked Bob about it, he mentioned that it was a sore point, but that he noticed Mr. Lile started making the Deathwind after visiting his table at the Guide Show that July and looking at the Stalker. Bob then asked that I don't mention it to anyone. I think it's time for that promise to be broken.