"The Hooded Warrior"

Size: Length overall: 10.5" (26.7 cm), Blade Length: 5.6" (14.2 cm), Thickness: .1875" (.48 cm)

Weight: Knife: 12 oz.  Sheath: 9.5 oz.

Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered to Rockwell C58, hollow ground and mirror polished

Fittings/Bolsters: 304 Austenitic Stainless Steel, mirror polished

Handle: Polished Kingwood Hardwood

Sheath: Kydex, Aluminum, Steel

My original Hooded Warrior design was created by a sniper with the 101st Airborne, United States Army, serving in Iraq, in combat. The blade is hollow ground from 3/16 stock, and is ATS-34, a high molybdenum martensitic stainless steel that has greater toughness than 440C high chromium stainless steel I usually use on this type of knife. What that means is that the blade cross-sectional geometry is well-supported at the thin areas of the grind. And the grind is thin where it counts, in the deep belly of the blade. The recurve shape has a hefty amount of cutting edge, and the knife is formidable and light for its size. The point has a half-length top swage for reduced cross-sectional thickness at the point while still preserving plenty of spine for support. The inside of the recurve is razor keen, and like a khukri, this part of the grind is less often used, and therefore maintains its sharpness longer than the first three inches of the blade. I put a deep choil at the sweeping plunge for a definite clear termination of the cutting edge. The blade-to-handle angle is canted for a more comfortable position in either traditional (foreword) or tactical (reverse) grip. The blade has full filework throughout the tang, for increased grip security and decorative flair. The handle is bolstered with 304 high chromium, high nickel austenitic stainless steel, for zero care. The bolsters are dovetailed and hold a pair of beautiful Kingwood hardwood handle scales.

The waterproof locking sheath for this fine combat-grade knife is  made of double thick (.120") kydex thermoformed acrylic/pvc mounted to a strong frame of hammer-hardened 5052H32 corrosion resistant aluminum frame welts with .250" nickel plated steel Chicago screws. The sheath has a matched pair of 1.75" standard utility belt loops, reversible for left/right or up/down wear.

This is a fine combat grade military knife, a style proven in current combat operations, yet also suitable for civilian carry, wear, and use, and even nice enough for a collection.