GlossaryIt's a wise man who knows enough to realize that he doesn't know everything. So, in show of respect for that man, Gerber offers this extensive compilation of terms and definitions that relate to the breadth and depth of our product line. It covers everything from knives to tools to personal lighting to backpack hydration. And should you discover that we've omitted something you think is important, feel free to give us a heads-up. We'd appreciate it. 0-9154CMA high-carbon, high-alloy, space age, stainless steel first used for knives by R. W. Loveless about 1972. At that time it was vacuum melted. Content: Carbon 1.05%, Manganese 0.5%, Chromium 14.0%, Molybdenum 0.4 - 0.55%. 420A stainless spring steel often used in production knives. Very useful in tanto blades. Outstanding for axe heads. Content: Carbon 0.15 to 0.6%, Manganese 1.0%, Chromium 12-14%. 420HCAn improved form of 420 that works well with high production tooling; commonly used by Gerber and other major brands. Content: Carbon 0.5-0.7%, Manganese 0.35-0.9%, Chromium 13.5%. 440AA high-carbon stainless steel used in most production knives and in some handmade knives. Works well through tooling. Content: Carbon 0.60 to 0.75%, Manganese 1.0%, Chromium 16.0-18.0%, Molybdenum 0.75%. 440BContent: Carbon 0.75-0.95%, Magnesium 1.0%, Chromium 16-18%, Molybdenum 0.75%. 440CThe most popular high-carbon stainless used by custom knifemakers for many years. First used by Gil Hibben about 1966.Content: Carbon 0.95 - 1.20%, Manganese 0.40%, Chromium 17.0%, Vanadium 0.50%, Molybdenum 0.50%. 6061 Aircraft AlloyA commonly available, heat treatable aluminum alloy. Used in heavy-duty structures requiring good corrosion resistance. Can be hot forged. Easily cold worked and formed in the annealed condition. Can be stamped, bent, spun, and deep drawn using standard methods. Machinability in the harder T4 and T6 tempers is good. AAnodizedA metal, typically aluminum, that has been coated with a protective or decorative layer of oxide, through a process of electrochemical conversion. The anodizing process affects the surface as well as the interior the metal. The anodized parts are quite durable, do not tarnish, resist abrasions, and maintain their cosmetic appearance for a long period of time. Colonel Rex Applegate Col. Applegate he was one of the first members of the OSS (forerunner of the CIA), where his missions included clandestine operations behind enemy lines during WWII. Upon his death in 1998 at the age of 84, was highly recognized in the international community for his expertise in Close Quarters Combat. The training manuals he authored on hand-to-hand combat are still in use today. The Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder remains a highly sought after military knife and is currently being used by Special Ops forces. ArmotexType of Polyester pack cloth that is flame retardant. ATS34A high-carbon, high-alloy, stainless steel. It's Japan's version of 154-CM, preferred because it is vacuum melted, whereas 154 is not. Content: Carbon 1.05%, Manganese 0.4%, Chromium 14.0%, Molybdenum 4.0%. AUS-10Content: Carbon 0.95-1.1%, Magnesium 0.5%, Chromium 13-14.5%, Nickel 0.49%, Vanadium 0.1-0.27%, Molybdenum 0.1-0.31%. AUS-6A Japanese stainless that fits between 420 and 440A. Content: Carbon 0.55 - 0.65%, Manganese 1.0%, Chromium 13.0 -14.5%, Nickel 0.49%, Vanadium 0.1 - 0.25%. AUS-8Widely used by top Specialty knife makers like A. G. Russell™, Spyderco, etc. The addition of Vanadium fits this steel between 440A and ATS-34 in performance. Content: Carbon 0.7 - 0.8%, Manganese 1.0%, Chromium 13.0 - 14.5%, Nickel 0.5%, Vanadium 0.1 - 0.25%, Molybdenum 0.1 - 0.3%. BBallistic ClothA heavy nylon material used for gun cases and knife sheaths. BellyThe belly is the curving part of the edge. Bellies enhance slicing ability, so you'll often find yourself doing much of your cutting on the belly. Larger bellies often cause the point to be less sharp. Be mindful of this tradeoff when considering knife designs, balancing your desire for slicing against your desire for penetration. BevelImagine the knife when it's just a rectangular stock: The knifemaker puts the bar on the grinder at an angle and starts grinding an edge. This is a bevel. Technically, any plane taken out of the rectangular bar, along either side. Creation of the primary edge and the false edge typically involves a bevel. Bite ValveThis is the part of a hydration system that delivers fluids directly to the user's mouth. The valve is sealed until the user bites down on it. Black OxideA flat black, anti-reflective coating put on tactical knife blades. Black oxide can be applied on steel, copper, and most stainless steel. BladderSoft sided fluid container of a hydration system. Blade SpineThe blade spine typically refers to the thickest and fullest portion of the blade. On a single-edge flat-ground knife, blade spine always refers to the outermost back of the blade. On a classic dagger, the spine refers to the fullest-thickness part of the blade running straight down the middle. On knives with false edges, the term "spine" is used inconsistently. Technically, the spine would be the fullest and thickest part of the blade where the main bevel meets the false edge bevel. However, blade spine is often used to describe the back of the blade instead, right over the false edge. Blood GrooveA groove in the knife blade that makes the instrument lighter and stiffer, also referred to as "Fuller." A popular misconception holds that the blood groove's purpose is to break the vacuum when the blade is being extracted from a victim's body. In fact, no such vacuum occurs. BolstersThe metal material at the blade end of knife handle. Today these are usually made of nickel silver or a mild stainless steel. In older, less expensive knives they were often made of iron or mild steel. Bowie KnifeAny large, fixed blade knife with a blade ranging from 6 to 14 inches. The original namesake knife had a blade that was probably 9 inches long, with a sturdy guard projecting from both the top and bottom of the knife between blade and handle. Invented by Rezin Bowie and made famous by his brother, Jim, who died at the Alamo. Butt Cap/PommelThe pommel refers to the end of the handle of a knife. Many knives have a metal cap over the pommel, called a butt cap. Often the pommel is interesting because of a decoration; however, there are different forms of working pommels. CCap/MouthOpening where fluid enters the reservoir of a hydration system. Cap/MouthOpening where fluid enters the reservoir of a hydration system. CaperA knife designed to do the delicate work of skinning around the eyes and lips of trophy animals. This work is called caping because you remove the cape of the animal. Cargo capacityTotal amount of space a pack can hold of your gear (expressed in cubic inches or liters). Certified "Class 2 L.E.D."High Power LED's "Light Emitting Diodes" are classified as to their power level. Class 1 power output is -.5 milliwatts, while Class 2 is 1.2 milliwatts. Chief WatsonThe chief is a Plank Owner (Founding Member) of SEAL Team 2 and decorated combat operator during the Viet Nam conflict. The character "Patches" in Richard Marcinko's Rogue Warrior book series is based on Chief Watson and his accomplishments during twenty years of service in the United States Navy. He served three tours in Viet Nam, where he earned sixteen combat decorations including four Bronze Stars, all with Combat "V". Chief Watson teamed up with Bill Harsey to design the Silver Trident. ChoilThe choil is an unsharpened section of the blade. If a guard is present, the choil will be in front of the guard on the blade itself. The choil is often used as a way to choke up on the blade for close-in work. The index finger is placed in the choil, and this close proximity to the edge allows for greater control. In addition, the choil is just in front of where the blade itself becomes part of the handle, an area often prone to breakage due to the blade-handle juncture. The choil leaves this area at full thickness and thus stronger. Clip Point BladeA blade on which the back line breaks and slants downward to produce a finer and more useful point. Also, a blade format where the top of the blade has a cutout (or "clip") at the top of the blade. The cutout is either concave or straight. Clipping the blade brings the point of the knife lower, for control. It also makes the tip sharper. Since the sharp point is one of the goals of this format, the clip is often accompanied by a false edge. This format is often combined with a good-sized curving belly, for slicing ability. The combination of a controllable, sharp point and plenty of belly makes the clip point an excellent all-around format. CNC machined aluminumThe letters stand for Computer Numerical Control, which is the most proficient way to machine aluminum parts. Codura®Brand name of a highly abrasion resistant type of nylon known for its excellent performance characteristics. Common MarkThe short crescent shaped groove commonly seen on pocketknife blades. CPM-S30V®CPM S30V (commonly referred to as S30V) was introduced by Crucible in 2002 in response to knife industry demand for a steel with more wear, corrosion resistance and toughness. It has added Vanadium for higher wear resistance and Molybdenum for better pitting resistance. It has superb edge retention because it resists edge chipping. Contents: Carbon 1.45%, Chromium 14%, Molybdenum 2%, Vanadium 4%. Double-edged A double-edged or spey blade has two edges. The blade cuts in either direction, with a strong sharp point. This shape is primarily used for fighting knives. Drop Point A blade design made popular in handmade hunting knives by Bob Loveless beginning about 1969, used earlier by Randall and others. Characterized by a slow convex-curved drop in the point. The drop-point format lowers the point for control, but leaves the point extremely strong. It's usually coupled with plenty of belly for slicing, making it ideal for hunting knives. An extremely good all-around format that also shows up on tactical and utility knives. DThere are no entries for D EEDCShort for "Every Day Carry". EdgeThe cutting portion of the blade. EgressA means of going out or leaving; an exit; an outlet. ErgonomicCreating products that work with the structure, contours and natural grip of the human hand. Ernie EmersonErnest R. Emerson is the authority on the design and use of knives as tactical weapons. Ernie is one of the top hand-to-hand combat instructors in the world and has instructed thousands of military and police units in surviving violent attacks and the use of knives as tactical weapons. Mr. Emerson collaborated with Gerber Legendary Blades to create Gerber's first "automatic" -- the Gerber-Emerson Alliance. FF.A.S.T.™A proprietary name that stands for Forward Action Spring Technology: Spring assisted blade opening mechanism designed for Gerber by custom knife maker Butch Vallotton. False EdgeMany knives have beveling along the top in addition to the bottom sharpening bevel. Bevels on the top edge are referred to as a "false edge". The false edge can be either sharpened or not. Fiskars® Brands, Inc.A subsidiary of Fiskars Corporation, which was founded in 1649 when a Dutch merchant was given a charter to establish a blast furnace and forging operation in the small village of Fiskars, near Helsinki. In the early years, Fiskars made nails, wire, hoes and metal reinforced wheels from pig iron. Flame RetardantType of fabric that resists igniting when exposed to an open flame. The fabric may still catch on fire and will burn/melt, simply won't ignite with an open flame nearby. Flat GroundThe surface of the blade is flat from or near the back of the blade to the beginning of the sharpening bevel. Most production pocketknives are flat ground, while most handmade hunting knives are hollow ground. FramelockThe framelock is a variant of the linerlock. Instead of using the liner, though, the frame functions as an actual spring. It is usually much more secure than a liner lock. French MarkA Long Mark with short marks pressed into the steel at the bottom of the mark that looks like the top of a castle wall. Full TangThe tang is the part of the knife where the blade stops and the handle starts. There are many different terms used to describe what kind of tang a knife has, because the strength and other characteristics of the knife depend on the tang format. A full tang knife has a tang that goes the length of the handle at full width, and you can see the tang spine itself because the handle slabs are afixed to each side. This is the strongest tang format. To save weight, the maker can taper the tang so it gets thinner as it goes back into the handle; this is appropriately enough called a tapered tang. If the tang disappears into the handle itself, it's called a hidden tang. If the tang thins out considerably once it goes into the handle, it's called a stick tang. GGlass filled nylonMany of today's thermoplastic materials are improved by adding chopped glass fibers. Often as much as 40% of a product may be glass. Adds great strength. GuardThe guard is a barrier between your hand and the sharp edge. It will project out of the handle, to stop forward motion of your hand. The guard can be a separate component that is soldered or pinned on the blade, or an integral design element that can be formed by including a projection on the blade blank itself. On some fighters, the guards are meant not just to protect your hand from sliding up on the blade, but also to provide protection from the opponent's blade sliding down your blade and onto your hand. Gut HookThe unique blade shape is ideal for opening the underside flesh of game during field dressing. HHardnessThe measure of hardness for tool steels is most commonly done with a Rockwell tester. (See Rockwell.) The best hardness for a given steel is not necessarily the best for another. Generally, steel blades should be hardened to the high 50s or low 60s on the Rockwell C scale. An exception to general hardness rule: Stelite (not a steel) will be about 42 on the Rockwell C scale. High AlloyA highly complex alloy, as opposed to a simple one. High-CarbonA steel with .5 Carbon or more. The term high carbon steel is often used to mean a non stainless steel; this is incorrect, however, because all stainless steel used in knifemaking is high carbon. High-Carbon StainlessAny stainless steel used to make a knife blade must be high carbon to make a decent knife. Any high carbon stainless steel will stain, though less than other steels. High-Speed SteelSteels designed to machine other steels. These machine tools will hold an edge even when rendered red-hot by friction. HiltTo a sword collector, the hilt encompasses the entire handle and guard. To the modern knife world, hilt and quillion mean the same thing: The guard (single or double) between the handle and the blade. Hollow GroundThe concave area on the blade surface is ground on a round surface (the face of a wheel.) This forms a hollow just above the beginning of the sharpening bevel and just below the back of the blade. HoneUsed as a noun, it means a fine stone used to put a finished edge on a knife or razor. Used as a verb, it is the action of finishing the edge of a knife. Honing OilA light oil used to keep the surface of a sharpening stone free of steel deposits and debris. HunterA style of sheath knife. Used for hunting, camping and skinning. HydrationThe process of adding water or fluids to the body in order to maintain or reestablish correct fluid balance. IInlaysDesigns of metal or other material inlaid into the handles of a knife. Insulated, external fill designEasy access design to a pack where the cap to refill the reservoir system is exposed, while the main body of the reservoir is housed in an insulated area to keep your beverages cold. Integral HiltThe hilt and blade are machined or forged from the same piece of metal. The term "full integral" means that the blade, hilt, tang and pommel are all from the same piece of steel. Interframe®Ron Lake, a folding knife maker who achieved world prominence about 1972, invented the Interframe® method of inlaying handle material in solid metal handle frames. JJeff FreemanThe Army trained Jeff to be an expert machinist, and then stationed him in Panama to perform aviation maintenance and toolmaking. Upon completion of his tour of duty he earned his BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Oregon State University while working full-time as a welder, machinist and ironworker. He joined the Gerber team in 1998. In the spring of 2000, he was promoted to Senior Mechanical Engineer and has been involved in new product design and development. Jeff's design credits include the Freeman Fixed Blade and collaboration on the Gerber-Emerson Alliance. Joseph GerberGerber Legendary Blades was established in 1939 by Joe Gerber. Joe was the founder and owner of Gerber Advertising Agency, which opened May of 1910. Joe eventually sold the agency to work full-time running Gerber Legendary Blades. Gerber Advertising Agency still operates in Portland Oregon. Joe commissioned carving knives from a Portland knifemaker named David Murphy to give as client gifts at Christmastime. People clamored over the quality of these gift knives, which inspired Gerber to make arrangements with Murphy to produce knives in quantity. The Gerber knife business was founded in 1939, and the first sale was to the Abercrombie & Fitch in New York. Gerber and Murphy soon parted ways, and the latter built the Murphy Combat knife during World War II. Gerber set up his own operation to build knives in Northwest Portland. In 1948, Gerber experimented with a hunting knife called Shorty, a category that would become important to the company. In 1987, the company was sold to Fiskars, a Finnish cutlery manufacturer. KKnifeA tool with a blade and a handle. The blade will have at least one sharp edge. The first blade could have been of bone or stone, while the first handle may have been a piece of hide used to protect the hand from sharp edges of chipped or broken stone. Knife, BootA knife small enough to be concealed in a boot, generally considered a defensive knife. Knife, CombatIt opens cans of food, it digs foxholes, and it's used in hand-to-hand combat. Knife, FightingA knife intended for killing sentries, for hand-to-hand fighting and little else. Knife, FoldingAny knife that allows the blade to be folded into the handle. Pocketknives, Folding hunters, etc. Knife, Gentlemen'sAny knife that is trim and elegant in form. It can be carried without embarrassment anywhere, because it conveys prestige. Knife, HuntingA knife used for skinning and butchering large and small game. Today it usually means a knife with a blade of 3 to 6 inches with a guard between the blade and the handle. But originally, it was a kitchen knife carried into the field. New styles appear annually. Knife, PocketAny knife that can be comfortably carried in a pocket. May have several blades. Almost always a folding knife. Kraton®A man-made material resembling rubber that can be molded into knife handles or handle parts to offer better gripping ability. Kydex®Material used for very strong and convenient sheaths. Must be molded to each individual knife. The best known sheath maker using Kydex® is R. L. Dozier. LL.E.D.Stands for Light Emitting Diode. L.E.D.s are tiny light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit. But unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don't have a filament that will burn out, and they don't get especially hot. They are illuminated solely by the movement of electrons in a semiconductor material, and they last just as long as a standard transistor. L.E.D. lights don't force your eyes to re-adjust every time you use them. That makes getting around in the dark much easier. L.S.TStands for "Light Strong Tough." The first pocketknives produced using a synthetic material. Laminated SteelTool steel with a very hard core, but with outer areas made of softer material that gives great strength. Harry Morseth began the use of this material in the U.S. about 1946. It had been used for centuries in Scandinavia and Japan. LanyardSometimes used to attach a knife to clothing or belt. Lanyard HoleA hole usually found at the butt of a knife handle to attach a thong or lanyard. Laser ScrimshawUsing a laser to mass-produce scrimshaw designs on knife handles. LinerThin sheets of metal between the blade and the handle material of folding knives. Liner-Lock®A liner lock has a leaf cut out of the handle's liner. When the blade is fully open, the leaf springs open and blocks the back of the blade, preventing it from closing. Since the liner locks has no spring pushing against the blade, it has an incredibly smooth action. To unlock the knife you thumb the leaf out of the way, obviously using just one hand. The blade has a detent in it, and a small ball bearing embedded in the leaf drops into the detent when the blade is fully closed, keeping the knife from opening accidentally. This lock format is extremely strong when done correctly. LIQUIFUSION™Brand name for our new Personal Hydration System. Lock OutOne-hand adjustable accessory item that provides additional security to prevent fluid leaking from the bite valve of a hydration system. LockbackA folding knife that has a lock release on the back of the handle and spring tension against the blade. When the knife is fully open, a tooth at the end of the spring drops into a cutout in the blade, thus locking the blade safely in place. Pressure from a spring keeps the blade from accidentally opening. Pushing the release lifts the tooth out of the cutout, allowing the knife to close. LocTite®Material used to keep screws from unscrewing. Long MarkThe long straight groove often seen on the main blade of stock knives. Low IRAcronym for "Low Infrared". Low IR means that when an article or product is viewed through night vision goggles, it emits low infrared frequencies, making it more difficult for the eye to see. LumensThe unit of luminous flux in the International System, equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle by a source of one candela intensity radiating equally in all directions. MM-2High-Speed Steel that works well in blades requiring a hardness rating of 62-66 Rc. First used in American Cutlery kitchen knives and folders by Gerber Blades in the 1960s. Content: Carbon 85%, Tungsten 6.35%, Molybdenum 5.0%, Chromium 4.0%, Vanadium 2.0%. M-4A high-speed steel that's very hard to work, but it makes a great knife with excellent edge retention. Very much like M-2. Content: Carbon 1.3%, Vanadium 4.0%. Main BladeThe largest blade in a knife with two or more blades. Mark SideThe side of the blade with the Nail Mark, which can be the obverse or the reverse side of the blade. MolleStands for Modular Lightweight Load Carrying Equipment. A load-carrying system that's modular, durable, comfortable, and fully integrated. It consists of a butt pack, a main ruck with sustainment pouches and sleeping bag compartment attached to an external frame. There is also a patrol pack, which can be used separately or combined with the main ruck for added load carrying capability. MOLLE can be configured in several different variations to fit the load handling needs of the mission. A connecting device on the vest is designed so that the external frame of the main ruck attaches to the waist belt of the vest to transfer the load from the shoulders and back to the hips where it can be carried much easier with less fatigue. Mother of PearlThe shell of the pearl oyster from the South Pacific; an expensive and popular knife handle material. NNail MarkA groove cut into the back of the blade for the thumbnail to easily open the knife. Night VisionA trademark used for a technology that enables vision at night, as by amplification of low light to create visible images or by detection of infrared wavelengths. No Taste RetentionPolyethylene plastic that retains no taste, used to make parts of a hydration system. NTOAStands for National Tactical Officers Association. The NTOA is a national non-profit professional police association established by and for the law enforcement professional responsible for the response and resolution of critical incidents. OOne-WattAn International System unit of power equal to one joule per second. P"Plug & Play"A way to describe versatility in a hydration system. Specifically, it relates to the quick removal and replacement of the reservoir without removing tubing. Pete GerberFounder Joseph Gerber's son. Pete ran Gerber from 1951 until 1987, when he sold it to Fiskars. Under Pete's leadership the hunting line of knives grew, while the company continued to produce knives for the military. The Mark II is probably Gerber's most famous military knife. Pete is well-known in the industry and he continues support Gerber by attending events. PFDStands for Personal Flotation Device. Pocket ClipA clip intended to keep a knife or other tool at the top of the pocket for easy access. PointThe extreme end of the blade where the line of the back and the line of the edge come together. PolycarbonateA strong synthetic resin used in molded products, such as knife handles, unbreakable windows and optical lenses. PolyesterType of man made fiber used in many outdoor soft good products due its excellent performance characteristics. PolypropyleneA thermoplastic substance that is a synthetic polymer of propylene. It's used in making pipes, industrial fibers, and molded objects. QQuiet, water resistant fabricLow noise fabric that withstands water penetration (like rain) for up to several hours. Not meant to be completely water tight or submerged. RReservoirFluid container of a hydration system. ReverseThis is the opposite side of the knife than the obverse side. Knives are usually marked on the obverse rather than the reverse. RicassoThe flat area above and behind the hollow or flat ground area of the blade. Rick HindererRick Hinderer has been making custom knives full-time out of his Wooster, Ohio shop since 1987. His initial foray into knifemaking featured fixed straight blades. Gradually he began designing and making folding knives as well, and he is now recognized for his unique designs. Recently he returned to his design roots, making working and tactical knives. While incorporating modern design, Rick's creations are built for everyday function. The Game Pro, manufactured by Gerber Legendary Blades, was his first collaboration with a commercial knife manufacturer. Rockwell Hardness (Rc)The C scale is used for measuring the hardness of tool steels. The method involves pressing a diamond into the steel a precise distance. This scale is used and understood throughout the world. Ron LakeOne of the very first knifemakers to become well known for folding knife designs. SSatin FinishA finish that is not mirror-polished; the lines from the fine abrasive gives a satin appearance. ScaleThis refers to the handle parts on each side of a full tang hunting knife, or the parts on the sides of a pocketknife or folder. Semi-RigidOn backpack hydration systems, the overall shape conforms to your back to create a lightweight, internal "frame". Also, this construction helps to keep the contents from shifting. SerratedScallops in the edge that allow a sawing action; ideal for cutting things like seat-belts and plastic rope. SheathA method for carrying a knife, tool, light, etc., on your belt, pack or anywhere a strap is. Sheaths are made of ballistic nylon, leather, kydex and various other materials. Sheaths usually come with a Velcro or snap closure. Sheepfoot BladeA straight edge with the back of the blade falling in a strong curve to the point of the blade. Shut-off valvePrevents leakage in a hydration system. SpacerMaterial layered between the handle material and the hilt or guard of the knife; generally a contrasting color. Spear Point BladeThe edge and the back of the blade curve to each other and meet in the middle. Spey BladeBlade intended for the castration of livestock. The cutting edge curves up strongly to meet a very minor clip. Most often found in stock knives or cattlemen's knives. Spring SteelAny tool steel that will remain flexible when properly heat-treated. SwedgeA bevel grind on the edge of the back of a blade. If it were sharp it would not be a swedge, but would be a False Edge. TTangThe tang is the part of the knife where the blade stops and the handle starts. There are many different terms used to describe what kind of tang a knife has, because the strength and other characteristics of the knife depend on the tang format. A full tang knife has a tang that goes the length of the handle at full width, and you can see the tang spine itself because the handle slabs are afixed to each side. This is the strongest tang format. To save weight, the maker can taper the tang so it gets thinner as it goes back into the handle; this is appropriately enough called a tapered tang. If the tang disappears into the handle itself, it's called a hidden tang. If the tang thins out considerably once it goes into the handle, it's called a stick tang. TantoThe classic Japanese tanto shape has the point exactly inline with the spine of the blade, and has a graceful belly curve. Most tantos seen on the American cutlery market are the Americanized tanto format. Like the Japanese tanto, the Americanized tanto has a high-point in-line with the spine. A flat grind is applied to the point, leaving it very thick and massively strong. The front edge meets the bottom edge at an obtuse angle, rather than curving to meet it as in the Japanese tanto. There is a separate grind applied to the bottom edge, often a hollow grind to leave this edge extremely sharp. Other tanto formats have become popular also, and modifications such as clipping the point or applying a chisel-grind are often seen. ThermoformedPlastic that's been shaped using heat and pressure. ThermoplasticA substance that becomes soft and pliable when heated, without a change in its intrinsic properties. Polystyrene and polyethylene are thermoplastics. Thong HoleA hole at the butt of a knife handle intended for a wrist thong or lanyard. (See lanyard hole.) TitaniumA material that can be both hard and tough; widely used to armor jet fighters. About 1/3 lighter than steel. Very useful for knife parts, but will not hold an edge so is not useful as a blade. Titanium NitrideA corrosion-resistant, silvery, metallic chemical element that occurs in rutile and ilmenite. Its strength and light weight make it useful in the manufacture of alloys for the aerospace industry. TubingThe "straw" through which the user draws fluid from the reservoir of a hydration system. TungstenA hard, lustrous gray metallic chemical element with a very high melting point. It's used in various high-temperature alloys, lamp filaments, and high-speed cutting tools. WWaterproofImpervious to or unaffected by water. William "Bill" Harsey Jr.Growing up high in the mountainous Cascade Range of Oregon, Bill learned the value of sharp steel as a logger. He put himself through the University of Oregon working in the woods. His designs are in demand throughout the world. Bill's keen insight into the ergonomics of knife design have led to extensive collaboration with the various Special Forces units, here and abroad. His knives are carried today by members of the Army, Navy (including the SEALs), Marines and Air Force. He worked with the late Col. Rex Applegate to design the Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder series. Working with Chief Jim "Patches" Watson (QMCS, USN Ret., Plankowner SEAL Team 2) he designed the ultimate combat dive tool/knife ZZytel®A thermoplastic material used in molding handles for knives, generally containing 25 to 50% chopped fiberglass or Kevlar® fiber or carbon fiber. |
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