[Valkman]

Based on the Landshark, this is inspired by 2 things. John Shirley's thoughts that it was perfect for soldiers and my wanting to expand to 3 different models of knives for soldiers. I have the 6" blade 12" overall Fighter and next want to design a 5" blade 10" overall model.

This one is the second one made and like the first has rubber handles made from horse stall mat. The stuff is horrible to work with and to grind so these will be the first and last of these models to use it. From now on it'll be micarta or G10! :)

The first prototype is going to John Shirley to test. This is my first coated knife, and I used AlumaHyde from Brownell's in Dark Parkerizing Gray. I coated the handles and everything!

This one does not have a lanyard tube but the regular ones will.

Tell me what you think!

COMBAT SHARK
3 3/4" blade, 8 3/4" overall length
3/16" CPMD2, HT by Paul Bos
1/4" SS pins
Coated with AlumaHyde

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/left1_rubber.jpg
http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/right1_rubber.jpg

As you can see the rubber separated from the tang at the guard - this stuff does not like to be ground thin and the 'Shark has too many curves. I'll save the rubber for some big Fighters with simpler handles.

[FourTeeFive]

Nice work! I'd love to see it with dark gray Micarta handles.

Any chance you can leave a bit of steel sticking out at the rear to use as a pommel and glass breaker?

[JShirley]

Can't wait to try it out, Don.

It was kind of funny- I described all the important things, and the Land Shark was already almost all of them! :D

I'm also eager to test my first CPMD2 knife.

[Valkman]

That's a good idea. I'd have to redesign the back of it but hey that's what I do! :)

[JShirley]

(Could also be a wire breaker.)

[Rupestris]

Nice! Love the blade shape.

Just a suggestion (and I have no idea how dificult it would be) but how about using an epoxy to put some horse stall mat inserts in some G10 scales?

Chris

[Valkman]

If I could actually use my mill I could! :D

[gb6491]

Well done,I like it a lot!:)
It reminds me of one of my all time favorite knives; one of the old Gerbers with the Armorhide handles: the A400 (http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/a400s.jpg).
Regards,
Greg

[Valkman]

Hmm, it does look like that!

[bikerdoc]

beautiful work

[TimboKhan]

I like it, and I second the pommel/glass and wire breaker idea. I also am glad to see your adding a lanyard hole. No good combat knife should be without a lanyard hole.

I have to say, I fail to see what the attraction to horse stall mat is. I certainly mean no offense to you Don, but I just don't care for the looks of that at all. Different strokes, I guess....

[Eric Draven]

Looking Good Don. Your skillz have gotten AMAZING since we met a few years back. :) Good JOB.

Hows the AlumaHyde working out for you?? I tryed using the GunKote from Brownells and it flaked off,even after I did everything perfectly right,according to the directions. Still it didnt work. Glad you are making the AH work. Hows the wear resistence?
Anyways, keep up the great work Don. :)

[Valkman]

I have no idea how the AH will do, it's the second knife I've done. I just started coating with this stuff and powdercoating

Thanks Eric, we both have gotten better!

[Don Gwinn]

Looks like a puuko to me.

(That's a compliment.)

[saltydog452]

What are your thoughts on a holster/sheath?

Would it be ambi?...blade edge forward or to the rear?

salty

[JShirley]

I'll get Tom Krein to make a Tec-Lok sheath for me. If the sheath is mounted high on my left side and inverted, the blade will face towards my left arm.

[saltydog452]

I visaited Mr. Krein's web site but his sheath area was under construction. Is his Tec-Loc similar to the ambi retention system that was at one time used by Gerber for the sheath used with their double edge, double cross guard dagger?

Thanks,

salty

[Valkman]

Tek-Loks can be put on without undoing your belt, come in small or large and let you carry vertical or horizontal. Very convenient. The only better attachment I've seen is for MOLLE gear, and most of us don't need that.

[Valkman]

This is more what I was trying to do - here's Prototype #3!

This one has Black G10 handles with blue liners. I clamped the handles on, finshed them with the grinder, removed them and recoated the knife. I have not epoxied the scales on because I'm out of lanyard tubing, but it looks real nice. Or, you could throw it to the enemy, and it'll fall apart in his hands! :)

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/left1_G10.jpg

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo80/DLKnives/right1_G10_apart.jpg

Man this is easy! First, get a knife, 2 handles and 2 pins. Put together. Done!

Anyway, I can't do much with the back of the handle yet because all I have are tapered tangs and they're very thin at the back.

[redraidermgr]

You do beautiful work as always. I cant wait to see more of these!

[Cosmoline]

Looks like a puuko to me.

That's exactly what I thought when I saw it.

[PTK]

You're trying to get more of my money, I just know it. ;)

[Valkman]

I don't know what to do with proto #2, guess I'll throw it away. :)

[XDJ]

As you know, I really like your Land Sharks. I can't say I'm a fan the of coated rubber handles as shown in the first photos. Maybe it's better in the hand or in person.

Is there a slight recurve to the blade or is it an optical illusion?

The original rear of the Land Shark would make a unique pommel/glass break by just leaving it full thickness and shortening the scales just right.

I enjoy seeing your unique designs so please keep sharing them.

Dan

[TimboKhan]

How much are you going to be charging for these? I liked prototype 1, I REALLY like prototype 2...

[Valkman]

Is there a slight recurve to the blade or is it an optical illusion?

Shouldn't be - might be the way I sharpened it.

I REALLY like prototype 2...


Really? Let's make a deal..... :)

[sm]

Don,

Great work as always.

Now I am dumb as a brick, still what do you think about :

-shorten up handle to leave tang exposed for pummel/wire breaker?
Leave the hole for lanyard.

-Add a second lanyard hole in the handle.
Two lanyard holes allows a lot of options.
[field expedient strap wrench, fire starting with boot lace, ...]

-Attach handles with flat head screws, allowing one to change handles if need.

I see a lot of possibilities with this design.

I bow to you, and John's experiences.

Steve

[JShirley]

Proto 3 does look very attractive yet menacing- businesslike. :)

[Valkman]

I hate to say it John, but they're going to look nice. Those rubber handles just destroyed the looks to me, but the G10 one is sweet!

Once I get some more full tang ones I'll play around with features.

[Browning]

PTK :You're trying to get more of my money, I just know it. ;)

That's the first thing I thought of too.

It's getting harder and harder to resist temptation with all these threads complete with pictures of Don's knives.

Even though I already bought one of the Fighters, I want one of the Landsharks too.

[JesseKM]

If I have to replace my keyboard one more time due to drooling on it, I'm going to stop trolling these boards. Well, it's either that or get a 2nd job to buy some of your knives.

[Valkman]

It's getting harder and harder to resist temptation with all these threads complete with pictures of Don's knives.


Note to self - take more pics. :D

Thanks guys! I got more SStubing so I can complete this knife. I think it be nasty enough and look good too.

[lookshigh123]

That's nice.

[JShirley]

Knife was waiting in my mailbox when I made it home. :D

I have said in the past that my one complaint with the Land Shark was that it was too pretty.

Well, that'll teach me.

This looks like a tool, pure and simple. My initial impression is that it's like the baby bear's porridge, not too big, not too small, but just right. At the same time, despite its flat black blade and rugged, rough handle, it still has beautiful lines.

I'll let y'all know how I feel about it after I beat it up some. :)

John

[Valkman]

Good to hear - I have the third version done and it's my favorite. Pics to come!

[Al Thompson]

In my experience, having some real thickness in the blade is a good thing for a soldiers knife. One of the pimary emergency tasks around here would be prying stuck doors and suchlike.

[Valkman]

I agree Al, and plan on soon having 3 Fighter models to chose from. The big one and the 5" I'm going to make would work for what you want.

[Byron Quick]

I'm sitting here with the knife in my hand. I like it. I agree with Al about the thickness of the blade. Not only for the emergency tasks of prying stuck doors but also considering many of the soldiers I have known who tend to abuse every tool known to man.

Version with thicker blade? Micarta scales?

[CWL]

I also thought "puukko". Nice design, simplicity and utility.

Normally I stay away from 'fighters' as my tastes have changed, but this is a design I would buy and use.

Good stuff!

[JShirley]

Well, that's the thing.

This is not what most would consider a "fighter". This is a tool. Soldiers need a sharp object, and every now and then, need it damn fast. It doesn't have to be huge, it just has to be reasonably sharp and easily accessible. When I was in the combat zone, I used knives during combat actions perhaps four times. At none of those times did I use it for SD: if I needed a defensive tool, I would have grabbed my M4. Even malfunctioning, a carbine is a better defensive tool than any sharp smaller than a sword.

[feedthehogs]

I've got 10 of Don's knives.
His small skinners for me are the perfect size. I bought three with out scales, made some out of olive wood and iron wood and gave to some hunting buddies. They all love em.

I got two of his sharks. I have found they are a great tool and as stated before, just the right size.
Get many a good comments from people that see em that it seems to be a near perfect combination of style and functional fixed blade.

[Valkman]

I sent the latest one off for Kydex, I'll take pics when it gets back and if someone wants it he'll get it! :)

[ArfinGreebly]

Never saw a price, Don.

However, if the price I saw is the price you charge, then sure, I'll take one.

:D

Like the looks of that knife.

Good work.

[Valkman]

I don't know yet, and I only have a couple of heat treated Landsharks. The Proto will probably be $250 with the sheath. Probably around there in price. The second one has no sheath - I'll let that one go for $200 and we add a Kydex sheath for my cost if you like.

[ArfinGreebly]

Sorry, Don, the family Chancellor Of The Exchequer has issued a funds denial.

I am obliged to pass for now.

Some other lucky slob is going to get this one.

I need to amass some serious wealth so I can do more than just drool at these works of art.