RancidSumo
Member
How long will these be available? I want one but can't afford it right now. If they are still available later this year I'll get one.
Group Buy - Fighters
- Thread starter Valkman
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Valkman
Member
I see it lasting for a while - I have a real bad shoulder which may require surgery so these may take a while. I had to quit early tonight because it just hurts to much. Get on the list - I don't take money until it's done and getting the sheath made! 
RancidSumo
Member
I can't, I am about to send out the order for my Garand and I just dropped $120 on a knife two months ago so I don't really need one but it is a really nice looking knife and I don't have a fixed blade yet so I'll see if I can get one later. When you say it will last for a while, are you talking about just the special deal or are you going to stop making them all together? If it is just the deal, what does the knife retail for otherwise?
Gordon
Member
I'll take the compressed D2 version, sharpened false edge, green and black micarta handle with the digital camo sheath PM me when ready and I'll send a paypal + shipping ect.
TrapperReady
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2003
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- 2,732
Valkman - PM inbound.
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Valkman
Member
Rancid, I took $25 off for the "big" customer and then offered that deal to everyone. Now it looks like I'm going to lose that big order but thanks to everyone here I'll still have plenty to do! I will still make them and I'll give this price for a good while yet.
Gordon, you got it and TR, thanks!
Gordon, you got it and TR, thanks!
feedthehogs
Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2003
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- 1,801
Valkman,
I'll take one to go with its siblings along with another land shark. Leather sheaths. D2
Do you do pressed green canvas for handle material?
Take care of your shoulder and when you get around to it.
I likes em sharp.
Thanks
I'll take one to go with its siblings along with another land shark. Leather sheaths. D2
Do you do pressed green canvas for handle material?
Take care of your shoulder and when you get around to it.
I likes em sharp.
Thanks
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Gordon
Member
That would be the OD digital (to match the green and black handle) and Tec Lok sheath BTW for me.
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Valkman
Member
Bruce, you got it. I have Green Canvas.
Gordon, the digital is Desert or Gray. The Gray would look sweet.
Gordon, the digital is Desert or Gray. The Gray would look sweet.
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Valkman
Member
As a side note, yesterday it looked like I lost my "big" order as my customer could never find out any info about his old unit. He thought he could walk in to a Marine recruiters office and just get a list of names and an address but no one would tell him anything. This gent is not "internet connected" so I thought maybe I could do more.
I posted a plea for help in the military section of usualsuspects.net and today was supplied with phone #'s for all the officers of the 1st Force Recon at Camp Pendleton. I called and talked to a real nice guy who seemed interested in making this happen. I gave him info on me and my customer and he said he'd have a Sgt. Major get back to me. He asked what kind of knives these were and I described them and gave him my website to check out. He did inform me that the unit is now a Battalion of over 500 men and he didn't think the customers $7500 would go very far. I said I couldn't make that many knives in my lifetime but hopefully we could get info on a platoon and supply them with knives. LOL
At the end I asked his name and found I had been talking to a Lt. Col.! Yikes! Now I think we have a chance again to make this happen.
I posted a plea for help in the military section of usualsuspects.net and today was supplied with phone #'s for all the officers of the 1st Force Recon at Camp Pendleton. I called and talked to a real nice guy who seemed interested in making this happen. I gave him info on me and my customer and he said he'd have a Sgt. Major get back to me. He asked what kind of knives these were and I described them and gave him my website to check out. He did inform me that the unit is now a Battalion of over 500 men and he didn't think the customers $7500 would go very far.
I said I couldn't make that many knives in my lifetime but hopefully we could get info on a platoon and supply them with knives. LOLAt the end I asked his name and found I had been talking to a Lt. Col.! Yikes! Now I think we have a chance again to make this happen.
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Valkman
Member
I finished up the last 2 ATS-34 ones I had, and now have 2 CPMD2 blanks left. I'm grinding ATS-34 blanks when I can (shoulder) and then have to cut up and grind the CPMD2 I have left.
When I'm out of ATS-34 I'll probably switch to 154CM from Crucible. I'm tired of getting bent bars from Admiral.
Edit: I also have some 440C I've never used - if no one minds I'll probably use it too while I'm at it. I will always make sure it's OK with the customer before sending it. Should make some great knives with Bos heat treat!
When I'm out of ATS-34 I'll probably switch to 154CM from Crucible. I'm tired of getting bent bars from Admiral.
Edit: I also have some 440C I've never used - if no one minds I'll probably use it too while I'm at it. I will always make sure it's OK with the customer before sending it. Should make some great knives with Bos heat treat!
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Valkman
Member
Here's what the Kydex sheaths look like - really, really nice and awesome workmanship. I am really in debt to Bruce and Gina Good for providing these free for our troops!
Desert Camo - with the Brown Micarta it's awesome!
MOLLE Attachment:
Black Kydex:
Desert Camo - with the Brown Micarta it's awesome!
MOLLE Attachment:
Black Kydex:
Al Thompson
Moderator Emeritus
Looking good! Can't wait!
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Valkman
Member
I have lots of knives going out today, most to the leather guy for sheaths. This includes fighters for Tourist and hso.
I really apologize to some guys at the front of the list like Browning and axeman_g who got hosed when their knives got Kydex and are being donated to soldiers - I did not expect to get the call on that until later in the year.
I thought all of these would take much longer but I don't have the "big" Marine order yet so I've tried to knock out what I can. I opened this up at surrvivalmonkey.com before I offered it here and several of the done ones are for them as well.
One fighter with Kydex (the one with digital camo in the pic) is going straight to a SSGT in the 10th MTN Div in Iraq, and 3 are going to Dan at Relentless Knives for his MAP program.
feedthehogs is getting a Landshark with black leather that I already had done.
Hopefully soon I will talk to a Sgt. in First Force Recon and see if I have an order with them or not!
I have 14 knives to send out - don't think I've ever finished this many at once before!
I really apologize to some guys at the front of the list like Browning and axeman_g who got hosed when their knives got Kydex and are being donated to soldiers - I did not expect to get the call on that until later in the year.
I thought all of these would take much longer but I don't have the "big" Marine order yet so I've tried to knock out what I can. I opened this up at surrvivalmonkey.com before I offered it here and several of the done ones are for them as well.
One fighter with Kydex (the one with digital camo in the pic) is going straight to a SSGT in the 10th MTN Div in Iraq, and 3 are going to Dan at Relentless Knives for his MAP program.
feedthehogs is getting a Landshark with black leather that I already had done.
Hopefully soon I will talk to a Sgt. in First Force Recon and see if I have an order with them or not!
I have 14 knives to send out - don't think I've ever finished this many at once before!
I wasn't expecting it until September or so anyway (two and a half to three months was the time period given to begin with in the OP), I knew you had alot of orders to fill. Although I'm certainly looking forward to getting it, the soldiers need them worse than I do anyway.
Don't worry about me, I'm okay with waiting my turn.
Besides, waiting a bit in anticipation kind of makes it better once you finally get it.
Eric Draven
Member
Gorgeous knife Valkman. Youre doing so well bro. Proud of you my friend.
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Valkman
Member
Thanks Eric!
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
What- you mean people buy custom knives because the need a knife? 
And they get in a hurry to get it delivered?
Really?
Who'd a thunk it???
lpl/nc
And they get in a hurry to get it delivered?Really?
Who'd a thunk it???
lpl/nc
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Valkman
Member
You know, I was wondering why some thought this was such a "screaming deal" so I did something rare today - I googled "military fighting knives". Many makers, myself included, do not like to look at a lot of other's knives because we're afraid it will influence our designs. Some won't even read Blade because of it.
But I found my 2 favorite production combat knives, both by Chris Reeve. The Pacific and the 5.5" Yarborough are sweet - made of great materials yet are machine made and cost $300. I'm like "Hmmm, maybe a handmade fighter at $225 w/sheath IS a screaming deal!"
I gotta gut feeling prices will go up after this group buy is over - quite a bit up!
But I found my 2 favorite production combat knives, both by Chris Reeve. The Pacific and the 5.5" Yarborough are sweet - made of great materials yet are machine made and cost $300. I'm like "Hmmm, maybe a handmade fighter at $225 w/sheath IS a screaming deal!"
I gotta gut feeling prices will go up after this group buy is over - quite a bit up!
auschip
Member
Dang it, PM sent. 
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Valkman
Member
I drew out and cut apart a bunch of new fighters last night (ATS-34 and CPMD2), and then realized if I wanted to mill grooves in them like many combat knives have I'd have to do it before profiling while I still had parallel sides. So I spent until midnight putting grooves in 3 knives and hopefully will do more today. I broke one end mill and am using my last carbide ball end mill so how many get done depends on how long it lasts.
I know what you're saying. "But Don, you're already GIVING these knives away! Now your doing mill work too???? It's too much! You're giving us TOO MUCH!!!!"
Well, that's just the kind of guy I am I guess.
This is what they wind up looking like, although I am experimenting with different length grooves and whether I should run them right into the false/sharpened top edge.
I know what you're saying. "But Don, you're already GIVING these knives away! Now your doing mill work too???? It's too much! You're giving us TOO MUCH!!!!"
Well, that's just the kind of guy I am I guess.
This is what they wind up looking like, although I am experimenting with different length grooves and whether I should run them right into the false/sharpened top edge.
The Tourist
member
Valkman, it is now 2:00AM in Wisconsin. That's dark 0200 for you ground pounders.
You veteran soldiers are trained to suffer, bear it, and march on into the frozen night. I am a civilian, and frankly, I'm cold and damp and I don't care for it.
It's a little spooky here at the end of my driveway. We have no street lights in my subdivision. I have this little SureFire E1e, but it gets hot if I use it too much.
I mostly shake and shudder, the wind whips around me. Periodically I get spooked by some stray dog howling up the street. A few times I saw the red eyes of a raccoon trolling in my backyard for garbage.
I'm miserable, I'm tired, I'm scared, and my butt is numb for the length of time I have to sit on this cement.
Valkman says my knife is coming. The UPS truck will get here soon...I hope.
You veteran soldiers are trained to suffer, bear it, and march on into the frozen night. I am a civilian, and frankly, I'm cold and damp and I don't care for it.
It's a little spooky here at the end of my driveway. We have no street lights in my subdivision. I have this little SureFire E1e, but it gets hot if I use it too much.
I mostly shake and shudder, the wind whips around me. Periodically I get spooked by some stray dog howling up the street. A few times I saw the red eyes of a raccoon trolling in my backyard for garbage.
I'm miserable, I'm tired, I'm scared, and my butt is numb for the length of time I have to sit on this cement.
Valkman says my knife is coming. The UPS truck will get here soon...I hope.
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Valkman
Member
Just be glad it's summer!
I don't know how long the sheathmaker will take but it'll be a while yet. I have them coming back to me so I'll let you know when I am sending them out again.
I don't know how long the sheathmaker will take but it'll be a while yet. I have them coming back to me so I'll let you know when I am sending them out again.
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