"Shrike" Custom Tactical, Utility Push, Punch Dagger/Knife
	
	
		
	
		
NOTICE!
		I've made a new layout for the tactical knife descriptions, seen 
			on this page. I've separated the 
			components, briefly describing them in individual boxes. In those boxes 
			are links to dedicated pages describing everything about the part, 
			component, or accessory. The pages are substantial, and offer the 
			history, operation, materials, use, mounting, and care of each 
			accessory. 
 
	"Shrike" Custom Tactical, Counterterrorism, 
		Push-Punch Dagger/Knife (Shadow Line)
			With Post-Locking Heavy Leather Sheath
		A fine custom knife, handmade for serious counterterrorism, PSD, and personal defensive use, this is a top-of-the-line, 
			extremely tough and corrosion-resistant knife and basic sheath. 
			NO OTHER SOURCE can supply what you see here, all finely handmade to 
			work when you most depend on it: safe when sheathed, lightweight and 
			ultimately useful when in hand.
		Thanks, S. L.!
	
		Jay—
			Picked up my knife today.  The craftsmanship of the knife and the sheath exceeded my expectations.
			It will take me a day or two to get used to it.  The handle fits my hand well.  Looking forward to putting it to work.
			The blade grind and edge are superb.
		Sincerely, 
-S.
	 	
		
	
		
		Included:
		The Knife
		
			- Size: Length overall max: 7.8" (19.8 cm), Width max at handle: 4.5" (11.4 cm), Blade Length at cutting edge: 4.75" (12.1cm), Thickness: 0.270" (6.9 mm)
 
			- Weight: 6.9 oz. (196 grams)
 
			- Blade: CPM 154CM High Molybdenum Martensitic 
			Powder Metal Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T4 Specialty Cryogenically treated to Rockwell C61, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
 
			- Type/Purpose/Origin: Answering requests for an ultra 
				lightweight yet tough and wear-resistant push-punch dagger that 
				would function as a crossover between 
				tactical/counterterrorism/combat use and daily working and carry, I 
				designed my "Shrike" pattern. The name comes from a carnivorous 
				bird of the Laniidae family, which is Latin for "butcher." It's a 
				bird that wears a dark mask, and is also known as a "butcherbird," 
				because of its aggressive feeding habits. The name suited the knife 
				pattern well.
 
			- Blade Steel Alloy: My client requested the 
			blade steel in CPM 154CM, a powder metal tool steel, a high 
			technology steel known for extremely even distribution of alloy 
			elements and a uniform microstructure. It's a high molybdenum 
			stainless steel, and the molybdenum aids in forming nucleation sites 
			for complex carbide development. The moly also increases the 
			toughness dramatically, resulting in a blade that's extremely 
			durable. This allows me to temper the steel at a higher overall 
			hardness, for great wear resistance as well. The high chromium and 
			high carbon results in profuse chromium carbides, increasing 
			corrosion resistance as well as wear resistance.
			
 
			- Heat Treatment: To bring this steel to its 
			zenith, I used my proprietary T4 deep cryogenic process in heat 
			treating this blade; it's a highly detailed, extremely sophisticated 
			process that takes 36 individual steps and takes over a week long. 
			The result of this is an incredibly wear-resistant blade that has 
			extremely high carbide development, fine grain, and extremely high 
			toughness. Asperity is reduced; the microstructure development is 
			superior to any other typical handmade knife, and far above any 
			factory or manufactured knife. This is, simply put, 154CM Powder 
			Metal steel at its very finest advanced condition. The result is an incredibly tough, very hard, 
				very wear-resistant stainless steel. This is a testament to my 
				determination to make the very best knives, steels, treatments 
				and kits in the modern world. I know of no one else who has 
				advanced the treatment to this level; it's unheard of in the 
				metals and knifemaking field.   This is, simply 
				put, CPM 154CM at its very finest advanced condition.More about the heat treating designation.
 
			- Blade Design and Geometry: I double-hollow-ground the  
				edges of this Shrike blade with a 3" contact wheel, 
				something few, if any, other makers do, simply because it's very 
				difficult to achieve. What this tight grind geometry produces is 
				a blade that is extremely thin at the cutting edge, yet 
				thick and substantial down the central spine, critical for 
				support of a double-edged knife blade. This is a double-edged 
				tanto design, so the secondary cutting apex of the tanto can be 
				used to bear down when cutting in utility chores, and the tanto 
				point is wide-angled and very strong, for the thin geometry. The blade has no choils to become 
				trapped or snagged in any clothing, gear, or object being 
				cut and the cutting edges simply taper to a stop in the grind for smoothness in 
				motion. The blade has substantial quillons that are 
				2.5" (6.4 cm) at the widest that serve four purposes: one is 
				to stop penetration of the blade at its limit, the second is to 
				protect the fingers from any metal, edges, or projections, the 
				third is to provide a smooth, rounded, contoured surface for the 
				fingers for maximum grip security, and the fourth is to engage 
				in the sheath retention method in the leather (described below). The blade is supported by 
			over a 
				1/4" thick and heavy central neck-ricasso to provide transfer of force from the 
				hand to the blade edges and point, and the handle tang is full 
				thickness in the palm for a solid, complete support. 
 
			- Blade Finish: The blade is finished in my flat, 
				dark "Shadow" line of 
				counterterrorism, rescue, and tactical knife finishes. Answering 
				the request for completely subdued and non-reflective 
				surfaces, I developed the Shadow Line with my Ghost 
				Slate finish. This means darkening in a permanent 
				fashion the stainless steel of the knife, to color-compliment 
			the sheath. Read more about 
				my Shadow Line and Ghost Slate finish on my 
				Counterterrorism Knives page
				at this bookmark.
 
			- Handle: I milled the tang in a skeletonized 
				geometry, for ultimate weight reduction. The skeletonized handle 
				tang is the lightest possible, and all surfaces are rounded, 
				contoured, and smoothed for a comfortable, extremely lightweight 
				grip. This type of handle results in a knife that is fully half 
				of the weight of full tang punch daggers with handles. This 
				results in a thinner, lower flat profile when sheathed, as well. The 
				handle of the Shrike is designed with one of my "talon" palm 
				heel points, used in my popular "Guardian" and "Ari B'Lilah" models. The notable thing is that this 
				talon is comfortably concealed in the sheath, safe for the knife owner; he won't 
				encounter the point unless the knife is unsheathed.
 
			- Balance and Feel: The balance 
				point of the knife is exactly at the quillons, 
				and the knife feels extremely lightweight, yet strong, molded to the hand when 
				gripped in the fist. By design, the fingertips engage the inside of the 
				handle milling for extra secure grip. This knife was conceived for the wearer to 
				be able to immediately put it in his hand, with the handle 
				shank between the first two fingers, in closed-fist form, 
				without an elaborate grip technique, and to use or defend his life with 
				simple punching and and thrusting motion natural to human 
				movement. No matter where the enemy is attacking, the blade will 
				yield an extremely aggressive point and razor-sharp cutting edge 
				with enough power behind it to drive through heavy clothing, 
				around gear and equipment with tremendous force. The tanto 
				design of the blade makes it a sure performer for daily carry 
				and work as well. 
 
			- This is a serious defensive and tactical weapon 
				for the most critical of counterterrorism and tactical close 
				quarters combat situations, while being a fully functional 
				daily carry useful utility tool. 
 
	
	 
	
	
	Included:
		The Sheath
		The Post Lock Leather Sheath
			
			- Weight: 6.6 oz. (187 grams)
 
			- Materials: 9-10 oz. Leather Shoulder, Nylon 
				high strength thread, stainless steel Chicago screws, stainless 
				steel dot snaps
 
			- Description: I've created an advanced leather 
				sheath for this model, based on client feedback and necessity of 
				safety and strength for daily carry. My clients may typically wear a leather 
				sheath for daily carry, so I wanted to create a leather sheath that 
				was as close to indestructible as leather can be. I started with the 
				thickness; this is thick shoulder, about 0.2" (5 mm) thick, as heavy as 
				leather armor, and the heaviest leather straps for rigging, and 
				twice as thick as the leather on a saddle. I hand-stamped/tooled the 
				sheath in a traditional basketweave design, and dyed it Bison 
			brown. The first thing you'll notice 
				about the sheath is the very high front, 
				covering the knife blade and handle almost completely, protecting 
				the wearer from the persuader point. It also shields the knife 
				handle from view for privacy. On the sheath front are two "D" shaped tab 
				stitched points; these are the locations of the two D-shaped 
			"post" 
				retention points that engage specific locations on the knife handle. 
				These posts have stainless steel (corrosion-proof and very strong) 
				dot snaps that snap to the inside sheath back. When the knife is in 
				the sheath, these dot snaps are engaged, making two audible and 
				tactile "snaps" that assure the wearer that the knife is secured. 
				When snapped, it's impossible for the knife to be removed, to fall, 
				to vibrate out, or to even be forced from the sheath. This makes 
				this design a positively-locking leather sheath that can't be forced, even in 
				the most violent and active situations. When the wearer wants to 
				remove the knife, he pushes his fingertips into the handle, 
				unsnapping and folding the front face of the sheath outward, 
				unsnapping the posts, moving them out of engagement points on the knife handle. Because the front of the 
				sheath folds, it's made of extra-thick leather and it's reinforced 
				at that critical point with two 304 stainless steel Chicago screws, 
				which go completely through the sheath front, welts, and sheath back. This 
				way, no stress is on the stitching at this point. What about the 
				stitching? The belt loop I secured with heavy stitching of 
				nylon, for great strength and durability. The belt loop 
				will accommodate a 2.5" (6.3 cm) wide belt. On the welts, back, and front, I 
				stitched the sheath with double-row stitches, for extreme strength, 
				stiffening, and durability. The sheath is rounded, contoured, 
				smoothed, and sealed with lacquer for longevity.
 
				- Casual and PSD wear: Clearly, most of my 
				tactical and combat gear cannot be mistaken for utility wear. Heavy, 
				solid kydex sheaths can be bulky and weighty to wear in the casual 
				sense, nor are they meant to be. The Shrike sheath is different. 
				Because it's hand-tooled leather, more common daily and casual wear 
				is possible, traditionally on the belt. This makes the knife a good 
				choice for PSD (Principal Security Detail, or Security Detail) work. 
 
			- Simply put: This is the most secure, durable, 
				and well-constructed leather sheath possible.
 
		
			
	 
	
	
	Included:
		Storage
		
			- Envelope Bag: 1000 denier Cordura® ballistic 
				black nylon, waterproof polyurethane coated, inside layered in heavy 
				polyester felt. Stainless steel dot snaps, embroidered patch, removable 
				embroidered name patch with hook and loop
 
		
		
	 
	
	
		Jay—
			Picked up my knife today.  The craftsmanship of the knife and the sheath exceeded my expectations.
			It will take me a day or two to get used to it.  The handle fits my hand well.  Looking forward to putting it to work.
			The blade grind and edge are superb.
		Sincerely, 
-S.