"Skeg" Counterterrorism, Tactical, Crossover Knife
NOTICE!
Please note the layout for the tactical knife description
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.
"Skeg" Tactical Combat, Counterterrorism Knife
(Shadow Line)
All Matching in non-reflective flat black camouflage
This is a top-of-the-line,
extremely tough and ultimate
corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant knife: a tactical knife , sheath, and accessory package
that is simply the best made. The knife is a complete crossover
type, suitable for utility, rescue, and working tool applications. This package is comprehensive, sturdy, dependable, and useable. NO OTHER SOURCE
can supply what you see here, all finely handmade to work with your gear, your outing, your mission, and your
excursion, no matter the situation and exposure. This is simply
one of the very best tactical knives and kit
made today.
Thanks, J. N.!
I have opened the box with the new knives and I am very happy with them! I have taken them with me to show to some other knife
enthusiasts and they have all been really impressed and in awe of these blades.
The picture of this knife does not do it justice. This is a very impressive knife! When you actually hold it and feel the weight
and how solid it is makes you realize how much of a true working knife this is. The feel of the handle is something that is hard
to describe and needs to be felt to be appreciated. It feels very secure and would insure that it would never be dropped or slip
out of your grip while using it. I love having this knife and am very happy to have it.
Thank you for being patient with me. I appreciate your work and even more appreciate your friendship and the communication.
-J. N.
Included:
The Knife
- Size: Length overall: 9.5" (24.1 cm), Blade Length:
4.3" (10.9 cm), Thickness:
0.179" (4.5 mm)
- Weight: 11.7 oz. (332 grams)
- Blade: ATS-34 High Molybdenum Martensitic Stainless Tool Steel, Hardened and Tempered, T4 Specialty Cryogenically treated to Rockwell C61, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
- Bolsters/Fittings: 304 High Nickel, High Chromium Austenitic Stainless Steel, proprietary surface oxide treatment "Ghost Slate."
- Handle: Black and Gray G10 Fiberglass/Epoxy Composite
- Type/Purpose/Origin: A skeg is the tapering
projection of the keel of a ship, boat, or watercraft. It protects
the propeller, supports the rudder, and helps the craft steer. The
shape of this blade looks just like many modern skegs, and that's
why I named it "Skeg." The name is short, tight, simple, and punchy,
and that's how this knife is designed. The Skeg is designed to be a
super-tough, compact and serious counterterrorism and tactical knife
and tool, and the design is extremely stout and functional, one of
the toughest knives I make.
This is a great crossover knife!
- Blade Steel Alloy: The Skeg blade is a special hypereutectoid, high alloy stainless tool steel,
ATS-34. This steel is
extremely high in molybdenum and chromium, and I call it a
"chrome-moly tool steel on steroids." First, the carbon in this steel
is extremely high at 1.25 percent, allowing significant development of
martensite and
forming of essential iron carbides. The second element is chromium, and at 14
percent, this is a true stainless steel with high corrosion
resistance. High chromium also helps create extremely
hard and durable chromium carbides adding to the wear resistance
and overall strength and stability of the steel alloy. The third and most transformational element is
molybdenum. ATS-34
has 4% molybdenum, providing a high concentration of
molybdenum carbide particles, which are extremely wear-resistant
and contribute tremendously to toughness. Molybdenum is
a very important carbide-former, and it helps precipitate
carbides at critical dislocation and grain boundary areas of the
crystalline structure, stabilizing the structure against
fracture, toughening it. Toughness is
resistance to breakage, and since this is dramatically increased
in this high molybdenum steel, it allows a very thin cutting
edge and blade geometry with high strength. This means a
thinner, sharper, and extremely tough,
corrosion-resistant blade is possible with this steel.
- Heat Treatment: This Skeg has my
T4 heat treatment, yielding an astounding blade in incredible
condition through advanced processing protocols. How advanced is
this treatment? It's a multi-stage cryogenic treatment,
involving temperatures ranging in over 2000°F (1090°C)
to -320°F (-196°C). The process is an evolution of my
advanced heat treating processes, and consists of 33 dedicated
and specific steps and takes 172 hours! This means that just to
heat treat this blade takes over a week! The reason for this is
scientific and critical, but yields the most stable, most
wear-resistant, most durable and long-lived structure of this
steel, profuse with fine multi-element carbides and a uniform
and unbelievably robust structure. 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.
Want to know more about the heat treating designation?
- Blade Design and Geometry: The Skeg is a
double-edged tanto design, painstakingly ground with a
differential grind. This means that the hollow grinds in the
blade have two different and complimentary geometric curves.
The main straight cutting edge has a deeper, thinner grind
for increased longevity. The top grind with the serrations
has a shorter, thicker grind so that the four inches of my
hammerhead serrations are extremely tough and difficult to
break. Both grinds meet at an extremely well-supported
point. The point geometry is enhanced by the tanto secondary
grind, the short cutting edge length in front of the
dividing line (yokote) which creates a tougher, wide-angled
point for bearing down while cutting difficult materials.
The blade has a very thick center spine for support and the
entire blade is sharpened with a single bevel cutting edge,
making it razor-keen throughout. This is a serious working
grind and profile, one of the toughest overall grinds I make
in a knife this size.
- Blade Finish: The blade and bolsters (and
all of the accessories) are in my "Shadow" line of
counterterrorism 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 not only the stainless steel of
the knife, blade, handle, and fittings, but all of the gear in
the entire kit: the fasteners, the sheath parts, aluminum
mounts, accessories and entire package. Read more about my
Shadow Line and Ghost Slate finish on my Counterterrorism Knives
page
at this bookmark.
- This is an extreme use, high wear
resistance, highly tough, and extremely keen stainless steel blade
with advanced heat treatment.
- Bolsters: I bolstered the Skeg with my
signature zero-care, high nickel, high chromium 304 austenitic stainless steel bolsters,
contoured and rounded for comfort of the hands, and shaped and
radiused in the front face for easy cleaning. The
bolsters are attached
with multiple through-tang pins of 304 stainless steel, and
the mounting is permanent, as well as extremely corrosion resistant. This is the
same steel used for stainless steel nuts, bolts, and fasteners,
and the bolsters are heavy, thick, and solid, giving great
balance to the knife. The rear bolster has a large chamfered
5/16" (8 mm) through-tang lanyard
hole for added security when working elevated or over
water or in a debris field. The bolsters are dovetailed to create a
solid, seamless union with the handle material. The front
bolster is sculpted and extends over the finger ring, providing
a wide surface area for the thumb to bear down, and volume of
grip with the front of the hand. The bolsters are treated in my "Ghost Slate"
shadow line for reduced glare and match the rest of the knife
and gear.
- Handle: The scales for this knife
are zero-care black and gray G10 fiberglass/epoxy
laminate composite, and
they are secured with two 1/8" through-tang 304 stainless steel pins. They
are bedded to the tang and locked under the bolster dovetails. This is
an extremely tough advanced technology material,
durable, with a toothy textured surface that grips the
hand and requires no maintenance. The shape of the handle is
unique, and features some advanced concepts. The forward finger
ring has evolved from my numerous counterterrorism knives I've
made for years; it provides excellent grip security and
protection for the guiding finger of the hand. The ring is
rounded, smoothed, contoured, and finished. Above the finger
ring is a thumb indentation. This could be called a "humpback"
handle, but that doesn't really apply since the handle does not
rise into a peak before or after the curve. I prefer to call
this new design a "thumb drive." This indentation saves space normally
required by a thumb rise which would add to the bulk and size of
the handle of smaller knives. The thumb drive is bolstered,
contoured, rounded and smoothed and this allows tremendous
pressure to be applied to the spine of the knife as well as a
great deal of physical control of the cutting edge, via the
thumb placement in a forward grip. In reverse grip, the thumb
drive indentation accommodates the fleshy heel of the palm of
the hand. The Skeg has three tight finger grooves for improved
grip, and the handle is short enough to completely disappear in
a large hand. The tang is fully tapered but left supportive at the butt, and I've
included a light alternating filework design for handmade
distinction. One more thing: the finger ring is not a
round circle! In an effort to keep this handle very compact, the
finger ring is shaped more like the human finger cross-section
in a tight grip; it's an ellipse, or an oval!
- Balance and Feel: The unique handle shape,
balance, thickness, and stout design of this knife makes it an
incredible working tool. The knife has the meat to be weighty
and aggressive, yet it's compact and reasonable working with the
rest of the kit. The best way to describe this is like a real
skeg: it will cut through the deep and be strong enough to
weather a storm. That might be a bit prosaic, but this is a very
serious, super-tough, keen cutter with a lot of great features.
It feels fantastic in the hand, the blade light and strong.
Included:
The Sheaths
This knife has two sheaths, one in heavy leather, one in tactical combat, tab-locking.
1. The Leather Sheath
- Weight: 7.1 oz. (201 grams)
- Materials: Heavy 10 oz. thick leather shoulder, stainless steel reinforcement screws, hand-stamped, black lacquered, nylon stitching
- Storage: double-layered embroidered drawstring bag
in cotton duck canvas, polyester
- Description: Leather Sheath: I've included a heavy, tough, and solid leather sheath for the
Skeg in 9-10 oz. leather shoulder, hand-stamped and
tooled. The leather is shoulder, from mature cows, and is twice as thick as most other knifemakers use.
I tooled a hand-stamped traditional black basketweave design and the
sheath is tooled in the front, back and even in the belt loop. The
mouth of the sheath is deep, protecting the owner from the blade, but
it allows enough of the
handle accessible for quick unsheathing. The sheath has a high back, to protect the
wearer, and the orientation is right side, edge-back. There is a
large belt loop, triple-row stitched with heavy nylon for strength
and moisture and rot resistance. The entire sheath body, front,
back, and welts are double-row stitched for extreme durability.
The mouth of the sheath has stainless steel screws that take all of
the stress and protect the sheath stitches from stretching over
time. The
sheath is dyed black throughout, with buffed edges in a
water-resistant lacquer finish. Leather is irreplaceable in
extremely cold or hot environments, and where absolute silence is
needed in tactical operations with no clicking when in contact
against objects, people, or gear. The leather sheath is also great
for a "non-tactical" outdoors look in a more casual setting when a
knife simply needs to be a tool.
2. The Hybrid Tension Tab-Lock Tactical Sheath
- Weight: 7.9 oz. (224 grams)
- Materials: Hybrid Tension Tab-Locking in black
double-thickness Kydex, black anodized 5053 H32 corrosion-resistant
high strength aluminum alloy, blackened 304 austenitic stainless steel,
anodized 6AL4V titanium.
- Description: This sheath is one of my hybrid
tension tab-locking models, originally designed for
counterterrorism use.
This is my proprietary design, the very best possible sheath of its type
available in the world today. Actually, it is the ONLY type of this
sheath available in the world today!
- Spring Retention Release Pressures: Three
included titanium springs for user selection of retention force;
approximately 3 lbs., 8 lbs., and 15 lbs. force.
Included:
Accessories: Belt Loops, Plates, Straps, Clamps
This kit contains my standard belt loop and mounting package.
- Standard Belt Loops: accommodates 0.190"
thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high strength
corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil
thickness
- Medium Profile Belt Loops: accommodates
0.250" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high
strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black
at 1 mil thickness
- High Profile Belt Loops: accommodates
.250" thick by 1.5" belt, black anodized 5052H32 high
strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black
at 1 mil thickness
- Vertical Flat Mounting Straps:
accommodates up to 2.0" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear,
clamps rigidly and vertically 90 degrees to the long axis of
the sheath, black anodized 5052H32 high strength corrosion
resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil thickness
- Horizontal Flat Mounting Straps:
accommodates 1" to 3" wide belt, web, strapping, or gear,
clamps rigidly and horizontally (in line with the long
axis of the sheath), black anodized 5052H32 high strength
corrosion resistant aluminum alloy, anodized black at 1 mil
thickness
- Horizontal Belt Loop Plates: allows
wear with the long axis of the sheath in line with standard belt, without rigid clamping,
accommodates .250" thick by 1.5" belt, welded black anodized
5052H32 high strength corrosion resistant aluminum alloy,
anodized black at 1 mil thickness
Included:
Belt Loop Extenders (2)
- Ultimate Belt Loop Extender (UBLX):
allows wearing with locking sheath and knife handle just
below the belt line, with DMT folding pocket diamond
abrasive sharpener, in black polypropylene, polyester,
black acetyl buckles. DMT diamond sharpener.
- Extended Length Belt Loop Extender (EXBLX):
allows wearing with locking sheath and knife sheath below
the belt line, sheath tail just above knee, with 2" wide leg
strap, in black polypropylene, polyester, blackened stainless steel, acetyl buckles.
Included:
HULA (Holder, Universal, Lamp, Articulating
- HULA with Powertac M5 Generation 3, 2030 lumen
rechargeable programmable flashlight:
provides a primary, fully adjustable flashlight in removable holder,
with a frame that can be aimed and locked in any direction, mounted
on the sheath body no matter where the knife is worn. This is the
very best, most durable flashlight holder made in the world today.
Included:
LIMA (Lamp, Independent Mounting Assembly
- Lamp Independent Mount Assembly (LIMA):
Backup, emergency, safety LED programmable flashlight and
independent web frame and mount, in polypropylene stitched with high strength polyester,
anodized 5052 high strength corrosion resistant black
anodized aluminum mounting bar, 304 stainless steel ring
retainers, nylon elastic shock cord, with OLIGHT I1R 2 Pro Eos 180 Lumen
rechargeable flashlight.
Included:
Sternum Harness Plus
- Sternum Harness Plus: allows wearing of
locking sheath upside down across sternum, handle down, in black polypropylene,
polyester, acetyl buckles
Included:
Diamond Abrasive Sharpener, Lanyards
- Diamond Sharpener with Pad/Sheath:
Diamond abrasive sharpening stone, 2" x 6",
double-sided (400G/600G), nickel bonded diamond abrasives
over phenolic core, heavy nylon sheath to store and protect
other gear from diamond abrasives; sheath doubles as work
pad so diamond does not scratch surfaces, stitched with
polyester, hook and loop closure
- Lanyard: 550 Nylon Kernmantle Rope (Paracord)
sliding noose lanyard, flashlight lanyard
Included:
Duffle, Storage
- Duffle Bag: 1000 denier Cordura®
ballistic nylon, waterproof polyurethane coated,
interior lined with heavy polyester felt. Nylon, polyester,
polypropylene sling loop rubber handles, embroidered patch, removable
embroidered name patch with hook and loop
- Storage bags and tins for hardware, leather sheath,
HULA assembly
I have opened the box with the new knives and I am very happy with them! I have taken them with me to show to some other knife
enthusiasts and they have all been really impressed and in awe of these blades.
The picture of this knife does not do it justice. This is a very impressive knife! When you actually hold it and feel the weight
and how solid it is makes you realize how much of a true working knife this is. The feel of the handle is something that is hard
to describe and needs to be felt to be appreciated. It feels very secure and would insure that it would never be dropped or slip
out of your grip while using it. I love having this knife and am very happy to have it.
Thank you for being patient with me. I appreciate your work and even more appreciate your friendship and the communication.
-J. N.
To see many more options for mounting, wear, and rigging, please visit
these pages and look over their detailed photo sets. I've assembled and
mounted the knives and kit accessories in a variety of ways, and most of the
various arrangements are applicable to this knife as well.
