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Posts Tagged ‘Spartan Blades’

Blade Show 2014 – Spartan Blades

Sunday, June 8th, 2014

The new V14 is based on the geometry of the V42 but just as the 14 suffix denotes, it’s an anti rely updated version of the classic raider knife. Unknown to many, the original issue V42 was issued to both the First Special Service Force (Devil’s Brigade) and US Navy. They had a problem with the tips breaking off so two blacksmiths with the Devil’s Brigade shortened the 1400 issued there by about one inch. It’s small shortcomings like this that Spartan Blades wanted to correct by working with designer Les George.

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Along with integrating a full tang, they also increased overall thickness to 1/4″. Naturally, the stacked leather washer handle had to go so they have incorporated G10 scales. In addition to a smoothed pommel to make carry a bit more comfortable, they’ve coated the blade in PVD. Finally, the thumb index is more pronounced on the V14 than the original V42 model.

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Get the knife that was awarded Collaboration of the Year at Blade Show 2014.

www.SpartanBladesUSA.com

SHOT Show – Spartan Blades

Thursday, January 16th, 2014

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Designed on a lead from a Japanese dealer, Spartan Blades came up with these Titanium, breakdown Chop Sticks. Titanium means hypoallergenic, and the cool factor is through the roof. Made up of 4 components, the tip, body, carbon fiber sleeve and cap. The carbon fiber sleeves can be swapped out but initially it will be offered with Black and Red Twill. Look for these in about 30 days.

www.spartanbladesusa.com

Spartan Blades Watch – Field Diver

Thursday, June 20th, 2013

This is another first, at least for Spartan Blades. It’s their first watch.

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Designed in collaboration with Bernhardt Watch, the Spartan Blades Field Diver Watch runs on a Swiss Quartz movement made by RONDA which keep near-perfect time and offer shock protection against the heaviest of concussions. The housing is machined from 316 stainless-steel and the case has a sapphire crystal. The case-back and crown screw down, offering 200 meters of water-tightness and the watch incorporates a steel diver’s bezel. The stainless steel bracelet and case are black PVD coated. The watch face and bezel numbering is tan. Each watch comes delivered in a great leather travel case. Every watch is engraved with Spartan Blades Logo along with limited edition numbering (XXX of 200) on backside.

spartanbladesusa.com

Blade Show – Spartan Blades

Friday, May 31st, 2013

Developed for an element of the Canadian Special Operations Community, the Difensa is a Bill Harsey design.

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The name comes from the Battle of Mount La Difensa in Italy during WW II where members of the combined US-Canadian First Special Service Force fought the Germans. This blade is steeped in SOF history, the commercial model available to you has all of the features of the issue knife.

The handles are available in green or black canvas micarta, there is a forward choil allow you to choke up on the blade and the tip thickness on the spearpoint blade is meant to withstand prying. Available in flat black or flat dark earth finishes.

Spartan Knives – Always Something New

Friday, December 7th, 2012

Spartan Knives showed their line at the USASOC Sniper Competition. In addition to their recently released Akribis folder but also the Spartan/Harsey Hunter collaboration we showed during SHOT Show. These two will be presented to the top team at the competition.

Additionally, they had the new Spartan Breed Fighter.

www.spartanbladesusa.com

Photos courtesy of our friends at Inali Media.

Canipe Correspondence – Spartan Blades Akribis

Saturday, November 24th, 2012

I’m a gun nut, but not really a knife guy. I usually carry a Spyderco that I don’t feel too bad about breaking or losing, or whatever free folder I pull out of a box from the Army. That doesn’t mean I don’t recognize or appreciate nice knives, but generally when it’s time to drop the coin on one I go buy another gun. I took a big step last week in actually buying myself a nice folder. I have a couple of Chris Reeve Sebenzas I received as gifts, a SAR folder from some friends, a couple Horrigan fighters, and some nice Winkler fixed blades and hatchets. All of those were gifts, trades, hand-me-downs, something like that. I met the Spartan Blades guys a couple of years ago at the local machine shop, and was immediately impressed with their work. Both of the owners are retired Special Forces soldiers and do a lot of work to support the Green Beret Foundation. They bring a unique perspective on the application of their products that shows in every design they put out. Spartan Blades opened its doors in Aberdeen, NC in 2008, and they still have the sales numbers of every month in the shop on a white board. Like they said, that first year was quite an experience as they started to establish themselves. When I asked Curtis if he still had the first knife they made for Spartan, he looked around and said “Oh, never mind. We sold it, we were hurting back then.” By 2010, they had been awarded the “Collaboration of the Year” at the prestigious International Blade Show for their first project with famed knife maker Bill Harsey. In just four years, the line has grown to over 15 advertised knives with a worldwide network of distributors, military contracts, and retail partners. In addition, Spartan has collaborated with knife makers such as Bill Harsey, who I mentioned earlier, and Kim Breed, another former Special Forces soldier. If you’re known by the company you keep, Spartan Blades is doing quite well.

The Akribis is their first production folder. The name is Greek for “sharp and precise,” and the name fits. Like all Spartan Blades products since day 1, the Akribis is hand-fitted and assembled in their workshop in NC. Despite the steady and rapid increase in demand for their knives, each one gets the same treatment for production, assembly, and quality control to this day. Each 3.5” S35VN blade is cryogenically treated and rides on ceramic bushings; each titanium liner is beautifully machined to be devoid of any sharp edges or imperfections. The buyer has the option of G10 or carbon fiber for the handles and a SpartaCoat black or meteorite grey blade. Even the pocket clip shows their attention to detail, with an arrow like those of the Special Forces branch insignia cut into it. Spartan also licensed the Hinderer device from knife maker Rick Hinderer to further stabilize the locking bar. No detail skipped, no corners cut. The Akribis was designed from the floor up to be a do-everything folder. It easily accommodates the utility desired by military or law enforcement users while not looking out of place in everyday wear or even business attire. I can’t think of a feature I would add, personally. The Akribis is large enough for tough chores but is not too big for everyday carry. It also shows up sharp, as the band-aid on my finger reminds me. If it ever gets used to the point that you need it re-sharpened, Spartan Blades offers a lifetime sharpening service.

I waited almost two years from the first time I heard a rumor of the Spartan folder until I had one in hand. I can now say it was worth the wait, and the money. At a retail price of $445, the Akribis isn’t exactly inexpensive but for the work and materials that go into them it’s a reasonable price in my book. Buy once, cry once. You stop crying when you open the box, I promise. The Akribis can be found at www.spartanblades.com along with the new Spartan-Breed Fighter, also released last week. Get them while you can, they were headed out the door at a steady rate when I was at the shop to pick mine up.

Spartan Blades – New Designs

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Spartan Blades showed us a couple of new designs at SHOT Show. From top to bottom:

-Spartan Harsey Hunter – This one has been around awhile. Built in cooperation with renowned knife designer “Bill” Harsey, it’s intended to pull double duty as a fighting or hunting knife.

-Spartan Harsey Model 2 – Another knife built in cooperation with “Bill” Harsey.

-Phrike – A smaller knife, it should hit the market this Spring.

www.spartanbladesusa.com

TacHacker – Beret Skull Bead

Thursday, September 29th, 2011

These US made lead-free pewter Beret Skull Bead will fit a double strand of 550 para-cord and most accessory cords. They are great for DIY projects. To get yours, visit www.spartanbladesusa.com.