It is the middle of the month and time for me to share this month’s Knife News column from the October print issue. As always, we have covered some of these items in these digital pages, but print is always limited, so the 4 items are worthy of literal ink. At least in our opinion.
CRKT Unveils the Fixed Blade Altai in Time for Hunting Season
Columbia River Knife and Tool’s latest collaboration is with Rob Gearing of Spartan Precision Equipment. Spartan is one of the leading manufacturers of stability shooting platforms, and the new CRKT Altai is named for one of Rob’s hunting experiences in Mongolia’s Altai Mountains. Rob’s influence can be seen in the highly functional texturing of the glass-reinforced nylon handle scales or the signature Spartan head pins.
The new CRKT Altai is a fixed blade skinning knife with a 3.53” flat ground blade. The 14c28N blade steel is easily touched up with the included ceramic hone. There is also a matching ferro rod, both of which store in the sheath and can be pulled from the sheath with the included reflective orange paracord loops. The sheath is high visibility blaze orange, matched by the ceramic coating on the Altai’s blade. Overall length is 8”, and it weighs in at a trim 3.6 ounces.
Jimping on the finger choil, spine, and rear handle improves grip and tactile feedback. A ringed pommel enables a secure draw even with gloves, and a lanyard hole at the end accepts a fob or additional retention method.
MSRP for the CRKT Altai is $85, and it can be found online at CRKT.com or myriad online and physical storefronts.
Sniper Bladeworks Partners with Mossy Oak for “Into the Field” Collection
Sniper Bladeworks was founded in 2009 by former SWAT sniper and tactical team leader Lance Abernathy in his North Kansas City garage. He became known for his aggressive, overbuilt designs and its signature ergonomic “pistol grip” handle.
In 2020 he teamed up with Adam Pener, a national security expert turned entrepreneur, to relaunch the brand with precision-manufactured versions of five of Lance’s iconic designs. Since that time, the brand has made a strict no-Chinese-made-components policy, sourcing their steel from the USA and Japan.
Sniper has announced a new partnership with Mossy Oak, Haas Outdoors’ iconic camouflage brand and one of the most recognized names in the hunting and outdoor lifestyle spaces, for a limited collection called “Into the Field.”
The collection dresses three of Sniper’s flagship models in Mossy Oak’s heritage Original Bottomland pattern: the everyday workhorse Skinner, the MAMU, a mid-size folder that helped define the brand’s pistol-grip handle, and the TOG, which is a full-size and overbuilt fixed blade. A matched-serial set of all three is also offered for collectors.
The initial run is being crowdfunded through Kickstarter, with backers receiving knives individually signed and numbered by Abernathy, and featuring an exclusive mark that will not appear on retail versions. The campaign launches September 7, 2026, with delivery targeted by May 31, 2027.
Find out more about Sniper Bladeworks at sniperbladeworks.com. Visit mossyoak.com for more information on Mossy Oak and all of their premium camouflage gear.
Case Expands in Tennessee; Zippo Names Grant Duke CEO
W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. announced plans to open a satellite finishing and packaging facility near Knoxville, Tennessee (Alcoa), to support growing demand for Case products. The new operation will handle select finishing and packaging work while Bradford, Pennsylvania, remains the heart of manufacturing operations.
“This added resource will perform select finishing and packaging operations, expanding Case’s operational capacity to support the company’s unprecedented growth,” company officials said. Tim Van Horn, vice president of operations, added that the Knoxville-area facility “will provide the critical capacity we need, and with a workforce who share a strong affinity for the Case brand.”
Officials said the site complements Bradford rather than replacing it, allowing Case to serve more customers nationwide while maintaining quality standards. The facility is expected to be operational later this year, with further details and hiring announcements to follow.
In related company news, Zippo Manufacturing Company, which has owned Case since 1993, has named Grant B. Duke President and CEO following Board of Directors approval. Duke, a co-owner of Zippo and Case and a fourth-generation member of the founding Blaisdell family, succeeds Mark Paup, who stepped down in late July. George B. Duke remains Chairman of the Board.
Knife Community Mourns the Loss of Michael W. Silvey
Military knife authority and custom knifemaker Mike Silvey died on July 23, at the age of 84.
Mike was a longtime contributor to Knife World and KNIFE Magazine, writing many articles about military knives for us and also publishing a number of books that have become the standard references in the field: U.S. Military Knives, 1941-1991, Knives of the U.S. Military in Vietnam, Knives of the U.S. Military – World War II, SOG Knife Collector, SOG Knives and More from America’s War in Southeast Asia, Pocket Knives of the United States Military, The Complete Book of U.S. Military Pocket Knives, U.S. Military Knives, Collectors Guide (with Gary Boyd), and three editions of U.S. Military Knives Price Guide (with Boyd, Houston Price, and Frank Trzaska). Most of his Knife World articles were collected in Military Knives: A Reference Book. At the time of his death, he had recently published A Celebration of Marble’s Early Knives, which we currently have in stock as well as his most recent books on SOG and military pocket knives; the others are all out of print and some have become collectibles in their own right.
In addition to his expertise with military knives Mike was also an accomplished knifemaker, as documented in KNIFE Magazine’s September 2022 cover story. He is known to have made about 1300 knives in total including knives of his own design as well as those inspired by his favorite knife makers.
Mike loved his time in the workshop, he loved learning about interesting old knives, and he loved his time interacting with others at his weekly breakfast meetings and at events like the Oregon Knife Show. His kindness and enthusiasm will be greatly missed by the many friends he made in the knife community.
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