80Crv2 - Fighter

This fighter-style knife was created as a personal project and an addition to my own collection. While many of my knives are built for customers, gifts, or specific purposes, this build gave me the freedom to focus entirely on the design elements and materials that interested me most. It served as both a portfolio piece and an opportunity to continue refining techniques that had become increasingly important in my work.

One of the highlights of the build was the use of a piece of Timascus that had been sitting in my materials collection for years. Rather than saving it indefinitely for some future project, I finally decided this was the knife worthy of using it. The Timascus spacer added a unique visual element to the knife, creating a striking transition between the blade and handle while showcasing the distinctive colors and patterns that make the material so sought after.

The build also featured a hand-shaped mild steel guard, requiring careful fitting and alignment to ensure clean transitions throughout the knife. Much of the work focused on refining the fit between the blade, guard, spacer, and handle so that the finished knife would appear seamless and intentional. As with many of my projects during this period, I continued experimenting with handle shaping and ergonomics, gradually developing the design language that would influence many of my future knives.

The finished knife combines classic fighter-inspired lines with premium materials and modern craftsmanship. More than anything, it represents the enjoyment of building something simply because I wanted to. Free from the constraints of a commission or specific customer requirements, it allowed me to create a knife that reflected my own tastes and interests while continuing to push my skills forward as a maker.