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Headin' Outdoors
Local knifemaker wins awards
The Big Rock Camp Knife, top, and the Air Ranger knife (below) are two of the best all purpose knifes.
I`ve field-tested quite a few knives over the years and oftentimes wondered who designs them. The two latest knives I've tried out are from Gerber Legendary Blades, but were designed by Creswell resident Bill Harsey.
"Knifemaking started for me around 1979 to 1980, and has been full time since 1982," said Harsey. "This never really was a hobby, but more of an undertaking."
Harsey came up with the design of these specific knives a few years ago. His goal with Gerber is to design a working field knife with good materials and function that is priced reasonably to be available to a large number of people.
The Big Rock Camp knife may now be my favorite hunting knife, and according to Harsey, this fixed blade knife can do a wide range of outdoor jobs. He designed the handle with raised ribs for better control of the knife. This way the user knows where the edge is without having to look at the blade. This is a critical theme in the military knives that he designs and makes, he said.
He designed the Air Ranger folding knife with a handle made from anodized aircraft aluminum that has a machined surface checkering to provide a sure grip. The blade can be opened and closed with one hand but is not an auto opener, just easy to use.
Harsey said the metallurgical component of working with new steels is interesting to him. He feels lucky to have contact with accomplished people working in this field.
"The other part I look forward to is the result," he said. "Everything else is a disciplined craft, with little relaxation while doing the project. Probably the best part is occasionally using my own work in the field."
Although he couldn't give an exact number, he said he's designed dozens of knives. He modestly says that there are a few design patents on the market with his name on them and fortunately a few successful projects.
That's putting it mildly. He has won awards from the Annual International Blade Show including: 1996 "Best American Made Knife Award" for the Applegate Fairbairn Combat Folder with Gerber; 2003 "Collaboration of the Year Award" for the U.S. Army Special Forces Knife with Chris Reeve Knives; 2007 "Best American Made Knife Award" for his 1st Special Forces Group Airborne "Pacific" Knife; and for this year he was recently awarded the 2010 "Collaboration of the Year Award" for the Harsey-Spartan tactical fixed blade knife.
Harsey is especially proud of this latest award. He worked with two guys who formed Spartan Blades, and together they came up with the Harsey-Spartan knife. He said these men have 40 years of military experience as Special Forces soldiers. The knife collaboration involved Harsey's design and blade grinding while Spartan Blades did the rest of the work.
"We didn't expect to win because the competition was tough," Harsey explained. "It's a big honor for us to be named at the Atlanta show."
From Field and Stream Magazine he won the 2004 "Best of the Best Award" for his Lone Wolf Harsey T-1 Folder and in 2008 he won the "Best of the Best Award" for the Pacific knife that was designed and prototyped by him and produced by Chris Reeve Knives. Harsey has also won the knifemaking competition at the long running Oregon Knife Show numerous times. Now he's one of the judges.
The Air Ranger and the Big Rock Camp knives are manufactured by Gerber and available in many stores. He works with Chris Reeve Knives in Boise, Idaho, for all the knife work for the U.S. Army Special Forces. He also works with Boker Knives in Germany, Lone Wolf Knives in Portland and has designed knives for Beretta Arms and Fantoni Knives in Maniago, Italy.
According to Harsey, the knife and tool industry in Oregon is bigger than most people might think. Some examples include Gerber Blades, Leatherman, Kershaw, Coast Cutlery, Lone Wolf, Al Mar Knives, Benchmade, Columbia River Knife and Tool, and William Henry Knives. He said there are also many good individual knifemakers in the state.
The next time you buy a good hunting knife, there's a good chance it could have been made locally.
Two Gerber knives for hunters and knife lovers:
Big Rock Camp Knife
Although the Big Rock Camp Knife is an excellent hunting knife, this full-tang fixed blade is an excellent all-purpose camping knife as well. The ergonomically-shaped, glass-filled nylon handle has a soft grip for maximum comfort and control.
Other features include a protective finger guard, lanyard hole compatible with 550 cord and a nylon sheath with protective insert. The Big Rock Camp Knife retails for $48.30.
Air Ranger
The Air Ranger is probably the best clip folding knife I own. It has a surgical stainless steel blade for added strength and corrosion resistance. The textured anodized aluminum handle provides a sure grip in all conditions. Dual thumb-studs make for easy right- or left-hand opening. Even though the knife is lightweight, it has a strong locking mechanism.
The knife is smooth to deploy and use, yet as tough as any knife in its category. The stainless steel pocket clip is strong and reliable. Choose from four colors.
The knife retails for $72. To order either of these Gerber Legendary Blades call 800-950-6161 or go to www.gerbergear.com.