John Fitch Knives

4½ inch carbon blade $US 650 IN STOCK Please Call to Order: 1-877-329-4440

4½ inch Damascus blade $US 900 SOLD OUT Please Call to Order: 1-877-329-4440

These knives are hand forged by John Fitch exclusively for the Russian Hunting Agency. John has been making knives for several years. He became an apprentice under the Master Bladesmith David Anders. Later, John attended a class at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Old Washington, Arkansas. He continues to learn from the masters, especially from the legendary Jerry Fisk. John is a member of the American Bladesmith Society, and the Arkansas Knifemakers Association. He holds the Journeyman rating with the ABS.

The carbon steel knife is forged to shape from a stock of 5160 carbon steel. After the blade is forged at 1800 F° and hardened at 1400 F°, it is tempered at 400 F° for one hour. This gives he blade a Rockwell hardness of 56 to 58, which makes it not only strong and flexible, but easy to sharpen as well. It has excellent toughness, good flexibility and shock resistance. The key feature of the knife is an integral bolster. This makes the knife much more durable and eliminates the danger of it rusting in the most vulnerable spot between the blade and the guard. Making an integral bolster is a time consuming process, thus not many knife makers bother to make knives this way. Each blade has a Russian Hunting Agency logo etched on it.

The sheath is hand made by Dave Smith, one of the premier sheath makers in the country. The sheath also carries a unique feature, the belt loop is not stitched, but rather wedged into the cut at the back of the sheath, thus eliminating a possibility of the belt loop coming loose. The handle is stabilized curly maple, walnut, or ironwood.

In 1999 and in 2002, John’s knives won a “sharpest knife contest” in the ABS open competition. This knife is a tough, sharp comfortable, and a practical cutting tool.

The Damascus knife (right picture) with ebony handle and shark skin sheath is also available.

S/H is $US 10.00

Read the article “Kings of Blade Swing”, about John’s knives, from Blade Magazine.