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Blade Magazine March 2026

The latest Blade Magazine highlights the Magical Decades of the 80’s & 90’s when Custom Knives came of age. Many of the knife patterns and styles that were to become iconic were developed or refined. Several founding members of the knife maker organizations were in their prime. On pages 48-53, Les recalls the knives & knife makers that made collecting great back then.

Custom knives from the 1980’s-1990’s have become especially collectable, not just because of nostalgia.  To understand why, a trip down memory lane is in order, click to read the entire article online.

Knife makers like Schuyler Lovestrand, Rod Chappel, Jack Busfield, WC Davis, Willie Rigney & Corbet Sigman are featured in the article with photos taken and provided by Robertson’s Custom Cutlery. These craftsmen took pride in their work & were personally involved with every aspect of making the knife that came out of their shop. The knives made in this era encompassed a unique intersection of custom knife history, innovation, craftsmanship and scarcity.

A shout out to the Knifemaker’s Guild (est. 1970) & the American Bladesmith Society who are celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year.

If you were fortunate enough to be collecting custom knives in those Magical Decades and have some you might wish to sell or consign, please contact Les to discuss. customknives@comcast.net | 706.650-0252. We are always looking for quality, custom knives and will work with you to get a fair price.

Tactical Knives: A Very Short History
by Custom Knife Field Editor, Les Robertson
BLADE MAGAZINE  FEB ISSUE 2024  PAGES 36-41

Les wrote this article and Blade Magazine choose to feature the Gosciniak Harbinger on the cover. Les & Piotr collaborated on the knife design specs offered exclusively from Robertson’s Custom Cutlery. We just received the knife from Poland and know you’ll be pleased with the outcome. In the same wooden box came some of your other favorites… The Tracker, Breaker & Caymans- both OD green & black handle.  You may preorder the Stealth Dagger I & II which are coming in late March.  RCC YouTube Video on Gosciniak’s latest models. Stealth to Skinner

Gosciniak Tactical Harbinger

Gosciniak Tracker

Gosciniak Cayman OD

Gosciniak Breaker

Gosciniak Cayman Black

Recently, Les was interviewed for an upcoming article in Blade magazine on what knives or market sectors would be hot in 2024.  His response was, “Tactical fixed blades will be hot in 2024.  They offer so much variety in materials, design(s), and carry configurations.  This style of knife will always pique the custom knife buyer’s interest and they come in at an affordable price.”

Piotr Gosciniak’s version of this classic dagger features a slightly shorter blade with a fuller down the center. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a blood groove. Instead, the purpose of the fuller is to lighten and stiffen the blade without sacrificing blade length. At the same time, it can help the maker achieve a better balance for the knife. Piotr’s Stealth Dagger features a 6.3” blade, while the Stealth Dagger II features a 5” blade. Both feature 80CrV2 steel with black Cerakote. The black G-10 handle is laser-cut to give the knife a better gripping surface. For additional control, this knife has a scalloped guard.  RCC YouTube Video on Gosciniak’s latest models. Stealth to Skinner

Gosciniak Stealth Dagger

Gosciniak Stealth Dagger II

Don’t miss the latest Blade Magazine article March 2020, “FORGED SUB-HILTS FLOURISH”  by Les Robertson

The article, starting on page 12 through page 18, discusses the pros and cons of building one of the most challenging fixed blades; the SUB-HILT-FIGHTER.
Some featured world-class knife makers in the article: Bob Loveless, David Lisch; along with expert input on making a sub-hilt from David Broadwell, Samuel Lurquin, Steve Randall and Josh Fisher.

HERE ARE A FEW SUB-HILTS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN STOCK BELOW: (click on the photos to link to the specs.)
TIM HANCOCK DAMASCUS FORGED SUB-HILT FIGHTER

SCHUYLER LOVESTRAND JR. BEAR SUB-HILT FIGHTER

JIM SISKA M-16 SUB-HILT FIGHTER

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Robertson’s Custom Cutlery is your source for custom knives from today’s leading custom knife makers. We only feature the highest quality knives at value prices. Our custom fixed and folding knife selection includes tactical fixed and folding knives, presentation fixed and folding knives, bowies, hunters and skinners, and a large selection of forged blades. Les Robertson, author and owner of Robertson’s Custom Cutlery, is also a Field Editor for Blade Magazine and an instructor at Blade University. If you have questions about the content in this article or about any knife or maker on our website, you can contact Les directly at customknives@comcast.net or (706) 650-0252.