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We are excited to announce that Michael was honored as a Mastersmith by the American Bladesmith Society on June 4th, 2010. A very small number of masters are honored each year and it shows a tremendous accomplishment and many years of work! Each year, the B.R. Hughes Award is presented in recognition of the knife judged to be the best submitted for review by a new mastersmith. Michael Rader won the B.R. Hughes Award for his mastersmith presentation dagger. Michael was honored as a Journeyman Smith in June of 2006.

Michael Rader lives and works out of a small shop in the Washington State Cascade Foothills and has been a full time maker since 2002.

He trained in eight different martial arts styles throughout his life and continues to practice Tai Chi and Pentjak Silat daily. His blades are hand forged to shape using a 42 inch long barrel forge. The handles, scabbards, and display stands are hand sanded and oil finished in a process that takes nearly two weeks and provides a custom gunstock-quality finish.

Michael is a maker that is constantly experimenting. He continuously evaluates his knives for cutting dynamics and edge geometry -- evolving his designs and developing new techniques. His work incorporates influences from many styles, cultures, and histories, though he does not follow any traditional or historical styling. His sole interest is in making an original modern knife or sword and not a replica-of-a-copy-of-an-original.

Michael has spent years experimenting with heat treatment -- one of the secrets to any high performance knife. He continuously improves his heat treatment and regularly tests his blades, taking them to the limit. Each blade is tested to make sure that it will bend 45 degrees and return true. The edge is tempered so that it is hard enough to stay sharp but won't chip and can be easily sharpened. Intuitive, organic design has its place throught Michael's planning, but in the later phases of construction, he makes every attempt to create an intelligent sword or knife. He is a firm believer in the old adage, "Form follows function" and tries to adhere to that as much as possible even in his art knives.

Michael's woodworking skills are exceptional and a hallmark of his style. Swooping archs are perfectly combines into elegant and dramatic handles and sheath. Though many collectors first mention Michael's wood inlay designs when talking about his knives, Michael intends the sculpting and carving to be ergonomic first and beautiful second. The result is both a captivating knife and one that is so comfortable that you won't want to put it down.

Affiliations

  • ABS Mastersmith - June 2010
  • ABS Journeyman Smith - June 2006
  • North West Knife Collectors Association, vice president and newsletter editor
  • CKCA (Custom Knife Collector's Association) - 2010 - present
PREVIOUSLY SOLD ITEMS
(NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE)
Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (12")
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (12")
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (16")
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (16")
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Amboyna Burl Magnetic Knife Strip (18")
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Blood Red Skies
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Bowie with Mesquite Burl
Journeyman Smith Test Knife
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Box Elder and Koa Utility
Mastersmith Test Knife
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Camp Knife with Maple Burl and Box Elder Burl
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Carbon River Damascus Fighter
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Carbon River Dueling Bowie
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Carbon River Integral Utility with Maple and Amboyna
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Carbon River Utility with Amboyna and Maple
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Carbon River Utility with Curly Koa and Box Elder Burl
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Carbon River Utility with Koa and Box Elder
Mastersmith Test Knife
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Carbon River Utility with Spalted and Curly Maple
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Cavalry Bowie
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Chef's Knife (10 3/4") with Curly Koa and Maple
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Chef's Knife (7 1/2 in.) with Curly Koa and Box Elder Burl
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Chef's Knife (8 3/4 in.) with Curly Maple and Koa
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Chef's Knife (9 1/4") with Curly Maple
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Chef's Knife (9") with Maple Burl and Box Elder Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Nakiri - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Santoku - (170mm / 6-2/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Santoku with Maple (7 in)
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Chef's Knife with Bubinga and Box Elder Burl (8 1/2 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Curly Koa and Box Elder Burl (9-3/4 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Curly Koa and Walrus Ivory (9 3/4 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Curly Koa, Box Elder Burl and Curly Mango (9-3/4 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Curly Mango, Box Elder Burl and Curly Koa (10 1/2 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Curly Mango, Maple Burl and Box Elder (9.4 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Curly Maple and Maple Burl (9 3/4 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Mango Wood, Box Elder Burl and Curly Koa (11-1/4 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Maple (5 2/3)
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Chef's Knife with Maple (8-1/4 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Maple (9-1/2 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Maple and Amboyna Burl (6 1/2 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Spalted Maple and Box Elder Burl (10 in.)
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Chef's Knife with Sun Ray Maple (9-1/4 in)
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Cherry and Peruvian Walnut Bowl
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Competition Damascus Chopper
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Curly Maple Magnetic Knife Strip (16")
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Damascus Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (9-1/4 in) with Damascus and Pearwood
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Damascus Chef's Knife with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (10 3/4 in.)
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Damascus Chef's Knife with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (6 1/2 in.)
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Damascus Gents Bowie (Master Smith Test Knife)
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Damascus Hunter
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Damascus Katana with Maple and Koa
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Damascus Longsword
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Damascus Paring Knife (3") with Curly Maple and Lacewood
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Damascus Paring Knife (4-1/2") with Curly Koa and Box Elder
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Damascus Santoku (Chef's Knife) with Curly Koa and Box Elder (7 1/4 in.)
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Damascus Slicer
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Desert Flood
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Dha with Black Locust Burl
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Dha with Mahogany and Curly Maple
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Dha with Peruvian Walnut and Curly Maple
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Dha with Peruvian Walnut and Curly Maple
"Best Sword of Show" - Blade West 2007 - Portland, OR
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Double-Edged Short Sword
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Drop Point Hunter with Stabilized Mesquite Burl and Ebony
Journeyman Smith Test Knife
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Edge Arch with Maple and Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (12")
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Falling Leaves
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Fighting Claw with Maple
Journeyman Smith Test Knife
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Fruit Knife with Koa and Blackwood
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Handmade Paring Knife (3 1/2") with Koa and Box Elder Burl
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Handmade Paring Knife (3 3/4") with Koa and Box Elder Burl
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Handmade Paring Knife (3 7/8") with Maple Burl
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Insurrection by Michael Rader
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Integral Dagger with Peruvian Walnut and Maple Burls
Journeyman Smith Test Knife
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Integral Damascus Recurve Camp
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Integral Recurve Bowie with Redwood Burl
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Integral Santoku (6-3/4 in.) with Lacewood and Box Elder Burl
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Integral Slicer (7-1/2") with Oak Burl and Blackwood
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Ipe Fettle Bolo
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Katana with Spalted Curly Maple and Walnut
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Koa Twighlight Tanto
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Large Recurve Fighter with Maple Burl and Walnut
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Leaf Blade Short Sword
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Long Cavalry Bowie
Best of Show - Northwest Knife Collectors Show 2008
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Long Dagger with Redwood Burl
Journeyman Smith Test Knife
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Long Damascus Saber
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Maple Burl and Walnut Wharncliffe Bowie
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Maple Burl Wharncliffe Bowie
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Mini - Carbon River Utility
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Mini - Carbon River Utility
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No Quarter Dha
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Paring Knife (3 1/3") with Koa and Box Elder Burl
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Paring Knife (3 1/4") with Curly Maple and Koa
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Paring Knife (3 2/3") with Bubinga and Lacewood
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Paring Knife (3 2/3") with Koa and Blackwood
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Paring Knife (3 2/3") with Koa and Box Elder Burl
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Paring Knife Curly Koa and Box Elder
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Performance Knife with Ipe
Journeyman Smith Test Knife
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Peruvian Walnut and Brown Mesquite Katana
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Peruvian Walnut and Curly Maple Katana
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Peruvian Walnut and Flame Maple Katana
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Petit Santoku - Mustard finish with Bubinga and Koa (6 1/8")
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Presentation Stick Sword
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Puzzle Piece Magnetic Knife Strip (12")
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Puzzle Piece Magnetic Knife Strip (12")
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Puzzle Piece Magnetic Knife Strip (16")
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Rain-Mystic
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Recurve Fighter with Ironwood, African Blackwood and Maple Burl
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Red Malle Wood Magnetic Knife Strip (12")
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San Mai Damascus Paring Knife (3 in.) with Curly Koa and Ancient Walrus Ivory
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San Mai Damascus Tomahawk with Curly Maple and Koa
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San Mai Wharncliffe
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Santoku (8 1/2 in.) with Curly Koa and Box Elder
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Santoku with Bubinga and Box Elder Burl (7 1/4 in.)
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Santoku with Curly Koa and Blackwood
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Santoku with Curly Koa and Blackwood (7 in)
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Santoku with Curly Koa and Blackwood (7.9 in)
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Santoku with Curly Maple and Maple Burl
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Santoku with Curly Maple and Maple Burl (6 3/4 in.)
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Santoku with Koa and Box Elder Burl (7 1/4 in.)
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Santoku with Koa and Elder Burl
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Santoku with Koa and Maple
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Santoku with Maple and Koa (6 1/4 in)
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Santoku with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (7 2/3 in)
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Santoku with Maple Burl and Curly Maple (8 1/2 in.)
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Santoku with Sheoak Burl
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Santoku with Spalted Maple Burl and Curly Koa
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Sedition
Best Sword of Show -- Blade West 2006
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Slicing Knife (8") with Amboyna, Bubinga, and Box Elder Burl
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Slicing Knife with Curly Mango, Koa and Box Elder (13-1/2 in)
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Slicing Knife with Koa and Box Elder Burl (5 3/4 in.)
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Slicing Knife with Koa and Maple (5 1/3 in.)
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Staff Sword
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Staff Sword with Black Walnut
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Stretch Santoku with Curly Maple and Amboyna Burl
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Tactical with Black G10 and Tan Blade
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Tactical with Green G10 and Green Blade
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Tactical with Tan G10 and Black Blade
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Tactical with Tan G10 and Tan Blade
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Tribal Hamon Wakizashi
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Two-Handed Saber
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Utility - Slicer - (160mm / 6-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Utility - Slicer - (160mm / 6-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Utility - Slicer - (160mm / 6-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Vegetable Knife - Nakiri (7 3/4 in) with Curly Koa
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Vegetable Knife - Nakiri (7 3/4 in) with Curly Koa and Box Elder
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Wakizashi with Curly Maple
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (12")
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (16")
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (18")
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Walnut Magnetic Knife Strip (20")
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Wharncliffe Worker
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Wind on the Water
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Paring Knife (3-1/3 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Paring Knife (3-1/2 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Paring Knife (3-1/2 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Paring Knife (3-1/2 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Paring Knife (3-1/3 in.) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (135mm / 5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (135mm / 5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (135mm / 5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Utility Knife - Fruit - (5-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (210mm / 8-1/4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (10-1/3 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (10.4 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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Chef's Knife - Gyuto - (240mm / 9-1/2 in) with Stainless Damascus and Maple Burl
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