Wednesday, May 14, 2014

New home for this blog

We finally have a new website! After 9 years of the same format we were long overdue for a brand new look.

Check out the new website here!


In the process we moved to a Wordpress platform and integrated the blog into the website so we have everything in one place: info on what I make, pieces for sale, news, videos and show schedule.

Check out the new blog here!

I have moved some posts over but will keep everything else here for your viewing pleasure.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Visit to the Hogue plant

Back in March I made the trip to Paso Robles, CA for a visit to Hogue. I had not been in almost a year so it was way overdue. So much has changed since my last visit! They now have a pro shop and it is very well stocked; not only do they carry everything that Hogue manufactures but also items from friends in the industry like Kitanica, Dillon, Rudy Project, etc...
The knife department has grown exponentially with new machines, employees and processes. I found a twin brother at the plant, he was cleaning his station with a shop vac reminding me of myself.
They have a really cool paint booth in an enclosed metal container. One of the pics is of the double disc grinder but I forgot to take one of the blade grinder. There is one photo of little bins full of parts, that is one of 2 rows of them! 
It was a very productive visit and we got quite a bit accomplished. Stay tuned for more updates soon!














Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Photos of the new shop

The house we found has a detached 2 car garage with a room above that was perfect for the shop and office. Putting up a couple of walls allowed me to create a separate room for all the dirty, grit and dust kicking operations. The main room has my workbench, mills, lathe, jig-bore, lapping machine, heat-treating oven, toolboxes, etc.... and the dirty room has the band saw, buffer, bead-blasting cabinet, grinders and surface grinder. Valerie has set up her office and photo studio in the room above.

Here are some photos:










Thursday, April 24, 2014

Introducing my new line of Midtech knives

I have been wanting to do this series for many years but never had enough time to pursue it. This series of midtechs will be called the Jack after the Recon Jack of all Trades. All of midetchs are designed by me, parts are CNC machined, I will then examine, do the final fit and finish on each knife. The theme of the Jack series is down to earth tactical and defensive edge tools. I will be using the best materials for this series.


The first one being introduced is a knife that I designed about 25 years ago when I was in 4th Recon. During that time I experimented with a variety of knives that I made and settled in on this design. It is a 6.25" 1/4" thick CPM-M4 with Cerakote blade.


A 3 piece G-10 handle, the middle being red which represents the USMC blood stripe. Textured G-10, 3D contoured for a comfortable and positive grip. The sheath is the Hogue Elishewitz sheath, IMO one of the best nylon sheath on the market and MOLLE compatible. The handle has 4 hidden 1/4" hardened pins and structural adhesive as fasteners; with this construction the user does not come in contact with the blade if it touches a hot wire.


 
All the Jack series knives will have the "Jack Of All Trades" logo on the blade to differentiate from my custom knives.


There are lots of hidden meanings behind this design and there isn't one official JOAT. Most of the Jacks being used are very similar to this one: Here is a complete description I found on a Facebook page called USMC Recon Jack:
"the Recon Jack represents Recon Marines being the "jack of all trades." the gold wings, weather half or full wing span, stand for Recon Marines jump capability (to include static line, HALO and HAHO). The diver or "frogman" represents the combat dive capability, this is also sometimes represented by the diver rebreather worn by the skull (this image is most commonly seen in the Force Recon Jack). To represent the history of Recon Marines using small rubber boats AKA CRRC or Zodiac, the wooden paddle used. The paddle today hold a very special mean among Recon Marines, to be given one is a high honor. the Ka-bar Fighting knife again represents the history of Recon Marines being Swift, Silent and Deadly killers, using close and quite means to take out their enemy. the skull or "Roger's Skull" taken from the image of pirate flags, has on its forehead 3 bullet holes and a crack, each with its own meaning. The bullet holes stand for "Pain, Suffering and Agony." The crack in the skull stands for "Perseverance," because not even a cracked skull can stop a Recon Marine from completing his mission. In some Recon Jack images you may see on the top of the skull a torch, flame and wing, this is the logo of the Path Finder, a skill that is not what you may think, its the skill to be able to find and mark landing areas for para Ops, not a common image among most jacks but still one that is out there. On to the Path Finder torch is a single wing, that of the Greek messenger God Hermes, who wore the wings on his shoes to give him speed. It is simply part for the Path Finder badge but I see it as this; a Recon Marines main Mission is to deliver information back to the commander faster and more accurate than any other means, so you can see why the connection to Hermes is appropriate."

I believe that the meaning behind the Jack plays true to all the tactical guys that need to cross train in many discipline in order to be complete in today's society. I hope you enjoy the series!

This first series is now available in limited quantities in tan, green and black. The price is $450 including Priority Mail shipping in the USA (Additional cost applies to overseas shipping). 

Contact me by email if you are interested in one of the midtechs: allen@elishewitzknives.com


 

Friday, April 18, 2014

Update and new contact info!

The last few months have been a blur between getting ready for the ECCKS, a working trip to Hogue's facility in California and moving the shop to Tennessee. The final trip was rough but we made it and are getting close to being settled in. I'll post some pics soon but first here are the new contact info:

Mailing/shipping address:
875 HWY 321 N
Suite 600 #212
Lenoir City, TN 37771

Phone: 865-816-3309


Monday, February 10, 2014

What is on the bench Monday?

I am finishing up a series of Saboteurs in various configurations. I have been playing with textures and patinas lately and really enjoying the results. I hope you like them too!


Thursday, February 6, 2014

These Spathas are done

A small run of full size Spathas are completed. I am going to set a few aside for the show and post the rest for sale as soon as I finish the next series of knives (probably early next week). Here are some quick pics:




Monday, January 27, 2014

What is on the bench Monday?

After a few days off to recover from the Vegas trip, I got back to work since my next deadline is the ECCKS. The show is end of February so I have time to make several series of knives before then.

I have been making a lot of Minis in the later part of 2013 so I thought I would start by making a series of full size knives.


The East Coast Custom Knife Show will be held February 28th, March 1st and 2nd at the Westin Jersey City Newport. Check out the website for more info.





Saturday, January 25, 2014

Shot Show report - Part 2

Here are more photos taken at the Hogue booth:








Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Shot Show report

We spent a good part of last week in Las Vegas at the Shot Show and then at the Tactical Knife Invitational Saturday night. While the Shot Show is as humongous as always, we really spent most of our time hanging out at the Hogue booth. The whole line up was present including the new EX-F02 fixed blades and EX-F03 neck knives. They even had some of my custom axes on display and these received a lot of attention from customers as well. Here are some photos:









Sunday, January 19, 2014

TKI Preview - Mini Tank Mokuti and Ivory

Lastly I made another Mini Tank for the show. This one has a Damasteel blade, Mokuti bolsters and bark ivory scales. The integral skull crusher/spacer and the clip are made of Mokuti as well.











Saturday, January 18, 2014

TKI Preview - Damascus Battle Axes

I also made a couple of Damascus axes; one with cocobolo handle and one with ironwood handle. They both have really neat Paul Long leather sheaths.