WATC H NEW IN 2015 KNIFE IVORY PRIMER: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE THE KNIFEMAKERS WHO WILL BE HOT SMALL AXES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD. HOW SHARP IS 80CrV2 STEEL?

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1 FnL1 JUYrVyBQdWJsaWNhdGlvbnMsIEluYyAo SW9sYSBkaXZpc2lvbikPR3JlZ29yeSBL cnvlz2vyafkow8qemtaunai4maexbvvq Qy1BDDA3NDQ3MDUwMjUxNwA= NEW IN 2015 THE KNIFEMAKERS WHO WILL BE HOT MARCH THE MONGOOSE BY DANIEL GALLOWAY AND LEE WILLIAMS ONE ONE TO WATC H SMALL AXES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD HOW SHARP IS 80CrV2 STEEL? OLD SCHOOL POCKETKNIVES REBORN BOWIE OF LIVER-EATING JOHNSON US $5.95 KNIFE IVORY PRIMER: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE THE BIG FLIPPERS Display until January 26,

2 FACTORY FOCUS BY STEPHEN GARGER ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF POHL FORCE KNIVES POHL FORCE KNIVES knife has a story somehow, said Phil Cookson of Every Pohl Force USA, the stateside version of Dietmar Pohl s Pohl Force Knives based in Burscheid, Germany. For example, Dietmar has a lot of contacts in the German Kampfschwimmer Naval Commandos [German Navy SEALS] and goes up to Northern Germany, where he spends time talking, listening and diving with them. He drew a lot of the characteristics for his Romeo Two design from those experiences. In addition to underwater operations, the titanium-blade Romeo Two can also serve as a pilot survival knife and for battlefield clearance personnel, where titanium s anti-magnetic properties make 86 BLADE MARCH 2015 it the right knife for explosive ordnance disposal. Dietmar s a very good listener and not only listens, but tries to somehow create and turn ideas into a practical knife, Cookson said. Quite a few of the designs are from his experiences with operators and knife users. Pohl s initial interest in military and tactical knives can be traced to the work of the late BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame member, Jimmy Lile. Pohl cited Lile as his lifelong inspiration as a result of the Rambo movies First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II and the Lile survival knives Sylvester Stallone used as John Rambo in those films. I have worked in the knife industry Dietmar Pohl, founder of Pohl Force Knives, holds the Quebec Outdoor One fixed blade. The knife is the company s modern interpretation of a model originally developed for the U.S. Marines in the early 1950s. Though the knife was never officially introduced, Special Forces units reportedly used the original during the Vietnam War. The Quebec (top) features a 7.59-inch blade of Sleipner stainless and a G-10 handle.

3 The Mike 1 outdoor version is the most popular model in Pohl s EOD line. MSRP: $360. Blade steel comes in a choice of D2 or Niolox and the handle is 3D-CNC milled. Blade length: 3.74 inches. 20 years now, 14 as a designer, marketing manager and product manager for two Solingen-based companies, Pohl said. I designed more than 100 knives that went into serial production during those years. He is also known internationally for his books on combat and tactical knives. In 2008 he founded Pohl Force in Germany. Pohl Force USA was launched at the 2012 BLADE Show. Even though Gil Hibben and Daniel Winkler taught me how to grind and forge a knife, I am not a knifemaker, Pohl noted. I am a designer. POHL FORCE USA attn: P. Cookson and/or S. Ehinger Dept. BL3 Belleair, FL SPECIALTIES: Folders and fixed blades in a range of both higher- and lower-end tactical and outdoor styles MSRP RANGE: $195-$516 BLADE MATERIALS: D2 tool steel, Niolox and 440C stainless, and titanium BLADE FINISHES: Bead blast, stonewashed, powder epoxy, PVD and PTFE coatings HANDLE MATERIALS: GRP, G-10, 6A14V titanium, canvas Micarta ACCESSORIES: Those reflecting a concept systems approach, including knifespecific Kydex, nylon and leather sheaths, shoulder harnesses, leg adapters, Cordura holsters for MOLLE vests and more in MSRPs from $9.99 to $125; also knife collector pouches Lion Steel, winner of the BLADE Magazine 2014 Manufacturing Quality Award, makes the knives in Pohl s higher-end EOD line. Dietmar Pohl (left) visits with Gino Pauletta (right), Lion Steel founder, at the 2014 BLADE Show. I queried him about the knives manufacture and quality control. Because the price was an important point, we produce the Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Lima and Romeo designs in Taiwan, but each knife comes here to Germany and goes through our very strict quality control, Pohl explained. In 2012 we teamed up with the Maniago, Italy, based company, Lion Steel, whose knives are state-of-the-art and who received the BLADE Magazine 2014 Manufacturing Quality Award, which says everything. Pohl Force has two product lines: the Italian-made EOD (Euro Ops Division) higher-end knives and the lower-pricepoint models produced in Taiwan. It comes down to quality control. Every knife, no matter where it s manufactured, is examined by Dietmar personally before it goes out, Cookson stressed. I was taken aback by Cookson s claim and sought clarification that Pohl looks at every knife. Dietmar told me he does. Ap- MARCH 2015 blademag.com 87

4 FACTORY FOCUS In addition to underwater operations, the titanium-blade Romeo Two also serves as a pilot survival knife and for explosive ordnance disposal. Other features include a GRP handle and PVD blade coating. Overall length: 9.84 inches. The Kydex sheath includes a MOLLE nylon adapter. MSRP: $340. parently, the process is working. I can count on one hand the amount of returns I ve had, Pohl stated proudly. The people who use our knives are my customers and there s a very personal thing going on where they can call me anytime. Every Pohl Force knife, regardless of product line, is serialized, recorded and comes with a signed certificate. As for some of the knives distinctive features, Pohl pinpointed the Alpha. It was the first design for Pohl Force and the knife is so big because no operator in the world goes without gloves into combat, he began. I also use slot screws for the handle because, although Torx screws look more sexy and technical, they re not practical if you want to maintain your knife in the desert. Both Pohl and Cookson emphasized that Pohl Force also designs and provides accessories reflecting, as Cookson noted, that Pohl likes to think in concept systems. For example, tactical accessories include knife-specific Kydex sheaths, shoulder harness systems and Cordura holsters for MOLLE vests. Blade steel depends on the product line. Along with the aforementioned titanium, 440C stainless is standard for the Alphas, with D2 and Niolox used in the EOD offerings. Niolox is something Lion Steel The Alpha Two (top) and Bravo One frontlock folders feature blades of bead-blasted 440C stainless and GRP handles. Respective inch blade lengths and MSRPs are 4.44 and 3.26 and $240 and $195. Inset at the 2014 BLADE Show is Dietmar Pohl with ABS master smith Daniel Winkler, the latter whom helped teach Dietmar how to forge knives. 88 BLADE MARCH 2015

5 uses extensively and they have a lot of experience with a tool-grade stainless with a Rockwell of HRC and excellent anti-corrosion, Cookson explained. We find it applies to military and law enforcement people who often work in highmoisture environments and do not want to be constantly maintaining their tools. The Taiwan-manufactured knives come with a GRP (glass-fiber-reinforced plastic) handle, while the EODs are available in G-10 and canvas Micarta. The manufacturer s suggested retail price for the EOD line s most popular model, the Mike 1 outdoor version with a polished blade, is $360. The survival version with a Niolox blade and PVD coating is $390. As for the future of Pohl Knives, Dietmar stressed there are no plans to work toward radical growth. We want to be recognized as the small company with specialized products, like Chris Reeve Knives, he noted. Chris belongs to the very small group of people in the knife industry that I highly admire, and Daniel Winkler also belongs to this group. Cookson outlined the company s philosophy. We don t flood the market with new designs, we tend to take models out and introduce them so the customer isn t overwhelmed, he said. Our dealers are Blade HQ, KnifeCenter and White Mountain Knives, along with us directly, and the pricing is consistent so you can go to the dealer you like. Pohl Force USA recognizes the uphill battle in establishing itself in America. The knife community is quite critical and you have to earn respect, Cookson concluded. You have to convince everyone that you are a credible, serious company that produces quality knives. They ve got the knives. With that kind of game plan, Pohl Force Knives and Pohl Force USA have their goal well within sight. To read all about the latest knives, knife news, forums, blogs and much more, see blademag.com. Pohl Force offers accessories reflecting a concept systems approach, including knife-specific Kydex, nylon and leather sheaths, shoulder harnesses, Cordura holsters for MOLLE vests and more. MARCH 2015 blademag.com 89