Spec-Tacticals: Custom Knifemaker Allen Elishewitz's Spectacular Tacticals Offer Practical Design and Innovative Construction

American Handgunner, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Pat Covert

It's not often that we do an encore performance for a custom tactical knifemaker here in American Handgunner. With only one story per issue and six issues a year to cover the many fantastic knifemakers out there, it's nearly impossible to cover the same bladesmith twice without overlooking someone else just as deserving. But when a knifemaker just keeps creating tidal waves in the industry, it's impossible to ignore the artisan and his works. Allen Elishewitz is just such a knifemaker.

When we first featured Allen three years ago (Nov/Dec '98), he had only been making custom knives for five years yet had risen to "top 10" status in the tactical folder arena. Three years and hundreds of handmade knives later, Allen is still churning out some of the most impressive folders in the tactical world and, in the minds of many, has risen to the top of the perch.

Of course, the history of the tactical folder is being revised everyday. But make no mistake, there'll be a chapter named "Elishewitz" when the volume is completed.

Allen's company, Elishewitz Knives, has been in constant evolution over the past three years. Always looking for a better design, the knifemaker has released newer, more progressive models each year, and his tactical folders continue to be among the most desired by both users and collectors alike. He has continued to collaborate with some of the nation's top companies to produce factory tacticals for the masses.

And more recently, Elishewitz--along with his wife and business manager Valerie-- has relocated his own knifemaking facility to a more modern and spacious one in New Braunfels, Texas.

One of the key reasons for Allen's success is his relentless pursuit of designing and building better knives. In the custom-knife world, a successful maker can float a successful design out into the market for several years without having to tinker with the design. Indeed, there are knifemakers who have made a living off of one basic pattern for a decade or even longer.

Allen has had so many successful designs over the past five years that he could have easily picked one and chosen to bake bread on the design front. Allen's designs are constantly evolving with fresh models incorporating new improvements and twists geared toward making his knives still better.

During each evolution, Allen tags each of his new models with a name. His newest line is the Ruler Series, which includes the Emperor, Pharaoh, Czar, Kaiser, Kahn and King models. Each is distinctly different, although a given asset of one may carry over into another. At first blush, dropping a successful model or two from your line may appear risky-- but in Allen's case, his knives seem only to get more popular and collectible.

One of the new features the knifemaker has recently incorporated into his folders is a rectangular shaped, stepped thumb stud that requires much more machine work than the common semi-sperical type. The new thumb stud is attractive without a doubt, but more importantly it is effective.

Whereas the thumb has a tendency to rise over a domed stud, which can cause slippage, the steps in Allen's new design tend to catch the side of the thumb and hang on until the blade is fully engaged. It's a small thing, but it could be of monumental import in a defense situation that required speed of delivery.

Experimental Blades

Elishewitz also likes to experiment with blade designs, often melding two basic styles to achieve a whole new look. Admittedly, some of the added features to the blades of his upscale models, such as the jagged wave pattern on the back of his Pharaoh and Czar models, are more for looks, but they do set his knives apart in a swollen sea of lookalike tactical folders.

A former Recon Marine and expert in several areas of martial arts, Allen knows his knives must be effectual first and pleasing to the eye second. Allen's knives in their basic form are pure fighting machines. Dressed up, they are works of art with the heart of a beast!

Looks can be deceptive. Allen's may have graceful lines and loads of eye-appeal, but they're built like a Mack truck. The maker uses thick titanium for his frames and liners. Blades are made from .125" steel, a characteristic more often found on brawny fixed blade knives than folders.

The two main blade steels the knifemaker uses are 154CM on his basic models and stainless steel Damascus on fancier fare. According to Allen, 154CM stainless steel is similar to Japanese-made ATS-34 with virtually the same durability and corrosion resistance, but is a "cleaner" steel with the further advantage of being manufactured in the United States.

All of Allen's current models utilize the proven Michael Walker designed liner lock system to secure the blade in position once fully engaged. He doesn't scrimp on the liners, using 1/16" titanium for both strength and weight reduction. Bolsters are also of titanium, and he often uses colorful anodizing to spice up their appearance.

Blades roll out on a beefy pivot pin machined to tolerances of 0.0001" and Teflon washers assure a smooth action. The blade snicks into place with all the precision found in a Swiss watch-- and bank vault. When Elishewitz builds it, failure is not an option.