Canadian cutters: knifemaker Kirby Lambert sends down some sweet slicers

It's always personally rewarding to feature a talented up-and-coming custom knifemaker with a great sense of design and craftsmanship, if for no other reason than to reward them for their hard work. It's particularly satisfying to write about a Canadian knifemaker on occasion--if for no other reason than to remind us that not all citizens of that oft-considered big blue state to our north are a bunch of candy-pants on the wrong side of personal protection issues. Such is deserving knifemaker Kirby Lambert.

Kirby follows two other Canadian heavyweights we've featured in these pages: Greg Lightfoot and Brian Tighe. These two artisans, along with another gifted Canadian knifemaker, Brian Lyttle, have had a big impact on Lambert's pursuit of becoming an accomplished maker of edged weaponry. At only 29 years of age, Kirby has not only met the challenge but does it full-time to boot, something many a custom knifemaker never achieves in his whole career.

Kirby originally thought he was going to attend college and obtain a degree in fine art and education. Problem was, on field trips to museums he spent his time admiring the swords and weaponry while his fellow students were palpitating over Picassos. He was saved the further expense of his degree when knifemaker Brian Lyttle took him under his wing, teaching him such fine arts as Damascus steel, grinding blades and proper fit and finish.

Today, Kirby lives in Regina, Saskatchewan. making some of the sweetest tactical slicers on the market. Looking over the knifemaker's body of work, it's hard to believe he hasn't even cracked the thirty-year mark in life. Not only can he build tactical folders with the best of them, Lambert has mastered the art of Japanese knife and sword making--from forging and heat treating his blades in the traditional way to casting and carving his fittings and scabbards. To put this in perspective, there are some knifemakers out there who make Japanese knifemaking their sole pursuit. To Lambert, it's just another set of incredible skills he packed into a very short career span.

An Eye For Design

One rewarding offshoot of Lambert's art studies was an eye for design. His repertoire cuts a wide swath, from low key "still waters" styles to edgy creations with unmistakable attitude. He offers folders and fixed-blades alike, and though the majority of his time is spent making tactical knives, Kirby also delves in top shelf gent's folders and the aforementioned oriental fare. Chalk this up to youthful zeal if you wish, but Kirby is just enjoying the ride--one which we should enjoy with him. All too often we see a custom knifemaker pop out one successful design and sit on his laurels, milking it for five or even ten years.

Lambert's Spearpoint folder features the clean, understated-yet-effective design we've come to expect from fellow Canadians Lightfoot and Tighe. Like his compatriots, Lambert has a knack for making his folders flow seamlessly from the tip of the blade to the base of the handle. In its simplest form, decked out in plain black scales and a satin finished blade, Kirby's Spearpoint is a lesson in how less can be more. But some prefer more, so the knifemaker offers the folder in up-scale attire with materials like (Robert) Eggerling mosaic Damascus blade steel and classy mother-of-pearl handles.

If subdued elegance bores you, Lambert's other models won't. With names like Claw, Whar and Inferno, these folders show the progressive--no, make that aggressive--side of Kirby's design talents. The Claw features a flesh-eating hawkbill blade with a handle design reminiscent of a skeletal finger borrowed from the Grim Reaper.

The What features a no-nonsense Wharncliff-reverse tanto hybrid blade looking like a blue collar work knife on steroids. If you're looking for something in-between smooth and edgy, the Inferno should fill the bill. This folder features a classic clip point blade made slicker with a curvaceous re-curved cutting edge.

All of Kirby's folders are available in base models, with either liner-lock or integral frame-lock blade securing mechanisms. There are many ways to dress up one of his folders, from adding tasteful handle scales of materials like mammoth ivory and mother-of-pearl, to art blades of exquisitely-detailed patterned steel. He also offers a decadent looking handle treatment dubbed the "GougeGrip" that looks especially appropriate on his ominous Claw and Whar models.

Leading the Pack

The frontrunner in Kirby's fixed blade lineup is his L-Tac series. Those who appreciate a tough working knife will appreciate the L-Tac in its purest form. This is a knife with all the right stuff: A long clean blade with notches on the rear of the choil for putting extra elbow grease into your chores. For field use, simple Micarta handles can be had, or these can be upgraded to G-10 or carbon fiber. Kirby also offers the L-Tac in a modernized, Japanese cord-wrapped handles that feature Micarta underlays topped with resin-soaked nylon cord which enhances durability and ease of cleaning.