The Hattori Collector

 

In the early 1980s a young Spencer Frazer discovered and was inspired by a display of original Vietnam War era MACV-CISO Studies and Observation Group (SOG) Special Forces combat bowies. They were designed by Conrad Ben Baker and made in Japan,  contracted with Yogi Shokai and Japan Sword. They used SK3 carbon steel and because the knives were subcontracted out to several makers, the fit and finish, even the guards varied. The bluing ended up being black, blue, purple or even plum. The knives bore no markings to avoid being traced; “sterile” in covert operations parlance.

 Original MACV-CISO SOG knife

Determined to bring a reproduction of this SOG knife to market, Spencer Frazer contacted Bo Randall of Orlando Florida. Unfortunately, even back then there was a years-long waiting line, but Bo Randall referred him to someone who could help. That person was A.G. Russell who had contacts with Kencrest Corp, the top exporter of Seki knives. They in turn brought in Ichiro Hattori to make the first  knives for SOG Specialty Knives of Santa Monica Ca. The SOG-1-F was based on the commemorative version of the originals rather than the bland unmarked issued ones. It used a blued SK5 carbon steel blade, stainless steel guard and pommel and stacked leather handle. The left side of the blade bore the SOG SPECIALTIES company logo, while the right side bore the 5th Special Forces crest near the ricasso and additional wording on the blade. The knife was brought to the market first in an ad in the April 1987 edition of  “Soldier of Fortune” magazine.

They were serial numbered to 1500, and the number appeared on the left side ricasso. The origin “Japan” appears on the back of the pommel. Based on a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Spencer Frazer, knife no.0002 went to Arnold Schwarzenegger, No.0007 to Robert K. Brown of “Soldier of Fortune” magazine, No.0010 to Al Mar, and two sterile versions were given  to Sylvester Stallone during the filming of Rambo; First Blood, Part III. Of notable interest is that Spencer Frazer discloses that this knife, which was made by Ichiro Hattori, was made in one of the same factories that made the original MACV-CISO knives.

Original “SOG SPECIALTIES” Logo

Certificate of Authenticity

Country of Origin on Pommel

S2 Trident with original Logo

When marketing went to retail the logo was changed to the now well known SOG “Box” logo which remained in use from Santa Monica, CA to Edmond and then Lynnwood Wa. The early sheaths had the 5th Special Forces crest at the bottom whereas later versions simply had “SOG” with the company location.

 SOG S1 with famous SOG “Box” Logo.

Shortly afterwards, SOG introduced the S2 “Trident” Bowie, which commemorated the U.S. Navy Seals. This knife had a polished Aus8 blade, black Micarta handles and the U.S. Navy Seals crest on the right side of the blade. While the most commonly seen S2s appear to have a solid black micarta handle, the earliest ones had stacked micarta handles.

The first S2 sheaths shipped with a nylon one marked Santa Monica, and later Edm Wa. Later models came with the leather sheath.

 SOG S2

 U.S. Navy Seals crest

A rarely seen model was the SOG SS1, which was identical to the S1 in all respects except that it had no Special Forces Crest or the “Vietnam, Fifth Special Forces Group” on the right side of the blade.

 SS1

 SS1

The SOG S1 has become a classic among knife collectors and has appeared in movies and television.

SOG Specialty Knives produced the S1 and S2 over the period of 1986-2005 that Hattori made these knives. There were a couple of limited edition commemoratives made by Hattori between 2006-2008.

Seki production of these two models ended in 2005 and SOG shifted to Taiwan production thereafter. Amongst the SOG collectors the original Seki made models still remain the most sought after.

 1991 AG Russell Catalog

The same knives made for SOG were later made under the Hattori brand and designated TV2 and TV3.

 Hattori TV-1(SK5), TV-2, TV-3(Aus8)

The earlier TV-3 designation was used for the unusual plum blued brass guard and pommel model.

 Seki Hamono Kaikan （関刃物会館）Display

During this period, Hattori also made similar knives for Boker of Germany, two MACV-CISO commemoratives, identical but the first had a signature of Conrad Ben Baker etched on the left side of the blade, and the other had no signature. Both of these are unique as their grind line ends closer to the ricasso, rather than the second spine peak. This is characteristic of the actual standard issue MACV-CISO SOG knife used in combat. All other Hattori SOG knives follow the grind line of the MACV-CISO SOG Commemorative editions.

CISO/MACV Boker Ad from 2002

 Boker Commemorative SOG

 Right side of blade

 Left side of blade

Another Boker offering was the the Son Tay Raid commemorative and the unusual blade shaped “Force Recon” model. All of these models were made for the European market so are not encountered often in the U.S.

Son Tay Raider Boker Ad 2005

 Boker Son Tay Raider Commemorative

Force Recon Boker Ad 2003.

Boker Force Recon

In 2006 a limited edition Damascus S1 was offered by SOG. It is very rare as only 50 were made, all serial numbered, with a Certificate of Authority signed by Spencer Frazer and came in a wooden presentation box. The blade was a VG10 core with a Nickel Stainless (410j) Damascus in 49 layers.

 Damascus VG10 L/E

Damascus S1

 Made in Seki

The same knife as the Hattori HD7, a VG10 core but with a 97 layer Nickel Stainless Damascus is still available only by custom order.

Another Limited Edition 1000 knife run offered by SOG was a commemorative made during 2006-2008 . It was a standard S1, blued SK5 blade, serial numbered on the guard. It came in a presentation box with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Spencer Frazer as well as a Plaque.

 S/N on guard

L/E Commemorative

This commemorative edition is likely the last S1 made by Hattori for SOG Specialty Knives, as they had started to switch manufacture from Seki Japan to Taiwan. It would also be the last SOG knife that used bluing on the blade, and the only Hattori made S1 with the newer “bullet cutting” SOG logo.

 SOG S2 Trident Seki 1986-2005 Aus8

 Hattori TV-3 (current) Aus8

 Hattori TV-1 SK5

 Hattori TV-2 Aus8

1998 Hattori Year of Knife Limited Edition of 99.

In Mid 2019 Hattori introduced a limited edition (10 made) TV Series SOG knife commemorating his 80th birthday. The right side of the blade has the kanji character San (傘) representing Sanju (傘寿）. The blade is Aus8 with stainless steel bolster where the serial number is engraved. The handle is Sambar Stag highlighted with leather washers, Nickel Silver spacers and Desert Ironwood.

Thanks to SOGknivescollectors.com, Boker Germany and Lutz Krempf, Germany., the SOG subforum members on Bladeforum, J.Iwahara of Kencrest Corp, Seki Japan, Goldie Russell.

https://www.sogknives.com/

https://www.boker.de/us/

In the mid 1970s, Peter Kershaw, formerly a marketing representative at Gerber Legendary Knives formed his own company together with his wife Judy and shipped their first knife in 1974. He had sent a Made in USA Gerber fixed Blade to Ichiro Hattori to serve as a design basis for the series of knives that became the Kershaw 10X0 series. The blades were all Aus8 and while the original models had wood handles, the basic production models used a phenolic resin handle.

1974 Kershaw ad.

Several serial numbered engraved limited edition boxed presentation models were also made.

Custom engraved 1030 with Mammoth handle.

Recent Hattori versions in VG10 (60-61RC) Cocobolo handles with black spacers, stainless steel hilt and pommel.

 H30 Field Hunter

 H31 Field Camper

H31,H29,H30 VG10

While the Hattori brand versions of Kershaw models are in VG10, a rarely seen model is the Kershaw model 1129 (Hattori H29) with a Cowry-Y blade, a powder steel used only by a few custom knifemakers in Japan, such as Koji Hara. The Kershaw model 1129 is said to have been made in limited numbers as a test prototype. Cowry-Y is made, along with Cowry-X by Daido Steel and is reported to contains 1.25 of Carbon, 14.5 of Chromium, 3.0 of Molybdenum, 1.0 of Vanadium, 0.3 Nb in HRC 62-64 .

The Kershaw 1050 Folding Field is arguably the best known classic Kershaw folder.

 Model 1050 Folding Field

 Made by Hattori in Aus8 steel

 Specifications

There has been a number of variations in the ricasso stamping which has been summarized as;

1979-1981 Left side: Kershaw, Oregon USA. Right side: 1050, Japan.

1982-1989 Left side: Kershaw, Oregon USA, By KAI Japan. Right side: 1050.

1990-1998: Left side: Kershaw, Folding Field. Right side: KAI 1050, Japan.

1999- 2008 Left side: Kershaw, Folding Field. Right side: 1050, Japan.

Post 2009 : Kershaw marketed 1050s manufactured in China for one or two years using 8Cr13MoV steel.

The Kershaw 1050 is on display among the knives in the Seki Sword Tradition Museum (関鍛冶伝承館) in Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

 Model 1050 in Display in museum

 Various Kershaws

The 1050 with a clip point blade was designated model 1055 Folding Field III. This model was produced only during 1986-88 and are relatively rare.

Above- PakaWood scaled 1050 marked Kershaw. One of three special editions made for the1974-2004 Kershaw 30th Anniversary.

Second 1974-2004 30th Anniversary Edition Kershaw 1050. Damascus VG10 core with 16 layer Stainless/Nickel blade, solid Nickel Silver blosters and Micarta scales.  Serial numbered and only 500 made sold in presentation box with Certificate of Authority. 4 inches (10.2cm), Overall – 8 1/4 inches (21cm), Weight- 8.2 oz.

 Hattori 1050 VG10 S/N 074

Third and final 30th Anniversary limited edition-  300 knives using VG10, stainless steel and ebony marked “Hattori” and 500 knives marked “Kershaw”.

 Hattori 1050 pair VG10/Ebony

 Current Hattori H-51 VG10/Cocobolo

 H-51 Large and Small

 H-51

H51 in Cowry-X powder steel.

Special thanks to Mikael Wallin, Sweden.

Note: One of the best articles on the complete history of Kershaw Knives can be found at the following Knife Depot page:

Kershaw Knives

 

 

 

 

  FT100 in Cocobolo and Ebony

The Hattori Fighter under the “Hattori” brand is a quite well known and sought-after knife among collectors. It was made in two sizes; the FT-200 was the larger with an OAL of 14.25″ with a 7.63″ blade and the smaller FT-100 with an OAL of 11″ and a blade length of 6″. Both with a polished solid silver nickel hilt. The handles were offered in Cocobolo, Black Ebony and, White Dupont Corian for the smaller model. Oddly, the larger FT-200 was described as being MVS-8 stainless steel while the smaller FT-100 was Aus8. The larger model appears to have been last produced in 2010 whereas the smaller one seems to have been in production until quite recently albeit in limited numbers.

FT200 Ebony

In either case, it is basically impossible to find either of them new in stores, unless Hattori decides to do another run. Typical of Hattori’s products, the fit and finish is superb and the knife is a true collection piece. When I first encountered this fighter I had assumed that it was a variant of a Loveless Fighter. However it turns out that it actually has French origins. The design was initially created for a project in 1988 to produce a limited number of Commemorative for the 200th Anniversary of the French Revolution. The handle perhaps gives the strongest hint of this history. The originals were made by the late Custom Seki knifemaker Seizo Imai but became widely known later under Ichiro Hattori’s production.

A rare FT-200 version is a limited run reportedly of just 10 pieces which used Buffalo Horn as the handle material.

 

The most well known version in the U.S. however may be the Junglee “Hattori Fighter”. The original knives were made by Ichiro Hattori and have “Seki Japan” on the ricasso.

 Junglee Hattori Fighter

Made in Seki- MVS-8 Steel

 

 Junglee Baby Hattori Fighter

Junglee Knives started in 1985, as the brand name for a group of tooling and machinery companies owned by Mr Shiraz Balolia, who had also acquired the old Gutman name. The unique combination wood/synthetic handle is said to have been designed and patented by S.Balolia himself, who actually holds a great many patents on various designs and machinery. It was available in two sizes, the larger called the “Hattori Fighter” with an OAL of 13.25″ and a 7.75″ blade, and the smaller “Baby Hattori Fighter” with an OAL of 11″ and a 6″ blade, both with a nickel hilt. These knives were introduced to the U.S. market in the mid-late 1990s. The Taiwan versions and these were produced at least until 2008.

While the Hattori made models had “Seki Japan” engraved on the left side of the blade on the ricasso and “MVS-8” on the right side, the Taiwan made models had “440 SS” on the left side and “Taiwan” on the right side.

Taiwan Version

Apart from the unique handle, the Junglee Fighters differ from all other Fighter versions in that they had a serrated section on the spine. When manufactured by Hattori , MVS-8 Stainless was used. Back when Junglee Knives had it’s own website they explained MVS-8 as “an alloy comprised of .85% Carbon, 14% Chromium, .5% Manganese, .5%. Silicon, 2.5% Molybdenum, .15% Vanadium with a hardness between 57-61RC”.

MVS-8 is a proprietary steel made for Masahiro, one of the largest and well known cutlery knife makers in Seki. It also happens to be owned by the Hattori family. Masahiro also manufactures knives for the Tsuge designed brand which is marketed by Kitasho, owner of the Kanetsune brand.

The Junglees originally made by Hattori were MVS-8, at least the larger model, and switched to “440 stainless” when production was later shifted to Taiwan around 2005/2006. No one seems to be sure which “440” it really was, many suggesting and perhaps hoping that it is 440C. But in those days “440” could mean alot of things.(Back then SOG used “440A” to mean Aus6A, and Browning used “440” to mean Aus8A). Amongst collectors, the original Hattori/Seki made Junglee Fighters are considered much more valuable than the Taiwan made ones which were marketed by Smoky Mountain Knife Works at less than half of the price of the originals in the later years.

A fairly recent but discontinued product was a copy of the Junglee fighter blade design by M Tech USA, a maker of tactical knives using “440”.

The Katz “Alley Kat” models have long been manufactured by Hattori in Seki, however the handle is a Kraton or similar synthetic.

 Alley Kat 6006 and Hattori FT-100

The sizes are different as well, if the site information is accurate. The smaller Alley Kat 6006 has an OAL of 10.75″ with a 6.5″ blade. And the larger Alley Kat 8008 has an OAL of 13″ and an 8″ blade. The blades are described as X70, and described as a “proprietary” Stainless Steel with a Rockwell Hardness of 54-55. However, the Kats Knives site does show this: “About our Steels XT70 – AUS6A – 56 Rockwell “C” Scale Hardness XT80 – AUS8A – 58-59 Rockwell “C” Scale Hardness” So, perhaps that’s all there really is to it. http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels…h.php?nm=xt-70 Kats Knives’ product line consists of knives manufactured in Japan and Spain and generally are considered of high quality, fit and finish, marked chandler Arizona on the left side ricasso and the country of origin on the right side.

 Katz Alley Kats 8008 and 6006

Katz 8008 Damascus

The Katz models are the only versions still not “discontinued” however it is possible that they are limited to existing inventory.

Within Japan, Hattori also mades the larger Fighter for Kitasho of Seki, which also owns Kanetsune of Seki. There were two models, the Silver Stream and Silver Stream II, under the “Tsuge” brand label.

The earliest models of the Silver Stream had “Hattori” engraved on the right side of the ricasso.

 Tsuge Silver Stream

 Tsuge Silver Stream II

Both appear to be identical or near identical to FT-200, with an OAL of 13.79″ and a blade length of 7.63″. The original Silver Stream is discontinued , but the Silver Stream II can still be found occasionally and appears to be produced in limited numbers. It also uses MVS-8 and the handle is purple Japanese boxwood. Tsuge is a combat knife brand and named for a Mr Hisayoshi Tsuge, an author, former military journalist, mercenary and French Foregn Legionaire who apparently designs knives based on his military background, but he does not have any production facilities. The Silver Stream II, Model TS-31, was recently reintroduced as a limited serial numbered run of 150. I was lucky enough to pick up No.85.

Another version found only in Japan and long discontinued is a model called “Stag Fighter” made by the late Custom knifemaker Seizo Imai who made gthe first Fighters and sold under his IMAX label. The IMAX model used ivory and stag for the handle, and an Aus8A blade. Overall length is 333mm (13.11 inches) and a Blade Length of 175 mm (6.89 inches). It is thought that this model was last produced in 2012. Unlike other IMAX models, the Stag Fighter appears to have no markings on the blade or ricasso.

 Imai Seizo IMAX Stag Fighter

 Imai Seizo IMAX Stag Fighter

In 2020 using remaining blades and bolsters in Seizo Imai’s shop, the custom knifemaker Fumio Inagaki put together the original fighter using snakewood and rosewood handles, Aus8 blade and Nickel Silver guard.

The Hattori Fighter is a truly beautiful knife to look at, light and nimble as a true “Fighting Knife” should be. It is perhaps the lack of a blackened blade and synthetic handle that we today take for granted for any “fighting knife” that is the heart of it’s charm. In any version it’s a fine addition to any collection.

 

News Flash-

In mid 2019 Hattori introduced a limited edition of the long unseen FT-200C Fighter, the larger fighter with the 7 inch blade. It will also be the last using Cocobolo as a handle material due to international limitations on it’s trade by CITIES. This release commemorates Master Ichiro Hattori’s 80th birthday and carries the kanji character 傘　”San” from Sanju （傘寿）representing one’s 80th birthday. Only 50 have been made and they are serial numbered on the inner side of the bolster.

As of this writing they are still available from Japanese Knife Direct, in Seki City Japan.

http://japaneseknifedirect.com/Hattori.html

Special thanks to Japan Knife Direct and Anthony Thomas.

February 2015 – Updated August2019-January 2021

 

 

Ichiro Hattori (Born 1939- 服部　唯知朗 is a renowned knife maker in the city of Seki, Gifu Prefecture Japan. Seki is the most internationally well known of several cities famous in Japan for it’s history of cutlery and craftsmen going back some 800 years. He was born into a knife maker family and began his craft at the age of 18 in his father’s factory “Masahiro”, founded in 1932 and still one of Japan’s largest makers of culinary knives as one of the well known “3M”s (Masahiro, Masamoto, Misono).  In 1971, Ichiro Hattori started his own business Hattori Hamono K.K. (Hattori Cutlery Co., Ltd.) to pursue his interest in sporting knives.

Ichiro Hattori’s name is well known among those in the knife industry for his OEM work for major U.S. Knife companies starting in the 1970s when Peter Kershaw contracted with him to produce the 10×0 series of fixed blades such as the Deerhunter, Elkhunter, Moosehunter series as well as the classic 1050 Folding Field, and the Model 1070 Trooper and Special Agent daggers as well. Browning also had Hattori make their classic Sportsman series of fixed and folding hunting knives such as the 3718 and 506. In 1983 Browning planned to create a limited edition damascus knife and Ichiro Hattori was involved in the creation of a knife  made using Stainless Steel and Nickel Silver forge welded in layers. This was designated Browning model 3816 Double Edged Damascus Hunter and was produced for a mere two years 1984/85 before rising costs forced it’s termination in 1986/87.

 (Kershaw Model 1007 Trooper)

 (Browning Double Edged Damascus Hunter)

Perhaps the most well known knives made by Hattori are the fighting bowies for SOG Specialty Knives of Santa Monica California, which were reproductions of a design originally created by Conrad Ben Baker for MACV-CISO Special Forces operations during the Vietnam war. Hattori made the S1 and S2 bowies from 1986 until 2005 when SOG Knives moved their production from Seki Japan to Taiwan. These along with other Seki made SOGs are in high demand as collectibles. Hattori also made four Vietnam commemorative knives for Boker of Germany which were marketed only in Europe. Hattori also made a number of models for many other companies such as Parker, Beretta, Al Mar Knives, Katz, Junglee, Jet-Aer Corp (G96 brand), Tekna, Valor Corp Miami, and The Cutlery Shoppe’s Gryphon brand.

 SOG S1 Bowie

Knives made for Cold Steel, Cutlery Shop, SOG 

Hattori only manufactured the high end quality models for his overseas customers, a practice still continued to this day. While most of his OEM work is now historical, Hattori still manufactures all of the fixed blade knives for Fallkniven of Boden Sweden, and several of the larger Sanmai Mai III knives for Cold Steel Inc. of Ventura California. Hattori has also provided his Cowry-X damascus blades for use by the custom knife maker Anthony L Marfione (Microtech) as well.

(Fallkniven Northern Lights NL1 THOR and Cold Steel Trail Master Sanmai III)

Fallkniven Idun NL5 Cowry X damsacus

Hattori also made the Cowry-X Damascus blades that were used in folders by other makers:

A.G. Russell One Hand Knife with Cowry-X Damascus

(A.Marfione “Troodon” using a Cowry-X Sanmai Damascus Blade by Hattori.)

As word of the quality and fit and finish of Hattori made knives increased, he began marketing knives under his own brand in 1993 which are in high demand by collectors from around the world. And as he only produces occasional limited runs Hattori knives are invariably always difficult to acquire. Hattori has made knives using a wide variety of steels both Carbon and Stainless over the last 45 years, but in recent years his work has centered around laminates using VG10 and high performance powder steels like 3G(SGPS) and Cowry-X. Ichiro Hattori developed the Nickel Stainless Damascus and holds a patent on the Laminated Steel Product. While he refrained from making culinary knives for many years so as not to conflict with his family business he has made three lines of cooking knives as well.

(KD Series Cowry-X Nickel Stainless Damascus)

No longer made and considered one of the most sought after culinary knives by collectors.

 

(HD Series VG10 Nickel Stainless 63 layer damascus)

A Damascus series made in collaboration with Ryusen, no longer available.

FH Series VG10 Special Cocobolo

A series based on a design submitted by members of the former kitchen knife subforum of Knife Forums.

The few Japanese style (wabouchou) models that were made were not in the traditional carbon steels but in the Cowry-X powder steel.

Hattori also makes the Nenox series of Stainless knives for the Nenohi brand.

Ichiro Hattori’s skilled craftsmanship is respected not just in Japan but by many knife makers around the world. Well known for his dedication to achieving perfection, willingness to face countless sessions of trial and error, each knife he makes is subject to the most severe control and his motto of “No Compromise” earned him the title of “World’s Best Knife Craftsman”, and he was given the “Excellent Skilled Craftsman Award” by the Seki City Cutlery Association. In 2010 he also received the “Contemporary Master Craftsman” and “Outstanding Knife Making Technician” awards from the Government of Japan Ministry of Health.

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