PMCI - December 2019

pmcimagazine.com
BLADES: DUSTIN RHODES: CHOPPER
DUSTIN RHODES: CHOPPER
Throughout history, various cultures have held edged tools, knives specifically, symbolic of strength, power
and survival. As special operators around the globe can tell you, there are still many countries today in
which their society holds symbols of battle such as a soldier’s knife as a reflection of his character, honor
and status; Trampas digs deeper...
To wield a high-quality blade with power and
deliberation is a well-respected feat among
men regardless of language barriers, religion
or education. While it is more common these
days for warriors to carry commercially
manufactured during peace time and war,
there are those however who still honor the
old ways of learning the secrets of steel.
These architects of glowing hot metal and
heavy hammer regularly create some of the best blades
in the world in which any survivalist, tribesman or special
operations operator would be honored to employ. This
month, PMCI looks at once such special blade project created
by a skilled keeper of the old ways of hammer and forge.
Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few
years, you already know, one of the biggest things to
happen to the knife community has been television’s Forged
in Fire presented by the History Channel. Each week 4
contestants battle it out building custom blades under time
limits for a chance to overnight become a household name
by winning the episode and a check for US$10,000. Each
one of these everyday knife makers are potentially the next
Ernie Emerson, Bill Harsey or Gil Hibben. One of the most
outstanding of these contestants is Dustin Rhodes. Dustin
made his appearance on the show’s Season 4 Episode 2.
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