I guess I am a knife hipster. This is a Master Cutlery TA-50 Dakkar Hunter designed by Tom Anderson. It was another gift from my machirologist friend, assuming the word "machirologist" does indeed mean "knife collector." I see lots of references in knife forums, but no dictionary definitions. There is a definitional and etymological hole in the internet! It's only listed in red on Wikipedia.
But setting that aside, I may indeed be a knife hipster here. You see, I think I received this before Star Trek: Enterprise aired the In a Mirror, Darkly episode. And this is the knife their prop department used for the mirror universe ISS Enterprise crew daggers. In other words, I may have had it before it was cool.
Well, assuming you think being in ST:E makes it cool. I didn't care for the series myself. That particular two-parter was kinda-sorta fun, and there were a few other odd episodes that were decent, but on the whole I found it a disappointment.
Honestly, the knife is also a bit of a disappointment. On the plus side, the overall blade profile would be nice for a combat dagger like the Fairbairn-Sykes knife, and the notches by the guard would make it easier to sharpen. I don't know what grade of steel was used, though, and another Tom Anderson piece this friend gave me fell off its display stand and broke, revealing a very poor grain structure inside. The slots in the middle are an obvious structural weakness, too. The hilt is also dreadfully uncomfortable. Finally, the fit and finish leave a lot to be desired, and the sheath is cheap nylon crap.
If you really want one of these as a display piece, you can probably find it on eBay for a reasonable price. Here's a listing that sold in September for $26 + $9 S&H. If you want a proper commando knife, expect to pay several times that, and get one made in Sheffield, England, or at least from a quality US brand.
Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic conversation piece if you're a Trekkie. It's a neat display piece knife if you like Tom Anderson designs. I certainly wouldn't want to be stabbed or cut by it. However, if you want a tool you can trust with your life, this ain't it.
This post contains links for reference only. I am affiliated with neither Amazon nor Smoky Mountain Knife Works. All photos are my own.
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