Saturday Night Blade Pr0n: Dervish Knives

John Gonzalez of Dervish Knives is a full-time maker based out of Southern Colorado.

Alchemy midtech by Dervish Knives

He was actually the graphic artist who developed the original skull logo for the Usual Suspects Network (USN) and has been on the forum from the beginning.

Alchemy midtech by Dervish Knives

Says Gonzalez,

“My interest in knives and swords began in adolescence, but it wasn’t until the late 1990s when I discovered my passion for custom knives. I was initially drawn to tactical pieces, but my approach to knife making is largely inspired via the myriad of elegant and lethal designs from diverse cultures and eras.”

Khal Drogo would love this hollow ground fixed blade

Gonzalez got his feet wet with knife making in a professional capacity by 2001. Back then he worked with Ted Frizzell of Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works and learned grinding, heat treating, etc.

The Tomahatchet by Dervish Knives

“Due to my background in graphic arts and illustration, designing knives has always been the easiest part of knife making for me. Aspiring to create aesthetically pleasing knives which excel in both form and function, I draw heavily on time-tested designs, geometries and materials.”

The Ursa Minor by Dervish Knives

In 2003 Gonzalez graduated to becoming a part-time maker and by 2006 there was enough of a demand to make it his full time career.

Where neo-tribal meets modern tactical

John’s knives have a distinctive look about them, but each model is function tested and built for performance. An avid shooter, hiker and outdoorsman, he knows what needs to go into a hard use knife.

The old school copper classes up this tactical folder in a way that only John can

Speaking of shooting, he also has his own line of G-10 grips in the works with Keith Edick. Like his knife designs, his shooting tastes run a gamut, in this case from old west black powder guns to modern day tactical pieces.

G10 grips with Dervish logo

Perhaps the most fascinating part of John’s grinding is his use of hollow grinds. This is probably one of the most difficult grinds to get right. If the edge is too thick, it will not cut. If it is too thin it will easily dull. Gonzalez seems to get them “just right” in that hair popping sweet spot.

Three Ursa Minors

Even though the profile may resemble a piece used on an ancient battlefield and may have a copper fitting here or there, John makes use of some of the best available modern steels and materials such as carbon fiber, titanium and G10.

Custom Fighter by Dervish Knives

The neo-tribal form made with carbon fiber and finished in Kryptek

Each one of John’s designs has a tactical but neo-tribal look. This reflects the maker’s background as not only a graphic designer but a student of history and modern tactical concepts.

Custom Foldrer by Dervish Knives

For more information check out his website at http://dervishknives.com/.

Alchemy folder (closed)

Mammoth scales on an alchemy

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