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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Anza Knives...What's the Word???
- Thread starter Drew66
- Start date
- Joined
- Dec 2, 1999
- Messages
- 12,249
I don't think they are A2, probably 1090 carbon or something similar. I had one and it was a comfortable knife, I had to thin down the bevel on the edge quite a bit because it was really steep and didn't slice well.
The smaller knives seemed like a resonable bargain, by the time you got to the big ones for $65 plus it didn't make as much sense to me because at near that price you can buy a whole lot of similar and possibly nicer knives.
The smaller knives seemed like a resonable bargain, by the time you got to the big ones for $65 plus it didn't make as much sense to me because at near that price you can buy a whole lot of similar and possibly nicer knives.
- Joined
- May 17, 2002
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- 5,757
Anyone got a link?
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2001
- Messages
- 4,501
Anza Knives
--Josh
--Josh
- Joined
- May 17, 2002
- Messages
- 5,757
Thanks for the "double-linking", guys. 
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2001
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- 2,871
Back in January, I purchased 3 Anza knives for under $100.00 from Bladez just because I was curious about them '...being made from files.' They aren't 'pretty' knives or 'pretty' sheaths but they seem to be solidly made and came razor sharp! Still waiting for the hair on my forearm to grow back!
I haven't put them to use, yet, so I can't say anything about their edge holding quality. All 3 knives show the file pattern on the full tang un-ground sides of the blade. On each knive's spine in the handle area appears: ANZA USA "02" which I assume to be the year they were made. Also, the handles are made of a layered wood with no pins or rivets showing.
In the attachment: 1. Anza-4 Drop Point Hunter; 2. Anza-TW Miniature Skinner; 3. Anza-705 Large Hunter
I haven't put them to use, yet, so I can't say anything about their edge holding quality. All 3 knives show the file pattern on the full tang un-ground sides of the blade. On each knive's spine in the handle area appears: ANZA USA "02" which I assume to be the year they were made. Also, the handles are made of a layered wood with no pins or rivets showing.In the attachment: 1. Anza-4 Drop Point Hunter; 2. Anza-TW Miniature Skinner; 3. Anza-705 Large Hunter
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2001
- Messages
- 18,959
My wife Edna just did a pretty comprehensive write up on Knifemaker Charlie Davis, owner of Anza knives, for the February issue of KnifeForums magazine. If you havent seen it, email me your mailing address and Ill send you a copy if youd like.
As to Anza knives, made here in San Diego; wed been buying these for years as users because they kept popping up at gun shows at a really low price and like was mentioned above, they are wicked strong and razor sharp. In other words, a great using knife for the money.
We had 3 or 4 Anzas that we'd used around the house before we ever contacted them about doing an article when I called and asked to talk with their marketing person, there was a long pause, followed by Well, I guess that would be me, Im the owner, and knifemaker
That was Charlie, and in the months that have passed, weve become pretty good friends.
I went out solo on the first Saturday visit, and was treated like family right from the start I had my Jimmy Olson, Cub reporter notebook, pencil, and camera with me yet, within 5 minutes we were talking knives a mile a minute over coffee and smokes, and a few minutes later we were in the back making knives this is a good dude here, one of the nicest folks I've ever met.
Charlie doesnt take many folks into the shop, and Im pretty much sure that he messes with those that he does. In my case he pointed out a box of gray files and told me to pick one, put it in the vise, and break it I did. Then, he pointed to a box of blackened files, tells me to pick one, and do the same. I couldnt break the damn thing! (I'm 240, and my hands were getting bruised before I stopped)
The blackened files are the treated ones when I asked what he did to (re) temper them, he just smiled and said something that sounded a lot like dipped em in bat piss lol
He casually asked me what time it was, and then went to work...17 minutes later he handed me a knife and told me it was a gift. Since then, Ive been back to his shop a half dozen times like I said, hes becoming a good friend, hes a good dude, a nice man with a great sense of humor.
(For the rest of the story, look up Ednas article he played the same trick on her the next weekend
A few words of note here
When we were out at the shop doing Ednas article back in January, Col. Al. Burghard, USMC, was there picking up a ready to ship box of 60 Boddington Specials, so named for the collaborative effort with Br. Gen. Craig Boddington, USMC, of firearms periodical fame, for immediate delivery to Marines in Kuwait. The Col. asked what he owed Charlie, and how would he like payment? After a moments thought, Charlie said something like Promise me that theyll go to the guys that need them, and well call it even (Ok, so Im impressed!)
Charlie will make a knife to a customers spec provided that you supply the file if it's something he doesn't have in stock, and a drawing of what you want, but the wait will be long...maybe 2 months. (His files are bought new, but he scrounges hard for those old cool ones...if you come across an old cool file, send it to him for a finished knife in trade)
Handle materials are slab sided, epoxied on, cost dependent on materials and effort but, his bread and butter knives are just rough, super strong, razor sharp user knives made from tempered files inexpensive, and meant to used.
Also, if you visit the Anza website, there is a once a month knife give-away youll have to email back each month thereafter to get on the next months list, and the drawings are when he gets around to it, but last month he had 82 names and gave away 4 knives, so you do the math pretty good odds of winning if you ask me.
Anyhoo, thats what I know about Anza Knives, YMMV
Mel
As to Anza knives, made here in San Diego; wed been buying these for years as users because they kept popping up at gun shows at a really low price and like was mentioned above, they are wicked strong and razor sharp. In other words, a great using knife for the money.
We had 3 or 4 Anzas that we'd used around the house before we ever contacted them about doing an article when I called and asked to talk with their marketing person, there was a long pause, followed by Well, I guess that would be me, Im the owner, and knifemaker
That was Charlie, and in the months that have passed, weve become pretty good friends.
I went out solo on the first Saturday visit, and was treated like family right from the start I had my Jimmy Olson, Cub reporter notebook, pencil, and camera with me yet, within 5 minutes we were talking knives a mile a minute over coffee and smokes, and a few minutes later we were in the back making knives this is a good dude here, one of the nicest folks I've ever met.
Charlie doesnt take many folks into the shop, and Im pretty much sure that he messes with those that he does. In my case he pointed out a box of gray files and told me to pick one, put it in the vise, and break it I did. Then, he pointed to a box of blackened files, tells me to pick one, and do the same. I couldnt break the damn thing! (I'm 240, and my hands were getting bruised before I stopped)
The blackened files are the treated ones when I asked what he did to (re) temper them, he just smiled and said something that sounded a lot like dipped em in bat piss lol
He casually asked me what time it was, and then went to work...17 minutes later he handed me a knife and told me it was a gift. Since then, Ive been back to his shop a half dozen times like I said, hes becoming a good friend, hes a good dude, a nice man with a great sense of humor.
(For the rest of the story, look up Ednas article he played the same trick on her the next weekend
A few words of note here
When we were out at the shop doing Ednas article back in January, Col. Al. Burghard, USMC, was there picking up a ready to ship box of 60 Boddington Specials, so named for the collaborative effort with Br. Gen. Craig Boddington, USMC, of firearms periodical fame, for immediate delivery to Marines in Kuwait. The Col. asked what he owed Charlie, and how would he like payment? After a moments thought, Charlie said something like Promise me that theyll go to the guys that need them, and well call it even (Ok, so Im impressed!)
Charlie will make a knife to a customers spec provided that you supply the file if it's something he doesn't have in stock, and a drawing of what you want, but the wait will be long...maybe 2 months.
(His files are bought new, but he scrounges hard for those old cool ones...if you come across an old cool file, send it to him for a finished knife in trade)Handle materials are slab sided, epoxied on, cost dependent on materials and effort but, his bread and butter knives are just rough, super strong, razor sharp user knives made from tempered files inexpensive, and meant to used.
Also, if you visit the Anza website, there is a once a month knife give-away youll have to email back each month thereafter to get on the next months list, and the drawings are when he gets around to it, but last month he had 82 names and gave away 4 knives, so you do the math pretty good odds of winning if you ask me.
Anyhoo, thats what I know about Anza Knives, YMMV
Mel
- Joined
- Jul 9, 1999
- Messages
- 3,316
I used files for blade stock for quite a while and can attest to their worthiness as knife stock when heat treated right. Anza makes a very good user from file steel. Good file knives like Anza's get that easy to re-sharpen, hair splitting edge that endears people like me to straight Carbon type cutlery steel.
edited to add:
BTW, to answer the original question, files are usually made from simple High Carbon Steels like 1095, W-1, W-2 or other low alloy steels around the 1% Carbon content range. I remember reading somewhere that 1084 has been used too, but I cannot remember where I read that.
edited to add:
BTW, to answer the original question, files are usually made from simple High Carbon Steels like 1095, W-1, W-2 or other low alloy steels around the 1% Carbon content range. I remember reading somewhere that 1084 has been used too, but I cannot remember where I read that.
- Joined
- May 21, 2000
- Messages
- 6,214
I have a small Anza knife...maybe a 1.5 inch blade. Overall, I think it's a decent knife for the $20.00 I paid for it. The edgeholding isn't quite what I was expecting though.
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2004
- Messages
- 67
I just finished a passaround with the Anza Boddington and spent an hour on the phone with Charlie from Anza. I liked them a lot. He's a copy of my review of the the Boddington.
-Thoughts and observations of the Anza Boddington-
Solid, felt really good in the hand. Perfect usable size, loved the shape of the blade. Most of the other instructors concurred. Holds an edge pretty well. We find cutting parachute cord and a parachute canopy kills an edge REALLY fast. We sat around with a parachute panel and about 100 of cord. After well over 10 min. straight of slicing, we noticed a slight degradation in the edge, but still able to shave arm hair. Also liked the remnants of file serrations, keep things from getting slippery.
There was some concern about the handle. It appears to be just glued (epoxy?) on, no pins or screws. Looks and feels solid, but wed like to see how it holds up at extreme temperatures, especially cold. What may help are the remnants of the file serrations, I bet that adds at least 200% more surface area for adhesion.
Ill be getting one and at least two more instructors will be, too.
I can't wait to try out some of the little blades...maybe even a kitchen knife or two.
-Thoughts and observations of the Anza Boddington-
Solid, felt really good in the hand. Perfect usable size, loved the shape of the blade. Most of the other instructors concurred. Holds an edge pretty well. We find cutting parachute cord and a parachute canopy kills an edge REALLY fast. We sat around with a parachute panel and about 100 of cord. After well over 10 min. straight of slicing, we noticed a slight degradation in the edge, but still able to shave arm hair. Also liked the remnants of file serrations, keep things from getting slippery.
There was some concern about the handle. It appears to be just glued (epoxy?) on, no pins or screws. Looks and feels solid, but wed like to see how it holds up at extreme temperatures, especially cold. What may help are the remnants of the file serrations, I bet that adds at least 200% more surface area for adhesion.
Ill be getting one and at least two more instructors will be, too.
I can't wait to try out some of the little blades...maybe even a kitchen knife or two.
- Joined
- Nov 17, 1999
- Messages
- 3,061
I've wondered about these knives for a long time, thanks for sharing the info.
MEL- I will email you for a copy of that article if you don't mind.
MEL- I will email you for a copy of that article if you don't mind.
K Williams
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 1998
- Messages
- 3,284
I was watching a recording of The Devil's Ride on the Discovery Channel yesterday... on of the bikers stopped by the Anza factory to have a knife made.
K Williams
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 17, 1998
- Messages
- 3,284
I just ordered a 705 and the 711. I've been reading about Anza knives since the mid-1980s. Figured I'd finally give them a try.
