I have a question about Lakota knives

[Spats McGee]

In particular, ones like this:

https://imgur.com/a/zpOYGPL

I'm not asking about value. Given that the knife above was undoubtedly a "free gift" from the NRA for sending $$$, I don't think it's worth much. Besides, I did find this post on the Exchange, which has an almost identical knife, and confirms my suspicions about its monetary value.

But here's my question: Maybe my Search Fu has simply been weak on this, but when I run a search about the above knife, whether it's here, out in the wide, wide web, or on one of my preferred retailers, I find very little. Generally, what I'm finding is one of three things: (a) fixed-blade skinners (I hope that's the right term); (b) a handful of folders, which are fairly traditional in appearance, but do not look like this one (different blade shapes, different scales, etc.); and (c) a very, very few knives that look exactly like the one above, except that they might say "Patron" or "Endowment" rather than "Life." This last category seems to be exclusively NRA knives.

So what's the story here? From the looks of the knives, I'm guessing there's been more than one "Lakota Knives" over the years? Did the NRA commission some exclusive run?

This is simply out of curiosity, but thanks in advance.

 

[Modoc ED]

Lakota Fin Wing





I have a folder or two and a couple other fixed blades but they're buried deep in storage and would take a Herculean effort to dig them out. I'll see what I can do. I believe Gary Peregrin has one like I've pictured above.

 

[Railsplitter]

I read up a little bit on the Lakota brand when I got this knife but unfortunately, I don't remember any of it.

Mine was made by Moki of Japan so they obviously ventured out a little with contracted knives.

 

[Bloefield]

I've got a couple of these. Don't know much either but they get sharp.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

As for the origin of the 'Lakota' brand, I'm finding some references to a Phillip W. Hoffman, apparently a Hollywood screenwriter, author & outdoorsman, whom designed outdoor knives as a side hobby or business, under the Lakota brand. I'm of the assumption the Lakota knives have probably been mfr'd from several locations overseas, over some years. I have a couple Lakota folders stashed away somewhere, and I think they were made in Japan in the 1980s - 90s timeframe. I did see some reference to those being in AUS-8, which is a Japanese spec'd steel.

Linked, quoted info on Phillip W. Hoffman below:

"
( linked from site: https://americanhistorypress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4 )

About the Author

Phillip W. Hoffman scripted shows for Combat! and other dramatic TV series in the 1960s. In addition to writing, he taught a writing class at the late Jay Silverheel’s Indian Actor’s Workshop in Los Angeles for nine years.

Hoffman is also an award winning, world renowned cutlery designer whose original Lakota knives were accepted into the Permanent Design Collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He lives with his wife Mary Ann and two Labrador Retrievers near Pensacola, Florida."

There's also a Facebook page dedicated to knives designed by Mr. Hoffman, linked below. This is actually how I came across the connection between Lakota knives and Mr. Hoffman:

Lakota & Condor Knives by Hoffman

Lakota & Condor Knives by Hoffman. 622 Me gusta · 2 personas están hablando de esto. Lakota Knives is for people who love and collect the Lakota series of Knives designed by Phillip W. Hoffman. Tell...

www.facebook.com

 

[Just Tom.]

I've got a couple of these. Don't know much either but they get sharp.

Looks remarkably like my Ranger brand Chiquita Banana advertising knife, made by Colonial I believe, in the USA:

 

[Modoc ED]

The Lakota I posted a picture of above is:


Lakota Fin Wing (3" blade). Made by Sei Kanematsu of Seki, Japan and marketed by Lakota in Riverton, Wyoming

 

[Modoc ED]

I got the knife I posted above out of my gun safe. Here's a picture of the box and leaflet for the knife. Not shown but on the end label of the box is"

Fin Wing #273
A division of the Brunton Co.



Also on the label: "It Stands Up" - These knives were made with a flat spot on the tang and the end of the handle letting these knives "Stand Up" as shown on the label listing various features.

Sorry, this is the best I can do for now. The next time I'm in my deep storage boxes and run across my other Lakota knives, I'll post pictures of them but don't look for that for quite a while.

 

[Peregrin]

I've got 2 Lakota knives. Here's pics and all the info I have on them. Some is similar to Ed's Modoc ED . I bought the Fin Wing in 1982 for $33.00. Interesting that Ed's documents show the Company address as Wyoming, mine indicate California. I guess they moved around. They are both well made and well finished. Nice knives. I carried and used the heck out of the little Teal lock back for years. The Fin Wing saw it's share of trout.

 

[Modoc ED]

I've got 2 Lakota knives. Here's pics and all the info I have on them. Some is similar to Ed's Modoc ED . I bought the Fin Wing in 1982 for $33.00. Interesting that Ed's documents show the Company address as Wyoming, mine indicate California. I guess they moved around. They are both well made and well finished. Nice knives. I carried and used the heck out of the little Teal lock back for years. The Fin Wing saw it's share of trout.

I thought you had a Lakota Gary. Peregrin Very nice. The Teal lock back is very nice. I haven't seen that one.

One thing I said about these knives in a post a few years back was that the Lakota knives were mostly sold in Fire Fighting Supply stores around San Diego, CA. I distinctly remember them being sold in the Fire Fighting supply warehouse in Downtown San Diego, El Cajon, Clairemont, and down near the San Diego Gas & Electric Company depot off Balboa Ave..

 

[JJ_Colt45]

I have a few of the Lakota knives. I think the Hawk and Lil' Hawk folders and Finwing fixed blade. When I bought these probably in the late 80s or early 90s they were solid built knives and marketed by the feature Ed mentioned of them standing edge down on the flat spots on and that made them easy to pick up an set down while using for cleaning small game. I'll have to dig them out and snap a picture sometime when I'm home. They were made by Seki and at the time I bought them they were sold in some mail order catalogs I believe I bought mine from Fox Ridge Outfitters who is no longer in business.

I'm not sure if these new Lakota knives are associated with the older ones as they have a completely different design it seems and they have that USA stamp on the them. I'm not sure if I have any of the paperwork with mine to see where they were marketed from at the time I bought them, but I'll try to remember to look.

 

[Spats McGee]

Knice knives! Well, the script for "Lakota" looks pretty consistent across the samples, so maybe it is all one and the same company. Looking at the different models I have seen, I thought that maybe one "Lakota Knives" had gone out of business, or been bought by another company, etc.

I've got a couple of these. Don't know much either but they get sharp....

I have every intention of testing that!

 

[sceva]

The OP's knife looks a lot like a Camillus or Imperial made under contract for Lakota.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

I was home for a bit dug out the two folders. I think the two fixed blades are at the cabin. The folders are the Lil Hawk and a Phoneix and they are stamped Moki not Seki. I'm pretty sure at least one of the fixed blades I have is stamped Seki. Anyway a couple pictures.

 

[Bloefield]

Very nice Lakotas all. Glad to see these knives mentioned. Forgot I had the small lockback. Well made, in Japan [Seiki]? as JJ_Colt45 said.
The liner locks are easy to sharpen and decently made. Agree with sceva ,Camillus or Imperial. Maybe Colonial.

 

[Modoc ED]

I was out in my pump house straightening it out and found this Lakota Falcon in my pump house tool box so, I brought it in to take pictures of it during my lunch break. I carried this quite a bit in the 1990s but haven't carried it much in the last 20-years or so. Kinda looks abused but I never abused it - just used the heck out of it. I'll have to give it ye ole Modoc ED spa treatment.




I took this picture of the knife "Standing Up" on the flat area of the bolster and the flat area of the lower handle/frame.