Contact Mike Mann, award winning custom knife maker
The Cliff Knife, designed by canoe guide/author Cliff Jacobson. The blade is 4 1/4" flat ground, high carbon steel with full tang 4 1/4" handle. Various woods available, please see Special Order Page for list. Also special "rescued wood" (100+ years old) osage orange wood from Mann Family Farm in Illinois (+$35) or maple from Lake Superior (+$45). Why use rescued wood? More stable, tighter grain, less likely to warp or crack, a beautiful piece of history!
Cliff Jacobson paddles the Poreno River, Norway June 2011
The Cliff Hunter Knife has 1/8"+ thick high carbon steel blade for heavier use and start at $230. Your choice of handle material @ various prices. Sturdy leather sheath is included.
This is the original - not a copy!
The Cliff Canoe Knife
15N20 sawmill bandsaw steel
blade is approximately 3/32 " thick - starts at $195 Your choice of handle material @ various prices. Sturdy leather sheath is included.
The Lady Cliff Knife (left) scaled down blade 15N20 steel and handle (3 3/4") sized for the more feminine hand and starts at $185. Your choice of handle material @ various prices. Sturdy leather sheath is included.
- "The most practical and beautiful knife in my arsenal, this knife begs to be touched and used!" says Cliff Jacobson March '97 issue Tactical Knives Magazine article "Mountain Man's Masterpiece."
- "Perfect knife to handle camp chores...a tool that I wouldn't hesitate to depend on in the wilds." Steven Dick, Editor and Chief, Tactical Knives, July '99.
- "Mike's knife preformed as I hoped it would...The Cliff Knife took a beating," says Dan Shechtman Jan/Feb 2000 issue Backwoodsman Magazine article"The True All-Purpose Bush Knife"
On Feb 3, 2012 Thanks again
Hello Mike, I wanted to again say thank you for the knives you have made for me and to congratulate you on their quality. Recently I have been spending some time testing my old knives and some new very light knives. I've learned a little bit in recent years and wanted to reassess and plan for a potential thru-hike, working to get to very low pack weights. It was a stunning surprise to discover that for all the many great designs, specialized designs and clever but not so great designs, that the Baby Cliff you made for me is my favorite and superior in very practical ways.The Baby Cliff's shape and handle gets it closer to the object being worked and at better angles than other small knives. It has a more useful blade for camp chores like cooking and repairs. It is big enough for emergency use to whittle dry wood out of wet timber in wet terrain.I apologize for underestimating the impact of your experience and knowledge and that of Cliff Jacobson.Maybe sometime I can get another Baby Cliff just like it. In the meantime I plan on buying or making a lightweight Kydex sheath for the Baby Cliff and the Cliff Canoe. The Cliff Canoe has also been a surprise in knife to knife comparisons. It is only 3.5 ounces, much lighter that similar knives, while it matches or outperforms its rivals for backpacking use in wet terrain. My son continues to hunt with and use his Cliff Canoe graduation present and Nessmuk birthday present. He gets a big smile on his face every time he returns from a hunting trip and exclaims how well they work.
Blessings, Karl in Charlotte, NC
Karl; Mike Mann forwarded your Email to me, and it really made me smile. I appreciate your kind words and the knowledge that you love your IKW knives. Me too. Actually, the "Cliff" knife came about because I couldn't find a sensible replacement for my old (long out of production) Gerber Shorty knife. I wanted a thin, flat ground blade with superb cutting geometry. I had seen one of MIke's knives and was impressed--like here was a guy who spends serious time in the woods! So I drew up a plan and the knife was born. It remains the most practical knife in my arsenal. By the way, don't baby that thin blade on the big and little Cliff knives. You can use a baton on either of these blades and they will easily split short sections of log up to three inches in diameter--something you can't do with a folding knife, any folding knife. I've always wondered why some folders have such thick blades. I mean the weakest point of a folder is the hinge pin. That'll break long before the blade. Enjoy, Best, Cliff Jacobson
On Oct 5, 2011, at 9:19 PM, Eddie Smith wrote:
Hi Cliff,
I've been reading and heading a lot of your camping advice for years. Your thoughts make a lot of common sense, and I've found myself passing some of your knowledge on. I write you wondering about your knife. I've been looking for a new knife for quite a while, and was wondering how you feel about the quality, and performance of your Idaho knife works knife. I recently ordered one, only in a five inch model, and talked for several minutes with Mike, and Debbie Mann.....very nice people. I've done a lot of research, and found that the carbon steel blade was more to my liking, because no.1 they're easier to sharpen, and 2. maintain a good edge. I know they are more susceptible to rusting, but regular oiling takes care of that. Thanks for your advice in advance.
Sincerely ,
Eddie Smith
Re: Idaho
Knife works
On 6 Oct 2011 13:22:48 -0500, Cliff Jacobson replied:
Eddie,
The IKW "Cliff" knife is my favorite. I guess it should be because
I mostly designed it. The knife comes in two thicknesses. I much prefer
the thinner blade which is about the same thickness as my old Gerber Shorty
knife (a terrific knife!). I've never felt the need for a thick blade
for any camping chores, even splitting four inch thick wood with a mallet.
I figure that if the Indians could skin a buffalo with a thin-bladed common
butcher knife, there's no need for a thick blade. Sharpness and edge geometry
are the key to success, I believe. Anyway, I much prefer carbon steel
over stainless. Yes, there are some very high grade, custom stainless
blades and these are very nice, but they are very expensive and hard to
sharpen. Granted, a carbon blade at roughly RC 56 will dull quicker than
a stainless one at RC 60. But so what? I keep my knives razor sharp and
touch them up when needed--maybe two minutes on a fine whet stone. I can
easily go two weeks on a canoe trip without touching up the blade. At
any rate, I think you'll love your Cliff knife. It's a simple but effective
design: it will split think kindling, fillet a fish, skin a moose, spread
peanut butter, slice bread and cut line. What else might you expect from
a bush knife? What drew me to MIke's knives to begin with is that unlike
most other knife makers, he spends real time in the woods. And that "time
on task" reflects the simple but brilliant knives he designs. I've
found that special purpose blades do special purpose jobs well. But they
are a handicap for simple jobs. The Cliff knife is an "all-round"
woods knife. I think you'll appreciate the design more and more as you
use it. I might add that in the 14th-18th centuries when when men depending
on their knives for a living, the most popular blades were ones that were
similar to the "Cliff" and Mike Mann's other flat-ground designs.
Hollow-ground blades are popular today simply because they are cheap to
grind--you just put 'em on a spinning wheel and let 'em go. Flat ground
blades require much more work, and Mike's blades are double-taper ground
which is a still more intensive process. Enough. Trust me; you'll love
the knife.
Best,
Cliff
Cliff Knife, Gransfors "Wildlife" hatchet and "Fast Bucksaw"--my three most essential woods tools. ---------------- Cliff Jacobson: Writer/Consultant Member Outdoor Writers Assn. of America American Canoe Assn. Legends of Paddling Award Distinguished Eagle Scout Web-site: www.cliff-jacobson.com W10070 State Road 29 River Falls, WI 54022 Phone: 715-425-9545 Cell: 612-590-0972 Fax: 715-425-9460 Email: cliffjacobson@pressenter.com
The Light Field Knife (L.F.K.) has a 4 3/4" blade - $130. Works well as a boning knife, field dress small game and kitchen camp chores! Made of 15N20 high carbon tool steel (saw mill band saw steel) that is 3/32" thick and tapered to the tip. The blade is stiffer than a fishing knife so it works well as a boning knife. The full tang, tear drop handle can be special ordered in wood or antler slabs (price varies by choice) and is extremely comfortable in hand while in use! It comes with brass and guard pins. A sturdy, tight fit leather sheath completes this knife.
SPECIAL ORDER YOURS TODAY!
Idaho Knife Works L.F.K. is just one in a line of highly practical outdoor knives they are well known for. Steven Dick, Editor-in-Chief May 07 Tactical Knives Magazine
| FISHING KNIVES with full tang handles start at: |
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Fishing knives are shaped just like L.F.K. with longer blades. These blades are also made from 15N20 high carbon steel. This steel holds an edge extremely well & hones quickly for use. The blades are also very flexible!
Mike & Michael-Steelhead Fish-March 2009
Brother Charlie & Mike (Mick) Fishing in Illinois May 2010
Mike and sons fishing
see our cousin's tackle business at
http://www.dirtyjigstackle.com
Mike (Magwa) & Mike (Padre) Steelhead Fish-Orofino, ID March 2010
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Idaho Knife Works
P.O. Box 144
Spirit Lake, Idaho 83869
Reach us by cellular telephone at our remote mountain cabin [Pacific Time]
(509) 994-9394
