Tighe Brian

Custom knife veteran Tighe Brian

“You’d need a calculator to count the number of custom knife-makers who have jumped into the tactical fray over the past five years. You can tally the cream of the crop on two hands, being sure to earmark one of those digits for knifemaker Brian Tighe. In a matter of just a couple of years Tighe (pronounced “Tie”) has risen from the rank and file of edged weapons artisans to the rarefied air of the top 10 elite”. 

From: American Handgunner By Pat Covert

A boy destined to become a brilliant knifemaker was brought to life in 1954 in Brantford, Canada. This man has been honing his skills for 30 years, making award-winning knives of great quality. His products with daring design and shapes, well thought and flawless manufacturing and finish are easily recognizable.

With a metallurgical education behind his shoulders, the master features knowledge in building, architecture, mechanical and thermal processing of metals. Besides wide knowledge, the author owes a great sense of style and understanding of knife design thanks to which Brian’s works have not been going out of style for more than 25 years.

Master does not set any boundaries of his work but in recent years he is mostly concentrated on producing custom tactical folders. He manages to combine technological materials with modern styling.

You won’t find two similar knives. Every tool is unique. Although there are some basic models yet with not a single duplicated finish.

For his knives the master uses original locks.

During the manufacturing process Brian  uses top quality materials such as various metals (titanium, powder and stainless steels, alloyed Damascus from Damasteel AB), zirconium, carbon. To embellish his products master adds a particular substance — luminescent carbon fiber which is a special type of carbon with phosphorescent threads. It won’t save you in the jungle at night but if you use a tactical folder as a practical outdoor tool (as it’s meant to be used), this additional feature would be useful in the dark.

One more author’s know-how is a San Mai technique with carbon overlays. We wouldn’t judge the practical side of this feature but it looks really cool and futuristic. However, if you ask Brian about the practical qualities of his knives, he would respond normally in this way: “Try my knife out during one day everywhere you might need it, from forest to kitchen, and make sure of its convenience and reliability yourself.”

Certain well-known in the knife world printings (such as «Knives Illustrated», «BLADE magazine», «Tactical Knives» и «American Handgunner») featured Tighe’s folders on their pages. As four books “The World of Art Knives” by David Darom did. Brian was honored twice (in 2010 and 2012) with the “Most Innovative Design” award at the BLADE show.

Collaboration with Columbia River Knife and Tool (CRKT) and Spyderco Knives pushed him to move forward which he did and started his own business in 2016: Brian Tighe & Friends. The company is particularly experienced in bringing avant-garde and upper-level technologies to the mid-tech knife market making budget, efficient folders. Brian and his team assemble the knives by hand in Canada while parts of the tools are produced in the USA. 

Its 3rd prize for the “Most Innovated Design” company won at the BLADE show. In 2017 they presented a breakthrough — automatic folding knife. The first of its kind.

Besides knifemaking Brian is professionally into photography as well. His pictures get periodically published in printings such as “BLADE magazine” and “Knives Illustrated”. Tighe is a man with a soul of an innovator and a heart of a mentor. The master joyfully shares his knowledge and regularly conducts master classes for novice photographers and knifemakers.