The stylish custom Black Dolphin knife by Allen Elishewitz
Russian knife style is recognized worldwide, and foreign makers follow its evolution with genuine interest. The knife's author, Allen Elishewitz, gave this piece its name — Black Dolphin — during his visit to Russia for the Moscow International Arms & Hunting Exhibition in 2016. After the show, the Master spent a week in Petersburg with Maria and her father, exploring the sights and museums of our beloved city. It was then that two of his new knives received their names — White Swan and Black Dolphin — in honor of a different kind of Russian "landmark." The idea came from Maria herself.
Now, about the knife. The Dolphin features a damascus steel blade with a striking wavy pattern. Its shape sits at the intersection of Eastern ethnic blade forms and the modern Western interpretation of the Japanese tanto — the so-called "American tanto." The flats and tang of the blade are matte-finished.
The handle liners are crafted from titanium with deep blue anodizing. The bolster is timascus with a banded coloration ranging from sea-green to violet-blue. The scale material is marble carbon fiber.
The backspacer is titanium with a beadblast finish. The pocket clip is stainless steel with a moving bead of anodized titanium. The pivot runs on bronze washers.
A few years ago, the phrase "fashionable knife" might have sounded odd. But the knife community in Russia and around the world is alive and thriving — and as in any art form, knifemaking gives rise to trends, entire subcultures, and schools of thought. The sharp, predatory lines and rich detailing of the Black Dolphin are characteristic of the American style of knifemaking, of which Allen is a veteran.
The Maria Stalina Knives catalog also features other works by this American maker, including the White Swan in both EDC and premium versions.
