Weiland Reese

American knifemaker of stylish custom knives Reese Weiland

Reese Weiland is an American knifemaker, creator of wonderful custom items. His fixed blade knives amaze with the accuracy of their balancing, folders surprise with their quaint shape and design.

Reese got interested in knives when he was a kid. Like every other boy, he dreamed about his weapon. His fantasies didn’t go further than a knife collection till one day a relative came to visit his family on New Year’s Eve. Weiland’s uncle has always been an adventure-seeker. Even though he never found Troy, he had dug up a couple of old-time things. This Indiana Jones had one more passion – knifemaking. The amateur archeologist was crafting knives out of saw blades. Reese was 12 those days, he was fascinated by his uncle and got the urge to make his own knife.

For Christmas, Reese received from his uncle a book on how to make knives and got down to business. In his father's backyard, the young boy picked up a piece of junk, worked with it for several days, and voila – a knife-like tool was born. The young knifemaker proudly brought his work to the uncle and got complimented for the debut. 

Since then Reese Weiland couldn’t imagine his life without knifemaking. Like many others, he started with producing fixed blade knives. In 1988 he became a member of Knifemaker’s Guild, the following year he made his first folder. Today 90 percent of Reese’s products are folding knives. American folders from Reese Weiland are very popular among collectors.

The author’s imagination has no limits, he always experiments with the form and design of a knife. It won’t be easy to find common typical characteristics of master’s fixed blade knives. Fixed blades are the embodiment of Weiland’s boldest ideas.

Reese would make an Italian fusetto dagger, then inspired by a rural sickle would similarly curve a blade, he will continue with a medieval sword then out of a sudden would attach a knife handle to a halberd. Nepali kukri, Japanese tanto, Persian kard – looks like there’s nothing you can’t find in Weiland’s works.

Unlike fixed blades, folders have common form and design characteristics still being presented in a great variety. The author is in love with a curved Hawk blade shape resembling either a bird’s beak or claw. You will find this form in the most famous author’s works. Leopard features classic hawk, Rastor DA looks like a toucan due to the false edge lifted above the spine.

Weiland’s design trick is folders with 2 blades. They are usually located on both sides of the handle like in models Bat and Fire Eagle. But there are exceptions. One of them – Wolverine knife, not a practical but very intriguing knife. It features an automatic opening system — one more of the author’s tricks. A massive push button located in the massive handle throws two claw-blades out in one tap. It really looks like the weapon of one famous cartoon character. The blades are manually folded after two-liner locks are unblocked. 

Products of the American master might be conditionally divided into two categories: “aristocrats” and “workers”. The first ones feature premium materials and décor that naturally affected the price. In those models, such materials are often used: mastodon bone, pearl, elephant tusk, and rare wood. A blade is usually formed from the author’s Damascus or laminate. The thumb stud might be decorated with a cabochon from precious stones.

“Aristocrats” have various mechanics: automatic, semi-automatic, and even switch-mode. However, a blade is usually fixed by a liner lock which leaves the external part of the handle motionless and gives more space for decoration. Reese quite often uses bolster or a combination of front and back bolsters in decoration.

“Workers” usually feature frame locks. These powerful folders that often weigh over 400 grams are bereft of décor. The long textured backspacer of an “aristocrat” shrinks to a strong small detail in these models. A handle is made of titanium and its composites. Large thick blades are as if made for chopping. You can’t kill these fearsome brutal tools with aggressive use.

Maria Stalina Knives' shop presents a wide collection of customs from Reese Weiland. We have clawed Wasp, brutal Slasher, and many others. Contact our phone number +7 (812) 676-33-47 and our manager will help you choose one of Reese Weiland’s knives to your liking.