Matt Lamey Bootlegger

Sometimes you don’t know how a knife will feel until you’ve actually handled it. This ten inch bladed fighter by Matt Lamey is another example of his phenomenal knives. I hesitated to buy it at first because of the broad shaped handle. My first thought was it looked like a moose palm (section of antler), sometimes used to make knife handles. The handle resembles those on Ed Fowler’s knives, whose work people tell me is very ergonomic, but which I personally don’t like the looks of. Trusting in Matt to not build a knife which did not work, I bought this knife that he calls his “Bootlegger”. In cross-section the handle is quite thin, made of black Micarta©. It has just enough palm swell to make it fill the hand. Usually a fighting knife is manipulated primarily between the thumb, forefinger, and second finger. This knife works more like a Japanese sword with the grip of the last two fingers being emphasized more. However you look at it, it works.

The blade has a working finish created by polishing on a Scotch-Bright belt. There is a broad, fairly plain, hamon lurking under the coarse surface. Typical of a Lamey Fighter, or Bowie, the primary edge is hair shaving sharp and the long clip is nearly as sharp. A forward-swept double-guard made of 410 stainless provides good protection and a comfortable fit for the thumb. The shape is also very aesthetically pleasing. Matt’s guards are always perfectly fitted and nicely sculpted. The ricasso is also well formed and properly sized. His name, deeply stamped in script, makes a bold statement and adds a distinctive touch of class to his knives.

The sheath is plain Jane, just the way Matt knows I like them. Quality, not flash, is what I want in a sheath. Perfectly fitted to the blade and guard, with heavy leather, burnished edges, and neat stitching, what more do you really need in a sheath? Yes I am glad I bought this Bootlegger model to be a part of my Lamey collection. Keep watching here for my custom ordered “Big” Bowie from Matt with a 12 inch blade. Yes I am still waiting and he has kept me in nervous anticipation since I have not seen any photos since the first rough forging of the blade (top knife in the photo of two blades). The suspense is nearly killing me.