Mad Dog Knives (MDK) are
made by American knifemaker Kevin McClung's shop in Prescott, Arizona.
All Mad Dog Knives and their sheaths are handmade. The steel used
is Starrett 496-O1 high carbon tool steel which is given an expert
heat treatment process that includes hardening, stress relieving/tempering,
and selectively tempering. As a result of this proprietary process,
the blades all have an edge with hardness 62-63 HRc and a hardness
of 50-54 HRc at the tip, spine, and tang. This heat treatment ensures
excellent edge holding while preventing tip breakage and maintaining
a certain degree of flexibility on the softer spine which improves
the toughness of the knife. All blades are electroplated with a
thick layer of hard chrome to improve knife's abrasion and corrosion
resistance.
The grips are designed to be ergonomic and comfortable. They feature
an index finger groove which allows the user to feel the position
of the knife even without seeing it. The material used is a black
proprietary glass fabric/epoxy composite with a compressive yield
of 79000 psi is pressure bonded to the hidden full tang. Really
tough stuff that can (and has) easily taken the impact of a .45
caliber bullet. The handle composite is also impervious to heat
and nearly all chemicals and solvents. The handle electrically isolates
the user from the blade which is extremely important when working
around live wires.
Mad Dog Knives became an important part of cutlery history when
the Mad Dog
ATAK (Advanced Tactical Assault Knife) won the knife selection contest
held in 1992 by the West Coast Seals. After this victory, Mad Dog
Knives was presented with the U.S. Navy Sole Source Justification.
