{"id":15930,"date":"2018-03-28T19:08:48","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T19:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/28\/need-a-new-knife-check-out-these-2-blades-designed-by-wounded-warriors\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:36:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:36:23","slug":"need-a-new-knife-check-out-these-2-blades-designed-by-wounded-warriors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/off-duty\/2018\/03\/28\/need-a-new-knife-check-out-these-2-blades-designed-by-wounded-warriors\/","title":{"rendered":"Need a new knife? Check out these 2 blades designed by wounded warriors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A line of knives designed by combat-wounded veterans, under the guidance of a master bladesmith, has its second entry \u2014 a utility knife brought to life by a retired Navy SEAL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery<\/a> has teamed with Winkler Knives on a line of blades they\u2019re calling the American Hero Series. Military members design the knives with the help of Daniel Winkler<\/a>, who has crafted many knives for personal carry by special operations personnel since making his first knife in 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The series was created to honor American heroes, from military operators to first responders, and those who support them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A look at the Recurve Utility No. 6, designed by Navy SEAL veteran Harold Bologna. (Manufacturer photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The second knife in the series, the Recurve Utility No. 6<\/a>, was designed by retired Master Chief Petty Officer Harold Bologna, past member of multiple Navy SEAL teams. Bologna served 22 years in uniform and returned to the war zone shortly after retirement, working with a team as a contractor. In October 2015, he stepped on an improvised explosive device in southern Afghanistan, resulting in the loss of both legs above the knee. He credits quick work by his teammates and dust-off crew for saving his life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d never made a knife,\u201d Bologna said. \u201cThis was a new experience for me, but I\u2019d had a lot of experience carrying knives from the time I was a kid in the Boy Scouts to going on operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said determining which knife to take was an important first consideration on any mission, noting that he sometimes carried Winkler knives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bologna values versatility. He decided to design a utility knife \u2014 a heavy knife, substantial enough to whack down small trees to make a clearing for a lean-to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted it thick all the way along the blade and spine, enough to be able to hammer in a tent stake,\u201d he said. \u201cIt needed to whittle and shave wood for fires.<\/p>\n\n\n\t