INTRODUCTION

The US Navy SEAL Teams were having major corrosion and strength problems with their dive knives.  In late 1992, because of this problem, I was invited to meet with US Navy SEAL Teams 1, 3, and 5 to discuss knife design issues. US Navy SEAL knife requirements were discussed in depth at this first meeting. I was then asked to return to host an hour-long presentation. Additionally, I was given the name of the SEAL Team 1 RDT&E officer to use as a "sponsor". In other words, this person was assigned to assist in answering questions and helping to make the knife discussions a success. To prepare for this second meeting, viewgraphs were prepared which discussed: knife design issues, requirements vs. metals comparison matrix. In the knife design issues section of the presentation I was preparing, I put together 10 viewgraphs that went into great detail discussing all aspects of usage vs. design. Included were thickness of the knife, blade shape, blade geometry, handle construction, etc. In the comparison section, I also prepared a matrix that evaluated each of their requirements (weight, corrosion resistance, non-magnetic properties, non-reflectivity properties, edge holding ability, strength and durability) and gave a numerical score for each of the most popular knife making metals including titanium used throughout the knife-making industry. After much research and discussion with the SEALs and chief metallurgists from the top steel and titanium mills, I was able to fill in this matrix with accurate scoring data. To my surprise, titanium actually scored the highest. The only drawback was its raw material cost.

DISCUSSION

At the start of this second meeting, I gave handouts to the attendees and then placed the first viewgraph on the machine. It was the introductory page. The second viewgraph went right into a detailed discussion of knife design. I even brought some of my custom-made knife samples. Two minutes into the discussion, a consultant that SpecWarGru1 had brought in from SpecWarGru2 to evaluate knife issues stood up and said, "How many of those design charts do you have?" I said, "About 9 more." He then said, "Please skip to the next section. We will tell you what we want the knife to look like." We then spent the next two hours discussing the "requirements vs. metals comparison matrix." After the meeting was over and most attendees left, the CO, RDT&E officer and the consultant came over and discussed the real reason why they invited me. They said they have been looking for a "one-knife-does-all" and they think that their design and my titanium would be the solution. Furthermore, they said that they were starting to have problems getting knives in from the current knife contract winner. They gave me a piece of paper that was a drawing of the MadDog SEAL ATAK and here is how the conversation went: SEALs - Here, this is what we want you to build for us. Rick - This looks like someone else's design. I do not feel comfortable copying it. SEALs - We consider this our design. We worked a lot with the other manufacturer, and we have put in at least as much time as he did. Worst case, we own 50% of the ATAK design. Rick - Again, there might be other legal issues. I propose that we use this as a starting point and get feedback and input from all of the team members and refine the design. You know, kind of like a Mod1. SEALs - Sounds like a good idea, but, the final knife is to have the same basic design and shape.

FURTHER DEVELOPEMENTS

After all of the discussions were over, I was asked to come back to give another presentation discussing more detailed information on titanium and to provide some working samples. I said OK, but the sample(s) would be made out of steel, and that I would be more than happy to produce a titanium knife as soon as there was a clear understanding as to what the requirements and design would be. They said they really wanted to see a titanium knife and they were not interested in steel. I said OK and proceeded to build the first 10 prototype MPKs in titanium. These original titanium MPKs sported a wrapped Kevlar cloth handle. During this period, the RDT&E officer and myself also worked on a parallel effort.   We put together a requirements paper that had all of their desired requirements all in one place.  This was then used as the first page of the "Combat Utility Knife" evaluation RFP (Request for Proposal). In mid 1993, during the third formal meeting, I delivered these first prototype MPKs (5 Titanium prototype MPKs and 5 ATS-34 Stainless Steel prototype MPKs) to the RD&T officer. He issued them out and they immediately started testing. During this 120 day testing period, MPK handle prototype testing also commenced, as well as lo-mu (non-magnetic properties) testing of the knife. I made a wood mockup of what the shape of the handle was going to be.  I would take the wood handle mockup and ask them to provide feedback. They would have everyone hold it, then give it back to me with comments. Add more here, take some off there, change the curve like this, etc. What we ended up with is a handle that "melts our hand."

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