A perfect concealed carry companion.
Brian Biegler is a Texas man who has amassed considerable experience and knowledge about Southeast Asia.For much of 10 years, Brian traveled and lived there.
When I interviewed Brian at his shop in Dallas, Texas, I found him to be soft-spoken and highly intelligent. He told me he has always loved martial arts and the feel of a good knife. He explained that he had been making his own knives for the better part of 15 years. That experience led to the design of the Covert Custom Knife.
Student Turned Teacher
As Brian advanced to the top of his martial arts training, he began training with masters who supplemented sticks with knives and other edged weapons. It turns out that Brian is a highly skilled Thai-boxer who has taught this martial art in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is nothing short of amazing that a Westerner was teaching Thai-boxing to Thai students.
Brian went to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to continue his studies and to achieve his goal of getting his doctorate in biomedical science (biomedical science is an applied science for furthering public health, finding cures for diseases and other similar types of research). In fact, he was the first Westerner to receive a doctorate in science at Chiang Mai University.
The Third Time is the Charm
As a Westerner living and traveling throughout Southeast Asia, Brian became aware of personal security concerns. He soon found a need for an easily carried, fixed-blade knife—one he could carry concealed. He could not find a suitable fixed blade he felt he could rely on. As a result, he decided to design and make a custom, everyday companion. Brian was a researcher by nature and via his academic pursuits, so he studied ethnographic blades in places such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and, of course, Thailand.
This story is from the July-August 2017 edition of Knives Illustrated.
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This story is from the July-August 2017 edition of Knives Illustrated.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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TIP TALK
UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLADE TIP SHAPES AND WHY IT MATTERS
HOLDING FIRM
GETTING A GRIP ON KNIFE HANDLE BENEFITS, MATERIALS, AND FUNCTIONALITY
EDGE UP
TIPS, TRICKS, AND TECHNIQUES TO SHARP WHEN ADVENTURING FAR FROM HOME
THE COMBAT KITCHEN
SLICE, DICE, CHOP, AND CUT: FOOD PREP WITH BLADES FROM POPULAR TACTICAL KNIFE COMPANIES
MORAKNIV Classics
THESE TIMELESS BUSHCRAFT KNIVES HAVE BEEN UPDATED AND ARE BETTER THAN EVER
ONE FOR THE ROAD
CHOOSING AN “EVERYWHERE KNIFE” CAN BE DIFFICULT DUE TO COMPLICATED KNIFE LAWS
TRAVELING LIGHT
SOMETIMES, INEXPENSIVE UTILITY BLADES YOU PICK UP AT YOUR DESTINATION CAN GET THE JOB DONE
MATCHED PAIR
JB KNIFE WORKS LAYMAN KNIFE AND GAMBIT HATCHET COMBO: ONE PICKS UP WHERE THE OTHER LEAVES OFF
WHEN BIGGER IS BETTER
THE CAS IBERIA CHOP HOUSE IS A MACHETE THAT PROVIDES BIG BLADE CUTTING POWER
KITCHEN KNIVES DON'T HAVE TO BE DULL
I have a confession to make. See if this sounds familiar. I take meticulous care of the knives I use for everyday carry, hunting, and general woods wandering. I wipe them down with an oily cloth after use and I never let them get too dull. Seldom do I have to restore a damaged edge. Most of the time I simply touch up the edges of my pocketknives with a few careful strokes across the rough bottom of a ceramic coffee cup. That’s usually all that’s needed. I don’t use my knives as screwdrivers or pry bars. As a matter of fact, I still have the very first knife I ever owned, an old Boy Scout knife that was handed down from my older brother. The blades have a deep patina that comes with using carbon steel over the years, but the knife is very usable still.
