A lifetime of experience as a knife user is reflected in Blackwell Customs’ creations.

The custom designs of Texas knife-maker Zane Blackwell have been gaining a lot of attention recently. The mix of quality design materials and Blackwell Customs’ commitment to creating a truly customized blade for every customer caught the eye of Tactical Knives’ Durwood Hollis, who tested some of the knife-maker’s current offerings for the March 2014 issue of TK.

“Zane likes to use whitetail deer antler as handle-scale material, but he also works with a number of different stabilized woods,” Hollis noted in his recent review. “Knife sheaths are made from top-grade saddle leather, with or without ornamentation as desired. The bottom line is, Zane isn’t satisfied with his work until the customer is happy.” When taken on the trail, Hollis put Blackwell Customs’ designs to the test on a boar hunt. The results were nearly flawless. According to Hollis, “I used the ebony-handled, drop-point knife to eviscerate the boar, and the 440C blade cut through hide, cartilage and viscera without any problem.” Hollis went on to say, “I credit this not only to Zane Blackwell’s expertise as a knife-maker but also to his lifetime of experience as a knife user.”

For the full review, check out the March 2014 issue of Tactical Knives, available on newsstands and digitally November 19, 2013. To subscribe, go to /.