Amtac Blades makes fixed blade knives for backcountry and combative use.
The Northman: 3.5″ blade, The NorthmanX: 3.5″ blade, The Minuteman: 4″ blade, The Upgraded Magnus: 5″ blade
About
Amtac Blades started as a conversation between myself and my friend the “Northman”. I wanted a fixed blade knife that would fit in my front pocket to replace the folding knife that was currently filling the role of my cutting tool.
We talked for a while and then a few weeks later a knife showed up in the mail. Over the next year and a half, we continued to test, modify, and refine until we had something that met my initial vision. The Amtac Blades Northman.
I want to make clear that I was not alone in designing this knife. I provided an overall vision as to what I wanted to see and then guys that are much better than me provided input and technical know-how to make this happen.
Special thanks to “Northman” actual, Tuhon Tom Kier, and Jake Hoback for providing guidance and technical know-how. Also thanks to all of my students that provided feedback and to all of the warriors and soldiers that came before us and collectively passed on their combative knowledge to make us better.
Bill Rapier
Amtac Blade’s owner is Bill Rapier. He is recently retired after twenty years in the Navy, where his duty assignments included several years at SEAL Team 3 and over 14 years at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Positions held include assaulter, breacher, sniper, team leader, troop chief, and military working dog department senior enlisted adviser. He has always been an avid shooter and is heavily involved in combatives.
Bill Rapier also owns Amtac Shooting.