Jason Ritchie is from Hanover, Illinois. He is a former Marine and has spent the last 20 years as a full-time Railroad Signalman. As a part-time traditional slip-joint knifemaker, he built his first knife in 2020. Jason got started in the knife industry by doing production knife handle modifications to Case and Great Eastern Cutlery knives a year earlier. To look at and handle one of Jason’s knives you would never know he has only been making knives for a handful of years, let alone the fact that he is self-taught. His work is that of a much more experienced knifemaker. Jason draws his inspiration from the late, great Tony Bose, as well as from Reese Bose. His attention to detail and fit-and-finish are testament to his commitment to his craft. Jason is one of those new makers who should be on every slip-joint collector’s radar. Windy City Knives is privileged to work with Jason.
This is Jason’s Wilfred Lock-Back Prototype. This is the very first lock-back that Jason has made, and he knocked it out of the park! The blade is hand ground CPM154 stainless steel. The blade has been cryogenically treated and tested at 63 HRC. The liners, lanyard hole, Remington Bullet shield and pins are all 410 stainless steel. The scales are two perfectly done pieces of hand-jigged Westinghouse Brown Paper Micarta, done by Jason. There is an ample nail nick. There is no play in the blade in the open position, and it sits centered between the liners when closed. Included with the knife is a Horween Leather slip made by HW Leather, Jason’s COA and a generic padded zipper storage case.
