William Harsey Jr. (born 1955)[1] is an American knifemaker and designer who works with several knife companies, includingGerber Legendary Blades, Lone Wolf Knives, Spartan Blades, Ruger/CRKT, Fantoni, andChris Reeve Knives.
Harsey is a custom knife maker, designing and crafting one-of-a-kind folding and fixed blade knives, often to order. InBattle Blades, author Greg Walker identifies Harsey as producing superb edges and blade finishes on his knives, as well as making knives specifically forAl Mar and ColonelRex Applegate.[2] Even so, he is best known for his collaboration projects, in which he serves as knife designer for various knife companies.[3]
Harsey collaborated withColonel Rex Applegate to design Gerber's Applegate-Fairbairn line.[4] He worked with Chief James Watson to design Gerber's Watson/Harvey Silver Trident and worked withChris Reeve and Matt Larsen to design theLHR Combat Knife. Harsey designed theNeil Roberts Warrior Knife, which is dedicated to the memory of Petty Officer First Class Neil Roberts, who was killed in actionAfghanistan in 2002[5] and the Pacific / First Group Knife, commemorating the 50th anniversary of theU.S. Army Special Forces in Asia.[6]
One of Harsey's most significant designs was that of the Yarborough Knife, which is named after Lt. Gen.William P. Yarborough, known as the "father of modern Special Forces.".[7] The Yarborough Knife is presented at the beginning in August 2002 to each graduate of theUnited States ArmySpecial Forces Qualification Course, with each of these knives possessing its own serial number, and logged in an official record book maintained by theUnited States Army Special Operations Command.[7] The honor of the Yarborough Knife has become nearly equivalent to that of the Green Beret.[8] To quote theUSASOC News Service, "As each Green Beret crosses the stage upon graduation of the SFQC, he receives a legacy of the Brotherhood of Special Forces, signing in the pages of an illustrious history, shared by a select few. Only a few short years after its conception, the honor of the Yarborough Knife has now become almost as large of a part of the heritage and tradition of Special Forces as the Green Beret, and has been shared with a small number of dignitaries such as President George W. Bush.".[8]
1996 InternationalBlade Show "American Made Knife of the Year"[4] ("Applegate Fairbairn Combat Folder", designed by Harsey and manufactured byGerber Legendary Blades)
2003 International Blade Show "Collaboration Knife of the Year"[9] ("The Green Beret Knife", designed by Harsey and manufactured byChris Reeve Knives)
2004 Field and Stream Magazine "Best of the Best" Award[10] ("Harsey Tactical Ranger Folder", designed by Harsey and manufactured by Lone Wolf Knives)
2007 International Blade Show "American Made Knife of the Year"[11] ("The Pacific Knife", designed by Harsey and manufactured byChris Reeve Knives)
2008 Field and Stream Magazine "Best of the Best" Award[12] ("The Pacific Knife")
2010 International Blade Show "Collaboration of the Year" with Spartan Blades, LLC[13]
2010 USASOC Sniper Vendor Competition Winner
2016 International Blade Show "American Made Knife of the Year"[14]
