Jake Hoback Creates Knives That Are Truly Out Of This World, Including One That Nasa May Send Into Space
This year, while at the 2017 BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia, I got to spend some time with Jake Hoback of Jake Hoback Knives.
As we ate lunch and talked, I was immensely impressed with the vast wealth of knowledge Jake has about all things knives, metallurgy, folding mechanisms and other topics I can’t even remember enough about to comment on. But what really impressed me the most, was how humble he was, in spite of his near-computer-like brain. Or so I thought.
It was when the topic turned to the Paraclete—a new model Jake created to prototype the zero-gravity folding mechanism—that I knew this story had to be written. After all, it isn’t every day you get to spend time with a maker designing a prototype knife with aspirations to submit it to NASA for consideration to take it to space.
But, I’ll let him tell you about himself and the Paraclete in his own words. —JS
KI: How did you come to speak with NASA about the zero-gravity folder?
JH: I have a good friend who is the lead engineer for NASA JPL, he has been a great help in getting me on the right path with what would be needed in space travel. So, I spent a bunch of time down at JPL discussing different questions with NASA engineers. I have not brought them a design as of yet, as I wanted to use the Paraclete knife model as a proving ground for some very specific ideas on lock/bearing/ lightweight design before going ahead with a knife made specifically for space travel. Now that the research/ idea-exchange phase is over, I am designing a knife from scratch that will better accommodate specific needs for space travel.
KI: What are some of the considerations that arise when designing a folder for zero gravity?
Bu hikaye Knives Illustrated dergisinin November 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Knives Illustrated dergisinin November 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
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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.
