Greg Moffatt is a classically trained furniture maker whose love for sharp objects took over about two years ago. Greg’s fascination with knives and other sharp tools coupled with his determination to find knives that look as good as they function led him to start making his own knives to fulfill that very purpose. Once you observe the beauty and craftsmanship put into Greg’s knives, it comes as no surprise that industry experts would begin coming to him to build and design specialized tactical knives.
The Scuto, Latin for shield, was designed at the request of Dean Sherman of Direction of Force. Dean wanted an EDC (Every-Day Carry) fixed-blade that was wide and sturdy, yet small enough to be considered low-visibility and suitable for concealed carry. Dean’s specifications for a wider blade with an aggressively rugged tanto-style point came to fruition in this thick-stock, full-tang knife.
I discussed the intent of the blade design at length with Dean, who explained to me that the wider blade profile was important to offer the force delivery that his approach to combat blade requires. In addition to being a Tactical Weapons and Combatives Instructor, Dean is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and an Industrial Ergonomist and consultant. Dean incorporates his understanding of biomechanics and physiology into his tactical training programs, and this is reflected in the Scuto design.
Greg was kind enough to send me a Scuto to review and I was very happy to get my hands on it. I think many times people fail to recognize the significance of a knifemaker giving away one of their knives, even if it is for the purpose of having a review published. These guys put their blood and sweat into every blade they make. There is nothing easy about it and they definitely don’t get rich doing it. When it comes to hand-made custom knives, I consider every one of them an honor to hold in my hand. So while there is quite a bit of work involved on my end, I never want take what these guys do for granted, and for that reason I want to take this moment to say thank you to Greg and all the other knife-makers who have entrusted me with their blades. Now, back to the review.
The Scuto is made from polished 1095 high-carbon steel. It boasts a thick 3/16” stock with a 1 ½” wide, 3 3/16” long hollow ground blade that sweeps into tanto point. An aggressively angled swedge adds even more dimension to the unique profile of the Scuto by forming a spear point/tanto hybrid. What you end up with is a large-belied knife that has some of the penetration qualities of a tanto. In other words, maximum trauma is this knife’s forte.
The black G-10 handle of the Scuto is beautifully texturized to offer a positive gripping surface. The forward finger groove and extended guard provide a solid hand stop. Three silver handle pins contrast nicely with the dark G-10. The pyramid-shaped pommel, which is blended flawlessly with the handle scales, serves as both a glass breaker and impact device, while the lanyard hole near the top aids with weapon retention when used with paracord. There is also some very nicely machined jimping on the spine for thumb-supported cutting.
The biomechanically sound handle is short enough to reduce potential disarm leverage, but long enough for delivering pommel strikes with the impact point extended just past the hand. The Scuto fits the hand like a glove in either forward or reverse grip configurations. Interestingly, a feature that went into the Scuto’s concept of design was the ability to use the knife in an ulnar deviation reverse grip with the blade supported by the forearm, while still allowing for full blade delivery. This is made possible by the handle shape and the wide, large-bellied blade.
The Scuto comes with a molded Kydex sheath with soft loops set up for horizontal belt carry. This sheath system is ideal for small-of-the-back carry where the knife can be concealed fairly well. The 8 3/8” overall length of the Scuto makes it small enough for concealed carry, but large enough to be a reckoning force against any attacker. In the words of Dean Sherman, “Sometimes the best shield is a pointed one, because nothing curbs violent behavior like a loss of arterial blood pressure and severed tendons.”
You can order the Scuto directly from Greg Moffatt Knives for $240.00. Be sure to check out Greg’s Instagram feed as well for some great photos of his work. You might also like to check out the Direction of Force Instagram feed as well.
Photo Credits: Chad McBroom
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