First is the big sets, along with my satin Gladius from Blade:


Next, the "black blades":


And the others in my haul:


I ended up calling Amy at the shop and asking about a price adjustment on the Swamp Rat EH3 Mojo -- I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't wanted it enough to pay what I did, but I really do think it was mis-marked and $20 is a couple meals out. As you may be able to see in the picture above, the tag wasn't one of their normal round ones; I suspect the original one fell off and another was made up on the fly with a guess at the price. Still, it was surprising to see a 2007 military overrun make an appearance at the Fall 2010 show. Here's a close-up of the marking "EH3" and what appears to be a gavel -- it could be a snow shovel, but I'm going with gavel. Eric still won't say anything about the unit they were made for, and I haven't been able to find anything online:


Finally, here are a couple pictures of the Taz Rat, first, here's a picture of it with a BWM and BOSS Jack to show the size:


Next, the in hand picture. As Jeff surmised, the raised portion of the handle hits at about where the center of the palm indents. For me, it hits a bit better if I choke up on the knife than if I center the handle, but different people have different shaped hands. As has been mentioned, lighting at the hotel was pretty bad, and I initially thought it was tanker. However, it's too light to be tanker and too dark for sage -- maybe urban gray. Anyway, it's the not-tan version and I need to go mail it to Jeff:

Great Pics, Jim!!! You did good on the scores! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

That's a perfect pic of the Taz in hand too, that's exactly what I was thinkin! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again for your help, I can't wait to get it and see how it fits in the hand for myself!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I always wondered about those EH3's and stuff myself... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Love the jackhammer..sweet blade.

Cool there was a bird dog there too!

Thank for sharing the goods!

As I was packing up the Taz Rat, I held it a little differently and found another grip that may be useful:


Sliding your hand back so that the palm's thumb swell (I don't know what the proper name for it would be) is at the back of the handle and the thumb rides on the top fits well. I think this grip might work well for batoning, and that the blade's spine curve would tend to help direct the force of baton strikes appropriately. The Taz Rat didn't sing to me at first, but grew on me after a while. I might pick one or two up next show, but I'm officially done for a while.

It's on the way, Jeff.

Sounding better all the time!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for your incite, Jim, looks like Eric was right! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now I'm lookin forward to it even more!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

BTW, there's been a lot of speculation about those handles, so I borrowed your in the hand pics and posted then on the Rat forum, I hope you don't mind, Jim. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I felt like this knife's design deserved some credit and feedback from someone that had actually held one. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Thanks again, Jim! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Great haul Jim, and nice report too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Nice haul Jim.
Thanks for the info & pics.

About $200 fo the Taz? Arch's photos next to the CW makes it look like a mean fighter to me.

Hey, it's your knife; I assumed that you would prefer to see pictures ASAP, but it was suggested (by my Mom) that I might have imposed by posting pictures of your knife rather than letting you be the one to unveil it. I have no objections to sharing the pics on another board and hope that you don't mind me taking them in the first place. I considered posting either the pics, or a link to them over on BladeForums because it didn't seem like they were getting as much news (other than Eric's posts) as I'd expected. However, I had to run out for a couple hours, and haven't gotten around to it yet.

Aw, Jim. You are giving me serious INFI Envy! Stop it please! Great pics!

The Desert War Set is KILLER!