I own a Tactical Filer, a necker, and a friction folder from Michael. These knives are of excellent quality and are a bargain at the prices he sells for. Also he seldom uses old files but rather buys new Nicholson files to make these knives. After making each blade he heat treats them. His knives sharpen easily and hold a great edge.
Thanks for the response. It looked like on the website pics, there were two lengths of the tactical filer. Does the one you have seem to be the desired lenth?
Well...there wasn't a choice when I bought mine...that is the first Tactical Filer he made in my pic. But I did buy it because I liked the blade length and the very utilitarian style of the knife. It is hollow ground which I like and which many stock removal makers don't do. The grinds were perfect and it fit my hand very well without there seeming to be any hotspots. I see he no longer offers it on his website but offers the Watchman and the MAK 10.5. The MAL10.5 is very similar and I like the lanyard hole on it. He doesn't mention it on his website but these are beefy knives, the spine on mine is 3/16ths of an inch thick. The tip has plenty of cure to it for use as a skinning knife and it does take a wicked edge.
The leather sheath is very stout as well, made from what looks to be the shoulder of the hide.
Michael seems to be a cleaverly kept secret, I don't know why. For the money, his knives are as good as you can get, and he is an excellent craftsman. I have three of his knives, one of which is my own design that he helped me to refine. All three are instant heirlooms. You simply can't go wrong with one of Michael's knives.
This is one we talked about making, I told Michael what I wanted and a few weeks later it was delivered. It is an example of a very successful collaboration that can happen when maker and customer talk and listen to each other. It is the longest blade he has made so far and it turned out absolutely as I envisioned it.
That is my Tactical Filer and the first of that pattern Michael made. Today it has been replaced in the line up by the Watchman 10.5, it will come with one of his excellent hand stitched sheaths.
EDIT:
I've been talking with Michael over email for 4 days now. We've finalized the design and he is ready for production (his turnaround time these days is 3 months). He has been really helpful over email, and has answered 100% of my issues and concerns. If you are considering working with him, do it! (actually don't, my belter with micarta scales might take longer! )
Michael places orders from military personnel at the front of the list so his lead times can run a bit long, when working on mine it got put on the back burner while he filled an oder for a handful of knives for some troops heading oversea. I know I am personally to blame for part of that backlog...lol...I have shown many folks my knives from Micheal and I know several who have orders in now.