Warren, Michigan was the home of the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant where they made one quarter of the 89,568 Sherman tanks used during World War II as well as the modern M-1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT). It’s still the home of the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM). With a history like that, you’ve got to expect some tough stuff to come out of Warren. Enter local knife maker Nick Allen. I first handled one of Nick Allen’s knives while on a camping trip last fall. I was immediately impressed with the obvious craftsmanship and strength of the design. You could tell that this was a working blade—elegant in its simplicity, yet it had a distinctive style to it. I wasn’t home from that trip very long before I contacted Nick to discuss doing a review of his knives.

About The Maker
Nick Allen is a 35-year-old knife maker who lives and works in Warren, Michigan. His current knife shop is part of the building where he is employed as a metric fasteners and cutting tools salesman. He doesn’t claim any special skills or background, but he says he is a perfectionist and that he won’t hesitate to start a project over if it isn’t done just right.