A Fighter from a Cutlery Hall of Fame Master
Few names carry more weight in custom knives than Jim Sornberger. In 2020, he was formally inducted into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame — the highest honor in the world of knives. This fighter shows exactly why.
Watch This Knife in Action
Watch our hands-on video of the Jim Sornberger Fighter below. In it, you’ll see the double hollow ground satin blade catch the light. You’ll also get close-ups of both engraved eagle bolsters and the basket weave carved mammoth ivory. Press play and see why a Sornberger fighter belongs in any serious collection.
The Maker Behind the Blade
Sornberger has been a successful knifemaker, engraver, and gold and silversmith since the early 1970s. He works from Volcano, California, deep in Gold Rush country. Fittingly, he is famous for California Gold Rush period work and San Francisco dress knives. Today, he is considered one of only a few experts on original California pieces. He stands among the legends you’ll find when you shop by maker at We Buy Knife Collections.
His resume runs deep. He is a U.S. Army veteran and a Knifemakers’ Guild member since 1976, where he also served as vice president. In 1981, he co-founded H&S Supply and helped introduce ATS-34 stainless steel to the American knife industry. Additionally, his San Francisco-style dress bowie won Best In Show at the 2019 ICCE. Simply put, his work belongs to knifemaking history.
This Fighter, In Hand
This fighter is one of the finest preowned knives we’ve had the privilege to offer, graded in excellent condition. It carries a 6 1/8″ double hollow ground blade with a clean satin finish. The blade is signed “J. Sornberger, Volcano, Ca.” in flowing hand-cut script. Furthermore, the full tapered tang runs the length of the finger groove handle for strength and perfect balance.
The stainless bolsters are the showstoppers. Each side wears a hand-engraved eagle — and remarkably, each engraving is different. One side shows a proud eagle head portrait with a piercing inlaid eye. The other captures an eagle in flight with talons extended. As a result, both sides of this knife display like framed art.
The handle scales are genuine mammoth ivory, hand carved in a crisp basket weave pattern. This ancient material is warm, stable, and impossible to replicate. Meanwhile, the finger groove profile locks the hand in place for a secure, natural grip. To learn more about collector materials like mammoth ivory, visit our Knife Knowledge library.
At 11 3/8″ overall, this is a commanding piece among fixed blade knives. It weighs 13.8 ounces with its sheath. Speaking of the sheath, it’s genuine elephant skin by Rowe’s Leather of Hope, Arkansas — pebbled, burgundy, and beautifully stitched. A zippered soft case protects the entire package.
Documented, Graded, and Complete
Every knife we list is physically in hand, inspected, and conservatively graded — you can read exactly how we grade before you buy. Likewise, this fighter’s history and completeness are part of the provenance standards collectors trust us to uphold. Therefore, what you see in our photos is exactly what arrives at your door.
Why Collectors Should Act
Hall of Fame maker. Hand engraving. Mammoth ivory. Exotic leather. This Sornberger fighter checks every collector box. If it’s not the one, our new arrivals are always worth a look — and if you own custom knives of your own, we pay top dollar when you sell your collection. Either way, don’t hesitate — signed Sornberger fighters rarely stay available for long.
Product Specifications
- Maker: Jim Sornberger, Volcano, California (Cutlery Hall of Fame, 2020)
- Style: Fixed blade fighter
- Blade Length: 6 1/8″
- Overall Length: 11 3/8″
- Blade Grind: Double hollow ground
- Blade Finish: Satin
- Tang: Full tapered
- Handle: Basket weave carved mammoth ivory, finger grooves
- Bolsters: Stainless steel, hand-engraved eagles (different scene each side)
- Weight: 13.8 oz with sheath
- Sheath: Elephant skin by Rowe’s Leather, Hope, Arkansas
- Includes: Zippered soft storage case
- Condition: Pre-owned, Excellent
Video Introduction: A Hall of Fame Maker Creates a Beautiful Fighter
This video showcases the Jim Sornberger Fighter in hand and up close. First, you’ll see the full 11 3/8″ profile against natural light. Next, the camera traces the 6 1/8″ double hollow ground blade from ricasso to tip. Watch how the satin finish plays across both grinds. Then, we slow down on the hand-engraved stainless bolsters. You’ll see the eagle head portrait on the show side and the striking eagle on the reverse. After that, the basket weave carved mammoth ivory fills the frame, showing its warm natural color. Every angle confirms the excellent pre-owned condition of this Cutlery Hall of Fame collector piece.
Jim Sornberger Custom Knives Fighter FAQ
Who is Jim Sornberger?
Jim Sornberger is a knifemaker, engraver, and gold and silversmith from Volcano, California, working since the early 1970s. He was inducted into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame in 2020.
What makes this fighter collectible?
It combines a Hall of Fame maker’s signature, hand engraving on both bolsters, carved mammoth ivory, and an exotic leather sheath. Moreover, each engraved eagle is unique, making this a one-of-a-kind presentation.
What is a double hollow ground blade?
Both faces of the blade are hollow ground on each side of a central ridge. Consequently, the blade is light, stiff, and razor capable while looking striking in the light.
What condition is this knife in?
It is pre-owned in excellent condition. The blade, engraving, ivory, and sheath all present beautifully, and our detailed photos document the exact piece.
Does it come with the original sheath?
Yes. The genuine elephant skin sheath by Rowe’s Leather of Hope, Arkansas is included, along with a protective zippered soft case.
Does We Buy Knife Collections actively support the broader knife enthusiast community?
Yes. Based in Jacksonville, FL, We Buy Knife Collections is a curator and purveyor of fine custom made folding and fixed-blade knives. WBKC is dedicated to the high-end custom knife community and support knife rights advocacy. Following our commitment upgrade in April 2026, we are proud to hold an AKTI Premier Membership, supporting the American Knife & Tool Institute’s vital advocacy and lobbying for knife owners, makers, and the future of the industry.
