It has been two weeks to the day (at the time of this writing) since I had the privilege of visiting Rowen Manufacturing, the manufacturing partner for ESEE Knives. Rowen makes all of ESEE’s fixed-blade knives in Idaho Falls, Idaho. ESEE is the knife offshoot of Randall’s Adventure Training, and rather than butcher the specifics of the company history, I refer to the ESEE Knives website:
Beginning in 1997, Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin started down the path of changing the way the survival and wilderness industry did business. Having become frustrated with the endless amount of exaggeration and hype often associated with “survival” gear and training, they started Randall’s Adventure & Training to bring realistic tools and knowledge to the consumer. Working under contract with the Peruvian Air Force’s “Escuela De Supervivencia En La Selva” (School of Jungle Survival), also known by the acronym ESSEL, they introduced many clients to the art of jungle survival in the vast Peruvian Amazon jungle.
After several years of operating in South America, they brought their training stateside and added a sister company that produces high quality field grade knives and gear. One of their first designs was the RTAK made by Wicked Knife Company in Arkansas, then later produced by Ontario Knife Company. They also introduced the Laser Strike that was built by TOPS Knives. After spending 5 years designing the RAT line of knives for Ontario, they formed their own knife company named RAT Cutlery with Rowen Manufacturing in Idaho Falls producing their line. The name was later changed to ESEE Knives to avoid confusion with the Ontario produced RAT line of knives. While most all of their current line is now produced by Rowen, Jeff and Mike still design for other companies, such as the Blueridge Knives’ Avispa and Zancudo folders and Ontario’s Model 1 and Model 2 folders.
Rowen Manufacturing is a family company, headed by Shon Rowen, who has been a machinist and metalworker since childhood. He learned the craft from his father, who himself was a machinist. Shon led me on a tour of their manufacturing facility during my trip West.

Shon Rowen
I also visited TOPS Knives while I was in Idaho, and there were noticeable differences between the two facilities. Where TOPS has enlarged and modified their facility as they have grown, Rowen is a relatively newly-built, purpose-designed facility which they moved to when they outgrew their previous one. The new facility is open and bright. I couldn’t help but notice the state-of-the art climate control. Shon remarked that people do better work when they are comfortable. As someone who worked at a boat-building company when I lived in Idaho myself, and I must admit I was a little retroactively jealous. I definitely see his point.

Rowen Manufacturing

Laser cutting table

Following this process, the blanks head to the CNC grinders, and the remaining sheet is tossed into a dumpster for recycling.

Dumpster diving

This will make great wall art in my shop

I wonder which one will be mine?

PR 4 Blank

An Izula inside the CNC grinder

Final sharpening

Laser Engraving

Packaging and Shipping
I would like to thank Shane, my contact person at ESEE for facilitating this visit, Shon Rowen, who took time out from dealing with some personal issues to show me around, Shayce for letting me bother him while he was working, and all of the rest of the folks at Rowen Manufacturing who greeted me warmly and didn’t mind my poking around taking pictures.
I will close with several other pictures that didn’t fit neatly into my narrative.

Like at TOPS, I found the tumbling process hypnotic

Heat treat oven

Anyone want an Izula?

Newly coated blades

Izulas everywhere
Thats a pretty sweet field trip. The question is do they give out free samples?
Thanks for the tour!