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DDR Knives Changes Composite Blade for Michael Walker

June 16, 2017

DDR Knives changed the name of its recently-revealed composite blade configuration from ‘Zipper’ to ‘Fusion’ in response to a post on social media by maker Michael Walker. Walker took issue with the similarities between the DDR Knives composite construction and his own Zipper Blade style.

The DDR Knives composite pattern debuted on their AOD and new MOAB models. DDR named the pattern “Zipper” because the spine of Damascus was attached to a Stellite 6K blade with a decorative interlocking look. Walker, who has been making a signature style of knife called Zipper Blades since 1990, expressed his frustration with the similarities to his work in this social media post made yesterday:

Decided to repost this blatant knockoff of my Zipper by Darrel Ralph, @darrel_ralph_ddr .Even had the audacity to call it a Zipper. When you do not have any original ideas of your own then stealing is your only option I suppose. “Design” means absolutely nothing without the idea. Anyone with a pencil and paper can call themselves a designer. This industry has never condemned plagerism, and in some ways even condones and promotes it. Let me be clear there is a big difference in sharing ideas and just taking . Have I not contributed enough to this industry? The list of what I have contributed for everyone to use is long. Linerlock, framelock, ball detent, captive stop pin, titanium, anodized titanium, first carbon fiber knife, first billet clip, pocketed spring linerlock, titanium pivot, etc, etc, .Was this not enough??? Just what has Darrel Ralph contributed? Share if you want.

Walker, well-known as the inventor of the liner lock, patented the Zipper Blade construction in 1990 – the patent has since expired.

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Soon after Walker’s post, DDR Knives changed the name of their composite to ‘Fusion.’ Darrel Ralph, Founder of DDR, tells us that he plans to move away from this particular style of composite construction. “We’re going to work on things that don’t look anywhere near like his. We won’t make anything like that again.” The changes to the name are already reflected on the DDR Knives social media channels, where the company elaborated further in several posts:

Apologies to Mr Walker. We believe in ethical works only. We will change the name shortly to another name . As for making composite style blades we will continue.

Mr Walker is a great knife maker from years ago. We would never want to offend him in any way. That was not our intent. We will change the pattern to something less zipper looking and move forward!

[…] we have changed the name and will offer different machining patterns as not to encroach on Mr Walker’s fantastic work!

Knife featured in image: Darrel Ralph Designs Custom Fusion MOAB Hacker Flipper

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