The ARK—or “Always Ready Knife”—was conceived by U.S. Army combat veteran John Shirley and his friend Sam Owens as a lightweight self-defense tool that could be carried anywhere. Also suited to daily utilitarian use, its deeply curved clip-point blade packs impressive cutting power into a compact envelope. The ARK’s ultra-corrosion-resistant PlainEdge blade is hollow ground from nitrogen-based H-1 steel and paired with a durable fiberglass-reinforced-nylon (FRN) handle. Molded directly onto the tang, it features a Bi-Directional Texturing pattern to guarantee a non-slip grip, even with wet hands. Purposely designed for neck carry, the ARK includes an injection-molded polymer sheath with an integral retention tab and a breakaway ball chain.