HK (usa made) 'prototype'

[button_man]

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Today's flea market find ( $85 ) is this badly-treated HK..... marked "HK" on obverse of the blade... on the reverse, a patent date; "USA" on the ricasso;
and "prototype April 2006" on the blade. Somebody must have seen these knives before, I would think....? I'd appreciate learning the following:

1. HK must have farmed out the manufacture to a USA maker; does anyone know who that might have been?

2. Was this a genuine prototype run in limited numbers, followed by a larger production run without the "prototype" marking?
(or was the "prototype" marking just a gimmick, as seems to be the case with all those Smith & Wesson 1000 "first production run" knives?)

3. Was the knife marketed as a stand-alone item; or was it only bundled with a HK firearm or other product?

4. How can I clean the rust off the blade without removing any of the non-reflective coating?

Any help much appreciated! Thanks guys!

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[Bill DeShivs]

I don't recall ever seeing one. The "USA" was added after the knife was completed, and was done with a vibrating engraving tool.
I would wipe the entire knife down with WD 40.

[Eli10]

Looks like a Benchmade 14700 made for/marketed as Heckler and Koch. Benchmade seems fond of marking their "prototype" knives.

[button_man]

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Bill ~ Any idea why it isn't marked as a Benchmade knife?

Eli ~ Good call !! >>> https://bladeops.com/benchmade-14700-hk ... lain-edge/

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[Bill DeShivs]

Apparently, it was made under contract. HK has had a couple of different autos made.

[fastr19]

The HK Tumult is a an otf made by Benchmade.

[JPD1998]

H&K USA knives were made by Benchmade up until recently. I think Hogue makes the OTF's now.

From what I remember some of the H&K off-shore knives came from Benchmade's off-shore line.
But when Benchmade phased out the line, H&K switched to another contractor for the lower priced knives.
Benchmade continued to supply USA made knives for H&K up until a few years ago.

This was one of Benchmade's last H&K branded , USA made side openers.