POST FALLS, Idaho — When his son was killed in Afghanistan while serving in the Marines, Steve Nikoui knew he had to get his son’s knife back.
“I thought, if I got that back, somehow I would find happiness again,” Nikoui said Tuesday during a visit to Buck Knives in Post Falls.
Steve Nikoui had given his son, Lance Corporal Kareem Nikoui, the Buck 110 knife to deploy with after he found out Kareem didn't like the knife he was using. He wanted his son to have a knife he could open with one hand.
As Nikoui awaited the return of Kareem's knife, he imagined his son carrying it with him in his final days before he was killed at Abbey Gate.
The gate, part of the Kabul airport, was attacked by a suicide bomber Aug. 26, 2021. At least 183 people were killed, including Kareem and 12 other members of the U.S. military.
When the knife finally arrived, Nikoui was devastated to find it damaged. A bullet had lodged inside the knife, destroying its opening mechanism.
After hearing Nikoui speak about the knife on a podcast, Buck Knives CEO CJ Buck invited him for a visit of the factory in Post Falls.
“You can’t not be touched by Steve’s story,” Buck said.
On Thursday, Nikoui spoke to Buck Knives workers, and CJ Buck presented him with a knife made to commemorate Kareem’s life. The blade is a Buck 119 knife bearing the colors and emblem of the United States Marine Corps.
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