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2025 BLADE Show Texas Custom Knife Award Winners

See who took home the hardware from the BLADE Show Texas Custom Knife competition.

With deep roots in fine custom knifemaking, BLADE Show Texas consistently attracts the top names in the industry, making its Custom Knife Awards a true showdown of elite craftsmanship. The 2025 competition, held March 7-8 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, was no exception.

The judging hall overflowed with exceptional entries in 12 categories, pushing the three-judge panel to their limits. After intense deliberation, the judges selected the finest blades of the year—including Best of Show and Best Fighter, awarded to Franco for his stunning fighter that felt as good in the hand as it looked to the eye.


Best In Show & Best Fighter: Franco

Fighter Franco

What The Judges Said: “We felt his had the best technical aspects with the gold inlay and engraving. It’s a very long blade but has a short feel and is very [wieldly], easy to maneuver.”


Best In Show Contender & Custom Folding Knife: Tom Overeynder

Best Custom Folding Knife: Tom Overeynder

What The Judges Said: “The fit and finish, the action… there is nothing wrong with this knife. It’s an awesome knife that’s super clean.”


Best Art Knife: Paul Distefano

Art Knife Distefano

What The Judges Said: “It has a cohesive vision, executed with no flaws. It’s color, texture and finish all tie together.”


Best Custom Bowie: David Lisch

Best Custom Bowie: David Lisch

What The Judges Said: “The organic flow of the guard and fittings and the complication of doing the subhilt all flow into one. The damascus is well executed and the knife has near perfect fit and finish.”


Best Damascus: Pedro Fornari

Best Damascus: Pedro Fornari

What The Judges Said: “It’s an eight-bar Turkish twist that’s nearly perfect in execution. It’s difficult to make and it’s an integral.”


Best Custom EDC: Evan Nicolaides

Best Custom EDC: Evan Nicolaides

What The Judges Said: “It’s light, elegant, deploys quickly with little movement and it’s efficient.”


Best Custom Hunting Knife: Josh Fisher

Best Custom Hunting Knife: Josh Fisher

What The Judges Said: “We all think this is a differentially etched damascus blade with the damascus showing on the spine of the blade. It’s lightweight with a great blade length for a hunter.”


Best Custom Kitchen Knife: Luke Dellmyer/Richard Patterson

Best Custom Kitchen Knife: Luke Dellmyer/Richard Patterson

What The Judges Said: “The blade shape is spot on. It doesn’t have any undergrinds or overgrinds. The heel doesn’t rock, it’s balanced and feels lightweight.”


Best Custom Slip Joint: Evan Nicolaides

Best Custom Kitchen Knife: Luke Dellmyer/Richard Patterson

What The Judges Said: “The action is great, everything lines up and it’s beautifully well made.”


Best M.A.C.K.: Jared Oeser

Best M.A.C.K.: Jared Oeser

What The Judges Said: “Overall it has clean lines, operates smooth as silk and technically it’s perfection.”


Best Of The Rest: Josh Taylor

Best Of The Rest: Josh Taylor

What The Judges Said: “It’s a very cool piece. The blade is dead-nuts straight and the carving is good. Very stylish use of the natural contours of the wood.”


Past Custom Knife Award Winners:

2025 BLADE Show Texas Factory Knife Award Winners

See which factory knives took home the coveted hardware from the BLADE Show Texas Factory Knife Awards.

The BLADE Show Texas, held March 7-8 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, saw an intense factory knife competition. With an excellent turnout of competitors and a high-level of execution on the knives, it was most definitely a showcase of the top-tier production knives at the show.

With such an impressive lineup, the three-judge panel faced a tough challenge in determining which blade best represented each of the seven categories. In short, competition was hot. With the dust settled, here are the winners who claimed top honors, including Best in Show.


Best In Show & Best Imported Knife: Poikilo VK Zen

Import Best Poikilo

What The Judges Had To Say: “It’s a well thought out knife in both design and function.”


Best American Made Knife: Dauntless Manufacturing Clifft

Dauntless Manufacturing Clifft

What The Judges Had To Say: “The details and craftsmanship in [the Clifft], you don’t expect to see that in a factory knife.”


Best EDC Knife: Dauntless Manufacturing Moss

Dauntless Manufacturing EDC

What The Judges Had To Say: “It’s the entire package. The company has an attention to detail and the knife has one of the best sheathes [we’ve] seen.”


Best Fixed Blade: OSP Viper

Fixed Blade QSP Viper

What The Judges Had To Say: “It comes with an excellent and functional sheath. It’s ergonomics and carriablity come together to create a complete package.”


Best Folder Knife: Pro-Tech/Vero Engineering Synapse Auto

Best Folder Protech Vero

What The Judges Had To Say: It won, “Because it’s badass!”


Best Of The Rest: Vero Engineering Vortex TI Maintenance Kit

Best Of The Rest: Vero Engineering Vortex TI Maintenance Kit

What The Judges Had To Say: “Far too many bit drivers have thin handles. This one is made to fit the hand and torque down on.”


Past Blade Show Award Winners:

Cool Custom: Robert Young’s New York Flipper

Robert Young reinvents a classic Loveless fixed blade in flipper form.

Robert Young reproduces BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Loveless’s New York Special fixed blade in a flipper folder format, and it’s something that would probably please even Bob himself.

Young also makes a standard fixed-blade repro of the knife. He holds it and the folder—when the folder’s open, both knives are the same size—side by side at shows to see if customers can tell which one’s which, and nine times out of 10 they can’t. Around 1976-77 when he was 16 and a California resident, he learned a man making knives lived three doors down from a friend’s grandfather’s house. Robert visited the man and it turned out to be Loveless. He had no idea who Bob was until later and then visited him about a dozen times.

  Robert Young, 64, has been making knives off and on since 1976 and has been full time for two years now. He moved from California to Arkansas in 1993. He’s made about a dozen of the New York Special flippers and also reproduces Loveless City Knife, Junior Bear and Big Bear fixed blades, the latter with a 1-inch-wide sub-hilt. At press time he was working on a folding version of the City Knife and a less expensive version of the New York Special folder. Loveless, of course, never made a custom folder. (Jocelyn Frasier knife image)
Robert Young, 64, has been making knives off and on since 1976 and has been full time for two years now. He moved from California to Arkansas in 1993. He’s made about a dozen of the New York Special flippers and also reproduces Loveless City Knife, Junior Bear and Big Bear fixed blades, the latter with a 1-inch-wide sub-hilt. At press time he was working on a folding version of the City Knife and a less expensive version of the New York Special folder. Loveless, of course, never made a custom folder. (Jocelyn Frasier knife image)

“He taught me and I improved a lot real quick,” Robert said. “I wished I’d stuck around there more than I did but I was kind of embarrassed once I found out who he was. I didn’t want to bug him a whole bunch, but he did teach me quite a bit.”

New York Special Flipper Specs
Blade length: 3”
Blade steel: RWL-34 stainless
Rockwell hardness: 62 HRC
Blade grind: Double hollow on a 3-inch wheel
Blade pivot: Ceramic bearings
Scales: Stag
Liners: 416 stainless, integral
Closed length: 4.25”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500

More Custom Knives:

New Knives February 2025

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A whole passel of knew knives that will set you wish list to overflow.

Eyes always peeled, we’re on the look out for the latest and the greatest. We think we’ve found a bevvy of them this February. So, with out further adieu, here’s our latest round of new knives.


Cowboy Szymanski M4 bayonet

Cowboy Szymanski M4 bayonet

Blade length: 6.75”
Blade material: Battleship blister-plated 15N20 nickel alloy steel
Blade grind: Flat double edge
Scales: Turned deck wood (long leaf pine) from the USS Texas BB-35 World War I dreadnought class battleship
Bolster: Same material as blade
Overall length: 11.75”
Sheath: Standard leather
Knife to know: Cowboy Szymanski donated the knife to the Battleship Texas Foundation through the Battleship Texas Artisans project to raise funds to refurbish the USS Texas.
Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,997
Maker: Cowboy Szymanski (SharpByCoop image)


Robert Appleby Tillotson-Inspired Sheffield Bowie

Robert Appleby Tillotson-inspired

Blade length: 10”
Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless
Blade grind: Hollow (36” radius)
Blade finish: 2,000-grit satin
Blade pattern: Clip point
Scales: Mother-of-pearl
Handle frame, guard & front bolster: 410 stainless
Overall length: 14.5”
Sheath (not shown): Wet-molded leather w/410 stainless throat and tip
Knife to know: The half-horse/half-alligator rear bolster cast in white bronze is in a style made famous on classic 19th-century bowies; Robert Appleby is no longer accepting custom orders
Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $3,200
Maker: Robert Appleby, applebyknives.com (SharpByCoop image)


Randy Caston Bowie No. 1

Randy Caston Bowie No. 1

Blade length: 13.5”
Blade material: 1075 carbon steel
Scales: Walnut burl
Furniture: Sterling silver
Overall length: 19”
Knife to know: Randy Caston’s Bowie No. 1 is a reproduction of a 19th-century bowie some believe was made by James Black; Randy is a past Forged in Fire champ (season six, episode 16)
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,750
Maker: Randy Caston (SharpByCoop image)


Jordan Danz Nessmuk

Jordan Danz Nessmuk

Blade length: 4.5”
Blade steel: AEB-L stainless
Blade grind: Scandi Scales: Butterscotch Micarta® w/Maple Valley Richlite
Spacers: G-10
Lanyard: Leather w/bead of butterscotch maple and G-10 spacer
Overall length: 9.75”
Sheath: Leather w/belt loop
Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $400
Maker: Jordan Danz, jdcustomknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)


Lee Parsons Texas Republic Bowie

Lee Parsons Texas Republic Bowie

Blade length: 12”
Blade material: 1095 carbon steel w/hamon made via the clay method
Blade grind: Flat
Blade finish: Hand sanded to mirror polish
Blade pattern: Clip point
Scales: Bog oak w/blue and yellow Micarta®
Fittings: Brass
Overall length: 17.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,500
Knife to know: The knife was made for a collector who is a huge fan of Texas; lettering is hand engraved and the hand-inlaid Republic star is 24k gold; March 2, 1836, is the date Texas formally declared its independence from Mexico; Lee Parsons is an ABS apprentice smith
Maker: Lee Parsons, skmoknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)


Larry Chew/TiKnives Covert Dual Action

Larry Chew/TiKnives Covert dual action

Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade grind: Hollow on first run
Blade finish: Satin or bead blasted
Scales: Laser-engraved titanium & carbon fiber
Handle frame: Titanium
Pocket clip: Laser-engraved titanium & carbon fiber
Closed length: 4.5”
Makers’ price for a similar knife: $975 and up
Knife to know: Features the Covert Lockout mechanism in which the upper left-hand gimping slides forward to release the spring-loaded release button; dual thumb studs; options include Chad Nichols damascus blade steel and titanium, Timascus™ and ironwood scales, and a 3D-machined damascus clip (check w/makers for pricing on options); a collaboration between Larry Chew and Scott Self of TiKnives
Makers: Larry Chew/TiKnives, tinivesoriginal.com (SharpByCoop image)


Levi Graham Ancient Woolly Frontier Field Knife

Levi Graham Ancient Woolly Frontier Field Knife

Pattern: Camp knife
Blade length: 6”
Blade material: 1084 carbon steel w/copper cladding forged by Adam Deville
Blade grind: High flat
Scales: Mammoth ivory
Construction: Full-tapered tang
Bolster: Copper textured wrap and rawhide
Overall length: 11.25”
Sheath: Deer rawhide w/braintan fringe, mammoth bark center dangler w/copper tacks, cones, beads, rattlesnake vertebrae and horsehair
Maker: Levi Graham, levigrahamknives.com (SharpByCoop image)


Tanner Couch Saddlehorn Trapper

Tanner Couch Saddlehorn trapper

Blade length: 2 7/8”
Blade material: Vegas Forge stainless steel Virus damascus
Blade grind: Hollow
Scales: Stag
Bolster: Chad Nichols Wasp Nest damascus
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,000
Knife to know: The saddlehorn trapper was one of the favorite patterns of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Tony Bose, iconic American custom knifemaker
Maker: Tanner Couch, Tilden, (Jocelyn Frasier image)


Marc Josef Knives Pizza Cutter

Marc Josef Knives Pizza cutter

Blade diameter: 2.76”
Blade material: 52100 carbon and 410 stainless nickel alloy steels forged in a san-mai construction by Brook Turner
Scales: Ebony
Overall length: 9.1”
Maker’s price for a similar piece: $750 at press-time exchange rate
Maker: Marc Josef Knives, marcjosefknives.com.au (Rod Hoare image)


Nicholas Orr Coffin-Handle Bowie

Nicholas Orr Coffin-handle bowie

Blade length: 8.5”
Blade material: Feather-pattern mosaic damascus
Blade grind: Full flat w/a double clip
Blade pattern: Clip point
Scales: African blackwood
Handle frame & spacer: Twisted & blued mosaic damascus
Guard & pommel: Mosaic damascus
Construction: Full tang
Overall length: 13.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $4,000
Knife to know: Nicholas Orr is an ABS journeyman smith
Maker: Nicholas Orr, (Jocelyn Frasier image)


Sam Roddy Bowie

Sam Roddy Bowie

Blade length: 10”
Blade material: Mosaic damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
Blade grind: Flat
Blade pattern: Clip point
Scales: Ironwood w/nickel silver and brass spacers
Guard: Stainless steel
Overall length: 15.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,400
Knife to know: Sam Roddy is an ABS apprentice smith
Maker: Sam Roddy (Jocelyn Frasier image)


Jacco VandeBruinhorst San Francisco Gentleman’s Knife

Jacco VandeBruinhorst San Francisco

Knife type: 19th-century dress bowie
Blade length: 5.5”
Blade material: Mosaic damascus
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Mother-of-pearl
Handle frame: Mosaic damascus
Overall length: 12”
Knife to know: Full takedown construction; engraving by Wolfgang Loerchner
Maker: Jacco VandeBruinhorst, jvbknives.ca (SharpByCoop image)


Check Out Knife Drops:

Damascus Folders: New Custom Examples

These damascus folders have the stuff to wow.

If your knife is a damascus folder, all eyes are on it when you pull it from your pocket and deploy the blade. Is that damascus? Is it sharp? Who forged it? What’s the pattern? The questions flood in and the conversation starts. Enjoy the discussion!


Bob Hook: Dress Locking Folder

Bob Hook: Dress Locking Folder

ABS journeyman smith Bob Hook employs a damascus of 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels forged by Salem Straub for the clip-point blade of his dress locking folder. The scales are Alaskan mammoth ivory and the bolsters are mokume gane. Blade and closed lengths: 2.75 and 3.25 inches.


David Kramp: Navy Rope Knife

David Kramp: Navy Rope Knife

Rose pattern damascus from Damasteel comprises the sheepsfoot blade of David Kramp’s Navy Rope Knife. The slipjoint is modeled after a Sheffield, England-built U.S. Navy rope knife likely issued around the time of the Spanish American War of 1898. A frame of 410 stainless steel supports the stag scales. Bolster: 416 stainless. Closed length: 4.5 inches.


Dirk Loots: Engraved

Custom Loots

Dirk Loots opts for Fracture pattern damascus by Bertie Rietveld for the 3.5-inch hollow-ground blade of his exotic folder. Scales and liners/bolster: Mammoth ivory and bronze. Inlays: 24k gold and fine silver. Closed length: 5.5 inches. Dirk also did the engraving.


Tom Overeynder: Dagger

 Tom Overeynder: Dagger

A 3.62-inch blade and 4.66-inch frame of Gysinge pattern damascus forged by Damasteel highlight Tom Overeynder’s folding dagger. The spanner bolts used in the construction of the knife are Blue Tongue pattern damascus, also by Damasteel.


Ted Moore: Hollow Grind

Ted Moore: Hollow Grind

Larry Donnely forged the damascus for the blued, hollow-ground blade of Ted Moore’s folder engraved by Madeline Crumling. The frame and liners are 416 stainless steel and the inlay is black pen shell. Blade and closed lengths: 2.5 and 3.5 inches.


Manuele Messori: Halo

Manuele Messori: Halo

Damasteel forged the Thor pattern damascus for the 4.13-inch blade of Manuele Messori’s Halo. The blade inlay is white and black-lip mother-of-pearl, and the handle is zirconium, Timascus®, mother-of-pearl and Gibeon meteorite. Liners: Timascus. Closed length: 4.9 inches.


Andrew Takach: Harpoon

Andrew Takach: Harpoon

A damascus blade in a harpoon pattern, crosscut mammoth ivory handle in a bird’s-beak-butt pattern, and a flared damascus bolster with 24k-gold inlay complete a dress locking folder by Andrew Takach.


More On Knife Collecting:

American Made Knives: New And Hot Options

Today’s American-made knives embody the latest in the state-of-the-art.

American knifemaking is alive, well and thriving. Certainly over the years the marketplace for cutlery has become more global, despite this native craftsmen and companies have held their ground and remained sharp as ever. Below is a good example. We’ve collected a throng of blades made in good ol’ U.S. of A. that showcase creative prowess of our countrymen.


Talon / Hawk Knife Designs

Talon / Hawk Knife Designs

Knife type: Tactical/EDC
Designer: Gavin Hawk
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: M390 stainless
Rockwell hardness: 63 HRC
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade pattern: Modified drop point
Blade finish: Tumbled
Scale material: Black Dunes (Fatcarbon®)
Frame material: Titanium
Furniture material: Titanium (button, clip, backspacer)
Lock: Hawk Lock, toggle detent
Pivot: Bearings
Weight: 4.4 ozs.
Closed length: 4.8”
MSRP: $2,000
Available: NOW


Zero Tolerance 0044

Zero Tolerance 0044

Knife type: EDC flipper folder
Designer: ZT original
Blade length: 3.2”
Blade steel: CPM S45VN stainless
Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC
Blade finish: Two-tone
Scale material: Titanium w/bead blast finish
Lock: Button lock
Pivot: Ceramic bearings
Weight: 3.4 ozs.
Closed length: 4.35”
MSRP: $425
Available: NOW


Kershaw Launch Iridium

Kershaw Launch Iridium

Knife type: Automatic
Designer: Kershaw original
Blade length: 3.45”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 62-64 HRC
Blade finish: Working finish
Scale material: Aluminum anodized black
Lock: Button lock
Pivot: Washers
Weight: 3.1 ozs.
Closed length: 4.55”
MSRP: $279.99
Available: NOW


Spyderco Lil’ Native Lightweight

Spyderco Lil’ Native Lightweight

Designer: Eric Glesser
Blade length: 2.42”
Blade steel: CTS BD1N stainless
Blade grind: Full-flat
Blade finish: Satin
Scale material: FRN
Lock: Back Lock
Weight: 1.5 ozs.
Closed length: 3.74”
MSRP: $160
Knife to know: This folding knife takes the company’s Lil’ Native Back Lock platform and lightens it by 40 percent with fiberglass-reinforced-nylon scales.
Available: March


TOPS Knives Wood Nymph

TOPS Knives Wood Nymph

Knife type: EDC/bushcraft
Designer: Bushcraft Kelso
Blade length: 2.25”
Blade material: 1095 carbon steel
Rockwell hardness: 56-58 HRC
Blade grind: TOPS’ modified Scandi
Blade finish: Tumble
Scale material: Tan/black G-10
Weight: 1.8 ozs. (3.2 ozs. w/sheath)
Overall length: 5.75”
Sheath type and material: Brown leather
MSRP: $190
Knife to know: Thick for its size, the handle is well-rounded and longer than the blade for a solid grip. The blade shape is simple and classic. It’s sharp, pointy and a little thinner than most would expect from TOPS at 3/32-inch thick. A simple leather sheath makes this knife one of the easiest to carry. It’s a simple yet effective workingman’s tool.
Available: NOW


Rick Hinderer Knive XM-18 3.5” Bowie Automatic Aluminum

Rick Hinderer Knive XM-18 3.5” Bowie Automatic Aluminum

Knife type: EDC
Designer: Rick Hinderer
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: CPM S45VN stainless
Rockwell hardness: 60-62 HRC
Blade pattern: Bowie
Blade finish: Stonewash
Liners: Patent pending titanium half liners
Scale material: Two options: anodized blue aluminum w/inlay and Arctic Storm w/FCF inlay
Frame material: Aluminum anodized blue
Furniture material: Stainless steel black nitride hardware (add on) and matte black Holey Clip (add on)
Lock: Button lock
Pivot: Phosphor bronze washers
Weight: 5.12 ozs.
Closed length: 4.75”
MSRP: $495
Knife to know: Featuring a lightweight yet durable aluminum handle with patent-pending titanium half liners, this knife offers enhanced strength and stability without compromising on weight. Designed with the EDC enthusiast in mind, it blends innovation, practicality and cutting performance, making it a trusted companion for any daily task or adventure.
Available: 2025


Bear Forest Knives Stumpy

Bear Forest Knives Stumpy

Blade length: 2 1/8”
Blade steel: Nitro V stainless
Blade thickness: 1/8” w/90-degree spine
Grind: Full flat
Finish: Raw matte 
Scale materials: Various Micarta®/wood/Bearcarta (check availability)
Overall Length: 5 7/8”
Sheath: Kydex® black (.08” thick)
MSRP: $239.99
Knife to know: The Stumpy checks all the boxes; it defines what is needed in a small utility fixed-blade knife while in the shop or outdoors. At the same time, you aren’t giving up comfort.
Available: NOW


Bradford USA Guardian 3.2

Bradford USA Guardian 3.2

Knife type: Fixed-blade EDC
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut High Hardness stainless
Rockwell hardness: 63-64 HRC
Blade grind: Sabre, false edge, full height flat
Blade thickness: .14”
Scale options: Micarta®, G-10 and carbon fiber
Overall length: 7.125”
Sheath: Horizontal leather
MSRP: $229
Knife to know: Blade also available in a choice of ELMAX and M390 stainless steels
Available: NOW


A.G. Russell Knives California Bowie Knife

A.G. Russell Knives California Bowie Knife

Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member A.G. Russell
Blade length: 8.5”
Blade steel: 154CM stainless
Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC
Blade grind: Flat 
Blade finish: Satin
Scale material: Premium India stag
Furniture material: 410 stainless steel
Weight: 10.6 ozs.
Overall length: 13.25”
Sheath type and material: Handmade of leather
Special feature: Long California clip point blade
MSRP: $595
Available: NOW


RMJ Tactical Gym Rat

RMJ Tactical Gym Rat

Designer: Bryan Schellenger
Knife type: Fixed-blade EDC
Blade length: 2 3/8”
Blade thickness: 1/8”
Weight: 2.3 ozs.
Blade steel: Nitro V stainless
Rockwell hardness: 59-60 HRC
Blade finish: Tungsten Cerakote®
Scale material: Three G-10 options: black, dirty olive, hyena brown
Handle fasteners: Torx Grade 5 titanium anodized a bronze color
Barbell bead: Grade 5 titanium
Overall length: 5 1/8”
Sheath: Kydex w/ball chain & ambidextrous clip adapter suitable for pocket and outside the waistband carry
Knife to know: Designer Bryan Schellenger wanted to come up with a small, light but effective blade that could be easily concealed with minimal clothing, and that idea was spawned at the gym; also carries as a necker
MSRP: $185
Available: NOW


Tactile Knife Maraner 2

Tactile Knife Maraner 2

Knife type: EDC
Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola
Blade length: 2.985”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 63-64 HRC
Blade pattern: Sheepsfoot
Blade finish: Tumbled
Liner material: Hardened stainless lock-bar insert
Scale material: Titanium & G-10
Furniture material: Titanium backspacer
Lock: Insert linerlock
Pivot: Ceramic bearings
Closed length: 4.175”
Knife to know: Designed in 1987; first production variant
MSRP: $399
Available: NOW


Hogue Knives Ballista II

Hogue Knives Ballista II

Knife type: EDC automatic
Designer: Scott Bruhns 
Blade length: 3.4”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 62-64 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade finish: Two-tone: stone tumbled and black PVD
Scale material: Carbon fiber inserts
Frame material: Matte black 6061-T6 anodized aluminum
Pocket clip: Deep carry, right-hand carry
Weight: 2 ozs.
Closed length: 3.8”
Special features: Titanium accents anodized blue
MSRP: $239.95
Available: NOW


CRKT Twist Tighe Compact Automatic

CRKT Twist Tighe Compact Automatic

Designer: Brian Tighe
Knife type: EDC OTF automatic
Blade length: 2.69”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade thickness: .09”
Blade finish: Stonewash
Scale material: Green carbon fiber
Weight: 1.6 ozs.
Closed length: 4.01”
MSRP: $300
Available: NOW


Heretic Knives Wraith Auto

Heretic Knives Wraith Auto

Designer: Anthony Marfione Jr.
Blade length: 3.62”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade pattern: Bowie 
Blade finish: Bronze              
Scale material: 6061 aircraft aluminum
Furniture material: Stainless steel
Lock: Button lock
Pivot: Caged ceramic bearings
Weight: 6.07 ozs.
Closed length: 5.07”
Special features: Ambidextrous pocket clip, rubber inlays, snappy action
MSRP: $295
Available: NOW


Utica Critical Hit I and II MagnaCut series

Utica Critical Hit I and II MagnaCut series

Knife type: Tactical, EDC, survival
Designers: Bill Harris, Stephen Schook and Utica team
Blade lengths: 3 and 2.5”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 61-62 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade finish: Red powder coat
Scale material: Black textured Micarta®
Liner material: G-10
Overall lengths: 8 and 5.25”
Sheath type and material: Critical Hit I ABS sheath w/built-in sharpener and fire striker and reversible belt clip and paracord; Critical Hit II ABS sheath w/belt clip and paracord
MSRP: $170
Available: NOW


Bear & Son 4 ¼” Rancher Sideliner

Utica Critical Hit I and II MagnaCut series

Knife type: EDC
Designer: Bear & Son
Blade length: 3 3/8”
Blade material: D2 tool steel
Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC
Blade grind: Taper
Blade finish: High polished
Liner material: Stainless steel
Scale material: Cocobolo
Frame material: Stainless steel
Lock: Linerlock
Pivot: Ball bearing washers
Weight: 3 ozs.
Closed length: 4 ¼”
Overall length: 7 5/8”
MSRP: $95.99
Available: NOW


Benchmade Bailout

Benchmade Bailout

Knife type: Tactical folder
Blade length: 3.38”
Blade steel: CPM S30V stainless
Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC
Blade thickness: .09”
Blade pattern: Tanto
Blade finish: Graphite black Cerakote®
Scale material: Grivory® in ranger green
Handle thickness: .41”
Lock: AXIS®
Pommel lanyard: Anodized aluminum
Weight: 2.5 ozs.
Closed length: 4.72”
MSRP: $200
Knife to know: Maintaining its tactical hard-use prowess with a piercing tanto blade, this slim and easily pocketable folder features ultralight Grivory handle scales with highly textured grip zones and CPM S30V steel for superb edge qualities and corrosion resistance.
Available: February

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Winkler Knives Overcoming Hurricane Helene

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The Tar Heel Hurricane turned lives upside down, but North Carolina knifemaker Winkler Knives has proven resilient.

Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina, East Tennessee and other states this past fall. Among those damaged was the Winkler Knives shop in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Daniel Winkler estimated the monetary loss to his business from $500,000 to $600,000, though the biggest setback was the death of one of the company’s long-time employees, Steve Limbacher.

“He could not handle the stress and his heart just gave out,” Winkler wrote. “Steve is missed every day at Winkler Knives.”

Up to 15 inches of water flowed through the Winkler shop from a creek adjacent to the structure, leaving behind one to 6 inches of mud. The company lost several machines, computers, printers, cabinets and shelves, carts and other daily use tools. Materials for handles, sheaths and other shop supplies were destroyed. Four large garage doors were damaged, as was all the flooring in the office and breakroom. All the office doors were lost.

Winkler Knives
One to 6 inches of mud were left at Winkler Knives factory requiring a extensive cleanup process.

For cleanup the Winklers bought a track hoe, dump truck and small skid steer, and also numerous hoses, pressure washers, wet vacuums, mops and scrubbers. In all, it took the full staff 2 ½ weeks to clean up the mess.
“However, compared to others in our area, we were just inconvenienced,” Daniel noted.

“Many others were devastated with lost buildings, vehicles and many lives. We are truly blessed.”

To aid those in one of the most severely damaged areas in North Carolina, through its fundraising efforts Winkler Knives presented a check for $13,018.75 to the Mitchelle County Development Foundation. The company also raised money for its own recovery efforts via tent sales of Winkler knives, tomahawks, axes and sheaths at Winkler Knives Actual on Nov. 30 and Dec. 2.

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