BLADE Staff, Author at BLADE Magazine

Stud Farm: Custom Folders That Get A Thumbs Up

BLADE Staff

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April 8, 2026

Stud Farm: Custom Folders That Get A Thumbs Up

The thumb stud is reliable, time-tested and add dynamic dash to these customer folders.

Aside from the good ol’ nail nick, thumb studs are among the most enduring opening systems for folding knives. Why not? Typically ambidextrous, easy to manipulate and lightning fast, the reliable deployment feature has a lot going for it. Not to mention, on these custom knives, they add equal parts dash and traditional appeal.

Michael Raymond: Ziura folder

Forty-nine 24k gold inlays set into a 6-4 titanium frame elevate Michael Raymond’s Ziura folder. The swedge-ground Bohler M390 blade measures 3.53 inches with an 8.08-inch overall length. (SharpByCoop image)

David Beaver: Shogun Horizon Folder

Vintage red linen Micarta scales and a hollow-ground Damasteel Baldur on Damacore blade highlight David Beaver’s Shogun Horizon folder. Blade and overall lengths: 3.75 and 8.5 inches. The maker’s price for similar knife is $1,800. (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Cody Hofsommer: Mammoth Ivory Folder

Mammoth ivory scales and mosaic damascus bolsters define a sole-authorship flat-ground folder by Cody Hofsommer. The 1080/15n20 mosaic Damascus blade measures 3.375 inches with an 8-inch overall length. (SharpByCoop image)

Kirby Lambert: Augustus Mini Folder

A hollow-ground Damacore blade and mammoth ivory scales distinguish the Augustus Mini folder by Kirby Lambert. Bolsters are titanium and 2IRC damascus. Blade and overall lengths: 3.25 and 8 inches. (SharpByCoop image)

Brian Milinski: Paratrooper Elegante Linerlock

Nitre blued Rietveld damascus and fossilized walrus tusk scales characterize Brian Milinski’s Paratrooper Elegante linerlock. Joe Mason engraved and inlaid the matching bolsters. Blade and overall lengths: 3.25 and 7.75 inches. The maker’s price for a similar knife is $3,400. (Jocelyn Frasier image)

KC Gray: Titanium Folder

A 3.5-inch SM100 blade paired with vintage Micarta scales defines this 8-inch dress locking folder by Tucson maker KC Gray. The titanium frame includes marble carbon-fiber pivot collars and a black anodized clip. (SharpByCoop image)

Sean Alonzo: Ani

Sean Alonzo’s Ani 3.2 linerlock features armadillo carapace, warthog ivory, and a hollow-ground Yggdrasil Damasteel blade. Blade and overall lengths: 3.2 and 7.8 inches. Maker’s price for a similar knife $5,500. (Jocelyn Frasier image)

More On Flippers:

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First Look: GiantMouse ACE Atelier

BLADE Staff

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April 7, 2026

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Explore the new GiantMouse ACE Atelier, with PVD-coated Elmax steel and a scale designed to develop a unique patina over time.

The GiantMouse ACE Atelier has always been defined by its surroundings. Named for the art-deco Atelier Bar located within the Grand Hotel in Nuremberg, Germany, the design was originally conceived as a more compact and refined sibling to the ACE Grand. While the initial versions of the Atelier emphasized lightweight carry and contoured ergonomics, this newest iteration moves in a different direction, prioritizing weight, tactile feedback and a sense of permanence.

The shift to solid brass scales transforms the character of the knife. By utilizing a flat, slab-sided profile, the Atelier gains a grounded presence that feels substantial in the hand. Brass is a material that rewards the user over time; it is not a static finish. Instead, the surface will naturally darken and develop a unique patina through regular carry, essentially recording the history of its use. This added heft provides a satisfying balance to the compact frame, offering the feel of a full-sized tool in a pocket-friendly footprint.

Performance remains at the forefront with a 2.875-inch blade crafted from PVD-coated Elmax steel. This premium alloy ensures excellent edge retention and toughness, while the dark coating provides a muted, low-profile contrast to the warm, evolving tones of the brass handle. It is a design for those who value restraint. Rather than relying on aggressive styling or unnecessary flourishes, the Flat Brass Atelier leans on the inherent quality of its materials and a clean silhouette to prove its worth as a daily companion.

Atelier Specs
Blade Steel: Elmax (PVD Coated)
Blade Length: 2.875 inches
Blade Thickness: 0.125 inch
Handle Material: Flat Brass
Overall Length: 6.81 inches
Lock Type: Liner Lock
MSRP: $295

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2026 BLADE Show Texas Custom Knife Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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March 22, 2026

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2026 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 20-21 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, was no exception.

The judging hall overflowed with exceptional entries in 13 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 Art Knife, awarded to Jean-Louis Regel for his stunning dagger.

Best Art Knife & Best In Show: Jean-Louis Regel

Best Bowie: Franco

Best Damascus: Pedro Fornari

Best EDC: Emmanuel Le Brun

Best Fighter Contender: Karis Fisher

Best Fighter: Jason Knight

Best Folding Knife: T.R. Overeynder

Best Hunting Knife Contender: Josh Fisher

Best Hunting Knife: Franco

Best Kitchen Knife: Jason Knight

Best Multi-Blade Slip Joint: Evan Nicolaides

Best Single-Blade Slip Joint: Evan Nicolaides

Best M.A.C.K.: Fellhoelter Toolwerks

Best Of The Rest: Jean-Louis Regel

See More Award Winners:

2026 BLADE Show Texas Factory Knife Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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March 22, 2026

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2026 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 20-21 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 Folder And Best Of Show: Null Knives Voodoo

Null Knives Voodoo Lock Knife Natural Micarta

$350.00

Blade HQ $350.00

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best EDC: Arcane Design Automation

Best Fixed Blade: Tenable Knives Loki

Best American-Made Knife: Zero Tolerance 0117

Zero Tolerance 0117 Pocket Knife Drop Point CPM MagnaCut Satin Blade Carbon

$240.00

MidwayUSA $240.00 Blade HQ $240.00

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Best Imported Knife: Null Knives Vandal

Best of the Rest: Tactile Turn Anso

See More Award Winners:

50 Years Ago In BLADE: Taylor, Bowie & Sheffield Knifemakers

BLADE Staff

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March 13, 2026

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50 Years Ago In BLADE: Taylor, Bowie & Sheffield Knifemakers

The 12th president was and is a hot knife commodity.

Some examples from the article of “Old Zach” bowies that included the American general and president’s name, slogans or likeness. The lower bowies have his visage, the second from bottom a stamp motif on the ricasso of Taylor on horseback, the bottom a bust of the celebrated general.

Ever in tune with what’s popular at the moment, knifemakers have never been afraid to cash in on a hot trend. William R. Williamson documented one of the more peculiar vogues of the middle 19th century when Zachary Taylor and bowie knives were all the rage.

Fresh off his triumphs in the Mexican-American War, Taylor was the 1850’s version of a rock star—Americans just couldn’t get enough of him. And while not known to carry a bowie nor affiliate with the hero of the Alamo—Jim Bowie—the general and president’s likeness began to pop up on the most American of knives.

Funny thing is, as William’s points out in his article “Old Zach and the Bowie Knife,” from the March-April issue of The American Blade®, it wasn’t the Yanks cashing in. Instead, England Sheffield’s makers had the pulse of the USA and stamped Taylor’s visages on blades and bolsters.

Unfortunately, Old Rough and Ready’s short-lived presidency didn’t inspire the same outpouring of effigies. But modern collectors did and do find these unusual and patriotic blades desirable, as Williamson points out in his article.

More Knife History:

Walter “Blackie” Collins: Applying The Edge To BLADE Magazine
American Knives: Legendary Designs From The Land Of The Free
Antique Switchblades: World War II And Beyond

Sniper Bladeworks And Mossy Oak Team Up

BLADE Staff

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March 12, 2026

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Sniper Bladeworks announces a new collaboration, a collection featuring Mossy Oak camouflage patterns on its hard-use knives.

A new partnership between Mossy Oak and Sniper Bladeworks is set to bring a classic camouflage aesthetic to a line of purpose-built cutlery. The collaboration will see select Sniper Bladeworks models finished in Mossy Oak patterns, merging the well-known camouflage brand with Lance Abernathy’s reputation for hard-use knife design.

Based in West Point, Mississippi, Mossy Oak has long been a staple in the hunting and outdoor world. Its original Bottomlands camouflage pattern is ubiquitous and, to many, is synonymous with hunting season. This move represents a continued effort to integrate the company’s patterns into the EDC and custom knife markets. Sniper Bladeworks, founded by Abernathy in 2009, is recognized for its focus on ergonomics and field performance—traits often attributed to Abernathy’s background in law enforcement and security. Aside from their rugged engineering, the company’s knives are perhaps best known for their pistol-grip style handles, a signature design feature.

Full suite of Sniper Bladeworks knives dressed in Mossy Oak.

Abernathy, who remains the chief designer of Sniper Bladeworks’ knives, noted that incorporating Mossy Oak patterns into his designs has been a long-term goal. He views the collaboration as a way to bring a sense of outdoor heritage to his functional, often overbuilt tools. Adam Pener, CEO of Sniper Bladeworks, echoed this sentiment, suggesting the partnership is a natural fit given both companies’ focus on the hunting and outdoor communities.

While specific model names and exact release dates have yet to be finalized, the collection is expected to cater to hunters, outdoorsmen, and those who prefer a more tactical, camouflaged look for their daily carry. The upcoming releases will likely feature the signature pistol-grip ergonomics that helped establish Sniper Bladeworks in the custom market, now adapted for a wider audience through this brand alignment.

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Cool Custom: Robert Logan’s Tiny Fighter

BLADE Staff

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March 3, 2026

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Cool Custom: Robert Logan’s Tiny Fighter

Robert Logan had a scrap to pull off his Tiny Fighter.

ABS apprentice smith and member of the Texas Knifemakers Guild, Robert Logan, has developed a varied catalog over his nearly nine-year career. His work in kitchen cutlery has raised eyebrows in some corners of the knife world. Yet, his smaller projects are certainly worth consideration.

Such is the case with Robert’s Tiny Fighter, a minuscule fighter whose detailed execution is hard to miss—even if it’s no larger than a penny. The knife measures a scant 2.875 inches in overall length, with a 1.6875-inch damascus blade (192 layer 1084-15n20). Setting it all off is a mammoth-ivory handle and a beautiful guard featuring engraving by Alice Carter.

Robert has tinkered with miniatures previously, making a couple of dozen scaled-down versions of his Mini Cleaver Belt Knife. But the Tiny Fighter, he said, was his first crack at venturing deeper than a simple slab handle in a miniature piece. Without special equipment for the job, it was especially tricky.

“Honestly, the most challenging thing about making tiny knives for me is just holding on to them,” Robert confessed. “I don’t use grinding jigs, so just holding on to the thing to grind, it was hilarious.”

BLADE Staff

The thumb stud is reliable, time-tested and add dynamic dash to these customer folders.

Michael Raymond: Ziura folder

David Beaver: Shogun Horizon Folder

Cody Hofsommer: Mammoth Ivory Folder

Kirby Lambert: Augustus Mini Folder

Brian Milinski: Paratrooper Elegante Linerlock

KC Gray: Titanium Folder

Sean Alonzo: Ani

More On Flippers:

Explore the new GiantMouse ACE Atelier, with PVD-coated Elmax steel and a scale designed to develop a unique patina over time.

Knife Reviews:

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

Best Art Knife & Best In Show: Jean-Louis Regel

Best Bowie: Franco

Best Damascus: Pedro Fornari

Best EDC: Emmanuel Le Brun

Best Fighter Contender: Karis Fisher

Best Fighter: Jason Knight

Best Folding Knife: T.R. Overeynder

Best Hunting Knife Contender: Josh Fisher

Best Hunting Knife: Franco

Best Kitchen Knife: Jason Knight

Best Multi-Blade Slip Joint: Evan Nicolaides

Best Single-Blade Slip Joint: Evan Nicolaides

Best M.A.C.K.: Fellhoelter Toolwerks

Best Of The Rest: Jean-Louis Regel

See More Award Winners:

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

Best Folder And Best Of Show: Null Knives Voodoo

Null Knives Voodoo Lock Knife Natural Micarta

Best EDC: Arcane Design Automation

Best Fixed Blade: Tenable Knives Loki

Best American-Made Knife: Zero Tolerance 0117

Zero Tolerance 0117 Pocket Knife Drop Point CPM MagnaCut Satin Blade Carbon

Best Imported Knife: Null Knives Vandal

Best of the Rest: Tactile Turn Anso

See More Award Winners:

The 12th president was and is a hot knife commodity.

More Knife History:

Sniper Bladeworks announces a new collaboration, a collection featuring Mossy Oak camouflage patterns on its hard-use knives.

See More Knife News:

Robert Logan had a scrap to pull off his Tiny Fighter.

More Custom Knives:

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