Josh Wisor makes a special knife for a special customer.
If you think Josh Wisor’s Alaska Ulu looks a bit different, that’s because it is—Josh built it for a customer who lost an arm and suffered nerve damage to the other as a result of a farming accident.
Josh made the ulu open-ended so the customer can more easily grip the handle and thus use it more easily as well with the hand of his nerve-damaged arm. The customer uses the knife for food prep and even on deer in hunting camp.
Josh’s customer demonstrates how the Alaska ulu’s open-ended design enables him to easily grip the handle.
A big fan of damascus, the customer wanted a pattern-welded blade, so Josh accommodated him with one of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels heat treated to a Rockwell hardness of 60-61 HRC. In other words, it is equipped to do some serious cutting.
The result is a noteworthy using knife for a more-than-satisfied customer.
Feel the burn of the hottest makers’ hottest Custom EDC Knives—both folded and fixed.
Tommy Gann: Coke Bottle Slip Joint
As Daniel O’Malley of BladeGallery.com noted, “ABS master smith Tommy Gann makes an exceptional knife. The 52100 carbon steel wharncliffe blade of his Coke Bottle Slip Joint has a handrubbed satin finish, smooth, consistent action, a firm half stop and easily opens with a light pull.” Blade and closed lengths: 2.9 and 3.9”. Bolsters: 416 stainless steel. BladeGallery.com’s price: $550. (BladeGallery.com image)
Willem Steenkamp: Raider Flipper Folder
The 3.5-inch blade of hollow-ground CTS XHP stainless steel on Willem Steenkamp’s Raider flipper folder pivots on an Ikoma Korth Bearing System. Handle: Silver-strike carbon fiber. Pivot collar: stainless damascus. Pocket clip: 3D-machined titanium anodized blue, configured for right-side, blade-tip-up carry. Lock: linerlock. Weight: 3.2 ozs. Closed length: 3.83”. BladeGallery.com’s price: $680. (BladeGallery.com image)
David Breniere: Mini Inglorious Slip Joint
“The Mini Inglorious slip joint by David Breniere offers a handrubbed Elmax stainless steel blade with David’s W’s pattern damascus bolster and Sambar stag scales,” stated Dave Stark of Steel Addiction Custom Knives. “The knife just melts into the hand. Truly topper fit and finish.” Blade and closed lengths: 2 7/8 and 3.25”. Weight: 3.2 ozs. Retail price: $2,000. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)
Brian Efros: Elder Tactical Folder
The Elder tactical folder by Brian Efros has a drop-point recurve blade with dual bead-blasted thumb studs. Blade length and steel: 3” and CTS XHP stainless. Handle: carbon fiber with Chad Nichols Dark-Ti damascus bolsters and backspacer, and zirconium pivot collars. The Dark-Ti pocket clip provides blade-tip-up carry. Lock: linerlock. According to Arizona Custom Knives (AZCK), the Elder has “very nice action, detent and blade seating.” Weight: 5.2 ozs. Closed length: 4.25”. AZCK’s price: $3,295. (AZCK image)
Jacek Hnatow: Bushcraft 1
The Bushcraft 1 by Jacek Hnatow boasts full-tang construction and excellent balance and handle ergonomics. “Though designed for bushcraft, the knife makes an outstanding all-around utility tool,” observed Les Robertson of Robertson’s Custom Cutlery. Blade length, style and steel: 5.5”, drop point and Bohler N690 stainless. Handle width and material: 3.75” and textured black G-10. Overall length: 14.5”. Sheath: custom made of leather by the maker. Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $325. (ImpressByDesign image)
Bill Koenig: Arius Flipper Folder
Bill Koenig’s Custom Arius flipper folder has a 3.5-inch blade of CPM 20CV stainless steel with a handrubbed satin finish and mirror-washed accents. The handle on the custom EDC knife is copper-dust carbon fiber on the front side and titanium with C-pattern milling on the framelock side. Hardware and screws: zirconium. Pocket clip: handrubbed titanium configured to carry the knife blade tip up. Closed length: 5”. Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,510. Recon 1 sold price: $6,500. (Recon 1 image)
Piotr Gosciniak: Breaker Tanto
Of Piotr Gosciniak’s Breaker Les Robertson writes, “The compound grind provides the penetration of a tanto-style blade and slicing ability of a recurve blade. The texture of the black Micarta® handle gives additional grip, particularly in a wet environment.” Blade length, steel and finish: 4.7”, Elmax stainless and satin. Overall length: 10”. Sheath: custom made of Kydex® by the maker. Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $415. (ImpressByDesign image)
Sean Kendrick: Ruiner Tactical Folder
Sean Kendrick’s Ruiner is a framelock tactical folder with a 3.125-inch black blade of an “unknown material,” zirconium thumb studs and a notched thumb rest. Handle: dark Timascus™ front scale, backspacer and blade-tip-up pocket clip, and an orange-peel-finished and anodized titanium lockside. Pivot: zirconium. Weight: 6.1 ozs. Closed length: 4.5”. Sean names Mike Franklin of Hawg Knives as one of his top mentors. AZCK’s price: $5,995. (AZCK image)
Tashi Bharucha: Onion LegacyFliper Folder
“The Legacy project is Tashi Bharucha’s way of paying homage to the icons of the knife world that have influenced him,” Dave Stark observed. “The Onion Legacy, his tribute to Ken Onion, was limited to nine pieces featuring a handrubbed RWL-34 stainless steel blade running on caged bearings. The frames are stonewashed and bead-blasted titanium with laser etching, accented by a custom-heat-colored Mokuti clip and pivot rings.” Weight and blade and closed lengths: 6.2 ozs., 4 and 4.75”. Retail price: $1,875. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)
Matthew Christensen: Full Dress Dreadeye
The Full Dress Dreadeye by Matthew Christensen sports a 3.375-inch high-satin-finished blade of Mike Norris Fire Clone damascus and dual zirconium thumb studs. Handle: Zirblast-finished Ant Farm Mokuti scales, and zirconium pivot collars, backspacer and blade-tip-up pocket clip. Weight: 4.9 ozs. Closed length: 4.625”. One of Matthew’s leading mentors is Dave Curtiss of Curtiss Knives. AZCK’s price: $3,595. (AZCK image)
Riann Manser: H4 Flipper Folder
South African Riann Manser’s H4 custom EDC knife has a 3.7-inch blade of satin-finished M390 stainless steel that runs on caged bearings. “It is perfectly centered, has silky-smooth action” and opens easily via a flipper tab, Daniel O’Malley noted. Handle: black G-10 with gold snakeskin FatCarbon inlaid into each side. Backspacer: black G-10. Liners: bead-blasted Gr6 titanium. Lock: linerlock. Pocket clip: bead-blasted titanium, configured for right-side, blade-tip-up carry. Closed length: 4.8”. BladeGallery.com’s price: $695. (BladeGallery.com image)
Sergey Shirogorov: Mini Quantum Flipper Folder
The Mini Quantum flipper folder by Sergey Shirogorov is highlighted by a rotating titanium pocket clip that carries the knife blade tip up. Blade length and steel: 3.5” and Mike Norris damascus. Handle: titanium. Closed length: 4.5”. Maker’s price: varies depending on what the knife brings at the various auctions where it is sold. Recon 1’s price: $10,000. (Recon 1 image)
RJ Martin: Q36 Flipper Folder
Custom knife purveyor Les Robertson has been buying Q36s since RJ Martin started making them. According to Les, “RJ never ceases to amaze me how he incrementally improves this knife: serrated thumb ramp, extremely lightweight, hypersonic flipper opener and bank-vault lockup.” Blade length and steel: 4” and MagnaCut stainless. Frame: grooved titanium. Closed length: 4 7/8”. RJ’s price for a similar knife: $3,200. (ImpressByDesign image)
Thomas Gony: Speartac Front Flipper
Frenchman Thomas Gony’s Speartac front flipper has a 3 3/8-inch blade of handrubbed RWL-34 stainless steel. The titanium handle features Zircuti inlays, pivot rings and pocket clip (blade tip up). Weight: 4.8 ozs. Closed length: 4.5”. Retail: $2,600. According to Dave Stark, there is such a huge demand for Gony’s work that Thomas can no longer take custom orders. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)
Dmitry Sinkevich: Skiving Tanto
A 3.125-inch tanto blade of K110-core san-mai and a titanium handle help complete the Skiving Tanto prototype by Dmitry Sinkevich. The pivot and blade-tip-up pocket clip are zirconium on this custom EDC knife, and the body screws are titanium. Closed length: 4”. Maker’s price: varies depending on what the knife brings at the various auctions where it is sold. Recon 1’s price: $10,000. (Recon 1 image)
With a simple finger flick or even in promo art, today’s flipper knives fly.
Early flipper folders were used in conjunction with assisted-opening mechanisms as a means for initiating movement, allowing the spring or torsion assists to open the blades the rest of the way. A few years later, folder pivots incorporated ball bearings, nearly negating the need for assisted-opening mechanisms on flippers.
This reduced friction simplified folder construction and provided glassy smooth blade rotation. Although a few companies still offer assisted-opening flipper folders, most production versions rely on ball bearings.
Flipper Folders: Function Flows From Form
A flipper tab and ball bearings don’t necessarily equate a folder with quick action and secure deployment. A flipper mechanism will not work properly without a well-designed detent.
Imperative is the detent’s power to secure and hold the blade shut. When placing pressure on the flipper tab with an index finger, the user should be able to feel the grab of the detent. With more pressure on the flipper, the inertia of the blade overrides the pressure of the detent, and kinetic energy swings the blade into the fully open and locked position.
An imprecise detent results in either sloppy action or a flipper mechanism that requires too much pressure against the narrow tab. Optimally, with pressure on the flipper tab, the detent holds its load for a second before letting the blade go with enough energy to snap it open.
Finding Fun In The Fidget Factor
It’s the flipper action that is so satisfying. It imbues a “fidget factor” that causes knife users to snap open their folders while watching TV, talking on the phone, lying in bed or practicing any number of mundane daily routines.
The latest flipper folders not only offer pleasing aesthetics but stay true to the ideals of their predecessors. With premium materials, designs that make use a pleasure and looks that astound, they epitomize some of the coolest knives around.
Best Flipper Knives
Kershaw Inception
The stonewashed blade of the Kershaw Inception pivots on KVT ball bearings. The custom pivot collar adds a touch of class.
At Kershaw, the Inception is looking good with performance to match. “I love the clean, stylish look,” related Kershaw Marketing Manager Dominic Aiello, “but the satisfyingly smooth action is what really makes the Inception a top-notch manual everyday carry.”
The flipper tab was not designed with the intention of acting as a single guard, Aiello says, but rather in combination with the textured handle overlays to help prevent the user’s hand from slipping. Along with that, the D2 tool steel blade .11-inch at the thickest provides enough heft to balance durability and ease of slicing. The clip is reversible and deep carry with flush screws that won’t snag in the pocket or impede quick deployment.
Kershaw Inception Specs Company: Kershaw Blade Length: 3.25 inches Blade Material: D2 tool steel Handle Material: G-10 Lock: Linerlock Weight: 3.1 ounces Pocket Clip: Ambidextrous/reversible, deep carry, tip up Closed Length: 4 inches Country Of Origin: China MSRP: $99.99
Medford Knife & Tool USMC Fighter Flipper
The CPM S35VN stainless blade of the Medford Fighter Flipper is 3/16-inch thick at the thickest and has a Rockwell hardness of 58 HRC.
The USMC Fighter Flipper from Medford Knife & Tool boasts an iconic name and incorporates titanium along with other highly durable components. “Where to start?” commented Medford representative Geoff Oprandy. “First, the USMC Fighter Flipper has superior design, engineering and aesthetics. When Greg Medford was inspired to make this knife, it didn’t take long for initial sketches to appear. He wanted a worthy companion piece for our top-selling Fixed Fighter, which has been a category king for quite some time.”
Oprandy describes the USMC Fighter Flipper as “a unique mixture of titanium components with the best CPM S35VN blade steel. This is a big, manly knife that’s as comfortable working as it is cruising around in your pocket. There is so much going on with it that it’s hard to take in, from the retro milling on the handles, drop-point blade, and integral Ti pommel to the bearing pressed into the one-of-a-kind pocket clip. The tab is designed to be a tad longer and has a unique radius with a knurled feature. For being a large knife [it provides] great purchase, and the flipper tab combined with the finger-indexing groove enable a great grip. The knife runs on phosphor-bronze washers custom made to meet our specs.”
According to Geoff, the knife has a special connection with the United States Marines Corps. As designer Greg Medford related, “When you hold it in your hand, almost 250 years of Marines speak to your soul.”
The design is intended to feel at home with users who prefer the “connection” made with a large folder, Oprandy says. “When people position the knife correctly and begin to use it,” he stated, “the energy transfer seems balanced, natural and confidence inspiring.”
USMC Fighter Flipper Specs Company: Medford Knife & Tool Designer: Greg Medford Blade Length: 4.25 inches Blade Steel: CPM S35VN stainless Handle Material: Titanium Pivot Action: Phosphor-bronze washers Weight: 9.8 ounces Pocket Clip: Titanium; standard carry Closed Length: 5.25 inches Country Of Origin: U.S.A. MSRP: $840 and up
Rick Hinderer Knives Full Track Spearpoint “Nuked”
The Full Track Spearpoint “Nuked” has a removable tool seated in the spine for disassembly/assembly of the knife. The scale on the show side is removable to store spare washers and spacers.
Sam Santa Rita, general manager of Rick Hinderer Knives, says the Full Track Spearpoint “Nuked” is a bigger version of the company’s “very popular Half Track model. It is one of our larger folders at 3.75 inches and has titanium handles with G-10 inserts. The Full Track features a removable tool seated in the spine of the folder that is capable of complete disassembly of the knife.” The folder also utilizes a G-10 insert cover on its show side that hides a pocket for the storage of steel inserts and washers for the Rick Hinderer Knives Tri-Way Pivot System. This allows the user to easily swap from bearings to washers or vice versa depending on the situation.
“Its size and durability coupled with the ease of maintenance and ‘customizability’ makes the knife a perfect hard-use folder capable in any environment,” Sam added. The Full Track is available in stainless blade steel options of CPM S35VN, CPM 20CV and M390. Another blade steel option will be released later this year.
The Full Track flipper tab doubles as a single guard, while the blade pivots on caged thrust bearings. Meanwhile, the Tri-Way Pivot System allows for the aforementioned use of Teflon™ and phosphor-bronze washers as well, which come standard with the knife.
Full Track Spearpoint “Nuked” Specs Company: Rick Hinderer Knives Designer: Rick Hinderer Blade Length: 3.75 inches Blade Steel: CPM 20CV stainless Handle Material: G-10 Lock: Framelock Pocket Clip: Yes Weight: 6.9 ounces Closed Length: 5.125 inches Country Of Origin: U.S.A. MSRP: $820
Spyderco Sliverax
The Sliverax is the first factory folder to combine Spyderco’s Compression Lock® with a flipper-style opener. Blade thickness and grind: .138 inch at the thickest and full flat.
The Sliverax is a bit of a departure for Spyderco. “It’s a flipper design, which is not common among Spydercos,” explained Joyce Laituri, company marketing manager. “The designer, Paul Alexander, is a different type of cutlery designer we have worked with in the past. He holds a doctorate in industrial design and mechanical engineering, and is a leading researcher for a company in the automotive industry.”
The Sliverax brings a shape with seamless flow and a slightly negative blade angle to enhance leverage, placing the point on the knife’s centerline for utility and control. “The negative angle also shortens the opening arc combined with the round hole and flipper mechanism for a full spectrum of positive, high-speed one-hand-opening options,” Joyce commented.
“The flipper tab doubles as a guard,” she continued, “and it’s easy to see and feel when the knife is held. There is a large, deep finger choil already, and the flipper mechanism in the open position extends the choil, creating a comfortable and deep guard for the index finger, or pinky if held in a reverse grip.”
Laituri describes the opening experience with the Sliverax as “slick as a Slip & Slide.” The mechanism features a phosphor-bronze bushing with ball bearings and a nested liner for structural strength. The CPM S30V stainless blade is exceptional in its combination of toughness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance as well, while the ergonomics of the handle are derived directly from its innovative shape, super-thin choil and expansion at the butt to fill the hand.
Spyderco Sliverax Specs Company: Spyderco Designer: Paul Alexander Blade Length: 3.48 inches Blade Steel: CPM S30V stainless Handle Material: Carbon fiber/G-10 laminate Lock: Compression Lock® Weight: 3.3 ounces Pocket Clip: Deep pocket, wire, ambidextrous, tip up Closed Length: 4.52 inches Country Of Origin: Taiwan MSRP: $306
Editor’s Note: Mike Haskew and Dexter Ewing contributed to this post.
Ben Seward’s breacher SWAT Axe salutes officer’s 21 years of police service
When ABS journeyman smith Ben Seward went to make his first axe, he didn’t settle for something easy—he went the whole hog on a special breaching model as a retirement gift for a 21-year law enforcement veteran.
Sgt. Magnus Gervol retired from the Whatcom County, Washington Sheriffs Office after a career that included 15 years on the SWAT team and 14 years as a sniper.
Members of the Sheriffs Office contacted Ben, who forged the axe from the barrel of a Remington 700 SPS tactical sniper rifle. The idea was to make a tactical axe with a beard and a tomahawk spike. The handle is Ozark white oak. Ben’s dad, David, who specializes in sheaths, made the leather sheath.
Ben forge welded the rifle barrel into a bar and layered it up with other carbon steels. He forged the two flats of the head roughly into a triangle and pieced in the bit for the cutting edge. All of the head, including the edge and spike, is forged of the same damascus.
SWAT Axe Specs Maker: Ben Seward Head Size: 7.75” Bit Size: 3.5” Head/Bit Material: Damascus forged from the barrel of a sniper rifle and 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels; includes a rough-forged finish Handle: Ozark white oak Handel Length : 14” Maker’s Price For A Similar Breaching Axe (excluding the steel from the sniper rifle): $1,500
Rough as a mountain ridge and ready as razor-sharp edge, nothing beats stag handles—especially on these custom stunners.
Stag is to knives what red is to rover, rock is to roll and John is to Wayne. It’s the total package in looks, feel and tradition. Sambar, axis, popcorn or whatever the type or style, when it comes to knife handles, stag has it all.
Jeremy Yelle: Takedown pocket bowie
You can almost see and smell the popcorn popping on the popcorn stag of Jeremy Yelle’s takedown pocket bowie. The guard and fittings are 416 stainless steel fire-etched and textured black. Blade and overall lengths: 4.5 and 9 1/8 inches. (Joyce Frasier image edit)
Liam Walle: Full-tang fighter
ABS apprentice smith Liam Walle opts for deer antler scales with copper pins for his full-tang fighter. The 5.7-inch harpoon blade is 2,340 layers of feather damascus in 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels. Overall length: 10.4 inches. (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)
Cowboy Szymanski: Bowie
Axis stag and ebony spacers comprise the handle of a bowie by Cowboy Szymanski. Blade steel is an accordion twist damascus of 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels. The bolster is raindrop pattern damascus. Overall length: 11.75 inches. (SharpByCoop image)
Lin Rhea: D-guard bowie
A stag handle and a blade of ladder-pattern damascus in 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels help complete ABS master smith Lin Rhea’s D-guard bowie. The sheath (not pictured) is by Cody Rowe. (SharpByCoop image)
Erik McCright’: Camp knife
The dark Sambar stag—not to mention the fancy ferrule connection between handle and blade—of Erik McCright’s camp knife screams 19th-century Sheffield. The 8.75-inch blade is 52100 ball-bearing steel with a forced patina. (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)
David R. Davis: Slipjoint
David R. Davis chose Sambar stag and pattern-welded blade steel from Alabama Damascus for his stockman. Blade lengths: 3, 2.25 and 2.5 inches. Blade grinds: flat. Closed length: 4.25 inches. His price for a similar knife: $1,100. (SharpByCoop image)
Adam Millé: Classic hunter
Crown stag and vintage Micarta® complete the handle of Adam Millé’s classic hunter. The bolster is copper. The 6-inch harpoon blade is W2 tool steel. Overall length: 11.25 inches. The handmade leather sheath (not shown) has python snakeskin inlay. (SharpByCoop image)
Eyeball a few factory knives that will debut at the BLADE Show.
For the knife event where more cutlery companies introduce more of their new knives, the BLADE Show takes a backseat to none—which figures since the BLADE Show is the sharpest shindig of them all.
On this and the accompanying pages are samples of some of the factory knives that either debuted at the BLADE Show or had their consumer show introductions there.*
We didn’t have room for all the debut knives of every exhibiting company, so do some legwork and you’ll probably find new/debut knives you like even better than these.
STRIDER PT+ AUTO/PRO-TECH
Knife type: EDC folder/automatic Blade length: 3.14” Blade material: MAGNACUT stainless steel Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Lightweight anodized aluminum Lock/opening mechanism: Push-button auto Pocket clip: DLC-coated mini deep carry Special Features: Strider’s signature design and compact form have been updated to a slightly larger size; the spring has been upgraded to snap the blade open with authority Weight: 3.21 ozs. Closed length: 3.96” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $300 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: NOW; through the year additional colors and variations will be available (image by Derek Lawrence)
SHADOW/KETUO
Knife type: Flipper folder Blade length: 3.78” Blade material: Bohler M390 stainless steel Blade grind: Flat Handle material: 6Al4V titanium Lock mechanism: Flipper Lock Pocket clip: 6Al4V titanium Weight: 5.29 ozs. Closed length: 4.96’” Country of origin: China MSRP: $380-$420 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: June
GENTLEMAN’S FOLDER/OCASO
Knife pattern: Gentleman’s folder Designer: Andrew Demko Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: Choice of CPM S35VN stainless steel or German damascus Blade grind: Full flat Handle material: Carbon fiber, titanium or fat carbon Lock/opening mechanism: Flipper w/linerlock or framelock Pocket clip: Ambidextrous stainless steel in a Demko signature fold-over deep-carry design Action: Stainless-steel caged bearings Weight: 1.7 ozs. (carbon fiber) or 2.5 ozs. (titanium) Closed length: 4.26” Country of origin: Taiwan or Italy MSRP: $209.99-$399.99 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: NOW
TERRACHETTE/CONDOR TOOL & KNIFE
Knife type: Bushcraft machete Blade length: 14.6” Blade material: 1075 carbon steel Blade grind: Convex Handle material: High/impact polypropylene Special features: Near the handle the edge is designed for more controlled carving; extended pommel Weight: 25.4 ozs. Overall length: 20.72” Country of origin: El Salvador MSRP: $69.69 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: Most everywhere by BLADE Show
RIE COLLABORATION SPORT 100/MCUSTA
Designer: Mike Irie Knife pattern: Hunter Blade length: 3” Blade material: VG-10-core damascus Blade grind: Hollow Handle material: Micarta® Special features: Tsuchime-finished blade Weight: 3.4 ozs. Overall length: 6.5” Country of origin: Japan MSRP: $300 Available for sale to the public: Summer ’23
WILLY/LIONSTEEL
Model type: Fixed-blade EDC Blade length: 2.55” Blade material: M390 stainless steel Blade grind: V flat Handle material: Choice of canvas Micarta®, woods, carbon fiber Special features: Titanium guard Weight: 2.04 ozs. Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $201.70 (at press time rate of exchange) Available for sale to the public: June
VICEROY/MEDFORD KNIFE & TOOL
Knife pattern: Balisong Blade length: 4.5” Blade material: CPM S45VN stainless steel Blade patterns: Choice of drop point, tanto, dagger, seax and wharncliffe Handle material: Titanium Handle lock: Latchless Pocket clip: None Special features: Integral solid channel, zen pin, custom bushings, rounded handles, Chaplin groove, machined handle texture, hand-ground blades Weight: 4.3 ozs. Closed length: 5.7” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $750 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: At BLADE Show ’23
VULPIS/FOX
Model type: Multi-purpose multi-blade Main blade length: 5.31” Blade material: M390 stainless steel Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Bead-blasted titanium w/lanyard hole Lock/opening mechanism: Slip joint Special features: Bottle opener, can opener, flat-head screwdriver, hacksaw and scissors Weight: 2.25 ozs. Closed length: 2.94” Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $119 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: May
STOK BOWIE/SPYDERCO
Model type: Fixed blade Blade length: 2.95” Blade material: 8Cr13MoV stainless steel Blade grind: Saber Handle material: OD green G-10 Knife to know: Designed as an urban EDC fixed blade Weight: 2.1 ozs. Overall length: 6.45” Sheath: Boltaron® w/G-Clip™ attachment for adjustable belt and inside-the-waistband carry Country of origin: China MSRP: $100. AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: NOW
SPARTAN-KA-BAR/SPARTAN BLADES
Designer: KA-BAR Knives Overall length: 12” Blade length: 7” Blade at thickest: .165” Blade material: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 60-62 HRC Blade pattern: Clip point Blade grind: Flat saber Blade finish: Choice of PVD-tungsten DLC (flat black) or ZrN (flat dark earth) Handle Material: Kraton G® Buttcap/guard: 301 stainless steel w/PVD-tungsten DLC (flat black) coat Weight: 10.78 ozs. Sheath: Leather Country of origin: USA MSRP: Starts at $325 Available for sale to the public: NOW
ENERGY/MASERIN
Model type: EDC flipper folder Blade length: 4.133” Blade material: D2 tool steel Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Titanium Pocket clip: Titanium Weight: 5.926 ozs. Closed length: 5.23” Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $328 Available for sale to the public: May
LIVEWIRE/KERSHAW
Model type: Out-the-front auto Blade length: 3.3” Blade material: CPM 20CV stainless steel Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Aluminum Pocket clip: Reversible deep-carry, steel Special features: Lightweight button Weight: 3 ozs. Closed length: 4.8” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $380 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: NOW
GHOSTFISH/ROUGH RYDER RESERVE
Designer: Brian Wilhoite Model type: EZ-Open sunfish Blade length: 2 7/8” Blade material: D2 tool steel Handle material: White Micarta® Lock/opening mechanism: Slip joint w/half stop Weight: 5.5 ozs. Closed length: 3 7/8” Country of origin: China MSRP: $84.95 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: Late fall
GMX/GIANTMOUSE
Model type: EDC /outdoor folder Blade length: 3.25” Blade material: CPM S90V stainless steel Blade grind: High flat saber Handle material: Titanium w/brass inlaid bolster Lock: Framelock Pocket clip: 3D-machined titanium Special features: Integral titanium handle Weight: 3.8 ozs. Closed length: 4.3” Country of origin: China; manufactured by Reate MSRP: $445 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: NOW
5” GALAXY BUTTERFLY/BEAR & SON
Model type: EDC balisong Blade length: 3 5/8” Blade material: 440 stainless steel Blade grind: Hollow Handle material: Zinc w/Galaxy finish Lock: Latch Weight: 5 ozs. Closed length: 5” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $68.99 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: NOW
MODERN GLADIUS/TOPS KNIVES
Knife type: Tactical Blade length: 6.5” Blade material: 1095 high carbon steel Blade grind: Dagger/flat Handle material: Tan canvas Micarta® Knife to know: Blade has a double edge Weight: 8.3 ozs. Overall length: 11.5” Country of origin: USA MSRP: TBD AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: TBD
YUUKI/LATAMA x VICTORIAM
Model type: EDC flipper folder Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: CPM 20CV stainless steel Blade grind: Kissaki-unokubi-zukuri compound; hollow belly and convex tip Handle material: Grade 5 titanium Lock: Button lock Pocket clip: Titanium Weight: 4.59 ozs. Closed length: 4 5/8” Country of origin: China MSRP: $200 (estimated) Available for sale to the public: May
BUCKMARK SLIM/BROWNING
Knife type: Flipper folder Blade length: 2.75” Blade material: D2 tool steel Rockwell hardness: 56-60 HRC Blade pattern: Drop point Opening mechanism: Assisted Pivot action: Ball bearings Handle: Polymer Bolster: Stainless steel Pocket clip: Adjustable Lock: Linerlock Closed length: 3.75” Country of origin: China MSRP: $29.99 Available for sale to the public: NOW
LULBEGRUD/OUTLIER
Designer: Craig Caudill Category: EDC/outdoors/self-defense Blade Length: 3.68” Blade material: 52100 carbon steel Blade at thickest: 1/8” Blade finish: Parkerized and tumbled Blade pattern: Drop point Blade grind: Flat Edge sharpening angle: 18 degrees Handle: Coarse-textured, layered G-10 Weight: 6.84 ozs. Sheath: .08”-thick thermoplastic Overall length: 8.62” Sheathed weight: 8.26 ozs. Country of origin: USA MSRP: Approximately $200 AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC: At BLADE Show ’23
*Some of the knives shown for the first time at the show won’t be available for sale to the general public until later in the year. Check each individual knife’s spec box for details.
A South Pacific tradition, Dr. Douglas Hepler instructs a knifemaking course at Kwajalein Junior-Senior High.
Kwajalein Junior-Senior High may be the only American high school that has knifemaking as an official part of the school curriculum—and it just celebrated its latest graduating class of knifemakers.
The school is on the U.S Army Kwajalein Atoll, Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Center, in the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. Kwajalein Island is the site of a titanic three-day battle that cost almost 400 American and over 4,000 Japanese lives during World War II. Today, though, instead of artillery fire and other explosions on the idyllic coral atoll, the sound of belt grinders and buffers can be heard.
Taught by Dr. Douglas Hepler, a retired Navy chief petty officer, students in grades nine through 12 shape blades from 1080 carbon or 440C stainless steel. According to Doug, “The kids do everything: layout; cutting out and grinding the profiles; drilling the rivet holes; stamping desired logos; grinding the edges; heat treating and plate-quenching; doing the oven temper and freezer cryo-treatment at home; the final polish; adding and completing the handles; and sharpening. They do it all.
Douglas Halper
“We have Burr King and Grizzly belt grinders, Baldor buffers and a Paragon oven. We use local woods—coconut palm, kamani, hao, noni, etc.—for handles. We also use whalebone whenever we find a dead carcass washed up on the beach. We buy all our rivets, steel, 2×72 grinding belts and polishing items from Jantz Supply, and have for years. I buy all my personal knifemaking supplies from them as well. You can’t beat the price and top-notch service. They are a great company.”
Concluded Doug: “I am very proud of my students. They have taken what I can teach them and have become better cutlers than I will ever be—and I think that’s awesome.”
