BLADE Staff, Author at BLADE Magazine

New Knives: January 2026

BLADE Staff

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January 6, 2026

From Ancient Inspiration to Modern Innovation: A First Look at the Year’s Most Anticipated Custom and Production Blades.

The new year kicks off with a formidable array of steel, ranging from primitive-inspired spears to high-tech tactical folders. This month’s selection highlights the incredible versatility of the modern cutlery world, showcasing the work of veteran masters with nearly four decades of experience alongside award-winning new makers. Whether you are looking for an ultra-premium custom Bowie for a collection or a hard-use MagnaCut automatic for daily carry, our January 2026 roundup proves that the industry’s innovation shows no signs of slowing down.

Jean-Pierre Potvin Short Spear

Blade length: 3.5”
Blade material: Damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
Blade grind: Flat
Handle: Ash w/burnt and oiled finish
Furniture: Bronze and copper
Overall length: 18.5”
Knife to know: Jean-Pierre Potvin created the texture for the blade steel by forging damascus and using a rotary tool to accentuate the details … he “wanted the texture to be similar to the flint spearheads that existed long ago”; he has been making knives for 36 years
Maker’s price for a similar piece: $2,500
Maker: Jean-Pierre Potvin (SharpByCoop image)

Grant Cunningham Trench knife

Blade length: 8”
Blade material: 52100 carbon steel
Blade grind: Double convex
Handle: Handmade brass knuckles, vulcanized fiber liners
S-guard: Brass
Overall length: 13”
Sheath: By Grey Leather Co.; black leather w/snap strap
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,250
Maker: Grant Cunningham, cunninghamcustomshop.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Rian Doudle Doudle Streetfighter Bowie

Blade length: 7.1”
Blade material: W’s pattern damascus in 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Western myall, an Australian hardwood
Guard: Wrought iron
Overall length: 12.6”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200 at press-time exchange rate
Maker: Rian Doudle, Fallen Forge, fallenforge.com.au (Rod Hoare image)

Frank Edwards Push Dagger

Blade length: 3.25”
Blade material: Twist-pattern damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
Blade grind: Dagger
Scales: Carved interior mammoth ivory
Overall length: 6.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,550
Maker: Frank Edwards (Jocelyn Frasier image)

SOG Knives Gambit XL

Knife type: Fixed-blade karambit
Blade length: 4”
Blade steel: CRYO AUS-10A stainless
Blade @the thickest: 0.19”
Blade finish: Black stonewash
Blade finish: Hawkbill
Handle: Green paracord wrapped
Weight: 4.75 ozs.
Overall length: 8.75”
Sheath: Kydex® w/Safe-Lock clip
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $139.95
Company: SOG Knives, sogknives.com

APOC Wallace Small Puukko

Designer: Mike Wallace
Blade length: 3”
Blade material: D2 tool steel
Blade @thickest: 0.118”
Blade pattern: Drop point
Blade finish: Titanium coated
Scales: Black G-10
Weight: 3 ozs.
Overall length: 6.88”
Sheath: Kydex®; comes w/fire steel
Knife to know: Specs vary from piece to piece
Country of origin: China
MSRP: $82
Company: APOC, casiberia.com

CRKT Xolotl OTF

Knife type: Out-the-front auto
Designer: Michael Rodriguez, U.S. Army Green Beret
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless
Blade @the thickest: 0.13”
Blade pattern: Spear point, ground on both edges
Blade finish: Titanium nitride
Scales: Aluminum
Opening mechanism: Dual action
Pocket clip: Sternum shaped, reversible
Weight: 3.2 ozs.
Closed length: 5.31”
Knife to know: An Aztec deity, Xolotl is “the guide of souls to the afterlife” … the handle has 21 ribs, one for each of the designer’s years in service
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $324.99
Company: CRKT, crkt.com

Cold Steel Frenzy II

Knife type: Tactical folder
Knife designer: Andrew Demko
Blade length: 5.5”
Blade steel: S35VN stainless
Blade polish: Satin
Scales: G-10
Pocket clip: Yes
Lock type: Tri-Ad®
Weight: 5.7 ozs.
Closed length: 6.75”
Country of origin: Taiwan
Knife to know: Design based on the kabutowari, an ancient Japanese design
MSRP: $239.99
Company: Cold Steel, coldsteel.com

TOPS Knives A-Klub

Designer: Amanda Kaye
Blade length: 12.38”
Blade material: 1095 carbon steel
Rockwell hardness: 56-58 HRC
Blade @the thickest: 0.19”
Blade finish: Acid Rain
Scales: Green canvas Micarta®
Weight: 23.8 ozs.
Overall length: 17.88”
Sheath: Black Kydex®
Sheath clip: Dangler
Weight w/sheath: 33 ozs.
Country of origin: USA
Knife to know: The A-Klub is the first TOPS knife designed by a woman, Amanda Kay, a past participant on TV’s Naked and Afraid; design influenced by American Indian war clubs
MSRP: $409.95
Company: TOPS Knives, topsknives.com

Geoff Keyes Pirate Bowie

Blade length: 16”
Blade material: 1080 carbon steel
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Buffalo
Furniture: Integral bolster, steel and copper
Extras: Silk tassels handmade by Marianne George
Overall length: 22”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500
Maker: Geoff Keyes, 5elementsforge.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Taran Ma Sanctum

Knife type: Utility folder
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless
Blade openers: Blade oval and ambidextrous thumb studs
Scales: Titanium
Lock type: Framelock
Pocket clip: Yes
Closed length: 4.25”
Knife to know: Taran Ma has been making knives for 1 year
Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for information
Maker: Taran Ma (SharpByCoop image)

Josh Davis Sgian Dubh

Blade length: 3.46”
Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon steel
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade thickness @ricasso: 0.118”
Blade @the widest: 1.8”
Scales: Ebony, mosaic pin, TruStone and brass
Overall length: 7.9”
Sheath: By the maker
Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for more info
Knife to know: Josh Davis won Best New Maker for his sgian dubh at the 2025 Adelaide Cutlers Expo; he is also a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild
Maker: Josh Davis, CSC Knives (Rod Hoare image)

Check Out Other Months:

50 Years Ago In BLADE: Buster Warenski

BLADE Staff

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December 29, 2025

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BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Buster Warenski was the subject of an extensive six-page profile a half century ago in the January/February 1976 issue of The American Blade. He was larger than life then and would get even larger in the years to come.

Unmistakable in the low-crowned Stetson and mutton-chop sideburns he wore back then, Buster was interviewed in his new Richfield, Utah, knife shop by then editor L.V. Baker. Richard Barney, co-author with Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bob Loveless of the landmark How To Make Knives book, was along to take photos. The lead image of Buster holding one of his latest knives at the time is about as iconic as it gets.

Done about half a decade before Buster would go on to make his reproduction of the King Tut Dagger, the story and spread reflect how consequential Buster was to the handmade knife movement of the 1970s. It covers from his early influences, including Harvey Draper and Cutlery Hall-of-Famers Gil Hibben and Bo Randall, the first two knives Warenski ever sold, some invaluable magazine publicity from Cutlery Hall-of-Famer B. R. Hughes, Buster’s first Guild Show in 1973 and his position on the Guild Board of Directors at the time of the interview.

One of Buster’s best quotes: “I think the industry is going to get bigger and better, just as our customers and collectors are going to become better educated about the knives they buy and are going to demand a better product.”

Buster was right, of course—and would be among the vanguard of makers to supply the knives for which he predicted there would one day be such great demand.

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

BTAC Recap: Knives and Guns Rule

BLADE Show

BLADE Staff

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December 15, 2025

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BLADE Tactical Knife Show joins forces with CANCON Carolinas.

The best of both worlds—knives and firearms—drew edged and gun enthusiasts alike to the 2nd Annual BLADE Tactical Knife Show (BTAC) held in conjunction with CANCON Carolinas November 7 at The Clinton House in Clinton, South Carolina.

In addition to enjoying CANCON’s unlimited suppressed shooting with free ammo in various shooting lanes and perusing one-of-a-kind artisan gear items, patrons had access to the adjacent BTAC Invitational Knife Pavilion to shop among hundreds of tactical knives by some of the industry’s top custom and factory knifemakers.

Located just inside the front entrance of CANCON Carolinas, the BTAC Invitational Knife Pavilion drew gun and knife enthusiasts alike.

Mark Carey of Spartan Blades said folding knives seemed to appeal most to the combo knife/gun event’s patrons, who he described as “mostly gun people but many that know knives.” He also complemented CANCON as “an excellent on-range show; well set up, safe and secure.”

Mike Sweeney indicated folders under $200 sold best for Heretic Knives, while BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Daniel Winkler stated smaller/concealable pieces were top sellers for Winkler Knives.

The future of both the knife and gun industries were among the patrons on hand.

“The smaller pieces have lower price points, but there wasn’t a differentiation in handle materials or treatments from our perspective,” he wrote. “Customers familiar with our brand asked specifically for the smaller pieces.”

The roster of exhibitors consisted of Arsenal Edge; Attn2Detail Mercantile; Bastinelli Knives; Brad Zinker; Carver Knife Co.; Clark Custom Knives; Dauntless Manufacturing; Grizzly Forge; Heretic Knives; Hoffman Blacksmithing; Hypercut Manufacturing; ABS master smith Jason Knight; Keanison Knives; KeyBar; Krein Knives; McNees Knives; Microtech; Nicholas Nichols Knives; Nottingham Tactical Inc., Primitive Woodsman; Scorpion 6 Knives; Sparrow Knife Co.; Spartan Blades; and Winkler Knives.

More On The Blade Shows:

2025 BLADE Show West Recap: Flying High In The Rocky Mountains
2025 BLADE Show West Custom Knife Award Winners
2025 BLADE Show West Factory Knife Award Winners
Photo Gallery: BLADE Show 2025 in Pictures

Cool Customs: Rocco Nawrocki’s Knife For Sergeant Bunker

BLADE Staff

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December 11, 2025

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Cool Customs: Rocco Nawrocki’s Knife For Sergeant Bunker

Marine Corps hero feted with Nawrocki knife at The Battleship Ball.

An unforgettable setting for a memorable event celebrating an American hero—all complemented by a beautiful knife by Brian “Rocco” Nawrocki—completed a tribute to USMC Sergeant Scott Bunker during last year’s 250th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps.

Assigned to Lima Company in 2005 during the Iraq War, Sergeant Bunker took multiple machine-gun rounds at point-blank range in house-to-house fighting, resulting in the loss of an eye, half a lung, several ribs and soft-tissue damage to his left arm. He was the guest of honor at The Battleship Ball 2025 on November 1, held on the deck of the vintage World War II Battleship USS North Carolina in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Event organizer/USMC veteran Dean Smith (left) congratulates Sgt. Scott Bunker after delivery of the Nawrocki tribute knife (in display case on the dais) during The Battleship Ball.

The handsome fixed blade Rocco made for Sergeant Bunker includes steel from the North Carolina for the blade and guard. The wood handle is teak from the battlewagon’s deck, along with purple heart ribbon spacers.

More Custom Knives:

New Knives December 2025

BLADE Staff

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December 5, 2025

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If it needs cutting, do it in style with one of these gems.

Of any class of knife, there’s nothing handier than an EDC blade. From mending hoses to knocking down cardboard boxes and prying open stuck latches, these knives trim down daily chores. Though what exactly defines an EDC knife? Honestly, anything could be an everyday carry if you simply carry it every day. And while a few of our new knife picks aren’t precisely what you call your typical EDC, they’re certainly worthy of keeping at hand to cut into your workload.

Brian Milinski Paratrooper

BLADE LENGTH: 3.25”
BLADE MATERIAL: Dragonskin damascus by Bertie Rietveld
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
BLADE FINISH: Nitre salt blued
SCALES: Carbon fiber
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5”
MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,650
MAKER: Brian Milinski, mrknives.com (Felipe Silva image)

Buck Knives 791 Range Elite

KNIFE TYPE: Folder
BLADE LENGTH: 3 3/8”
BLADE STEEL: MagnaCut stainless
BLADE GRIND: High-panel flat
BLADE OPENER: Thumb stud
HANDLE MATERIAL: Anodized aluminum
LINERS: Tumble-polished stainless
LOCK: Crossbar
POCKET CLIP: Deep carry, reversible
WEIGHT: 3.3 ozs.
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5”
SPECIAL FEATURES: Spine gimping
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
MSRP: $275
COMPANY: Buck Knives, buckknives.com

Sean Alonzo Dalisay 2.8 Cigar Cutter

BLADE LENGTH: 2.8”
BLADE MATERIAL: Yggdrasil pattern damascus by Damasteel
BLADE GRIND: Single bevel
SCALES: Mammoth tusk ivory
BOLSTER: Black burlap Micarta®
KNIFE TO KNOW: Pivot collar, inlay and thumb screws are mammoth ivory; zirconium pivot and backspacer
MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $4,200
MAKER: Sean Alonzo, baleteblades.shop (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Brion Tomberlin Personal Carry Fighter

BLADE LENGTH: 4.5”
BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel w/hamon
BLADE GRIND: Flat
SCALES: Ironwood
GUARD: 416 stainless steel
OVERALL LENGTH: 9.5”
MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $650
KNIFE TO KNOW: Brion Tomberlin is a master smith in the American Bladesmith Society
MAKER: Brion Tomberlin (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Craig Brewer Slipjoint

BLADE LENGTH: 2.5”
BLADE MATERIAL: Mike Norris stainless damascus in a Frequency pattern
BLADE GRIND: Hollow
SCALES: Mammoth ivory
CLOSED LENGTH: 3”
MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,100
KNIFE TO KNOW: Craig Brewer is an apprentice smith in the American Bladesmith Society
MAKER: Craig Brewer (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Quintin T. Hardtner IV Take-Down Frame-Handle Bowie

BLADE LENGTH: 8.25”
BLADE MATERIAL: Feather damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels
BLADE GRIND: Flat
SCALES: Curly koa
FURNITURE MATERIAL: Same as blade
SPACERS: Nickel silver
OVERALL LENGTH: 13.5”
KNIFE TO KNOW: Won Best Fixed Blade and Best of Show at the 2025 Louisiana Knife Show
SHEATH: Leather; custom made by Bob Bobbitt
MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $3,000
MAKER: Quintin T. Hardtner IV (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Spartan Blades Soter Carbon Fiber Edition

KNIFE TYPE: EDC folder
BLADE LENGTH: 3.25”
BLADE STEEL: CPM S35VN stainless
ROCKWELL HARDNESS: 58-60 HRC
BLADE FINISH: Satin
HANDLE MATERIAL: Carbon fiber/G-10 composite
LOCK: RaceLock™
POCKET CLIP: Machined from one piece of steel, PVD-coated in flat dark earth
WEIGHT: 3.9 ozs.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
MSRP: $310
KNIFE TO KNOW: Soter is the Greek mythological figure known as the “protector”
COMPANY: Spartan Blades, spartanbladesusa.com

Tory Utt Arkansas Hunter

KNIFE TYPE: Slipjoint
BLADE LENGTH: 4”
BLADE MATERIAL: Feather pattern damascus forged by Bill Poor
BLADE GRIND: Flat
BLADE PATTERN: Clip point
HANDLE FRAME: Nickel silver
SCALES: Westinghouse Micarta®
SHIELD: Mother-of-pearl
BOLSTERS: Topo pattern damascus forged by Tory Utt
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.25”
MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,300 range
KNIFE TO KNOW: Tory Utt has been making knives for 12 years
MAKER: Tory Utt, sacredbearknives.com (SharpByCoop image)

Mace Vitale Bowie

BLADE LENGTH: 12.5”
BLADE MATERIAL: W2 tool steel w/hamon
BLADE GRIND: Flat
SCALES: Tasmanian blackwood
GUARD & FERRULE: Mild steel
OVERALL LENGTH: 17.5”
KNIFE TO KNOW: The design is inspired by early American knives; Mace Vitale is a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society
MAKER’S PRICE FOR A SIMILAR KNIFE: $1,750
MAKER: Mace Vitale (SharpByCoop image)

Bear & Son Cutlery 112A 4” Stainless Steel Framelock

BLADE LENGTH: 2 7/8”
BLADE MATERIAL: Stainless steel
BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
BLADE OPENERS: Flipper and thumb stud
OPENING MECHANISM: Assisted
HANDLE MATERIAL: Stainless steel
LOCK: Framelock
POCKET CLIP: Yes
WEIGHT: 3.8 ozs.
CLOSED LENGTH: 3¾”
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
MSRP: $59.99
COMPANY: Bear & Son Cutlery, bearandsoncutlery.com

Camillus Explorer

BLADE LENGTH: 3”
BLADE STEEL: 3Cr13 stainless
BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
HANDLE MATERIAL: Nylon glass fiber
LOCK: Crossbar
WEIGHT: 3 3/8 ozs.
CLOSED LENGTH: 4.5”
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Offshore
MSRP: $29.99
COMPANY: Camillus, camillusknives.com

5.11 Pryme Double Duty DP

KNIFE TYPE: Folder
BLADE LENGTH: 3.25”
BLADE MATERIAL: D2 tool steel
BLADE GRIND: Compound
BLADE PATTERN: Drop point
BLADE OPENERS: Flipper and thumb stud
HANDLE MATERIAL: G-10 on mark side/420J2 stainless on lock side
BOLSTER MATERIAL: 420J2
LOCK: Framelock
POCKET CLIP: Steel, deep carry, reversible
WEIGHT: 5.3 ozs.
CLOSED LENGTH: 5.125”
SPECIAL FEATURES: Built-in, full-handle-length pry tool/screwdriver/optic
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China
MSRP: $85
CONTACT: 5.11, 5.11tactical.com

Check Out Other Months:

Niagara Specialty Metals Announces Steels List

BLADE Staff

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November 28, 2025

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Niagara Specialty Metals Announces Steels List

Get a gander at what’s on the slate for NSM in 2026.

According to a recent post by Niagara Specialty Metals (NSM) on BladeForums, NSM (nsm-ny.com) had several steels and materials available either now or that were “incoming” as BLADE was going to press.

The list includes: MagnaCut; CPM154; S30V; S35VN; S45VN; S90V; 3V; 4V; CruWear (aka NSM Wear); 154CM; 20CV; M4; CPM D2; D2; 440C ESR; 416; and 6-4 titanium. The new MagnaMax (page 66) should be available in 2026.

The post stated that all particle metallurgy grades are “coming in from Erasteel and Carpenter and the quality has been excellent.” All of NSM’s air-melt steels and 6-4 titanium are domestic.

The only grades off the list at press time were 15V, 110V and Rex 121. “They were Crucible exclusives,” the post noted of the three grades not on the list, “and we’re working with the mills to bring them back once production can be re-established.”

More On Steel:

Knife Steel After Crucible Industries LLC

Best Steel For Knives: How To Choose

Knife Steel Trends: What To Look Forward To In 2025

Knife Steel Alloys: A Down-And-Dirty Guide

Damascus Steels: What To Use And When

BLADE Staff

From Ancient Inspiration to Modern Innovation: A First Look at the Year’s Most Anticipated Custom and Production Blades.

Jean-Pierre Potvin Short Spear

Grant Cunningham Trench knife

Rian Doudle Doudle Streetfighter Bowie

Frank Edwards Push Dagger

SOG Knives Gambit XL

APOC Wallace Small Puukko

CRKT Xolotl OTF

Cold Steel Frenzy II

TOPS Knives A-Klub

Geoff Keyes Pirate Bowie

Taran Ma Sanctum

Josh Davis Sgian Dubh

Check Out Other Months:

More Knife History:

BLADE Tactical Knife Show joins forces with CANCON Carolinas.

More On The Blade Shows:

Marine Corps hero feted with Nawrocki knife at The Battleship Ball.

More Custom Knives:

If it needs cutting, do it in style with one of these gems.

Brian Milinski Paratrooper

Buck Knives 791 Range Elite

Sean Alonzo Dalisay 2.8 Cigar Cutter

Brion Tomberlin Personal Carry Fighter

Craig Brewer Slipjoint

Quintin T. Hardtner IV Take-Down Frame-Handle Bowie

Spartan Blades Soter Carbon Fiber Edition

Tory Utt Arkansas Hunter

Mace Vitale Bowie

Bear & Son Cutlery 112A 4” Stainless Steel Framelock

Camillus Explorer

5.11 Pryme Double Duty DP

Check Out Other Months:

Get a gander at what’s on the slate for NSM in 2026.

More On Steel:

See who took home top honors at the West Coast Flipping Championship.

More On BLADE Show:

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