Bark River Knives owner Mike Stewart took to Facebook to admit to closure and the use of Chinese steel in Made-in-U.S.A. labeled knives.
Bark River Knives of Escanaba, Mich., has officially ceased operations following a public admission by owner Mike Stewart that the company utilized Chinese steel in blades marketed as American-made CPM 154. The announcement, made via Facebook on March 23, confirmed that the long-standing fixed-blade manufacturer concluded all business as of March 20.
In his statement, Stewart took full responsibility for the deceptive labeling, characterizing the use of imported steel as a measure intended to keep the company afloat. Stewart argued the alternative steel met his internal testing for toughness and stain resistance, with edge retention nearly matching that of Crucible Industries’ CPM 154. He further claimed that because the knife blanks underwent more than five distinct operations in the Michigan shop—including grinding, reshaping and etching—they technically met his interpretation of “Made in the U.S.A.” criteria.
It should be noted, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) standards mandate a product must consist of “all or virtually all” domestic components to carry the label. Stewart admitted the steel was definitely mis-marked on the following models:
Camp Bolo
Fox River Trailing Point
Highwayman 4
Mini-Manitou
Gladstone Hunter
Bitterroot Caper
Select recent Club Knives
The closure follows a period of increasing pressure from collectors and dealers, alongside significant financial litigation, Outdoorlife.com reported. Stewart noted in his post that the shutdown was “long overdue” and should have occurred two years prior.
Stewart announced that his son, Jim Stewart, will open a new, 100 percent independent knife company. Notably, Jim Stewart has agreed to take over the warranties that would have normally been serviced by Bark River. Mike Stewart clarified that he will have no hand in the new entity and intends to exit the industry entirely after 50 years. Mike Stewart emphasized that his dealers, his wife Lesley and Jim Stewart were entirely blameless in the decision to substitute the blade steel.
Class meets capability: Exploring Kizer’s ambidextrous Clutch Lock folders featuring AEB-L stainless steel and premium handle scales.
‘Tis the season for sharp gifts to place under the tree for your favorite knife enthusiast. Kizer Cutlery has a little something to stuff stockings with once the Yuletide season closes.
Set to officially launch in January 2026, the company’s Pokiman series is described as a collection of gentleman knives. The set of six knives—three models, each with two variations—may look suitable for a church picnic or the office, but they are not small and delicate.
All knives in the Kizer collection are essentially full-sized EDC options. Each one boasts a 3.16-inch blade. Overall length is just under 8 inches. This size provides enough tool for prying at a stuck locker lid or making mincemeat of sisal rope.
Yet, boasting everything from sheepsfoot to clip point blades and Micarta to aluminum and PEI scale, the knives have the look and lines for more suave tasks.
Common across the models are AEB-L steel blades, a very old and respected stainless steel, known for its fine carbide structure and a good balance between hardness and toughness. Plus, it’s known to take and hold an edge.
Kizer outfits the Pokiman line with its Clutch Lock, the company’s take on the ever-popular Axis Lock, presently sweeping the knife world. And why wouldn’t it, given its design makes a knife ambidextrous and offers a fast and quick, one-handed opening/closing option.
Interestingly, and seeming to walk hand-in-hand with the Axis Lock trend, Kaiser turns to thumb studs alone for the opening method on all the knives.
Depending on the model, the Pokiman line has MSRPs from $60-$70. While not available presently, several online retailers already have them on pre-order.
Pokiman CS Specs
Blade Length: 3.16″ Closed Length: 4.21″ Overall Length: 7.36″ Blade Material: AEB-L Stainless Steel Thickness: 0.110″ Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC Blade Style: Sheepsfoot Blade Grind: Flat Blade Finish: Black PVD or Gray Stonewashed Handle Material: Tan Aluminum or PEI Locking Mechanism: Clutch Lock Pivot Assembly: Bearings Pocket Clip: Deep Carry, Tip-Up, Right/Left Carry Weight: 3.08 oz. Origin: Made in China MSRP: Micarta & Stonwashed $60; Aluminum & Satin $70
Pokiman CC
Blade Length: 3.16″ Closed Length: 4.21″ Overall Length: 7.36″ Blade Material: AEB-L Stainless Steel Thickness: 0.110″ Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC Blade Style: Clip Point Blade Grind: Flat Blade Finish: Gray Stonewash or Satin Handle Material: PEI or Blue Aluminum Locking Mechanism: Clutch Lock Pivot Assembly: Bearings Pocket Clip: Deep Carry (Tip-Up, Right/Left Carry) Weight: 2.49 oz. Origin: Made in China MSRP: PEI & Stonewashed $60; Aluminum & Satin $70
Pokiman CD
Blade Length: 3.16″ Closed Length: 4.21″ Overall Length: 7.36″ Blade Material: AEB-L Stainless Steel Thickness: 0.110″ Blade Hardness: 58-60HRC Blade Style: Drop Point Blade Grind: Flat Blade Finish: Satin or Stonewashed Handle Material: Gray Aluminum or Black Micarta Locking Mechanism: Clutch Lock Pivot Assembly: Bearings Pocket Clip: Deep Carry (Tip-Up, Right/Left Carry) Weight: 3.07 oz. Origin: Made in China MSRP: Micarta & Stonwashed $60; Aluminum & Satin $70
From GiantMouse’s GM line, these new drops continue a storied tradition.
GiantMouse’s GM line has an impressive pedigree. Not only has it produced a BLADE Magazine’s Knife of the Year—the GMX—it has also proven among the company’s most popular collections.
One of the aspects adding to the line’s intrigue is the limited aspect of the knives that compose it. Early on, only 400 pieces were produced for each design—300 of the standard and 100 of the P version; now, it’s 600 total knives—400 standard and 200 of the P version. But in either amount, once the run is done, so is the design. So, if you like a knife from this line, you’ll need to be quick on the draw to procure one.
With that in mind, GiantMouse fans might need to limber up their left-mouse-click fingers, because the company has two new GMs about to drop—the GM14 and GMP14. These are the first additions to the collection in a spell and are sure to be popular when they go live on the GiantMouse website Dec. 9.
As the name suggests, the knives are very similar in design. The GMP offers some premium features. At the quick, what are collectors getting in the GM14 and GMP14? A slick, sleek and modern design. These knives are as comfortable in a three-piece suit as they would be in a pair of casual jeans.
The liner locks teeter on the larger side, with the blades measuring in at 3.6 inches and an overall length of 8.6 inches. Even with the size, the knives are featherweight, with the heavier of the two—the GMP—tipping the scales at less than 5 ounces. Much of the weight savings is thanks to titanium handles, which do a number on the knives’ overall mass.
GiantMouse uses Vanax steel for the blade, a nitrogen-alloy offering some pretty desirable traits. Among the most notable are its corrosion resistance, toughness and edge retention. You find this steel in a lot of high-end fishing knives or blades bound for moist environments.
Where the GM14 and GMP14 split paths is the bling GiantMouse incorporated into each design. In particular, the GMP features a darker PVD titanium handle, PVD Vanax blade and rich bronze inlays. An interesting aspect of the use of bronze is that it will patina over time, making each knife unique to its owner.
As for price, the GM14 rings up at $395, while the GMP14 has an MSRP of $445. Both look like solid additions to a storied line.
GSM Outdoor takes a larger stake in the knife industry with the purchase of Smith’s Products.
The outdoor industry is constantly shifting and the knife niche isn’t immune. One of the latest moves certain to touch a large swath of the edge tool market is GMS Outdoor acquiring Smith’s Products.
The deal, for an undisclosed amount, was completed in October. Already, GSM’s website has the company added to its 57-brand roster.
For those not well-versed in the industry, GMS is a large multi-brand conglomerate with a toehold in hunting, shooting and fishing. Smith’s was founded in 1886 as a small family operation, mining and selling raw sharpening stones. Over time, it grew into a multi-channel brand, supplying tools for everything from hunting and fishing to culinary and tactical use.
Interestingly, this is not the GSM’s first dalliance into the knife sphere. In 2020, the conglomerate purchased Cold Steel, and in 2021, it further ventured into the niche, buying SOG.
Up to this point, the company did not own a dedicated knife accessories business, which has always been Smith’s Products’ bread and butter. Even with these recent moves of the past five years, GSM’s main thrust remains in the hunting and fishing industry.
The overall effect of GSM’s purchase of Smith’s offerings and evolution remains to be seen. The Smith’s brand was fairly ubiquitous before the purchase, but likely will become more so under the multi-brand umbrella.
As to GSM’s angle on the purchase, its senior VP of sales, Chris Leonard, had this to say in a press release:
“Together, GSM Outdoors and Smith’s Products are poised to deliver greater value, drive meaningful growth, and continue building a more sustainable future for the industry in every facet.”
The Alox Refined Collection gives Victorinox’s classic design a modern twist.
As steady as the flow of an Alps glacier, Victorinox doesn’t veer far from its design fundamentals. It’s served the Swiss company well, given the Swiss Army Knife might be among the most recognizable tools in the world. In turn, when the iconic company tweaks its legendary pocketknives, it’s worth taking note.
Hence, the Alox Refined Collection deserves consideration—even if you aren’t a diehard collector of Victorinox.
More than anything, it appears Victorinox is modernizing the aesthetics of its knives with the three-knife line. Alox—aluminum scale—has been around for some time, but never quite in the guise it appears in the Refined Collection. The knifemaker has also attempted to improve the function of the series with the addition of a feature that has become almost a must-have on modern pocketknives—a pocket clip.
As to the looks of the Refined Collection, it’s solid, catching the classic SAK up to current sensibilities without veering from Victorinox’s winning formula. The scale has a sleek brushed finish, the texturing runs in a saddle near the spine and it features multiple cutouts. The last feature I like, given it gives a peek into the knives’ locking mechanisms and adds character. On the flip side, I get a bit clutchy on exposing these to the environment and fouling.
On the topic of lockup, the main blade has a locking leaf on all three models, potentially making it fit for more robust duty—at least fit for duties that could potentially close a slipjoint lock. As for the clip, it blends in with the curve of the knives’ end and is riveted onto the scale, so there’s no playing with how it’s carried. This shouldn’t be an issue, given blade deployment is still via a nail nick. The three models of the Refined Collection offer different tiers of tools, with the OneFold Alox offering a single blade, the Synergy Alox four tools and the Synergy X Alox five tools. The price tag on the series runs from $56 for the OneFold to $96 for the Synergy X.
Onto the differences in the models themselves. The OneFold is super simple, with the blade being the only tool present. The Synergy is the middle-tier model, with a considerable expansion to its toolbelt: in addition to the blade, it has the nail file/narrow driver, bottle opener/flat head driver and a new box opener tool that appears to be exclusive to the Refined Collection. Finally, we have the Synergy X which, if you know your Victorinox nomenclature, you will understand to have a pair of spring-loaded scissors in addition to the standard Synergy tool suite.
Synergy X Alox Specs
Tools: Blade, large / Scissors / Box Opener / Screwdriver 3 mm / Nail file / Nail cleaner / Bottle opener / Screwdriver 7 mm / Wire stripper / Carry clip Height: 0.8 in Length: 3.7 in Width: 0.9 in Weight: 3.5 oz Country of origin: Switzerland Blade lockable: Yes One hand blade: No No. of features: 10 MSRP: $96
Synergy Alox Specs
Tools: Blade, large / Box Opener / Screwdriver 3 mm / Nail file / Nail cleaner / Bottle opener / Screwdriver 7 mm / Wire stripper / Carry clip Height: 0.7 in Length: 3.7 in Width: 0.9 in Weight: 2.7 oz Country of origin: Switzerland Blade lockable: Yes One hand blade: No No. of features: 9 MSRP: $78
Onefold Alox Specs
Tools: Blade, large / Carry clip Height: 0.6 in Length: 3.7 in Width: 0.9 in Weight: 1.9 oz Country of origin: Switzerland Blade lockable: Yes One hand blade: No No. of features: 2 MSRP: $56
With solid steel, bold styling, and a pocket-friendly profile, the Merino MM proves that great things really do come in small blades.
A lesson quickly learned in hunting, dressing game doesn’t require a big knife. Funny thing is, the same holds for most EDC chores for your EDC knife.
Certainly, a Crocodile-Dundee sized bowie raises eyebrows and wows crowds. What it doesn’t do is a better job of breaking down boxes and managing everyday emergencies than just the right amount of steel.
Size does matter and with a well-thought-out design and good looks to boot, Pepperwool’s Merino MM proves that more blade isn’t necessarily more better.
Merino MM Specs
Overall Length: 5.25″ Blade Length: 2.25″ Cutting Edge: 2.125″ Blade Width: 0.96″ Blade Thickness: 0.11″ Blade Material: CPM S35VN Blade Style: Clip point Finish: Blue Edge Type: Plain Handle Length: 3.00″ Handle Thickness: 0.35″ Handle Material: G-10 Color: White Weight: 1.60 oz. Pocket Clip: Tip-Up Lock Type: Axis Country of Origin: China MSRP: $130
Pros
Ultra-Lightweight
Smart Blade Geometry
Ambidextrous
Cons
Handle May Be Too Small for Larger Hands
Merino MM Concept
The Merino’s blade is terse, but punch well above its weight in most tasks.
The brainchild of Pepperwool founder Beren McKay, the Merino MM takes a hack at a high-functioning micro-EDC knife.
McKay’s thought process is petite beats beastly when it offers many of the same assets and is something you never second-guess throwing in your pocket. You won’t do that because the axis-lock flipper is about as convenient as your local 7-11.
By the tape, the initial offer from the relatively new company measures in at 3-inches closed, 5.25-inches open and .35-inches thick. At 1.6 ounces, it’s about like throwing a Zippo lighter in your pocket—and as easy to forget on your person.
Merino MM Blade Steel
As is obvious as the dawn, a knife is only as good as its blade and a blade is only as good as its steel. Pepperwool has succeeded here with the cryo-treated S35VN. The steel itself is well-rounded, with good hardness and edge retention when heat-treated properly.
The former is likely the more important factor here, given the wispy thickness of the blade. Despite being as thin as a shadow, the blade is stiff enough to punch above its weight on demanding cutting and prying jobs.
Merino MM Blade Profile
An axis lock, the Merino is ambidextrous and quick to deploy.
Here’s where I really like the Merino, and not simply because I’m a sucker for a clip point blade. And Pepperwool has included a dandy version on the knife with a generous upper blade a belly.
Given that the knife is natural to choke up onto the blade, it arms users with a very controllable slicing edge for very fine tasks. Still, if you need a straight edge for push or pull cuts, the Merino’s lower edge has a surprising amount of real estate.
Worth noting, Pepperwool finishes the blade with titanium nitride for an extra level of corrosion and wear resistance. As a bonus, the ceramic is a very attractive cobalt blue for added panache.
Merino MM Handle
It’s tough to go wrong with G10 for a knife handle—the stuff just seems made for the job. And it’s welcome on the Merino.
Since there isn’t a lot of knife to grip onto, the well-textured material gives the user a strong purchase on the tool. Furthermore, it’s slightly off-white, which matches up well with the blue blade—simply in the looks department.
Chamfered, the G10 also ensures there are no hotspots when the knife is in hand. This surprised me a bit, given the grip is boxy in geometry, which usually spells at least one edge that bites into your hand.
Topping everything off is a very sturdy pocket clip, also finished in dark blue. It sits level with the butt of the Marino, but is designed to sink the entire knife into your pocket, sight unseen. By the way, it is reversible from a single set screw, but the knife is strictly a tip-up carry affair.
Merino MM Lock
The pocket clip is very attractive. Good thing, because in the pocket it the only thing you’ll see on the knife.
This might be the belle of the ball on the knife, at least from a practicality standpoint. The axis lock isn’t anything new, but the convenience of the lock is ideal for an EDC knife. First off, it offers a quick opening and closing system to get the blade in or out of play. But more importantly, the lock makes the knife truly ambidextrous—a boon for lefties.
Testing The Merino MM
I didn’t set a challenge course of tasks for the Merino to accomplish in putting it through the wringer. Instead, for roughly two months of this summer, it was my go-to hiking and fishing knife—roles I’m certain Pepperwool figured it’d fill.
In this time, I used the knife for everything from cutting nylon cord and fishing line to prying open a paint can and, on one occasion, shaving feather sticks. On all counts, the knife proved its mettle.
The knife came sharp and until the latter part of the second month, only required the lightest touch-up to hone its edge. The blade was especially adept at finer tasks—such as trimming tags on hair rigs.
Admittedly, the handle is terse—my pinky hangs off—but with a nice tapper toward the guard, I always felt I had full control of the blade. And the action on deployment is effortless, but limited. For me, it’s always an index-finger affair; the one time I attempted with my thumb, it poked into my ring finger, due to the knife’s small size.
The knife is a solid choice for most outdoor adventures, particularly where weight might be an issue.
The best aspect of the knife, from my time with it, is that it’s absolutely a second thought to carry. Tucked away in the hip pocket, the Merino is easy to forget about given its size, and I did on more than one occasion.
The Merino MM certainly isn’t a first choice for more heavy-duty endeavors—it isn’t a bushcrafter by any stretch of the imagination. But as a piece of lightweight kit, exactly what I used it for—hiking, fishing, camping—it definitely has an edge.
Is there anything I dislike about the knife? Yes, I don’t care for the fluorescent green on the lock and liner, but that’s an eye-of-the-beholder deal. And it’s not a make-or-break feature of the knife.
Final Cut
Pepperwool’s aim was a knife you have no second thoughts about carrying. With style, function and convenience, the Merino MM scores on all points. And, I’d say it’s scored big enough that it’d make many question if it’s time to go small on their EDC.
Check Out More Outdoor Knives:
BEST TOMAHAWKS: OUR TOP HAWKS FOR BACKWOODS TO BATTLEFIELDS
The TiNy packs hefty performance into a light package.
Despite hailing from Germany, Philipp Utsch and Jan Gierse are fluent in the basest American vernacular—Twinkies and violence.
To say smashing a knife weighing all of two of the spongy confections through an 8-by-8 pine post was heard loud and clear at BLADE Show 2025 is an understatement. Aside from wowing some of the most discerning knife collectors, makers and users in the world, the tandem of Teutonic toolmakers also took home the event’s most coveted hardware.
It’s rare for fixed-blade knives to reach the pinnacle of edged tool accolades—BLADE Magazine’s Knife of the Year®. Yet, the German-made gem proved to have the edge over nearly 400 other knives clamoring for the singular honor. How?
Quite simple. Utsch and Gierse’s burgeoning knifemaking concern—UG Tools—and its award-winning knife—the TiNy—took the world’s oldest tool and firmly planted it in the 21st century.
One of the more interesting aspects of the TiNy’s meteoric rise is that this was UG Tools’ first official appearance at the BLADE Show. Utsch and Gierse were in attendance at the 2024 edge-stravaganze, but as attendees, not exhibitors.
UG Tool’s mark is a combination of the founder’s last initials and some Teutonic ferocity.
The duo’s concern is also relatively new, founded in 2021. Not that knifemaking, fabrication and manufacturing were mysteries to UG’s founders.
Utsch has 20 years of knifemaking under his belt, but his daytime gig was a maintenance manager* in the founders’ hometown of Sundern. And Gierse’s career aspirations were focused on manufacturing, as he was pursuing his PhD in mechanical engineering.
It turns out, there was a lot of serendipity in those backgrounds.
Gierse’s topic focus is 3D printing—in particular, Selective Laser Melting (SLM). When he first moved into this field academically and got access to an SLM machine, a titanium knife handle was among his initial projects.
Down the line, that handle ate at him. He saw its potential, something revolutionary. He was acquainted with Utsch and approached him with the idea of teaming up to create a complete knife.
Thanks to its innovation and performance, the TiNy won both Imported Fixed Blade Knife of the Year and Knife of the Year® honors. It’s also stuck into some of its handy work, as the guys from UG Tools hacked through fence posts to demonstrate the knife’s resilience.
The bladesmith was instantly intrigued.
“[W]hen Jan suddenly sent me a photo of the first titanium handle out of the blue in 2021, I knew immediately what I was looking at. The potential was immediately clear to me,” Utsch said.
Getting A Handle On The TiNy
Funny as it might sound, the handle is the belle of the ball on the tiny. It’s where much of the innovation lies.
Additive manufactured, and hollow, the human-tool interface cuts the knife down to a scant 2.82 ounces—or two Twinkies. For a practical-tactical knife, this opens up a wealth of potential.
The old saying for backcountry hunting, military campaigns or just plain hiking is “Ounces make pounds, and pounds make pain.” At 8.27 inches in overall length, weight savings are substantial for a full-sized hunting, camping or military knife (the TiNy could fill all three roles).
UG’s design prowess overflows to the TiNy’s sheath, a sturdy Kydex unit with a retention-adjustment screw and UltiClip UltiLink for unlimited attachment/carry options. An aside, given the hollow handle, it makes a very satisfying ping when clipped all the way into its sheath.
However, keeping things light isn’t the only advantage of the 3D printed handle.
TiNy’s Big Ergonomics
The sky is nearly the limit when it comes to SLM manufacturing, allowing for the TiNy’s advanced—if not nuanced—ergonomics. From the Pango model, I spentd time testing, which isit’s the most enjoyable aspect of the knife.
Plain and simple, in my medium-sized mitts, it feels good to hold.
Well thought out, the handle swells and recesses at the right spots to form-fit my medium-sized hands. Yet, but for my money, the integral grip texturing gets the most accolades. A mixture of dragon scale and linear elements—with a fine pebble finish—the handle stays in place no matter what axis force is applied.
The TiNy’s 3D-printed handle isn’t only lightweight, but also as comfortable as the day is long. In testing, the Pango pattern stuck firmly to the hand without firing up a hot spot.
A final point, the knife is extremely well-balanced. Using my finger as a fulcrum, it’s right behind the guard, making the blade very agile and easy to manipulate.
TiNy Blade
The 4-inch drop-point blade is very clean and understated, but well-formed for a general outdoor knife. Given UG pulled out all the stops and used MagnaCut steel, it’s also more than ready for hard use.
I appreciated the long, straight cutting surface just behind the belly. It is ample enough to facilitate larger push cuts and gives it plenty of edge on pull cuts.
Turning to Magnacut steel, UG produced a high-functioning cutting tool that requires little maintenance. Through general testing, the knife retained the same edge with which it came out of the box.
The drop on the point was just right for me to index when choking up on a pinch grip, like you might use field dressing a buck or the like. And the blade’s stonewashed finish gives it a level of tackiness, as well as hiding inevitable abuse.
TiNy Ruggedness
Interestingly, the TiNy is neither a full nor a classic tang knife, a fact that might get some traditionalists to clutch their pearls. Utsch and Gierse whacking it through an 8-inch by 8-inch post should put to rest any concerns about durability. But what’s going on to keep the blade and handle happily married?
“The extreme load-bearing capacity is achieved by the very precise press fit, in which the oversized blade is pressed into the undersized handle,” Gierse said. “This type of connection has been proven in industry for well over 100 years and transfers forces through a permanently elastic, form-fitting connection.”
UG’s knife made quick work battoning through a nearly 3-inch diameter elm log.
UG has done its testing on the knife, as well as sold several thousand and has yet to encounter a blade-handle separation.
“So far, we have not been able to damage the connection between the handle and the blade, even under extreme stress tests,” Gierse said. “This makes the knife behave like an ultra-light, fully integrated knife. Of course, the blade can break under excessive overload, just like any other knife. Despite the best heat treatment and steel, there are natural physical limits that even we cannot overcome.”
Testing The TiNny
I would have liked to have tested the TiNy during hunting season, to really put the knife through its paces. However, I received my test model during the summer and deadlines call.
In turn, I put it through a small, very unscientific laboratory evaluation that included:
Initial sharpness test on 20-pound bond paper: The tiny passed my initial sharpness test with flying colors.
Push-cut test on 1/8-inch thick1/8-inch-thick leather: It snapped straight through the leather with an audible pop.
Pull-cut test on ¼-inch double-wall cardboard: The knife made quick work of the cardboard, through 100 some cuts.
Durability Test Battoning Siberian Elm Log: Had no problem passing through a seasoned 3-inch diameter log, splitting it roughly a third of the way through. Will note, this did mar the blade finish some.
Follow-up sharpness test on 20-pound bond paper: No edge loss from the initial test.
Overall Impression
I was impressed with the cutting performance of the TiNy; however, I wasn’t too surprised given the blade material. There’s a reason why MagnaCut continues to demand respect in the marketplace and this was proven out by the blade maintaining its edge after moderate use.
I walked away most impressed with the comfort and controllability of the knife, thanks to a well-thought-out handle. I did wonder if the linear aspects of the texturing would prove hot with extended work. This wasn’t the case. I could have worked all day with the TiNy and not thought twice.
Before and after testing, the TiNy’s blade was razor sharp, able to shave through 20 bond with ease.
I’m not the only one.
James Rodebaugh met Utsch and Gierse in 2024, when they attended the BLADE Show as attendees. The duo gave the ABS Master Bladesmith and custom knifemaker a TiNy for field testing, with Rodebaugh taking it on hunting trips in both Alaska and Wyoming.
Dressing game and spatchcocking fowl, the knife proved resilient. He also tested a concern I have with any metal-handled knife—performance in cold weather.
“The printed titanium handle surprised me,” he said. “I thought it would be cold to the hand but warmed to body temp from approximately 20 degrees Fahrenheit in a heartbeat.”
Good to know you won’t take off palm flesh if you’re gutting a deer in the bowels of winter.
Final Cut
Rarely do knives—even ones deemed top-of-class—vastly change the manufacturing landscape. Is the UG TiNy one of those sea-change pieces of cutlery? Only time—and likely mimicry—will tell.
What can be said is that Utsch and Gierse have concocted a version of the age-old fixed blade that firmly plants its feet in modern manufacturing. And they’ve done so at a level that should make the TiNy a useful and trustworthy piece of kit, be it in the backwoods or battlefield.
For two Twinkies’ worth of knife that’s pretty sweet.
![Pepperwool Merino MM Review [Field Tested]](https://blademag.com/wp-content/uploads/Merino-2-768x579.jpg "Pepperwool Merino MM Review [Field Tested]")
