Craftsmanship Crowned: Winners of the 2025 Custom Knife Awards at BLADE Show

The 2025 Custom Knife Of The Year® Awards once again took center stage at BLADE Show, held June 7–9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. As always, the event drew some of the finest custom makers in the world—and this year’s field was especially fierce.

A panel of expert judges had the unenviable task of selecting standouts across a range of categories, recognizing the blades that best embodied design, innovation, and craftsmanship. From elegant folders to bold fighters, here are this year’s winners—including the coveted Hugh Bartrug Best in Show.

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Best Of Show And Best Custom Art Knife

Jean Louis Regel

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Best Custom Kitchen Knife

Louis Gustavo Goncalves

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Best Custom Bowie

Dionatam Franco

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Best Custom Collaboration

Rhidian Gatrill/Jeremy Yelle

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Best Custom Damascus

Gabe Fletcher

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Best Custom Fighter

Louis Gustavo Goncalves

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Best Custom Fixed Blade

Julian Antunes

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Best M.A.C.K.

Richard Rogers

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Best Custom Folder

Javier Vogt

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Best Custom Handle Design

Pedro Fornari

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Best New Maker

D. Kramp Knives

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Best Custom Sword

Vince Evans

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Best Custom Tactical Folder

Sinkevich Design

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Best Custom Utility Hunter

Zane Dvorak

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Best Custom Miniature

Rhidian Gatrill

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Best Custom Slip Joint

Daniel Keown

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Most Innovative Design

Gus Cecchini / GTC Knives

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Best of the Rest

Julian Antunes

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See More Award Winners:

• 2025 Knife Of The Year® Award Winners
• 2025 BLADE Show Texas Custom Knife Award Winners
• 2025 BLADE Show Texas Factory Knife Award Winners
• 2024 BLADE Show West Custom Knife Award Winners
• 2024 BLADE Show West Factory Knife Award Winners