2023 Factory Knife Of The Year® Award Winners

See who took home the hardware from the 2023 Factory Knife Of The Year® Awards at BLADE Show.

The June 2-4 BLADE Show at the Cobb County Gallery hosted what might have been one of its fiercest Factory Knife Of The Year® Awards competition.

Seemingly every maker—at least a healthy cross-section—threw its hat in the ring to make a run for the coveted hardware. This was evident with the display cases outside the main hall that house the entrants at full capacity and nearly brimming over. Volume, however, wasn’t the lone variable. From knife accessories to the blades making a run at Knife Of The Year, the quality of work, innovation and craftsmanship proved top shelf.

Sufficed to say, the 10 judges—industry experts from knife writers to makers and Cutlery Hall Of Famers—who cast their ballots had their work cut out for them. Below are the knives that lived up to their exacting standards to take home 2023 honors in 10 categories and the overall Knife Of The Year award winner.

Knife Of The Year: GiantMouse GMX

American-Made Knife Of The Year: Benchmade Narrows

Imported Knife Of The Year: Rosecraft Blades Clinch River Swayback

Most Innovative American Knife: Buck 590 Paradigm

Most Innovative Imported Knife: Maserin W-Lock

Manufacturing Quality: Spartan Blades Limited-Edition Spartan Harsey Folder

Best Collaboration: WE Knife/GTC

Best Investor/Collector: Shirogorov Knives Mini Quantum CD

Best Kitchen Knife: MKM Prima

Best Buy: Kershaw Iridium

Knife Accessory Of The Year: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust

See Past 2023 Factory Knife Of The Year® Awards Winners:

• 2022 Factory Knife Of The Year Award Winners
• 2021 BLADE Show Knife-Of-The-Year® Award Winners & Custom Knife Award Winners
• 2019 Knife of the Year® Award Winners & Custom Knife Award Winners
• 2018 Knife of the Year® Award Winners & Custom Knife Award Winners