Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards Archives

BLADE SHOW 2025 Custom Knife Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 9, 2025

BLADE SHOW 2025 Custom Knife Award Winners

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.

Best Of Show And Best Custom Art Knife

Jean Louis Regel

Best Custom Kitchen Knife

Louis Gustavo Goncalves

Best Custom Bowie

Dionatam Franco

Best Custom Collaboration

Rhidian Gatrill/Jeremy Yelle

Best Collaboration — JFRASIER PHOTOGRAPHY

Best Custom Damascus

Gabe Fletcher

Best Custom Fighter

Louis Gustavo Goncalves

Best Custom Fixed Blade

Julian Antunes

Best M.A.C.K.

Richard Rogers

Best Custom Folder

Javier Vogt

Best Custom Handle Design

Pedro Fornari

Best New Maker

D. Kramp Knives

Best Custom Sword

Vince Evans

Best Custom Tactical Folder

Sinkevich Design

Best Custom Utility Hunter

Zane Dvorak

Best Utility Hunter — JFRASIER PHOTOGRAPHY

Best Custom Miniature

Rhidian Gatrill

Best Custom Slip Joint

Daniel Keown

Most Innovative Design

Gus Cecchini / GTC Knives

Custom Innovative — JFRASIER PHOTOGRAPHY

Best of the Rest

Julian Antunes

See More Award Winners:

2026 Knife Of The Year® Award Winners

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June 8, 2026

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The 2026 BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® Awards proved tougher—and tighter—than ever.

As the years go on the BLADE Magazine Knife Of The Year® Awards only get sharper. The 2026 chapter, held during the June 5-7 BLADE Show at the Cobb Convention Center, is a case in point. Hosting another massive field in the factory knife competition, the contest drew roughly the same number of entries as last year (350-400), with hundreds of blades vying for the title of “Best” in their respective categories. Add in the fact that production knives are reaching an unimaginable height in both design and manufacturing quality, and the event was as tight as ever. The winners were selected by a panel of four judges, experts drawn from different backgrounds in the knife industry. Below are their selections of knives that are more than worthy of being called Knife Of The Year®.

BLADE Magazine Overall Knife Of The Year® & PVK Best Automatic Of The Year

Hawk Knives Talon Auto

American Fixed Blade Of The Year

Microtech Knives Akris

Best American Fixed Blade — JFRASIER PHOTOGRAPHY

American Folding Knife Of The Year

Zero Tolerance 0020

American Folding Knives Of The Year — JFRASIER PHOTOGRAPHY

Most Innovative American Design

Scabbard Knives Alpha Configuration 1

Imported Fixed Blade Of The Year

WE Notchline

Imported Folding Knife Of The Year

Anso of Denmark Aros 2.0

Most Innovative Imported Design

Winterblade Mythic

Slip Joint Of The Year

Lionsteel Barlow

Knife Collaboration Of The Year

Grimsmo/Chipped Metal Rask

Best Buy Of The Year

Kizer Drop Bear

Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year

Spyderco Native 5 50^th Anniversary Amber Bone

Kitchen Knife Of The Year

Shun Tomi

Manufacturing Quality Award

Shirogorov Knives

Best Of The Rest

Nottingham Tactical TB360 Dark Ti Parker

Knife Accessory Of The Year

Lionsteel Eggie Aluminum

More On BLADE Show:

BLADE University: Knife Knowledge Honed
7 Join BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame®
Photo Gallery: BLADE Show 2025 in Pictures
2025 BLADE Show Recap: What Happened At The Edge-Stravaganza

BLADE SHOW 2026 Custom Knife Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 8, 2026

1

BLADE SHOW 2026 Custom Knife Award Winners

Craftsmanship Crowned: Winners of the 2026 Custom Knife Awards at BLADE Show.

The 2026 Custom Knife Of The Year® Awards once again took center stage at BLADE Show, held June 5–7 at the Cobb Convention Center in Atlanta. As always, the event drew some of the finest custom makers in the world, and this year’s field was especially fierce. Keeping pace with the massive momentum of last summer, the number of custom entries remained roughly the same as last year, ensuring a brutally competitive arena for the makers.

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.

Best Of Show And Best Custom Art Knife

Jean-Louis Regel

Best Custom Bowie

Matias Funes

Best Custom Collaboration

Honore Vilain/Camille Sennegon

Best Custom Damascus Contender

Gabe Fletcher

Best Damascus Contender — JFRASIER PHOTOGRAPHY

Best Custom Damascus

Julian Antunes

Best Custom Fighter Contender

Jordan LaMothe

Best Custom Fighter

Matias Funes

Best Custom Fixed Blade

Julian Antunes

Best Custom Folder

Moro Knives

Best Custom Handle Design

Don Nguyen

Best Custom Hunter

Camille Sennegon

Best Custom Kitchen Knife

Will Stelter

Best M.A.C.K.

Richard Rogers

Best Custom Miniature

Rhidian Knives

Best New Maker

Brent Mathison

Best Custom Single-Blade Slip Joint

Honore Vilain

Best Custom Multi-Blade Slip Joint

David Kramp

Best Custom Sword

David Goldberg

Best Custom Tactical Folder

Sergey Shirogorov

Custom Best Of The Rest

Fabio Barros

More On BLADE Show:

BLADE University: Knife Knowledge Honed
7 Join BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame®
Photo Gallery: BLADE Show 2025 in Pictures
2025 BLADE Show Recap: What Happened At The Edge-Stravaganza

2022 BLADE Show Knife-Of-The-Year® Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 6, 2022

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2022 BLADE Show Knife-Of-The-Year® Award Winners

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

Winners were determined in 11 categories at BLADE show in Atlanta, by an expert pannel of judges. Awards ranged from Knife Of The Year to Best Kitchen Knife and everything in between.

The 2022 Overall Knife of the Year® was the Pro-Tech Malibu Operator. Pro-Tech would go on to win in two other categories. The world’s largest knife show featured attendees and exhibitors from around the world showing off the best and newest in all things knives.

Below are this year’s factory award winners from this tremendous event.

Overall Knife of the Year®: Pro-Tech Malibu Operator

American-Made Knife Of The Year®: Spyderco Military 2

Most Innovative American Design: Asheville Steel Warlock

Imported Knife Of The Year®: MKM – Maniago Knife Makers Miura

Most Innovative Import Design: Civivi Orthrus

Accessory Of The Year: Lionsteel Eggie

Best Buy: Sencut Sachse

Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year®: Pro-Tech Ultimate Collection Terzuole ATCF Auto

Collaboration Of The Year: Pro-Tech Terzuole ATCF Auto

Manufacturing Quality Award: Heretic Wraith Auto

Kitchen Knife Of The Year®: Bradford Paring Knife

Read More

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.

2022 Blade Show Custom Knife Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 6, 2022

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2022 Blade Show Custom Knife Award Winners

See Who Took Home Awards For the Best Custom Knives At Blade Show In Atlanta.

An expert panel of judges determined the winner in 17 categories of custom knives that were as diverse as Best Miniature to Best Bowie. Best In Show went to Dionatam Franco.

The largest knife show in the world featured exhibitors and attendees from around the globe showing off the best in all things knives.

Below are this year’s custom knife award winners from this excellent event.

Hugh Bartrug Best In Show & Best Art Knife: Dionatam Franco

Yvon Vachon Best Miniature: Grace Horne

Best Tactical Folder: Dmitry Sinkevich

Most Innovative Design: Walt Halucha

Most Innovative Design: Walt Halucha for this unique locking mechanism on this folding blade.

Best Slip Joint: Luke Swenson

Best Handle Design: Fabio Barros

Best Utility Hunter: Ben Pittman

Best Fighter: Henning Wilkinson

Best Sword: Vince Evans

Best Bowie: Tommy Gann

Best Fixed Blade: Vince Evans

Best Collaboration: Seth Lopez & Leah Aripotch

Best Folder: Javier Vogt

Best Damascus: Mike Quesenberry

Best New Maker: Fabio Barros

Best Kitchen Knife: Will Stelter

Best Of The Rest: Dmitry Sinkevich

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Mike Ableson.

Read More

2023 Factory Knife Of The Year® Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 5, 2023

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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

factory - overall knife of the year — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

American-Made Knife Of The Year: Benchmade Narrows

factory - american made — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Imported Knife Of The Year: Rosecraft Blades Clinch River Swayback

factory - best imported — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Most Innovative American Knife: Buck 590 Paradigm

factory - most innovative american — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Most Innovative Imported Knife: Maserin W-Lock

factory - most innovative imported — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Manufacturing Quality: Spartan Blades Limited-Edition Spartan Harsey Folder

factory - manufacturing quality — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Best Collaboration: WE Knife/GTC

factory - best collaboration — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Best Investor/Collector: Shirogorov Knives Mini Quantum CD

factory - best investor — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Best Kitchen Knife: MKM Prima

factory - best kitchen — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Best Buy: Kershaw Iridium

factory - best buy — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Knife Accessory Of The Year: Work Sharp Professional Precision Adjust

factory - accessory — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

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

BLADE Show 2023 Custom Knife Award Winners

BLADE Staff

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June 5, 2023

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BLADE Show 2023 Custom Knife Award Winners

See who took home the hardware from the 2023 Custom Knife Awards at BLADE Show.

As usual, the Custom Knife Of The Year® Awards at the June 2-4 BLADE Show at the Cobb County Gallery gather together some of the best examples of bladesmithing in the knife world. The difficulty was choosing which would rise to the top.

In a highly competitive field, a panel of expert judges sorted out the top knives in XX categories for the best of the best. Below are the winners, including the coveted Hugh Bartrug Best In Show.

Hugh Bartrug Best In Show & Fixed Blade: Vince Evans

best fixed blade and in show — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Best Fighter: Samuel Lurquin

Best Kitchen Knife: Lucas Gumbiner

Best Folder: Owen Wood

Best Tactical Folder: Thomas Gony (Grind Tactical Knives)

Best Handle: Fabio Barros

best handle design — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Best Utility Hunter: Oliver Goldschmidt

Best Slipjoint: Luke Swenson

Best Damascus: CAS Knives (Sobral Brothers)

Best M.A.C.K.: Shirogorov Knives

Best Collaboration: Raul Sartorial Filho (Engraver) & Fabio Barros (Bladesmith)

Best Art Knife: Mauricio Daletzky

Best Bowie: Dionatam Franco

Best Sword: Vince Evans

Best Miniature: Chuck Gedraitis

Most Innovative: GTC Knives

most innovative design — Photo: Jocelyn Frasier

Best of The Rest: Will Stelter

Best New Maker: Zane Dvorak

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

Knife-Of-The-Year® Awards

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

Best Of Show And Best Custom Art Knife

Jean Louis Regel

Best Custom Kitchen Knife

Louis Gustavo Goncalves

Best Custom Bowie

Dionatam Franco

Best Custom Collaboration

Rhidian Gatrill/Jeremy Yelle

Best Custom Damascus

Gabe Fletcher

Best Custom Fighter

Louis Gustavo Goncalves

Best Custom Fixed Blade

Julian Antunes

Best M.A.C.K.

Richard Rogers

Best Custom Folder

Javier Vogt

Best Custom Handle Design

Pedro Fornari

Best New Maker

D. Kramp Knives

Best Custom Sword

Vince Evans

Best Custom Tactical Folder

Sinkevich Design

Best Custom Utility Hunter

Zane Dvorak

Best Custom Miniature

Rhidian Gatrill

Best Custom Slip Joint

Daniel Keown

Most Innovative Design

Gus Cecchini / GTC Knives

Best of the Rest

Julian Antunes

See More Award Winners:

The 2026 BLADE Magazine Knife of the Year® Awards proved tougher—and tighter—than ever.

BLADE Magazine Overall Knife Of The Year® & PVK Best Automatic Of The Year

Hawk Knives Talon Auto

American Fixed Blade Of The Year

Microtech Knives Akris

American Folding Knife Of The Year

Zero Tolerance 0020

Most Innovative American Design

Scabbard Knives Alpha Configuration 1

Imported Fixed Blade Of The Year

WE Notchline

Imported Folding Knife Of The Year

Anso of Denmark Aros 2.0

Most Innovative Imported Design

Winterblade Mythic

Slip Joint Of The Year

Lionsteel Barlow

Knife Collaboration Of The Year

Grimsmo/Chipped Metal Rask

Best Buy Of The Year

Kizer Drop Bear

Investor/Collector Knife Of The Year

Spyderco Native 5 50th Anniversary Amber Bone

Kitchen Knife Of The Year

Shun Tomi

Manufacturing Quality Award

Shirogorov Knives

Best Of The Rest

Nottingham Tactical TB360 Dark Ti Parker

Knife Accessory Of The Year

Lionsteel Eggie Aluminum

More On BLADE Show:

Craftsmanship Crowned: Winners of the 2026 Custom Knife Awards at BLADE Show.

Best Of Show And Best Custom Art Knife

Jean-Louis Regel

Best Custom Bowie

Matias Funes

Best Custom Collaboration

Honore Vilain/Camille Sennegon

Best Custom Damascus Contender

Gabe Fletcher

Spyderco Native 5 50^th Anniversary Amber Bone