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.

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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Check Out Other Months:

• New Knives May 2025
• New Knives April 2025
• New Knives March 2025
• New Knives February 2025