Best Custom Knives and Factory Knives

Custom Flipper-Folders: Art Of The Flip

Mike Haskew

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March 27, 2026

Aesthetically and mechanically challenging flipper designs that shine.

The flipper folder is one of those knife designs that continues to delight its makers and its owners with incredible vitality. Not only do the most recent flipper folders fill the traditional bill with great materials, mechanics and mesmerizing beauty, but they further garner high praise with an inherent level of energy.

Combining the attributes of excellence that set standards for custom knives with the sheer pleasure of smooth operation, the latest flipper folders hit the mark in quality and bring attention to their makers amid an ever-growing level of interest in the marketplace.

Scott Gallagher: Feather Damascus

Scott Gallagher says he’s seen an upswing in the interest in flippers in recent years. It makes sense with works like his feather damascus flipper. The feather pattern defines both blade and bolster, and is complemented by a fossilized mammoth ivory handle. (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Scott Gallagher recently completed a beauty with a 3-inch feather damascus flat-ground blade complemented by a damascus bolster and fossil mammoth ivory handle. With an overall length of 7¼ inches, Scott’s flipper folder features an upswept curve for fantastic visuals and intricate filework along the spine.

“I am receiving more requests for flippers right now,” commented Scott. “They have become very popular. I think the reason why is because they’re fun to use, kind of like a widget—they’re functional, they can be embellished and they are easy to carry.”

The single attribute of fun helps set the flipper folder apart from other designs. Anything incorporating fun into the knife equation is sure to gain increased attention. Still, Scott makes his flipper folders with exacting specifications and attention to detail. “A quality flipper should have a blade steel that performs well—good fit, finish and symmetry,” he explained. “The blade should close in the center of the frame. It should be fast opening and close easily without a sticky lock.”

For Scott, achieving the proper mechanics involves a combination of precise construction with materials that work in concert with each other. “Making the flipper tab is a matter of incorporating it into the design of the knife in the design phase,” he related. “In the closed position, the tab has to sit higher than the frame so your index finger can access it. I use bearings on my flippers. They are ceramic and very fast. To avoid pinching the user’s hand, I use a small tab. It’s only exposed enough to open the blade. My flipper tab is hidden in the frame in the open position. I have finger grooves designed into the frame to avoid fingers slipping forward.”

Alan Hollerbach: Spectre

There’s something ominously attractive about what Alan Hollerbach achieves with this knife. Christened the Spectre—an homage to the nemesis organization of James Bond—the wasp-wasted flipper gets right to the point. Baker Forge TigerMai steel for the blade and Fatcarbon Dark Matter scales add to the knife’s dark good looks. (SharpByCoop image)

When customers consult with Alan Hollerbach on the attributes of a quality flipper folder, his response is straightforward. “Look for high-quality materials—hardened washers and bearings, a smooth action and a solid detent,” he offered. “I don’t take orders. I make knives I like and hope others do as well.”

The degree of knifemaker proficiency is tested somewhat further with the flipper folder in comparison to other designs. Alan welcomes the opportunity to put his skillset to the test. “It takes some more designing up front to get the layout and how it looks and the action correct,” he related. “The tab needs to be in a comfortable position for one-handed opening, tall enough to engage easily, but not too tall it looks out of place. It needs to have a strong detent to allow proper pressure to fire the blade and a smooth action with the bearings to allow the blade to open with minimum friction.”

Alan achieves his technical and aesthetic objectives in a handsome flipper folder model he has christened the Spectre, in reference to the James Bond feature film series. This example includes a 4-inch hollow ground blade of Baker Forge TigerMai Chevron damascus steel with jeweled and anodized titanium liners and Skiff bearings with hardened washers. Handle scales are Fatcarbon Dark Matter with 18 inlays in nine different sizes of Space Coral. The backspacer is also Fatcarbon Dark Matter, and the screws are black anodized titanium.

Rising interest in flipper folders is a matter of likes and style, as Alan sees the buying landscape these days. “I think it is a personal preference,” he commented. “I like the flippers for easy one-handed opening, but you can do the same with most other ways. It takes some more designing up front to get the layout and how it looks with the correct action. I like the lines as clean as I can make them, so tabs are just to open the knife, as I try to hide as much as I can when the knife is open, just for aesthetics.”

The addition of a hole in the Spectre blade gets attention as well. “You can open the knife with the hole, but it was designed for aesthetics mainly,” Alan noted. “I wanted to smooth the lines of the knife in the closed position and show with the curves of the cutout it was done on a pantograph by hand.”

Robert Champion: Dark Wind

Robert Champion spends plenty of time perfecting the placement of the deployment tab. On his Dark Wind, he employs a low-profile tab to avoid pinching when the blade is deployed. Also noteworthy on this knife, the knock-out engraving by Dale Bass that takes the work to another level. (SharpByCoop image)

Examining the locking mechanism is a must for those contemplating an investment in a quality flipper folder, a tip Robert Champion emphasizes. “A 3-point constraint is better than a 2-point constraint,” he said. “A 3-point will lock the knife more securely in the open position as well as in the closed position. The blade should lock solid, not be loose and never have a sticky lock.”

Robert’s Dark Wind model exemplifies his perspective on the flipper folder. Its 6-inch blade features hollow ground Dragonskin Damascus steel from Shaya Forge, while the furniture is in 416 stainless steel and the handle scales are fashioned from giraffe bone. Dale Bass’ engraving complements the piece in its entirety.

“I’m receiving more and more requests for flippers,” Robert remarked, “especially the more dressed and upscale models. Their popularity seems to be trending up. They’re easier to deploy and in regions where automatics are not permitted, the flipper is a great option. The flipper tab is an integral part of the tang design that is easily roughed in while profiling the blade. Thumb pegs and discs are separately fabricated components that require drilling, tapping and a turning process on a lathe. Then, they are attached to the blade. Tab location is important when designing a flipper. Placing it too far forward or too far back on the tang will cause inefficient deployment.”

Bringing all these components together in proper tolerance with respect to the look and feel of the finished product provides a worthy test for the makers of flipper folders. Like any folder, smooth deployment and ease of carry rise to the top. However, the flipper aspect brings another dimension to the requirements for optimal performance.

“Depending on the size of the knife, I use good-quality stainless or ceramic ball bearings,” Robert advised. “I tend to use stainless bearings on my smaller models, but that is just a personal preference. I also use dry slide oil lubricant. I design a low-profile tab to prevent pinching and currently make single-tab models. In the future, I plan to make flipper daggers that will have more of a guard-type tab.”

John Curran: Alpha 3

John Curran has focused much of his work on flipper folders and his experience in this design shows in his Alpha 3. Clean and complex, the knife pairs a titanium handle with an Elmax steel blade, featuring caged bearings for absolute, buttery-smooth deployment. (SharpByCoop image)

John Curran created a flipper folder in a model he calls Alpha 3 with a flat ground 3-inch blade of Elmax steel and an overall length of 7½ inches with a titanium handle and frame. The flipper design has been a mainstay of his work for some time.

“I’ve predominantly built flipper-style folders over the years, though I’ve done my share of thumb-stud and thumb-hole deployments as well,” he related. “In terms of trends, I haven’t noticed interest in one style rising or falling dramatically. What I have noticed is that customers are spending more carefully. People know what they want and they are choosing their purchases very intentionally.”

As John tries to fulfill his customers’ expectations, he watches the intricacies of the flipper folders he constructs carefully. “From my perspective, flippers don’t necessarily hold an advantage over other deployment methods,” he commented. “It really comes down to personal preference. Some customers want a classic flipper, others ask for a flipper paired with a thumb stud and some want a hole cut into the blade as an alternative opening method. There is no single best option, just what feels right in the user’s hand.

“The complexity of the build depends on the design more than the deployment style,” John continued. “I spend a lot of time sketching concepts only to discover during mock-ups certain ideas don’t translate well in hand. I typically prototype in G-10 or even wood to check ergonomics, mechanics and overall fit. That stage tells me a lot about whether the knife is going to meet my standards.”

John’s basic components include caged bearings and hardened stainless washers for smooth action. “If a customer wants to keep the cost down, I can build the knife without bearings and use phosphor bronze washers instead,” he advised. “Ceramic bearings undeniably offer the smoothest action, but bronze washers still perform well. It ultimately depends on what the customer values most. Milling pockets for the bearings adds time and labor and is reflected in the final price.”

Design concentrations on clean, reliable opening mechanisms and functional finger guards when the blade is deployed are hallmarks of John’s finished product. The challenge is always in the “tweaking” to solidify the geometry, but the result is worth the investment of time and effort.

The flipper folders emerging in the custom knife market today offer diverse profiles, materials and interpretations along with a wide range of price points. Each of these factors influences the consumer and makes the genre vibrant.

More On Flippers:

Cool Custom: Robert Young’s New York Flipper
Flipper Knives: Top Fast-Deployment Blades
Best Flipper Knife: Blades That Win The Fidget Factor
Civivi Cogent Review: How Versatile Is This Flipper?

BLADE 101: Types Of Kitchen Knives

Mike Ableson

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June 29, 2022

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There Are So Many Types Of Kitchen Knives It’s Hard To Know Which Are Necessary. We’ll Set You Straight.

Watch any cooking show or pursue the cutlery section of a kitchen store, it’s easy to wonder why chefs have so many knives. Are they all necessary? Are some there just so they can show off?

Far from it. Each has its place in the kitchen. But before groaning over the cost and space constraints of procuring each and every type of kitchen knife take solace, you don’t need them all.

That’s what this guide is for. We’ll walk you through some of the most important types of kitchen knives and a few of the oddballs. Afterward, you should stand ready to stock your galley with the tools that count.

Types Of Kitchen Knives: The Must-Haves

When it comes to the necessities, these four types of kitchen knives are the ones everyone should own. Whether you buy them individually, or as part of a knife set, these are the ones you absolutely need.

Chef’s Knife

To use a sports analogy, your chef’s knife is your quarterback/point guard/ace pitcher. If you can only have one knife, this is the knife you need to buy. A good chef’s knife should be able to handle almost every task in the kitchen.

Since chef’s knives are usually 8-10 inches long, they are great for slicing meats and cutting produce. The wide, weighty blade is good for crushing aromatics like garlic and ginger. You can choke up on your grip to do more precise, fine knifework although that puts your hand closer to the cutting edge–not ideal. Some use a pinch grip, “pinching” the blade between the tips of the thumb and index finger near the spine just forward of the handle, for precise cuts.

Made from either stainless or carbon steel, the stainless varieties will be easier to maintain at home. The chef’s knife is the ultimate all-rounder, thus why it is without question the most important knife in the kitchen.

Bread Knife

The bread knife, aside from being excellent at cutting bread, is the go-to knife for cutting fragile food items like tomatoes. The serrated blade can get a better bite on thin-skinned produce with a fragile core. Of course, the crunchy exterior of a loaf of bread is no match for it either.

An extremely sharp chef’s can also do these softer tasks, but if it’s dulled it tends to be more destructive than beneficial while cutting. Most bread knives are quite long, but no matter the length, it’s your best option in the kitchen for safely cutting softer foods.

Paring Knife

Rounding out the main trio of types of knives is the paring knife. The nimble little slicer is much shorter than the chef’s knife and is designed for small cuts and precision. Looking to hull a strawberry or thinly slice garlic? Choose the paring knife. Want to devein shrimp or score a steak? Choose the paring knife.

Many paring knives have blades similar in size to pocketknives. This limits its utility. Much as you wouldn’t want to clear brush with a pocketknife, you wouldn’t want to butcher a whole slab of ribs with a paring knife.

A point to consider: a good handle is as important as a quality blade with paring knives. Control is the name of the game, and that comes from the handle.

Steak Knives

Henckels 8-Piece Serrated Steak Knife Set. MSRP: $49.99

While not a kitchen knife in the sense it’s a famous cutter, having a good set of steak knives is incredibly important. Whether you realize it or not, how you slice meat affects its overall taste and enjoyability. A set of blunt-edged knives can reduce the savor of a ribeye to that of a cubesteak.

Steak knives come in both serrated and plain-edge varieties so you won’t necessarily be locked into one style of knife.

Most knife blocks come with steak knives as part of the package, yet there are many quality options available individually. Don’t skimp on these. Six to 10 quality steak knives, made of good high-carbon stainless steel, ensures all your hard work in the kitchen doesn’t go to waste at the table.

Types Of Kitchen Knives: Nice To Haves

Once you have the main four types of kitchen knives, you can start filling out your collection with some specialty pieces. These five are the next group of models to look at buying.

Santoku

The santoku is a Japanese knife designed to handle the tasks of chopping, slicing, and cutting. It’s smaller than a chef’s knife and sometimes features small dimples, or a Granton Edge, on the blade to help shed pieces of food and aid cutting.

The advantage of the knife is its flexibility, moving seamlessly between culinary tasks. Additionally, the generally shorter blade makes it easier to control than the traditional chef’s knife. Also, the santoku’s ample blade safely facilitates a pinch grip for those who use this particular technique.

When it comes to types of kitchen knives, this one resides right on the line of must and nice to have. If you like to learn more, we have a great breakdown of some of the best Santoku knives.

Boning Knife

As its name suggests, a boning knife is meant for one task: deboning meats. Whether it’s butchering a chicken thigh or getting bone out of a pork chop, the boning knife is up for the task. A good boning knife will be thin, sharp, and, most importantly, flexible so it can bend around bones and get into crevices to free the meat.

For most this knife isn’t an everyday necessity. However, if you happen to buy sides of beef or process wild game, you do well to have one at your beck and call.

Meat Cleaver

Zhen VG-10 67-Layer Damascus Large Cleaver, 8-Inch. MSRP: $135

If the chef’s knife is the quarterback, the meat cleaver is the massive, brawny linebacker. The cleaver features a thick, heavy blade so it can chop right through the breastplate of a chicken or break down a whole cow.

Super fun and satisfying to use, the cleaver is great if you’re looking to butcher cuts of meat at home. Furthermore, if you deal with frozen foods–say a tube of breakfast sausage–it really lightens the work.

All that said, not everyone requires a meat cleaver. The exceptions again are folk who buy partially butchered meat or hunters with a freezer full of wild game. On the other hand, you might find if you add one to your collection it could turn out more versatile than expected.

By the way, we have an excellent piece about the best meat cleavers available today.

Carving Knife

A classy kitchen tool, the carving knife can be a showpiece brought out to carve the Thanksgiving turkey or the Christmas ham right on the table. Other than that, it’s pretty one-dimensional.

Many times carving knives come in sets complete with a matching carving fork to keep what’s being carved in place. Don’t confuse the carving knife with its close cousin the slicing knife. The former has a point, the latter is blunted and longer. Its whole jam is to slice girthier cuts of meat uniformly.

Unless you serve a slew of prime rib, you want a carver. The tip makes it more useful at the table, particularly on fowl. Try getting a turkey thigh off with a slicer. Even if the knife’s sporadically used, spend the money on a quality blade made of steel that holds an edge. You want to carve during the holidays, not sharpen.

Bench Scraper

The bench scraper is a great multi-purpose tool, particularly if you bake. It can precisely cut through doughs and it can quickly help clean a messy, dusty workspace. Nothing corrals rogue flour as quickly as a bench scraper. But if you prefer buying your baked goods, you can take a pass.

Types Of Kitchen Knives: The Specialist

These types are knives are great at doing one particular task and not much more. Unless you really love doing these things in the kitchen, you probably won’t need these. But they are all distinctive blades in their own way.

Mezzaluna

You rock this back and forth to chop herbs and other soft, mostly leafy, greens. While it may sound like the name of an opera, this knife only sings one tune.

Tomato Knife

Do you really, really, really like tomatoes? Do you wring your hands over making sure you perfectly cube a tomato for a salad or make precise slices for a BLT? Then this is the knife for you. Otherwise, your bread knife should work just fine. By the way, since everyone is dying to know, the forked tip aids in peeling tomatoes without cutting the pulp.

Salmon Knife

Mercer Culinary 10.3-inch Salmon Slice. MSRP: $26.67

If you’re looking to skin or slice salmon, or most other types of fish, or if you want to make sushi at home, look no further than the salmon knife. Long, thin and flexible, it’s great at cutting through the fragile flesh of fish.

Cimeter

This massive meat-cutting knife is great if you want to feel like a marauding pirate or just want a big butcher’s knife specifically to cut large pieces of meat. A chef’s knife or carving knife would also work here.

Oyster Shucker

OXO Good Grips Oyster Knife. MSRP: $10.99

This rounded blade is necessary if you want to open and eat oysters and not your thumb. If you’re not a fan of raw shellfish, there isn’t a reason to have this knife.

Mandoline

The mandoline is great at two things: cutting produce into thin slices and removing a knuckle from your fingers. If you get one of these always remember to use the guard. Otherwise, take your time with a paring knife to cut your veggies thin.

Cheese Knife

Different types of cheese require different types of cheese knives. The folks at Epicurious have a great video showing the correct way to cut dozens of different cheeses. I’ll stick with slices or just futzing with a butter knife.

Confectioner’s Knife

Do you like cake? Of course you do. Do you want a knife specifically for cutting cake? Maybe you do, and if so, this is the type of knife you would want to use.

Read More

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First Look: SOG Camp Axe

Featured Knives

BLADE Staff

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August 16, 2022

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SOG Has Made A Hatchet That’s Compact, Lightweight, And A Joy To Use For Smaller Tasks In The Backyard Or Out Camping.

The new Camp Axe from SOG is exactly as advertised. No, this axe won’t fell a 40-foot-tall tree, but if you’re looking to cut through some small brush, chop up kindling for the fire, or hammer in some tent posts, the Camp Axe can do it all with ease.

It’s small at just a shade over a pound in weight and a shade under a foot in length. This means it’s great for chopping in close quarters. The stainless blade has a black stonewashed finish and will stay sharp in the elements.

The glass-reinforced handle is strong and can hold its own if you need a makeshift hammer to drive in a spike or a post. The included GRN safe quickly wraps around the blade and stays snugly in place so you won’t have to worry about stepping on a rogue axe late at night.

At an MSRP of $59.95, the Camp Axe feels fairly priced. This axe might not be for Paul Bunyan, but it’ll be perfect for you the next time you want to sleep under the stars.

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

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Shop Dump: Tools The Pros Use

Mike Haskew

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September 28, 2022

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Renowned Makers Across The World Talk About The Tools They Use To Craft Their Metal Creations.

A good craftsman needs good tools. Without a well-stocked shop, knifemakers are held back from creating to the best of their abilities. This trio of makers from around the globe talk about what they use and how it affects their knifemaking.

Jim Crowell

American Bladesmith Society master smith Jim Crowell has been making knives for over 40 years. A member of the ABS Hall of Fame, he is known for his masterfully hand-forged blades. His Mountain View, Arkansas, shop is well stocked, and he leads off with the Wilmont TAG and Beaumont KMG belt grinders.

“Wow!” he said of the Wilmont. “You talk about smooth running and great and easy tracking, with a swing-out work rest it doesn’t get any better. I really like the work rest, as you just swing it out and lock it—no wrenches or Allen wrenches, adding or removing parts. Worth every penny and then some.”

He continued with praise for the Beaumont KMG.

“I have used many of these in different schools and have had three myself, to include the one I am using now. These are great grinders and the broad range of excellent attachments makes them top contenders in my book. Both have 1.5-inch tool arms, which means you can switch tooling between the two—a good idea, I think. The small wheel attachments for both are great, and the Beaumont rotary platen is something special.”

Broaches and file guides by machinist/ABS master smith John Perry are next.

“When John designs and makes a tool for knifemaking, there is no compromise, nor anything you don’t need,” Crowell commented. “He knows what the tool needs to do and makes sure it performs in an exemplary manner. There is no reason one’s tools should not be pleasing to the eye. Just hold the gingerbread, please!”

Jim credits the broaches for definitively solving the age-old problem of fitting a square peg—or really a rectangular hole—into a round hole. He calls them indispensable in the shop and they are available in numerous widths. The filing guide eliminates concerns with getting the guard to fit flush to the shoulders of the ricasso.

“Oh, the stories I’ve heard,” Jim smiled. “John’s shoulder fixtures are precise and have several other uses besides filing the shoulder on the tang, but that’s how I use mine the most.”

Crowell tipped his hand a bit in identifying the “Widget” as one of his favorite tools. “This is a handy little thing I added to my slack belt assembly on the Beaumont KNG grinder,” he remarked. “It fits in such a manner as I can run the belt underneath it and use the slack belt feature. You can also run the belt over the top and have a radius that, if properly used, will make minor adjustments to the plunge lines, as well as the choil area under the ricasso. An added benefit is that the sanding lines are lateral now and alleviate trying to sand longitudinally in the radius of the plunge line that was created vertically. Love it!”

The maker summed up his preferences for each of his top tools by identifying their best characteristic. “Realistic design by folks who are intimate with making knives,” he reasoned. “My tools and equipment are not fashion statements. They are not necessarily ‘pretty.’ They were made to do a job and do that job well. There is a subtle beauty in that.”

Jens Anso

Danish custom knifemaker Jens Anso zeroes in on a combination of purchased and self-made shop tools that give him the edge in a full day’s work. He describes his shop as sometimes cluttered, though that’s often a hallmark of a busy and productive craftsman.

The first tool he cites is his horizontal grinder he built about 20 years ago.

“At that point in time I was used to building grinders and put this one together from parts I had lying around, including a two-speed motor with about 2.2 horsepower, so it will not slow down regardless of what I throw at it. This grinder was fundamental in creating the career I have,” he noted. “Even though I now have new, fancy machines, this one just performs really well. I finished more than a thousand folders using this grinder, especially the frames. It uses a Hardcore small wheel attachment and is super fast to change wheels and belts. It has a small platen that goes on and off really fast, too. This is what all my handles with ANSO texture were ground on!”

The purchased tool side of Anso’s shop is occupied by, among other implements, a Hardcore Maximizer.

“It’s kind of the industrial version of the grinder I described above, though this can do a lot more,” he remarked. “Lots of wheels and platens. It’s slower to change belts and wheels on, but once done will perform! Between this and my other two conventional Hardcore grinders, I am pretty much set. I used to build all my grinders because good commercial grinders for knifemaking are not available in Denmark, and it used to be difficult to import them from the U.S. But I have imported two of these Maximizers and two conventional grinders since then because I prefer making knives rather than making machines.”

A lengthy search also produced the ideal drill presses for Anso’s knifemaking. Though it took a while, they fill the bill to his exacting standards.

“I had been on the hunt for a great drill press for ages and finally found these vintage Danish-made CLOU machines,” he recalled. “They are heavy duty but precise, have excellent depth stop and two-speed motors, as well as pulleys for changing speeds. This is a fantastic machine for knifemaking. I have had as many as eight of these at the same time but am down to three in active use. With CNC making its entrance into my shop, I still need a few good drill presses but I don’t need eight.”

Lucas Burnley

Lucas Burnley takes a philosophical approach to the development and use of functional implements.

“Like any skill, time is one of the most valuable assets you have,” he observed. “However, buying or building the right tools and equipment will go a long way in speeding your improvement. My tool purchases usually come down to application or interest. The tools I list are considered necessary at a base level and would be able to work well in almost any shop regardless of what type of knife is being made.”

He points to his burly Bader B3 2×72 variable-speed belt grinder as a key player in the day-to-day function of his shop.

“When someone asks what piece of machinery they should buy first, this is usually my answer. For me, the grinder is the single most important tool in a basic knifemaking shop. With this machine, you can profile blanks, grind blades, shape handles, and about 100 other small steps that make it worth its weight in gold. Buying a quality machine is going to pay off more than you can imagine in the long run.”

Lucas recently added a TW-90 grinder from Wuertz Machine Works and advises that if a maker’s budget allows for it, the TW-90 is a fantastic addition that allows even more complementary functionality to the 2×72 platform. Also, he noted, “If you’re on a limited budget the KMG 1 from Beaumont Machine is a great option. You can skip the variable-speed drive and use the step pulleys and add the VFD [variable frequency drive] down the road.”

A 15-inch belt-top drill press is another valuable component of Burnley’s shop. “One thing the belt grinder can’t do is drill holes,” he laughed. “While you can use a hand drill, a bench-top drill gives you a lot of capacity for short money. Adding a keyless chuck will increase your speed with tool changes. I’ve had a number of these machines over the years, and there are a number of good options on the market. I currently have a model from WEN but will be replacing it with a comparable model from Jet Tools shortly. Quality here matters but much less so than with the grinder. These are not meant to be precision machines, but for 90 percent of the tasks you give them they will be just fine. When I first started building folders, I didn’t have a milling machine and was able to use my drill press to cut the lock relief, lock slot and face on a number of knives with a little creative problem solving.”

A metal cutting band saw and CAD (computer aided design) capability round out the top pieces of equipment for Lucas. The band saw delivers greater speed and efficiency. He has a 14-inch Delta wood/metal band saw made in 1951 that his dad found at a yard sale 17 years ago.

“The only reason I have it in third place is that your belt grinder will allow you to profile both blades and handle parts if you start with a narrow bar stock,” he related. “With a band saw you will be able to buy larger sheets of material, nest your parts more efficiently, and ultimately use less abrasives, saving time and money through every step.”

Taking time to learn CAD can be a game changer. “One of the best pieces of advice I could give any maker is to learn CAD,” Lucas noted. “Even if you don’t have the money to buy tools or a shop to work in, if you have a computer you can start building a skill set that will help you for years to come. Fusion360 offers free software for hobbyists, and there is an endless number of tutorials available online.”

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First Look: Kershaw Interstellar

Mike Ableson

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November 18, 2022

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The Kershaw Interstellar Is The Company’s Newest OTF Knife. The Piece Is An Excellent EDC Designed For All Sorts Of Utility Tasks

Folders? No thanks. One of Kershaw’s newest releases is a sliding OTF (out-the-front) automatic that’s great for utility tasks indoors and out. The Interstellar is a partially serrated 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade that comes out the front of a glass-nylon handle thanks to a sliding button on the front of the knife.

It looks great thanks to the blackwash coating, and it feels good to use thanks to the button lock keeping everything secure and snug when deployed. The blade is just 2.7 inches long, and the tip-up pocket clip allows you to carry the knife with ease.

The Kershaw Interstellar is a simple knife, and that’s a good thing. It’s a no-nonsense piece that can serve you well for a long time. Oh, and the bottle opener built into the backspacer is the cherry on top of it all.

MSRP: $57.59

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The Provoke EDC Adds Style To The Enduring Line.

Mike Ableson

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February 24, 2023

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Originally A Karambit, The New Provoke EDC From CRKT Takes The Kinematic Technology Into The Realm Of More Casual Knives.

Do you love Joe Caswell’s innovative Kinematic deployment system but don’t need a knife as aggressive as the CRKT Provoke? Say hello to the newest knife in the line: the Provoke EDC.

The knife takes all the best parts of the original Provoke but with one more casual, but massive difference: a drop point blade–the first in the line to veer from the karambit design.

Provoke EDC Blade

The drop point is just 2.56 inches long, but it really makes its money thanks to its thickness. It’s .27 inches thick, 22-percent thicker than the blade on the original Provoke and more than twice the girth of any of CRKT’s seven most-popular pocketknives.

This makes for a knife adept at heavy work, be it batoning wood or slicing through rope or even prying open anything short of a manhole cover.

At 3.6 ounces and 4.66 inches when closed, it’s light and easy to carry. The flush-mounted clip keeps it invisible in your pocket and quick to pop out. When deployed, the knife is 7.25 inches and is easy to control thanks to the handle. The handle is molded, similar to the original Provoke, so hot spots are non-existent as it sits flush in the hand when cutting.

Kinematic Action

The one-of-a-kind kinematic action is unlike any other deployment system on the market today. When released it’s fast-moving, smooth, and keeps that thick blade securely in place. It’s nearly impossible to flex the blade when deployed, a sign of a strong lock.

The action is powered by two pivoting arms connected to both the handle and the back of the blade. When released the arms swing forward, sending the blade out and locking it in place.

It is a dynamic system and is an excellent fidget, however, it may be a bit cumbersome for those with smaller hands. Since the handle was originally designed for a karambit, which is traditionally deployed in a reverse grip, it could be tricky to securely hold when trying to deploy the knife one-handed. To some, this might not prove as intuitive as a flipper or folder.

Other Provoke EDC Features

Beyond the blade, the most noticeable feature of the knife is its brilliant blue handle. The anodized aluminum visually pops and perfectly complements the satin-finished blade. And, since it’s aluminum, it is lightweight and can hold up to pretty much anything you can throw at it.

Overall, the Provoke EDC is a fresh take on everyday carry and is going to appeal to knife lovers looking for something that stands out.

Provoke EDC Knife Specs

Blade Length: 2.56 inches

Blade Steel: D2

Blade Finish: Satin

Blade Thickness: .27 inches

Overall Length: 7.25 inches

Closed Length: 4.66 inches

Weight: 3.6 ounces

Handle Material: Aluminum

MSRP: $175

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BLADE Staff

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July 20, 2022

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The New Iredale Is A Quality Multi-Blade Slipjoint That Stands Out As A Classic-Style Knife With A Minimalist, Modern Look.

The eternal debate of “classic vs modern” has been had across society for centuries. In the world of knives, that can come down to mechanical choices as well as design. Kershaw took the best of both worlds with its new Iredale.

Named for the Peter Iredale, a sailing ship that ran aground on the Oregon coast in 1906, the Iredale is a sleek knife for the 21st-century explorer. The model has three blades (a clip point, Wharncliffe, and Spey blade) all contained in a handle with black, polished micarta scales.

The non-locking slipjoint design allows for flexibility in the position of the knives so even with three blades, there are endless ways to position them to get the most from them. The blades are all made from 7Cr17MoV stainless and satin polished for a clean, traditional look. All three blades open with a nail nick for quick deployment.

The shipwreck of the Peter Iredale can still be seen in the sands of Fort Stevens State Park so you can take your new Iredale and explore around its namesake on a warm summer’s night.

MSRP: $47.99

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

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