Somewhere between an EDC and a gentleman’s knife, the ACE Bleecker looks to be a slick sidekick.
Giant Mouse is going gentlemanly but with an attitude. At least, that appears to happen with the newest addition to its catalog—the ACE Bleecker.
Named after Manhattan, N.Y.’s trendy Bleecker Street, the company seems to aim the frame lock toward hipsters’ hip pockets. The same with the sleek, yet somewhat understated lines. However, robustly built with premium steel and components the Italian import likely has the chops to pull off EDC duty—at least for those who tend to smaller knives.
Right off the bat, the notable aspect of the ACE Bleecker is its slim design accentuated by a trailing point blade. In many respects, it’s reminiscent of Giant Mouse’s Knife of the Year award-winning GMX, only smaller and without an integral handle. Despite its svelteness, the company has ensured the knife is capable of more than cutting the foil off wine bottles by making the handle full-sized. It is a bit skinny in the hand, yet it nestles in the palm well enough to handle more aggressive cutting duties.
Giant Mouse went top-shelf for the blade steel, choosing Magnacut—albeit a softer version than some prefer. The company rates it at 62 HRC, a facet that might raise the hackles for the edge-retention obsessive. That aside, the geometry of the 3.26-inch blade is exquisite with a thick(ish) spine adding toughness to the design. The tip doesn’t jut too far above the spine, allowing users to choke up on the blade for finer work. And, boy howdy, should it ever prove apt at fine work, with a very fine tip.
The company has opted for a thumb hole as the opening mechanism on the Bleecker but has made it oblong. The choice is for more than aesthetics, making the knife deployable not only in the traditional style—the thumb—but also in reverse open. As an added benefit, this also makes the knife relatively left-hand friendly. The Bleecker’s well-tuned detent also goes a long way in adding to all these aspects—not so light as to facilitate a negligent deployment, but not overly stiff where users will struggle to get the blade to work.
As for the handle, Giant Mouse offers two options—titanium and carbon fiber. Both are attractive, though I tend to the titanium as it gives the knife more overall continuity and class. In both cases, the knife tips the scales at right around 2 ounces—the titanium a hair more—and measures at 7.43 inches in overall length. Worth note, Giant Mouse includes a notch on the thumb side and a chamfer on the lock that go a long way in making opening the knife simple. Also, it boasts a reversible wire pocket clip for tip-up carry.
With a gentleman’s design comes a gentleman’s price on the Bleecker. Giant Mouse lists the titanium model at $285 and the carbon fiber version at a slightly more affordable $245.
First Case/Ruple collaboration officially debuts at BLADE Show ’24.
The combination of mechanical features, artistic design and choice of handle materials make the Bill Ruple x Case Axe Handle collaboration a unique knife for the user and collector.
Case Knives and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple didn’t just bump into each other at the convenience store one day and say, “Hey, let’s do a knife collaboration.” That alone likely would have led to a great pocketknife, but no, there was a lot more planning and history that went into this new joint venture. We’ll talk about some of that but first let’s talk about the knife itself. It’s got some special character.
Case Axe Handle Design
Despite both being giants in the slipjoint field, Bill and Case sifted through some ideas and came up with a lockback pattern for an initial collaboration. It was not just one part but several features Bill combined together to make this knife unique.
Preeminent member of the Texas Slip Joint Cartel, Ruple more than understands what makes a good slippy.
As a man who had farmed the soil, he noted the end of the knife resembled the shape of an axe handle, thus the name. The upward curve of the handle butt provides some useful ergonomics but also strategically holds the tail of the lockbar. In this location, there is resistance to accidental unlocking of the blade while it’s in the open position. As well, it eliminates the need for a thumb cutout in the handle to release the blade. With an upward curve partially concealing the lockbar plus the absence of a thumb cutout, the handle makes the knife appear not to be a lockback pattern at all. In fact, since at first glance it seems to be a slipjoint, it has a bit of the trick-knife or mystery-lock character.
Initial prototyping by Bill in his shop hit a snag in that the slipjoint knives he’s used to creating have a rear bolster. That did not fit the artistic design for the new collaboration. However, Bill cleverly overcame the so-called snag by using a feature called a scissor spring (see illustration, page 40), which rests on a bushing to provide the needed tension to work the lockbar. Bill has prototyped knives for Case and also assisted with some aspects of manufacturing just as his Case collaboration predecessor, mentor, very close friend and fellow Cutlery Hall of Famer, Tony Bose, had done. Bill stated that nobody could replace Tony Bose and Case misses him. (Don’t be at all surprised if Case makes a commemorative knife in honor of Tony in the future.)
A few notes on Ruple’s design, the scissor spring (rear top right) is an efficient use of space with a one-piece unit of lockbar and spring. The bushing (lower fork of the spring), the spring rides on this avoiding excessive wear and taking up less room. It also acts as a rear spacer.
Both Case officials and Bill say Tony would be pleased with the new collaborative effort. The initial run will be 1,000 knives. Then the model will be made in a traditional slipjoint pattern. There is an aim at “near custom maker quality” for the first run, glibly naming the process “almost custom,” beginning with the parts being wire cut. That’s the cool way to say electrical discharge machining, or EDM. Production is assigned to a specific group of three workers only. No one else will work on the knives. That sort of consistency helps maintain quality control in manufacturing the knives.
MORE TO COME Is this collaboration just an outlier or will there be more Case/Ruple lockbacks in the future? Interest in the knife at BLADE Show 2024 (page 26), where the knife was officially introduced, was quite favorable. Both Bill and Case officials were pleased with how things have turned out, so expect to see another collaboration introduced at next year’s BLADE Show. That knife likely will be a slipjoint. Another lockback might be seen in the future, though a bit further down the road.
Natural birdseye maple is one of but several handle material options on the new Bill Ruple x Case Axe Handle.
As collaborative efforts go between manufacturer and custom maker, the Axe Handle knife is a superlative effort. And there is strong motivation to produce more collaborations, both commemorative and unique.
Ruple’s First Case
Does BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple remember his first Case knife? Is Texas big?
“Oh yeah,” the good-natured, award-winning knifemaker and South Texas Slipjoint Cartel trail boss said. “My dad gave me a Case knife when I was 9 or 10 years old, and it was a yellow handle Case trapper. And man, in about a month I had sharpened the blades completely out of that knife. And he gave me another one, and so he told me not to sharpen it quite as often. But yeah, a long time ago.”
Case Axe Handle Specs Knife type: Lockback Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple Blade length: 3.46” Blade material options: Wire-cut 154CM stainless steel or damascus Rockwell hardness: 57-59 HRC Blade grind: Flat taper Blade @ thickest: .126” Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish: Satin Handle material options: Natural birdseye maple, Rogers jig chestnut bone, standard jig antique bone, marbled black carbon fiber, abalone, English walnut Lock: Lockback Opener: Nail nick Pocket clip: None Weight: 4.21 ozs. Closed length: 4.4” Carry: Suede leather taco pouch Special features: One-piece designed backspring & lock mechanism. Country of origin: USA MSRP: $599.99 to $774.99 Available: Late Summer 2024
See why the hot powder metallurgy steel is all the rage in knives.
You might have heard that CPM MagnaCut is the latest in high-end blade steels. You might have seen that knives with MagnaCut blade steel have been selling fast. Everyone wants MagnaCut! But what exactly is it?
What Is Magnacut Steel?
MagnaCut is the latest super steel offered by Crucible Materials of Syracuse, New York, the same folks who make such high-end blade materials as CPM S30V, S35VN, S45VN, CPM 154, 20CV, 3V and others. Metallurgist Larrin Thomas, winner of the BLADE Magazine 2024 Publisher’s Award, invented MagnaCut. His objective was to create a stainless blade steel whose properties are balanced and that would perform well in the critical areas of edge holding, corrosion resistance and toughness.
With other high-end steels there’s usually a degree of give and take where you might sacrifice a bit of one characteristic to gain more in another. This is something knife folks have endured for so long that they’re used to a certain degree of compromise in order to get a blade steel suitable for their needs. Simply put, MagnaCut could very well be the steel that has all the characteristics knife guys want in a blade material. Basically, it’s their dream steel come to life.
Compared with other CPM steels, MagnaCut has less toughness, though don’t look at that as a bad thing. It’s actually very good in that MagnaCut is easier for a knifemaker to work; that is, it grinds and drills easier. On the knife user end, it means MagnaCut is easier to resharpen than other CPM steels whose toughness rates higher. Still, I recommend using diamond abrasive sharpeners on MagnaCut to obtain the best results.
See now why MagnaCut is all the rage in the knife industry? Just about every major manufacturer is using it and even some custom makers. The switch to MagnaCut can be seen as a way for manufacturers especially to level up the performance of their knives.
Kershaw Launch 17
The Kershaw Launch 17’s clip-point blade in MagnaCut offers great utility for a wide variety of cutting chores.
Among the latest factory knives to offer MagnaCut blade steel is the Kershaw Launch 17. The Launch 17 presents a slender carry handle profile with a highly usable 3.5-inch clip-point blade. At 5 inches closed the Launch 17 is on the bigger side of EDC knives, but its svelte handle makes it very comfortable to carry. The flat-ground blade is a great working shape that tackles just about any cutting chore.
The handle is machined T6 6061 aluminum anodized grey and features textured black G-10 inlays for a neat contrast of color as well as purchase. The grip is symmetrical and an integral double guard keeps your hand in place. The handle is mainly an open-frame construction that allows easy cleaning with compressed air or water, and a clip mounted at the butt provides very deep pocket carry for ultimate concealment.
The deep-carry clip of the Kershaw Launch 17 allows the knife to sit very low in the pocket for ultimate understated carry.
The only downside I see is the placement of the firing button. I want to grab the handle in a way that my thumb falls right into the button. I had to consciously readjust my grip to where I hold the handle a bit further toward the butt so my thumb falls just behind the button. It’s not really a big deal and certainly not what I would call a dealbreaker, but just something to be aware of.
The clip point blade is one of the knife’s key selling points. An excellent shape for general use, it has a defined point for scoring and fine cutting tasks, and there’s plenty of edge real estate to tackle your toughest chores quickly. The opening action is quick yet with very little recoil. The lockup is very tight with zero play. The Launch 17 makes a great EDC auto that’s light both in the pocket and on the wallet. MSRP: $239.99.
Kershaw Launch 17 Auto/Folding Knife Clip Point, Gray – Smooth Action for Easy Use – 7951
The ATCF Original Gangster from Fox in MagnaCut blade steel is an homage to Bob Terzuola’s iconic custom ATCF tactical folder. The initial Terzuola ATCF helped define the tactical folder era by incorporating features that are now standard with many folding knives of the genre.
BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola introduced his quintessential custom tactical folder, the ATCF (Advanced Technology Combat Folder), in 1986-87. It is Terzuola’s best-known folder and most imitated design. The original included a host of features that are now standard on any top tactical folder, custom or production, including screw-together construction and a notched thumb ramp for aid in a nonslip grip and applying pressure for power cuts. It also incorporated a checkered thumb disc for ambidextrous blade deployment.
Fox Knives teams with Terzuola to release the ATCF Original Gangster. The knife is built almost exactly the way Terzuola builds his custom version, complete with the aforementioned features as well as MagnaCut. The 3.5-inch modified drop-point blade has a swedge. The addition of a flipper tab ushers the ATCF OG into the modern tactical realm and provides two blade-deployment options: ambidextrous thumb and flipper opening. The test sample is the SQ-ATC-OG01 with a titanium handle and stonewashed blade. The blade rides on bearings for ultra-smooth action. Like the addition of the flipper, this is also a modern innovation incorporated into the reproduction of the legendary folder.
The Fox ATCF Original Gangster features a flipper tab to aid in quick one-hand deployment. This was not a feature found on Bob Terzuola’s original ATCF design but rather incorporated by Fox as a modern convenience.
With its integral forward guard and slanted butt, the handle is another Terzuola signature design. The titanium scales have a matching stonewash finish and are devoid of any machining—just smooth titanium that’s comfortable in-hand. The lock is the tried-and-true linerlock. The blade-tip-up-carry clip secures via a single T6 Torx head bolt and is held in place inside a machined cavity that captures the clip and prevents it from rotating. Before you complain about the clip not being reversible, remember that the ATCF was introduced at a time when pocket clip folders were still a relatively new concept, much less ambidextrous clip carry. A solid G-10 spacer rounds out the look and leaves most of the handle spine open for easy cleaning. A pin recessed in the butt accepts a lanyard, though standard 550 cord is too thick to fit.
Everything works on the knife, from the integral single guard to the thumb disc for ambidextrous opening. The flipper works well, too. I like the drop-point blade, an all-around favorite of mine for a variety of tasks. It’s highly adaptable, from utility to survival to tactical. The titanium handle has a nice heft and it’s pure function with no additional machining or coloring added. It just works. Country of origin: Italy. MSRP: contact Fox for more information.
Spyderco’s Para Military2 Salt Black G-10
The Spyderco Para2 Salt has a full-flat ground blade of CPM MagnaCut stainless steel with a distal taper that allows the knife to be an extremely effective slicer with aggressive bite, perfect for tough tasks like cutting through fire hose material. It is the BLADE Magazine 2024 Most Innovative American Design.
The BLADE Magazine 2024 Most Innovative American Design, Spyderco’s Para Military2 Salt Black G-10 is in the company’s line of corrosion-resistant knives designed especially for fresh water and saltwater environments. It is basically a regular Para2 with the addition of MagnaCut blade steel and other steel parts such as liners, pocket clip, screws and standoffs covered in a black protective coating to boost corrosion resistance.
The 3.45-inch blade is a great size for a work knife. It’s not too long nor too short. A large blade hole aids in easy thumb opening and works well if you’re wearing work gloves. The blade secures open via Spyderco’s Compression Lock, which is designed to be both strong and easy and comfortable to operate. The blade’s full flat grind allows it to sail through a host of media, and right out of the box is razor sharp and ready to work. That’s one thing about any Spyderco knife—the blade shapes and grinds are optimized for high-performance cutting.
The Para2 Salt’s machined handle grooves offer enhanced traction even with wet hands. The texture is a nice extra touch for a working knife.
The handle surface is machined in a radial groove pattern that distinguishes the knife as a premier member of the Salt Series. Spyderco calls it the Caribbean Bi-Directional Texture pattern and it greatly enhances grip traction, more so than standard peel-ply texturing. An excellent choice when dealing with wet hands, the grooves channel water away for a surer grip. The handle includes four-way pocket-clip mounting, open spine construction and a Compression Lock. Releasing the lock is super easy and can be done with one hand, as well as closing the blade. The way you release it keeps your fingers out of the way of the blade’s rotation path, therefore negating accidental cuts. The Compression Lock is a rock solid design, one of the best locks around.
The full flat grind coupled with a distal taper of the blade from tang to top make the Para2 Salt a lean cutting machine. It goes through most any material, thick or thin, with ease and little force—a sign of a well-engineered blade. Not only is the blade shape very efficient but the handle design is, too. It fits my average-sized hand very well and instills true user confidence in its comfort and safety. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $315.
The Dead Reckon Ridgeback’s canted MagnaCut blade allows for greater knuckle clearance when working on a flat surface.
Dead Reckon is a new knife manufacturer and the Ridgeback folder is its first offering. There’s a lot going on with this folder, from the button lock mechanism, flipper opening and sealed bearings in the pivot to the integral handle. Crafted in the company’s Grove City, Ohio, facility, each knife is precisely and carefully manufactured to high standards that would satisfy the pickiest knife enthusiast.
An example is the Ridgeback in its “wharncleaver” blade and integral titanium handle. The 4.1-inch MagnaCut blade is of a hybrid wharncliffe/cleaver pattern with a distinctive slant nose tip and straight-line cutting edge. The knife offers two methods of opening: flipper tab and oblong blade hole. Whatever method you prefer, the blade operates smoothly thanks to the sealed bearing pivot. Just ahead of the flipper is a cutout for choking up for precise control.
The handle is Grade 5 titanium, which is 6Al/4V titanium alloy. It is of an integral construction, which is difficult to manufacture. Only one other company I know of has pulled this off successfully. The Dead Reckon production staff takes one billet of titanium and machines the channel in the middle where the blade rests in the closed position. It’s all one piece with no assembly screws. It’s a very strong handle design and the lack of screws makes for a very clean appearance.
On most knives the pocket clip is a stamped and bent piece of steel. Nothing fancy or flashy but utilitarian. The Ridgeback clip is of a milled titanium that sports a very cool-looking geometric shape. It is quite eye catching, not an afterthought but an aspect that adds to overall appearance. The clip is at the right tension to hold the knife to the pocket without it wanting to slip out, while the ability to remove the knife remains fairly easy—the best of both worlds!
The one-piece handle construction of the Dead Reckon Ridgeback allows for a very strong grip but requires considerably more machining time than a standard handle, and therefore is more expensive.
For a very utility-friendly blade shape, the wharncleaver is it. There’s a lack of a defined blade tip, though there is one of sorts at the front of the cutting edge. Using a gentle pulling motion, you can use it to score materials easily. When cutting full on, the straight-line edge does so smoothly. With multiple grip options and a notched thumb rest, along with the cutout, this knife is easy to adapt to the cutting scenarios at hand.
Want more power? No problem. Use the thumb ramp to place more pressure on the blade. Want more control? Choke up on the blade using the finger cutout. The canted blade makes the Ridgeback more comfortable to use on a flat surface by offering enhanced knuckle clearance. You might think the appearance is a bit weird but don’t knock it until you try it. Country of origin: USA. MSRP: $475.
Barret Chrisman puts a modern spin on a vintage Remington design.
Barret Chrisman’s contemporary take on the classic Remington 1306 Bullet lockback combines tradition and hi-tech in one handsome custom pocketknife.
Barret outfitted his repro with all cutting-edge materials, including a blade of Loki pattern damascus by Damasteel, a handle of checkered titanium that resembles jigging and a titanium bullet shield. “I’ve seen people jig titanium before but I wanted to try checkering, so I made up a custom pantograph template and tried it out,” he said. He anodized the handle a purplish bronze.
Barret Chrisman
“It’s a modern take on an old school knife everybody likes,” Barret noted, “and I’ll probably be doing the same kind of thing in the future.”
Remington 1306 Bullet Modern Reproduction Specs Maker: Barret Chrisman Blade length: 4” Blade material: Loki pattern damascus by Damasteel Blade grind: Full flat Handle frame: Titanium Handle scales: Checkered titanium w/inlaid titanium bullet shield Lock: Lockback Closed length: 47/8” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,500
Folder or fixed blade, EDC or kitchen and more, one of these will fill the bill.
In the wake of BLADE Show 2024 there is a slew of new knives hitting the custom and factory markets. We scoured both to bring you some of the latest and greatest handmade and production gems. Keep your eyes peeled for these fantastic options hitting dealers’ shelves soon.
Triple C Knives Model #3
Knife pattern: Fixed-blade hunter Blade length: 4” Blade material: Damascus of 5160 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Blade grind: Hollow Handle: Mammoth ivory Bolster: Stainless steel Overall length: 7.75” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,000 Maker: Triple C Knives (SharpByCoop image)
Bubba Crouch Trapper
Knife type: Slipjoint Blade length: 3 7/8” Blade steel: Damascus forged by ABS master smith Rick Dunkerley Blade grind: Hollow Handle material: African goat horn Handle frame: 416 stainless steel in an integral construction Bolster: 416 stainless Knife to know: The CPM 154 stainless backspring features filework; the arrowhead shield is damascus Closed length: 4” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,500 Maker: Bubba Crouch (SharpByCoop image)
Erik Fritz Petty Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 6.5” Blade material: Triple-quenched 52100 carbon steel Blade grind: Flat w/convex edge Handle: Buckeye burl Bolster: 416 stainless steel Overall length: 11” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $400 Knife to know: Erik Fritz is an ABS journeyman smith Maker: Erik Fritz (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)
Ben Akin Bowie
Blade length: 83/8” Blade material: W2 tool steel w/hamon Blade grind: Flat Handle: Box elder burl w/carbon fiber and red G-10 spacers and a mosaic pin Guard: Wrought iron Overall length: 135/8” Knife to know: Ben Akin is an ABS apprentice smith Maker’s price for a similar knife: $800 Maker:Ben Akin (Jocelyn Frasier image edit)
Egginton Presentation George Wostenholm I*XL barlow
Knife type: Slipjoint Blade length: 2.16” Blade steel: 420S45 stainless Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish: Crocus polished Scales: Stabilized birch burl in Cutlers Company green Bolster: Nickel silver marked w/400-year anniversary emblem Knife to know: Commemorates the 400th year of The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire, UK; The Company of Cutlers was formed by an act of Parliament in 1624 to “protect and promote the cutler and steel products made” in Sheffield, England; made in a limited edition of 2024 in recognition of the company’s 400th anniversary year; each knife is serial numbered Weight: 2.18 ozs. Closed length: 3.16” Country of origin: United Kingdom MSRP: $185 at press-time exchange rate Company:Egginton
Boker Plus Gust Copper
Knife type: Manual one-hand folder Designer: Serge Panchenko Blade length: 2.87” Blade material: D2 tool steel Blade @ thickest: .14” Blade pattern: Drop point Blade finish: Stonewashed Blade opener: Thumb hole Handle material: Copper w/hole for a lanyard Lock: Framelock Pocket clip: Tip up, right-handed Weight: 4.44 ozs. Closed length: 3.7” Carry: Nylon pouch Country of origin: China MSRP: $119.95 Company:Boker Plus
Valhalla Blades Surtr
Pattern: Bowie Blade length: 11” Blade material: 1084 carbon steel Blade grind: Flat Handle material: Dyed, stabilized maple burl Guard: Brass Overall length: 16” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $250 at press-time exchange rate Maker: Valhalla Blades (Rod Hoare image)
TOPS Knives Shadow Hunter
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 4.5” Blade material: 1095 carbon steel Rockwell hardness: 56-58 HRC Blade @ thickest: .19” Blade finish: Tungsten Cerakote® Handle material: Black canvas and tan canvas Micarta® Weight: 10.1 ozs. Overall length: 9.25” Sheath: Tan Kydex Weight w/sheath: 12.8 ozs. Knife to know: While the original was a favorite of company founder Mike Fuller, the new iteration is fine-tuned for enhanced performance, including a more ergonomic handle, slightly extended blade and modernized finishes Country of origin: USA MSRP: $250 Company: TOPS Knives
Montana Knife Co. MKC Whitetail
Pattern: Hunting knife Blade length: 4” Blade @ thickest: .135” Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless Blade pattern: Drop point Handle material: G-10 Construction: Full tang Overall weight: 4.3 ozs. Overall length: 8 5/8” Sheath: Kydex, open carry, reversible quick-attachment belt clip, vertical handle down or horizontal carry, built-in retention screw to customize blade tension Knife to know: Also available in buck skin, black, green and black, tan and black, and grey handle colors; integral guard; gimping on blade spine Country of origin: USA MSRP: $315 Company:Montana Knife Co.
The Australian Cutlery Fixed-Blade Hunter
Blade length: 4” Blade steel: CPM S35VN stainless Blade grind: Hollow sabre Blade thickness @ ricasso: 1/8” Blade @ widest: 1” Blade finish: Bead blast Handle material: Hunter orange G-10 w/bead blast finish and custom Australian cutler mosaic pin Overall length: 8.5” Sheath: Matching hunter orange Kydex model made by Adam Grosskopf Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $230 at press-time exchange rate Maker: The Australian Cutlery (Rod Hoare image)
Spyderco Manix 2 MagnaCut Lightweight Salt Knife Yellow Polymer
Knife type: Manual one-hand folder Blade length: 3.375” Blade steel: MagnaCut stainless Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .13” Blade pattern: Drop point Blade finish: Satin Blade opener: Thumb hole Handle material: Yellow polymer over stainless steel liners Lock: Ball-bearing lock Pocket clip: Reversible, tip up Weight: 3 ozs. Closed length: 4.625” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $232.99 Company:Spyderco
Cold Steel Espada XL
Knife type: Folder Blade length: 7.5” Blade steel: AUS-10A stainless Blade @ thickest: .137” Blade grind: Hollow Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish: Black PVD Handle material: Ruby red G-10 Lock: Tri-Ad Lock Pocket clip: Blade tip up Weight: 14.8 ozs. Closed length: 9.25” Knife to know: The knife is inspired by the classic Spanish navaja folder and is a collaboration between Lynn Thompson and custom knifemaker Andrew Demko Country of origin: Taiwan MSRP: $299.99 Company:Cold Steel
Today’s framelock folders are built tough, stylish and sharp.
Framelocks are popular with folks who put folding knives to rough use. They are built more robust than linerlocks simply because the lockbar is cut out and bent from the steel or titanium frame of the handle. The lockbar is the exact width of the handle scale, whatever thickness that may be. Consequently, compared to the spring of a standard linerlock, there is significantly more material locking the blade open and, thus, greater lock strength.
Hinderer Knives Halftrack
At the end of the titanium lockbar of the Hinderer Halftrack is a bolted-in steel block that contacts the tang and reduces wear on, and thus adds longevity to, the lockbar.
Named for the specialized military vehicle with a tracked propulsion drive system, the Hinderer Knives Halftrack framelock folder is, like its namesake, practically unstoppable. Despite the knife’s compact size, it has the horsepower to muscle through tasks big and small.
Hinderer Knives is known for high-end folding and fixed-blade knives aimed at the tactical market. The Halftrack is a bulldog of a tactical folder and one of Hinderer’s biggest sellers. A scaled-down tactical folder, it’s easy to carry. One thing’s for sure, the Halftrack is stout, with a handle that’s a little over a half-inch thick. The 2.75-inch blade is high-octane CPM S45VN stainless steel. The classic bowie shape has a defined tip for precise cutting. Other blade pattern options are a Spanto—Hinderer’s in-house design of blade grind that results in a very stout spear point—a tanto, wharncliffe and drop point.
The boxy handle frame is stonewashed titanium and the framelock is one of the strongest on the market. At the end of the titanium lockbar is a bolted-in steel block that contacts the tang and reduces wear on, and thus adds longevity to, the lockbar. Not all knife companies incorporate such a feature on their framelocks. A sturdy titanium pocket clip carries the closed knife blade tip up in the pocket. G-10 inlay in several color options on the presentation side sports a nice 3D milling pattern that aids in traction. At 3.85 inches closed, the Halftrack is robustly built without being too bulky.
The Halftrack blade has an excellent edge out of the box and is ready to work. The CPM S45VN stainless steel has staying power and holds an edge exceptionally well. As the author noted, it’s a material that can go the distance.
The blade has an excellent edge out of the box and is ready to work. The S45VN has staying power and holds an edge exceptionally well. It’s a steel that can go the distance. The handle doesn’t seem that comfortable at first but once you work with it you’ll understand the purpose behind the design. The large finger recess forms an integral lower guard that seats your index finger and prevents forward hand movement, while the angled handle butt fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. The boxy shape helps prevent it from being “lost” in your grip while wearing work gloves, too.
Expect top notch performance all around. The blade sails through just about anything—cardboard, hose, wire, meat and a lot more. It does it all easily. The MSRP of $425 may be somewhat steep but the knife is well worth every dollar. It’s a tough folder that will take abuse and last for years. Country of origin: USA.
Kershaw Helitack
The 3.25-inch clip-point blade of the Helitack is built to excel at utility tasks. Such a pattern not only slices very well but also has a defined tip for precise cutting and scoring.
Named for the U.S. Forest Service helicopter borne firefighters who are flown to combat remote wildfires, the Helitack from Kershaw exhibits the same toughness and resolve that the special breed of firefighters possesses. Like firefighter gear, the Helitack is built tough and carries easily. The 3.26-inch modified clip-point blade of 8Cr13MoV stainless is razor sharp out of the box. (The 8Cr13MoV is the Chinese equivalent of Japanese AUS-8.) The blade deploys via a flipper tab and SpeedSafe assisted opener, and rides on a pair of caged bearings for the ultimate smoothness in opening and closing.
The handle is a stainless steel framelock and sports a chamfer around the edges to soften the grip and make it more comfortable. A reversible clip carries the knife deep in the pocket. The clip easily reverses to the opposite side using a standard T6 Torx driver. A steel lockbar stabilizer is integrated into the pivot on the lock side of the handle. It prevents the lockbar from traveling too far and thus losing tension when locking the blade open. The handle’s slender nature adds to the comfortable carry experience. The lock engages securely with zero play. The blade and handle sport a gray titanium nitride coating that’s handsome and low glare. The hardware is a contrasting black for an overall eye-catching look.
The Kershaw Helitack’s stainless steel framelock sports a chamfer around the edges to soften the grip and make it more comfortable. A reversible clip carries the knife deep in the pocket.
The 3.25-inch clip-point blade is built to excel at utility tasks. Such a pattern not only slices very well but also has a defined tip for precise cutting and scoring. The hollow grind allows the blade to be thinned out somewhat, giving the edge great bite without compromising strength. The Helitack tackles tougher materials with ease, something an EDC work knife must do.
The handle seems very comfortable and has no hot spots, though there were times I wished it were a bit wider to help me power through a cut. As slim as the handle is it carries very well. The lock held firmly. At an MSRP of $64.99, the knife is a great value. Country of origin: China.
Bastinelli Knives Bastien Coves
The BBR2’s titanium lock side is anodized a bronze color. The blade spine thumb rest is at the most forward point of the grip and has traction notches. The pocket clip carries the closed knife blade tip up and is non-reversible.
The knife designs of Bastien Coves of Bastinelli Knives are very progressive and geared toward tactical with an emphasis on high utility. Ergonomics are a priority with Bastinelli’s designs and they are some of the most comfortable tacticals around.
The BBR2 framelock folder showcases Bastien’s fine design talent. Made in Italy by Lionsteel, the knife has a 3.1-inch drop-point blade of D2 tool steel in a stonewash finish for a good visual contrast. The blade is rather interesting as it is a “dropped” design in relation to the handle. This permits Bastinelli to make full use of the ergonomic handle and allows the blade to be used to its full potential by lowering the cutting edge below the handle, reducing interference from the user’s hand and making the blade more useful in various cutting tasks. D2 was chosen for its high performance for the money. Dual thumb studs provide ease of one-hand opening, and the pivot’s Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) ensures ultra-smooth blade rotation. A fuller milled into the blade reduces weight and provides a nice visual and an aggressive presence.
If you follow Bastinelli’s work, you know the BBR2 is available in a plain edge blade. Starting in 2024, Bastinelli will begin offering the BBR2 in a partly serrated blade as well, and provided an early sample of the semi-serrated iteration to road test for the article.
A partly serrated blade on the Bastinelli BBR2 is new for 2024.
The handle is a half-and-half construction, with a milled G-10 presentation side and a titanium lock side anodized bronze. The curved handle with prominent index finger groove is one of the best things about the BBR2. It is super comfortable. The handle edges are chamfered as is the grip to remove some material to fit your hand better. The blade spine thumb rest is at the most forward point of the grip and has traction notches. An aluminum spacer protrudes stylistically at the handle butt to form a skull cracker point. The pocket clip carries the closed knife blade tip up and is non-reversible. (Sorry, southpaws.) I also like the rounded G-10, which helps the knife sit better in your hand. At first it did feel a bit weird with the rounded G-10 and the flat titanium lock side, but after working with the knife for a while you get used to it. MSRP: $250.
CRKT Padawan
For using, the author’s favorite of the two blade patterns of the CRKT Padawan is the wharncliffe. The full flat grind gradually tapers down to the edge and makes it an absolute slicer.
CRKT’s newest folder design, the Padawan is designed by Brazilian knifemaker Pedro Buzetti of Presidential Prudente, Brazil. Buzetti is the protege of Flavio Ikoma (page 36), the Ikoma of the Ikoma Korth Bearing System (IKBS) and a well-known Brazilian knifemaker who also has several collaborations with CRKT. The Padawan is Buzetti’s first collaboration with the company and is a stylish EDC folder. Pretty much a scaled-down tactical folder, the Padawan features a steel handle and framelock construction. It comes in two blade styles—an upswept semi-skinner and a wharncliffe, both 3 inches long. Blade steel is Sandvik 14C28N stainless, comparable to AUS-8.
There are two choices of handle overlays: textured black G-10 for the wharncliffe and brown canvas Micarta® for the semi-skinner. The overlays not only provide enhanced grip and visual styling but also act as a lockbar stabilizer. At 4.1 inches closed, the Padawan rides very well in the pocket, thanks in part to a blade-tip-up, deep-carry clip. Unfortunately, the clip is not reversible. Both knives feature flipper opening and the IKBS to provide easy, fast blade deployment.
For using, my favorite of the two blade patterns is the wharncliffe. The full flat grind gradually tapers down to the edge and makes it an absolute slicer. The wharncliffe has a more defined tip than the semi-skinner’s drop point. The Sandvik 14C28N steel holds an edge well for the money and is fairly easy to resharpen.
The CRKT Padawan offers two choices of handle overlays: textured black G-10 for the wharncliffe and brown canvas Micarta® for the semi-skinner. The overlays not only provide enhanced grip and visual styling but also act as a lockbar stabilizer.
The Padawan is a breeze to carry. It just disappears in your pocket. The handle is slender and comfortable, with the primary finger groove helping your index finger seat itself, with the rest of the fingers falling into place naturally. Chamfers in the grip make the handle feel slimmer than it actually is. Attention to detail is not lost at all, from the stylized tri-wing pivot screws to the mirror-polished, crowned blade spine. Such little touches make a good knife even better and add value. The Padawan is a great EDC framelock built stout that carries well without feeling bulky. MSRP for either version is a very reasonable $99.99. Country of origin: China.
Doug Ritter’s folder more than ready to cut you out of trouble.
A folder always comes in handy. It hides in your pocket until you need it. Most people won’t freak out if you cut your steak in a restaurant with it. It’s a handy item for everyday use. The Doug Ritter RSK MK1-G2 is a classic example.
Let the cutting begin.
Light-Duty Cutting Test
Twenty-pound bond paper is my first choice for testing edge sharpness. The knife was aggressive and smooth slicing. The handle texture made control easy, so I didn’t lose any skin. I pushed the belly of the blade straight into the paper. (I’ll return to the medium for the last test to see if the blade will still slice.)
The blade made great crunching music as it bit quickly into the leather.
Double-walled cardboard was next. Cutting aggressively, the MK1-G2 bit deep into the cardboard and did so quickly. The cutting action was smooth with no snags. The cut pieces didn’t have much curl to them as the flat grind and thin blade cleanly parted the fibers.
I did some push cuts on 8-ounce leather. Nice crunching sounds accompanied each slice. The knife performed great—crunch, crunch, crunch! It was fun to do. The handle texture worked extremely well when I used a sidewinder grip, locking my fingers and hand in place.
As long as I was on leather, I might as well do some skiving—thin slices to thinner to the end of the leather. Once again the folder made great crunching music as it bit quickly into the leather. The test nicked a bit of my fingernail. I needed to be faster with the skiving for sure.
Heavy-Duty Cutting Test
It was time for my favorite camping slack time filler: whittling. I whittled some cool curlicues from a two-by-four. The flat-ground blade made it easy to get fine curlicues. The MK1-G2 also liked thick cuts into the wood. It was very controllable during both depths of cut.
The knife excelled at thick cuts in the two-by-four.
I clamped a two-by-four slab in the vise for a small chop test for the edge and the lock. For a folder the MK1-G2 provided some deep chops, and there were no problems with the handle sliding around in my hand. The edge went through knots and straight grain wood very quickly. The edge was awesome and lockup was 100 percent.
Half-inch sisal rope was next on the docket. I checked to see if the notches on the blade spine would be too sharp on my thumb. To my surprise, they were among the best-feeling thumb notches I’ve experienced on a folder. They provided a good grip and are softened on the points, an indication of paying excellent attention to detail. After 100 crunching cuts, I switched to my sidewinder grip and managed to get another 97 crunching cuts before the bite slowed down. I didn’t find a single hot spot on the knife—outstanding work again.
I returned to the 20-pound bond paper. The folder still sliced smoothly, though I did tear the paper in a couple of places. I believe the tears were more my fault than the knife’s.
Final Cut
The flat-ground blade made getting fine curlicues a snap.
I might make the grind line a tad higher. I like this folder a lot. I would put it in my bugout bag.
Doug Ritter RSK MK1-G2 Specs Company: Hogue Knives Knife type: Locking folder Blade Length: 3.44” Blade Steel: CPM 20CV stainless Blade Grind: Flat Lock: ABLE Lock Liners: 301 stainless steel Handle: Black G-10 Weight: 5 ozs. Closed length: 4 13/16” Country of origin: USA MSRP: $179.95
