Not one of his everyday builds, the Taka v2s by Brian Brown features a notable blade, handle and lock.
Brian Brown likes a good, pointy tanto.
“It’s kind of a straight hollow grind all the way from the choil to the tip in a climbing grind,” he explained of the blade on his Taka v2s dress tactical folder. Grinding it that way helped him keep the blade extremely thin from the recurve edge to the tip. “You’ve got to be really careful [at the edge] because that’s gonna be the lowest spot where it gets thinnest the fastest—and I’ve burned through them before,” he noted.
Brian Brown said he had to be careful grinding/removing the top layer of the Black Top Timascus™ handle material by Alpha Knife Supply or he would expose too much of the titanium and change the color—somewhat visible here on the spine. The 3.125-inch blade is FireClone 2 forged by Mike Norris, which Brian lauded as some of the best stainless damascus anywhere. Closed length: 4.375 inches. (SharpByCoop knife image)
Only the second one he’s done, the folder’s linerlock-like inset lock enabled him to use the fancy handle material paired with a straight, solid piece of Grade 5 titanium for the lockbar. There are several more steps involved but the upshot is the scales are symmetrical as with a linerlock—a symmetry Brian prefers to that of a framelock. Plus, the inset lock results in a thinner handle than with a linerlock because the lock side must be relieved to make room for the lockbar.
Summer Steel: June’s Hottest Custom and Production Knives You Need to Know.
From mosaic fighters to modern flippers, this month’s standout blades bring a mix of artistic craftsmanship and everyday utility. Whether you’re in the market for a hand-forged Damascus showpiece or a no-nonsense EDC, June’s lineup has something sharp for every collector and user. Here’s a closer look at what’s turning heads in the knife world this month.
Miguel Navarro Fixed Blade
Blade length: 4.25” Blade material: Diamond Damascus by Baker Forge & Tool Blade grind: Hollow Scales: Fat Carbon Gold Snake w/black and red G-10 liners Weight: 7.4 ozs. Overall length: 9” Maker’s price for a similar knife (includes custom sheath): $550-$600 Maker: Miguel Navarro (SharpByCoop image)
Dale Holt Mosaic Fighter
Blade length: 10” Blade materials: 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Blade grind: Flat Blade pattern: Clip-point recurve Handle material: Spalted sassafrass Spacers: Textured brass and nickel silver Guard: Blued mild steel Knife to know: Design features include an S-guard and dropped handle; Dale Holt is an ABS journeyman smith Overall length: 15” Maker’s price for a similar model: Contact maker for details Maker: Dale Holt (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Kelly Frasier Paring Knife
Kelly Frasier Paring Knife Blade length: 3.5” Blade material: 26C3 carbon steel Blade grind: Flat Blade finish: Mustard patina Scales: G-10 w/red liners Overall length: 7.5” Maker’s price for a similar model: Contact maker for details Maker: Kelly Frasier (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Sam Renwick Farmer’s Lockback
Knife type: Folder Blade length: 2.78” Blade steel: Nitro-V stainless Blade grind: Flat Blade @thickest: .98” Scales: Spalted maple Frame & bolsters: 416 stainless Knife to know: The bolsters are dovetailed Weight: 5.3 ozs. Closed length: 3.38” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $291 at press-time rate of exchange Maker: Sam Renwick (Rod Hoare image)
Bjorn Jacobsen Ghost Recon Chef
Blade length: 7.87” Blade material: 1084 (the black core) laminated w/stainless steel etched Blade grind: Flat w/forged texture on top half Blade @thickest: .118” Blade @widest: 1.97” Handle: Curly birch dyed w/black leather dye and sanded w/600 grit paper, then sanded mostly off again at 1500 grit, blue leather dyed and sanded w/1500 grit yet again; finished w/Uncle Bjorn’s Handle Finish Fittings: Stainless Weight: 6 ozs. Overall length: 12.6” Knife to know: Blade etched in ferric chloride to make the carbon migration “pop,” then left in instant coffee overnight to make the 1084 core black Maker’s price for a similar knife: $320 at press-time exchange rate Maker: Bjorn Jacobsen (Rod Hoare image)
Rob Wayman Knives Feather Damascus Fighter
Blade length: 8” Blade material: Feather damascus of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Blade grind: Full flat Handle materials: Stabilized bog oak, black G-10 and stainless steel spacers, dyed/stabilized fossilized brain coral, and stabilized curly narra Guard & pommel: Feather damascus Overall length: 13.75” Sheath: By Rob Wayman; belt model of vegetable-tanned leather w/stingray inlay Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $2,400 Maker’s remark: “I’m all about sole authorship, so I make all my own steel and keep everything in house.” Maker: Rob Wayman Knives (SharpByCoop image)
Shining Blades: From the Aldo and Edda Lorenzi Collection
Authors: Aldo and Edda Lorenzi Format: Hardcover, 9 x 9.75 inches Pages: 344, including 280 in color Publication date: May 27, 2025 Publisher: Silvana Editoriale Content: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® members, the authors operated the G. Lorenzi retail knife shop in Milan, Italy, from 1959 to 2014. To stock their store and to add to their collection, they traveled far and wide in search of all manner of knives, scissors, razors, corkscrews and other edged tools. They acquired over 2,000 pieces from the Etruscan period to the present, many incredible specimens of which are illustrated in their book—including those by some of the most famous custom knifemakers of all time—along with the stories of how the Lorenzis obtained the pieces, met the makers and much more. A must read for true knife and edged tool aficionados, both present and future alike. List price: $50 Order: artbooks.com
Bear & Son Cutlery Lawman
Bear & Son Cutlery Lawman Knife type: EDC folder Blade length: 3.25” Blade material: D2 tool steel Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC Blade grind: Taper Blade finish: Polished Blade opener: Thumb stud Pivot: Ball-bearing washers Scales: White smooth bone Bolsters: Carbon fiber Lock: Slidelock Pocket clip: Blade tip up Weight: 3.5 ozs. Closed length: 4 3/8” City & state of origin: Jacksonville, Alabama MSRP: $119.99 Company: Bear & Son Cutlery
APOC Wallace Bowie
Designer: Mike Wallace Blade length: 9 5/8” Blade material: D2 tool steel Blade thickness @guard & tip: .256” & .039” Blade finish: Titanium coat Slabs: G-10 Knife to know: Handle screws accept a size T9 Torx or star bit; any other bit used may strip the screws Weight: 1 lb., 5 ozs. Overall length: 15 1/8” Sheath: Kydex, vertical or horizontal carry, MOLLE compatible Country of origin: China MSRP: $117 Company: APOC
CIVIVI Clingman
Designer: Taylor Martin Knife type: Flipper folder Blade length: 2.99” Blade steel: Nitro-V stainless Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC Blade grind: Hollow Blade @thickest: .12” Blade finish: Black stonewashed Pivot: Caged ceramic ball bearings Lock: Linerlock Scales: Black G-10 Handle @thickest: .47” Liners: Stainless steel Pocket clip: 6Al4V titanium; ambidextrous, tip up Weight: 2.8 ozs. Country of origin: China MSRP: $71.70 Company: CIVIVI
Boker Plus LRF G10
Knife type: Flipper folder Designer: Japanese knifemaker Kansei Matsuno Blade length: 3.07” Blade steel: VG-10 stainless Blade @thickest: .075” Pivot: Ball bearings Scales: G-10 Lock: Linerlock Weight: 1.94 ozs. Closed length: 4” Continent of origin: Asia MSRP: $108.69 at press-time exchange rate Company: Boker Plus
Jack Wolf Knives The Benny Fat Carbon Arctic Storm
Knife type: Slipjoint Pattern: Lanny’s Clip Blade length: 3.25” Blade steel: CPM S90V stainless Rockwell hardness: 60-61 HRC Blade grind: Hollow Blade finish: Belt satin Blade @thickest: .12” Lock: Framelock/bolster lock Pivot: Ceramic bearings Scales: Fat Carbon Arctic Storm Bolsters: 6Al/4V dark-blasted titanium Pocket clip: Titanium anodized a light blue Knife to know: A pocket-clip recess plug provides clipless carry option Weight: 3.5 ozs. Country of origin: China MSRP: $279.99 Company: Jack Wolf Knives
James Brand evolves the Ellis into an ultra-thin, minimalist slip joint multitool.
When The James Brand first introduced the Ellis, it occupied a specific niche: a knife for people who needed a bit more utility than a single blade provides, but who didn’t want the bulk of a traditional multi-tool. This latest iteration takes that minimalism to its logical conclusion. By rethinking the architecture of the handle and the clip, the Portland-based design team has produced their thinnest knife to date—a tool that literally measures in thinner than a standard pack of gum.
The core of the redesign centers on the handle and carry system. Moving to 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum scales has allowed for a sleeker, more ergonomic profile that maintains structural integrity while shedding unnecessary width. Perhaps the most significant change is the move to a pen-style pocket clip. This low-profile stainless steel clip mimics the deep-carry nature of a high-end writing instrument, allowing the 0.4-inch thick frame to disappear against the pocket seam.
Functionally, the Ellis remains a versatile companion for the modern EDC enthusiast. The 2.6-inch drop point blade is ground from Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel, a Swedish alloy prized for its corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening. Because it utilizes a non-locking slip joint mechanism and a machined nail slot for two-handed opening, it is a globally-friendly option, compliant with strict carry laws.
Beyond the primary edge, the Ellis features what the company calls its “All Things” pry bar and scraper integrated into the backspacer. This secondary tool is robust enough to handle the tasks that usually ruin a knife tip—turning screws, scraping labels or prying open a cold beverage at the end of the day. Riding on phosphor bronze washers, the deployment is smooth and deliberate, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for clean, intentional industrial design.
Women Bladesmiths Thrive And Continue To Shape The Knife Industry.
Women’s pocketknives? Can’t anyone buy any type of pocketknife?
Sure, but knives designed and marketed specifically for women are few and far between even among the big knifemakers.
Enter Brighten Knives, a small, upstart knife company based in Utah. Founded by Diane Carver and her daughters Kristy, Katie, and Kimi, Brighten has grown into a successful maker thanks to a strong vision and some good luck.
“We worked with [the Salt Lake Tribune],” Diane said. “They wrote an article about us because aside from being women’s knives, which is kind of a cool product, it was also a human-interest story where it was a mom and three daughters starting a knife company.
“It was unique and different. They put an article out and it kind of snowballed from there. A radio station picked up on it, and our Utah Senator Mike Lee even sent us a letter.”
All that good press, along with a Kickstarter that raised almost $14,000 (almost triple the initial $5,000 goal), and Brighten has been on a roll ever since.
Brighten’s Inspirational line of knives all come in bright, bold colors.
The company is built on Diane’s decades of experience in the industry. She was the knife product manager for Browning for 17 years and has worked with Fox Knives, along with marketing* household cutlery for companies like Traeger.
Diane’s experience in the industry is complemented by her daughters’ work. Kristy created all the original designs and colorways of the company’s knives. Kimi has worked in product development and sales, and Katie has a background in sales and writing as well.
As the quartet designed their knives the hard question to answer was: What exactly does a woman’s pocketknife look like?
“Being in the industry for so long I know that most women, and I don’t want to generalize because there are a lot of women that carry it in their pockets, but a lot of our pants are made where they can’t even hold a knife,” Diane said. “The one thing that we did that kind of separated us was including the case. The case comes with all of our knives no matter [the product line] so that you can throw it in your purse or your glove compartment.”
Brighten has two original lines of knives: the Inspirational line and the Not So Heavy Metal Series. They all come with a case that’s roughly the size of a wallet that is easily portable. Additionally, all of the knives are available in a smaller keychain variety.
All of the blades are made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel. For the larger varieties, the blades are between 2.5- and 2.56-inches long, and the keychain knives are between 1.6- and 1.65-inches long. The knives open with a thumb stud and feature a linerlock.
The Inspirational line is the company’s original line of knives. Each blade is married to an aluminum handle resplendent in brightly colored designs. The blades all also have a different inspirational word on the steel, words like “Faith” and “Hope” and “Brave.”
“All of the designs on the knives and cases are originally designed by my daughter Kristy,” Diane said. “I know it’s kind of unusual to see words like “laugh” and “faith” and “love” on knives, but we wanted it to be something fun. On the packaging, there’s a quote that goes along with each one. One thing we’ve seen is people like purchasing them for specific things. Our Hope knife is a breast cancer knife, and the quote on it is ‘When the world says give up, hope whispers try one more time.’”
Diane’s market research showed there was a large segment that wanted more muted colors and streamlined designs. Enter the Not So Heavy Metal line. Every color is named after a popular rock-and-roll band or song.
The knives in the Not So Heavy Metal line come in more muted, monochrome colorways with a steel bolster.
Diane laughed, mentioning the generational differences as her daughters recommended Green Day while she mentioned names like Purple Rain and Blue Oyster Cult.
“There was about 25 percent [of women] that said they were more of a minimalist and wanted more plain, solid-colored things,” Diane said. “We want Brighten to be the premier knife company for women and so we wanted something that would appeal to everyone. That’s how we came out with our Not So Heavy Metal line. We had a ton of fun naming the colors.”
The full-length knives retail for $29.99, and the keychain knives sell for $19.99.
As Brighten Knives has continued to expand, the press and publicity around it has swelled. YouTubers such as Neeves Knives have reached out and produced content about Brighten, as have other digital creators.
Carver said the goal is to make knives that are women-forward that take care in their design and construction rather than just slapping some pink scales on the side and calling it a day. She did speak positively about the Kershaw Chive and some of Spyderco’s knives but that she hadn’t seen any marketing directly for women from those factory makers.
There is also the Femme Fatale line of women’s pocketknives from Defense Divas which are marketed as spring-assisted self-protection knives.
The Sneakerhead rescue folder is an example of the types of knives, both in terms of utility and style, made by Defense Divas.
While all of Brighten’s knives have a story and purpose behind their design there is one question Diane and her team get regularly: Can these knives be used in self-defense?”
“We have a lot of questions about whether these are self-defense knives,” Carver said. “Obviously, any knife can be used for self-defense in a pinch, but that’s not what these knives are designed for. They’re in a case in your bag. We are coming out with some designs for self-defense but that’s another story.”
That “another story” will feature self-defense videos made by the company featuring self-defense experts with military backgrounds. Everything is one step at a time as the company looks to grow and sustain itself going forward.
For now, the company started by a mother and her three daughters continues to grow and thrive, and make fun, exciting pocketknives for women.
Female Knifemaking Standout Audra Draper
Few women in the field are as accomplished as Audra Draper. The Wyomingite was the first woman to earn master smith status in the American Bladesmith Society back in 2000. Since then she’s made pretty much everything and, along with her husband Mike, taught countless new makers the craft of making knives.
“Back in the day it was hard to get people to acknowledge that yes, a girl can do this, too,” Draper said. “But now it’s not a big deal, people don’t react so crazy anymore and that helped, because if you’re a young girl and walk up to a knifemaker’s table at a show and tell them you want to make knives, you need them to react like ‘Sweet, what can I do to help you?’ which everyone does now.”
While Draper is as experienced as it comes, one thing has both eluded her and caused her very little concern: making knives specifically for women. She said that she just wants to make beautiful, functional knives that people will want.
She said the only key difference can be making knives with a smaller handle since a woman’s hands are usually smaller than a man’s.
Audra Draper’s Turmoil is a beautiful damascus fixed blade. (Image: SharpByCoop)
“Most women that are interested in knives don’t want a woman-specific knife,” Draper said. “They just want what the guys are carrying. I’ve made some knives that I was so certain would be purchased by a woman, and a man buys them 99 percent of the time. The women are usually hunters and fishers or they want it for the kitchen. The only difference if you’re a woman or a man is maybe a smaller handle.”
She laughed thinking about the times she’d made knives designed for women utilizing materials like turquoise, and when they hit the table the piece was scooped up by a man. She stressed that knives are neither feminine nor masculine–they just are.
And for young women interested in learning the craft she had one simple bit of advice–reach out and ask people to help.
“Just ask questions. Talk to people,” Draper said. “There’s plenty of info our there now and plenty of courses to take. I would highly recommend before buying expensive equipment to take a course with an established maker because that’s going to tell them right away if this is something they want to do.”
Young Women Shining In The Knifemaking World
Raegan Lee and Karis Fisher are two young makers establishing themselves in the world of bladesmithing. Lee, an Idaho native, is just 21 years old but has been making fixed-blade knives for years from CPM 154 stainless. Are these specific knives for women? No, but having an enthusiastic, creative woman making knives will help craft what a “woman’s knife” becomes.
“I want to get into folders, specifically slip joints,” Lee said when we talked at BLADE Show West. “That’s where I’m heading. To be one of those makers that can bring three knives to a show and sell out on a lottery is a great feeling. To really be known in the community would be a huge, huge thing.”
Raegan Lee’s “Cow Poke” with red fiber Micarta® handle. Her price: $200
Lee went on to say how important it is to have female makers creating knives and being mentors and examples for young artisans entering the field. She said Audra Draper was an inspiration for her.
“I think it’s extremely important,” Lee said. “I do knives most of the time, but I’m also an aluminum welder at an off-road company, and that’s also a male-dominated world. I just think there has to be one of us, and the rest of us can see [what’s possible]. The more we have the more it’ll be great for us.”
Fisher is the daughter of ABS master smith Josh Fisher. Even though just a recent high school grad, her fixed blades are stunning and show off her skill in the forge and with the hammer.
A hunting knife with an ironwood handle made by Karis Fisher
For Fisher, the biggest way to grow the base of female makers is simply by exposing more people to the craft of bladesmithing. TV shows and numerous YouTube channels have certainly helped a lot in bringing knifemaking more into the mainstream in recent years, and Fisher said that can only help.
Fisher even said that if her dad wasn’t a successful smith she probably wouldn’t even know about knifemaking.
“I think not too many people really know that knifemaking’s out there,” Fisher said. “If more people knew about it, it might be more [popular]. Forged in Fire does quite a bit for it.”
The Case Mini CopperLock Looks Great And Functions Like A Champ. A Modern Take On The Classic Slip Joint Is Sure To Please.
The classics are classics for a reason. They endure because they are beloved for their style and functionality, and the Case Mini CopperLock is a beautiful contemporary version of a tried and tested style of knife.
The knife opens and closes like butter. It’s so smooth to deploy and doesn’t fight you at all. The 2.72-inch Tru-Sharp stainless clip point looks as good as it slices thanks to a mirror polish. The handle is made from a bright Ruby Stardust Kirinite, and the lockback holds everything securely in place.
This is a multi-purpose knife that’s great for EDC tasks or for keeping on your pack while camping. At just two ounces it’s light and always easy to use. Case knocked this one out of the park.
Feel the burn of the hottest makers’ hottest Custom EDC Knives—both folded and fixed.
Tommy Gann: Coke Bottle Slip Joint
As Daniel O’Malley of BladeGallery.com noted, “ABS master smith Tommy Gann makes an exceptional knife. The 52100 carbon steel wharncliffe blade of his Coke Bottle Slip Joint has a handrubbed satin finish, smooth, consistent action, a firm half stop and easily opens with a light pull.” Blade and closed lengths: 2.9 and 3.9”. Bolsters: 416 stainless steel. BladeGallery.com’s price: $550. (BladeGallery.com image)
Willem Steenkamp: Raider Flipper Folder
The 3.5-inch blade of hollow-ground CTS XHP stainless steel on Willem Steenkamp’s Raider flipper folder pivots on an Ikoma Korth Bearing System. Handle: Silver-strike carbon fiber. Pivot collar: stainless damascus. Pocket clip: 3D-machined titanium anodized blue, configured for right-side, blade-tip-up carry. Lock: linerlock. Weight: 3.2 ozs. Closed length: 3.83”. BladeGallery.com’s price: $680. (BladeGallery.com image)
David Breniere: Mini Inglorious Slip Joint
“The Mini Inglorious slip joint by David Breniere offers a handrubbed Elmax stainless steel blade with David’s W’s pattern damascus bolster and Sambar stag scales,” stated Dave Stark of Steel Addiction Custom Knives. “The knife just melts into the hand. Truly topper fit and finish.” Blade and closed lengths: 2 7/8 and 3.25”. Weight: 3.2 ozs. Retail price: $2,000. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)
Brian Efros: Elder Tactical Folder
The Elder tactical folder by Brian Efros has a drop-point recurve blade with dual bead-blasted thumb studs. Blade length and steel: 3” and CTS XHP stainless. Handle: carbon fiber with Chad Nichols Dark-Ti damascus bolsters and backspacer, and zirconium pivot collars. The Dark-Ti pocket clip provides blade-tip-up carry. Lock: linerlock. According to Arizona Custom Knives (AZCK), the Elder has “very nice action, detent and blade seating.” Weight: 5.2 ozs. Closed length: 4.25”. AZCK’s price: $3,295. (AZCK image)
Jacek Hnatow: Bushcraft 1
The Bushcraft 1 by Jacek Hnatow boasts full-tang construction and excellent balance and handle ergonomics. “Though designed for bushcraft, the knife makes an outstanding all-around utility tool,” observed Les Robertson of Robertson’s Custom Cutlery. Blade length, style and steel: 5.5”, drop point and Bohler N690 stainless. Handle width and material: 3.75” and textured black G-10. Overall length: 14.5”. Sheath: custom made of leather by the maker. Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $325. (ImpressByDesign image)
Bill Koenig: Arius Flipper Folder
Bill Koenig’s Custom Arius flipper folder has a 3.5-inch blade of CPM 20CV stainless steel with a handrubbed satin finish and mirror-washed accents. The handle on the custom EDC knife is copper-dust carbon fiber on the front side and titanium with C-pattern milling on the framelock side. Hardware and screws: zirconium. Pocket clip: handrubbed titanium configured to carry the knife blade tip up. Closed length: 5”. Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,510. Recon 1 sold price: $6,500. (Recon 1 image)
Piotr Gosciniak: Breaker Tanto
Of Piotr Gosciniak’s Breaker Les Robertson writes, “The compound grind provides the penetration of a tanto-style blade and slicing ability of a recurve blade. The texture of the black Micarta® handle gives additional grip, particularly in a wet environment.” Blade length, steel and finish: 4.7”, Elmax stainless and satin. Overall length: 10”. Sheath: custom made of Kydex® by the maker. Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $415. (ImpressByDesign image)
Sean Kendrick: Ruiner Tactical Folder
Sean Kendrick’s Ruiner is a framelock tactical folder with a 3.125-inch black blade of an “unknown material,” zirconium thumb studs and a notched thumb rest. Handle: dark Timascus™ front scale, backspacer and blade-tip-up pocket clip, and an orange-peel-finished and anodized titanium lockside. Pivot: zirconium. Weight: 6.1 ozs. Closed length: 4.5”. Sean names Mike Franklin of Hawg Knives as one of his top mentors. AZCK’s price: $5,995. (AZCK image)
Tashi Bharucha: Onion LegacyFliper Folder
“The Legacy project is Tashi Bharucha’s way of paying homage to the icons of the knife world that have influenced him,” Dave Stark observed. “The Onion Legacy, his tribute to Ken Onion, was limited to nine pieces featuring a handrubbed RWL-34 stainless steel blade running on caged bearings. The frames are stonewashed and bead-blasted titanium with laser etching, accented by a custom-heat-colored Mokuti clip and pivot rings.” Weight and blade and closed lengths: 6.2 ozs., 4 and 4.75”. Retail price: $1,875. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)
Matthew Christensen: Full Dress Dreadeye
The Full Dress Dreadeye by Matthew Christensen sports a 3.375-inch high-satin-finished blade of Mike Norris Fire Clone damascus and dual zirconium thumb studs. Handle: Zirblast-finished Ant Farm Mokuti scales, and zirconium pivot collars, backspacer and blade-tip-up pocket clip. Weight: 4.9 ozs. Closed length: 4.625”. One of Matthew’s leading mentors is Dave Curtiss of Curtiss Knives. AZCK’s price: $3,595. (AZCK image)
Riann Manser: H4 Flipper Folder
South African Riann Manser’s H4 custom EDC knife has a 3.7-inch blade of satin-finished M390 stainless steel that runs on caged bearings. “It is perfectly centered, has silky-smooth action” and opens easily via a flipper tab, Daniel O’Malley noted. Handle: black G-10 with gold snakeskin FatCarbon inlaid into each side. Backspacer: black G-10. Liners: bead-blasted Gr6 titanium. Lock: linerlock. Pocket clip: bead-blasted titanium, configured for right-side, blade-tip-up carry. Closed length: 4.8”. BladeGallery.com’s price: $695. (BladeGallery.com image)
Sergey Shirogorov: Mini Quantum Flipper Folder
The Mini Quantum flipper folder by Sergey Shirogorov is highlighted by a rotating titanium pocket clip that carries the knife blade tip up. Blade length and steel: 3.5” and Mike Norris damascus. Handle: titanium. Closed length: 4.5”. Maker’s price: varies depending on what the knife brings at the various auctions where it is sold. Recon 1’s price: $10,000. (Recon 1 image)
RJ Martin: Q36 Flipper Folder
Custom knife purveyor Les Robertson has been buying Q36s since RJ Martin started making them. According to Les, “RJ never ceases to amaze me how he incrementally improves this knife: serrated thumb ramp, extremely lightweight, hypersonic flipper opener and bank-vault lockup.” Blade length and steel: 4” and MagnaCut stainless. Frame: grooved titanium. Closed length: 4 7/8”. RJ’s price for a similar knife: $3,200. (ImpressByDesign image)
Thomas Gony: Speartac Front Flipper
Frenchman Thomas Gony’s Speartac front flipper has a 3 3/8-inch blade of handrubbed RWL-34 stainless steel. The titanium handle features Zircuti inlays, pivot rings and pocket clip (blade tip up). Weight: 4.8 ozs. Closed length: 4.5”. Retail: $2,600. According to Dave Stark, there is such a huge demand for Gony’s work that Thomas can no longer take custom orders. (Steel Addiction Custom Knives image)
Dmitry Sinkevich: Skiving Tanto
A 3.125-inch tanto blade of K110-core san-mai and a titanium handle help complete the Skiving Tanto prototype by Dmitry Sinkevich. The pivot and blade-tip-up pocket clip are zirconium on this custom EDC knife, and the body screws are titanium. Closed length: 4”. Maker’s price: varies depending on what the knife brings at the various auctions where it is sold. Recon 1’s price: $10,000. (Recon 1 image)
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
