Folding Knives

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

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 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

$259.99 $146.99

Palmetto State Armory $146.99

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Fox Knives/Terzuola ATCF Original Gangster

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.

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 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 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.

Spyderco PARA-MILITARY2 G10 PLN

$183.82

Natchez Shooting & Outdoors $183.82 BattleHawk Armory $209.25

Prices accurate at time of publishing. Affiliate disclosure.

Dead Reckon Ridgeback

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!

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.

Böker teams up with popular German bushcrafters to deliver a pocket-friendly, G10-scaled multi-tool packed with essential field implements.

The multi-tool market has long been divided between heavy-duty plier platforms and traditional red-scaled pocketknives. Böker bridges that gap with the Naturensöhne MK II NXT, a fresh take on the classic multi-functional folder built specifically for outdoor utility.

Created in collaboration with Die Naturensöhne, the popular German YouTube duo known for their bushcraft challenges, this tool ditches shiny plastic for field-ready ergonomics. The handles feature textured forest-green G10 scales that offer a solid, slip-resistant grip when working in wet conditions.

At the core of the tool is a 2.8-inch drop-point blade made from Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel. Finished in a muted grey stonewash, the blade relies on a traditional nail nick and non-locking slipjoint mechanism. That two-handed opening makes it a legal-friendly option in regions with strict lock-knife regulations.

Instead of clogging the frame with rarely used gimmicks, Böker packed in targeted outdoor implements:

• A wood saw for clearing branches or notch-cutting
• Mini combination pliers for light bending tasks and quick repairs
• A reamer and awl for punching leather, wood, or gear
• Fine tweezers and a scale-mounted toothpick
• A dedicated glass breaker located at the pommel

Weighing in at 4.23 ounces and measuring 6.57 inches overall, the MK II NXT carries like a standard pocketknife thanks to an integrated tip-down pocket clip. For campers, bushcrafters, and daily carry enthusiasts looking for multi-tool versatility without the bulk of a full plier chassis, Böker’s latest collaboration delivers a slick, highly functional compromise.

Naturensöhne MK II NXT Specs
Overall Length: 6.57″
Blade Length: 2.80″
Blade Thickness: .09″
Weight: 4.23 oz
Blade Material: 12C27
Handle Material: G10
Opener: Nail Nick
Opening: Manual
Country Of Origin: Asia
Color: Green
Blade Color: Gray
MSRP: $129

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Hip pocket feel empty? We got the cure for that…

The pocketknife was once a rare term, most likely because back in the pioneering day fixed blades of all types ruled the roost. With few bears to skin nowadays and more wire to strip and boxes to dismember, a pocketknife practically means knife to a wide swath of people. This ubiquitous class of knives helps make our daily world go round—be they tactical do-alls or slip-joint stunners. And we have gathered a load of new ones—factory and custom—hitting the market.

Barnett Custom Knives 6-Blade Congress

Knife pattern: 6-blade congress
Master blade length: 17/8”
Blade steel: Ladder-pattern damascus
Blade grinds: Flat
Scales: Gold-lip mother-of-pearl
Handle frame: .030” 410 stainless steel
Bolsters: 416 stainless
Closed length: 3.5”
Knife to know: Bruce Barnett is an ABS journeyman smith
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,750
Maker: Barnett Custom Knives (Rod Hoare image)

Manuele Messori Little Blue

Knife name: Little Blue
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade material: Björkmans Twist damascus forged by Damasteel w/Fat Carbon White Storm inlay
Pivot: Ceramic bearings
Scales: Titanium GR5 w/Fat Carbon White Storm, zirconium and mother-of-pearl inlays
Backspacer: Zirconium
Hardware: Titanium screws
Closed length: 4”
Maker: Manuele Messori (SharpByCoop image)

Andrew Demko Full-custom AD-20 Stinger Tanto

Knife name: Full-custom AD-20 Stinger Tanto
Blade length: 3.5”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Blade grind: Compound
Scales: Fat Carbon
Liner material: Titanium
Lock: Shark Lock
Closed length: 5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,000 (standard U.S.-made AD-20 starts at $450)
Maker: Andrew Demko (SharpByCoop image)

Bob Hook Linerlock Folder

Knife type: Linerlock folder
Blade length: 3.75”
Blade steel: Reptilian damascus by Vegas Forge
Blade grind: Flat
Scales: Caramelized musk ox
Bolster: Same material as blade
Closed length: 3 5/8”
Knife to know: Handle has detailed screws and liners; maker’s name in the interior; stud opener; the maker is an ABS journeyman smith
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200
Maker: Bob Hook (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Fallkniven GPbm

Knife model: GPbm
Blade length: 3.07”
Blade material: Laminated CoS (cobalt steel) stainless
Rockwell hardness: 60 HRC
Blade grind: Flat
Blade @ thickest: .11”
Lock: Linerlock
Weight: 3.3 ozs.
Closed length: 3.94”
Carry: Suede pouch
Knife to know: GPbm stands for Gentleman’s Pocketknife Black Micarta
Country of origin: Japan
MSRP: $327.95 at press-time exchange rate
Company: Fallkniven

Kershaw Livewire

Knife name: Livewire – Double Edge
Designers: Kershaw Originals and Matt Diskin
Knife type: Out-the-front automatic
Blade length: 3.45”
Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless
Rockwell hardness: 60-63 HRC
Blade @ thickest: .125”
Handle material: Textured 6061-T6 aluminum
Pocket clip: Deep carry, right/left, blade tip down w/black Cerakote® finish
Hardware: Black-oxide steel screws
Knife to know: Double-action (opens and retracts automatically w/sliding button)
Weight: 3.1 ozs.
Closed length: 4.8”
Country of origin: USA
MSRP: $400
Company: Kershaw

GiantMouse ACE Biblio XL

Knife name: ACE Biblio XL – Green Canvas
Blade length: 3.2”
Blade steel: Elmax stainless
Blade @ thickest: .138”
Blade finish: Stonewashed
Scales: Green canvas Micarta®
Lock: Linerlock
Pocket clip: Wire, reversible
Backspacers: Brass
Weight: 3.915 ozs.
Closed length: 4.375”
Country of origin: Italy
MSRP: $225
Company: GiantMouse

A Sharp Life with Bob Terzuola

Video series: A Sharp Life with Bob Terzuola
What’s included: 11 episodes start to finish of building one of BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Fame® member Bob Terzuola’s groundbreaking ATCF tactical folders, and also on knifemaking in general.
Knife to know: Buy the entire series alone or bundle it with Bob’s monthly subscription service, Shoptalk, the latter which includes weekly Q&A Zoom calls with Bob and two “deep dive” educational videos per month, “Terzuola Swag” and more.

Halfbreed Blades MILSPEC MILF-02PS

Knife name: MILSPEC MILF-02PS
Knife type: Flipper folder
Blade length: 3.54”
Blade steel: CPM S30V stainless
Rockwell hardness: 59-60 HRC
Blade grind: Hollow
Blade @ thickest: .19”
Blade style: Harpoon drop point
Finish: PVD coated throughout
Washers: Phosphor bronze
Handle frame, liner & spacers: 420J2 stainless
Scales: G-10
Pocket clip: Ambidextrous, blade tip up or down
Lock: Framelock
Weight: 7.34 ozs.
Closed length: 4.84”
Country of origin: Comprises Australian and Taiwanese manufacture
MSRP: $185 at press-time exchange rate
Company: Halfbreed Blades

Barking Gecko Forge Eureka Jack

Knife pattern: Eureka jack
Blade lengths: 2.44” (main) and 1.57” (pen)
Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless
Blade grinds: Hollow
Scales: Giraffe bone
Bolster: Fluted 416 stainless steel
Sharp stuff: Domed pins, fileworked liners and center spacer, jeweled liners and stainless steel shield; long-pull nail nick on main blade
Closed length: 3.54”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $795 at press-time rate of exchange
Maker: Barking Gecko Forge (Rod Hoare image)

Rothman Knives Elephant Toenail

Knife pattern: Elephant toenail
Blade length: 2”
Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless
Blade grind: 14” hollow
Handle frame: 416 stainless in an integral construction
Scales: Mammoth ivory
Knife to know: Fileworked liners; the elephant toenail is also known as a sunfish; the maker is a probationary member of The Knifemakers’ Guild
Closed length: 3.5”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200
Maker: Rothman Knives (SharpByCoop image)

Shane Taylor Linerlock Folder

Knife type: Linerlock folder
Blade length: 3”
Blade steel: Dragon damascus
Blade grind: Flat w/convex edge
Bolster: Same as blade
Scales: Mammoth ivory
Lock type: Linerlock
Backbar: Engraved
Closed length: 3.75”
Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,800
Knife to know: The maker is an ABS master smith
Maker: Shane Taylor, Miles City, Montana, [email protected], taylorknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)

Check Out More Knife Drops:

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The high-end integral folder gets a premium edition.

The James Brand has always been a design-led company, but their latest iteration of The Barnes pushes the pattern into a different tier of cutlery. While The Barnes has been defined by its integral construction, this newest version represents the most premium execution of that platform to date. As an integral design, the handle is CNC-machined from a single, solid billet of 6AL-4V titanium. By eliminating the traditional backspacer and scales in favor of a one-piece construction, the knife offers fewer moving parts, less maintenance, and a level of structural integrity that standard folders simply cannot match.

While the engineering is complex, the aesthetic remains strictly minimalist. The dark stonewashed titanium handle provides a clean, tactile grip that feels incredibly solid in the hand. This premium version of The Barnes steps away from standard stainless options to feature Damasteel DS93X Hakkapella. This material is a favorite among collectors for its striking pattern-welded look, but it is no safe queen; Damasteel is known for delivering world-class performance and durability that holds up to serious use.

The Barnes has long been known for a perfectly dialed-in detent and an action that feels like glass. This is thanks to the blade running on a stainless steel pivot supported by ceramic bearings. Deployment is handled via dual-sided thumb studs, making it accessible for a variety of opening styles and maintaining the symmetrical, clean lines the brand is known for.

The attention to detail extends to the carry system as well. The Barnes features a machined titanium pocket clip with a paint-filled Clovis detail and an integrated paracord lanyard. Despite its full-sized 3.5-inch drop point blade, the knife remains impressively light at just 4.6 ounces, making it an easy choice for a high-end daily carry.

Previous versions of The Barnes were already considered premium offerings at over $600, but this Damasteel integral version moves the needle significantly to $1,300. Designed in Portland, Ore., it represents the most technically advanced execution of their flagship folder—a style-conscious blend of high-end materials and architectural precision.

Barnes Titanium & Damasteel Specs
Blade Steel: Damasteel DS93X Hakkapella
Handle Material: One-piece Integral 6AL-4V Titanium
Lock Style: Integral frame-lock with hardened steel lockface insert
Blade Length: 3.5″
Overall Length: 7.8″
Weight: 4.6 oz
MSRP: $1,300

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