When the calendar flips over to a new year, the steel is sure to follow. Here are six factory folders debuting this year.
Spyderco Hanan
Brad Southard designed this 2.9-ounce folder named after the Hebrew word for “gracious gift.”
Here’s a spec illustration from Spyderco:
Spyderco Parata
Automotive engineer Paul Alexander designed this folder with a big-bellied, VG-10 blade.
The specs:
CRKT Raikiri
“When you want a sword, but need an EDC,” is how CRKT describes this latest addition to sport Field Strip tech.
- Blade Length: 3.759″ (95.48 mm)
- Blade Length: 3.759″ (95.48 mm)
- Blade Edge: Plain Edge
- Blade Steel: 1.4116 SS
- Blade Finish: Satin Finish
- Blade Thickness: 0.134″ (3.4 mm)
- Closed Length: 5.112″ (129.84 mm)
- Weight: 5.0 oz
- Handle: ADC12 Aluminium; Casting
- Style: Folding Knife w/Locking Liner
- Overall Length: 8.938″ (227.03 mm)
CRKT Offbeat
Originally designed in the 1970s by Pat and Wes Crawford, this creation makes its factory debut in 2018. True to its name, it sports the Crawford Lockback.
- Blade Length: 3.522″ (89.46 mm)
- Blade Edge: Plain Edge
- Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
- Blade Finish: Satin Finish
- Blade Thickness: 0.109″ (2.77 mm)
- Closed Length: 4.483″ (113.87 mm)
- Weight: 2.9 oz
- Handle: 2Cr13; Brush Finish
- Style: Folding Knife w/Lockback
- Overall Length: 8.0” (203.2 mm)
Benchmade Vector
The blue-class Vector offers something for flipper fans, but with the twist of Benchmade’s AXIS® Assist tech.
- Designer: Benchmade
- Mechanism: AXIS® Assist flipper
- Action: Assisted-opening
- Blade Length: 3.60″ (9.14cm)
- Blade Thickness: 0.100″ (2.540mm)
- Open Length: 8.42″ (21.39cm)
- Closed Length: 4.82″ (12.24cm)
- Blade Steel: CPM-S30V (58-60 HRC)
- Handle Thickness: 0.60″ (15.240mm)
- Weight: 4.11oz. (116.52g)
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Blade Finish/Color: Satin
- Blade Style/Shape: Spear-point
- Clip Type: Standard
- Clip Position: Tip-Up
- Glass Breaker: No
- Handle Material: Black Contoured G10
- Lanyard Hole: Yes
- MOLLE Compatible: No
- Sheath Type: No
Benchmade Foray
On the other end of the Benchmade spectrum, the gold-class Foray uses Damasteel and a mother of pearl inlay for an art knife feel with the heart of an EDC.
- Designer: Benchmade
- Mechanism: AXIS®
- Action: Manual-opening
- Blade Steel: Loki™ pattern Damasteel® (58-60 HRC)
- Blade Length: 3.22″ (8.18cm)
- Blade Thickness: 0.137″ (3.480mm)
- Overall Length: 7.34″ (18.64cm)
- Handle Thickness: 0.56″ (14.22mm)
- Weight: 3.46oz. (98.09g)
- Blade Edge: Plain
- Blade Finish/Color: Damasteel
- Blade Style/Shape: Drop-point
- Clip Type: Deep-Carry
- Clip Position: Tip-Up
- Glass Breaker: No
- Handle Material: Marbled carbon fiber
- Lanyard Hole: No
- MOLLE Compatible: No
- Sheath Type: No