Next year’s crop of new knives will be here soon, but BLADE is offering you a sneak peek before anyone else.
Bear OPS AC-500ROB4-B Automatic
Orange stands out on the Bear OPS AC-500ROB4-B automatic from Bear & Son Cutlery. The 3-inch modified tanto blade is Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel and operates via a button-lock system. The handle is orange and black G-10 and comes equipped with a window breaker, seatbelt cutter and reversible pocket clip. Weight: 4.4 ounces. Closed length: 4 7/8 inches. MSRP: $175.
Boker Plus Toro
A plethora of lines and curves engulf the Boker Plus Toro linerlock folder. The 3.38-inch blade is D2 tool steel and the handle is G-10 with a reversible pocket clip. Closed length: 4.5 inches. MSRP: $119.95. Available: Now.
DMT Diamond-Vee
The DMT Diamond-Vee sharpens knives with serrated, plain and curved edges, and does so at angles of 10, 15 and 20 degrees. To store the sharpening rods, open the handle and fold them inside it. Abrasive: Diamond coated. Width: 2.34 inches. Length: 6.25 inches. MSRP: $32.99. Available: Now.
Case Blue Bone Barlow
Rogers corn cob jigged blue bone highlights the Case Blue Bone Barlow. The 2.2-inch blade is Tru-Sharp Surgical Stainless—Case’s version of 420HC—and the shield design is laser engraved into the pocket-end bolster. Closed length: 3.375 inches. MSRP: $74.99. Available: January 2019.
ESEE Gibson Pinch
Designed by knifemaker James Gibson, the ESEE Gibson Pinch has a 1.3-inch blade of 1095 carbon steel in a stonewashed black oxide finish. Rockwell hardness: 55-57 HRC. The knife carries in an injection-molded sheath with an earth magnet and fits inside a survival tin. Maximum thickness: .13 inch. Weight: 1 ounce. Overall length: 3.4 inches. MSRP: $49.99. Available: Now.
Grand Prairie HME (Hunting Made Easy)
The HME (Hunting Made Easy) Razor Blade Folding Knife includes a clip-point and five replaceable gut-hook blades, all 3.5 inches long and of 420HC stainless in a black oxide coat. The linerlock folder has a Micarta® handle. Weight: 6.88 ounces. Closed length: 4.5 inches. MSRP: $29.99. Available: Now.
Emerson Wave Renegade
Part of the Overlander Series from Emerson Knives, Inc., the Renegade boasts a 3.6-inch blade of 154CM stainless with the Emerson Wave Shaped Feature and secures open via a titanium linerlock. Handle material: G-10. Closed length: 4.8 inches. MSRP: $254.95. Available: First quarter of 2019.
Kershaw Bareknuckle
The Bareknuckle offers a slimmed-down profile and upgraded material of an original Kershaw award-winning design. The 3.5-inch blade is Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel in a stonewashed finish, and the 6061-T6 aluminum handle is anodized and has an oversized pivot and reversible pocket clip. Closed length: 4.7 inches. MSRP: $109.99. Available: Now.
Hogue/Ritter RSK Mk1-G2 (Generation 2)
The RSK Mk1-G2 (Generation 2) is an upgraded version of the original RKS Mk1 introduced by Doug Ritter in 2004. Manufactured by Hogue Knives, it features a 3.4-inch flat-ground blade of M390 stainless steel that operates on an ambidextrous ABLE™ Lock, an “improved version of the patent-expired AXIS Lock.” The handle is a black G-10 composite.
Puma SGV Coyote
A 3.8-inch blade of 1.4116 German stainless steel in a Rockwell hardness of 55-57 HRC and a white smooth bone handle featuring a G-10 liner complete the Puma SGB Coyote. Weight: 4.5 ounces. Overall length: 8 inches. MSRP: $89.99. Available: Mid-December 2018.
Smith’s Campaign Tactical Knife
Known for its sharpeners, Smith’s joins the tactical folder parade with the Campaign Tactical Knife. The 2.78-inch modified tanto blade with ambidextrous thumb studs is 420 stainless in a black coat, and secures open via a linerlock. The G-10 handle comes in black, desert tan or OD green, and has a reversible pocket clip and a hole for a lanyard. Approximate closed length: 3.8 inches. MSRP: $24.99. Available: Now.
Smith’s PP1 Tactical Sharpener
The PP1 Tactical sharpener from Smith’s sports ceramic (fine) and carbide (coarse) sharpening slots, and a 320-grit diamond-coated sharpening rod for serrated blades. Available in black, desert tan and OD green, the G-10 handle covers a 420 stainless steel frame and includes a pocket clip, tungsten carbide glass breaker and lanyard hole. Weight: 3.7 ounces. Length: 4.15 inches. MSRP: $24.99. Available: now.
Krudo Karsino10 BA
A 3.4-inch blade of CPM S35VN stainless steel and a handle of titanium and carbon fiber distinguish the Karsino10 BA flipper from Krudo Knives. The framelock folder includes a thumb wedge on the blade spine for pocket deployment and a closed length of 4.75 inches. MSRP: $297. Available: January 2019.
WE Knife Arrakis
Designed by Elijah Isham, the Arrakis from WE Knife has a 3.45-inch blade of Bohler M390 stainless steel in a fl at grind and a Rockwell hardness of 59-61 HRC. Sporting skeletal construction throughout for lightweight (3 ounces), the framelock folder includes a 6Al4V titanium frame with carbon fiber inlay. Closed length: 4.55 inches. Available: January 2019.
TOPS Camp Creek
Each year TOPS President Leo Espinoza makes a knife for himself for hunting season, and the Camp Creek is it this time—and it’s TOPS’ first knife in CPM S35VN stainless blade steel to boot. Handle material: Camo G-10. Weight: 6.2 ounces. Blade and overall lengths: 4.38 and 9 inches. Sheath: Tan Kydex. MSRP: $220. Available: Now.
Zero Tolerance Model 0470
A marbled carbon fiber insert and a 3.4-inch blade of CPM 20CV stainless steel in a stonewashed and machine satin finish highlight the Zero Tolerance Model 0470. The titanium framelock includes a hardened steel lockbar insert and the company’s KVT opening system. Closed length: 4.4 inches. MSRP: $300. Available: Now.
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