BLADE Magazine

Cool Customs: Joe Mangiafico’s Trout Knives

Mangiafico trout knives

Joe Mangiafico said the handles of his trout knife trio are designed for an impressionistic look rather than to be biologically accurate. He has been making knives for eight years. He said Mangiafico is Italian for “figeater.” (SharpByCoop knife image)

Inspired By His Time Fly Fishing In The Pacific Northwest, Joe Mangiafico’s Trout Knives Are Durable, Eye-Catching Tools.

Joe Mangiafico’s trout knives not only are built to use but are cool and colorful to boot.

The 28-year-old Massachusetts maker acid etched the flat areas of the blades for a damascus look, yet it’s the handles and sheaths that really stand out. 

The grips are structural mosaics of G-10, brass, and copper. For instance, the blue haloed red center pins of the model with the green handle are inlaid plugs, and the brass pins are press fit and epoxied all the way through. He designed the Kydex sheaths with centered pocket clips to attach to your pocket or waders while fishing. The red-banded model is inspired by the redband trout Joe fly fishes for in the Deschutes River Valley of central Oregon.

Who Is Joe Mangiafico

Mangiafico began making knives while still a college student several years ago. Joe makes his knives in his shop in Cotuit, on the southern coast of Cape Cod. While the majority of his work is custom knives, he does have a factory collaboration with the German company Boker Knives. His Brook fixed blade is made from VG-10 steel and, like his trout knives, showcases his deft ability to craft an eye-popping handle. It retails for $156.95 and can be found on Boker’s website.

Trout Knife Specs
Model names: Brook Trout, Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout
Knife type: Trout knife
Blade lengths: 3 inches
Blade steel: Nitro V stainless
Blade grinds: Flat
Handle materials: G-10, copper and brass
Bolster materials: Brass, Micarta® and mokume gané
Overall lengths: 6.5 inches
Sheaths: Kydex
Maker’s price for similar knives: $375 each

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