Explore the CIVIVI Outlaw Muk folder, a tactical EDC interpretation of the classic Nessmuk pattern featuring a smooth flipper and secure button lock.
The Nessmuk knives have deep roots in American outdoor history, instantly recognizable for their unique, sweeping blade profile. This knife style was championed by 19th-century writer and early ultralight camping pioneer George Washington Sears, who wrote under the pen name Nessmuk.
Traditionally, this design is a fixed blade—a dependable, do-it-all camp knife known for its pronounced hump on the spine and generous belly, perfect for tasks from skinning to food prep. Now, designer Trey Sprinkle, from the YouTube channel Last American Outlaw, has tackled the challenge of translating this timeless, fixed-blade archetype into a modern, pocket-friendly folder. The CIVIVI Outlaw Muk is Sprinkle’s first production collaboration and a striking reimagining of a legend, built with a distinct, tactical attitude setting it apart from its historical inspiration.
The design embodies a rugged, tactical aesthetic that aligns perfectly with Sprinkle’s online persona. The traditional Nessmuk shape is narrowed, given more of a dramatic sweep, and is accented with a harpoon swedge near the tip, lending it a formidable appearance. This aggressive yet refined profile takes the basic geometry of the original and infuses it with a contemporary, hard-use look.
The most significant design departure, however, is the inclusion of modern folder mechanics. The Outlaw Muk utilizes a highly secure button lock mechanism. The lock has been engineered with a specific spring tension under the button, providing just enough resistance to prevent accidental engagement, yet remaining easy to release for effortless one-handed retraction. This combination of speed and safety makes the knife practical for continuous daily use where quick access is essential.
Outlaw Muk Materials
This smooth operation is coupled with a highly responsive pivot system. The knife features caged ceramic ball bearings, ensuring that deployment via the subtle rear flipper is consistently smooth and fast, a hallmark of CIVIVI’s knives.
For performance, the Outlaw Muk offers a 3.47-inch blade crafted from 14C28N stainless steel. This Scandinavian steel is well-regarded in the mid-range category for its excellent balance of edge retention, corrosion resistance, and ease of sharpening. While the blade size is modest compared to a traditional fixed-blade Nessmuk, its full belly and acute tip provide plenty of capability for cutting smaller foods, slicing through twine, or efficiently opening boxes and stubborn clamshell packaging.
Outlaw Muk Design
The handle maintains a subtle, ergonomic curve, which provides a comfortable and secure grip. It is fitted with full G10 scales, which are durable, moisture-resistant, and lightweight, contributing to the knife’s overall carry weight of just 3.74 ounces.
CIVIVI offers the knife in several colorways, including solid options like dark green or black, but the most distinctive variant features a striking black and white split pattern that offers a more refined, geometric look. The knife also includes a reversible, tip-up pocket clip, making it easily adaptable for both left- and right-handed users.
From its roots in 19th-century woodcraft to its execution with a button lock and modern 14C28N steel, the CIVIVI Outlaw Muk is a successful and intriguing blend of history and hard-use utility. It provides a unique option for those seeking a highly functional EDC knife that carries the attitude of a legendary outdoor pattern.
Jesse Harber and Coy Baker forecast the hottest damascus steel for ’26.
There’s something about predicting the future that has intrigued humanity for ages. If you could just somehow know which stocks would turn a profit, which crypto would “go to the moon,” or which numbers were coming in the PowerBall, you like to imagine that you could really take advantage. Thus far the ability to accurately predict the future has been a challenge, which begs the question—what damascus steels and patterns will be hot for 2026?
Jesse Harber of Vegas Forge doesn’t hesitate to jump right in.
“Our Reptilian pattern stayed hot in 2025,” he observes, “and it should continue to do well.” Vegas most often uses a combination of AEB-L, 440C and 302 stainless steels for contrast in its stainless billets. It prefers the combination of O1 tool, 1075 carbon and nickel-alloy steels for its carbon varieties.
Jake McCoy used Baker’s Zeus stainless damascus for the blade of his folder.
Twenty-twenty-five was a fun year for Vegas Forge. It was able to continue making the steel it loves, the steel most knife enthusiasts all love to use—and it still managed to find time to innovate.
Makers have been using EDM cutouts in canisters to make unique figures and shapes for some time now. Over the past few years, a few have experimented with 3D-printed shapes inside canisters for truly limitless possibilities. Vegas has taken a different approach of using smaller cutouts within canisters that are then layered into “regular” damascus. There are obviously other critical details of the process not mentioned here, but the end result is small shapes or logos within the layers of the steel, not just as a shape like the other canister types you usually see.
Hammering Away At Baker Forge & Tool
Coy Baker said Baker Forge & Tool is “really moving and shaking” for 2026, partly because of a new Chambersburg steam hammer converted to air. With a die surface of 6-by-14 inches and a 750-pound ram, the whole shop shakes when the hammer pounds on a giant billet. The hammer originally was used to make jib cranes for the Charlotte Railroad and runs on a 50-horsepower compressor with multiple 750-gallon air tanks. Coy stated he hasn’t pushed the hammer to its max, but said he thinks it can handle billets up to 35 pounds.
Baker’s Tsunami copper-mai steel is the material for the blade of a piece by Hans Molenkamp of Crimson Knife Co. (crimsonknives.com).
Why in the world would Baker Forge need such a giant hammer? Because the company, too, has been innovating and expanding into the production of stainless damascus. After two years of research and development and fine-tuning Baker’s processes for production, the prodigious pounder is finally up to speed. Baker prefers a combination of AEB-L and 154CM for its stainless damascus.
“The steel is really hard even when it’s hot,” Coy said. “Even with our 350-pound hammer it was like pounding on a rock.” The giant Chambersburg, on the other hand, moves a giant stainless billet with ease.
For those of you who don’t know, forging stainless damascus is quite a challenge, beyond the capability of many backyard smiths. Stainless steels contain high chromium, sometimes 12-to-15 percent, and chromium oxide doesn’t forge weld. Any oxygen at all in the forging environment and the welds simply will not stick. There are multiple ways to get around that, including inert gas purges and welding inside canisters. Add that to the fact that the stainless doesn’t like to move under the hammer and has only about a 100-degree-temperature window when you can safely work it, and you get a very difficult process.
Baker Forge & Tool’s Will Spears forges a billet of stainless damascus on the Chambersburg high-frame power hammer at Baker. Built in 1946, the power hammer has a 750-pound ram and weighs just shy of 11 tons. “It took us 14 months to install,” Coy Baker laughed. “The foundation for it is over 12 feet deep.”
Baker isn’t just producing stainless damascus in run-of-the-mill patterns, it is innovating. It has developed patterns it will use in its stainless steel exclusively, particularly one called Zeus.
Copper damascus has long been Baker’s hottest commodity, and it’s still producing it at high volume and quantity. The company is pushing the limits there as well and has developed a method to weld and manipulate copper on the end grain. While the technique is under wraps, the results will be broadcast far and wide: copper damascus in formerly unobtainable mosaic patterns. When clad over a monosteel or carbon damascus core, the patterns stretch the imagination of what’s possible.
Steel Industry Challenges
Both Baker and Harber mentioned challenges and areas for growth in the steel industry. Baker was the first to put BLADE® on the story about Buderus apparently closing its primary mill for 10xx series steels. Coupled with the recent closing of Crucible on the stainless side (see our article on Crucible Industries closing), both Baker and Harber have been exploring new steel options in case their mainstays become unavailable. Vegas in particular is moving toward more cores of Nitro-V and Elmax and moving away from MagnaCut and XHP.
Vegas Forge team member Franklin draws out a 40-pound canister of stainless Raindrop-pattern damascus on the company’s 5B Nazel hammer.
The hot new kid on the block is ProCut, the brainchild of a partnership between Larrin Thomas and Pop’s Knife Supply. Both Vegas and Baker are looking forward to pushing the limits of ProCut. As a high-alloy steel, when combined with Apex Ultra, the maker achieves high performance out of what looks like “ordinary” 1084/15N20 damascus. If you think of the difference in performance between 1084 and 52100 carbon steels, you’re on the right track. Baker Forge is currently in the lead on the ProCut “arms race” but Vegas Forge has steel in hand and is ready to go.
What fun new things can we expect in the world of damascus in 2026? Vegas Forge is entertaining a few recent orders that sound interesting. There’s a maker in Alaska using Vegas material to make high-end custom ice skates, and another customer using the company’s material to make stainless damascus computer keyboards. Who’d a thunk it? For those who enjoy a good picture show, Vegas has another top-secret project in the works. Think aliens with amazing damascus weapons and tools and you’re on the right track.
Take two leaders in the field like Baker and Vegas, factor in the demand for their top steels and add lots of innovation, and you get the makings of a really great year to come in the world of damascus.
The CRKT Xolotl OTF take the original fixed-blade design a step further.
The CRKT Xolotl OTF automatic knife is the latest evolution of a design that shoots to blend ancient mythological inspiration with modern, high-performance tactical engineering. Named after the Aztec deity of fire, lightning and the guide of souls to the afterlife, the Xolotl is the creation of veteran and former Green Beret Michael Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s accomplished background—which includes graduating at the top of the Irish Army Ranger Wing Sniper Course and serving as an advisor to President George W. Bush—lends a specific, mission-driven philosophy to his knife designs. This experience is the foundation of his participation in CRKT’s Forged by War program, which enlists real-life combat veterans to apply their knowledge to a line of specialty, mission-ready knives and tools.
CRKT Xolotl OTF is a slick and functional auto that fits into the line well.
The Xolotl design originated as a fixed-blade knife, which established the pattern’s key features: a clean, stunning aesthetic featuring a spear-point blade with a double-edged dagger grind. The fixed-blade version was designed for durability and high-performance, featuring specialized Veff Serrations for powerful rope-cutting capability, and came with a versatile sheath that allowed for multiple mounting options.
This fixed-blade concept has now been translated into an out-the-front (OTF) automatic. The new Xolotl OTF maintains the high standard for materials and capability, engineered for the demands of today’s operator.
The knife is manufactured in the USA and utilizes a smooth, dual-action OTF mechanism for crisp, decisive deployment and retraction. It features a 3.5-inch spear-point blade ground on both edges for maximum cutting efficiency. The blade steel is MagnaCut, which was selected for its superior combination of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance—qualities essential for a reliable modern tactical tool.
Made from Magnacut steel, the Xolotl blade keeps a good edge.
While the engineering is purely modern, the aesthetics carry the historical weight of the Xolotl deity. The aluminum handle is sculpted with skeletal details that reference the Aztec namesake. A deeply personal feature of the design is the 21 sculpted ribs along the grip, which were incorporated by Rodriguez to symbolize each of his years of military service. The handle’s ergonomics and theme are completed by a unique, sternum-shaped reversible pocket clip, ensuring the knife carries securely for both left- and right-handed users.
The Xolotl OTF, with an MSRP of $325, contributes to the larger mission of the Forged by War program. A portion of the profits from the knife is directed toward Michael Rodriguez’s charity of choice: the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation. The final product—an 8.88-inch overall knife weighing just 3.2 ounces—is a successful fusion of myth, military experience, and high-quality construction.
Xolotl OTF Specs
BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” OVERALL LENGTH: 8.88” BLADE MATERIAL: MagnaCut HANDLE MATERIAL: Aluminum LOCK and/or OPERATING MECHANISM: Dual action out-the-front WEIGHT: 3.2 oz. SPECIAL FEATURES: Made in the USA; MagnaCut spear point blade with two sharpened edges; Double action OTF blade deploys and retracts quickly; Adjustable clip for left or righthand carry. MSRP: $325
Read our full report on what the Buderus closure means for knifemakers, Damascus production, and company inventory.
Once when he was ill, Mark Twain famously quipped that “rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” October 2025 brought troubling rumors to the knife industry regarding the potential closing of a major steel mill owned by Buderus Edelstahl.
Based in Wetzlar, Germany, Buderus is a major producer of 10xx series steels, including 1075, 1084, 1095 and 15N20, that are purchased through various suppliers. The company was founded in March 1731 and began steel production in April 1920. It has changed ownership several times, including being purchased from Bohler-Uddeholm by Voestalpine. Voestalpine sold the company to the German investment company Mutares in 2025.
BLADE® reached out to knife industry steel authorities for comment.
Dr. Larrin Thomas reported that he had spoken directly to two different Buderus employees.
“We have been hearing conflicting reports about whether the [Buderus] hot and cold mills are being shut down,” he wrote in an e-mail. “Regardless, things are a bit too murky right now to say much definitively.”
Carbon steel 1095 is the material of choice for the 6.5-inch blade of the Modern Gladius by TOPS knives.
If the rumors inside the Buderus workplace match the ones inside most large workplaces, there’s a good chance that conflicting perspectives and speculation are flying around everywhere. It could be difficult to get to the actual facts, even directly from mill employees. However, Larrin remained hopeful.
An email obtained from steel supplier New Jersey Steel Baron (NJSB) was less hopeful. This past October, NJSB officials notified their intermediaries that the Buderus mill was closing at the end of the month. The email stated, “We are writing to inform you that as of October 31, 2025, Buderus Edelstahl, one of our primary vendors, will be ceasing its rolling operations. This marks the end of a fifteen-year partnership for NJ Steel Baron, and we anticipate it will significantly impact the bladesmithing, blacksmithing, and cutlery industries. We have already begun to pivot our production to new vendors and source new alloys to ensure our inventory remains robust.”
A story on n-tv.de, an online news platform based in Germany, carried the headline “Buderus Edelstahl steel is broken up—hundreds of jobs affected.” The story reported that, “The company’s steel mill … is to be closed by the end of October, Mutares announced.”
NJSB’s Peter Bruno took the news hard, saying “I’m going to have to spend some time in the woods thinking about it.”
In the NJSB press release he stated, “This has been more than a vendor relationship; it’s been a cornerstone of our steel program. Buderus has consistently delivered high-performance German steel that’s fueled makers, machinists, manufacturers, and craftsmen throughout the world. Losing this supply chain is a hard hit, not just for us, but for the entire industry.”
Paul DiStefano opts for 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy blade steels for the damascus pattern configured to appear as what an animal might see if looking at a stalking tiger through a bamboo forest. Overall length: 19 inches. (pauldistefanoknives.com) (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Beyond the pure shock of losing its main supplier, NJSB is developing a plan. It has a good amount of steel on hand and is buying all the remaining Buderus stock it can. NJSB also has reached out to its customers and is selling steel by the pallet to ensure customers have at least short-term reliable access to the steel they need for ongoing orders.
“While we’re actively working to develop new sources and mill partnerships, the shift won’t be immediate, and some grades may remain out of reach for a while. Some alloys may not return anytime soon, if at all,” Bruno noted. “Once supplies run out, that may be the end of the line in some cases.”
Company Responses
The 10xx series steels are used by several knife manufacturers and importers for their hunting, outdoor, tactical and other utility-type knives. Some of those companies include Condor Tool & Knife, ESEE, KA-BAR, Utica, the previously mentioned TOPS and White River Knife & Tool. Some of the foregoing deal with Buderus and some do not. The 10xx series steels are also widely used by custom knifemakers for damascus and straight carbon knives.
The K-Night Panabas from Condor Tool & Knife boasts a 14.29-inch blade of convex-ground 1075 carbon steel.
Mike Olen, director of sales at Condor Tool & Knife, said Condor was not sourcing any steel through Buderus.
“For the 1075 and 1095 steels, we get them from a variety of vendors, mostly Europe and Asia based,” he noted. “I’m not sure exactly, but I know a lot of our steels have been coming from German and South Korean companies lately. We do the heat treatment in house, so it opens up more options for us when sourcing the raw materials.”
“KA-BAR has had a long relationship with Buderus,” wrote KA-BAR’s director of sales and marketing, Joe Bradley, though he added any potential closure of the Buderus steelworks would not affect KA-BAR immediately.
Powell said TOPS gets its steel from a leading distributor, though it was unclear at press time whether that distributor used Buderus as a source or not. At press time, he said TOPS was fine in terms of its supply of 10xx series steels, though the company likely will start stockpiling the steels in case of any shortages.
Suppy Alternative
Jantz Supply is a leading source of 10xx series steels for custom knifemakers and others. Jantz’s Shanna Kemp indicated her company maintains various sources of the steels and as a result does not expect supply delays.
A damascus of 1084, 15N20 and copper forged by Baker Forge & Tool comprises the 3.25-inch blade of Stephen Roney’s linerlock folder. ([email protected]) (Jocelyn Frasier image)
“We don’t expect any disruption from the Buderus mill closure,” Shanna wrote. “Jantz has strong relationships with multiple mills, so makers can count on us for steady access to the high-carbon steels they rely on. Our commitment to providing reliable, high-quality materials for knifemakers will not change.
“We have long-standing relationships with multiple steel mills and distributors worldwide. The majority of our 10xx series high-carbon steels come from reputable suppliers in the United States and Germany. This diversified supply chain ensures consistent quality and availability for our customers.”
In fact, Shanna said Buderus is but one of a number of producers of 10xx series steels.
“I don’t know the exact quantity of 10xx series steels the Buderus mill produced. However, they were one of several manufacturers worldwide,” she noted. “The 10xx series is a widely produced grade family, and multiple mills continue to make these steels. While the Buderus mill was a respected supplier, their closure does not significantly impact global availability.
The Junglas ESEE checks in with an 8.38-inch blade of 1095 in a textured powder-coat finish.
“Several mills and processors around the world continue to produce 10xx series steels. While the Buderus mill was a respected manufacturer, these grades are not unique to any single producer. The market has ample capacity to absorb the change, and we don’t anticipate any long-term supply issues.”
Past Is Prologue
If all this sounds a bit familiar, Crucible Steel went through a similar process of bankruptcy and acquisition at the beginning of this year. Owners of the familiar CPM (Crucible Particle Metallurgy) trademarks for MagnaCut and others, Crucible was a major force in the knife industry. Eventually it restructured and cut its research and development division. Ultimately even the restructured company failed and was sold in parts to Erasteel of Europe and an American company, Lauter. Erasteel continues to produce steel of the same compositions with the same names, as it purchased Crucible’s intellectual property. Lauter owns the former Crucible factory and has begun hiring for its specialty business of manufacturing screws and fasteners.
The Crucible situation had some impact on the knife steel business. Dr. Larrin Thomas sat down with Bob Shabala of Niagara Specialty Metals in May for a conversation about the transition. Niagara is the primary rolling mill that served the knife industry in taking Crucible steels from 3,000-pound billets down to workable sizes. Bob explained that Crucible was one of Niagara’s biggest customers, but that it also was up front with its struggles. Consequently, Niagara was well stocked in CPM steels by the time Crucible folded.
The Tick from TOPS Knives sports a 3-inch blade in 1095 carbon steel with a Tungsten Cerakote® finish.
Niagara also works with Erasteel and Carpenter, both of whom have the technology to produce steels of the same composition. Steel from Erasteel will retain the CPM trademarked names. Other versions of the same alloys rolled by Niagara will have new names for the steels the industry has used for years. Niagara officials predicted some disruptions because of panic buying as Crucible closed, but they also think business will return to “full speed ahead” for production of the knife steels in the former CPM formulations. Larrin indicated that Magna-Cut will survive and continue to be produced without disruption.
What’s Next
The steel industry has been challenged for many years, with more bankruptcies than start-up companies. To complicate things further, the steel the knife industry uses and needs is only a very small and specialized portion of a global steel industry that includes structural steel, automotive and more. With insatiable demand worldwide, the knife industry’s little corner of the market doesn’t get much attention. On top of that, steel production takes an enormous amount of energy, and with all the green and climate change talk of recent years, no one seems to be lining up to build anything but AI data centers at the moment.
Chad Jefferson chose 1080 and 15N20 to forge into a ladder W’s pattern for the 7-inch blade of his gyuto. ([email protected]) (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Like the transition away from Crucible, the probable transition away from Buderus will no doubt cause some industry disruptions. For now, knifemakers can hope that rumors of the death of the Buderus mill remain greatly exaggerated—or at least, as with Crucible, its reincarnation is on the horizon. Will some other company buy the Buderus mill? Will, like Niagara, some other supplier step in the gap left by the closure? Will someone in the market feel the void and fill it? Time will tell, but for now, the best advice seems to be for knife companies and makers to buy the 10xx series steels while they can.
Editor’s Note:Blade Magazine Staff contributed to this report.
The Alox Refined Collection gives Victorinox’s classic design a modern twist.
As steady as the flow of an Alps glacier, Victorinox doesn’t veer far from its design fundamentals. It’s served the Swiss company well, given the Swiss Army Knife might be among the most recognizable tools in the world. In turn, when the iconic company tweaks its legendary pocketknives, it’s worth taking note.
Hence, the Alox Refined Collection deserves consideration—even if you aren’t a diehard collector of Victorinox.
More than anything, it appears Victorinox is modernizing the aesthetics of its knives with the three-knife line. Alox—aluminum scale—has been around for some time, but never quite in the guise it appears in the Refined Collection. The knifemaker has also attempted to improve the function of the series with the addition of a feature that has become almost a must-have on modern pocketknives—a pocket clip.
As to the looks of the Refined Collection, it’s solid, catching the classic SAK up to current sensibilities without veering from Victorinox’s winning formula. The scale has a sleek brushed finish, the texturing runs in a saddle near the spine and it features multiple cutouts. The last feature I like, given it gives a peek into the knives’ locking mechanisms and adds character. On the flip side, I get a bit clutchy on exposing these to the environment and fouling.
On the topic of lockup, the main blade has a locking leaf on all three models, potentially making it fit for more robust duty—at least fit for duties that could potentially close a slipjoint lock. As for the clip, it blends in with the curve of the knives’ end and is riveted onto the scale, so there’s no playing with how it’s carried. This shouldn’t be an issue, given blade deployment is still via a nail nick. The three models of the Refined Collection offer different tiers of tools, with the OneFold Alox offering a single blade, the Synergy Alox four tools and the Synergy X Alox five tools. The price tag on the series runs from $56 for the OneFold to $96 for the Synergy X.
Onto the differences in the models themselves. The OneFold is super simple, with the blade being the only tool present. The Synergy is the middle-tier model, with a considerable expansion to its toolbelt: in addition to the blade, it has the nail file/narrow driver, bottle opener/flat head driver and a new box opener tool that appears to be exclusive to the Refined Collection. Finally, we have the Synergy X which, if you know your Victorinox nomenclature, you will understand to have a pair of spring-loaded scissors in addition to the standard Synergy tool suite.
Synergy X Alox Specs
Tools: Blade, large / Scissors / Box Opener / Screwdriver 3 mm / Nail file / Nail cleaner / Bottle opener / Screwdriver 7 mm / Wire stripper / Carry clip Height: 0.8 in Length: 3.7 in Width: 0.9 in Weight: 3.5 oz Country of origin: Switzerland Blade lockable: Yes One hand blade: No No. of features: 10 MSRP: $96
Synergy Alox Specs
Tools: Blade, large / Box Opener / Screwdriver 3 mm / Nail file / Nail cleaner / Bottle opener / Screwdriver 7 mm / Wire stripper / Carry clip Height: 0.7 in Length: 3.7 in Width: 0.9 in Weight: 2.7 oz Country of origin: Switzerland Blade lockable: Yes One hand blade: No No. of features: 9 MSRP: $78
Onefold Alox Specs
Tools: Blade, large / Carry clip Height: 0.6 in Length: 3.7 in Width: 0.9 in Weight: 1.9 oz Country of origin: Switzerland Blade lockable: Yes One hand blade: No No. of features: 2 MSRP: $56
Explore the world of custom kitchen knives! See award-winning Chef’s Knives, Gyutos, and more, forged with exotic Damascus and unique handle materials.
The art of knifemaking has officially stepped into the culinary arena, elevating daily prep into a true performance. This collection features some of the world’s most refined kitchen cutlery—from award-winning Gyutos and Nakiris to specialized Chef’s and Paring knives—each forged by today’s top custom makers. We’re showcasing a stunning array of blades that blend high-performance steel, such as Copper-clad 1084 and Aogami Super cores, with breathtaking handle materials like stabilized exotic burls, copper mesh resin, and mosaic damascus. These tools are built for precision and designed for prestige.
Joel Eckford Kitchen Knife
Blade length: 8.3” Blade material: Copper-clad 1084 carbon steel forged by Dane Standen Knives Blade grind: Flat BLADE COAT: Dane Standen brutalist copper clad 1084 finish Scales: Copper mesh in resin w/copper spacers Overall length: 12.8” Knife to know: The maker is a probationary member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact maker for pricing Maker: Signal One Forge, Joel Eckford (Rod Hoare image)
Evan Davis K-Tip Petty Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 7.5” Overall length: 12.5” Blade material: 52100 carbon steel Blade grind: Convex Scales: Curly narra and ivory G-10 Maker’s price for a similar knife: $700 Maker: Evan Davis (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Kevin Korenek Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 8.75” Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels forged by Jeff Waggenar Damascus: Flower pattern Blade grind: Flat Scales: Blackwood amboyna/acrylic composite by Randy McBurrney Overall length: 14.75” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,175 Maker: Kevin Korenek (SharpByCoop image)
Paul Elkins Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 9.25” Blade material: 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Blade grind: Convex Scales: Dyed curly mango Overall length: 14.5” Knife to know: Integral bolster construction; the knife won the Texas Select 2025 Custom Cutlery Event’s Best Culinary Award Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,000 Maker: Paul Elkins (SharpByCoop image)
Cordina Customs Signature Series Gyuto
Blade length: 9.3” Blade material: Aogami Super core, nickel and wrought iron forged by Oblivion Blades Blade thickness @ricasso: .14” Blade @widest: 1.9” Blade grind: Compound bevel Scales: Western myall wood Spacer: Hand-stippled bronze w/heirloom fit Bolster: Stabilized ebony Overall length: 15.4” Knife to know: Cordina’s Signature Series Gyuto won Best Kitchen Knife at the 2025 Australian Knifemakers Guild Melbourne Knife Show Maker’s price for a similar knife: $700 at press-time exchange rate Maker: Cordina Customs (Rod Hoare image)
Mazieres FrancoisParing knife
Blade length: 5” Blade material: 150 pattern-welded layers of 1084 and 1075 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels embossed using chevron dies for the final pattern Blade grind: Flat Construction: Hidden tang Scales: Stabilized South Australian ringed Western myall wood shaped as a composite Western/cowboy style handle; G-10 and 410 stainless spacers Bolsters: Scalloped, pinned and soldered 416 stainless steel Overall length: 10” Knife to know: The maker’s paring knife won for Best Chef’s Knife at the 2025 Perth Knife Show; the maker is a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild and a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker’s price for a similar knife: $325 at press-time exchange rate Maker: YANDIWA, Mazieres Francois https://www.Yandiwa.com.au (Rod Hoare image)
Jon McQuillanKitchen Knife
Blade length: 9” Blade material: 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Damascus pattern: Mosaic Explosion Scales: Tasmanian blackwood and turquoise cast w/bronze Bolster: Muskox horn Overall length: 13.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $2,000 Maker: McQuillan Custom Works, Jon McQuillan j.mcquillan.com (SharpByCoop image)
Dan TompkinsCoppermascus Nakiri
Blade length: 8.5” Blade material: Baker Forge & Tool coppermascus Blade grind: Slight convex Scales: Amboyna burl Bolster: G-10/copper Overall length: 13” Knife to know: Heirloom fit; patinaed copper Maker’s price for a similar piece: $1,700 Maker: Evolution Cutlery, Dan Tompkins, evolutioncutleryllc.com (SharpByCoop image)
Joey Dello Russo Santoku
Blade length: 9” Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon steel and pure nickel Blade grind: Flat convex Handle: Richlite Bolster: Nickel silver Overall length: 13.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $600 Knife to know: The maker is an ABS apprentice smith Maker: Joey Dello Russo, imperialcustomworks.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
BCK Knives Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 8” Blade material: A multi-layered X-mai damascus of 8670 and 80CrV2 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels, nickel silver and copper Blade grind: Flat Handle: Stabilized box elder burl dyed black Spacer/bolster: McLaren carbon fiber Overall length: 12.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200 Maker: BCK Knives (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Kyle Daily Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 8” Blade steel: CPM 154 stainless Blade grind: Flat Handle: Old Glory Limitless Grip-Tec w/red/white/blue G-10 Overall length: 13” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $500 Maker: Kyle Daily khdailyknives.com (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Matt Williams Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 9.5” Blade material: 400-layer Lace-pattern damascus san-mai w/a 1084 carbon steel core Blade grind: Flat Scales: Mesquite and silver and black acrylic Overall length: 14.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $800 Maker: Matt Williams, lasterdaywoodworks.com (SharpByCoop image)
The story of a prototype Airman and a Marine pioneer.
Editor’s note: The author contacted BLADE® and asked if we would be interested in his story on a special Marine Corps knife and a special Marine to coincide with the semi-quincentennial of the United States Marine Corps. Needless to say, it was an easy decision on our part. Meanwhile, please join us in wishing a happy 250th birthday to the Corps and Marines everywhere.
The core values of honor, courage and commitment have defined the United States Marine Corps since its inception on Nov. 10, 1775. To remain an elite fighting force, the Marine Corps has adapted as the world has changed over the past 250 years, incorporating new technology and developing new doctrine.
One of the most significant transformations began with the birth of Marine Corps aviation in 1912. During World War II, Marine aviators played a vital role in the Pacific campaign, working closely with ground units to seize heavily defended island strongholds. As Gen. Keith B. McCutcheon, a pioneer of Marine aviation, later emphasized, “The Marine Corps is proud of the fact that it is a force of combined arms, and it jealously guards the integrity of its air-ground team.”
The mark and non-mark sides of a prototype Airman.
The evolution of air combat brought new challenges, challenges that extended even to the knives that aviators carried. One result was a collaboration between Marine aviators and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Walter D. “Bo” Randall, who would redefine survival and combat knives with the now-iconic Randall Model 15. This article features one of Randall’s prototypes—a rugged, full-tang Airman’s Knife that was carried for more than 15 years by Gen. McCutcheon himself.
The Challenge
Marine aviators amassed extensive combat experience in World War II and Korea. By 1953, the Marine Corps recognized that the rigors of combat aviation demanded a new type of knife—one that was rugged, compact and versatile.
As documented by Randall historian Robert Gaddis, the Marine Corps Equipment Board assigned Lt. Col. H. Ross Jordan and Maj. Harold N. “Tex” Mehaffey to develop a survival and combat knife for Marine aviators. The knife had to be nearly indestructible—strong enough for an airman to pry, cut or smash his way out of a downed aircraft. At the same time, it had to be short enough to be worn in a cramped cockpit, and the sheath needed to allow the knife to be carried on the upper arm or lower leg.
Wearing his sheathed Randall Model 15 Airman on his left hip, United States Marine Corps Gen. Keith McCutcheon (center) is flanked by South Vietnamese Gen. Hoang Xuan Lam, Commander of I Corps, and USMC Gen. Edwin B. Wheeler (right), commanding general of the 1st Marine Division. (image of McCutcheon, Lam and Wheeler from somewhere near Da Nang, Vietnam, March 16, 1970)
After reading a December 1953 magazine article about Bo and his expertly crafted blades, Mehaffey and Jordan arranged to tour his knife shop in Orlando on Feb. 11-12, 1954. By the end of their fruitful discussion on February 12, Bo had arrived at the basic design of the Randall Airman’s Knife. He also planned a longer-bladed version for ground troops, a design that would become the Randall Attack. Thus, this meeting launched the line of full-tang Randall models that would expand and evolve over the coming years.
Bo moved rapidly to fabricate prototypes that embodied his innovative design. The 5.5-inch blade would be forged from quarter-inch-thick O1 tool steel, a material that had been proven in earlier Randall combat knives. To strengthen the tip, the blade would retain the full quarter-inch thickness nearly to the point. To strengthen the junction between blade and the handle, the tang would be 7/8-inch wide along the entire grip. An extended segment of the tang would have a hole for a wrist thong and provide a surface that could be used for hammering. A heavy double hilt would prevent a gloved hand from slipping forward onto the blade. The handle would be made from a single piece of Tenite plastic, shaped with finger grips and a channel to snugly fit the tang. Stainless steel bolts would secure the handle.
To complete the package, Randall designed a sheath that could be worn on a belt, attached to a harness, or tied to the lower leg or upper arm with leather laces. It featured a diagonal keeper and rivets at stress points. The Randall shop completed the prototypes of the Airman’s Knife and the longer Attack Knife by the end of February 1954—barely more than two weeks after the formative design discussion—and Clarence Moore readied the sheaths soon after.
Three-star Gen. Keith McCutcheon, February 1970
The innovative features of the new knife and sheath designs were memorialized on certified blueprints on March 4, 1954. Randall filed a patent application on Aug. 11, 1954, and the United States Patent Office granted patent 177,590 for the Randall Airman’s Knife on May 1, 1956.
Prototype Testing
With prototypes in hand, Randall travelled to Quantico, Virginia in mid-March 1954 to present the new full-tang knives to Mehaffey, Jordan and other USMC and U.S. Navy officers. The group enthusiastically recommended that the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics purchase 10 prototype Airman’s Knives for evaluation: five from quarter-inch stock according to the original design, and five lighter examples from 3/16-inch stock.
The requisition arrived in early April 1954 and the shop shipped the 10 prototypes in early May. The invoice listed the Airman’s Knife as the #14, but later that month Randall adopted the still-current model numbers: the Airman became the Model 15, and the longer version became the Model 14 Attack.
The Marine Corps Equipment Board received two of the prototypes, one of each blade thickness, and the remaining eight were sent to squadrons and other units for real-world testing. In late May, Mehaffey informed Bo that preliminary testing had begun.
One of the original Randall prototypes is featured in the accompanying photographs. Made from quarter-inch steel, as indicated by the inscription on the handle, the prototype closely follows Bo’s patented design, except the blade lacks the fuller shown in the drawing. As in the original design, the prototype’s handle is secured by three bolts; this feature sets the prototype apart from later production examples of the Model 15, in which only two bolts were used.
Leatherworker Clarence Moore made the sheath for the prototype Airman according to Bo Randall’s design. Moore made the sheaths for the earliest full-tang knives until Heiser took over production in 1955.
The handle is made from white Tenite, a material used only for a year or so before Randall adopted the more familiar green Tenite that was characteristic of production for nearly 10 years, until Randall Made replaced Tenite with Micarta® in the mid-1960s. The prototype’s hilt is nickel silver in contrast to the brass hilts seen on almost all Model 15s with Tenite handles. The sheath was made according to Bo’s design by master leatherworker Clarence Moore, who made sheaths for the earliest full-tang knives until Heiser took over production in 1955.
After more than 70 years, the knife and sheath are in outstanding condition—a testament to Randall’s craftsmanship and superb design.
Project Setbacks
Despite starting with such promise, the project faltered in the summer of 1954 when Mehaffey was transferred for duty in France and Jordan retired. The departure of the two enthusiastic advocates delayed testing and communications. The next official update was in December 1954, when Bo heard that testing had been underway for two months with positive feedback. In April 1955, the United States Air Force also ordered a group of Model 15s for evaluation. Bo wrote again to the USMC in June 1955 but heard nothing further from the Marines or the Air Force.
Although Randall was never officially informed of the results, author Frank Trzaska uncovered a September 1955 testing report in the USMC archives. The report was authored by USMC Maj. Norman W. Gourley, who had succeeded Mehaffey. Extensive testing of the Randall Airman prototypes showed that the quarter-inch-thick version (i.e., Bo’s original design) was “suitable for aviators’ survival use.”
SONY DSCAfter a fruitful meeting on Feb. 12, 1954 with USMC Maj. Harold N. “Tex” Mehaffey and Lt. Col. H. Ross Jordan, Bo Randall had arrived at the basic design of the Randall Airman’s Knife (top). Bo also planned a longer-bladed version for ground troops, a design that would become the Randall Model 14 Attack (one from 1955 is shown at bottom). The meeting launched the line of full-tang Randall models that would expand and evolve over the coming years.
The report, which pictures this story’s featured prototype, notes the high quality of the design, materials and workmanship of the Randall knife and sheath and concludes that it is acceptable for extreme survival tasks. The report also noted potential changes that would improve the knife further, such as the addition of saw teeth, a flat butt surface for hammering, and different handle configurations. Bo independently incorporated most of these features in various full-tang Randall models by the mid-1960s, and presumably he would have made the changes sooner if the request had ever been made.
While the tests of the Randall Airman were underway, the Navy adopted the Imperial Pilot Survival Knife for its aviators. Because the Marine Corps operates as part of the Department of the Navy, this surely complicated any attempt by the Marines to adopt a different design. The Randall Airman was never issued by the military, but Bo added the Model 14 Attack and the Model 15 Airman to the new Randall catalog printed in 1954, which showed prototypes of both models as “patent pending.” As envisioned by Bo and the Marine aviators who helped to shape the design, Randall’s full-tang combat and survival knives were embraced by many American servicemen who purchased them privately, especially during the Vietnam War.
Pioneer & His Prototype
One Marine who had a high opinion of the Randall Airman was aviation pioneer Keith B. McCutcheon, who as a colonel served as Chief, Air Section, Marine Corps Equipment Board from June 1954 to July 1957. After the Randall Airman tests concluded, McCutcheon carried the quarter-inch prototype for the rest of his career.
An attack helicopter warms up in the background as Gen. McCutcheon surveys the situation six miles southwest of Da Nang, March 17, 1970, his trusty Randall Model 15 Airman sheathed at his side. At left is Gen. Edwin B. Wheeler.
In January 1966, while commanding the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in Da Nang, Vietnam, then-Brig. Gen. McCutcheon wrote that the Airman was a “wonderful knife” that he had carried for “10 or 11 years.” Photographs from 1970 show McCutcheon wearing the knife when he returned to Da Nang as a lieutenant general and commander of the III Marine Amphibious Force (III MAF).
Commissioned as a Marine 2nd lieutenant in 1937, McCutcheon was a brilliant, courageous leader who transformed Marine aviation over the course of his illustrious 34-year career. Gen. Earl Anderson said McCutcheon “was one of the finest and most dedicated Marine officers [whose career] reads like a history of Marine Aviation. He earned his wings as an aviator in 1940 and served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.”
McCutcheon was instrumental in integrating helicopters into Marine operations, and has been called “the Father of Marine Helicopters.” But, as historian William Fails observed, that title does not capture McCutcheon’s central contributions to numerous other areas. He also advanced close air support doctrine and techniques, guided missile systems, and the AV-8 Harrier jump jet. McCutcheon was also an effective leader of ground operations, launching successful operations as commander of III MAF.
For his exemplary service over 34 years, McCutcheon received many of the nation’s highest military decorations, including three Distinguished Service Medals, the Silver Star Medal, three Legions of Merit with Combat “V,” the Distinguished Flying Cross, 10 Air Medals and others. He was appointed to become the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps but was unable to assume the post because of failing health. He retired as a four-star general on July 1, 1971, and passed away from an illness soon after.
Enduring Legacy
On the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps, it is fitting to honor the legacy of Gen. Keith B. McCutcheon, an extraordinary leader who helped shape the modern Marine Corps. McCutcheon’s prototype Randall Airman remains as a tangible link to his many accomplishments and to the connection between the Marine Corps and Randall Made Knives.
Sources
William R. Fails. 1978. “Marines and Helicopters 1962-1973.” History and Museums Division, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps. Robert L. Gaddis. 1993. “Randall Made Knives: The History of the Man and the Blades” Paladin Press. James Anthony Ginther, Jr. 1999. “Keith Barr McCutcheon: Integrating Aviation into the United States Marine Corps, 1937-1971.” Doctoral Dissertation, Texas Tech University. Norman W. Gourley. 1955. Marine Corps Equipment Board report A9-E-1039 on Project E-1039. Frank Trzaska. 2001. “Randall’s Model 15 & the U.S.M.C.” February 2001 Knife World.
