Fantastic custom and factory fixed blades just hitting the market.
There’s just something about a solid fixed blade knife. At once, these knives are simple yet elegant—especially when crafted by a master. We’ve scoured the globe—or at least three continents—to bring you a dozen excellent fixed specimens. They range from fillet knives to fighters and everything in between, and each is certain to induce the expansion of wish lists.
Jeremy Yelle Fighter
Blade length: 7.5” Blade material: Feather damascus forged of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Blade grind: Convex w/an unsharpened clip Handle material: Stag Furniture: Blackened 416 stainless steel Knife to know: Jeremy Yelle is a journeyman smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,700 Maker:Jeremy Yelle (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Nate Carper Custom Knives Acid Rain
Blade length: 7.25” Blade material: “I call this my Acid Rain pattern. I made a seven-layered billet using an 80CrV2 carbon steel core, 1084 carbon steel for the next two layers, nickel shim for two layers and followed up with 300 layers of a Raindrop pattern on the outside.” Blade grind: Full flat w/a tapered tang and distal taper Handle material: Dyed and stabilized maple secured w/Loveless bolts Overall length: 12” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact Nate Carper for more information Maker: Nate Carper Custom Knives (SharpByCoop image)
Tom Haslinger Damascus Kissaki-Moroha Tanto
Blade length: 6.7” Blade material: HCK damascus forged in 320 layers of 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Rockwell hardness: 58 HRC Handle: Stainless steel wire wrap Tsuba (guard) material: Stainless steel Kashira (buttcap) material: Textured stainless steel Overall length: 12.65” Weight: 13 ozs. Saya (sheath): Lined cowhide w/koi leather overlay Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: $1,490 Maker:Tom Haslinger
Michael West Silver Lining
Knife type: Fixed blade Blade length: 3.93” Blade material: Damasteel twist damascus Blade grind: Freehand hollow Furniture: Argentium silver Handle material: Ebony and argentium silver Overall length: 9.6” Sheath materials: Leather and argentium silver Maker’s price for a similar knife: $3,100 Maker:Michael West (SharpByCoop image)
Mille Blades Fillet Knife
Blade length: 8” Blade material: Damascus forged of 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Handle material: Stabilized tiger maple Overall length: 13” Maker’s price for a similar knife: Contact Adam Mille for more information Knife to know: Adam Mille is an apprentice smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker: Mille Blades (SharpByCoop image)
Andrew Bonavia Gyuto
Blade length: 8.5” Blade material: Forged 1084 carbon steel Blade grind: Full flat Blade @ widest: 2” Handle material: Dyed spalted maple Overall length: 14” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $531 at press-time exchange rate Knife to know: Andrew Bonavia is a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild Maker: Andrew Bonavia (Rod Hoare image)
Brad Millman O-Tanto
Blade length: 11.75” Blade material: 120-layer 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels w/nickel cladding and an 80CrV2 carbon steel core Blade grind: Flat to convex near the edge Handle: Raffir poplar burl Bolster: Forged-finished stainless and copper Overall length: 16.25” Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,200 Maker: Brad Millman (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Blacks Blades Mosaic Damascus Bowie
Blade length: 13.5” Blade material: Mosaic damascus Blade grind: Flat Blade thickness @ ricasso: .236” Handle material: Tassie blackwood Furniture: Hot blued mild steel Overall length: 19.5” Maker’s price for a similar knife and sheath: Contact Shane Partridge for more information Maker: Blacks Blades (Rod Hoare image)
Aimee’s Forge Boot Dagger
Blade length: 4” Blade steel: Nitro-V stainless Blade grind: Flat Construction: Full tang Handle material: Black and red G-10 Handle pins: Black G-10 Overall length: 8.75” Sheath: Leather w/belt clip Maker’s price for a similar knife: $431 at press-time exchange rate Knife to know: Aimee Conte is a member of the Australian Knifemakers Guild and an apprentice smith in the American Bladesmith Society Maker:Aimee’s Forge (Rod Hoare image)
Zane Dvorak Integral Hunter
Blade length: 4.25” Blade material: Black Edge mosaic damascus forged from 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels Blade grind: Flat to convex Blade pattern: Clip point Handle material: African blackwood Overall length: 9.25” Sharp stuff: Forged integral single guard; carved handle groove matches the one in the bolster Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,400 Maker:Zane Dvorak (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Jeroen Knippenberg Integral Chef’s Knife
Blade length: 6.7” Blade material: A multi-color Feather damascus pattern forged from 15N20 nickel alloy and O2, O1 and 115W2 tool steels Blade grind: Convex Handle material: Desert ironwood Overall length: 11” Knife to know: Jeroen Knippenberg’s Integral chef’s knife won Best Chef’s Knife at the Dutch Knife Exhibition Maker’s price for a similar knife: $1,600-$2,140 at press-time exchange rate Maker:Jeroen Knippenberg (Jocelyn Frasier image)
Dragon’s Breath Forge Period Piece
Blade length: 18” Blade material: 1080 carbon and 15N20 nickel alloy steels Handle material: Bronze and Elforen Bolster: Silver, bronze and garnet Overall length: 24” Maker’s price for a similar knife and scabbard: Contact Jamie Lundell for more information Maker:Dragon’s Breath Forge (SharpByCoop image)
Karambits continue to emerge as a viable EDC alternative.
The engineering is superb as the latest in karambits leverage the ever-popular “curve” appeal of the blade style. Materials, aesthetics and utilitarian aspects of this handy tool are getting noticed like crazy in the most recent offerings to hit the market. The karambit continues to emerge as a real, viable choice for everyday carry, and manufacturers are tuned into the possibilities.
According to knife designer Alessandra DeSantis, “Karambits are highly appreciated for cutting rope, cardboard and other utility tasks.” For more than a decade, Alessandra’s designs and perspective have influenced the marketplace, and the karambit is gaining momentum.
“Alessandra is the face of Hydra Design [hydra-design.it],” said Boker USA sales director Mike Gugliociello. “Her creations are characterized by a distinctive design that combines unique details with uncompromising functionality and high utility.”
Boker Plus HEL Karambit
A notable feature of the Boker Plus HEL Karambit is the octagonal ring as opposed to the conventional round one. Thanks to the ring’s properly rounded corners and edges, users report no discomfort. Designer: Alessandra DeSantis.
The collaboration of Boker USA and DeSantis has produced the Boker Plus HEL Karambit. “The octagonal ring is a distinctive feature of Alessandra’s style,” Gugliociello noted. “Though some people may think that an octagonal ring can be annoying during the various knife [manipulation] tricks, actually the difference between an octagon and a circle is minimal, and with properly rounded corners and edges no discomfort is perceived.”
The striking HEL Karambit also features a screw-off feature and flipper tab to enhance everyday carry and ease of deployment. Alessandra commented, “As an alternative to smooth flipper opening, the HEL Karambit offers the screw-off thumb stud on the back of the blade. It can be removed by unscrewing the T6 Torx screw. The flipper tab also performs as a guard. Also, despite its compact size, the HEL Karambit can be gripped by either using the handle ring or not. Each karambit grip has optimal use, and each offers different maneuverability and effectiveness in various applications, so the grip depends on the intended uses.”
Hel Karambit Specs Knife Type: Folder Blade Length: 2.4” Blade Steel: 154CM stainless Handle Material: G-10 scales, liner and ring Weight: 3.28 ozs. Closed Length: 4.29” Country of Origin: China MSRP: $137.95
Halfbreed Blades CQC-02
Designed by famed special operations and close quarters combat instructor Jared Wihongi in collaboration with TRICOM Training, the CQC-02 Close Quarters Combat comes in plain and serrated edge models and also a trainer.
At Halfbreed Blades, the CQC-02 Series Close Quarters Combat line is the latest partnership with famed special operations and close quarters combat instructor Jared Wihongi in collaboration with TRICOM Training, a leading global provider of premium close quarters combatives and defensive tactics training.
“In many regions worldwide, individuals carry blades for their practical use as tools,” explained Lili Ma, a director at Halfbreed. “Beyond their utilitarian purposes, knives are also carried by many for self-defense or as secondary weapons for those working with firearms or licensed to carry them. The CQC Talon series, developed with Filipino martial arts practitioners in mind, is a meticulously crafted design tailored to meet the needs of military and law enforcement professionals who rely on edged weapons in the line of duty, for example.”
Lili indicated the handle of the CQC-02 Close Quarters Combat series is designed to facilitate all popular grip styles and does not rely on the ring for carry or deployment. The ring aids retention in a high-stress clinch and the draw when the tool is concealed behind gear on a plate carrier.
“All of our tools are designed to form fit the hand. The ring, grip texture and carry system all work in unison to aid a quick deployment. We use USA-made Kydex for the fabrication of the sheath, while the retention is a molded friction lock design and mounting is via customizable DOTS attachments.”
The blade serrations appeal to a consumer segment and reflect the awareness of the Halfbreed design focus. “We like to cater to user preferences where possible,” Lili observed. “The market is divided into two groups: those that prefer a full plain edge and those that appreciate the added cutting power of serrations. In our opinion, serrations, when CNC-ground correctly, have unrivalled cutting power. They excel at cutting through clothing and other hard materials that would typically make a plain edge dull. This being said, they are not for everyone. Some believe serrations can snag or drag when cutting, and they take more effort to resharpen. These are subjective arguments, so there are pros and cons to both serration and plain edge designs.”
Like the Boker Plus HEL Karambit and RMJ Tactical Korbin, the handle of the Halfbreed CQC-02 Close Quarters Combat series is designed to facilitate all popular grip styles and does not rely on the ring for carry or deployment. Designer: Jared Wihongi.
Just below the blade spine, the CQC-02 Close Quarters Combat series is designed with a slot or fuller to reduce weight. It also allows control of the balance point of the blade while adding an aesthetic appeal in a fusion of “tactical function art” that drives the creativity of Halfbreed’s designers.
CQC-02 Close Quarters Combat Karambit Specs Knife Type: Fixed blade Blade Length: 3.54” Blade Material: Bohler K340 carbon steel Handle Material: G-10 Weight: 7.65 ozs. Overall Length: 7.48” Country of Origin: Comprises Australian and Taiwanese make MSRP: $220
CobraTec Karambit Double Action
The CobraTec karambit carries in the pocket via a pocket clip with the retention ring exposed to ease deployment. Using an index finger in the retention ring, the knife easily extracts with one hand and falls into the palm ready to cut and complete chores as needed.
CobraTec is breaking new ground with its automatic entry, the Karambit in OD Green Double Action. “There were several considerations in designing the automatic karambit,” remarked company representative Eddie Johnson, “from aesthetics, function and ability to be used as a karambit, the fit and grip in the hand, along with the design of the retention ring to be used by various-sized individuals. The knife comes with two curved clips to hug the shape, and the clips are shaped to match the side of the knife you wish to carry it on.”
The automatic feature is, at the least, a conversation starter, and at best a feature that complements quick deployment and assurance of a secure lock-up. “The activation switch is located near the retention ring,” Johnson related. “As the knife is drawn for use, the index finger is through the retention ring, allowing the body of the handle to comfortably fit in the palm of your hand. The thumb naturally aligns with the activation switch, and the secure grip of the knife gives the perfect angles for activation of the blade.”
The Cobratec boasts two curved clips to hug the handle shape, and the clips are shaped to match the side of the knife you wish to carry it on. The activation switch for the double-action auto is located near the retention ring.
The CobraTec design allows the karambit to be carried in the pocket with the retention ring exposed to ease the knife’s deployment. With the index finger in the retention ring, the knife is easily extracted from the pocket and falls into the palm ready to cut and complete chores with one hand as necessary.
OD Green Karambit Spes Knife Type: Automatic Blade Length: 2.75” Blade Material: D2 tool steel Handle Material: 6061 T6 aluminum anodized green Weight: 4 ozs. Closed Length: 5.625” Country of Origin: China MSRP: $179.99
RMJ Tactical Korbin Karambit
Rob Orlando of RMJ Tactical said the Korbin “can be held in the standard grip or reverse grip, either using the finger hole or not. Either way, there is a sure grip, and there is nothing protruding from the ring to prevent good purchase.”
“It’s a defensive blade with no other purpose,” related Rob Orlando of RMJ Tactical in describing the company’s Korbin karambit. “It can be held in the standard grip or reverse grip, either using the finger hole or not. Either way there is a sure grip, and there is nothing protruding from the ring to prevent good purchase.”
The Korbin has a Kydex sheath that includes a two-way belt adapter and allows ambidextrous vertical or horizontal carry options on a belt up to 1.5 inches wide. The sheath is also compatible with the RMJ-optional MAD straps to allow easy carry. The finger hole is 1.125 inches across and large enough to fit most finger sizes. Contoured G-10 scales allow strong grip characteristics in wet or dry conditions. Gimping on the spine both adds some traction and provides a bit of aesthetic flair.
The Korbin’s Kydex sheath includes a two-way belt adapter and provides ambidextrous vertical or horizontal carry on a belt up to 1.5 inches wide.
“The Korbin is easy to conceal,” Orlando added. “If a knife is large and heavy it will likely get left at home, but most of our everyday carry knives are deceptively light and easy to carry and conceal.”
Korbin Specs Knife Type: Fixed blade Blade Length: 3” Blade Steel: Nitro-V stainless Handle Material: G-10 Weight: 2 ozs. Overall Length: 6” Country of Origin: USA MSRP: $215
First Case/Ruple collaboration officially debuts at BLADE Show ’24.
The combination of mechanical features, artistic design and choice of handle materials make the Bill Ruple x Case Axe Handle collaboration a unique knife for the user and collector.
Case Knives and BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple didn’t just bump into each other at the convenience store one day and say, “Hey, let’s do a knife collaboration.” That alone likely would have led to a great pocketknife, but no, there was a lot more planning and history that went into this new joint venture. We’ll talk about some of that but first let’s talk about the knife itself. It’s got some special character.
Case Axe Handle Design
Despite both being giants in the slipjoint field, Bill and Case sifted through some ideas and came up with a lockback pattern for an initial collaboration. It was not just one part but several features Bill combined together to make this knife unique.
Preeminent member of the Texas Slip Joint Cartel, Ruple more than understands what makes a good slippy.
As a man who had farmed the soil, he noted the end of the knife resembled the shape of an axe handle, thus the name. The upward curve of the handle butt provides some useful ergonomics but also strategically holds the tail of the lockbar. In this location, there is resistance to accidental unlocking of the blade while it’s in the open position. As well, it eliminates the need for a thumb cutout in the handle to release the blade. With an upward curve partially concealing the lockbar plus the absence of a thumb cutout, the handle makes the knife appear not to be a lockback pattern at all. In fact, since at first glance it seems to be a slipjoint, it has a bit of the trick-knife or mystery-lock character.
Initial prototyping by Bill in his shop hit a snag in that the slipjoint knives he’s used to creating have a rear bolster. That did not fit the artistic design for the new collaboration. However, Bill cleverly overcame the so-called snag by using a feature called a scissor spring (see illustration, page 40), which rests on a bushing to provide the needed tension to work the lockbar. Bill has prototyped knives for Case and also assisted with some aspects of manufacturing just as his Case collaboration predecessor, mentor, very close friend and fellow Cutlery Hall of Famer, Tony Bose, had done. Bill stated that nobody could replace Tony Bose and Case misses him. (Don’t be at all surprised if Case makes a commemorative knife in honor of Tony in the future.)
A few notes on Ruple’s design, the scissor spring (rear top right) is an efficient use of space with a one-piece unit of lockbar and spring. The bushing (lower fork of the spring), the spring rides on this avoiding excessive wear and taking up less room. It also acts as a rear spacer.
Both Case officials and Bill say Tony would be pleased with the new collaborative effort. The initial run will be 1,000 knives. Then the model will be made in a traditional slipjoint pattern. There is an aim at “near custom maker quality” for the first run, glibly naming the process “almost custom,” beginning with the parts being wire cut. That’s the cool way to say electrical discharge machining, or EDM. Production is assigned to a specific group of three workers only. No one else will work on the knives. That sort of consistency helps maintain quality control in manufacturing the knives.
MORE TO COME Is this collaboration just an outlier or will there be more Case/Ruple lockbacks in the future? Interest in the knife at BLADE Show 2024 (page 26), where the knife was officially introduced, was quite favorable. Both Bill and Case officials were pleased with how things have turned out, so expect to see another collaboration introduced at next year’s BLADE Show. That knife likely will be a slipjoint. Another lockback might be seen in the future, though a bit further down the road.
Natural birdseye maple is one of but several handle material options on the new Bill Ruple x Case Axe Handle.
As collaborative efforts go between manufacturer and custom maker, the Axe Handle knife is a superlative effort. And there is strong motivation to produce more collaborations, both commemorative and unique.
Ruple’s First Case
Does BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple remember his first Case knife? Is Texas big?
“Oh yeah,” the good-natured, award-winning knifemaker and South Texas Slipjoint Cartel trail boss said. “My dad gave me a Case knife when I was 9 or 10 years old, and it was a yellow handle Case trapper. And man, in about a month I had sharpened the blades completely out of that knife. And he gave me another one, and so he told me not to sharpen it quite as often. But yeah, a long time ago.”
Case Axe Handle Specs Knife type: Lockback Designer: BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Bill Ruple Blade length: 3.46” Blade material options: Wire-cut 154CM stainless steel or damascus Rockwell hardness: 57-59 HRC Blade grind: Flat taper Blade @ thickest: .126” Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish: Satin Handle material options: Natural birdseye maple, Rogers jig chestnut bone, standard jig antique bone, marbled black carbon fiber, abalone, English walnut Lock: Lockback Opener: Nail nick Pocket clip: None Weight: 4.21 ozs. Closed length: 4.4” Carry: Suede leather taco pouch Special features: One-piece designed backspring & lock mechanism. Country of origin: USA MSRP: $599.99 to $774.99 Available: Late Summer 2024
See what sleek new slicers are available or soon will be.
When introducing their new sporting knives, the world’s leading manufacturers want as many of the people that matter to see the knives as possible. And the best place to do it year in and year out is the BLADE Show.
BLADE Show 2024 presented more factory debuts than usual June 7-9 in the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, and show patrons saw them in all their glory—fixed blades, folders, sharpeners and more—made by manufacturers from all over the planet. Unfortunately, due to BLADE®’s space limitations, each participating exhibiting company could submit only one of the multiple knives they debuted at the show for our story.
This story will be updated with more knives later this year.
Tactile Knife Chupacabra
Knife type: Manual folder Designer: Matt Palmore Blade length: 3.3” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 63-64 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .135” Blade finish: Stonewash Handle material: 7075 aluminum Lock: Superlock Opening mechanism: Thumb stud Pivot materials: Ceramic caged bearings Pocket clip: Stainless steel, deep carry Weight: 4.72 ozs. Closed length: 4.45” Knife to know: First U.S.-made Superlock Country of origin: USA MSRP: $249 Available: NOW
Condor Tool & Knife K-Night Scullery
Knife type: Tactical fixed blade Designer: Jason Breeden Blade length: 4.69” Blade steel: 14C28N stainless Rockwell hardness: 55-58 HRC Blade grind: Flat w/second bevel Blade @ thickest: .12” Blade finish: Blasted satin Construction: Full tang Handle material: Black canvas Micarta® Weight: 7.06 ozs. Overall length: 9.07” Sheath: Kydex w/leather belt loop Country of origin: El Salvador MSRP: $124.98 Available: Fall ’24
Fox Knives Kronos
Knife type: Folder Designer: Stefan Merk Blade length: 3.54” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 62-64 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .16” Blade finish: Black PVD Handle material: FatCarbon Dark Matter Black Lock: Framelock Opening mechanism: Flipper w/ball bearings Pivot materials: Stainless steel Pocket clip: Right-handed; integral milled Closed length: 4.49” Sheath: Zippered nylon Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $487 Available: September ’24
Emerson Knives, Inc. COM-SEVEN
Knife type: Manual folder Designer: Ernest Emerson Blade length: 3.3” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: 62-64 HRC Blade grind: Conventional ‘V’ Blade @ thickest: .125” Blade pattern: Recurve Blade finish: Stonewash Handle material: G-10 Lock: Titanium linerlock Pocket clip: Stainless steel Closed length: 4.7” Sharp stuff: Wave Shaped Feature Country of origin: USA MSRP: $295 Available: Sold out @ press time; more out in August ’24
Demko Knives Shark Cub
Knife type: Folder Designer: Andrew Demko Blade length: 2.5” cutting edge Blade steel: Choice of 20CV stainless (anodized aluminum handle) and AUS10A stainless (Grivory handle) Rockwell hardness: 62 HRC Blade grind: Taper Blade @ thickest: .095” Blade pattern: Slicer Shark or clip point Blade finish: DLC/satin Lock: Shark-Lock Opening mechanism: Opening slot or thumb stud Pivot materials: Cage bearings Pocket clip: Stainless steel, deep carry, ambidextrous Weights: Aluminum/Shark Cub Slicer: 3.85 ozs.; Grivory/clip point: 3.05 ozs.; Grivory/Slicer: 3 ozs. Closed length: 4.2” Country of origin: Taiwan MSRP: $69.99 to $209.99 Available: Fall ’24
Heretic Knives OTF Auto
Designer: Anthony Marfione Blade length: 3.6” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: Proprietary Blade grind: Machined ground (for production) Blade @ thickest: .14” Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish: DLC Handle material: 6061 T6 aircraft aluminum Lock: Mechanical locking Opening mechanism: Out-the-front automatic Pocket clip: Stamped clip is standard; optional machined clip Closed length: 5.045” Knife to know: Fully machined; lifetime warranty Country of origin: USA MSRP: $279 Available: NOW
Maserin Nexus
Knife type: EDC slipjoint Designer: Maserin Maurizio Blade length: 3.22” Blade steel: Small Roses damascus pattern in 120 layers Rockwell hardness: 60 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .125” Blade pattern: Drop point Blade finish: Damascus finishing Construction: Integral Handle material: 3D printed in a single piece of AISI 316L stainless steel Pivot materials: Bronze washers Pocket clip: Polished stainless steel; reversible Weight: 5.15 ozs. Closed length: 4.25” Knife to know: Comes w/a dedicated limited-edition, recycled paper gift box; 3D printed design based on C.E. Delaunay lunar motion studies Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $1,298 @press-time rate of exchange Available: October ’24
Knife type: Folder Designer: Jesper Voxnaes Blade length: 3.19” Blade steel: Fafnir pattern damascus by Damasteel Rockwell hardness: 58-60 HRC Blade @ thickest: .12” Blade pattern: Modified drop point Blade finish: Mirror polished Construction: Screw Handle material: Titanium + titanium (Ti6Al4V frame) Lock: Linerlock Opening mechanism: Thumb hole and/or flipper Pivot materials: Stainless steel screws w/titanium ring on pivot screw Pocket clip: Titanium, deep carry Weight: 3 ozs. Closed length: 4.33” Knife to know: Comes in a special wooden MKM collection box; limited and numbered edition of 100 models in damascus steel and milled titanium Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $737 @press-time exchange rate Available: NOW
QSP Knife Dolphin
Model type: Pocketknife Designer: QSP Blade length: 3.125” Blade steel: Sandvik 14C28N stainless Rockwell hardness: 59-61 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .118” Blade pattern: Clip point Blade finish: Mirror polished Construction: Screw Handle frame: Stainless steel Handle inlay: Shredded carbon fiber and Golden Shred in clear resin Lock: Linerlock Pivot materials: Ceramic ball bearings Pocket clip: No Weight: 3.53 ozs. Closed length: 4.625” Sheath: Belt loop pouch, leather Country of origin: China MSRP: To be announced Available: November ’24
Chaves Knives Auto Chub
Knife type: Utility OTF Designer: Ramon Chavez Blade length: 1” Construction: Screw Handle material: Aluminum Lock: Trigger Opening mechanism: Double-action auto Pocket clip: Titanium, tip down, right-handed Weight: 3 ozs. Special features: Removable utility blade Country of origin: USA MSRP: $300 Available: First shown to public at BLADE Show 2024; website and retailer availability summer and fall ’24
Reate T1000-V2
Knife type: Folder Designer: Alvin Lee Blade length: 3.6” Blade steel: M390 stainless Blade finish: Satin Handle: Titanium Weight: 10.5 ozs. Closed length: 5.2” Country of origin: China MSRP: To be announced Available: To be announced
Knife type: Persian folder Designers: Jesper Voxnaes & Jens Anso Blade length: 3.26” Blade steel: CPM MagnaCut stainless Rockwell hardness: Approximately 62 HRC Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .11” Blade finish: Satin Construction: Screw Handle material: Choice of titanium/titanium & carbon fiber Lock: Framelock Opening mechanism: Thumb hole Pivot: Ball bearings Pocket clip: Steel wire clip Weight: 2.2 ozs. and 2 ozs., depending on handle material Closed length: 4.14” Country of origin: Italy MSRP: $285 (ti) and $245 (CF) Available: August 8 launch
Wicked Edge Generation 4 Pro w/micro-adjusts and storage shelving
Sharpener type: Precision-angle-guided manual Designer: Wicked Edge Abrasive: Premium monocrystalline diamond stones Grit assortment: Two each of 100/200, 400/600 and 800/1000 grit Sharpener dimensions: 11.5” long, 11” tall, 6” wide Construction materials: Stainless steel and Type 2 and 3 anodized aluminum Weight: 13.1 lbs. Special features: Patented dual-sided sharpening, repeatability tools, dual-cam vise, and dual-sided angle settings w/micro-adjusts Country of origin: USA MSRP: $1,499 Available: NOW
Winkler Knives Twenty 24
Model type: Hatchet Designer: Winkler Knives Blade length: 6” Blade material: 80CrV2 carbon steel Rockwell hardness: 59 HRC @cutting edge Blade grind: Flat Blade @ thickest: .248” Blade pattern: Utility Blade finish: Black oxide Construction: Full tang Handle material: Various woods and laminates Weight: 1 lb., 3 ozs. Overall length: 12” Sheath: Quick-access, lined Boltaron® Knife to know: Will be made in 2024 only and then retired Country of origin: USA MSRP: $575 base, $675 as pictured Available: NOW; watch for drops on Winkler website
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
The Kershaw Launch 17’s clip-point blade in MagnaCut offers great utility for a wide variety of cutting chores.
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 deep-carry clip of the Kershaw Launch 17 allows the knife to sit very low in the pocket for ultimate understated carry.
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
The ATCF Original Gangster from Fox in MagnaCut blade steel is an homage to Bob Terzuola’s iconic custom ATCF tactical folder. The initial Terzuola ATCF helped define the tactical folder era by incorporating features that are now standard with many folding knives of the genre.
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.
The Fox ATCF Original Gangster features a flipper tab to aid in quick one-hand deployment. This was not a feature found on Bob Terzuola’s original ATCF design but rather incorporated by Fox as a modern convenience.
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 Spyderco Para2 Salt has a full-flat ground blade of CPM MagnaCut stainless steel with a distal taper that allows the knife to be an extremely effective slicer with aggressive bite, perfect for tough tasks like cutting through fire hose material. It is the BLADE Magazine 2024 Most Innovative American Design.
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 Para2 Salt’s machined handle grooves offer enhanced traction even with wet hands. The texture is a nice extra touch for a working knife.
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.
The Dead Reckon Ridgeback’s canted MagnaCut blade allows for greater knuckle clearance when working on a flat surface.
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!
The one-piece handle construction of the Dead Reckon Ridgeback allows for a very strong grip but requires considerably more machining time than a standard handle, and therefore is more expensive.
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.
Blade Magazine‘s Editor-in-Chief reflects on why receiving the Posner Award proves so meaningful.
I was talking to knifemaker Edmund Davidson at his table during the BLADE Show when he and Gary Langley handed me a white cardboard box and told me to open it. When I did so, I found it contained a most beautiful plaque. It was the Nate Posner Award, and on it in big letters was my name as the latest recipient.
I must admit, I was equal parts astonished and delighted. Presented by The Knifemakers’ Guild, the Posner Award is one I’ve always wanted. The list of those who have won it is long and among others includes Mrs. Betty Dowell, Admiral Steel’s Terry Summers, photographer David Darom, KNIFE editor Mark Zalesky, knifemaker Bill Herndon, French knife writer Francis Anglade, BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member Dan and Mrs. Pam Delavan, and Cutlery Hall-of-Famers Bruce Voyles and Edda and Aldo Lorenzi.
Steve Shackleford proudly mugs with his Nate Posner Memorial Award at the 2024 BLADE Show in Atlanta. Photo: Gary Langley
As the words on the plaque read, the award recognizes “outstanding service in the promotion of handcrafted cutlery.” And those words pretty much say it all in terms of why I’ve always wanted the Posner, because promoting handcrafted cutlery has been a monumental part of what I’ve been doing for BLADE® for almost four decades now.
Who exactly was Nate Posner and why did the Guild name an award after him? If you reference the December 1981 American Blade, the original name of BLADE, you will find a most informative story by Cutlery Hall-of-Famer Bernard Levine about the San Francisco Gun Exchange and its proprietor, Nate Posner.
Mr. Posner started his business in 1948. Through the years he built it into what he called the “Firearms Center of the West.” It had most everything firearm-related, including inexpensive rifles and shotguns, collector’s cartridges, reloading equipment, rare and unusual guns, a whole wall of de-activated submachine guns, posters, cartridge boards and more. He even had an authentic Gatling gun in the back of the store.
As all-encompassing as his array of firearms and equipment was, it was his displays of knives, both factory and custom, that pertain here. At one time he had over 350 custom knives on display, with at least that many others in stock. (In subsequent years those numbers no doubt grew even more.) At first, in 1975 or ’76, he ordered knives from dozens of makers, most either active or past Guild members. Eventually he culled his list to about 25 or 30 makers, including one of his favorites, D. E. Henry, whom Posner reportedly called “the Van Gogh of knifemakers.” Others included Tommy Lee, Jess Horn, Herman Schneider, Corbet Sigman, the-then-team of Scott Sawby and Steve Mullin, and Cutlery Hall-of-Famers Frank Centofante, Jimmy Lile, Bob Loveless, George Herron, Bo Randall and more.
Nate Posner in his San Francisco Gun Exchange circa 1980 leaning on his authentic Gatling gun and admiring a D. E. Henry bowie.
Along with Dan Delavan at Plaza Cutlery, Bob Gaddis and Dave Harvey of Nordic Knives, and Cutlery Hall-of-Famer A.G. Russell, Posner was among the first custom knife purveyors. His approach was a most honest and forthright one. He was known for telling his customers that to get the best price, instead of buying custom knives from middlemen such as him, they should buy directly from the maker. Of course, if the customers wanted the custom knife in question immediately, they often had to buy it from Nate to avoid spending what might be months or even years on a maker’s waiting list.
However, it was being up front that put Nate in good stead not only with his knife customers but the Guild, too—for both buying/selling the makers’ knives and treating what often were the makers’ customers/prospective customers in a professional manner. Add the high store profile he gave custom knives and knifemakers to knife buyers and gun buyers alike, and Nate became one of the most important custom knife promoters of his or any time—and thus the Guild award in his name.
To be mentioned in the same breath as those who have won the award before me and, of course, Nate Posner himself, is a privilege and an honor. To any and all who were involved in my selection, I cannot thank you enough.
And thanks to Nate Posner for setting a standard for all in the knife community to emulate.
Knives and knife people go wall-to-wall at BLADE Show ’24.
Wall-to-wall attendance, dynamite knife sales, sensational award knives and much more made BLADE Show 2024 June 7-9 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta one for the record books. However, it took custom knife purveyor Dave Ellis of exquisiteknives.com to put things into proper perspective.
The long-time BLADE Show exhibitor of Vista, California, sold out of knives and had yet another whiz-bang show, but he said it’s the intangibles that make the BLADE Show the dynamic event it is year in and year out.
“It was a great show and the sales were fantastic, but the main thing about the BLADE Show is the camaraderie, the old friends you see and talk to that make the show so special,” he said. “It’s really rewarding, and though the sales are great, the people are better.”
Argentina’s Javier Vogt and Belgium’s Veronique Laurent represented two of the 35 countries providing exhibitors for BLADE Show ’24. The knife is one of Veronique’s art daggers.
Speaking of people, ABS master smith Harvey Dean said it was one of the best if not the best attended BLADE Shows he’s ever seen. “At past shows there would be dead times when the crowd would thin out a little bit before increasing again,” he noted. “This show seemed crowded the whole time.”
The factory section enjoyed heavy traffic as well and patrons seemed to be buying knives.
“The BLADE Show was fantastic,” said Curtis Iovito of Spartan Blades, whose company won its first-ever BLADE Magazine Overall Knife Of The Year® with the Bill-Harsey-designed Clandestina. “Sales were the highest we have ever seen.”
Charlie Ellis (left foreground) was one of the guest makers providing BLADE University instruction in the AmeriBrade grinding seminar.
As usual, Saturday was the busiest day, though Friday was very good for three members of the South Texas Slipjoint Cartel in particular, with Luke Swenson selling out in the first hour and Toby Hill, who brought nine knives, selling out in the first two hours. Another Cartel alum, Enrique Pena, sold out as well. Along with Javier Garcia and Jared Oeser, Enrique also won Best Collaboration in the custom knife judging competition.
Brazilian ABS master smith Dionatam Franco de Souza said the show was very good for him, as he brought four knives and sold three, all in the high-dollar range. He also won Best Utility Hunter in the custom knife judging competition.
As with all shows, other reviews were mixed. One purveyor said some exhibitors said the crowd seemed down this year. On a scale of one to 10, ABS master smith Jordan LaMothe gave show attendance a five. He brought 14 knives and sold only three, all in the three and low-four-figure range, with two going to regular clients and one going to a new one. He said 20 percent of those who visited his table seemed to be buyers. Meanwhile, Jordan won yet another custom knife judging award, this time for Best Kitchen Knife.
Makers entered their knives in the custom knife judging competition Friday afternoon.
If sales were down for some, part of the reason may be what one purveyor said is a slowdown in the sale of damascus knives. He attributed the slowdown to a “burning out” of demand due to a glut of the pattern-welded knives. While many current examples of damascus are outstanding, there’s just too many knives made from it and supply is outpacing demand, the purveyor observed. Replacing the damascus knives in demand are straight carbon steel knives with nice hamons, he added. How long the trend will last is anybody’s guess.
BLADE Show 2024 Highlights
To kick things off, a stout soul replete in Scottish kilt and playing the bagpipes led an energetic throng of patrons into the show hall Friday morning. Thousands of patrons were about to descend on the almost 1,000 exhibitors from 35 countries in the main show hall and Baller Room in the coming three days.
Meanwhile, BLADE University classes, which started the day before at 4 p.m. and earlier Friday morning, continued throughout the day and into Saturday. Friday afternoon witnessed the custom knife judging competition, with winners selected in 16 categories. The Knifemakers’ Guild announced its best knives of the BLADE Show and also named BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame® member and BLADE editor Steve Shackleford winner of the Nate Posner Memorial Award in recognition of outstanding service in the promotion of handcrafted cutlery. The American Bladesmith Society held its awards ceremony after show closing Friday, including presenting Fabio Barros with his ABS master smith stamp and announcing 14 new journeyman smith awardees (for the names of all the new smiths, visit americanbladesmith.org, click on ABS News and Events and scroll to Congratulations to Our New Rated Smiths).
South African ABS master smith Neels van den Berg presented his BLADE University class, Symmetrical Quillon Dagger 101.
Saturday started early with the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall-of-Fame breakfast/induction ceremony, with Ted Dowell, Don Fogg and Bill Harsey being formally inducted in the Kennesaw Room of the Renaissance Waverly Hotel. The 8th Annual Battle for Bali-Champion conducted by Blade HQ commenced at noon in a new venue—the second floor of the Renaissance—before a packed house, with Steven Ash taking the title followed by Corbin Lovins in second place and Seiji Brown in third.
Capping off Saturday was the BLADE Magazine Awards Presentation. Held at 8 p.m. in a new venue—also on the second floor of the Renaissance—the ceremony officially recognized the BLADE Magazine 2024 Knife-of-the-Year Awards® and the BLADE Show custom knife judging award winners.
On Sunday morning, the winners of the knife collection display judging were named. Gene Merritt won Best in Show for his David Yellowhorse First 25 Years display. Judges Awards went to Dale Eichberg for his display, Preproduction Buck Knives, and Brian Hugh for Buck Tactical Knives. The Youth Award went to Caleb Lindsey for Custom Knives by David Yellowhorse.
Upcoming Shows
Next up on the BLADE Show calendar is BLADE Show West, Oct. 4-5 in Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information, visit bladeshowwest.com. After that will be BLADE Show Texas, March 7-8, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas (bladeshowtexas.com).
Patrons enjoy the 8th Annual Battle for Bali-Champion conducted by Blade HQ in the event’s new venue on the second floor of the Renaissance Waverly Hotel.
As for next year’s BLADE Show, it returns to the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta June 6-8. See you there!
