This new knife, meanwhile, is rocking a 2.22-inch recurved hawksbill. It shares features with the sickle-like karambit but kinda just looks like if a Wharncliffe got up on the wrong side of the bed.
One upside of this shape is that it uses the full length of the blade to cut, meaning you need not apply as much pressure. Another is that even when it loses its edge, the point typically remains sharp enough to pierce and help you muscle through a cut with a dull blade. Lastly, it looks pretty cool, no?
The main downsides of the shape are that it is not easy to sharpen (perhaps even requiring professional help) and its concave contour does limit what it can cut, to some extent.
This particular one, rendered in Damascus steel (shown here) or S35VN (three other versions) is still plenty qualified for everyday jobs such as opening boxes and cutting through rope. Slicing an apple is a little trickier but not impossible.
Rounding out the feature set are a lightweight titanium handle, a frame lock and multiple deployment methods — both a thumb hole and a front flipper — popping the knife open quick and smooth on caged ceramic ball bearings.
Jimping toward the back of the blade helps you grip it, while a titanium pocket clip helps you keep it close, which is good because you really don’t want to lose this thing. Shaw won’t be designing a follow-up anytime soon, as he recently joined the Canadian Armed Forces. Like we said, showoff.
