The Benchmade Dacian combines compact versatility, premium materials, and purpose-driven design in a fixed-blade knife that impressed judges and users alike at Blade Show 2025. Its 3.54-inch spear point blade is made from CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel, known for combining top-tier edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness. A satin finish gives the blade a clean, polished look, while the blue denim Micarta handle offers a comfortable, confident grip in any condition. With an overall length of 7.57 inches and a weight of just 3.37 ounces, the Dacian is easy to carry and highly maneuverable without compromising strength.

Every detail of the Dacian reflects Benchmade’s commitment to performance and American craftsmanship. The molded russet brown plastic sheath adds durability and security, bringing the total carry weight to only 4.31 ounces. Whether used for everyday carry, outdoor excursions, or professional applications, the Dacian stands out for its balance, control, and reliability. As part of Benchmade’s Blue Class, it offers the kind of quality and refinement that makes it a trusted companion wherever you go.

The Vero Engineering Avid 1 captures the essence of refined everyday carry with a modern design, premium materials, and precision construction. Built around a 3.25-inch blade of CPM-S45VN stainless steel, the Avid 1 delivers excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and a fine, clean slicing geometry thanks to its high flat grind. The blade opens smoothly on caged ceramic bearings and locks up solidly with a titanium liner lock that includes a hardened steel insert for added durability. At 7.70 inches overall and weighing just 3.80 ounces, it strikes an ideal balance of cutting power and comfort in the hand.

Designed with thoughtful details throughout, the Avid 1 features skeletonized titanium liners to reduce weight without sacrificing rigidity. The ambidextrous wire pocket clip offers discreet and reversible carry, while a ceramic detent ensures crisp and consistent deployment. With its blend of minimalist aesthetics, top-shelf materials, and smooth action, the Avid 1 exemplifies the level of fit and finish that defines Vero Engineering’s reputation and earns its place as the best imported folder of the year.

The Heretic Wraith Auto V.4 stands at the intersection of tactical precision and refined craftsmanship, earning it the title of American-Made Folding Knife of the Year. Designed by Tony Marfione Jr., this automatic folder commands attention with its 3.75-inch CPM-MagnaCut blade. The Bowie-style profile, flat grind, and black DLC finish create a bold look while delivering a razor-sharp cutting edge and excellent durability. Its robust automatic action is housed in a 4.875-inch black aluminum frame with black traction inlays that enhance grip and control without adding excess weight.

|With an overall length of 8.625 inches and a weight of 4.23 ounces, the Wraith Auto V.4 feels substantial yet balanced in hand. A button lock mechanism ensures secure, intuitive deployment, while a titanium pocket clip supports both right and left-handed tip-up carry. Every detail, from the blade geometry to the contoured inlays, reflects Heretic’s focus on performance, style, and American manufacturing excellence

The Work Sharp RMX Reverse Tanto introduces a breakthrough in knife innovation with its dual-mode pivot system that allows the user to switch between manual and automatic deployment using a single screw. With the included magnetic wrench tool, the Auto Pivot can be installed or removed quickly, giving full control over the knife’s action. Whether running manual with a front bearing or activating the spring-loaded automatic system, the transition is seamless and secure. The 3.2-inch reverse tanto blade is made from ultra-tough CPM-3V steel, ground to a precise 15-degree edge, and finished in a clean satin polish. It rides on a tuned pivot for customizable deployment tension, offering either snappy automatic performance or smooth manual operation depending on configuration.

At just 2.4 ounces in total weight and 7.5 inches overall, the Work Sharp RMX is exceptionally lightweight and easy to carry. Its 4.3-inch handle is milled from solid magnesium and internally hollow, reducing weight while maintaining structural integrity. A black Cerakote finish adds durability and wear resistance, while the ergonomic form factor and unique internal layout accommodate hand sizes from small to extra-large. The lock mechanism is a button-style design, and a reversible mini deep-carry clip allows discreet tip-up carry on either side.

The Sleeping Tiger Tigress reimagines personal safety with a revolutionary wrist-worn knife that is both discreet and fast to deploy. Designed and manufactured in the USA, the Tigress is worn on the underside of the wrist in a 1.5-inch round holster about the size and shape of a watch. When needed, a spring-loaded mechanism is triggered by a small lever, launching the knife into the palm in under a second. Once in hand, the blade is opened with a press of the oversized button, allowing the user to stage or deploy the knife quickly depending on the situation. Fully opened, the handle and tether form a secure grip, turning this compact tool into a serious self-defense asset.

At just 1.98 ounces including the band, holder, and knife, the Tigress is lightweight and low-profile without sacrificing effectiveness. The 1.125-inch blade is crafted from AEB-L stainless steel, offering excellent toughness and corrosion resistance. The handle, links, and holster are made from durable 7075 T6 aluminum, paired with stainless steel springs and pivots for consistent performance. With an overall open length of 5.2 inches and a total height of 0.7 inches, the Tigress is designed for rapid response, comfort, and everyday wearability. It’s a bold leap in American innovation, built to be ready when it matters most.

The QSP Glyde Lock Penguin delivers premium performance at an unbeatable price, earning it the title of Best Buy of the Year at Blade Show 2025. Known for its practical sheepsfoot blade and everyday-friendly profile, this version of the Penguin introduces QSP’s new Glyde lock mechanism, an ambidextrous, intuitive system that adds strength and fidget-friendly reliability to an already beloved design. The 3.06-inch blade is made from 14C28N stainless steel, a durable, corrosion-resistant choice that takes a fine edge and holds it well through daily tasks. Riding on a smooth ceramic ball bearing pivot, the blade opens effortlessly with a satisfying flick.

Measuring 7.06 inches overall and 4.00 inches closed, the Glyde Lock Penguin is compact without feeling cramped. The lightweight khaki FRN handle provides excellent grip and resilience while keeping the knife’s net weight to just 2.93 ounces. A reversible stainless steel pocket clip allows for tip-up carry on either side, making it equally suited for left- or right-handed users. With thoughtful construction, durable materials, and a price point that makes high performance accessible, the Glyde Lock Penguin is proof that great design doesn't have to come with a premium tag.

The Shirogorov Stellar-B CD exemplifies the elite craftsmanship and mechanical ingenuity that have made Shirogorov a revered name among collectors. Limited to just 100 pieces worldwide, the Stellar-B is a precision-engineered work of art. Its 3.54-inch blade is crafted from premium CPM-S90V stainless steel, known for exceptional edge retention and wear resistance. The blade deploys with flawless smoothness thanks to Shirogorov’s proprietary Single-Row Roller Bearing System (SRRBS), which provides a glassy action that enthusiasts have come to expect from the brand’s Custom Division models.

The handle features milled titanium scales paired with a uniquely patterned anodized titanium bolster, giving each piece a striking visual identity while maintaining Shirogorov’s signature ergonomic comfort. A standout detail is the reinforced liner with an apron, an innovative design feature that dramatically reduces the intrusion of dust and lint between the liner and the frame. Built with a meticulous eye for detail and finished to Shirogorov’s impossibly high standards, the Stellar-B is not just a collector’s item. It’s a statement piece that merges mechanical excellence with limited-run exclusivity.

The Zero Tolerance 0556 earned its place as Automatic Knife of the Year by combining high-end materials, lightweight construction, and a refined aesthetic into a high-performance automatic folder. The 3.35-inch blade is crafted from CPM-MagnaCut, offering excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness in a balanced, all-purpose geometry. The blade features a two-tone finish, with stonewashed flats and satin-finished grinds that highlight its clean lines and attention to detail. With a closed length of 4.4 inches and a total weight of just 2.4 ounces, the 0556 delivers serious cutting capability in a remarkably slim, pocket-friendly profile.

Its frame is equally impressive, built from a combination of black-and-gray carbon fiber and titanium, finished with a ceramic bead blast for a subdued, high-end look. The result is a handle that is both visually striking and exceptionally lightweight, with just the right amount of texture for a secure grip. At 7.75 inches overall, the 0556 offers a confident, full-sized feel in hand while maintaining a minimalist footprint. With its premium build quality, materials, and fast, reliable automatic action, the Zero Tolerance 0556 stands out as a sleek, functional tool that lives up to the brand’s reputation for precision and strength.

The Shun Shiranami by KAI USA represents the pinnacle of Japanese kitchen cutlery, combining traditional craftsmanship with advanced metallurgy in a design that earned it Kitchen Knife of the Year at Blade Show 2025. Forged in Seki, Japan, the Shiranami’s 8-inch blade features a dual-core construction of 71 alternating micro-layers of high-carbon, high-chromium VG10 and VG2 stainless steel. These layers are forge-welded and roll-forged to refine the grain structure and bring out a striking Damascus pattern inspired by ocean waves. The dual-core design runs through the entire blade and extends to the cutting edge, where the alternating layers create micro-serrations that help preserve sharpness and promote smooth, precise slicing.

With a Rockwell hardness of 60 to 61 HRC and a finely polished mirror finish, the Shiranami offers lasting edge retention and elegance in equal measure. The double-bevel edge is evenly ground at 16 degrees per side for excellent control and versatility in both Western and Japanese cutting styles. A jute micarta handle with a stainless steel bolster and end cap provides a secure, comfortable grip and balances the 13.5-inch overall length. At just .07-inches thick at the spine and 7.9 ounces in weight, the knife offers nimble handling without sacrificing presence. Named after the Japanese word for “white-capped wave,” the Shiranami captures the beauty and performance of premium kitchen design at its highest level.

Shirogorov Knives is a premier Russian knife manufacturer known for producing high-end folding knives that combine cutting-edge engineering with refined craftsmanship. Founded in 2005 by brothers Sergey and Igor Shirogorov, the company quickly gained a reputation for its precision, innovation, and distinctive design. The brothers began their work in a modest apartment workshop in Yaroslavl, Russia, and over time expanded into a state-of-the-art facility. Their knives became synonymous with smooth operation, exceptional fit and finish, and an almost obsessive attention to detail.

After Igor’s untimely death in a car accident in 2015, Sergey continued leading the company, preserving their shared vision and driving further innovation. Shirogorov’s offerings include both premium production knives and extremely limited custom models, often made with top-tier materials like Böhler M390 and Uddeholm Vanax steels, paired with titanium, carbon fiber, or G-10 handles. Their most famous designs include the F95, Hati, 111, and NeOn, each one reflecting the brand’s dedication to performance and aesthetics. The company has also collaborated with renowned knife makers, resulting in highly sought-after limited editions. Shirogorov knives are often regarded as the pinnacle of modern production folding knives and are considered grail pieces by collectors around the world.