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New Knives of the Week: August 29th, 2025
Published: August 29th, 2025
This week’s new releases bring together some of the most distinctive styles in the knife world, with fresh offerings from Heretic Knives, Chaves, Hogue, Benchmade, and Case. The lineup ranges from neon-soaked modern designs that feel ripped from retro skylines to integral titanium builds that emphasize strength through precision engineering. Handle materials also take the spotlight, from layered composites that reveal topographic patterns to dyed bone that captures the shifting colors of the sea. Paired with advanced blade steels, refined finishes, and both modern and traditional mechanisms, this week's knives highlight how innovation and heritage continue to coexist and shape today’s cutlery landscape.
Heretic Knives
Pariah (Miami Vice Cel-Shaded)
The Heretic Knives Pariah captures the pulse of retro neon culture with a design that looks like it stepped out of a midnight skyline lit by pink and blue. Designed by Tony Marfione Jr., it carries a 3.75" CPM-MagnaCut stainless steel tanto blade dressed in a Miami Vice cel-shaded finish, which opens smoothly via a thumb hole, blending durability with a visual statement that feels ripped from an arcade screen. Its 5.12" handle carries the same high-voltage energy with anodized aluminum scales rendered in cel-shaded electric blue and pink hues and paired with black traction inlays for added control. A button lock with tritium inlay secures the blade, offering both function and subtle glow in low light. Completing the build is a titanium pocket clip with a ceramic ball for smooth pocket carry. Measuring 8.87" overall and weighing 5.57 ounces, the Pariah delivers bold style with balanced proportions, and it is proudly made in the USA.
Chaves Knives
Liberation Street Tanto (Stonewash)
The Chaves Knives Liberation Street Tanto (Stonewash) pairs precision engineering with rugged elegance, built around a 3.5-inch Bohler M390 stainless steel tanto blade that offers outstanding edge retention, corrosion resistance, and piercing strength while maintaining ample slicing capability. A stonewashed finish gives the blade a rugged character and helps mask wear through repeated use. The blade opens smoothly on a flipper tab and locks securely with a titanium framelock, delivering consistent reliability without springs or assist mechanisms. Its 4.12-inch integral handle is milled from a single piece of gray stonewashed titanium, providing strength, durability, and a clean aesthetic while keeping the weight to 5.14 ounces for a substantial yet balanced feel. Measuring 7.62 inches overall, this folder is finished with a tip-up pocket clip for secure carry, reflecting the bold craftsmanship and refined execution that define Chaves Knives.
Liberation Street Tanto (Belt Satin | Stonewash)
The Chaves Knives Liberation Street Tanto (Belt Satin | Stonewash) brings together high-end materials and clean lines in a design that balances everyday function with refined detail. Its 3.5-inch Bohler M390 stainless steel tanto blade is shaped for strength and slicing efficiency, with a belt satin finish that emphasizes the geometry of the grind and lends a sleek, polished character. Deployment is handled through a flipper tab, giving the blade a controlled and fluid opening that locks securely by way of a titanium framelock. The stonewashed handle, measuring 4.12 inches closed, is milled from a single piece of gray titanium, an integral build that enhances strength while keeping the weight to 5.14 ounces. With a .15-inch thick blade, an overall length of 7.62 inches, and a tip-up pocket clip for dependable carry, this folder underscores precision craftsmanship in both form and function.
Liberation Street Tanto (Stonewash Gray PVD)
The Chaves Knives Liberation Street Tanto (Stonewash Gray PVD) is built with a 3.5-inch Bohler M390 stainless steel tanto blade coated in a stonewash gray PVD for added wear resistance and a modern, understated finish that complements its strong geometry. Opening is handled through a flipper tab, giving the blade a smooth, deliberate action that locks solidly with a titanium framelock. The 4.12-inch integral handle is milled from a single piece of stonewash gray PVD-coated titanium, offering durability, balance, and a streamlined profile that feels substantial without excess weight. Measuring 7.62 inches overall with a blade thickness of .15 inches, the knife weighs 5.14 ounces and carries on a tip-up pocket clip, making it practical for everyday use while reflecting the precise engineering and rugged design Chaves is known for.
Liberation Street Tanto (Satin Black PVD)
The Chaves Knives Liberation Street Tanto (Satin Black PVD) is built around a 3.5-inch Bohler M390 stainless steel tanto blade, chosen for its edge retention, corrosion resistance, and strength, and finished in a sleek black satin PVD coating that balances a tactical look with refined style. The blade deploys smoothly by way of a flipper tab and locks firmly with a titanium framelock, emphasizing mechanical precision without reliance on springs or assists. Its 4.12-inch integral handle is machined from a single piece of black satin PVD-coated titanium, creating a cohesive look that pairs durability with modern aesthetics while keeping the overall weight to 5.14 ounces. With a .15-inch blade thickness, an overall length of 7.62 inches, and a tip-up pocket clip for secure carry, the Liberation Street Integral Black delivers a bold all-black profile backed by the engineering and craftsmanship expected from Chaves Knives.
Hogue
Mysto Wood
The Hogue Mysto Wood combines modern performance with natural character through a 3.4-inch CPM MagnaCut clip point blade, finished in black stonewash for a rugged look that hides wear while delivering excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness. The blade opens smoothly with green anodized titanium thumb studs and locks securely with the ambidextrous ABLE Lock. Its handle is built from Maple Valley Richlite, a composite chosen for its strength, stability, and moisture resistance, and patterned with the warmth of wood grain layered into flowing, topographic lines that make every knife visually unique. Measuring 7.8 inches overall with a closed length of 4.4 inches, the Mysto weighs only 2.5 ounces and carries discreetly on a black tip-up pocket clip. Made in the USA.
Benchmade
Lowden (Crater Blue)
The Benchmade Lowden 491 brings modern everyday carry into a compact, lightweight package with a 2.79-inch satin-finished spear-point blade of Bohler M390 stainless steel, chosen for its edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness, and deployed quickly with a flipper tab that pairs seamlessly with the ambidextrous AXIS Lock. The Crater Blue handle is machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, anodized for durability, and contoured for a secure grip while keeping the overall weight down to just 2.99 ounces. Measuring 6.94 inches overall with a closed length of 4.15 inches, the Lowden carries discreetly on a reversible Flat Dark Earth deep-carry pocket clip and balances strength, precision, and portability in a USA-made build designed for everyday reliability.
Lowden (Phoenix Red)
The Benchmade Lowden 491GY-01 is a USA-made compact folder built with a 2.79-inch spear-point blade of Bohler M390 stainless steel, prized for its edge retention, corrosion resistance, and toughness, and finished in a gray Cerakote for added wear protection and a discreet profile. A flipper tab allows quick deployment, while the ambidextrous AXIS Lock proved secure blade retention. The 4.15-inch handle is machined from lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum and anodized in Phoenix Red, paired with a Flat Dark Earth lock bar and clip for contrast, creating a bold yet functional design that weighs only 2.99 ounces. Measuring 6.94 inches overall, this knife carries easily on a reversible tip-up deep-carry pocket clip, balancing striking aesthetics with practical everyday performance.
Heretic Knives
Wraith Auto V4 (Battleworn Black | Blizzard Worn)
The Heretic Knives Wraith Auto V4 is a side-opening automatic measuring 8.69 inches overall with a 3.625-inch tanto blade of CPM MagnaCut stainless steel, finished in a battleworn black coating that emphasizes both durability and a seasoned, tactical look. The blade is 0.17 inches thick, giving it strength for heavy use while maintaining an aggressive profile. It deploys with authority at the press of a button, delivering fast, reliable action every time. The 5.07-inch handle is built from a 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum frame with a Blizzard-worn finish and textured inlays for grip and accented by blue titanium collars, creating a rugged frame with a custom-level touch. At 0.61 inches thick and weighing 6.07 ounces, it balances substance with carry comfort, and the black tip-up pocket clip keeps it ready at hand. Made in the USA.
Case
SMKW Exclusive Sea Dragon Small Texas Toothpick
The Case XX SMKW Exclusive Sea Dragon Small Texas Toothpick carries a classic slim profile with a coastal-inspired twist, featuring jigged bone handles dyed in flowing shades of deep blue and vibrant green that shift like ocean waters in sunlight. Each handle is unique, with natural variation in the layered colors, and is framed by polished nickel silver bolsters and pins for a clean, traditional finish. Measuring 3 inches closed, this pattern is fitted with a 2.25-inch TruSharp Surgical Steel clip point blade that offers dependable edge retention, corrosion resistance, and versatility for everyday cutting tasks. The blade opens with a nail nick and operates on a smooth slipjoint mechanism, keeping the design lightweight and true to tradition. Proudly made in the USA and offered exclusively through Smoky Mountain Knife Works.
Written By
Drew Clifton
Drew is the lead writer for SMKW's Knives 101, crafting informative and engaging content for the world’s largest knife store. With expertise in knife history, design, and functionality, Drew delivers articles and product descriptions that educate and inspire knife enthusiasts at all levels.
Expert Reviewed
T.C. Barnette
T.C. Barnette is a dynamic media personality and the esteemed spokesperson for SMKW (Smoky Mountain Knife Works), where his passion for knives intersects with his captivating on-screen presence. With a magnetic charisma and deep expertise in cutlery, T.C. has become a beloved figure in the knife community.









