Knives 101


Knives 101

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Blade Show Texas 2026 Award Winners

As the knife industry continues to push the boundaries of materials and mechanics, Blade Show Texas 2026 served as a premier stage for both established giants and rising innovators to showcase their best work. This year’s winners are a shift toward functional refinement, where high-performance steels like MagnaCut and Vanax are paired with designs that prioritize real-world utility over mere shelf appeal. From the precision-engineered bolstered folders of Null Knives to the streamlined, American-made reliability of Zero Tolerance, these...

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Recent Articles

New Knives of the Week: April 17th, 2026

This week’s lineup brings together a wide range of styles, materials, and mechanisms, with makers like FerraMonster, Wixco, Boker, Leatherman, and Remington each offering something distinctly different. FerraMonster leans into premium framelocks with high-end steels, titanium construction, and bold finish work, while Wixco continues to build out modern folders with sharp color contrasts, practical blade shapes, and smooth, user-friendly action. Leatherman keeps things focused on compact utility with a multitool built...

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New Folding Knives at Blade Show Texas 2026

As the doors opened at Blade Show Texas 2026, the floor reflected a clear shift toward refinement in everyday-carry folders. This year’s lineup leaned less on sheer volume and more on focused execution, with makers like CIVIVI delivering a clean, dialed-in example of modern mid-range EDC design. Heretic Knives pushed into new territory with a notable change in locking systems, signaling a broader expansion in their approach to manual folders. At the same time, Tekto entered the conversation with a design featuring rifle-inspired styling, bringing...

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New Fixed Blades at Blade Show Texas 2026

Blade Show Texas continues to carve out its place as one of the most interesting stages for new releases, and this year’s fixed blades show exactly why. There’s a clear shift toward practical designs that everyday people will actually carry and use, with makers focusing on refining size, improving materials, and dialing in performance rather than chasing extremes. A lot of what stood out this year builds on familiar ideas, reworked into more compact, capable tools that fit better into everyday life. From small, pocket-friendly fixed blades to larger field...

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New Knives of the Week: April 10th, 2026

This week’s lineup brings together a mix of styles and materials, with each brand leaning into what it does best while still offering something a little different. Bear & Son keeps things traditional but adds an exclusive twist by pairing a familiar Barlow pattern with a bold, eye-catching handle that stands out in both daylight and low light. Victorinox goes in a different direction, focusing on refinement and material quality with a limited piece that highlights patterned steel and natural wood in a clean design. Both knives feel...

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Written By

Drew Clifton

Person smiling in front of a garden and traditional building.

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

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.