Hey everyone, David C. Andersen here coming at you from the KnifeCenter, and today we’re
going to be looking at a genre of knives that we’re calling Executive Knives, which you
can find at KnifeCenter.com
Characterized by narrow handles, and long, slender blades, these fancier knives are more
refined than the typical, broad-bladed framelocks we’ve gotten used to these days.
Nice and elegant, they’d fit right in when dressed in a suit or office attire, and are
just what you need to create the right impression.
But they aren’t just good looks, they are ready to throw down as well.
One could even argue that these blade shapes are more useful.
They have more in common with old school slipjoints than anything else.
Their precision and ability to execute fine cuts in tight places are what has made these
shapes useful for generations.
Add in the best modern steels and locking mechanisms, and they can still get the job
done today.
Here are just a few of this new wave of Executive Knives that you might want to check out.
The first is the titanium framed Boker Plus Urban Trapper, a flipper designed by Brad
Zinker, who has been making this style of knife for years.
Like it’s namesake, the classic Trapper slipjoint pattern, the blade is a long, narrow
clip point.
The materials are quite nice.
VG10 steel ensures plenty of edge retention, and although you can get it without any overlays,
which keeps the profile very thin, the versions with wood, G10, or carbon fiber feel and look
even nicer.
The best part is that the Urban Trapper, and indeed all of the knives we’ll see here,
carry nice and unobtrusive in the pocket.
It barely takes up more room than a nice ink pen, and a deep carry clip helps it go unnoticed
until you pull it out.
Next up is the CRKT Crossbones, a design by Jeff Park.
This start with a distinctive two-tone aluminum handle design.
A brushed satin finished shape sits higher and follows the lines of the frame, while
the lowered section is anodized gray and features a diamond checkered texture giving this knife
plenty of grip.
It sits in the hand quite nicely and makes the knife pleasant to use.
The upswept blade is exquisite, and its flat grind and AUS-8 steel make it a pure slicer,
especially on longer cuts.
Keeping it in place is an inset liner lock that is as solid as it is easy to operate,
and completing the package is another deep carry pocket clip.
Moving on, we come to the Real Steel Metamorph series.
There are actually two tiers, the first being the G5 Metamorph.
This is a front flipper design with a more deliberate opening action, and come equipped
with anodized aluminum handles.
A few different colors are available but I especially like the intense blue.
We see a few similarities here to the Crossbones, at least when it comes to the construction.
The milled aluminum scales also features a deep carry clip and inset liner lock.
It even goes a couple steps further with a semi-floating backspacer and a lanyard attachment
point integrated into the spine.
The handles also feel great… we see a nice concave section running the length of the
handle and it indexes very well, especially in a pinch grip.
Add in fine-grained Swedish 14C28N steel and the design is a winner.
Stepping up the ladder we see the S5 Metamorph.
It trades the aluminum duds for titanium, upgrades to S35VN blade steel, and adds a
traditional flipper for even easier deployment.
All these knives so far have featured blades that sit at or near the 3.5” mark, so let’s
check out a couple of smaller options.
First is the American-built Benchmade 485 Valet.
It isn’t quite as fancy as some of these other knives we’ve just looked at, but the
smooth gray G10 handles offer just enough class that the knife won’t look out of place
wherever you carry it.
The really nice thing with the Valet is the efficiency in packaging.
It has a 3-inch blade and just enough handle to keep it concealed when folded up.
Moreover, we get truly premium steel with Bohler’s fantastic M390.
We also get a reversible deep carry clip and Benchmade’s signature Axis-lock, which makes
the Valet one of the best options out there for a fully ambidextrous gentleman’s knife.
Another example of this genre is the ArtisanCutlery Shark.
Although you can get this knife with a 4-inch blade, we think the 3.15” version hits the
sweet spot.
The nicer variants in this series are full titanium frame locks with snappy, bearing-equipped
flippers.
The blade itself features a nice continuous curve along the edge, and is made from premium
S35VN steel with a stonewash finish which will help scratches to blend in when you actually
use it.
We don’t get a deep carry clip with this design.
Instead, it is milled titanium, adding an extra touch of elegance.
The real standout though is the large carbon fiber inlay on the presentation side.
This dignified feature looks great, and is fully contoured with the handle, for a very
comfortable grip.
Of course, if you still want a big bad Executive-style blade, you can check out the 4-inch version
of the Shark, or better yet, the WE Knives 618 series.
WE has been killing it lately; offering world-class materials and fit-and-finish for a lot less
money than you would think, and the 618 is no exception.
This is about as good as it gets on a production piece.
This knife has a ton of reach with a four-inch M390 blade riding on ceramic bearings.
It doesn’t have a flipper, only a single thumb stud, but it is still easy to pop the
blade open with very little effort, and it is held in place by the sturdy frame lock.
The nicest part though is the titanium frame.
Ergonomically contoured, it features fine grooves for extra grip and style.
The two halves fit together without the need for a backspacer, making for a smooth spine,
which includes a hidden lanyard hole.
The milled pocket clip even features grooves that match the handle pattern.
This truly is a statement piece that has the performance to back up its good looks.
Of course, production companies aren’t the only ones serving up this style of knives.
A number of custom makers are putting out excellent interpretations of the executive
knife, including the aforementioned Brad Zinker, as well as Michael Zieba, whose MS3 flipper
has become a favorite of many of us here at the Knife Center, myself included.
As the saying goes, everything old is new again, and we are thrilled to see these classic
profiles thriving today with a modern twist.
If you like what you’ve seen here and want to get your hands on one, click the link in
the description below to head over to KnifeCenter.com, and be sure to sign up for our newsletter
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