Tabla de contenidos para Complete Knife Guide 2026 en Blade

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

[COVER STORY]

Designed by Jonathan McNees, the Dixon from McNees Knives is milled, assembled and hand finished by Jonathan and his team in Vernon, Alabama. The hollow-ground blade rides on Delrin-caged ceramic bearings for corrosion resistance, exceptional performance and amazing action, and is full width almost to the tip. As the Dixon website notes, the blade’s “beefy profile means you can make stabbing cuts with confidence, while the thin edge slices like a laser.” The titanium handle is contoured to enhance comfort in both the user’s hand and pocket. The framelock is bank-vault tight. The milled base of the hybrid pocket clip offers a refined look, while the bend provides both a firm, comfortable grip in hand and secure attachment to a pocket. Standard T-8 titanium hardware offers durability and can be…

1 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

SHAPE OF STEELS TO COME

“OUR REPTILIAN PATTERN STAYED HOT IN 2025 AND IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO WELL.”—JESSE HARBER There’s something about pre-dicting the future that has intrigued humanity for ages. If you could just somehow know which stocks would turn a profit, which crypto would “go to the moon,” or which numbers were coming in the Power Ball, you like to imagine that you could really take advantage. Thus far the ability to accurately predict the future has been a challenge, which begs the question—what damascus steels and patterns will be hot for 2026? Jesse Harber of Vegas Forge doesn’t hesitate to jump right in. “Our Reptilian pattern stayed hot in 2025,” he observes, “and it should continue to do well.” Vegas most often uses a combination of AEB-L, 440C and 302 stainless…

6 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THESE

“FLIPPERS AND FOLDERS WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE MARKET.”—SAKO ROUCHANIAN I t’s all about perspective, a keen eye on the market and a knowledge of the knives that make heads turn, browsers pause and cutlery consumers reach into their pockets. If the buying public is fickle, then the observers of that pool of potential revenue stay in tune with the changing landscape across the industry to the best of their ability. Sako Rouchanian of Recon 1 (recon1.com) has some concrete observations for 2026, particularly among individual makers. “I believe that custom knives that are made by individuals who have a production company will continue to thrive in 2026,” he noted. “Flippers and folders will continue to dominate the market. Two examples are the Sergey Shirogorov Stellar and Bill Koenig Arius.”…

9 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

WHERE TO NET 'EM

A.G. Russell Knives, Inc. www.agrussell.com ag@agrussell.com A.G. Russell The Cutting Edge® www.cuttingedge.com ce-asst@cuttingedge.com Admiral Steel www.admiralsteel.com sales@admiralsteel.com Widest Range of Stock for Blade Needs Adams International Knifeworks-AIK www.adamsknifeworks.com adamsknifeworks.com@gmail.com (618) 656-9868 Automatic & Customized Knife Specialists ADV Tactical Andre de Villiers www.advtactical.co.za Facebook - Andre de Villiers Facebook Group - ADV SOB BADNESS IG - advtactical adv44sales@gmail.com Butcher SOB folders and button lock flippers Artknives.com www.artknives.com fred@fredeisenleather.com BladeGallery.com www.bladegallery.com www.bladeconnection.com www.epicedge.com Buckeye Engraving www.BuckeyeEngraving.com Make Your Mark Manufacturer of Custom Hand Stamps, Dies and Brands Cutlery Specialties www.restorationproduct.com dennis13@aol.com Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax/Polish, Dennis Blaine Ed Fowler Knives www.edfowler.com eafwb@wyoming.com High Endurance Performance Knives Farina Fine Arts www.farinafinearts.com studio@farinafinearts.com One of a kind, fine art, collectible knives Knife Center www.knifecenter.com info@knifecenter.com RECON 1 www.Recon1.com sales@Recon1.com Your number one source for Custom…

1 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

WHAT’S INSIDE

Blade materials used for many knives of some companies and for assorted damascus patterns, especially of custom knifemakers, as well as the knife trends to watch in 2026 take center stage this issue. The cessation of rolling operations by Buderus Edelstahl, a major German steel maker founded in 1731, has caught the attention of factory and custom makers who use 10xx series carbon steels. The Buderus steelworks was a major producer of 10xx steels, including the 1075 and 1095 used by such knife companies as Condor Knife & Tool, ESEE, KA-BAR, TOPS Knives and White River Knife & Tool, among others. Not all of the foregoing companies depended on Buderus for their 10xx steels but some did. On the custom side, knifemakers often use 1084 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels…

2 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

THE BUDERUS EFFECT

Once when he was ill, Mark Twain famously quipped that “rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” October 2025 brought troubling rumors to the knife industry regarding the potential closing of a major steel mill owned by Buderus Edelstahl. Based in Wetzlar, Germany, Buderus is a major producer of 10xx series steels, including 1075, 1084, 1095 and 15N20, that are purchased through various suppliers. The company was founded in March 1731 and began steel production in April 1920. It has changed ownership several times, including being purchased from Bohler-Uddeholm by Voestalpine. Voestalpine sold the company to the German investment company Mutares in 2025. BLADE® reached out to knife industry steel authorities for comment. Dr. Larrin Thomas reported that he had spoken directly to two different Buderus employees. “We have…

9 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

[SHORT CUTS]

Savage is Thrower of the Year Natalie “Savage” Murray was recently named Thrower of the Year at Dangerfest 2025, becoming the first woman ever to earn the honor. Hosted by Brandon “Danger” Dillon and in its 11th year, Dangerfest is billed as “the largest knife throwing competition in the Western Hemisphere.” Natalie not only won the Dangerfest title, she is also the 2025 Soulthrower Open Champion, a two-time World Cup bronze medalist, and holds the distinction of being the woman with the most long-distance top three finishes in knife-throwing history. If Not Bladeshow.com, It’s Spam It’s that time of year again when every internet scammer and his Uncle Dullard floods the web with emails offering special “deals” on hotel rooms in and around the BLADE Show at the Cobb Galleria…

3 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

Last of the First

The last year of the 21st century’s first quarter, 2025 was a topsy-turvy one, both inside and out of the knife industry. It had its share of good and bad, though we’d rather focus on the former than the latter. A few highlights: • The BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame® enjoyed its largest class of inductees ever—eight: Harvey Dean, Rick Dunkerley, Stanley Fujisaka (page 89), Dr. James Lucie, Al Pendray, Jim Schmidt, and Karen Shook and Daniel Winkler (page 57). • ABS Master Smith John Horrigan made a special series of 20 knives to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the death of his brother, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Bob Horrigan, who was killed in action in Al Qaim, Iraq. A bladesmith in his own right, Bob also was voted…

3 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

Year of Keen COMMODITIES

“THE TREND FEELS LIKE IT MAY BE PEAKING SOON BUT IT STILL HAS SOME ROOM FOR GROWTH.”—DAVID ANDERSEN Among the top 2025 factory knife trends that will carry over into ’26 are Americanmade knives—though maybe not for the reason you might expect—cutters made by companies that excel at making them, multi-tools, knives in hot materials and other keen commodities. While ’25 saw more than its share of challenges—including an economy that was just beginning to recover from the Biden Administration’s years of high inflation and overextended credit, and some in the factory knife industry not enamored with the import tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump—consumers still had their favorite knives and found ways to buy them. “I’m seeing a trend, which could be my personal favoritism, toward USA-made products,”…

8 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

Hot Picks for ’26

“COLLECTORS TODAY ARE LOOKING FOR AUTHENTICITY, ORIGINALITY AND PERFORMANCE.”—JEFF SWANSON Those who enjoy substantial name recognition and others whose work separates them from the pack are expected to be among the top custom knifemakers to watch in 2026—in fact, their work is likely to be in such demand that knife enthusiasts will find it in relatively short supply. Store manager at BladeGallery, Inc. (bladegallery.com), Jeff Swanson indicated the work of ABS Master Smith Aaron Wilburn is on the rise. Aaron has been a bladesmith for over 20 years and Swanson sees the talented craftsman’s passion for the forge and years of experience manifesting in bold, beautiful creations. “Collectors today are looking for authenticity, originality and performance, and Wilburn delivers on all three fronts,” the Blade-Gallery manager remarked. “His sole-authorship customs…

9 min.

Blade|Complete Knife Guide 2026

[SHOW CALENDAR]

Note: Events with an asterisk (*) have knives and knife accessories as the main/sole focus. Events with two asterisks (**) are knifemaking seminars or symposiums, cutting competitions, auctions, or other knife-related events. DECEMBER DEC. 6, EUGENE, OR The OKCA Mini December Show, Lane Events Center. Visit oregonknifecollectors.com.* DEC. 6 LEXINGTON, KY Kentucky Custom Knife Show, Embassy Suites Lexington Green.* DEC. 13 RUTLEDGE, TN Rocky Top Knife Traders Knife Show, AG Pavillion. Call Anthony 865-765-4365.* DEC. 16-18 DENVER, PA Firearms & Military Auction, Morphy Auctions. Contact Morphy Auctions, Dept. BCKG, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517 877-968-8880 info@morphyauctions.com, morphyauctions.com.** 2026 JANUARY JAN. 23-26 LAS VEGAS, NV The NSSF SHOT Show, Venetian Expo + Caesars Forum. For the trade only. Visit shotshow.org. JAN. 30-FEB. 1 LAKELAND, FL The 48th Annual Gator…

4 min.