Hey there everyone. I am about a week past my middle of the month target for getting this out, but as mentioned in this past weekend’s Open Thread, things have been crazy around Knoxville. But we have it today, and so have no fear.
Knife Magazine print subscribers have seen this already, Premium Online Members have access to it if they wished, and now it is your turn.
Knife News is the regular “Quick Hit” news column in our monthly print magazine.
Not always the timeliest when it gets published here, but we try to pick items of significance that will stand up to the delay.
So please sit back and enjoy January’s Knife News…
Boker Plus releases second Brian Efros Design
Over the past several years, Böker has gradually expanded its Boker Plus line of knives to branch beyond purely budget offerings. While the line still includes knives with a sub-$100 price point, the new Brian Efros designed Boker Conductor is a premium knife in terms of both materials and its $353 MSRP.
The Conductor is the second Efros design for Böker, the first being a production adaptation of his custom Jive. Unlike the Jive, the Conductor was designed from scratch for Boker. It is a thumb-disc open titanium frame lock with a 3.35” S35VN blade.
Carbon fiber inlays give an additional premium touch to the exterior, while under the hood a ball-bearing pivot offers lightening fast action. The pocket clip is single position – right hand, tip up, and the knife includes a nylon storage case for those more collecting oriented.
You can find out more about Böker, Boker Plus, and all related brands by visiting BokerUSA.com, or by calling 1-800-835-6433. You can see Brian Efros’s other work at www.beknives.com
WE Knife Co. sends out 2023 with Tashi Bharucha Speedliner
KNIFE Magazine readers may be familiar with French knife maker Tashi Bharucha as he was the driving force behind the “Jim Bowie Project” for the Unnamed Society, an exclusive European design group. Chronicled on our December 2022 issue, the project assembled one-of-a-kind custom bowies based on Bharucha’s design by 26 of the world’s greatest makers.
Bharucha’s new collaboration with WE Knife Co is called the Speedliner. According to Bharucha, “(t)he lines are pure and simple as I get. But the construction is more intricate and complex. Speed slots and milling for ultra lightness, an oversized lanyard hole and of course that faux integral backspacer with the shoulders and arrow pattern on top that stands out as the star of the show”.
There are 5 configurations of the WE Speedliner to choose from, 2 carbon fiber handle options with nested liner locks (MSRP $335) or 2 titanium frame lock options ($374), and the ultra-premium titanium and Damasteel model ($735). Pocket clip is single position, tip-up and right hand.
For more information on WE Knife Company, visit www.weknife.com or email sales@weknife.com. More of Tahsi Bharucha work can be found on Instagram (@tashibharucha)
GSM Outdoors Purchases Camillus
GSM Outdoors is a Texas-based conglomerate which is quickly becoming a major player in the knife industry. The past several years have seen them acquire the likes of Cold Steel Knives and SOG, and they have now added one of the oldest names in American cutlery to their list of brands, Camillus Cutlery. This November they purchased the company from ACME United, who had been importing knives under the Camillus brand after acquiring the name after the original company closed its doors in 2007.
Camillus was founded in 1876 when Adolph Kastor began importing and selling German-made pocketknives. The company began to manufacture knives domestically when the 1897 Dingley Tarrif made the import model impractical, eventually settling in Camillus, New York.
“Camillus is no stranger to innovation, reliability and high-quality manufacturing,” said Zach Henderson, chief sales officer, GSM Outdoors. “This acquisition adds another pillar to our already premier lineup of cutlery brands. We are thrilled to be the stewards of the next chapter in Camillus’ rich history and adding them to the GSM family.”
This is the second legacy knife company to be purchased in the past several months,. Knife wholesaler Blue Ridge Knives recently acquired Ontario Knife Company, see the September 2023 issue of KNIFE for more on that transaction.
GSM Outdoors can be found on the web at www.gsmoutdoors.com or you can direct questions to info@gsmorg.com.
Ocaso Delos is company’s first Merriken collaboration
In just their second year of operation, California-based Ocaso Knives has established a reputation for high-quality gentlemen’s knives. Founded by former Cold Steel VP Ric Valdez, Ocaso’s lineup features knife designs from the likes of Andrew Demko, Mike Wallace, and David Seaton. Joining this stable of designers is Florida custom folder maker Kurt Merriken.
Scheduled for release in early 2024, the Ocaso Delos is based on Merriken’s “Karma” design. It is named for the mythological birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, the twin god and goddess of archery and the hunt respectively. The knife is made in Maniago, Italy and features 120-layer German Damascus steel. The blade is 3” and rides on caged stainless bearings, opening via thumb-stud. The handles are anodized titanium on the frame lock side, and “Dark Matter Blue” or “Black Dunes” Fat Carbon® scales on the front with Ocaso’s signature logo pivot cap rounding out the look. A contoured, titanium deep-carry pocket clip is included.
There is no MSRP at the time of this writing, so keep an eye on www.OcasoKnives.com to catch the release date and further details. More of Kurt’s work can be seen at www.MerrikenKnives.com.