TACTICAL GRIP, KITCHEN EDGE

I don't separate design from function, regardless of the environment. A knife is a tool built for a specific job. This is one of the core principles of Bladetricks.

The challenge this time was unique (at least for me): two custom chef knives: a thin cleaver and a boning knife, requested by another loyal customer. These are the first two chef knives ever made by Bladetricks and this immediately set the parameters for the entire project, forcing design decisions that prioritize performance in the kitchen.

THE COMPLETE DEMAND

The client provided a set of functional parameters that dictated every step of the design: stainless steel, affordability, a thin profile, easy-maintenance handle material, and the use of my standard tactical grinding geometry, a feature he was already accustomed to.

FROM TACTICAL GRIP TO KITCHEN ERGONOMICS

The client's list included one crucial ergonomic requirement: apply the profile of a tactical fixed blade (The custom Parks double edge karambit) to these new kitchen knives. The reason was simple: the client had already tested the grip on a previous custom knife I made for him and found it comfortable and ergonomic for his hand. I kept the design intact, ensuring the grip’s stability and control translated directly to the kitchen setting.

 

THE STAINLESS STEEL NECESSITY

The overall design required light, agile tools, and high longevity, which I achieved with a thin 2mm stock. This agility, combined with the demand for longevity, forced the definitive move into stainless steels.

To achieve superior edge retention and maintain a good price point, I used 14C28N stock. This is where the tactical mindset meets the kitchen: the alloy offers high toughness. Critically, it delivers superior corrosion resistance. This is not about flair; it is a pragmatic choice that frees the user from constant maintenance worries.

PRECISION CUTTING AND TACTICAL ROOTS

Both the cleaver and the boning knife feature a functional chisel grind, built for maximizing slicing performance. This is the same geometry I employ on the vast majority of my tactical knives. I complemented this with a secondary micro bevel on the flat side. This is design focused on extreme sharpness and clean cuts.

For the handles, the priority was simplicity, durability, and affordability. I chose black Delrin, a reliable material that delivers a secure grip without unnecessary complexity and is highly resistant to the demanding environment of a professional kitchen.

Finally, I made two custom Kydex sheaths. This feature is a direct homage to the tactical roots of Bladetricks and its fixed-blade origins. It ensures safe transport and provides a clear, strong visual contrast.

These two knives demonstrate that every choice, from handle material to steel thickness, is a cold, functional decision for pure performance in the kitchen.

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FROM CUSTOM REQUEST TO CRITICAL TOOL

 I will spend as much time as required to solve a problem that comes with tackling a new knife design. The Nosaf Raal Knife is a direct result. The demand was specific: take my aggressive Nosaf Raal Karambit and refine it into a pure, double-edged tactical knife. A dedicated client requested this model, and when a trusted client's needs push the design envelope, I treat it as an opportunity to build a better tool.

WHAT WAS THE CHALLENGE?

To refine my aggressive Karambit geometry into a dedicated, pure double-edged tactical blade.

PIKAL PERFORMANCE. SABRE VERSATILITY.

This is a blade built for the Pikal technique (both reverse grip and edge up). The final balance is PERFECT (the customer's own words, not mine). However, the new handle design (an optimized handle profile borrowed from the Kadesh dagger) transitions seamlessly to the traditional Sabre grip, offering full flexibility for dedicated and adaptable tactical use.

CALCULATED DESIGN FOR CONCEALMENT

I chose a 2mm thick stock for maximum simplicity, concealment and speed.

I also made the calculated move to use stainless steel on this model. This choice isn't for aesthetics, but for the fundamental practicality of corrosion resistance. You get absolute reliability and minimal maintenance, allowing you to focus on the critical tasks.

The Nosaf Raal Knife is minimal design for maximum consequence. It’s a dedicated, double-edged problem solver.

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CONCEPT REFINED OVER A DECADE

 The journey for what would become the Urban Kiridashi began over a decade ago, in 2011. It wasn't born from a typical design brief but from a very specific challenge presented by a special forces unit. My task was to create a knife for a fighter who, until then, had never integrated a blade into his essential gear—specifically, never carried one on his tactical vest or plate carrier.

This wasn't about conventional combat. My objective was to craft "a knife for someone who never carried a knife before, who never used a tactical knife before, who never fought with a knife before." This demanded a tool engineered for inherent safety and profound versatility. The initial result was a unique kind of kiridashi. It featured a short, chisel-ground blade, purposefully set far from the operator's hand for safety. Its sharp edge and exceptionally strong tip were dual-purposed, ready for both cutting and prying. The handle was elongated, with generous finger and palm grooves, ensuring a secure grip that felt intuitive in any position. This became the Bladetricks Urban Kiridashi.

For years, that concept resonated. At Bladetricks, the principle of evolution is foundational to my work. I revisited the Urban Kiridashi with a clear goal: to make it tougher, starting with a comprehensive redesign of its handle. This process, taking over a decade to fully realize its next phase of evolution, led to an unexpected convergence. As I refined the Urban Kiridashi, another older Bladetricks project, the Bladetricks Pry Knife, resurfaced in my mind.

The desire to enhance the Kiridashi's robustness aligned perfectly with the fundamental utility of a dedicated pry tool.

The result of this intensive, dual-track development process for 2025 is not just one, but two distinct and highly evolved tools:

The Gen2 Urban Kiridashi: This is the direct descendant, retaining the original's groundbreaking safety and versatility but now significantly tougher with its redesigned handle. It continues its legacy as a unique, non-intimidating, yet highly capable tactical instrument.

The Compact Pry Knife: Born from the desire for pure robust utility, this is a very simple knife with an exceptionally long cutting edge, a sturdy blade, and a robust tip—a compact and dedicated hard-use tool, directly inspired by the original Pry Knife concept.

These new tools represent not just an "upgrade," but a testament to continuous refinement, practical application, and a decade-long commitment to making capable, reliable tools for demanding users.

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THE GEN 4 SICK KAMA: MY EVOLUTION OF A TACTICAL ICON

At Bladetricks, I build tools that perform. The Gen 4 Sick Kama is my fourth-generation tactical kama, refined for close-quarters combat.

My design process is direct: sketches and wood models for optimal ergonomics. The result is 1070 spring steel, tough with reliable edge retention. The cord-wrapped handle ensures a secure grip.

This Gen 4 defines a new geometry. Unlike traditional kamas, the Bladetricks Sick Kama uses a straight, aggressive main blade. The handle is curved, not the blade, for superior grip and traction.

Innovation continues on the spine. A secondary blade, oriented up and protruding, allows for faster, deeper cuts. This spine edge enables slicing akin to pikal blade-up, edge-in techniques.

The claw-type pommel crusher is designed for direct crushing impact. Its geometry also facilitates tearing and ripping, aligning with pikal blade-down, edge-in CQC techniques.

The Gen 4 Sick Kama is compact. Its optimized geometry ensures fast, efficient attacks and counterattacks. For urban environments, this is a serious tactical EDC option.

This is the pinnacle of tactical kama evolution.

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A CALCULATED MOVE: STAINLESS STEELS AT BLADETRICKS

Choosing a steel for a blade is not an exercise in romanticism. It's a calculated, cold decision based on one simple question: will it perform as required?

For me, that question generally begins with toughness. A blade that cannot withstand real-world use is a liability. After a long, cautious, and practical selection process, the answer led to the first of a few new materials now being used for some of my blades: 14C28N Sandvik and AEB-L steel.

While we still love traditional carbon alloys and their merits, they demand a certain reverence and constant care to avoid the rust which is their inevitable destiny. The singular advantage of a good stainless steel is its indifference to such concerns. It provides a level of corrosion resistance that frees the user from the constant worry of maintenance. This fundamental practicality is why we have made the decision to begin using it.

In an industry obsessed with the latest "supersteel," Bladetricks has remained loyal to its principles of offering affordable and practical tools. These two steels, while distinct, are nearly identical in their shared purpose and impressive performance. They are not a flamboyant choice but a pragmatic one.

 

Two Steels for the Same Purpose

There's a common, and often expensive, misunderstanding that every blade requires a mythical, flawless alloy. The truth is, a truly great steel is a well-balanced one, and both 14C28N and AEB-L epitomize this. Their value lies in a toughness that is both deliberate and professional. They possess an excellent ability to take and hold a very fine edge, a crucial property for any tool meant for serious cutting, but they do so without becoming brittle.

Because of this practical parity, I'll likely be using them indifferently across some of my new models. A customer can be assured that a blade made from either material is a tool built on the same foundation of unwavering toughness.

 

The Slight Differences

While they perform to the same standard in practice, it's worth noting the minor differences between the two. In a purely technical sense, 14C28N ishould be slightly tougher. This makes it marginally more resilient against stress and hard impacts. It also should be more stainless, which can be an advantage for those who require a tool for use in wet or humid environments.

These aren't dramatic, life-altering differences, but subtle details that speak to the specific engineering behind each alloy. The choice wasn't about aesthetics or trends, but about function, a core tenet of the Bladetricks philosophy. What we prioritize is a sensible balance of toughness, edge retention, and corrosion resistance, along with availability, affordability, and ease of work for the maker. These steels simply work, and work well, and this dedication to performance is how I consistently try to offer a better product and experience to my customers.