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Carter Cutlery, an artisan knifemaker based in Portland, Oregon, released an all-new collection of fixed-blade knives. Carter Cutlery’s founder, Murray Carter, is believed to be the only Westerner in history to master the ancient Japanese tradition of Yoshimoto bladesmithing; for 18 years, Murray lived in Japan, where he studied ancient forging techniques under a Yoshimoto elder. Murray is also recognized as a Mastersmith by the American Bladesmith Society, the highest award in American knifemaking.
The five new fixed-blades are “neck” knives, which means they are intended to be holstered and slung around your neck. Each blade is carbon-steel-core laminated, containing 30 alternating layers of high-tensile steel (that’s the special Yoshimoto treatment) and pure nickel sheet. The lengths span 3.35 inches to 3.75 inches, and each blade weighs around three ounces. The handles are made of Snakewood, American Desert Ironwood, Micarta, and G10. Because of the painstaking Yoshimoto process, no two blades are alike.