Over the past weekend, more than 1,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries around the world congregated in Atlanta, Georgia for the annual BLADE Show. The event culminated on Saturday evening with the Knife of the Year Awards, which recognizes the best knives of the year, as voted on by more than 200 industry professionals. Here are four of the most notable winners.
Overall Knife of the Year: Fox Knives SURU
The knife that took home the grand prize is a collaboration between Fox Knives and designer Jesper Voxnaes. According to the duo, the SURU is the first pocket knife to employ a carbon fiber frame-lock, which assists it in reaching an incredibly light 2.04 ounces. The SURU’s steel blade is 2.32 inches long, and all of the hardware is titanium.
American-Made Knife of the Year: Chris Reeve Knives Impinda
Chris Reeve is well-known in the knifemaking world, and his folding Sebenza pocket knife has become a benchmark against which many knives are judged. The Impinda is the manufacturer’s first slip-joint pocket knife. To maintain safety within a non-locking design, Chris Reeve and designer William W. Harsey leverage differential spring pressure so that opening and closing are smooth and safe actions. The Impinda has a 3.12-inch blade, weighs 3.38 ounces and is made of CPM S35VN stainless steel with titanium handles.
