Is This Stunning, Nature-Inspired EDC Knife Artisan Cutlery’s Most Buzzworthy Blade Yet?

The utterly charming and aptly named Beest boasts delightful design, meticulous machining and substantial steel.

Published May 29, 2025

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Updated May 29, 2025

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With the release of the Wizard Series earlier this year, up-and-coming knife designer Dustin Rhodes effectively laid down the gauntlet.

After all, this ambitious collection boasted a bonkers blade-to-handle ratio, a snazzy button lock and luxe materials such as titanium Damascus (timascus) and MagnaCut steel.

artisan cutlery beest hero — Carrying over from the honey-dipped handle, even the Beest’s angular thumb slot reflects the theme.

His follow-up design is a bit cheekier and more affordable, but no less compelling in its own way.

This distinctly different folder draws inspiration from the sweetest of insects and is called, fittingly, the Beest.

Honeycomb hijinks

The most noticeable aspect of the Beest is obviously the handle.

Made of titanium, it features a honeycomb pattern complemented by light skeletonization and a small carbon fiber inlay at the back.

artisan cutlery beest silver off side — The titanium handle and pocket clip are not only good-looking but also lightweight and durable.

These lightweight yet durable materials help keep the overall weight of the knife a relatively lean 2.89 ounces.

The drop-point blade itself is made of S35VN, which is not quite MagnaCut but remains a high-performance stainless steel valued for its excellent edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

artisan cutlery beest silver — The surprisingly large S35VN drop-point blade should prove beyond qualified for most, if not all, EDC tasks.

As cute as this knife might appear, that blade is no joke; it measures 3.65 inches, part of an overall length of 8.02 inches and a closed length of 4.37 inches.

While bigger than your average EDC knife, it should still carry nicely thanks to a titanium clip making an, ahem, beeline for your pocket.

Bumble-free function

In addition to good looks, the Beest offers a bevy of deployment options, including ambidextrous thumb studs, a thumb slot and a jutting front flipper.

The whole operation pivots on a ceramic ball bearing, sure to provide smooth action and a satisfying click.

artisan cutlery beest handle detail — This uncommon angle provides a unique look at the top-notch machining and sleek but effective frame lock.

Rounding everything out is a feature that should serve as a reminder that even when scaling back, Rhodes values high-end details.

Accordingly, the blade stays in place not with a liner lock but rather a precision-milled and super-secure frame lock.

Such a reliable mechanism will keep this beauty going strong for as long as bees make honey.

Availability and pricing

Both the Gold and Grey Artisan Cutlery Beest knives are available for pre-order now for $200. They are expected to ship on June 15th.

Artisan Cutlery Beest

$200 at Artisan Cutlery

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.