One of Last Year’s Most Stunning EDC Knives Gets a Shiny New Look (and a Nicer Price Tag)

Artisan Cutlery’s Cleo returns with serious super steel, its beloved button lock and one eye-popping handle.

Published March 14, 2025

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When it comes to products, one pretty hard and fast rule is that, all other things being equal, as something gets better, it gets more expensive.

Every once in a while, however, a new edition of a product drops that’s simultaneously more affordable and, if not better, at least somehow more compelling or head-turning.

artisan cutlery cleo copper hero — Like the original, the new Cleo gets a premium blade made of S90V super steel.

That’s where I am landing with the latest release from an ever-growing knife brand, Artisan Cutlery.

Because its latest edition of the Cleo is not only 10 bucks cheaper, it also has a handle to beat the band.

Throwing copper

To be fair, the original Cleo made quite an impression when it appeared last fall.

Created in collaboration with South African designer Johan Jordaan, it immediately popped in terms of both looks and performance.

artisan cutlery cleo copper folded — Ambidextrous thumb studs and a button lock enable reliable single-handed operation.

Made of beautifully balanced SV90 super steel, the 2.54-inch modified wharncliffe blade delivers on both form and function.

The knife also boasts a very on-trend button lock.

Not only are these mechanisms super sturdy, they are also crazy fidgety, due to the fact that a quick press and flick of the wrist is all you need to deploy the blade and to return it to its sheath on a smooth ceramic ball bearing.

artisan cutlery off side — The off side of the blade displays Jordaan’s personal logo, the knife’s model number and the blade steel.

Even so, the knife has proper ambidextrous thumb studs, providing a slightly more sophisticated deployment option, while a reversible titanium pocket clip ensures it’s always within easy reach.

But here’s where we come to the separation point. Whereas the original Cleo’s handle was constructed of textured titanium, the new edition gets a bit more flair, courtesy of a copper handle.

artisan cutlery cleo off side folded — From any angle, the new Cleo is a conversation-starting stunner.

While I can hardly call this a performance upgrade — the swap is no doubt responsible for a significant bump in weight, from 2.36 ounces to 3.8 ounces — it’s almost certainly an aesthetic one.

No, it’s not for everybody. But if you happen to value the starting of conversations over the art of inconspicuousness, the choice is pretty obvious to me.