The First-Ever Aluminum Frame Lock Gets Applied to a Stunning Military-Inspired EDC Knife

Oknife is back with a more tactically styled follow-up to its groundbreaking XEN-OAL folding pocket blade.

Oknife Duron Folding Knife closeup of pivot

Published April 14, 2025

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At the beginning of the year, Oknife dropped an EDC bombshell: the first-ever all-aluminum frame lock pocket knife. Raising almost $200,000 over the course of its Kickstarter campaign, the Ken Onion-designed folder was an immediate hit.

The brand has just returned to that groundbreaking innovation with a direct follow-up called the Oknife Duron. This time, instead of going futuristic and urban, the brand has taken inspo from the tactical and military worlds.

Oknife Duron Folding Knife stuck in cutting board with charcuterie ingredients — Oknife’s Duron boasts military-inspired styling that helps give it timeless good looks.

Float like a butterfly

The Oknife Duron isn’t a small knife; it measures 8.0 inches long. Of that length, 3.5 inches make up the blade, and the other 4.5 is the handle, which offers plenty of length even for larger hands.

This is important not because of its beefiness but rather because of its lack thereof. Despite its relatively large size, this knife weighs a mere 3.17 ounces.

Despite its relatively large size, this knife weighs a mere 3.17 ounces.

It manages to stay so lightweight largely because of its handle material. As mentioned, this knife boasts the same groundbreaking all-aluminum frame lock as its predecessor. But the rest of the handle is also made from that same ultralight OAL super aluminum.

What’s also important is that durability and toughness weren’t sacrificed to manage this. The knife is still exceptionally strong and capable, helping to make it a veritable best of both worlds.

Oknife Duron Folding Knives closed on cutting board with cocktail ingredients — The Duron is extremely lightweight yet highly durable, courtesy of its all-aluminum handle.

Sting like a bee

A drop-point Nitro-V blade with a PVD coating is mated to the Duron’s ultralight, ultra-tough handle. While not super steel, Nitro-V is a respectable, hard-working steel that should serve users well, even if they put this blade through its paces.

The PVD coating also helps add a bit more style — blacking out the blade — while offering even more durability than it would otherwise have. The combination speaks to the knife’s tactical inspiration.

While the materials are all solid, something must be said for the knife’s machining and tolerances. While the thumb stud deployment is a little sticky, there’s no blade wobble to speak of. Furthermore, the machined grip is both gorgeous and grippy.

The signature mechanism, the aluminum frame lock, is also exceptionally sturdy and reliable. The knife also has a tight and springy reversible pocket clip.