21st-Century Fold-Downs

RON APPLETON: The ATS-34 “Legacy” folding push dagger integrates a “Multalock” mechanism and a mirror-polished, tastefully grooved, hardened and tempered blade and frame.

TODD REXFORD: Blue “Mokuti” handle rods rise above the titanium frame of the “Injection” tactical folder that also features a Chad Nichols “fade”-pattern stainless-damascus blade, and a Mokuti pivot insert, thumb studs and pocket clip. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

THOMAS HASLINGER: The “Campo Del Cielo” (From the Sky) folder emits mammoth ivory hues, and those of meteorite, ammonite, ruby and gold. The meteorite blade dons an O1-tool-steel edge. To the moon!

SCOT MATSUOKA: All the edges are rounded off—with the exception of the leaf-shaped CPM-154 blade—including those on the gorgeous wood grip, and titanium frame and bolsters of the flipper folder. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

GUS CECCHINI: They are not cracks—the aesthetically 21st-century lines are supposed to run the length of the titanium frames on a couple dress tactical folders, one in damascus. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

JOHN W. SMITH: Let 10 inches of CPM-S35V and carbon fiber take over for a while. (Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios photo)

MIKKEL WILLUMSEN: The “Blondie” flipper folder sports a sand-color and brown G-10 handle, and a rock-tumble-finished, multi-ground, hog-nose CPM-154 blade.

JOHN BARTLOW: A desert-Micarta^®-handle folding version of a “Green River Skinner,” it includes an ATS-34 blade, jeweled, file-worked and anodized-titanium liners, and heat-blued screws and pivot. (Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios photo)

PETER CAREY: I’ll flip ya for the dress tactical flipper folder, this one in Stellite 6K^™, titanium and mammoth ivory. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

MICHAEL WALKER: The inventor of the LinerLock^®, Walker has been building them a long time, but his newest renditions—this one in damascus, carbon fiber and titanium—are all 21st century. (Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios photo)

CALVIN ROBINSON: And would you like black or brown paper Micarta^® with that D2 folder? (Ward photo)

ALLEN ELISHEWITZ: “Bumblebee” carbon fiber is sticky sweet on the double-ground, two-tone-finished XHP tactical stinger with curved titanium bolsters.

EMMANUEL ESPOSITO: The maker gave the knife what he calls a “watch finish,” and the intricacies of a patent-pending “C-Lock” system are like those of fine Swiss watches. Carbon fiber and RWL-34 blade steel coalesce comfortably. (Francesco Pachi photo)

ERIC OCHS: A large custom mosaic pin, milled traction grooves on the maroon linen-Micarta^® handle scales, and a wide, multi-ground CPM-S30V blade characterize the locking-liner folder. (Jamie Piekkola photo)

LAURENT DOUSSOT: The texturing of the titanium handle is golden, the Devin Thomas herringbone damascus orchestrated perfectly, and the pen-style pocket clip perfect. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

SHANE SIBERT: The “Pocket Rocket” will put the blue in your jeans with its hued and grooved G-10 handle, not to mention the bulging CPM-S30V blade. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

BILL KELLER: Blued bolsters were called in to break up the etched Chris Marks “lizard-skin”-damascus blade and Llannoite handle, one more alive than the next. (Johnny Stout photo)

BRIAN TIGHE: The technologically advanced “Tighe Rod” flipper folder exhibits a grooved Damasteel blade, a Klecker lock (Glenn Klecker), a CNC-machined, pierced titanium handle and a needle thrust bearing system. (Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios photo)

SEAN O’HARE: Like a fine suit, the locking-liner folder wears the silver twill G-10 well, accessorizing with black G10 and gray CPM-154.

BRUCE BUMP: Pre-ban elephant ivory and hand-forged damascus play significant roles on the “Port Royal” .36-caliber black-powder muzzleloader/folding knife. (BladeGallery.com photo)

GRANT and GAVIN HAWK: When the flipper of the “Beetle” folder is pressed, a silicone rubber bungee moves the lower part of the frame back and forth. The unusual material combination includes “lightning strike” carbon fiber, anodized titanium and Devin Thomas “bubble wrap” damascus. (BladeGallery.com photo)

KEITH OUYE: “Crazy lace” damascus by Mike Norris is given a nice double grind, while Superconductor bolsters lend color, and “lightning strike” carbon fiber handle scales anchor the flipper folder. (SharpByCoop.com photo)

PETER CAREY: So, how 21st century is a flipper folder in a Superconductor bolster and pocket clip, bronze-anodized liners, “lightning strike” carbon fiber handle and CPM-S3VN blade?

DARREL RALPH: A 3D-carved and anodized titanium frame is butted up against a bowie-style Chad Nichols stainless-damascus blade that works off an assisted opener.

JIM and JOYCE MINNICK: The all-gray tactical is sleek, sharp, swedged and edged. (Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios photo)

MICHAEL VAGNINO: An engraved bronze bolster in a dragonhead motif is one highlight, along with “lightning strike” carbon fiber, but what is unseen is a new slip-joint split-spring feature in which, unlike traditional pocketknives, the spacer does not rise above the handle spine when opening and closing the blade. (Hiro Soga photo)

JEFF HALL: A pair of frame locks in carbon fiber, titanium and steel blur the lines between black and gray, opened by discs and pocketed via clips. (Eric Eggly, PointSeven Studios photo)

RICHARD S. WRIGHT: The double-edge, modified-tanto CPM-154 flipper folder with textured-titanium frame, ball-bearing pivot and four-position pocket clip stands on its own.