I’ve become smitten with Fat Carbon—it’s everything I love about carbon fiber, but with a twist. There’s just so much more going on here visually: depth, shimmer, and color that make traditional carbon fiber look like it's phoning it in. This particular variation—a black and orange “Dark Matter” pattern—looks like molten embers frozen in time, which is perfectly fitting for a knife named Phoenix.
Ergonomically, this knife delivers. The handle is a combo of Fat Carbon and titanium, with the Ti featured in the bolster and the milled pocket clip. The liners? Steel. Kizer went with a liner lock here—not a beefy frame lock—and honestly, that decision keeps the design cleaner. What I really love is how they nestled those liners so the Fat Carbon runs all the way to the edge. From most angles, it looks like it’s all high-end materials, and that kind of attention to detail deserves props.
The Phoenix features a pronounced palm swell that fills the hand in a way that feels intentional and comforting. That milled teardrop on the bolster? It's a surprisingly effective index rest and just one more example of how thought-out this design really is. The jimping is minimal—just on the spine and the flipper tab, which doubles as a finger guard. It’s a big knife with big presence, but not in a clunky or awkward way. It’s comfortable, it’s filling, and it cuts beautifully.
Speaking of cutting, the blade is a Persian-style clip point that kind of resembles a wing in mid-flight—again, very on-brand for the Phoenix name. It’s blackwashed S35VN with a high flat grind that slices incredibly well. I’ve used it for everything from cardboard breakdowns to food prep (don’t judge), and I’ve only needed to strop it occasionally. The edge retention has been impressive.
Deployment is handled via both a flipper tab and thumb studs, but I’ll be honest—the flipper is more reliable. The studs are a bit too close to the handle, making them harder to access. There’s also a milled fuller—or at least what looks like one—that mimics the teardrop on the bolster. It doesn’t do anything performance-wise, but it adds to the visual cohesion of the design.
If I had to nitpick, initiating cuts can be a bit tricky due to the high tip—it’s not the best piercer. But once you’re into the material, this thing glides. The abundant belly makes it excellent for draw cuts, push cuts, or even that rocking motion you’d use for slicing veggies. No, it’s not a chef’s knife, but it wouldn’t embarrass itself in the kitchen either. It’s not the guy who gets picked first for dodgeball, but once he’s in the game, he dominates.
The milled titanium pocket clip isn’t deep carry, but it works just fine. Some of that palm swell sits above the pocket and actually helps with retrieval. Retention is solid, and it doesn't snag or shred my jeans. That’s a win in my book.
The Phoenix may not be flawless, but it soars awfully close. It's bold without being over the top, practical without being boring, and detailed in ways that reward closer inspection. Kizer and Matthew Holly clearly put their heads—and hearts—into this one. From the shimmering Fat Carbon to the well-executed Persian blade, it's a knife that’s as enjoyable to use as it is to admire. It may not slice its way to the front of the line every time, but once it's in hand, you’ll wonder why you'd ever reach for anything else. As far as rebirths go, this one’s on fire—in all the right ways.
Specifications :
Designer: Matthew Holly
Overall Length: 8.35" (212mm)
Blade Length: 3.58" (91mm)
Blade Thickness: 0.13" (3.2mm)
Blade Steel: CPM-S35VN
Blade Style: Clip Point (Persian-inspired)
Blade Finish: Blackwashed
Deployment: Flipper tab, Thumb studs
Handle Length: 4.76" (121mm)
Handle Material: Fat Carbon & Titanium bolsters
Lock Type: Liner lock
Pocket Clip: Milled titanium, right-hand tip-up
Weight: 4.27 oz (121g)
