Displaying items by tag: oknife

OKnife seems to be carving a name for itself by partnering with big names in the knife industry. Could it eventually stand alongside Kansept or Kizer in terms of design credibility? That’s a tall order, but with models like the AION—a new collaboration with renowned designer Ostap Hel—they’re certainly taking the right steps.

Hel is known for blending artistic geometry with practical knife design. His journey began in Poland, where a childhood surrounded by artists, a fascination with medieval weapons, and a stint in an armorer’s shop all shaped his creative vision. After a detour into law, where he even wrote his thesis on knives in Polish legislation, he returned to his passion full-time. His custom work and production designs alike reflect his signature blend of symmetry, smooth transitions, and functional beauty.

When you’re looking for a quality utility blade—something for work, or just those moments when you don’t want to gunk up your favorite EDC knife—there’s a lot out there. You’ve got everything from budget bin beaters to high-end options like the Hawk Shortcut. I usually recommend starting somewhere in the middle. Something built well, compact enough to disappear in the pocket, and tough enough to handle daily demands. That’s exactly where the OKnife U1 Ultra lands. It checks all the boxes, and after spending time with it, I can confidently say it’s a contender.

OKnife has been quietly building its own identity in the knife world, moving beyond flashlight accessories and stepping into the spotlight as a standalone brand. The Duron is one of their latest offerings — a straightforward, no-frills framelock that focuses on functionality, toughness, and everyday reliability. It's not a showpiece knife trying to grab your attention with wild designs or exotic materials; instead, it aims to deliver solid performance with just enough refinement to make it stand out in a crowded market.

I recently received these two versions of the upcoming XEN-OAL knife from OKnife and designed by Ken Onion.  Anyone familiar with Ken Onion’s designs with Kershaw and Columbia River Knife and Tool should be interested in any new designs with his name on them.

There's just 24 hours left until we draw a winner for this OKnives Heron L1 knife!

The folks at OKnife have sent me their new Heron L1 folder to review, and they were nice enough to send an extra one along to give away.

I just got them in yesterday afternoon and I'm a bit rushed to get it posted, because they are also having a flash sale on these from April 16th to the 22nd.