The Crux is our second collaboration with Ferrum Forge Knife Works, a two-man operation out of San Diego known for producing small batches of custom knives. For this second drop, we’re offering the handle in brand-new colors with the option to get it engraved with some clever designs. A full-sized folder, the Crux is equipped with a drop-point blade made from S35VN steel, widely regarded as one of the best blade steels on the market. At 3.4 inches, the blade can tackle tough everyday tasks with ease. And it pairs with a strong and lightweight 6AL4V titanium handle with a built-in frame lock for secure lockup. Finally, there’s a matching titanium pocket clip for tip-up carry on either side.

A hammer, a screwdriver, a pair of pliers: Sometimes the simplest tools are the most useful. The Crux follows that line of thinking with its minimal and elegant form factor. Looking at the knife from the side, you’ll notice a single clean line from the tip to the lanyard hole. As pleasing to the eye as that line is, it also makes for superb balance, immediately noticeable when holding the knife. Thanks to the caged bearing system—a mechanism used in nearly all of Ferrum Forge’s custom knives—the Crux flips open effortlessly with a press on the jimped flipper tab. The base of the blade has a sizeable choil for ease of sharpening; but it can also be used to choke up on the knife for detail work. The hardened steel lockbar insert won’t wear out over the long haul, drastically increasing the folder’s longevity.

Developed by Crucible Industries (one of the leading manufacturers of specialty steels for the cutlery industry) and Chris Reeve (arguably the most famous knifemaker in the world), S35VN is perhaps the most balanced blade steel ever created in terms of all-around performance. It’s made through a process of powdered metallurgy known as CPM, which results in near perfect consistency in the distribution of carbides. Compared to conventional melting practices, the CPM process produces a steel characterized by superior dimensional stability, grindability, and toughness.

Founded in 2009, Ferrum Forge started from humble beginnings in Elliot Williamson’s garage in Southern California. Using found pieces of steel like old files and leaf springs, Elliot gradually taught himself knifemaking and metallurgy. As his skills and passion grew, so too did the demand for his work. Luckily, Elliot’s brother Chris joined the team in 2012 to help expand Ferrum Forge to what it is today: a small operation dedicated to designing and producing custom knives through a rigorous process of development, machining, iteration, and quality control.