The annual Blade Show presents the biggest names and most discerning hands in the world of knives. We’re breaking down the 2018 Knife of the Year award winners.
Often described as the knife industry’s homecoming, the annual Blade Show is not the pure business show that SHOT is for hunting and shooting. Nor is it as exclusive or high brow as some of the invitationals.
Instead, the show, held in Atlanta, Ga., is a place where custom makers can push the year from red to black and production companies can scout new collabs.
Most big reveals in recent years have taken place at SHOT, but this year bucked that trend a bit. Still, the highlight of the show is the awards. Given in two batches — one for production companies and one for custom makers — the Blade Show awards have a long history, going back more than 20 years.
The 14 categories of production awards have a less-than-perfect track record, often selecting knives that were discontinued or eschewed by the knife-buying public (like Spyderco’s Snap Lock or LionSteel’s color-change-handle KUR). Manufacturers, sellers, and other industry folks all vote on the awards.
Overall Knife of the Year: Fox Knives SURU
The SURU is a collaboration between Fox Knives and Jesper Voxnaes (maker of the Snailor, among others). Voxnaes and Fox have partnered before on a number of designs, all of which echo the SURU. This knife is a titanium framelock flipper with a roller bearing pocket clip — a feature often seen on custom knives.
This knife is a puzzling winner for a number of reasons. First, it’s not all that different from the other Fox/Voxnaes collabs. So it’s surprising that this one won the big award when others got no recognition at all. Second, there were dozens of really excellent designs that came out this year, many of which innovated in terms of features, placement in retail channels (like Kickstarter or Mass Drop launches), or both.
The Massdrop Terzuola release, for example, seems to be one of the most interesting knives of 2018. Teaming up with WE Knives and the retail upstart Massdrop, Bob Terzoula, the “Progenitor of Tactical,” had all of the ingredients of an important blade. But alas, it got nary a mention.
In the end, I’m sure the SURU will be a solid knife — both Fox and Voxnaes make great cutters. I’m just not sure it will have a lasting impact (see: Spyderco Snap-It).
American-Made Knife of the Year: Chris Reeve Impinda
Import Knife of the Year: Spyderco Paysan
Most Innovative American Design: Hinderer Tri Pivot
Most Innovative Import Design: V Knives Crab
Best Buy: CRKT Caligo
Collector/Investor Knife of the Year: Protech Newport Ultimate Diamond Elite
