New West KnifeWorks Glory Folder 2.0 Review: A Stunning Knife With a Price to Match

I was really busy the week that New West KnifeWorks reached out to offer a sample of its brand-new Glory Folder 2.0. I skimmed the specs — MagnaCut Steel, a handsome hand-carved G10 handle, and a button lock — and thought, yeah, I should check it out. It arrived a week or so later, just as I was preparing to head out for a week-long elk hunt.

It’s not a hunting knife (though it would probably work well for small game), but I clipped it into the pocket of my camo pants anyway as I walked out the door. I used it for that week-long trip, and then on a trip to Steamboat to visit some friends, and around the house — and then I found I kept on using it.

I kind of beat it up and risked losing it by carrying it through dark timber for dozens of hours, transferring it between all sorts of bags, putting it in my pocket dirty, and just generally being careless with it.

Here’s the thing: I’d never checked the price until I sat down to write this review. It’s a $525 knife.

Subconsciously, I might have babied it more if I had known the price, but I’m glad I didn’t. If someone is going to pay this much for a small folder, it should handle anything you throw at it. This did.

In short: The New West KnifeWorks Glory Folder 2.0 is a stunningly pretty knife with a whimsical appearance. It improves on the much-loved original by adopting a button-lock design. It features a gorgeous modified drop-point MagnaCut steel blade. The flip-folder opens as smooth as silk and is as fidget-friendly as they come. The design is strikingly beautiful, but don’t let that stop you from putting it to real use. Many knives out there can get the job done for a fraction of its $525 price, but few are prettier.

Compare the Glory Folder 2.0 with the best pocket knives here.

New West KnifeWorks Glory Folder 2.0 Review

Let’s let the elephant out of its cage. $525 is a heck of a lot of money for a small pocket knife. It puts the Glory Folder into rarefied company for production knives. This is top-shelf and only a small step below the entry price for the world of custom knives. The Glory Folder is entirely produced in the Teton Valley of Idaho, mostly by hand, so you’re paying for craftsmanship here as much as function.

Ultimately, I put the Glory Folder 2.0 through a very rough 2 weeks of testing. The result? I think this little pocket knife is exceptional. This little folder has proven to be absolutely reliable, very comfortable to carry, and has held an edge like a champ. The brand calls this a work of art, and it is. But beyond its “pocket jewelry” price tag, it’s simply one heck of a great knife.

Down in the Dirt With a $525 Pocket Knife

The real use and abuse of the Glory Folder 2.0 got started on my second day of the elk archery season. I was deep in dark timber high in the Rocky Mountains, and my cellphone wouldn’t charge. Something was stuck in the USB-C port.

Puzzled about how to fix it, I started by whittling a fine toothpick from a thick, strong stick. It was a slow process, but it resulted in a relatively capable pick.

The trick didn’t work (I solved it later), but the process showed me the Glory Folder’s great ergonomics and wicked-sharp blade. While it lacks the jimping of harder-use knives, the light, slender (0.015-inch) blade was easy to control for fine detail work. I’m not a master whittler by any means, but I was able to carve down a piece of pine to a thickness that fit into the tiny space of a USB-C port.

That was just the first of dozens of times I reached for the knife, which sat securely, but barely noticeable, in the front right pocket of my hunting pants. I used it for everything.

It opened a new package of lighted knocks and sliced open food packaging. It broke down some boxes for transport home. And it cut up lots of tomatoes and onions for lunches and dinners. All the while, I enjoyed the artful appearance and fine finishing.

Flipper and Button Lock

The flipper-style deployment and button lock are an ideal match. With the button lock adding zero friction to the blade’s smooth deployment, the Glory Folder is a fiddler’s dream. It consistently flips open and closed with just a quick flick. And you don’t even need to use the flipper; just press the button, and a bit of wrist action will open the blade in an instant.

Button locks are a bit contentious. Many don’t consider them as strong as some lock styles, like frame locks or solid bars. They’re also more prone to getting gunk in them, and in cheaper knives, they can have weak springs that don’t stay engaged well.

I’m not worried about any of this with the Glory Folder, where the button lock seems like an ideal choice. I say that because this is an EDC knife first and foremost. While it can handle some pretty solid abuse, it’s not what I’d pick up for truly hard use.

This particular button lock always felt extremely positive. I never doubted it was fully locked when it was supposed to be, and never accidentally unlocked it. The lock is ambidextrous, so it works for right- or left-handers, depressing with the thumb for righties and the index finger for lefties.

MagnaCut Blade, G10 Handle

The Glory Folder’s blade is top-notch. The modified drop-point design is eminently practical for day-to-day use, with a curved spine that tapers to a sharp, piercing point. The edge offers a nearly flat front section, ideal for fine-detail work. The belly begins an inch from the tip with a gentle curve, great for skinning game or slicing cloth or rope.

MagnaCut is a premium, high-performance powder metallurgy stainless steel. It does not compromise, offering one of the best blends of toughness, corrosion resistance, edge retention, and hardness available. It’s proven among a few of the absolute best knife steels on the market, and in this use case, hardened to 61 to 62 HRC, it’s exceptional.

While the blade is incredible, the handle might actually be the star of the show. The fluted design enhances the already grippy G10 handle with deep texture. Those flutes also add visual appeal, highlighting the multiple layers of material used in the manufacturing process. The handle shape feels great in the hand, and the entire package fits nicely in a front pocket.

Glory Folder 2.0: Who It’s For

As I sat on my couch last night, exhausted from a long day, I fidgeted with the Glory Folder 2.0 and just marveled at its beauty. The curves fall just right to complement each other, and even half-open, the knife is visually captivating.

New West KnifeWorks openly calls the Glory Folder 2.0 “pocket jewelry,” and it is. The asking price is prohibitive for most folks, and heavy knife users may shy away just because of the risk of losing or damaging such an expensive knife. That will likely make it hard for many people to justify, but for those who love knives for their craftsmanship and beauty as much as utility, the Glory Folder 2.0 has it in spades.

Collectors will enjoy it, as will EDC enthusiasts with deep pockets. It may be a work of art meant for more refined occasions, but in my experience, it can step right into the swamp, field, or mountains and handle challenging outdoor tasks right alongside the best in the space. For a piece of artwork, I’d say that’s high praise.