Description
The oldest materials we work with
Buffalo horn has been going onto knife handles for longer than anyone has been writing it down, and there is a reason it never quite went out of fashion. It is warm to the touch in a way steel and stone never are, it takes a deep glassy polish straight off the buffing wheel, and every slab is different — this one is black through most of its length with pale gray fibrous streaks running down it like weather. Pair that with a cream fiber bolster at the front and you have a handle that could have come out of a shop a century ago.
The blade
Hand-forged high carbon steel, acid etched so the layering in the bar comes up in visible relief across both flats. Under good light the surface shows dense concentric banding rather than a flat uniform finish — the direct result of steel that has been folded and welded rather than rolled out of a mill. The edges are ground symmetrically and finished by hand.
| Overall Length | 7 inches |
|---|---|
| Blade Length | 4 inches |
| Handle Width | 3.5 inches (T-grip) |
| Blade Steel | Hand-forged Damascus, high carbon |
| Blade Finish | Acid etched Damascus |
| Blade Style | Double-edged spear point, center fuller |
| Handle Material | Polished buffalo horn |
| Bolster | Cream fiber bolster |
| Fittings | Hidden pins |
| Tang | Full tang |
| Sheath | Handmade black leather sheath with brass stud and belt loop (included) |
Carbon steel, honestly described
High carbon steel gets harder than most stainless alloys and takes a keener edge off a stone with less effort. The trade is that it rusts. Not slowly and politely — a wet blade left overnight will show orange by morning. That is not a defect and it is not a reason to avoid the material; it is simply the deal you make, and it is the same deal every carbon blade in every kitchen in Europe has been offering for four hundred years. Dry it, oil it, and it will outlast you. Neglect it and you will be reading our method for lifting rust off a blade without ruining the finish sooner than you would like.
What to put on it
Any light non-drying oil works. Camellia is traditional and smells of nothing. Food-grade mineral oil from a pharmacy is cheap and does the job. Skip vegetable oils from the kitchen cupboard, which go sticky and rancid over months. We compared the realistic options in a short guide to what to actually put on a knife blade, and the summary is that consistency beats which bottle you buy.
Handle care
Horn is keratin, the same protein as a fingernail, and it responds to the same things. Prolonged soaking is bad for it. Radiators, hot cars and direct summer sun are worse, because heat drives moisture out and can start a check in the surface. Room temperature, occasional handling and a wipe with a barely-oiled cloth once in a while is all the maintenance there is. Cream fiber, like the bolster here, stays put and asks for nothing.
Sheath and carry
Black leather molded to this blade, stitched around the perimeter in contrasting thread, snap strap and fixed loop. Store the knife outside it. Leather holds damp and a carbon blade parked in a sheath for a season is how good knives get ruined.
Legality — read this before ordering
Push daggers are treated as a distinct category under a good many US state and municipal codes, and prohibited outright in numerous countries. That is stricter treatment than an equivalent fixed blade receives. Please satisfy yourself about the position in your own state, county and city, and anywhere you plan to take it. The obligation to check sits with you as the buyer, and the law does change.
Questions
Does horn smell? Only if you burn it. Finished and polished, it is inert.
Will the streaking match the photo? No two slabs are alike. Yours will be black with its own pattern of pale figure.
Can I take the patina off? A gray patina is protective and most owners leave it. If you want the surface bright again it comes back with metal polish and effort.
A wooden alternative? The Forgepoint with a rosewood grip is the plainer, more workmanlike cousin of this one.
Made here
Forged, ground, hardened, fitted and finished in Memphis, Tennessee, with the sheath cut and stitched a few feet away. If a fault in the materials or the build ever appears, our lifetime guarantee covers it. Mark it as a present during checkout and it will arrive presented like one.
Model: BMK-1200
Kevin Carter –
Got this as a hunting trip and it exceeded what I expected. Action smoothed out even more after a few days of carry. Beyond happy with how this turned out.
Miguel Reyes –
Would call this a solid pickup for the price. Action is good though it needed a little breaking in. Lockup is solid, just a touch of side to side play. Good product. Just not quite perfect.
Cynthia Robinson –
Good quality pocket knife for the price. Pocket clip works fine, just a bit tight at first. Would order again despite the minor gripes.
Nicole Sanders –
Ordered late at night on a whim and woke up glad I did. Liner lock is tight with zero blade play. Action smoothed out even more after a few days of carry. Lockup is rock solid with no wiggle in any direction. This one’s a keeper for sure.
Donna Hall –
Genuinely genuinely surprised with how this turned out.
Ruth Williams –
This is hands down one of the best knives I’ve bought online. This has become my daily carry piece without question. Can’t say enough good things about this purchase.
Walter Morgan –
This pocket knife is reasonably good. Just a couple small things kept it from 5 stars. Minor nitpicks aside, good quality knife.
Rachel Gomez –
So happy I finally pulled the trigger on this one. Detent is snappy without being stiff to open. Would send this as a gift again in a heartbeat.
Harold Myers –
My father in law was speechless when I showed them this pocket knife. Liner lock is tight with zero blade play. Action smoothed out even more after a few days of carry. Would send this as a gift again in a heartbeat.
Devin Jefferson –
My wife couldn’t stop talking about this after I unboxed it. Pocket clip is sturdy and holds it right in place all day. Blade centering is perfect right out of the box. Already added a few more items from this shop to my cart.
Amy Phillips –
Wasn’t sure what to expect but this pocket knife nailed it. Cool knowing this was handmade right in Memphis and shipped out fast.
Andre Ward –
Was nervous ordering something like this online but so glad I did. Deployment is fast and confident every single time. This has become my daily carry piece without question. Blade centering is perfect right out of the box. Can’t recommend this enough.
Natalie Nguyen –
I collect knives and this one is awesome. Action smoothed out even more after a few days of carry. If you’re on the fence just get it. You won’t regret it. You can tell it’s real American craftsmanship out of Memphis. Shipping was quick too.
Edward Reed –
Really solid quality for the price point. Deployment is fast and confident every single time. This has become my daily carry piece without question. Fits great in the pocket without feeling bulky. No hesitation recommending this to anyone looking.
Devin Anderson –
Phenomenal craftsmanship on this one.