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You remember Carved, right? We first checked out one of their phone cases (review is here). A little after that, we went hands on with one of their wood-and-resin wallets (reviewed here). After a phone and a wallet, the third thing I’ve got in my pockets – most days – is a pocket knife. Well, wouldn’t you know it, Carved has an option there, making for a full trio. We’ve been spending time with the Carved Pocket Knife, and have some thoughts to share.
The Materials
The materials used in the entirety of the Carved lineup are what will draw you in. Whatever you’re looking at, you’ve got a combination of wood and resin in different colors and patterns, giving you a unique look to your carry. While the wallet is made just of wood and resin, the Carved Pocket Knife is more like the phone case. By that, we mean the wood and resin is set into the handles, rather than being the entirety of the construction.
And that, of course, is a good thing. You want the metal of the frame (in this case, titanium) there to provide a strong and durable handle while you’re using the knife, as well as hold up to the day-to-day bumps and bruises of life. It should be noted that the inset is just on one side of the frame. On the reverse side, that’s where the frame lock is, as well as the pocket clip. Realistically, any insert there would have been quite narrow, and not add to the look of the knife.
The machining of the insert is well-done, and it sets into the frame very nicely. It’s slightly above the edge of the titanium, but the edges are rounded down so you’re not getting things caught on that edge. If you carry your phone or wallet in the pocket you normally have your knife in, this also means that they’ll slide smoothly against each other.
The Carved Pocket Knife blade
One thing that really jumps out at you about the Carved Pocket Knife is the pattern on that blade. Damascus pattern steel shows up now and again, and it’s a rather unique look to things. Sometimes, it comes across as an etched pattern (as we saw here), and that’s what we tend to expect with less-expensive knifes. Here, however, it looks like we do have more of a “true” damascus. Here’s how Carved describes it:
The blade has a 440B stainless steel core with a Rockwell Hardness of 59HRC. It is valued for its high corrosion resistance and sharp edge retention and is used for surgical instruments and blades.
Sandwiched around the stainless core is forged 316L+5Cr15Mov Damascus steel. 316L steel is highly resistant to acids and other organics that can attack your blade over time. 5Cr15Mov, commonly used in culinary knives, is tough, corrosion-resistant, and easy to maintain. When the two are forged together to make the Damascus, the result is a beautiful material that is tough and easy to maintain.
So, instead of just etching a fancy pattern into the blade, there is some additional work, with the folded steel is what brings out those waves and intricate lines. With this being a result of the steel manufacturing – and not a chemical pattern – means we shouldn’t see that the lines are worn off over time as you use the knife.
Of course, we have been using the knife of the last month or so, and have not encountered any issues in that regard. They also state that the blade should come “razor sharp” out of the box. While I would not call it a dull blade as it comes, it certainly can benefit from a little attention. I ran it through my sharpening stone kit, and even with just two of the stones (medium and fine) the blade was a good bit sharper. And on the pivot action, that’s reasonable (you just have the drag from the frame lock tension), but whenever I disassemble the knife to clean it, it’ll be getting a dose of lubricant on the bearings to help it run as smoothly as possible.
Wrapping things up
All in all, the Carved Pocket Knife offers a lot for the price tag. Between the Damascus blade and the wood-and-resin insert, this is a knife that will look unlike anything else. Perhaps not the knife you head out into the woods with, but for your casual carry during the week, this is one that will work well, and look great doing it.
Just as with their other wood-and-resin options, the Carved Pocket Knife comes in a variety of options and colors. You can check out the full range on their site, including some new glow-in-the-dark options. No matter the choice, you’re looking at $99 to add one to your collection. You can check out all the options over at carved.com
Carved Pocket Knife Details
Experience the perfect blend of form and function with our durable folding pocket knife, featuring a lightweight titanium handle. The Damascus stainless steel blade is complemented by a unique wood burl and resin inlay. Imported blade and handle.
- Materials: Burl Wood, Resin, Damascus Stainless Steel
- Titanium (Ti 6Al-4) handle with frame lock
- Razor sharp blade
- Strong, lightweight and water resistant
- Perfect gift, comes in a beautiful box
- One of a kind, artist made
Specifications
- Blade only: 3″ x 0.8″ x 0.12″
- Knife when closed: 4.13″ x 1.1″ x 0.46″
- Knife when opened: 7.13″ x 1.1″ x 0.46″
- Weight: 3 ounces (86 grams)
