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5.5-inch exaggerated Bowie Blade, fully flat ground to .01” edge with Carved Titanium Frame.
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3-inch MicroMaxx "Static"
with Carved Titanium Frame, and Satin Finish on French Gray background.
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These new knives incorporate my new highest quality construction and finish standards and I will be upgrading the rest of my line over time. I am upgrading the 7.125” “Gibbs” Model Madd Maxx to a carved frame design now.
The following are my new standards used in these new knives and all my knives going forward:
All these new knives have extremely tight tolerances, as close as 5/10,000 in most cases. All frames have a high-grade, almost mirrored finish on the outside edges, and they are contoured, rounded and domed on the edges to give them a “melted” feeling in the hand. The insides of the frames are chamfered for additional comfort in the hand.
I use a special blend of 6Al4V Titanium, which has modified to my own specifications - for added strength - in my frames. The frames are satin finished on the faces, and contoured around the edges. This gives a great feeling in the hand, and slims the knife down for easy, comfortable carry in the pocket.
Finishing touches include satin, bead-blasting, and color anodizing, nugget work on the handles, as well as file work on the blades and handle exteriors. All knives now have a jeweled finish on the insides of their frames.
All screws and hardware are hand-polished to a high-grade finish. Pocket clips are all hand-rubbed to a satin finish.
My folders are now made with both “tip up,” and “tip down,” screw holes pre-drilled and ready for use. The blank screws holes are finished with an extra set of polished screws to complete the aesthetics, and the clips are easily reversible to your own preferred manner of carry.
 The Aftermath folder is offered, standard, with an exaggerated bowie style blade (above), in S30V, with your choice of the finishes below. It features the same Integral Bar Lock as the Madd Maxx, which has been touted as the world’s strongest folder (right).
The 3-inch MicroMaxx “Static” is available with each blade style that I offered on its big brother, the Madd Maxx: dagger, spear point, and Bowie. These and more photos are available on my website. If you want something not shown, just ask!
All my knife blades are available with 3 finishes:
1) Hand-rubbed,
2) 600-grit machined satin,
3) Dual finish (ceramic peened and satin finished) for tough uses.
My blades are now being done with a thinner edge-grind. It is my conclusion that thinner edges on pocketknives simply cut better. I have done exhaustive testing on all the blade materials I use, and every one (except Talonite®) will take a very thin edge and still survive under hard use. They will pass practically all the cutting tests I have been studying with along Jerry Fisk at the various Camillus events.
I still adjust the edge grinds to the blade lengths, with the larger Madd Maxx and Venturi Balisong blades having greater edge-thickness for heavier cutting chores.
I offer the following standard blade steel alloys on all my knives:
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D2 for everyday use. It is easy to sharpen and holds a great long-lasting edge. It also has a “toothier” edge than stainless steels, and I use only the Crucible AIRDI 150® D2 blend, for absolute cleanliness and perfect consistency.
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CPM S30V® for tougher uses, and its stain resistant properties.
I offer the following optional alloys in any blade:
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CPM S90V® for the extreme user. It is harder to sharpen, but it holds the best edge, and has stain resistant properties.
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Mike Norris Stainless Damascus. This steel is made to the highest standards, and I have personally tested it to be certain. It cuts very well, and adds great beauty to my knives.
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Talonite® or Stellite 6k®. Both cut exceedingly well, and I feel these alloys are ideal for skinning and general meat cutting. They sharpen very easily and will not stain. Both are uniquely well suited for wet use. I grind these alloys with at least a .022” edge thickness to prevent the possibility of chipping under side loads.
Most of my knives, from now on, will have limited edition carved patterns. I will make only limited numbers of frames in each particular pattern, and I hope this will keep the collector value high.
I will also offer limited edition inlayed handles on select models.
Inlayed materials will include:
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Carbon Fiber
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G-10
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Fine Stag
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Rare Ivory and pearl
These inlayed frames will be offered with a pure hand-rubbed satin finish and rounded, contoured edges in line with my new finish standards.
In each of my folders, the unlocking area of the lock bar and the opposite side of the frames will have enhanced “grip-grooves,” in them. This is designed for easier unlocking of the blade from the open position.
 I still maintain my “straight-across,” theory on the frame. No thumb relief is cut into the frame opposite the thumb-release on the lock bar. This is the only logical set-up for a working knife. The lock will not accidentally fail from twisting the frame in the hand, or when accidentally bumping the release while working with the knife.
Adopting these higher quality standards requires that I focus mainly on one style at a time. Consequently, delivery times on new orders will vary according to what knives I am concentrating upon at the time. (I will fulfill my commitments on delivery times for all standing orders, as quoted.)
Delivery times on each of the the new designs will be 30-90 days
Delivery times on all my other knives are also 6 months to one year.
I feel that maintaining the lead in the custom knife industry requires dramatic improvements and changes over time. I like to introduce all my changes at once, in order to make the best impression. I hope this helps to lay out the path I will be taking for the rest of the year.
I am entirely committed to building the best custom knives I am capable of producing. These upgrades in my standards and my new designs are my best efforts to date, and I have a very unique new custom knife design coming out soon!
Best regards,
Darrel Ralph
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