An Industry-Leading Designer Just Released a Super Steel Carbon Fiber EDC Knife

Boker

An Industry-Leading Designer Just Released a Super Steel Carbon Fiber EDC Knife

Limited to just 500 examples, this rarified folder marks another great achivement for the designer and brand.

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Rarity is one of the many factors that can make everyday carry knives collectible. Even a familiar folder, when given a limited-edition makeover, can be a coveted tool. But things get even more enticing when the whole of a knife, from tip to tail, is only available for a short time or in limited quantities. Mix in the quality of upscale materials, and the pedigree of a top-notch designer, and that ante is upped even further.

Famed German knifemaking brand Boker just released one such knife — a part of its unassumingly named, one-shot Boker Plus Collection — for the new year. Made in collaboration with lauded designer Les George (who has famously worked with other top-notch brands like Kershaw and Protech), the Boker Plus Collection 2024 (yes, that’s really what it’s called) is an eye-catching triumph; but it won’t be around for long.

High-end materials make this rare knife even rarer

At first glance, this knife might seem a little underwhelming. After all, the silhouette isn’t particularly eye-catching. I like to think this was a conscious choice on the part of George — one that was understood and accepted by Boker, as evidenced by the knife’s existence. This is because the knife’s materials, rather than its design, are what really do the talking here. It’s not to say there’s anything wrong with the simple, ergonomic silhouette; it’s just a bit basic. 

The sturdy frame lock ensures that super steel blade stays deployed while in use.Boker

But once you start taking a gander at the material specs, it makes more sense. The drop point blade is made from MagnaCut super steel — a metal renowned as a true high-end all-arounder. The blue hardware is made from anodized titanium, helping to add strength to it while saving weight. The frame lock side of the handle is similarly crafted from super-strong titanium (as is the pocket clip). And then there’s the other side of that handle, done up in show-stealing carbon fiber.

You can have your carbon fiber handle two ways

While there’s a lot to love about this knife, the real star of the show is the handle scale on the non-locking side. In an unusual design choice, George and Boker have opted to use “fat” slabs of carbon fiber in two ways. The bolster of the handle scale (the upper part that houses the pivot) is made from a piece of “Black Dunes” carbon fiber (marked by a wavy pattern), whereas the lower part is made from “Space Coral” (which is a bit rougher in its appearance, more like a mineral).

Together, the pieces of the scale have a kind of harmonic dissonance. From afar, it looks like one fluid piece, but it begs for a closer inspection, eventually revealing the difference in those patterns. It’s an odd look — one that beckons you to gaze upon it — but it works.

Only 500 examples of this knife will ever be made, and they’re priced at $499 apiece. You can order it through Boker’s site right now.

Boker

Who is Les George?

For over 30 years, George has been involved in the knifemaking industry, getting his start all the way back in 1992. In his early years, he learned from the late, great Stan Fujisaka of Kaneohe, Hawaii, before enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1997, where he served for over a decade at postings all around the world — all of which helped shape his understanding and philosophy of knives.

After retiring from service, George moved to Texas to train as a machinist before moving into knifemaking full-time in 2008. By 2016, he had moved to Mississippi, where he currently resides, working out of a shop on his own backwoods land. As mentioned, he’s designed knives for major brands, including Kershaw (and its sibling brand Zero Tolerance), Protech, Spartan and (of course) Boker.

His designs are typically function-first, focusing more on overall utility than image (likely a result of his gritty, nose-to-the-grindstone background). He does occasionally offer more showy pieces, however, both in collaboration with the aforementioned brands and from his own custom shop.