Kizer Ki5464 Hustler Flipper Knife

The Matt Cucchiara–designed Kizer Hustler is characterized by its wide drop-point blade and minimal design. The blade, made from arguably the best commercial steel on the market in CPM-S35VN, is cut from a 4.5-millimeter-thick slab for strength wherever you may need it. Its drop-point profile lends itself to slicing, piercing, skinning, and much more. To pair with it, there’s a titanium handle with a built-in frame lock. The handle is absent of frills and fills the hand nicely for a satisfying feel. To open the knife, all that’s necessary is a press on the jimped flipper tab. It rides on ball bearings, which create a super smooth rotation—one that Kizer has started to perfect over the years. Carry the Hustler with the right-handed tip-up clip or with a lanyard.

Developed by Crucible Industries (one of the leading manufacturers of specialty steels for the cutlery industry) and Chris Reeve (arguably the most famous knifemaker in the world), S35VN is perhaps the most balanced blade steel ever created in terms of all-around performance. It’s made through a process of powdered metallurgy known as CPM, which results in near perfect consistency in the distribution of carbides. Compared to conventional melting practices, the CPM process produces a steel characterized by superior dimensional stability, grindability, and toughness.