Bestech Shinkansen S35VN Folding Knife

Shinkansen means “bullet train” in Japanese, which is fitting given the sleek build of this striking folder. Designed with two parallel grooves along the top of the handle and a carbon fiber insert down the center, the handle has a contemporary look. As opposed to traditional flippers, the Shinkansen opens with a front flipper. That means all you need is a firm grip with your index finger on the jimped spine to pull the blade open. It also means there’s nothing protruding from the handle in the pocket, keeping the form factor nice and slim. Packing a 3.6-inch S35VN blade, the Shinkansen is ample big to tackle rigorous tasks. It carries on the right side in a tip-up orientation. Note the anodized pocket clip for an extra touch of panache.

Developed by Crucible Industries (one of the leading manufacturers of specialty steels for the cutlery industry) and Chris Reeve (a pioneer of the integral frame lock), 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.