Drop + Brad Zinker Dogtooth Frame Lock Knife

Knifemaker Brad Zinker is best known for his slim and striking knives, most notably the Urban Trapper. Zinker’s designs put emphasis on ease of carry, slender form factor, and utility. So, given the opportunity to make a production version of one of his custom knives, we knew it should embody these characteristics—and his double-bevel teardrop wharncliffe was the perfect fit. Introducing the Dogtooth: a dashing S35VN frame lock with equal emphasis on function and form. The first thing you’ll notice about the knife is its skeletonized 6AL4V titanium handle, which keeps weight down without sacrificing much strength. The next thing that’ll catch your eye is the 3.3-inch wharncliffe blade made from S35VN stainless steel. Furthermore, the knife is outfitted with a deep-carry steel clip and ceramic bearings for smooth deployment with a press on the jimped flipper tab.

The Dogtooth’s wharncliffe blade is made for control. The nearly straight cutting edge is easy to guide through material with accuracy, and the fine tip excels in detailed cuts. While this knife is not meant for heavy duty tasks, it makes quick work of everyday ones, like cutting boxes, opening letters, preparing food, removing threads, and much more. Cut with a double-bevel compound grind, the blade offers added strength at the base and precision at the tip. The skeletonized frame not only reduces weight (it’s just 2.2 ounces overall), but showcases the blade when closed. In addition, there’s a choil for ease of sharpening, plus jimping on the spine for grip retention. Shaped like a teardrop, the handle is visually pleasing and comfy to hold. 

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 (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.

If you like slim knives, you need to know Brad Zinker. Based in Florida, Brad is a voting member of the Knifemakers’ Guild with a passion for slender designs. His philosophy is simple, that knives should never be a strain or hindrance to their owner, whether fixed blades or folders. Thus, the majority of his knives—including this one—are extremely pocket friendly and lightweight. However, while much of Zinker’s work highlights blades with impossibly thin construction, he’s also been known to craft hunting knives and heavy-duty folders, using ATS-34 and damascus as his materials of choice.