Massdrop x Terzuola Compact Tactical Folder

If you’ve never heard of Bob Terzuola, you’ve more than likely seen his contributions to the knife industry over the last four decades. After all, he invented the tactical folder and he wrote a book, The Tactical Folding Knife, to share his techniques with peers. Designed by the legendary knifemaker, the CTF is similar to the ATCF (Advanced Technology Combat Folder), Terzuola’s signature tactical folding knife. This production version is made with premium materials—like a CPM-S35VN stainless steel blade, G-10 or carbon fiber scales, and titanium liners—with some of the unmistakable elements found on the original. These details include the spine-mounted thumb disc opener, the fuller groove along the blade, and the titanium pocket clip with completely hidden hardware. In addition, the CTF has a subtle flipper tab and a ceramic-bearing opening system for smooth deployment with little effort.

Lighter and easier to carry than its predecessor, the CTF is Terzuola’s most accessible design to date. His custom knives regularly sell for thousands—and while this isn’t a custom folder, Bob was insistent on working with a company that would execute his design at a very high level of production quality. We Knife made that happen. Featuring bronze-anodized titanium liners, the CTF offers secure lockup and timeless aesthetic appeal. To match the liners, the milled titanium pocket clip, as well as the thumb disc and all other exposed hardware, is also anodized in bronze. The clip’s no-show design only highlights the sleek look. What’s more, the G-10 handle provides a secure hold in the rain, muck, and heat. (This time around you can get the knife with a carbon fiber handle for a few extra dollars, too.) Rounding out the knife is high-quality hardware like caged ceramic bearings and a ceramic detent ball, plus a hardened steel pivot barrel, stop pin, and bearing washers.

Developed by Crucible Industries (one of the leading manufacturers of specialty steels for the cutlery industry) and Chris Reeve (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 known as Crucible Powdered Metallurgy, 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.

Bob Terzuola is one of the most respected designers in the world of custom knives. After growing up in Brooklyn and graduating from NYU, he joined the Peace Corps and worked in Panama. Then he moved to Guatemala, where he trained as a jade carver and eventually began making knives for soldiers. Terzuola’s first designs were heavy duty fixed blades, as was necessary for the line of duty and dense jungles of Central America. Many of them were used by professional military advisers, many of whom are still in contact with Bob today. However, soon Terzuola saw a need for a knife with just as much utility that could be carried discreetly. The result? The first ever tactical folding knife, made with a spine-mounted thumb disc, micarta scales, and a titanium liner lock. Later, as his career took off and his following grew, he went on to write a book on the construction of the liner-locked tactical folder in 2000. Today he enjoys a significant following thanks to his incomparable craftsmanship and unmistakable aesthetic.