Amare Creator Slip Joint by Tashi Bharucha

Tashi Bharucha’s work leans toward the arty side of knifemaking. Real Steel’s leans toward the tactical, functional side. Put the two together and you’ve got a perfect pair. The Creator is a handsome 10-inch slip joint with a 4.4-inch blade. Though the knife is built with rugged materials—like a VG-10 blade and a G-10 handle—it maintains the elegant form factor that Tashi Bharucha has made famous. Adding to the knife’s charm is a luminous backspacer (Black version only*), visible in dark conditions. Overall, the Creator feels like a dream in the hand, thanks to the aggressive curvature of the handle and scalloped spine for thumb placement. It’s a brilliant meeting between form and function.

Tashi Bharucha didn’t start as a knifemaker. A graphic designer by trade, he grew up with an affinity for precise, highly finished objects. Early on, that manifested itself in the form of knives—specifically Spyderco knives, on which he spent much of his disposable income. But it wasn’t until he started designing knives himself that his passion reached a new level. Taking a more broad approach to knife design than many other makers, Bharucha is renowned for his ability to pair wide, functional blades with slender, ergonomic handles. His long list of collaborations reads like a Who’s Who of knifemaking legends, including names like Bob Terzuola, Peter Carey, Jens Anso, Allen Elishewitz, Tom Mayo, Lee Williams, and many more.