Brand New and direct from Crusader Forge is this APEX XL Chisel Ground Tanto, frame-lock folder. This the newest model from master bladesmith and designer Maciej Szczerbiak, and just introduced at the 2017 Blade Show. It is larger version of his wildly popular APEX model. Crusader Forge Custom Knives are designed for extreme and hard use. All Crusader Forge knives are 100% custom handcrafted by Maciej. They are 100% made in U.S.A. from domestic steel and materials. His blade material is Triple Tempered CPM S30V Stainless Steel with an HRC of 59-60. Each Crusader Forge knife handle is custom fabricated. They are custom textured to ensure positive hold, regardless of your grip configuration. The handles are fastened to the knife using Stainless Steel Fasteners with Torx™ T25 drive for maximum strength. Each knife design is prototyped and function tested against various materials such as wood, rope, muscle, bone, sheet metal and anything else Maciej may have left in the shop that has reached the end of its useful life. Edge holding characteristics, transverse toughness and cutting ability are all evaluated prior to finalizing a knife design. This Apex XL features a CPM S30V tanto-shaped, chisel ground blade, with a round thumb hole. The blade has been done in Maciej's signature Phantom finish. The mildly sculpted titanium handle is anodized bronze. The frame-lock holds the blade open rock solid - no movement whatsoever. The blade is perfectly seated in the handle when closed. The knife comes in a Crusader Forge box, and includes a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Maciej. Maciej ships his folders with a bit of oil still on the blade and / or handle, so you may see some in the pictures. You may also see some lint from the cloth I used to wipe down the knife.
