Milled patterns everywhere: Z-Max fixed blades plus a MagnaMax folder

Oct 15, 2026 Last reply: 3 hours ago 4 Replies
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Most fixed blades that come through here keep the steel plain and let the handle do the talking. This set goes the other way: the milling itself is the decoration, with grooves, wave patterns and geometric textures cut directly into blades and scales, and in my view it works.



The first fixed blade pairs a modified clip-point with a satin edge and flame-like grooves along the spine. The titanium scales are anodized grey-purple and engraved with flames to match, and the whole thing is full-tang, held by two custom hexagonal fasteners. The exposed tang adds a lanyard hole and a flat pry tip. The second blade is a high-flat wharncliffe with a multi-faceted textured spine, its scales milled with a recessed geometric pattern, plus blue-rimmed hex hardware. The third takes a modified sheepsfoot or cleaver-style profile, with waves milled into the flats, jimping along the spine, and cyan-blue laminate scales with texture over black and blue liners. All run Z-Max at 67/68 HRC, and the maker describes the edge retention as great alongside reasonable toughness. Each comes with a molded Kydex sheath: two in light-grey, one with a pocket clip and one with a spring clip, and one in black with a carbon-fiber texture.



The folder is just as detailed: a modified tanto profile with a swedge and a stretched-out thumb-hole opener. The show side uses woven carbon fiber flecked with gold and a bronze-toned pivot ring. The lock side is milled titanium with honeycomb engraving, a frame lock that includes an overtravel stop, and a titanium pocket clip. Jimping on the thumb ramp and a raised, textured backspacer finish it off.



One puzzle worth flagging: the stated hardness is 67/68 HRC, yet the blade stamps read 66 and 67. The post also calls the folder steel MagnaMax while the stamp reads MAGNACUT. It would be interesting to hear how those line up.


Putting a flat pry tip on the exposed tang of the first fixed blade seems like a smart call to me. It turns the back end into something useful without adding a separate part, though it does trade away the clean lines some people want on a full-tang knife. The two custom hexagonal fasteners holding the scales are a nice touch as well.

I would love to know at what stage the milling happened. Were the grooves, waves and geometric patterns cut into the blades and scales before heat treat or after? Cutting hardened Z-Max at that hardness seems like it would be a very different job either way.

The maker has not said whether the milling was done before or after heat treat. All that is stated is that the grooves, wave patterns and geometric patterns are milled into the blades and handle scales. Given the hardness figures quoted for these blades, the timing question is a fair one to ask.

Here is an idea for a future run: carry the honeycomb engraving from the folder's lock side over onto the fixed blade scales. The recessed geometric pattern on the second fixed blade already shows how much character milled texture adds, and a honeycomb panel on titanium would tie the whole set together visually.

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