After successfully launching the Tactile Turn brand, Will Hodges went on to start Tactile Knife Co. in 2021, delivering knives that possess the same hallmarks as the Texan outfit’s EDC pens, with beautifully-designed yet highly functional, American-made blades that boast top-notch craftsmanship and premium materials. Thus far, the boutique knife brand has taken a quality-over-quantity approach, very seldom debuting new models. When the TKC does reveal a novel blade, however, it does so after a lengthy and meticulous design and development process. And such is the case with Tactile Knife Co’s latest release, the all-new Maverick knife.
Top-shelf through and through, the Maverick was penned by Richard Rodgers, a renowned, knife designer with more than 20 years of experience, as well as the force behind a slew of popular production knives including the CRKT CEO. Spanning 8.28” overall, the Maverick is constructed around a stainless steel liner that comes cloaked in either machined, micro-grooved Grade 5 titanium handles or textured Micarta scales. The handle also features an anodized pivot and a blue-anodized pivot collar (shown in detail directly below), along with an ultra-sturdy Crossbar locking mechanism, making the Maverick TKC’s first-ever knife to sport a Benchmade AXIS-style lock.
Mated to the titanium or Micarta handle is a 3.60” drop point blade crafted from American-made MagnaCut steel — an absolutely exceptional EDC-specific blade steel that’s rated at around 64 HRC for hardness on the Rockwell scale. To increase grip, Rogers has also treated the blade’s thumb-stud to a trio of small notches, while the Crossbar lock’s thumb-slide sports stacked, round terraced-style knurling for the same purpose — both small touches, albeit ones that speak to the immensely calculated nature of Rogers’ design. Weighing 3.91oz, the entire knife is also pieced together using all-titanium hardware. What’s more, alongside being fitted with a stainless steel pocket clip, the knife is also being offered with an optional lanyard post.
Slated for a launch in early 2023, the Tactile Knife Co. Maverick Knife will start at $249 for the Micarta-handled version and $349 for the titanium-scaled model. Interested parties can register to claim a spot in line on the company’s waiting list on its website.
