The one thing you can bet on with Titaner is that they’ll always surprise you, from its measuring wheel contraption to its unorthodox scalpel-based folding knife multi-tool. But they also have plenty of “standard” EDC gear in their lineup too, like pens and carabiners.
While not known for kitchen gear, Titaner has certainly dabbled in the category in the pastwith its titanium frying pan and oven tray. However, with its MAKO lineup, this is the first time the titanium-favoring EDC brand has dropped a set of kitchen knives.
Not a Titanium Blade
Unlike most of Titaner’s catalog, the MAKO isn’t titanium. Not the blade, anyway. Titaner made the deliberate call to build the MAKO around Böhler M390 super steel, a premium Austrian powder metallurgy steel usually reserved for high-end custom EDC and outdoor knives. According to Titaner, this is the first time the metal has been employed for kitchen blades.
Unlike titanium, which tops out around HRC 45 (well below the HRC 58 baseline for a serious kitchen blade), M390, after Titaner’s full-blade vacuum heat treatment, deep cryogenic treatment, and triple tempering, hits 60–62 HRC. The edge retention comparison isn’t even close. In their words: “we are engineers, not material worshippers.”
The Blade, Engineered
The M390 advantage goes beyond raw hardness. The steel’s high chromium content forms a dense passivation layer that resists iron ion migration, which is a real concern with acidic ingredients. Essentially, it keeps the metallic taste out of your food. Each blade is then ground through a six-stage water process into a continuous V-tapered geometry, thinning from spine to edge across the whole blade, not just at the bevel. The result is a 15-degree edge angle that Titaner says strikes the right balance between sharpness and durability. Full-tang construction runs M390 the entire length, from tip through handle, eliminating any structural weak points.
Hard to Handle
Every handle of the MAKO is CNC-machined from a single block of aerospace-grade aluminum alloy, with material precisely removed from inside for perfect balance without sacrificing rigidity. As opposed to wood that can rot and solid titanium whcih would throw the whole balance rearward, aluminum was the correct call here. It features a 3D tapered profile developed through dozens of prototypes, a micro-sandblasted surface for solid grip, and plenty of knuckle clearance built into the geometry. Of course, there had to be some titanium here, used for the screws securing the full-tang core to the handle.
The anodized finish comes in three colors and the set comes in three sizes: 8-inch chef’s knife, 6-inch utility knife, and 3.5-inch paring knife.
Spec Sheet
Blade Steel: Böhler M390 (M390 tier) / VG10 (standard tier)
Blade Lengths: 8″, 6″, 3.5″
Edge Angle: 15°
Hardness: 60–62 HRC (M390 version)
Handle Material: CNC aerospace-grade aluminum alloy
Screws: Aerospace-grade titanium alloy
Finish: Anodized (3 color options)
Construction: Full tang, continuous V-tapered geometry
Pricing & Availability
The MAKO is live now on Kickstarter, with estimated shipping in July. The M390 8-inch chef’s knife is priced at $489, with the full M390 set at $829. A VG10 steel version is also available for those who want the same construction at a lower entry point: $183 (paring), $201 (utility), and $239 (chef’s), or $619 for the set.
Recap
Titaner MAKO Kitchen Knives
Titaner, the titanium EDC brand known for obsessively engineered pocket gear, debuted its new MAKO kitchen knives, bringing the brand’s signature precision engineering to the kitchen. It features M390 super steel blades (an industry first) and CNC-machined aluminum handles available now on Kickstarter.
