
Based in Texas, Peter Carey is an elite knife maker that’s been meticulously handcrafting custom blades for the last 25 years, with the one-man operation specializing in tactical folders and dress tactical folders. Carey’s work has ultimately resulted in a stellar and well-deserved reputation amongst knife and EDC aficionados. Unfortunately, the popularity and demand for Carey Custom Blades has resulted in a lengthy backlog that’s prompted Peter to stop accepting orders for new knives at this time. And that’s a major part of what makes Carey’s latest production release so noteworthy, as it allows buyers to skip the line and get their hands on a Peter Carey-designed custom…or at least the next best thing.

After penning numerous high-end models for Spyderco, Carey has most recently been tapped by WE Knife Co. to deliver an ultra-premium production version of the Texan bladesmith’s existing Nitro Mini custom knife. Winner of the “Factory Best in Show” award as well as the “Best Factory Folder” at the 2022 Blade Show West, the knife has been dubbed the WE Knife Co. Nitro Mini Damasteel and sports a nearly-identical design to its custom counterpart. Its dimensions, however, have been lightly tweaked, with a slightly larger blade spanning 3.13” (versus the custom’s 3.187” item) and a shorter overall size at 7.46″ (versus the original Nitro Mini’s 7.562” OAL).

Taking a page directly out of the Carey dress tactical folder playbook, WE’s Nitro Mini Damasteel takes a spare-no-expense approach to its material selection. The knife is crafted around a black-finished 6AL4V titanium handle with a matching blacked-out 6AL4V titanium backspacer and pocket clip, and a caged ceramic ball bearing pivot assembly with a 6AL4V titanium collar. The handle also sports a set of black, red, white, and blue Nebula Fat Carbon Fiber inlays that cloak a frame lock mechanism opposite the knife’s “show side.” Mated to the handle is an equally top-shelf 0.13” thick, flat-ground drop point blade that’s composed of Heimskringla pattern Damasteel.

Produced in limited numbers, the WE Knife Co. Nitro Mini Damasteel (Model Number: WE22015-DS1) will be available for order in the coming days, with pricing set at $740. WE is also selling less ultra-top-shelf — but still objectively premium — versions of the Nitro Mini Flipper with titanium handles with Micarta, forged carbon, or copper foil carbon scales that all feature a CPM 20CV blade construction.