Work Sharp spent the better part of 50 years making the tools that keep your blades sharp before it ever tried making the blades themselves. The Ashland, Oregon company only jumped into knife production about a year ago, and its RMX series proved it knew exactly what it was doing. Now comes the Madrone, the brand’s newest folder and the brand has already proven it takes the iteration process very seriously.
One Solid Block
Let’s start with that handle. Work Sharp machines it from a single piece of US billet aluminum at its Oregon shop, so there are no scales to bolt on, no liners, and nowhere for the thing to rattle loose down the road.
That integral approach is the same one the brand pulled off in magnesium with the original RMX. This time around, the Madrone swaps in aluminum and brings the machining in-house. This does nudge the weight up to a still-light 3.3 ounces while also pushing more of the build onto American soil. It runs $30 more than the RMX at $180, but that gap is basically the cost of doing it stateside.
M390 Where It Counts
Up front sits a 3.25-inch clip point ground from Böhler M390, the Austrian super steel we all know and love. Work Sharp runs it between 60 and 62 HRC with a satin bead-blasted finish.
The profile is new for the brand, trading the RMX’s silhouette for something more contoured and aggressive. And since a sharpening company built the thing, it’s safe to assume the edge shows up screaming sharp.
Manual Today, Auto Tomorrow
Like their previous folder, the Madrone leaves the factory as a button-lock manual, which lets Work Sharp ship it just about anywhere, but the box includes every part you need to convert it into a push-button auto at home.
It’s a clever way to sidestep the patchwork of auto-knife laws by leaving the choice (and the screwdriver work) up to you.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Work Sharp
Model: Madrone
Overall Length (Open): 7.65″
Overall Length (Closed): 4.4″
Blade Length: 3.25″
Blade Steel: Böhler M390
Blade Hardness: 60-62 HRC
Blade Finish: Satin (bead blast)
Edge Angle: 20°
Handle Material: Integral Aluminum
Handle Finish: Black, Blue Titanium, or Copper Suede Cerakote
Lock Type: Button Lock (Manual or Auto convertible)
Clip: Deep-carry, tip-up reversible
Weight: 3.3oz
Manufacturing Origin: Built in Oregon (foreign and domestic materials)
Warranty: Lifetime
MSRP: $180
Pricing & Availability
The Work Sharp Madrone drops today, June 5, 2026, at Blade Show and on the brand’s website, priced at $180 across all three colorways. Quantities are limited, so you can only grab two per customer.
Recap
Work Sharp Madrone Knife
Work Sharp’s newest EDC folder pairs a one-piece aluminum handle with an M390 clip point and a manual-to-auto button lock for $180. Not bad for a sharpening company.
