A Rising Knife Brand Drops Arguably Its Coolest Folder Yet

This blacked-out treatment with premium materials and a badass blade just happens to be hyper-capable too.

Close-up of a black mechanical dial with a star-shaped knob and textured grip.

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Launching its first knife just over a year ago, Work Sharp has leveraged several decades of experience in the sharpening business to roll out a compelling lineup of variations and additional models.

However, the most impressive thing with them is not so much the quantity as it is the quality, as seemingly everything the brand has released has been pretty much on point.

Black folding knife blade with "Reserve Series" and "CPM-3V" markings on a black fabric background. — The reverse tanto shape’s piercing power can make short work of annoying clamshell packaging, among other things.

The track record calls to mind another Oregon-based knife brand that rarely puts a foot wrong: Benchmade.

Work Sharp’s latest release only strengthens the case, as the new RMX Reverse Tanto Blackout looks like another surefire hit … and quite possibly their best-looking knife yet.

All killer, no filler

Nothing frills here: just a darkly dazzling EDC knife that brings all the insights of the past year together into one potent package that should be up to any everyday challenge.boosts

Black tactical folding knife with a textured handle partially tucked into a black nylon sheath. — The blacked-out Cerakote treatment on the blade and handle boost durability and badass-ness in equal measure.

The business end is a 3.2-inch reverse tanto blade made of CPM 3V, prized for its high toughness, wear resistance and edge retention, complete with a life-extending blacked-out Cerakote finish.

The reverse tanto shape offers extra piercing power, backed up by jimping on the spine of the blade and handle, with the deep finger choil adding control to more conventional cutting and slicing. offers

Close-up of a black serrated knife blade with the words "WORK SHARP" engraved on it. — Jimping on the spine of the blade and handle offer additional control for more precise piercing and cutting tasks.

Meanwhile, the full-size integral handle is an ultralight single-piece of magnesium augmented with a matching blacked-out Cerakote treatment for additional corrosion resistance.

Between the two is a unique Work Sharp feature that will likely hold more appeal for some users than others: manual or automatic deployment.

Close-up of a black folding knife blade with "Reserve Series" and "CPM-3V" markings on a textured black fabric background. — The unique pivot is designed to transition between manual and automatic deployment of the blade.

That’s right, with a fair amount of DIY (plus the included instructions, tools and components), you can convert the knife from a classic button-lock folder to one that instantly brandishes the blade when you touch that button.

Having tried this dimension out with Work Sharp’s very first knife, the original RMX, I can say it offers more in terms of novelty than utility, but I can’t speak for everything.

Black folding knife with "Reserve Series" text on the blade, resting on black textured fabric. — The “Reverse Series” label indicates this knife is made in small batches for limited release.

Rounding out the features are a reversible tip-up clip that can also be removed to reveal a lanyard hole and drop the weight even lower than the lean and mean 2.4 ounces advertised.

Availability and pricing

The Work Sharp RMX Reverse Tanto Blackout will be available today beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern for $160.

Black tactical folding knife with a tanto blade and textured handle showing "Reserve Series" text.

Work Sharp RMX Reverse Tanto Blackout

$160.03 at Work Sharp

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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