Böker’s Rugged New Japanese Martial Arts-Inspired EDC Knife Boasts an Unbeatable Price

The latest iteration of a renowned custom knifemaker’s distinguished design makes it more affordable than ever.

Close-up of a folding knife with a tan textured handle and a partially visible black blade on a dark surface.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published October 30, 2025

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Updated October 30, 2025

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Over the summer, I was fortunate enough to hang with the Portland Knife Center of Excellence (PKCOE), a group of Stumptown-based brands that have banded together to promote the city’s status as America’s knife capitol.

In addition to touring the impressive facilities of Benchmade, CRKT, Gerber, Leatherman and Steelport, I got to chat with legendary custom knifemaker Lucas Burnley, the man behind CRKT’s Squid, Boker’s Kwaiken and many other cult-favorite designs.

Folding knife with tan textured handle and black blade standing upright on a dark surface. — Thanks to a clean, timeless design, the new Kihon looks better than many more expensive knives.

One thing he shared really stuck with me, which is that top custom knifemakers inherently engage in gatekeeping because they simply can’t keep up with the demand, leaving many without the means or place in the queue out in the cold.

So while you could argue that teaming up with a big brand to reproduce a compelling design dilutes the product, it also makes it much more accessible to more people.

Sort of an eternal paradox, but regardless, that’s never been more true than with the latest edition of one of Burnley’s most popular Böker-made knives. At $50, the Kihon Tan Micarta Black Stonewash is the most affordable variant yet.

Kihon life

This Burnley design might be my favorite.

It’s also fresh in my mind because I just wrote about a $100 version, the Kihon DC Alu, which is sort of the sexier Blue Steel to this one’s no-nonsense Magnum, in Zoolander parlance.

Stonewashed blade of a Boker folding knife with tan textured handle and red-accented button on a black surface. — At 3.23 inches, the D2 steel-powered drop-point blade can do a job or two.

It’s for that reason that I know a bit about the Kihon moniker, which is derived from a Japanese term meaning “fundamentals,” in reference to basic martial arts techniques.

Made up of various disciplined stances, punches, kicks, blocks and thrusts, these motions are essential to advanced training.

Folding knife with tan textured handle and black and red hardware resting on dark fabric with red and gray cords. — The grippy tan micarta handle scales lend desert tactical vibes reminiscent of Böker’s Barchan.

To make a metaphorical leap, the Kihon knife — now available in half a dozen variants, from $50 to $157 — is a fundamental folder capable of advanced tasks.

The fact that it’s super affordable is a huge bonus of course.

Dark materials

In truth, Böker offered a Burnley-designed knife called the Kihon DC that also cost $50.

However, that one is no longer available, leaving the Tan Micarta Black Stonewash edition to pick up where it left off.

Hand holding a folding knife with a textured tan handle and a stonewashed blade. — With an overall length of 7.8 inches and weight of 3.21 ounces, the new Kihon fits nicely in the hand.

It keeps the price low the same way that one did, with overseas manufacturing and tough but budget-friendly ingredients.

Here that means a handle made of grippy Micarta (toned tan for a tactical touch), plus a 3.23-inch drop-point blade made of black stonewashed D2 steel, which offers excellent wear resistance and edge retention for the price.

Tan textured folding knife handle with black clip and red-accented screws on a dark surface. — With a wire clip and closed length well under five inches, it fits nicely in the pocket too.

From a deployment/locking standpoint, you get a couple of bona fide winners in ambidextrous thumb studs and a crossbar lock, which offers a secondary release mechanism while easing overall one-handed operation.

Rounding things out are a lanyard hole and reversible tip-up wire clip, giving you multiple ways to tote around one of the best knives you can get for a frog.

Availability and pricing

The Böker Kihon Tan Micarta Black Stonewash is available now for $50.

Folding knife with a textured brown handle and a black stonewashed blade.

Böker Kihon Tan Micarta Black Stonewash

$50 at Böker

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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