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This Magnificent USA-Made MagnaCut EDC Knife Has No Business Being So Affordable

Hogue just put the rest of the everyday carry knifemaking world on notice by offering a knife with these specs at this price.

Close-up of a folding knife blade with "MYSTO CPM MAGNACUT" engraved and a textured purple handle.Hogue

By Sean Tirman

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For big-time EDC fanatics, there’s no denying the allure of MagnaCut knife steel. It’s arguably the buzziest blade material out there right now, thanks to its outstanding balance of properties — earning it a spot among “super steels.”

However, knives that feature MagnaCut are still quite pricey most of the time. That might be changing, if Hogue’s latest take on its Mysto folder is any indication (and I hope it is.)

This USA-made EDC knife just made MagnaCut a hell of a lot more approachable.

Folding knife with a stonewashed blade and a brown handle featuring a topographic pattern.
This more affordable (yet still premium) take on the Mysto comes in five colorways, all priced the same.
Hogue

Building a Mysto-ry

Overall, this take on the Mysto boasts the same size specs and silhouette. That means it boasts a 3.4-inch drop-point blade and an overall length of 7.8 inches — right in that Goldilocks zone.

It also means that the handle still boasts a sturdy, reliable crossbar lock (which is also ambidextrous.) Furthermore, it maintains its contrasting thumb studs for ambidextrous manual deployment and a reversible pocket clip.

The handle, however, has a couple of major alterations. For starters, previous editions of the Mysto were built with titanium and carbon fiber. This one sees the scales swapped for Richlite.

Folding knife with a stonewashed blade and a maroon handle featuring topographic contour lines.
The knife retains its rock-solid, reliable, ambidextrous crossbar lock.
Hogue

Richlite is actually similar to Micarta, in that it’s a paper-based composite infused with thermo resin and high-heat pressurized. That means it is highly resistant to heat, chemicals, stains and is very lightweight.

The other change is the machining pattern. While previous Mystos had a kind of etched Zen garden concentric circle pattern, this one sees that swapped for a more military-inspired topographical one, which also adds grip.

Folded pocket knife with a brown textured handle and black clip on a dusty background.
Yes, that pocket clip is reversible.
Hogue

Magna what?!

One of the highlight features of the original Mysto was its MagnaCut Blade. Luckily, that remains a highlight in this new edition.

For those unfamiliar with it (but, let’s be honest, who hasn’t heard of it at this point?), MagnaCut is one of the best all-around super steels on the market. It boasts high corrosion resistance, solid toughness, great edge retention and wear resistance, and it’s easy to sharpen.

Close-up of a folding knife handle with a textured maroon surface and visible screws and mechanisms.
The intricate topographic-style machining on the Richlite handle adds some excellent grip, alongside looking great.
Hogue

What’s not to love? Maybe the price? Typically, full-sized MagnaCut knives will cost you over $200. That’s what makes this Mysto so magnificent: it clocks in at a mere $180 in all its configurations (even the ones with black stonewashed blades, which are often an upcharge.)

If that’s not surprising on its own, maybe the fact that this knife is also USA-made might tug at your heartstrings. A full-sized, fully-featured, USA-made, MagnaCut EDC knife is pretty unheard of … or at least it was before now.

Folding knife with a black blade and a light wood handle featuring topographic map patterns, standing on a tree stump.
From tip to tail, this MagnaCut knife was made in the USA.
Hogue

Available now

Hogue’s Mysto Richlite is now available on the brand’s site in five colorways for $180 apiece. It’s also on Blade HQ for the same price.

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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