This Overbuilt Tactical Folder Is the Weirdest, Most Wonderful Knife You’ve Never Heard Of

This unique and formidable unicorn folder is about to become much more widely available, but you can score one right now.

Close-up of a folding knife handle with a textured green surface and a diagonal brass stripe. The knife has black screws and a black blade partially visible, resting on a dark, rough-textured surface.

By Sean Tirman

Published September 2, 2025

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Updated September 2, 2025

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We are smack-dab in the middle of an EDC knife golden age. More excellent pocket folders are available now than ever, and their styling, materials and pricing vary widely.

Unfortunately, it’s also much easier to miss those under-the-radar offerings that deserve more widespread recognition. Such is the case with the Sniper Bladeworks DMF.

While this isn’t a brand-spanking-new release, the brand has recently made some moves that will make its catalog more widely available. However, if you fall in love with this knife like I have, you don’t have to wait.

Folding knife with a broad, matte silver blade and a green handle featuring two decorative gold bands with intricate patterns. The knife is positioned horizontally on a textured black stone against a dark background. — As seen on the DMF, Sniper Bladeworks pioneered ergonomic “pistol grip” handles.

Get a grip

Founded by Lance Abernathy in 2009, Sniper Bladeworks presently offers seven distinct designs, including both folders and fixed blades. The brand’s signature is its “pistol grip” handle, which is unique in its appearance and offers excellent ergonomics.

The DMF, which clearly boasts that signature feature, is the brand’s “most upscale, overbuilt folder.” While it’s not exactly a household name, it has made the rounds in the knife world, including hitting the cover of Blade Magazine.

The brand’s offerings are slated to be much more widely available to everyone across the United States.

In truth, the DMF isn’t a new knife. It was initially released over a decade ago and then rereleased in 2020. However, it’s still an exceptional and underrated folder that should be in more EDC fans’ collections.

So, why is it making the rounds now? Because the brand has just struck up a partnership that will make its offerings more widely available. Per Blade Magazine, Sniper Bladeworks has signed a deal with Nation’s Best Sports, which serves more than 450 independent sporting goods retailers nationwide.

That means the brand’s offerings are slated to be much more widely available to everyone across the United States.

A closed folding knife with a metallic blade partially visible, featuring a black handle with two diagonal gold stripes. The handle has visible screws and a circular pivot with a gold accent. The background consists of textured dark gray and black surfaces. — Even closed, the DMF is an eye-catching folder.

Overbuilt beauty

While all of the brand’s offerings are noteworthy, the DMF is definitely a big highlight. Right now, it’s available in three different color combos, although all three boast the same material configuration.

That includes a 3.65-inch S35VN blade (in either satin or black) with a stout reverse tanto shape, as well as ambidextrous thumb stud and right-handed fuller deployment.

It’s a beefy, formidable folder that fans of tactical designs are sure to love. However, it also offers plenty of refinement.

That beefy blade is mated to a dual-material handle. On the presentation side, the knife boasts a G10 scale. The other is solid titanium, including the integrated frame lock and the thick pocket clip.

Overall, the knife measures 8.38 inches and weighs 9.56 ounces. It’s a beefy, formidable folder that fans of tactical designs are sure to love. However, it also offers plenty of refinement, especially with some of its limited edition releases.

Keep your ear to the ground for more from Sniper Bladeworks. If all goes well, the brand is finally about to gain even more of the recognition it thoroughly deserves.