I don’t know about you, but I like to be a little different from the crowd, especially when it comes to my knife collection. If you’re also like me, buying an actual custom is out of my budget right now. I can, however, get myself a customized production knife from SMKW’s custom shop, and it will let me achieve that “difference” I’m looking for without making me live on Ramen for a few weeks.
If you’re not familiar, Smoky Mountain Knife Works opened an online Custom Shop at smkw.com in early 2020. They offer production model knives with customizations, including alternate handle scales, dyed handle scales, anodized handle scales, etches, and various hardware. While the selection was slim at first, it’s grown to include all kinds of goodies that set you apart from the crowd.
That selection changes constantly, because the knives are hand customized by the Custom Shop staff. I’ve gotten used to perusing the offering on a weekly basis to make sure I didn’t miss anything. This morning, I’ve gleaned it for you, and while these may not be in stock at the moment you read this article, here’s a good idea of what you might find in the SMKW Custom Shop.
Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout SMKW Custom Aqua
This is a hand-dyed version of Benhcmade’s popular Mini Bugout. Originally white, this customized version offers a stunning aqua handle color that most others just won’t have.
The Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout SMKW Custom Aqua features a 2.82″ CPM-S30V drop point blade with a black oxide finish and a blade thickness of .09″. It’s a manual opener with ambidextrous thumb studs. This AXIS lock has been customized by Smoky Mountain Knife Works and has beautiful aquamarine textured grivory handle scales, a tip-up pocket clip, and a lanyard hole. It’s 3.70″ closed, 6.49″ overall, and weighs 1.5oz.
Price $156.00
Spyderco Para Military 2 Black Bronze
The Para Military 2 is one of Spyderco’s most popular knives. Its compression lock is revered by users around the world. This customization replaces the original handle scales with solid bronze handles that will patina over time.
The Spyderco Para Military 2 Black Bronze features a 3.4″ CPM-S30V blade with a black DLC finish and a blade thickness of .14″. It’s a manual opener with the Spyderco trademark round hole. This compression lock features bronze handles with a four position pocket clip and a lanyard hole. It’s 4.8″ closed, 8.2″ overall, and weighs 7.05oz.
SMKW includes the original handle scales with this knife, so you always have them as a backup.
Price $189.99
Benchmade 940 SMKW Custom Copper
The 940 Osborne is one of Benchmade’s best-selling knives of all time, and that means everyone’s got that green-handled purple spacer version. This customization replaces the original aluminum handles with solid copper scales that remarkably mimic the originals almost perfectly. They add some heft to the knife and as they are exposed to the oil of your hands and air, they will patina more and more over time.
The Benchmade 940 SMKW Custom Copper features a 3.4″ CPM-S30V reverse tanto blade with a satin finish and a blade thickness of .11″. It’s a manual opener with ambidextrous thumb studs. This AXIS lock has been customized by Smoky Mountain Knife Works and has striking copper handle scales and an ambidextrous tip-up pocket clip. It’s 4.47″ closed, 7.87″ overall, and weighs 2.9oz.
SMKW includes the original handle scales with this knife, so you always have them as a backup.
Price $212.00
Zero Tolerance 0350 Ice Blue Titanium
One of the great original beasts offered by ZT, the 0350 is SpeedSafe Assisted flipper. The SMKW Custom Shop has replaced this ZT’s original G-10 handle scales with titanium scales and then anodized them ice blue. It’s a striking color that you don’t often see on a Zero Tolerance knife.
The Zero Tolerance 0350 Ice Blue Titanium features a 3.25″ CPM-S30V drop point recurve blade with a stonewash finish and a blade thickness of .12″. It’s a SpeedSafe Assisted flipper or ambidextrous thumb stud opener. This linerlock has ice blue titanium handle scales with a four-position pocket clip and a lanyard hole. It’s 4.9″ closed, 8.4″ overall, and weighs 7.65oz.
SMKW includes the original handle scales with this knife, so you always have them as a backup.
Price $199.99
