AKTI members Benchmade, Lionsteel, and Work Sharp each captured awards in the Blade Magazine’s “Knife of the Year” competition, while Chris Reeves Knives was honored with an Industry Achievement award.
Benchmade won the “American-Made Fixed Blade of the Year” award for its Dacian knife. Lionsteel won a “Knife Collaboration of the Year” contender award for Lionsteel/Emerson LEOne Mid. Work Sharp won the “Most Innovative Imported Design” award for its RMX Reverse Tanto.
“The industry continues to innovate with designs that seem to redefine what is possible with knives,” said Jan Billeb, Executive Director of AKTI. “To have some of our members recognized for leading the way is impressive. These companies certainly deserve the recognition.”
According to a press release issued by Blade Magazine announcing the winners, the competition for the awards this year was as intense.
“Hosting among the largest fields to date in the factory knife competition, the contents had roughly 350-400 entries vying for the title of ‘Best’ in their respective categories,” read the release. “Add-in production knives are reaching an unimaginable height in both design and manufacturing quality, the event was as tight as ever. Speaking to the stiffness of the competition, two categories produced contender finishers—an honor meant to recognize a creation that is nearly on par with the category winner.”
Blade Award winners were selected by a panel of four judges, each with a different background in the knife industry.
Congratulations to all of the winners! The Blade Show was held June 6-8, 2025, at the Cobb Galleria.