Overview & First Impressions
The Tenable Riflestock B2131 was designed with Nick Swan and his law enforcement background, and it is the first model from this maker to abandon the flipper for a lock back. Two of the four trims, the S2 and the S4, are the ones most buyers end up comparing, because they cost almost the same and differ mainly in how they look and feel in the pocket. Both run identical Nitro-V blades and identical slim handles, so the choice comes down to surface feel and colour.
Materials & Construction
Nitro-V is the shared foundation. This nitrogen-enriched martensitic stainless sits between 14C28N and AEB-L in behaviour, offering noticeably better corrosion resistance than D2 steel while keeping the fine edge stability that makes a thin working blade slice cleanly. The S2 carries a blackwash finish that hides scratches from daily use, while the S4 wears a gray titanium carbo-nitride coating that is harder and more wear resistant but shows scuffs more honestly. Both take a keen edge on the same stones.
Design & Details
The S2 dresses its handle in shred carbon fiber, a compressed fragment laminate that produces a dark, marble-like pattern with a slightly textured surface. The S4 goes the other way with olive green G10 and a gray coated blade, giving the knife a distinctly military palette. Tenable knives shaped both grips with the same modest palm swell, forward finger groove and flush-mounted lock back, so nothing catches on a pocket seam. Choose fragment laminate for grip that bites; choose G10 for a smoother draw.
Real-World Use
The Riflestock is a working folding knife rather than a fidget toy. The lock back opens with a thumb stud, which is exactly why field users trust it, because the blade cannot be flicked shut under load. Cutting rope, webbing and heavy cardboard is confident work, and the slim profile disappears against a thigh in a way most EDC knives do not. The S4's coated blade is the better wet-weather choice; the S2's bare blade is easier to inspect for edge damage.
Ownership Notes
Maintenance is minimal. Nitro-V responds well to a 400 to 600 grit finish and holds a toothy edge that bites into fibrous material, so a few passes on a diamond stone every fortnight keeps it working. Because the alloy resists staining, a wipedown replaces a full oiling routine, though the pivot deserves a drop of light lubricant a few times a year. Lock backs collect pocket lint, so flush the mechanism with compressed air rather than disassembling it. It sits alongside the brand's other folding knives without competing with them, and owners who prefer a lock back to a flipper will find this the most practical model in the range.
Who Is This For?
Pick the S2 if you want the lightest, most textured handle and you like an honest working finish that improves with wear. Pick the S4 if you prefer a coated blade for wet or sandy environments and a smoother draw from the pocket. Either way this suits duty users, campers and anyone who has owned lock back folders before. Everything here ships from EdcMall with the same service you get on every other order.
Final Verdict
Both trims are excellent, and neither is a compromise. The Riflestock line proves this brand can build a serious working knife without resorting to gimmicks, and the lock back mechanism gives it a longevity advantage over trendier locks. Buy the S2 for texture and character, the S4 for a tough coated blade in a military palette. If you can only justify one, the S2 is marginally the better all-rounder for general carry.
