Sao Knives Pocket Knife CPM-20CV Blade Bone Handle Liner Lock SK2601-5

The Sao Knives SK2601-5 is a refined pocket knife engineered for everyday carry and precision tasks. Featuring a 70mm CPM-20CV blade—a premium stainless steel known for excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance—this knife delivers reliable cutting performance in a compact 176mm profile. The brushed blade finish provides a sophisticated aesthetic while minimizing fingerprints and reflections. A genuine bone handle offers classic appeal with natural grip comfort, while the robust liner lock mechanism ensures secure blade deployment and safe handling during use. At just 86g, this knife balances substantial build quality with lightweight portability. The 3mm blade thickness provides optimal rigidity for demanding cuts without excess weight. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, professionals, and collectors who appreciate quality craftsmanship and timeless design.

Length：176mm
Blade Length：70mm
Blade Thickness：3mm

Blade Material：CPM-20CV
Surface treatment: brushed
Blade Style：*
Blade Finish：Brushed

Handle Material ：Bone
Lock Type：Liner Lock
Weight：86g

Model Number：SK2601-5

Sao Knives SK2601-5 Handmade Pocket Knife

The Sao Knives {model} is what a traditional pocket knife looks like when the maker refuses to compromise on steel. It is built by hand in Sichuan in small batches, with a traditional pocket knives profile, a 70mm CPM-20CV blade and dark checkered bone scales. That blade is the part that matters: CPM-20CV is a Crucible powder-metallurgy stainless with high vanadium content, so it takes and holds an edge in a different league from the 440-series steel most traditional folders ship with, and it resists pocket humidity while doing it. The liner lock knives means the blade locks open, so this is a folder you can work rather than a gent's pocket piece. At 176mm overall and 86g it is properly carryable — a folding knives that earns its place in a EDC gear rotation instead of sitting in a drawer.

Why This Sao Folder Uses Real CPM-20CV

• Genuine CPM-20CV blade. A Crucible powder-metallurgy stainless with high vanadium content, so it holds a working edge far longer than the budget stainless used on most traditional folders.
• Handmade by Sao Knives in Sichuan. Produced in small batches by a working traditional knife maker rather than stamped out on a production line.
• Dark Bone handle. Dark checkered bone scales, which is what gives this knife its warmth and its individual figure.
• Liner lock for safe carry. The blade locks open so it cannot fold on your fingers under load, unlike a slip joint.
• Compact 70mm blade, 176mm overall. Sized to actually carry — big enough to work, small enough to disappear in a pocket.
• 3mm blade stock. Thick enough to take real side load without flexing, thin enough to slice properly.
• 86g carry weight. Substantial in the hand, unnoticeable in a pocket.
• Maintenance-friendly steel. CPM-20CV is genuinely corrosion resistant, so it tolerates pocket humidity that would spot a high-carbon blade.

What This Pocket Knife Is For

• Dark checkered bone scales, with 70mm of brushed CPM-20CV up front.
• Everyday pocket carry for anyone who prefers a traditional profile over a tactical folder.
• Opening boxes, letters and packaging — the jobs a small carry knife does most.
• Camping, fishing and hiking as a compact general-purpose cutting tool.
• Collection display: handmade traditional folders deserve a shelf, not a junk drawer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this knife actually handmade?
Yes. Sao Knives produces traditional folders in small batches by hand in Sichuan. Handle figure and finish vary slightly between individual knives, which is normal for handmade work.

What is CPM-20CV good at?
Edge retention and corrosion resistance. The powder-metallurgy process produces a very uniform structure with fine vanadium carbides, so it stays sharp far longer than 440C or 8Cr13MoV while resisting rust.

How do you open it?
There is a nail nick in the blade. Hook a thumbnail in, pull the blade out, and the liner lock engages at full open.

Does it have a pocket clip?
No. Traditional folders of this style are meant to ride loose in a pocket or in a slip sheath, which keeps the profile clean.

Which variant should I choose?
Bone handles are the classic choice and develop character with age; Micarta is the more weather-tolerant option if the knife will see damp use.

CPM-20CV vs. Common Pocket Knife Steels

Steel	Typical HRC	Edge Retention	Corrosion Resistance	Toughness	Sharpening Ease
CPM-20CV (this knife)	59-61	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Moderate
CPM-S35VN	58-60	Very Good	Very Good	Very Good	Easy
CPM-S30V	58-60	Very Good	Very Good	Good	Moderate
M390 / 20CV sibling	59-61	Excellent	Very Good	Good	Moderate
154CM / ATS-34	58-60	Good	Good	Very Good	Easy
D2 Tool Steel	58-61	Very Good	Fair	Good	Hard
14C28N	56-58	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Very Easy

CPM-20CV is a powder-metallurgy stainless with ~4% vanadium, so it holds a working edge far longer than 154CM or 14C28N while still shrugging off humidity and pocket sweat. HRC figures are typical ranges published by the mills, not a guarantee for any individual blade.

Glossary of Key Terms

CPM-20CV
A powder-metallurgy stainless steel from Crucible Industries with a high vanadium content. That combination gives it excellent wear resistance and edge retention while remaining genuinely corrosion resistant — it behaves like a super-steel without demanding constant oiling.

Liner lock
A locking mechanism where a spring-steel liner inside the handle folds inward to block the blade tang when open. It allows fast one-handed opening and dependable lockup without adding much weight.

Nail nick
The small groove cut into a blade that lets you hook a thumbnail and pull the blade open. It is the classic opener on traditional folders and is legal in jurisdictions that restrict one-handed opening.

Powder metallurgy steel
Steel produced by atomising molten alloy into powder, then consolidating it under pressure. The result is a very uniform structure with finer carbides than conventional ingot steel, which sharpens better and holds an edge longer.

Bone handle
Handle scales cut from stabilised natural bone. It gives traditional folders their warm, figured look and a grip that improves as it wears in. It is not waterproof, so it prefers dry storage.

Micarta
A composite of fabric or paper layers bonded with phenolic resin. It is dimensionally stable, very tough, does not warp like wood, and takes on a matte grip that improves when wet.

Who Should Buy the SK2601-5

• You want a traditional folder made by hand rather than assembled from mass-produced parts.
• You value CPM-20CV steel and understand what it costs relative to a budget stainless blade.
• You like a slip-joint profile but want the security of a real liner lock.
• You are buying a distinctive gift for someone who carries a pocket knife daily.
• You collect traditional and handmade folders rather than tactical designs.

Who Should Skip It

• You want a fast one-handed flipper — this is a traditional nail-nick folder.
• You need a knife you can abuse with prying and heavy batoning.
• You want the cheapest possible option and do not care about blade steel.
• You want a large blade; this is a compact 70mm carry knife.

Care & Maintenance

• Wipe the blade with a dry cloth after use. CPM-20CV is highly stain resistant, but fingerprints still lead to surface spotting over months.
• Rinse and dry immediately after cutting fruit, meat, or anything salty. Do not let residue dry on the bevel.
• Apply a thin film of knife oil to the blade and the pivot every 4-8 weeks, and after any exposure to moisture.
• Touch up the edge on a fine ceramic rod or a 1000-grit stone every few weeks. Light, frequent honing removes far less steel than rescue sharpenings.
• If you sharpen on stones, maintain the existing 15-17 degree per-side angle; changing it costs you the factory geometry.
• Blow or flush grit out of the pivot and the liner lock recess, then re-oil. Grit is the main cause of a gritty opening feel.
• Check the handle pins and pivot screw every month and snug them if they move, using a correctly sized driver.
• Keep the handle away from prolonged water exposure; bone and wood handles can swell, and Micarta can lift if soaked and heated.
• Store the knife closed and dry, out of damp leather sheaths and humid drawers.