Artisan Cutlery Banjaara Review: S90V Titanium EDC

Artisan Cutlery Banjaara at a Glance

The Banjaara (model 1868G) is one of Artisan Cutlery's newer premium folders: a clip-point design in CPM S90V with a full titanium frame lock. It first appeared as a numbered prototype and has since joined the production lineup at a more approachable price.

Specification	Value
Blade steel	CPM S90V, HRC 60–62
Blade length	3.52" (89.5 mm)
Blade thickness	0.13" (3.2 mm)
Blade style	Clip point, flat grind, sand polish
Overall length	8.11" (206 mm)
Closed length	4.58" (116.4 mm)
Handle material	Titanium, frame lock, titanium clip
Pivot	Ceramic ball bearing
Weight	129 g / 4.55 oz

Design and Blade

The Banjaara uses a clip point blade — a profile with a concave, clipped spine that gives a sharp, controllable tip for detail cutting and piercing while keeping a useful belly for slicing. It is a classic all-rounder shape that suits everyday tasks from opening packaging to breaking down cardboard.

The blade is finished in a sand polish with a flat grind, and at HRC 60–62 it sits in the sweet spot for a production folder: hard enough for excellent edge stability, not so hard that it becomes brittle under normal use.

CPM S90V: The Steel Inside

CPM S90V is a powder-metallurgy stainless steel known for very high edge retention, thanks to a large volume of vanadium carbides. It belongs to the family of high-alloy super steels discussed in the knife steel reference guides, and it is the same steel Artisan uses across its premium titanium line. The trade-off is sharpening: S90V holds an edge a long time, but when it finally dulls it takes more work with quality abrasives to bring back. Knife Steel Nerds' deep dive on S90V details the history and heat-treat considerations behind the alloy.

For an EDC user, that means a knife that stays sharp for weeks of normal carry with only occasional stropping — a strong fit for someone who wants to think about their edge as rarely as possible.

Titanium Handle and Frame Lock

The handle is solid titanium with a frame lock, where one side of the handle itself flexes in to lock the blade. Titanium keeps the weight low, and the ceramic ball bearing pivot lets the blade swing out smoothly on opening. The titanium pocket clip keeps carry discreet, and the frame lock gives the solid, reassuring lockup that makes a knife feel like a tool you can trust one-handed.

Carry and Ergonomics

At 129 g (4.55 oz) with an 8.11-inch overall length, the Banjaara is a mid-size folder — substantial enough for real cutting tasks, compact enough that the 4.58-inch closed length sits comfortably in a pocket. The clip point tip gives precise control, and the flat grind slices cleanly through everyday materials.

Prototype to Production

The Banjaara launched with a limited prototype run before the standard version. Prototypes carry a collector premium and slight finish variations, while the production 1868G delivers the same S90V blade and titanium frame lock at a significantly lower price — making the production version the sensible pick for daily use and the prototype the one for collectors.

Verdict

The Banjaara is a strong entry in Artisan Cutlery's premium lineup: a proven all-round blade shape, a top-tier steel with exceptional edge retention, and a clean titanium frame lock. If you want one knife that handles everyday cutting without constant sharpening, the Banjaara earns its place in the rotation.

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