Artisan Cutlery Beest Family Guide: S35VN Titanium to AR-RPM9

The Artisan Cutlery Beest (model ATZ-1878) is one of the most personality-driven folders in the catalog: a Dusty Rhodes design with a drop-point blade, a hybrid deployment system, and handle options that run from featherweight titanium all the way to solid brass. The Beest family splits into two very different builds - S35VN titanium frame locks at $199.99 and AR-RPM9 liner locks from $69.99 to $79.99 - which means the same design language serves collectors and budget carriers alike. This Artisan Cutlery Beest family guide compares every edition and explains what each configuration is really for.

The Beest Platform: One Blade, Two Lock Families

Every Beest edition shares the same cutting geometry: a 3.65-inch (92.6-92.7 mm) drop-point blade with 0.13-inch (3.2 mm) stock, flat ground, riding on ceramic ball bearings inside an 8.02-inch (203.6-203.7 mm) overall length with a 4.37-inch (111 mm) closed length. What changes is the material and mechanism story:

• Frame lock editions (1878G) - S35VN heat treated to HRC 60-62, titanium handle, titanium clip, ceramic bearings, weighing just 82 g (2.89 oz), at $199.99.
• Liner lock editions (1878P) - AR-RPM9 heat treated to HRC 59-61 with front flipper and thumb hole deployment, aluminum or brass handle, steel clip, at $69.99-$79.99.

Beest Editions Side by Side

Edition	Blade steel	Handle	Lock	Deployment	Weight	Price
Beest 1878G (Gold)	S35VN, HRC 60-62	Titanium	Frame lock	Not specified	82 g / 2.89 oz	$199.99
Beest 1878G-GY (Grey)	S35VN, HRC 60-62	Titanium + fat carbon	Frame lock	Not specified	82 g / 2.89 oz	$199.99
Beest 1878P-BVT (Purple)	AR-RPM9, HRC 59-61	Aluminum	Liner lock	Front flipper + thumb hole	98 g / 3.46 oz	$69.99
Beest 1878P-BR (Brass)	AR-RPM9, HRC 59-61	Brass	Liner lock	Front flipper + thumb hole	150 g / 5.3 oz	$79.99

Every edition below is live in the catalog: the gold titanium Beest, the grey titanium and fat carbon Beest, the purple aluminum Beest, and the brass Beest.

The Frame Lock Editions: S35VN and Titanium

The flagship Beests pair CPM S35VN with a titanium frame lock and a titanium pocket clip. S35VN is a powder-metallurgy stainless steel from Crucible Industries that improves on S30V with a niobium addition for better toughness and easier sharpening - the details live in our S35VN steel guide. Heat treated to HRC 60-62, it is a genuinely premium blade steel that holds an edge through weeks of daily cutting while staying corrosion resistant enough to ignore.

At 82 g (2.89 oz) these are remarkably light for full-size 3.65-inch folders - the titanium handle keeps the whole knife at roughly the weight of a small compact folder. Two colorways are available at $199.99:

• Gold titanium 1878G - stonewashed S35VN blade with a gold-toned titanium handle.
• Grey titanium 1878G-GY - stonewashed S35VN blade with a grey titanium handle featuring a fat carbon inlay, one of the few fat carbon accents in the mainline catalog (see our fat carbon handle guide).

Both frame lock editions ride on ceramic ball bearings with the frame lock milled directly into the titanium scale - the same architecture that dominates the best Artisan Cutlery titanium folders tier.

The Liner Lock Editions: AR-RPM9 with Aluminum and Brass

The other half of the Beest family is built around Artisan's in-house AR-RPM9 powder steel and a hybrid deployment system that combines a front flipper tab with a thumb hole on the same knife - two ways to open, one very fidget-friendly platform. The thumb hole vs flipper comparison explains why hybrids like this are popular: the flipper gives a snappy, one-handed opening while the thumb hole offers slower, controlled draws.

AR-RPM9 is Artisan's budget powder-metallurgy stainless, designed to take the best qualities of D2 and stainless steels into an affordable package that really holds an edge; our AR-RPM9 steel guide goes deep on it. Heat treated to HRC 59-61, it is a reliable working steel for everyday cutting. Two liner lock editions ship:

• Purple aluminum 1878P-BVT ($69.99) - black PVD coated AR-RPM9 blade, purple aluminum handle, steel clip, 98 g (3.46 oz). The PVD coating adds a hard, low-reflective finish that resists scratching - more on coatings in our knife finish guide.
• Brass 1878P-BR ($79.99) - stonewashed AR-RPM9 blade, solid brass handle, steel clip, 150 g (5.3 oz). The brass edition is the heavyweight of the family and the one with the most character; the metal develops a natural patina over time that makes each knife unique.

The aluminum editions also appeared in additional limited colorways (gold and red) with coated blades at $89.99, continuing the pattern of Artisan rotating special colorways through popular platforms - see our limited editions guide for why those matter to collectors.

S35VN vs AR-RPM9: Two Steels, Two Missions

The Beest family is a clean case study in steel tiers:

• S35VN at HRC 60-62 is the premium choice: better edge retention, true stainless behavior, and a harder heat treat than the budget editions. It belongs in the frame lock titanium builds where buyers expect set-and-forget performance.
• AR-RPM9 at HRC 59-61 is the value choice: a budget powder steel that out-cuts most steels at its price point, with enough corrosion resistance for normal EDC. It belongs in the liner lock builds that keep the Beest platform accessible.

Neither choice is wrong - they serve different buyers. The premium editions are for carriers who want one excellent knife; the AR-RPM9 editions are for buyers who want the Beest design and deployment system at a fraction of the price.

Frame Lock vs Liner Lock, and Handle Material Physics

The two lock families behave differently in hand. The frame lock on the titanium editions is slim and minimal - the lock bar is part of the handle scale itself, which keeps the profile clean and lockup solid; the physics are covered in the lock strength comparison. The liner lock on the AR-RPM9 editions is one of the most proven mechanisms in knife history, simple to manufacture and reliable in daily use - our knife lock types guide and Wikipedia's liner lock article both cover how it works.

Handle material is where the Beest editions really diverge in feel:

• Titanium (82 g) - light, corrosion resistant, premium; disappears in the pocket.
• Aluminum (98 g) - light and rigid, with anodized color options that add personality.
• Brass (150 g) - nearly twice the weight of the titanium editions; the mass makes the blade feel planted in hand, and the metal develops a rich patina with carry. The handle materials guide compares these options in depth.

Which Beest Should You Choose?

• Choose the 1878G gold titanium ($199.99) for a premium S35VN frame lock that weighs almost nothing and needs no maintenance.
• Choose the 1878G-GY grey titanium ($199.99) if you want the same premium platform with the visual interest of a fat carbon inlay.
• Choose the 1878P-BVT purple aluminum ($69.99) for the hybrid front flipper and thumb hole deployment with a coated blade on a light, colorful handle.
• Choose the 1878P-BR brass ($79.99) for maximum character: solid brass, a patina that ages with you, and the same dual deployment at a budget price.

The Beest is proof that a production folder can still feel special. If you want the full story on the flagship configuration, the original Beest brass review covers the hybrid deployment in detail.

Why the Hybrid Deployment Matters

The dual-opening system on the 1878P editions is rarer than it sounds. A front flipper tab requires a deliberate push from the index finger against the detent, which rewards a tuned action and gives the fastest possible deployment; a thumb hole gives you slow, controlled, middle-finger or thumb openings that are nearly silent in an office. Having both on one knife means the Beest adapts to the moment - snappy when you want it, discreet when you do not. Both mechanisms share one ceramic ball bearing pivot, so the action stays smooth no matter how you open it, and both are covered in detail in our deployment methods comparison.

Caring for Brass, Aluminum, and Titanium Beests

The three handle materials have very different care profiles. Brass is the one that asks for attention - and rewards it. Bare brass tarnishes and develops a patina with handling, which many carriers actively encourage because it makes the knife look lived-in; if you prefer it bright, a brass polish brings the shine back in a few minutes. The stonewashed AR-RPM9 blade needs no special treatment beyond a wipe after wet cutting. The purple aluminum edition wears a black PVD coating on the blade - a hard, low-reflective finish that resists scratches - and the colored aluminum handle needs nothing more than an occasional clean to keep its finish. The titanium editions are the set-and-forget option: S35VN stainless plus bare titanium means there is essentially nothing to maintain. Our knife finish guide and handle materials guide cover the full maintenance picture for each material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Artisan Cutlery Beest a good knife for everyday carry? Yes. The 3.65-inch blade is a versatile EDC length, the drop point handles general cutting well, and the family spans 82 g to 150 g so you can pick the weight that suits your carry style - the titanium editions nearly disappear in a pocket.

What is the difference between the Beest 1878G and 1878P editions? The 1878G editions are premium S35VN titanium frame locks at $199.99; the 1878P editions are AR-RPM9 liner locks in aluminum or brass at $69.99-$79.99 with front flipper and thumb hole deployment.

Which Beest is the lightest? The titanium 1878G editions at 82 g (2.89 oz). The aluminum 1878P-BVT is close at 98 g, and the brass 1878P-BR is the heavyweight at 150 g (5.3 oz) - nearly twice the titanium editions.

Does the brass Beest rust? The brass handle does not rust; it develops a natural patina, which is part of the appeal. The AR-RPM9 blade is a stainless powder steel and is corrosion resistant for normal EDC use.

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