Artisan Cutlery Bombardier Buying Guide: D2 G10 vs S35VN Titanium

Artisan Cutlery's Bombardier is one of those designs that rewards a closer look, because the ATZ-1812 platform ships in two live configurations that look nearly identical in photos and are separated by roughly five times the price. One is a G10-handled D2 workhorse that currently lists for $39.49. The other is a titanium-handled S35VN folder at $199.49. Same blade length, same lock, same pivot assembly, same closed length, same listed weight. If you are shopping the Bombardier and wondering whether the premium version is genuinely worth the jump, this guide lays out exactly what changes between the two and what stays the same.

What the Bombardier Is

The Bombardier is a mid-size flipper with an aggressive, hard-use aesthetic. Artisan builds it around a tanto blade with a flat grind, a flipper tab riding on ceramic ball bearings, and a liner lock. It is not a micro-knife and it is not a heavy-duty fixed blade substitute either; it is a pocket folder sized for daily carry with a blade profile that favors piercing and push cuts over delicate slicing.

That combination — flipper action, ball bearings, liner lock, tanto geometry — is what makes the two versions directly comparable. The platform is identical, so the entire price difference comes down to steel, handle material, and clip material.

Bombardier Specs: The Two Live Configurations Side by Side

Both configurations currently sold on artisancutlery.net are listed as follows:

Specification	Bombardier ATZ-1812P	Bombardier ATZ-1812G
Blade material	D2 tool steel	S35VN stainless
Blade hardness	HRC 59-61	HRC 60-62
Blade length	3.54 in (90 mm)	3.54 in (90 mm)
Blade thickness	0.15 in (3.8 mm)	0.15 in (3.8 mm)
Blade finish	Satin	Satin
Blade grind	Flat	Flat
Blade style	Tanto	Tanto
Handle material	G10	Titanium
Clip material	Steel	Titanium
Lock type	Liner lock	Liner lock
Pivot assembly	Ceramic ball bearing	Ceramic ball bearing
Closed length	5.12 in (130 mm)	5.12 in (130 mm)
Listed weight	5.82 oz (165 g)	5.82 oz (165 g)
Current list price	$39.49	$199.49

Two notes on reading these listings, because the product pages reuse shared marketing copy and not every field is reliable. First, the written description on both pages describes a 3.86 in modified tanto with a stonewash finish and, on the titanium page, a textured G10 handle — the spec blocks list 3.54 in, satin, and titanium respectively, and the SKU itself (ATZ-1812G) is the titanium version. Trust the spec block and the model code over the paragraph text. Second, the S35VN page's overall-length field repeats the 5.12 in (130 mm) closed length; the same family listing carries 8.85 in (225 mm) as the open length. Treat 5.12 in closed as the dependable figure, and the identical weight across both SKUs as approximate rather than exact.

The Value Pick: ATZ-1812P in D2 and G10 at $39.49

The ATZ-1812P is the version most people will actually buy. It pairs a D2 blade with textured G10 scales and a steel clip, and it currently lists at $39.49 against a $78.99 compare-at price — a straight 50 percent off, which puts a 3.54 in tanto flipper with a ball-bearing pivot and a liner lock comfortably into impulse-buy territory. You can see the current listing for the Bombardier ATZ-1812P in D2 and G10 directly.

D2 is a high-chromium tool steel, which means it holds an edge well and resists wear far better than the generic stainless used on most knives in this bracket. The trade-offs are familiar to anyone who reads about D2 steel care: it is a semi-stainless grade rather than a true stainless, so it will patina or spot if you leave it damp, and it takes a little more effort to sharpen than a simpler alloy. At HRC 59-61 it is also heat treated slightly softer than the premium version, which is a reasonable compromise for toughness in a budget work knife.

G10 is the right handle material at this price. It is an epoxy-and-fiberglass laminate — dimensionally stable, effectively immune to moisture, and grippy when milled. It is also heavier than titanium, but that difference is measured in fractions of an ounce at this scale.

The Premium Pick: ATZ-1812G in S35VN and Titanium at $199.49

The ATZ-1812G keeps the same blade shape and dimensions but replaces both steel and handle. The blade is CPM S35VN, a powder-metallurgy stainless with a niobium addition that is widely regarded as one of the best-balanced cutlery steels: strong corrosion resistance, good toughness for a high-hardness stainless, and edge retention that comfortably outlasts D2 in normal carry. It is listed at HRC 60-62 here, a couple of points harder than the D2 version.

The handle and clip are both titanium. Titanium's appeal on a folding knife is not exotic mystique — it is a genuinely high strength-to-weight ratio paired with complete corrosion immunity and a warm, slightly grippy feel in hand compared with steel liners under G10. Artisan finishes the scales with milling for traction, and using titanium for the clip too removes a small amount of steel from the knife and keeps the hardware consistent.

At $199.49 against a $265.99 compare-at price, the premium version is discounted about 25 percent — a smaller percentage off than the budget model, which is normal for higher-end cutlery. The Bombardier ATZ-1812G in S35VN and titanium is the model to look for. If you want the fuller picture of how S35VN behaves, our S35VN steel guide covers its properties and sharpening response in detail.

D2 vs S35VN: What the Upgrade Actually Buys

Property	D2	S35VN
Class	High-chromium tool steel (semi-stainless)	Powder-metallurgy stainless
Corrosion resistance	Moderate — needs drying and a light oil	High — effectively maintenance-free in daily carry
Edge retention	Good, especially at coarse edges	Very good, with better edge stability at fine angles
Toughness	High	Good for its hardness class
Sharpenability	Slower — large chromium carbides resist abrasion	Better than most premium stainless, especially on diamond or ceramic
Stainless behaviour	Will patina if neglected	Stainless in practice

The honest summary is that S35VN is not five times the steel; it is a meaningfully better steel that removes the two annoyances of D2 — corrosion attention and sharpening effort — while adding edge stability at polished angles. Whether that is worth $160 depends entirely on how you carry. If your knife lives in a pocket, gets used and put away damp, and you dislike patina, S35VN earns its keep. If you treat a folder as a tool, wipe it down, and would rather own three budget knives than one premium one, D2 is not a compromise you will notice in daily use.

For a wider view of how steel properties trade off against each other, see our breakdown of edge retention versus toughness versus sharpenability.

G10 vs Titanium Handles and Clips

G10 wins on grip when wet, on cost, and on impact resistance — a dropped G10 scale is unlikely to show anything. Titanium wins on weight, corrosion immunity, and the ability to be refinished or anodized later. Titanium does scratch, and those scratches show, which is why our titanium handle care guide is worth reading before you buy a titanium folder and then carry it next to your keys.

On the clip, the difference matters more than it sounds. A steel clip keeps tension well but can mark a pocket over time; a titanium clip is lighter and corrosion-free. Both will be set up for tip-up carry, and the standard rules about pocket clip positioning and deep carry apply equally to both versions.

Action, Lockup, and Carry

Because both knives share the pivot and lock hardware, they feel remarkably similar in hand. The flipper tab rides on ceramic ball bearings, which gives the crisp, low-friction deployment most people associate with modern folders, and the liner lock is a mature design that is easy to operate one-handed and easy to maintain. If you want to understand what is happening inside the pivot and how to keep it feeling new, our pivot systems guide explains bearings versus washers, and the blade play troubleshooting guide covers what to do if lockup or centering drifts.

Two practical carry notes. At roughly 5.82 oz listed, the Bombardier is a substantial pocket knife rather than a featherweight — the weight is a consequence of a 3.54 in steel blade, full liners, and a 5.12 in handle, and it sits comfortably in jeans or a jacket pocket but is noticeable in light shorts. And with a 3.54 in blade and an aggressive tanto profile, it reads as a working knife rather than a discreet one, so check your local carry rules before making it your daily.

Value Math: When Is Five Times the Price Justified?

Running the numbers plainly: at current pricing, one ATZ-1812G costs about as much as five ATZ-1812P knives. The premium version buys you a powder-metallurgy stainless blade, titanium scales and a titanium clip, one to two additional points of hardness, and a smaller percentage discount. It does not buy you a different blade shape, a stronger lock, or a different size.

• Buy the D2 G10 version if you want maximum knife per dollar, you are comfortable wiping a blade down, or you plan to use the knife hard and do not want to worry about finish wear.
• Buy the S35VN titanium version if your knife sits in a pocket for months at a time between wipes, you value titanium's weight and corrosion immunity, or you want the version that will still look and cut premium after years of carry.
• Consider both if you want a beater Bombardier for work and a titanium Bombardier for everything else — at $39.49, the second knife costs less than a set of replacement scales.

Care Notes for Each Version

The maintenance routine is the same for both: keep the pivot clean and lightly lubricated, do not over-oil, and dry the blade after wet use. The D2 version deserves one extra step — a thin film of oil on the blade if it will sit unused, which is covered in our D2 care guide. For the titanium version, the only real risk is cosmetic scratching, and a scotch-brite-style refinish or an anodizing touch-up can restore the finish. General cleaning guidance for both lives in our EDC knife cleaning guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bombardier a liner lock or a frame lock?

Both live Bombardier configurations are listed with a liner lock — a steel liner bar that engages the blade tang, housed inside the handle. Even the titanium-handled version uses a liner lock rather than a frame lock, so do not assume the titanium handle means a frame lock. Our lock types guide explains the difference.

What is the difference between ATZ-1812P and ATZ-1812G?

The letter suffix denotes the build tier. The 1812P is the D2 blade with a G10 handle and steel clip; the 1812G is the S35VN blade with titanium handle and titanium clip. Blade length, thickness, grind, style, closed length, lock, and pivot are shared across the platform.

Can the Bombardier be used as a hard-use knife?

It is a folding knife with a liner lock, so treat it as a cutting tool rather than a pry bar or chopper. The flat-ground 3.54 in tanto handles cardboard, rope, zip ties, and packaging well, and the 0.15 in stock gives it more rigidity than a thin slicer. For heavy chopping, a fixed blade is the right answer.

Where the Bombardier Fits in the Lineup

If you are deciding between the Bombardier and something else from Artisan, the fastest route is to compare it against the rest of the catalog: the full lineup guide walks through every family from entry level to premium, and the best Artisan knives under $100 roundup places the D2 Bombardier against its closest budget siblings. If you are drawn to the titanium version, the titanium folder guide shows what else in the range offers the same materials.

The Bombardier's real charm is that it refuses to be a compromise at either end. Spend $39.49 and you get a tanto flipper with a real tool steel blade and a bearing pivot. Spend $199.49 and you get the same knife elevated to materials that will outlast the decade. Both are available now in the Artisan Cutlery catalog.

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