Artisan Cutlery Dark Wing Guide: Dustin Rhodes Flipper EDC

The Artisan Cutlery Dark Wing is designer Dustin Rhodes' entry in the brand's premium folder family, and it is one of the more distinctive production knives to arrive this year. It pairs an aggressively recurved clip-point blade with a thumb hole and a front flipper, then wraps it in titanium, G10, glow-in-the-dark carbon fiber or titanium damascus depending on the build you choose. Blades come in CPM S35VN or CPM S90V, both at HRC 60–62.

The Design Story Behind the Dark Wing

Artisan Cutlery credits the Dark Wing to Dustin Rhodes. In the copy he wrote for the release:

“I planned to name this one the ‘Dark Wing.’ The inspiration for this design was all of the interesting blade shapes with aggressive recurves that are available today. I wanted something like them but with my sort of flair to it. The Dark Wing is the product of that.”

That intent shows up in the profile: a shadowed, wing-like recurve that gives the knife real slicing aggression while keeping a compact footprint. You can see more of the designer's work in the Dustin Rhodes collection.

Shared Specs: What Every Dark Wing Has in Common

Specification	Dark Wing
Blade length	3.63" (92 mm)
Blade thickness	0.15" (3.7 mm)
Blade style	Clip point with aggressive recurve
Blade grind	Flat
Blade hardness	HRC 60–62
Overall length	7.99" (203 mm)
Closed length	4.38" (111 mm)
Deployment	Thumb hole + front flipper
Pivot	Ceramic ball bearings
Clip	Titanium, deep carry
Weight (Ti + S35VN)	107 g / 3.77 oz

Three numbers matter most here. The 3.63" blade keeps the Dark Wing in the mainstream EDC band rather than the oversized category. The 0.15" stock is substantial enough to feel planted without turning the knife into a wedge. And 107 g is remarkable for a full titanium frame lock with a 3.6" blade — light enough that you forget it is in a pocket. As always with pocket carry, check your local blade-length limits; our knife legality by state guide covers the basics.

Two Ways to Open It: Thumb Hole and Front Flipper

Most folders commit to one deployment method. The Dark Wing gives you both, and they suit different jobs:

• Front flipper. Roll the flipper tab back with your index finger from the closed position. It is the faster, more discreet option and it hides the tab inside the handle silhouette when open.
• Thumb hole. Push the blade open with your thumb. It is the familiar, dependable option when your index finger is busy, gloved or cold.

Both run on ceramic ball bearings, so the action is smooth and quick rather than gritty. If you like to understand what happens inside a folder, our pivot systems guide explains bearing pivots versus washers.

Frame Lock vs Top Liner Lock: The Two Core Versions

Both core Dark Wing builds list at $199.99, and the difference is the handle and the lock rather than the price:

SKU	Handle	Blade	Lock	Price
1887G-GY	Titanium	CPM S35VN, stonewash	Frame lock	$199.99
1887G-BPU	Titanium	CPM S35VN, black PVD	Frame lock	$199.99
1887G-GDBU	Carbon fiber, glow in the dark	CPM S90V, black PVD	Top liner lock	$199.99

The titanium versions use the classic frame lock arrangement, where the handle scale itself forms the lock bar — the most hand-filling, premium-feeling setup Artisan Cutlery offers. The glow-in-the-dark carbon fiber version moves to a top liner lock and steps the blade up to CPM S90V, which is the higher-wear-resistance of the two alloys. It also runs 108 g / 3.8 oz, a gram heavier than the titanium model despite the composite handle.

The Dark Wing Family: Five Custom Builds

Beyond the standard versions, Artisan Cutlery offers the Dark Wing in a series of themed builds. Every one is the same 3.63" platform; the difference is material, finish and price:

Build	What you get	Price
ToughWing	Textured black G10 handle, stonewashed S90V blade, contoured titanium clip — the lightweight user	$159.75
BlackWing	Fully blacked-out S90V blade, titanium scales and hardware, all tumbled for a rugged finish	$202.50
GloWing	Glow-in-the-dark carbon fiber inlay over gray titanium, stonewashed S90V blade — each inlay glows in its own pattern	$267.00
HellWing	Black PVD scales and blade with an intense red Fatcarbon inlay — the loudest member of the family	$277.50
BlingWing	Polished titanium damascus scales with a hand-polished S90V blade — a small, limited luxury run	$749.00

That spread is unusual for a single design. The ToughWing is the one to buy if you intend to actually abuse your knife: G10 is lighter than titanium and hides damage better. The BlingWing is the collector's piece, and the GloWing and HellWing sit in between for people who want a knife that looks like nothing else in the drawer.

S35VN or CPM S90V: Which Dark Wing Steel Should You Pick?

	CPM S35VN	CPM S90V
Hardness	HRC 60–62	HRC 60–62
Character	The balanced premium stainless	High-carbide, oriented toward maximum edge retention
Best for	Most users — predictable to sharpen, tough enough for daily work	Cutters who want the longest edge life and do not mind more effort at the stones

Both are excellent; the choice is a priority question rather than a quality question. If you want the deep background on how these properties trade off, Knife Steel Nerds publishes a comparative rating of knife steels by toughness, edge retention and corrosion resistance, and our S35VN and S90V vs S35VN articles break down each alloy individually.

Carrying and Maintaining a Dark Wing

• The clip is titanium and deep carry. The knife sits low in the pocket, which pairs well with the compact 4.38" closed length. See our pocket clip guide if you want to fine-tune position and tension.
• Several finishes are coated. The black PVD and tumbled black builds need care around the edge. Our coated blade sharpening guide covers how to touch up a coated edge without scuffing the finish.
• Keep the pivot clean. Ceramic bearings are tough, but grit in the raceway is the usual cause of a rough action. A quick flush and a drop of lubricant restores the flip.
• Watch for blade play early. If you notice side-to-side movement developing, address it before it dulls the action. Our guide to folding knife blade play walks through the fix.
• Titanium and composites are low-maintenance. Titanium shrugs off corrosion; G10 and carbon fiber need nothing more than a wipe. See the properties of titanium and G10 composite if you like the materials science.

Who Should Buy the Dark Wing?

1. Design-led EDC carriers who want a folder that does not look like everyone else's drop point, and who appreciate a recurved slicing profile.
2. Front flipper fans who also want a thumb hole as a backup — you rarely get both on one knife.
3. Collectors chasing the themed builds. The BlingWing's titanium damascus and hand-polished blade make it a display piece as much as a tool.
4. Lightweight titanium fans who want a 107 g frame lock with a 3.63" blade.

Start with the full Dark Wing collection to see current availability and finishes, and compare it against the rest of Artisan Cutlery's titanium frame locks if you want the Dark Wing's lockup in a more conventional silhouette.

The Dark Wing is the rare production design that feels authored rather than assembled — a specific designer's answer to the recurved-blade trend, executed across six very different builds.

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