Artisan Cutlery Holm Buying Guide: AR-RPM9 to S90V

Some knife families are built around one blade shape, and the Artisan Cutlery Holm is exactly that: a wharncliffe, button-lock folder that has quietly grown into a ten-configuration family with a $56.99 to $199.99 price span. What changes across the Holm lineup is not the blade geometry but the materials around it — AR-RPM9 steel with budget-friendly handles, or premium S90V builds in copper, micarta, titanium, and fat carbon.

Every Holm shares one platform: a 3.10in (78.7mm) wharncliffe blade with a flat grind, a slim 0.10in (2.5mm) stock, ceramic ball bearings, and a button-lock mechanism — which the premium S90V builds pair with a safety switch. If the S90V review introduced you to the flagship, this guide covers the full family, from the colorful acrylic versions to the holiday fat-carbon exclusives.

Two Steel Tiers, One Platform

The Holm splits cleanly into two steel families, and the price gap between them is driven by materials as much as edge performance.

AR-RPM9 builds (HRC 59-61, $56.99): Artisan's powder-stainless workhorse takes care of sharpening ease and corrosion resistance at a friendly price. This tier is where the Holm offers its widest variety of handles — wood, G10, and a rainbow of acrylic colorways. Our AR-RPM9 guide explains why this steel became the default for affordable EDC.

S90V builds (HRC 60-62, $109.99-$199.99): S90V is one of the highest-edge-retention stainless steels in production, and Artisan pairs it with the Holm's most premium handle materials. The tradeoff is straightforward: S90V holds an edge longer than almost anything, but it asks for a guided sharpening setup when the edge eventually dulls. Our S90V steel guide walks through the full tradeoff, and the knife steel overview is a good primer on what edge retention actually means.

The AR-RPM9 Holm Lineup: A Handle for Every Taste

At $56.99, the AR-RPM9 Holm is one of the most configurable budget folders Artisan makes. Every version carries the same wharncliffe blade and button-lock platform; the handle is the whole story.

• G10 and wood (black): the standard 1875P, a no-nonsense everyday version.
• Six acrylic colorways: Deep Space Purple, Deep Sea Blue, Black and Blue, Black and Green, Black and Orange, and Black and White. Acrylic gives each knife a translucent, marbled look that is hard to find at this price.
• Red wood: a warm, natural alternative for carriers who prefer organic materials.
• Black-gold G10 inlay: a dressier take on the G10 handle.
• Rose gold: the most eye-catching finish in the budget tier.

Acrylic is tougher than its jewelry-like appearance suggests, but it can show light scratches over years of carry. If you go that route, keep the handle away from solvents and abrasive cleaners, and it will keep its color for a long time.

The Holm Family at a Glance

Configuration	Steel / hardness	Handle	Price
1875P G10 and wood	AR-RPM9, HRC 59-61	Black G10 and wood	$56.99
1875P acrylic	AR-RPM9, HRC 59-61	Six acrylic colorways	$56.99
1875P red wood / black-gold / rose gold	AR-RPM9, HRC 59-61	Wood and metal-finish scales	$56.99
1875 steel and micarta	S90V, HRC 60-62	Stonewashed steel with micarta inlay	$109.99
1875 copper and rosewood	S90V, HRC 60-62	Copper with rosewood inlay, titanium clip	$149.99
1875 titanium	S90V, HRC 60-62	Titanium, titanium clip	$198.99
1875 fat carbon (holiday exclusive)	S90V, HRC 60-62	Titanium with fat carbon inlay	$199.99

The S90V tier also shows how far handle materials move the weight needle: the copper and rosewood build comes in at 131g, the stonewashed steel and micarta version drops to 88g, the titanium build sits at 93g, and the fat carbon exclusive is the lightest of the premium group at 85g.

The S90V Premium Tier: Copper, Micarta, Titanium, and Fat Carbon

Above the AR-RPM9 line, the Holm becomes a materials showcase.

• Stonewashed steel and micarta ($109.99, 88g): the most practical premium Holm. Micarta is a canvas-and-resin composite that grips well wet or dry and ages with character — see our micarta care guide for how it develops.
• Copper and rosewood ($149.99, 131g): the heaviest and most distinctive Holm. Copper develops a natural patina as you carry it, which many owners treat as the point. Our copper handle care guide covers cleaning and patina control.
• Titanium ($198.99, 93g): the lightweight premium pick, with a titanium clip to match.
• Titanium and fat carbon, holiday exclusive ($199.99, 85g): the lightest Holm, dressed in yellow-and-green or black-and-orange fat carbon. Fat carbon is a molded composite with flowing, layered patterns — each scale is effectively unique. The fat carbon guide explains why collectors chase it.

Why a Wharncliffe Button Lock Works So Well for EDC

The Holm's wharncliffe blade is a straight-edged cutter: the edge runs nearly flat to the spine, which puts maximum cutting force right at the point of contact. It excels at box-cutting, package opening, and any slicing task where you want the edge to do the work. Our wharncliffe vs sheepsfoot comparison breaks down the geometry.

The button lock is the other half of the story. A press of the button releases the blade for a smooth, thumb-stud-free close, and on the premium S90V builds a safety switch locks the blade open or closed when you want extra reassurance in the pocket. If you are choosing between mechanisms, the button vs crossbar vs liner comparison sorts out the durability questions.

Reading the Holm Model Codes

Artisan's naming looks dense, but the Holm codes decode in seconds. 1875 is the platform number for the whole family. The letter that follows splits the lineup into its two steel tiers: 1875P marks the AR-RPM9 budget series, while 1875G and the standalone 1875 builds mark the S90V premium series.

The tail letters are handle shorthand. On the budget side you will see BK (black G10 and wood), PA (deep space purple acrylic), BA (deep sea blue acrylic), BUA (black and blue), GNA (black and green), OEA (black and orange), WHA (black and white), RW (red wood), BG (black-gold G10 inlay), and BRG (rose gold). On the premium side, COWD means copper with rosewood inlay, ODG is the stonewashed steel build with micarta, GY is the titanium version, and FCTX or FCMV mark the fat carbon holiday exclusives.

Once you can read the codes, the entire Holm catalog becomes a spec sheet you can scan in a few seconds — and every tail letter maps to a live product page on the site.

Maintaining a Material-Driven Knife

Because the Holm lineup spreads across so many handle materials, care routines vary more than they do on a plain G10 folder. The good news is that each material is low-effort once you know its quirk.

• Acrylic: wipe clean with a soft cloth and mild soap. Avoid solvents and abrasive pads, which can haze the surface. Over time light surface scratches are possible, but they do not affect function.
• Micarta and wood: both appreciate an occasional wipe-down with mineral oil or a light wax to keep the fibers sealed. Micarta actually gains character as it darkens with use — our micarta aging guide explains the process.
• Copper: it will patina — that is a feature, not a flaw. If you prefer bright copper, our copper care guide walks through cleaning and how to control the look.
• Titanium and fat carbon: essentially maintenance-free. Titanium needs nothing but a rinse, and fat carbon is a molded composite that does not absorb moisture — see the fat carbon care guide for details.
• The S90V edge: at HRC 60-62, S90V holds an edge impressively long, but it responds best to a guided system or fine stones when it finally dulls. The Science of Sharp archive has detailed studies of how high-hardness powder steels behave at the edge.

Quick Holm Buying Answers

• Which Holm is cheapest? Every AR-RPM9 configuration is $56.99 — G10 and wood, all six acrylic colorways, red wood, black-gold G10, and rose gold.
• Which Holm is the lightest? The titanium and fat carbon holiday exclusive at 85g, with the stonewashed steel and micarta version close behind at 88g.
• Which Holm is the heaviest? The copper and rosewood build at 131g — the price of that distinctive look in the pocket.
• Do all Holm knives have the safety switch? The safety switch is confirmed on the premium S90V builds; if a lock-out feature is essential to you, choose one of those.
• Is the Holm a good first button lock? Yes — the button is easy to reach, the closing action is smooth on ceramic bearings, and the wharncliffe blade is forgiving to learn on.

Which Holm Should You Buy?

• Budget everyday carry: any AR-RPM9 Holm at $56.99 — pick the acrylic colorway that matches your style or the wood version for a classic look.
• Lightweight premium: the S90V steel-and-micarta version at 88g or the titanium build at 93g.
• Character piece: the copper and rosewood Holm, and let the patina tell the story.
• Collector: the titanium and fat carbon holiday exclusive — limited-release fat carbon means no two knives look the same.

Whichever material you choose, you are getting the same proven wharncliffe platform underneath. Start with the AR-RPM9 acrylic Holm, compare the copper and rosewood S90V, or go straight for the titanium build.

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