Titanium is Artisan Cutlery's signature handle material, and for good reason: it is light, corrosion-proof, strong, and can be finished or anodized in dozens of ways. The current lineup spans more than a dozen titanium folders from around $186 to $237, covering S35VN, M390, and 20CV steels in frame locks and one button lock. Here is how to find the right one for you.
From satin to bead-blasted, titanium handles take many finishes — and every model above is a frame or button lock.
Why titanium handles
Titanium offers the best strength-to-weight ratio of any common knife handle material, which is why premium folders lean on it so heavily. It does not rust, it feels warm in the hand, and its surface can be stonewashed, bead blasted, or anodized into a spectrum of colors. It also accepts texture well — Artisan mills, grooves, and inlays its titanium scales for extra grip. For a deeper look at the metal itself, titanium on Wikipedia covers the basics.
The full titanium lineup compared
| Model | Designer | Steel | Blade | Lock | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andromeda | Ray Laconico | S35VN | 3.42 in drop point | Button | $186.66 |
| Cygnus | — | S35VN | 3.54 in reverse tanto | Frame | $198.04 |
| Great White | Gavko | S35VN | 3.79 in tanto | Frame | $199.99 |
| Arion | Cerberus | 20CV | 3.81 in spear point | Frame | $199.99 |
| Sirius | Ray Laconico | S35VN | 3.54 in drop point | Frame | $200.00 |
| Apache Nomad | — | M390 | 3.82 in tanto | Frame | $209.99 |
| Mastiff | — | S35VN | 3.54 in sheepsfoot | Frame | $212.86 |
| Proponent | Dirk Pinkerton | S35VN | 3.85 in wharncliffe | Frame | $212.87 |
| Hornet | — | M390 | 3.82 in spear point | Frame | $224.99 |
| Tomahawk | — | M390 | 3.94 in drop point | Frame | $224.99 |
| Eterno | — | M390 | 3.54 in drop point | Frame | $236.99 |
| Eagle | — | M390 | 3.46 in hawkbill | Frame | $236.99 |
| Orthodox | — | M390 | 3.54 in tanto | Frame | $236.99 |
Best titanium pick under $200
The Andromeda is Ray Laconico's slim S35VN folder and the most affordable way into Artisan's titanium line at $186.66. It is also the only button lock in the titanium family — deploy it with the thumb studs or flick it open with the button, then close it one-handed. If you want premium materials with a modern, easy mechanism, start here.
Best S35VN titanium knives
If the button lock is not for you, the S35VN frame locks are the core of the lineup. The Sirius, another Laconico design, opens with either a front flipper or a recessed thumb stud and is the sleekest carry of the group. The Cygnus brings an angular reverse tanto blade with heavily milled titanium, and the Gavko-designed Great White pairs a tanto with a slim 115-gram profile.
Best M390 titanium knives
M390 is the flagship steel here, hardened to HRC 60-62. The Tomahawk offers the biggest blade in the titanium family at 3.94 inches; the Hornet is its spear-point cousin at the same price; and the Apache Nomad adds a window breaker at the butt plus a deep-carry clip, making it the most complete hard-use package. The Eterno, Eagle, and Orthodox round out the tier with drop point, hawkbill, and tanto blades respectively at $236.99.
The 20CV specialist
The Arion, designed by Cerberus Knives, swaps the usual steels for CPM 20CV — a powder stainless in the same super-steel family as M390 — in a black PVD-coated spear point, deployed through a long thumb hole. At $199.99 it is one of the most distinctive carries in the lineup and a favorite of minimalist-design fans.
The heavy-duty pick
The Proponent is the outlier and proud of it: a 310-gram titanium folder with a lock-pin that converts it into a fixed blade. It is not a light carry — it is a work knife. Our full Proponent review digs into the mechanism.
How to choose your titanium Artisan
- Steel: S35VN for balanced performance, M390 for maximum edge retention, 20CV for the specialist choice
- Size: 3.4-3.5 in blades for slim daily carry, 3.8-3.9 in for maximum cutting capacity
- Lock: button lock for one-hand ease, frame lock for a classic solid lockup
- Weight: 115 g (Great White, Orthodox) to 310 g (Proponent) — decide how much knife you actually want in the pocket
Whichever you choose, titanium means you will never worry about a rusty handle, and the knife will only look better as the finish wears in.
Explore the full Artisan Cutlery folding knife collection for more premium EDC folders built for reliable everyday carry.
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