Mikkel Willumsen is growing his in-house production efforts, adopting a new company name and releasing a stream of new models. Among the inbound offerings are the budget-friendly Red E, a new mid-tech, and a fixed blade called the Despot.
Willumsen’s Red E design appears to be inspired by the ergonomics and size of his Nidhug knife, while sporting some additions and flourishes of its own. Its stubby drop point blade consists of 2.5 inches of 440C steel, opened with a vaguely triangular cutout behind the swedge. The handle is made from G-10 and stainless steel components, and Willumsen gave the Red E a deep carry clip and a large forward choil behind the cutting edge.
The new knife comes equipped with an Axis Lock and other signficant variations are in the works. “It will also be available next year as a slipjoint for the EU market and as a framelock flipper,” Willumsen tells us. Another appealing aspect of the Red E is the price. Willumsen has it set at just $75, and expects it to be available shortly.
On the other hand, the Snake Doc mid-tech lands squarely in the premium price bracket. It shares a name with a custom Willumsen model, but this Snake Doc is a massive departure from that linear, hawkbill-bladed knife: instead Willumsen created a frame lock flipper with an imposing 4-inch, CPM-154 blade, shaped into a tanto-ized drop point with a grilled fuller running across the top.
The loftier price tag means different materials, too: in addition to the CPM-154, Willumsen implemented a carbon fiber front scale and a titanium frame lock scale – complete with colored flame anodization. “The SD has 2 lock stabilizers,” Willumsen points out. “The Hinderer disc and a lock block sitting on the outside that touches the lock surface of the blade.” The Snake Doc is limited to just 30 pieces.
Other production designs have surfaced lately. At Blade Show Willumsen displayed the Despot, a fixed blade made from AUS-8 and available in two sizes, and a new coated version of the Chibs flipper, which first debuted in February. That knife has a 3.5 inch, D2 blade but a more premium-oriented handle made from titanium and carbon fiber.
In speaking with KnifeNews Willumsen also indicated that he has dropped the Urban Tactical moniker. “Officially we don’t use it anymore. I went back to what I first started out with, ‘Willumsen Copenhagen.'” Willumsen Copenhagen is a fully-functioning production company now, with four employees and plans to release at least two models a year. “It’s been a dream from the beginning of my knife making career to one day start a production company, and with my new business partner and investor it is now possible,” Willumsen tells us. His custom work will continue under the label “Willumsen Custom,” and he tells us to expect news on that front too, including integral flippers.
Knife in Featured Image: Urban Tactical Red E
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