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Manly Preps New WASP Slipjoint for International Release

April 19, 2018

Manly Knives is releasing the WASP, a scaled-down slipjoint model that hearkens back to one of their first products, the Comrade. The company hopes to hit a value-oriented price point with the WASP even as they outfit it with a super steel blade.

One of the first Manly products to gain renown around the world was their Comrade folder, a plus-sized slipjoint designed for hard work. For the WASP, the company took that idea of a hardworking slipjoint and shrunk it down across all dimensions. “[It] is a mini version of our Comrade,” explains Manly’s Lubo Trayanov. But performance remains key, and the WASP carries a 2.8-inch drop point blade made from S90V steel for high-performance cutting. “The blade length, non-assisted opening, light weight and detachable deep carry pocket clip are all features requested by our customers,” Trayanov continues. “Upgrades from the beefy Comrade also include recessed liners nested inside of the G-10 handle.”

The small blade and sub-3 oz. carry make the WASP the most portable folder Manly has yet released, and a great option for anybody living where knife options are restricted. “The knife also complies with the strict European and Canadian knife laws, making it a legal EDC,” Trayanov tells us. “It’s a perfect all-around, non-scary looking EDC knife.” But Manly still made a durable knife with a strong opening spring for safety. [It] is a stepped slip joint, similar to Comrade. It uses a strong spring to engage the blade in 4 steps during opening as a way to increase user safety.”

Manly Wasp

According to Trayanov, the WASP is likely to stay a two-hand opening slipjoint for the foreseeable future. Manly plays around with variations between models, but the WASP will remain in its original role as a widely-legal, people-friendly EDC. “We don’t have plans for a back lock or liner lock version of the knife,” Trayanov confirms.

When we spoke to Manly last year they detailed their plans to grow their audience in North America. The Bulgarian company has just opened up a second online storefront in the region, Manly Canada, and plans to focus on both this and their international markets. And while their catalog remains relatively small, Manly will develop it further in 2018. The WASP is hitting shelves in North America in the next few weeks, and after that we can expect a new fixed blade, the Drugar, to follow later this year after the company finalizes some details in the design.

The WASP will start shipping in the next few weeks for a price tag of $92.

Knife featured in image: Manly Knives WASP

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