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Real Steel Recruits New Designer, Updates Bushcraft Plus

August 22, 2019

Real Steel Knives has tapped a new outsider collaborator for the Pelican, their latest budget-directed flipper folder, the Pelican; this knife comes from the pen of Aslan Zhanabayev. RSK is also bringing out a much-requested convex grind version of their Bushcraft Plus fixed blade after a successful limited release in Japan.

Pelican

“We have been reaching out more and more for new designers who want to challenge current design aesthetics and make something completely new,” says RSK’s Jamie McKenna of the company’s search for fresh talent. Zhanabayev is a designer working in Alamty, Kazakhstan and McKenna says his style was a perfect fit for this trailblazing drive. “The Pelican has a lot of firsts for us: a new blade shape, new handle style, and new clip design.”

Real Steel Pelican

The Pelican’s harpoon-style blade is 3.37 inches in length, made from stonewashed D2 semi stainless steel. Zhanabayev’s style comes through in other flourishes too: the handle’s simple shape is given a dramatic accent in the showside G-10 scale, which are milled to evoke the wing of the knife’s namesake. A stainless steel frame lock, the Pelican weighs 4.41 oz. “We have been making budget knifes for years now, it is what we do best,” McKenna adds. “The Pelican is in essence the apex of this – making the statement in simple and subtle terms to others.”

Bushcraft Plus Convex

The original RSK Bushcraft Plus has been out for three years now, and enjoys a place as one of the best-selling fixed blades in the company’s lineup; “Its success has only been topped by the G5 Metamorph,” McKenna tells us. The idea for a convex version originated with a mod from a Japanese user, who implemented the grind himself and sent RSK the pictures. “I was taken away, it looked stunning,” McKenna shares.

Acting on this inspiration, a limited market release was sent out to Japanese dealers and sold out quickly, proving the viability of this variant. RSK knew they had to make it a globally available product. “We have teased our European and U.S fans over this knife but never gave too much information away,” says McKenna. “However, we are now turning to our two traditional markets for probably the biggest release of the year.”

To make this release even more special, RSK will be providing multiple wood handle scale options in addition to the standard black G-10, and proving an Italian leather sheath for the knife as well.

The Pelican is expected to release on August 23rd, with an MSRP of $85. The Bushcraft Plus Convex is slated to appear on September 2nd, with an MSRP of $127.50.

Knife in Featured Image: Real Steel Knives Bushcraft Plus Convex

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