What is a limited finish Knife?

A limited finish knife is a unique variation that differs from our standard production finish or configuration. These knives are crafted with exceptional attention to detail and often involve intricate designs, premium materials, or specialized techniques that are not part of our regular production line. Due to the complexity and extended time required to create them, limited finish knives are produced in smaller quantities.

 

Because of them being limited their production numbers are roughly limited to the following:

 

Battlefield Pickup (BPU)- 5% of the batch maximum, often far less than that. This ongoing series grew from Rick’s passion for military history.  Rick took regular production Knives, Pens, and accessories and made them look like a military artifact that was picked up right off of a battlefield! The finish on the blades, handles, hardware, etc. is meticulously applied by hand to give it that unique special look. This really cool touch gives all Rick Hinderer Knives BFPU products a unique flair not seen anywhere else! As an extra special touch, all BFPU series knives are serialized with a special serial number. ALL BFPU products are a very limited quantity!  

Containment -  5% of the batch and this special finish is currently not in production for this year (2024). With this series, we start with a base knife and add unique gas mask graphics which are laser engraved into the titanium. Each year we use a different “gas mask” design thereby making each knife more unique. The finish and overall appearance of each knife are also different and unique and made in a very limited number. The RHK Containment Series has always been a very popular RHK offering!

Battle Black or any DLC Finish - Battle Black is limited to 20% of the overall batch. The other DLC offshoots like Stonewash DLC or Two Tone DLC are typically less than 2% of the batch. These other DLC offerings are not always even made for every single batch. For clarification, the following are different DLC finishes that can be seen:

-Stonewash DLC- A knife that has not been blasted prior to the DLC coating being applied, hence it is technically “stonewash” prior to receiving its coating.

-DLC- If a knife is labeled as DLC then it is blasted prior to coating, but it did not receive the proprietary “battle black” finish. It is a straight DLC coating or matte DLC-looking finish.

- Battle Black- A “battled” DLC finish. The exact finish is a Rick Hinderer Knives proprietary process, but it leads to a more distressed DLC finish. This is the standard DLC finish we produce and is most commonly seen of all DLC finishes.

Honeycomb Fade- It is limited to 5% but it is typically far less than that. These knives receive a custom lasering on the lock side that fades into a Honeycomb design. This finish will be brought back in 2024 with the launch of the new website, and its details will be added here then. It will not be the exact honeycomb fade finish seen in previous years, and it is getting multiple “upgrades”. 

Battle Hounds - Limited to roughly 5% of a given batch, but is typically far less. The Battle Hound is a continuation of our famed Battlefield Pickup Series which grew from Rick’s passion for military history and the heroes that served. This series focuses on that and another passion of Rick’s, man’s best friend. The Battle Hound Series is focused on the dogs that serve and have served and the history behind the four-legged warriors. Much like the Battlefield Pickup Series, these knives are made to look like military artifacts that were picked up right off of a battlefield, but the Battle Hound knives feature a new Paw from our friends at Steel Flame. We deep engraved the paw on the lock side and lasered the paw on the clip, tab, and handle nuts!

 

Assembly Specials- This varies significantly based on the production schedule and upcoming events. Can potentially be as high as 25% (only for shows and special events) but typically far less. The assembly special is a product line in which we have given the assembly team the freedom to build knives in a way that is different than our typical production whether it is a lesser-seen anodization color/combination, non-standard handle color, or material. It can include different hardware combinations, or it can be all of the above and something completely different. Or potentially a configuration that has never left the ranch before!

 

Steel Flame Projects- Rick and Derrick Obatake of Steel Flame go back a long way. Rick Hinderer Knives was the first knife company to feature Steel Flame accessories, and we are thrilled to say that the relationship is alive and well today. We continue to release very limited collaborations between Rick Hinderer Knives and Steel Flame. These knives typically contain Steel Flame elements such as 3D cast clips and tabs, and custom laser designs from Derrick. These knives are in very high demand and are often some of the most sought-after projects.

 

Conclusion

Limited Finish knives stand out from standard production, featuring intricate designs, premium materials, and specialized techniques. Produced in small quantities, these knives are highly sought after by collectors. Each series, from the Battlefield Pickup to the Assembly Specials, showcases exceptional craftsmanship and tell a unique story. The rarity and meticulous detail of these knives make them prized possessions for enthusiasts. Make sure to sign up for our newsletter so that you can get information and release dates for our limited-finish knives!