There’s a whole lot to love about Maxace Knives. The fact that they’re up-and-coming. The fact that they shatter popular perceptions of the label “Chinese-made.” The fact that they use super steels and high-quality scale materials. And of course, the fact that they sport novel designs that are attractive to collectors and those that carry for function, equally.

With that said, here are some of the top Maxace knives from our collection. If you need a pocket (or collection) refresh, these’ll do just fine.

Orion

The Maxace Orion is a real gem, made with top-quality knife steels and handle materials. It sports a flashy profile too, but it’s all business.

It’s 8.66” overall with a 3.74” blade, and it feels like a .50 caliber round in the hand thanks to its heft - it tips the scales at north of 5 ounces - 5.64, to be precise.

The generously swept blade has a nice thumb ramp that offers solid control, especially in a saber grip, as well as a clip point that not only looks snazzy but keeps the tip fine for detail work and precise cutting.

Let that alone, the blade is made with MagnaCut steel - a high-carbon, high-vanadium steel with a good bit of molybdenum and niobium on top of that.

These elements form cabides in the steel that enable it to take a punishingly sharp edge, and hold it. Perhaps not as well as S90V, but darn well. Plus, with all that vanadium and molybdenum, it’s an extremely tough steel.

With just a bit more than 10% chromium, it’s not as stainless as some alloys, but it’s also darn good.

Now for the handle scales, which are made of tough, solid titanium, and offer solid ergs and handling.

In all, the Maxace Orion is a hefty folding knife that can put up with much harder use than many folders.

Peregrine II

Now let’s talk about the Maxace Peregrine II, specifically the version with a sandblasted titanium handle and an M390 blade.

This is, far and away, the most conventional of the Maxace knives we will feature in this roundup, but rest assured, it wants nothing - except maybe the proverbial bells and whistles. Like the Orion, it’s all business.

It’s 8.27” overall with a 3.78”, textbook straight-back blade profile, not entirely unlike a classic Mora. Except, in lieu of a Scandi grind, this one has two differential grinds on the blade.

Speaking of the blade, it’s made with M390 steel, which, like MagnaCut, is a true super steel.

Except, in this case, M390 boasts crazy-high chromium carbides, at up to 18%, so it offers similar edge-retention characteristics while delivering superior corrosion resistance. All in all, it is also packed with vanadium and nearly 2% carbon, along with some tungsten and molybdenum, making for a very, very tough steel.

Another fixture of the Maxace Peregrine II is the lightweight, strong, corrosion-resistant titanium handle that is both practical and ergonomic - if not just a tad plain.

But, if we’re being honest, that’s something that some users might actually prefer, making this a top-tier Maxace knife.

Vortex 2.0

Now let’s pivot to the Maxace Vortex 2.0, specifically the model with the Red Quartz carbon fiber handle inlay.

This is an attractive knife and boasts a far flashier profile and much more piquant aesthetics, but make no mistake about it. Like the other Maxace Knives mentioned in this list, it’s much more about function than form.

This is a ‘biggun’ if you can excuse the phrase - nearly a full pound. It’s all of 14.2 ounces and packs a wallop - a 5.4” blade, giving an overall length of more than a foot - 12.1” to be exact.

CPM-3V steel is the headliner here, rounding out the capabilities of this attractively leaf-shaped blade that looks almost like a falcata.

It’s a bruiser, to say the least. The steel alone is worth a callout, as CPM-3V is extremely tough and wear-resistant as a result of its high vanadium and molybdenum content. It’s not as good for corrosion-resistance as some alloys, but it’s not bad.

The Red Quartz carbon fiber inlays are attractive and practical as they are corrosion-proof, strong, and lightweight (not that low weight is a selling point here) and, for what it’s worth, highly attractive.

Anyway, getting back to the blade profile, it’s more than adequate for piercing and slicing, as well as rough shaping. The truth is, this thing is so large you could probably even use it for light chopping. It has a frame lock, so as folders go, it’s probably pretty decent for that.

At any rate, it’s a tough Maxace Knife and the one you should get if you’re looking for a big, tough knife that can handle very rough use. Maybe not for EDC, but in and around camp or in the shop, it’s a winner.

Raptor

Lastly, let’s lend a word to the Maxace Raptor, specifically the model with the gray titanium handles.

A bit smaller than the other Maxace Knives mentioned in this article, only 7.05 ounces and 7.87” with a 2.76” blade, the main attractor here is the hawkbill blade.

This makes this Maxace Knife excellent for draw cuts and pruning-style cuts. It’s a bit flashy to reserve for use in the garden, or for foraging, but that’s where it will shine.

Like the Orion, the steel used in the blade is MagnaCut steel, which we’ve already covered, but again, it’s tough and holds an edge for a long while.

It’s also a great steel to use with a hawkbill blade because, let’s face it, sharpening a hawkbill is no fun. This one will last.

As for the titanium handles, they are not only handsome, but afford a sure, strong, lightweight grip, and one that is practically immune to damage and corrosion.

All in all, this is the Maxace Knife for you if you’re looking for a hawkbill. It’s definitely the flashiest knife on this list, although it isn’t the biggest.

Not Seeing the Maxace Knife for You?

If this post has piqued your interest but you’re not sure that you’ve found the Maxace for you, consult our full selection of Maxace knives. There are many other great ones where these come from.