Every so often a White Mountain Knives exclusive or collaboration comes out that just needs the spotlight for a bit of time.

Right now, that’s our exclusive Kizer Momo, which just might be the best Kizer knife in our collection at the present time.

Here’s what to know about it.

About the Steel

The first and most important aspect of this exclusive Kizer knife is the steel, which is far and away its biggest selling point.

This version of the Kizer Momo boasts an S45VN blade, a refined version of S35VN super steel that is considered slightly superior not only to the former but also to S30VN.

From a high level, this alloy offers slightly reduced toughness compared to S35VN, but superior hardness (hence the reduction in toughness) paired with better corrosion resistance.

But that’s to say nothing of the steel chemistry. This is one of the alloys produced by CPM, or Crucible Particle Metallurgies, and contains a rich mix of carbon, chromium, molybdenum and vanadium.

Unlike some of the others in the same class, though, it also has a bit of niobium and nitrogen. Just a smidge of each, but that will be touched on in a minute.

As for carbon, S45VN packs 1.48%, just about the same as both S30VN and S35VN. With respect to chromium, however, it has quite a bit more, at 16% (the former two both have 14%).

This gives it slightly enhanced corrosion resistance, as has already been stated. But since carbon is present in effectively the same concentration, improved edge retention can’t come from that alone.

This is where carbide-forming molybdenum and vanadium step in. With 2% molybdenum and 4% vanadium, it’s comparable again to its former mates.

Then again, if it’s comparable this still doesn’t paint the full picture. That is where niobium and nitrogen, the true stars of this super steel, shine.

We’ll start with niobium. At half a percent, S45VN has as much as S35VN and infinitely more than S30VN, which has none.

The value here of this element is that niobium has a strong chemical affinity for carbon, forming carbides with it, which are extremely hard.

As a result, this alloy has a very fine microstructure and carbide distribution, yielding high hardness and edge retention scores - trading a slight reduction in toughness.

But nitrogen is the secret ingredient. Typically, nitrogen in steel is considered a detractor from the alloy. This is because nitrogen can make steel very brittle.

But here’s the interesting part; the niobium in the alloy also has a high affinity for nitrogen, with which it forms nitrides.

These compounds, like carbides, are very hard and very chemically stable. They are brittle, but in low enough concentrations they improve the hardness and edge retention of the steel without compromising its strength.

And that’s the magic of S45VN. It doesn’t have enough nitrogen to harm the integrity of the steel, only enough to make it slightly more corrosion resistant and give it a heightened ability to maintain an edge.

Which are definitely attributes you’d want, and among the reasons that this is a strong contender for the position of “best Kizer knife” in our catalog.

But the steel alone is not the only thing to love about this exclusive Kizer Momo.

The Rest of the Specs

Past the steel, there’s a lot about this Kizer Momo that it shares in common with the original.

One is the blade shape, size, and profile. This is a straight back (perhaps a drop point) knife with a 4.19” blade. It has a gracefully swept belly that is perfectly designed for slicing tasks, along with a high flat grind, that again, makes it adept as a slicing implement.

The blade also has a polished DLC finish that gives it a heck of a lot of character.

If you’re unfamiliar, DLC stands for “diamond-like carbon,” and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Extremely hard carbon with a highly reflective finish.

The DLC finish isn’t about flash, though. It is effectively corrosion-proof and since it offers high permanent dry lubricity, it is easy to keep clean. It also resists buffing, scratching, and other blemishes.

It’s also not the only thing to love about this version of the Kizer Momo. Like the original, this exclusive boasts a lanyard hole, a 3D pocket clip, a front flipper mechanism, and a liner lock.

However, unlike the original, this exclusive is made with polished DLC titanium bolsters that match the blade, along with purple fat carbon scales that are eye-catching, lightweight, durable, and which require basically no maintenance.

Other than that, the specifications mirror those of the original and it sports the same lines and basic ergonomics, which made the original Kizer Momo (pictured below) a winner in the first place.

With simple lines, a gracefully arched handle, and ergonomics that allow for comfort and traction in a variety of grips, along with sure indexing, the Kizer Momo is a practical folder that would be just as comfortably at home in your pocket as it would be in a case or a collection.

But is it the best Kizer knife in our catalog? Well, that’s something you have to decide. There’s certainly a lot more than just this one, and we offer a wide range of other exclusive models, too.

The Best Kizer Knife for You? Get It Here

Are you on the hunt for a new Kizer for your collection? Need to freshen up your EDC rotation? We’re here for it and have a wide variety of Kizer knives - among hundreds of others, many of them also exclusives, just like the version of the Kizer Momo featured here.

If you’re not sure if this is the best Kizer knife for you, no worries. Just take a look through our full Kizer collection at the previous link to get a better feel for what we offer.