Schrade is making a concerted effort to capture the attention of knife enthusiasts with a new line of knives called the Alpha series. The five inaugural models in this line differ quite a bit in their design, but all feature premium materials and US origins.
The striking 3.75-inch blade is the star of the show on the Radok. Its modified wharncliffe blade shape raises the tip enough to not only enhance its piercing capability, but give a hint of belly to the cutting edge. The handle scales are carbon fiber, the steel is S35VN, and the lock is an Axis Lock-style mechanism that Schrade calls the “Pivot Locking System.”
A single action automatic knife, the Melee’s S35VN blade is a big ol’ American tanto, measuring 3.5 inches long and fired with a revised button mechanism. There’s a safety included here in the form of a toggle on show side scale; speakign of, both scales are made from textured black G-10.
Here’s another tanto, albeit one with a bit more of the traditional Eastern influence about it. The Truix is a manual knife and sports the Pivot Locking System, but it has an entirely different visual style than the Radok, with a bolster capping off some vivid black and white G-10 scales.
Schrade expands their bali line with the Alpha class Alkymest. This looks to be a pretty straightforward bali design, with a 4-inch blade and stainless steel handles. Worth noting: this is the only Alpha model not made from S35VN; the Alkymest has D2 steel instead.
The second auto Alpha with Schrade’s new button mechanism, the Entice has a spear point blade instead a tanto, although it does have the same 3.5-inch blade length as the Melee. Its scales are made from frag pattern aluminum.
Knife in Featured Image: Schrade Alpha Radok
