Williams Blade Design OZK003 Osoraku Zukuri Kaiken 4.5″ | MagnaCut

Williams Blade Design OZK003 Osoraku Zukuri Kaiken 4.5″ with blade from MagnaCut steel and Black Canvas Micarta handle scales.

This OZK series is a lightweight, compact, fixed blade using our proven Osoraku Zukuri blade shape. This latest edition features a curved blade of premium MagnaCut steel. The neutral handle provides excellent grip no matter how you choose to hold the knife. A domed center screw on the outward (omote) side, reminiscent of the emperor node of traditional ray skin handles, provides indexing. The sheath is expertly crafted from Kydex by our good friends at TRC knives. This knife is the result of decades of experience, the ideal EDC fixed blade.

Williams Blade Design

James and Christopher. Father and Son. The father – a renowned American martial arts trainer, formerly designing knives for CRKT (Columbia River Knife and Tool), the son – proudly continuing and bringing a breath of fresh air to his father’s design work. The result is the proprietary designs of Williams Blade Design, which are ultimately executed by well-known and respected manufacturers in the knife industry.

“Designed for those whose lives depend on their tools” – lofty, but apt words that capture the spirit of Williams Blade Design projects, indicating what is emphasized during the design process. Intriguing shapes, high-quality materials, and full functionality are certainly the main benchmarks of their work.

American Design – European Quality LionSTEEL

The knife was designed by Williams Blade Design and executed by the esteemed European manufacturer – Lion Steel, known for its high production standards. Lion STEEL is an Italian manufacturer and brand located in the knife-making hub of Maniago. The company’s over 50-year history is inseparably linked with the Pauletta family. Founded by Gino Pauletta, today the work of the father is continued by his three sons: Massimo, Daniele, and Gianni. Lion STEEL is a world-renowned knife manufacturer, repeatedly awarded for its projects at the prestigious Blade Show held annually in Atlanta, United States.

Excellent MagnaCut steel

OZK 003 is a full tang knife (made of one carefully selected piece of material running the entire length and width of the handle) made of the highest quality CPM MagnaCut steel. CPM MagnaCut steel, produced by the world-renowned Crucible Industries company, is the most advanced product of the American manufacturer. Sinter stands out among other excellent types of steel from this manufacturer. Corrosion resistance is greater than in the case of, for example, S90V, S35VN, S45VN or 20CV steel. Overload strength similar to very strong, rust 4V, significantly exceeds in this respect the parameters of the following steels: CPM154, 20CV, S45VN, S35VN and S90V. The strength of the cutting edge, on the other hand, is inferior only to the S90V and 20V steels known for their hardness, but more difficult to sharpen. To sum up: we are dealing with a steel with very balanced properties, however, it excels in virtually every area appreciated by knife users (stainlessness, lateral strength, cutting edge retention).

Functional Blade in Japanese Style

The blade, with a thickness of 4.4 mm (0.17″) and a profile called osoraku zukuri (with roots reaching back to Japan), has a very interesting yet practical shape. Resembling samurai blades, it performs excellently during cuts that require pressure. The pronounced belly, similar to trailing point profiles, guides the cutting edge well through the material, while the extremely sharp tip facilitates piercing. Characteristic of the blade is the tanto point, clearly dividing it into two parts.

Handle with Micarta

The handle scales are made of a moisture-resistant Micarta laminate, which is resistant to temperature changes, most solvents and acids, and has high resistance to mechanical damage. Micarta, known for its excellent properties, including visual appeal (it can be stylized to resemble natural materials), has a non-slip, textured surface. The handle features characteristic grooves that improve grip and allow for the attachment of additional lanyards or paracords when a thicker and more grippy handle is desired.

At the end of the handle, there is a hole for attaching an additional lanyard, which can serve as a safety measure to prevent the knife from being dropped during work, or as an additional grip aid for easier removal of the knife from the sheath.

Kydex Sheath

The knife comes with a black Kydex sheath, hand-formed for a secure fit. To facilitate knife removal, the closely fitting Kydex is designed with a thumb ramp, allowing for controlled and safe extraction. Kydex itself is highly resistant to impacts, scratches, has low moisture absorption, and is resistant to various weather conditions and many chemicals. Kydex sheaths provide comfortable and long-lasting use. The sheath is equipped with 4 pass-through pins, through which a lanyard or paracord can be threaded, or attached to a belt in either a horizontal or vertical position, depending on the user’s preference. For easy and quick mounting, the sheath is equipped with an additional attachment (belt loop) secured with a Pull-The-Dot snap fastener, which can be opened and closed at the appropriate angle from only one side, providing protection against accidental opening.

Specifications

• Blade: Fixed (full tang), trailing point with high flat grind, plain cutting edge
• Steel: MagnaCut, finish: stonewash
• Handle: Black Canvas Micarta
• Sheath: Black Kydex
• Package Contents: knife, sheath, Knife ID card, manufacturer’s packaging
• Dimensions: overall length: 219 mm | 8.5″, blade length: 114 mm | 4.5″, blade thickness: 4.4 mm | 0.17″, blade height: 22 mm | 0.9″, handle length: 103 mm | 4.1″, handle thickness: 14.5 mm | 0.6″, handle height: 28 mm | 1.1″
• Weight: 126 g | 4.4 oz
• Design: James & Christopher Williams
• Manufacturer: Knife – LionSteel, Italy, sheath – TRC Knives, Lithuania

Warranty

Knives are covered by a lifetime warranty. This warranty provides protection against defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty applies to both the knife and its sheath. If the product covered by this warranty fails due to a manufacturing defect the producer will repair it without charge, or replace it, at our discretion. Only original, unaltered and unmodified items are covered by this warranty.

The warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, improper care, negligence, normal wear and tear, or the natural breakdown of colors and materials over an extended period of time and use. Damage not covered under the warranty may be repaired for a reasonable rate. In such cases, a fee will be also charged for shipping.

Maintenance

1. Remember! Every of our knives are extremely sharp, so be careful when handling them!
2. Do not use your knife for something besides it’s intended purpose! Do not use the knife as a can opener, screwdriver, chisel, hammer, crowbar etc.
3. After using your knife with sea water, blood, fruits or other corrosive mediums, always rinse the knife with fresh water and dry it off.
4. Do not wash the knife with harder chemicals or in the dishwasher. This may damage or destroy the knife.
5. Before storing your knife, apply thin film of high-quality gun oil or special knife oil or wax to knives. We recommend that you always keep your knife and sheath clean and dry when not in use.
6. Always keep your knife sharp, so it can always take care of you.