ARTISAN Orthodox V2 pocket knife updates the straight-razor design

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A lot of pocket knives solve the same basic problem in nearly the same way. You get a familiar blade profile, conventional handle, and pocket clip that can make one EDC folder look interchangeable with dozens of others.

Price: $44.99
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The ARTISAN Orthodox V2 is for buyers who want something more distinctive without giving up the features that make a modern folding knife practical to carry.

The Orthodox V2 uses a 3.54-inch AR-RPM9 straight-razor blade with a hollow grind. ARTISAN says it thinned the blade stock and replaced the original Orthodox’s full-flat grind with a true hollow grind; the official specification lists a 0.11-inch (2.7 mm) blade thickness.

The V2 retains familiar modern-folder hardware: G10 scales, a liner lock, ceramic ball bearings, a flipper tab, and a steel pocket clip. It measures 4.53 inches closed and 8.07 inches overall, with a listed weight of 2.71 ounces.

So the biggest change is the blade: underneath that razor-like profile is a fairly recognizable modern-folder formula.

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The straight-razor blade is the main attraction

The Orthodox V2 doesn’t hide its design inspiration.

Its broad blade gives the knife a silhouette reminiscent of a traditional straight razor rather than another drop-point EDC folder. ARTISAN says the thinner blade stock and hollow grind are intended to improve cutting performance.

That’s a real design change rather than a cosmetic one, but it still shouldn’t be treated as proof of real-world results. Factory sharpening, blade geometry, heat treatment, and the material you’re cutting all influence how a knife actually cuts.

The shape itself is easier to evaluate. If you primarily want a conventional blade profile, plenty of alternatives provide one. The Orthodox V2 makes more sense when visual personality is part of what you’re paying for.

AR-RPM9 tells you the steel and hardness range, not exactly how it will perform

The Orthodox V2 uses ARTISAN’s proprietary AR-RPM9 steel, and ARTISAN publishes a HRC 59-61 blade-hardness range.

Those specifications tell us what ARTISAN says the blade is made from and the target hardness range, but they don’t establish exactly how this particular knife will perform. Heat treatment variation, edge geometry, sharpening, and use all matter.

Without independently testing the Orthodox V2, the steel and hardness specifications aren’t proof of a particular amount of edge retention, toughness, or corrosion resistance.

That’s worth remembering when comparing knives by specification sheets. A recognizable steel name can help narrow your options, but it can’t tell you everything about the finished knife.

Does that dramatic blade make it annoying to carry?

That’s the more practical question. On paper, the rest of the Orthodox V2 is surprisingly ordinary: G10 scales, a liner lock, flipper deployment, and a conventional folding format. The official specs identify a steel clip, KnifeNews describes the repositioned clip as deep carry, and Atlantic Knife lists it as reversible.

You get the visual payoff when the blade comes out without carrying something equally eccentric in your pocket.

That balance could be the Orthodox V2’s biggest advantage. It can look unusual when you’re using it without forcing you into an equally unusual carry system.

Familiar hardware keeps operation simple

The Orthodox V2 uses a liner lock and flipper deployment, both familiar features on contemporary folding knives. ARTISAN altered the flipper tab compared with the original, and ARTISAN says the change was intended to make the action more reliable while keeping the tab low-profile.

What those specifications and design descriptions can’t establish is exactly how the action will feel on the individual knife you receive. Smoothness, detent feel, lock access, and overall fit are better judged through hands-on use.

That’s an important distinction with a knife whose appearance can easily dominate the conversation. The design may draw you in, but the mechanics still have to suit your preferences.

The V2 changes more than the appearance

This isn’t simply the original Orthodox wearing a different color.

KnifeNews reports that ARTISAN changed the handle from the original’s more traditionally curved straight-razor-inspired shape to a more angular design, and describes the V2 grip as gunstock-style. The pocket clip was also repositioned closer to the end of the handle.

Those are meaningful physical changes even without declaring the V2 objectively better than its predecessor.

The basic idea remains intact: an unmistakably straight-razor-inspired blade attached to the kind of handle and hardware you’d expect from a contemporary EDC folder.

Whether the changes improve the Orthodox depends on what you liked about the original. But the V2 is clearly more than another finish option.

Who should buy the ARTISAN Orthodox V2?

The ARTISAN Orthodox V2 makes the most sense for someone bored with conventional EDC styling but unwilling to sacrifice familiar folding-knife features just to get something different.

Its 3.54-inch hollow-ground AR-RPM9 blade, G10 handle, liner lock, flipper deployment, and reversible steel pocket clip provide a recognizable modern-folder foundation.

It makes less sense if you prefer traditional blade shapes, want a different blade steel, or expect the straight-razor appearance itself to guarantee exceptional slicing performance.

Price: $44.99
Where to Buy: Amazon

For buyers tired of conventional EDC shapes, that’s the appeal: the Orthodox V2 gets its personality from the blade while keeping the rest of the ownership experience familiar.