This year's Böker Damascus annual knife is aimed at lovers of lightweight slipjoint pocket knives and combines the handy design of the Böker Boxer EDC with exceptional materials. The design by French knifemaker Raphaël Durand, like many classic French pocket knives, is based on the traditional Navaja knives of the Mediterranean. The stainless clip-point blade, made of hand-forged Damascus steel by Chad Nichols, consists of 180 layers and features a pronounced false edge and a 90° stop.
The comfortably contoured handle scales are crafted from 5,500-year-old bog oak, meticulously hand-sanded into a three-dimensional finish. The stabilized wood acquires a matte, almost velvety surface during the final sanding. Bog oak is not a distinct tree species, but rather oak trunks that have lain for centuries in bogs, swamps, or riverbanks and were recovered when these areas were drained. Over this long period, the tannins in the oak combine with the iron salts in the water, making the wood exceptionally hard and giving it its dark color.
The decorative copper rivets create a striking color contrast with the dark handle scales, a contrast further emphasized by the copper liners. Even the practical lanyard hole is reinforced with a copper bushing. Handcrafted at the Böker factory in Solingen, this knife is strictly limited to 999 pieces worldwide. It comes with an elegant floating display, a certificate of authenticity, and an individual serial number.