EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Classy, understated with a pop of color and highly functional.
That’s how I would describe a couple of modern knives from RoseCraft Blades that I have been carrying around for the past couple of weeks.
In the past few years, RoseCraft has earned a well-deserved reputation for making quality and even collectible traditional slipjoint knives.
But the Tennessee-based company also makes some pretty good modern knives too.
I already own two – the Walleye and the Awanata – and have highlighted them in this space previously.
Now, I have been carrying around and trying out a couple of RoseCraft moderns that are new to me.
Both have been out for over a year and have names that really fit their function and personality – the Tarakona (“Dragon”) and the Tarcanis (“Bulldog”).
First, let’s take a look at the Tarakona. This knife has a sleek look and feel that conjures up an image of an agile dragon with some bite to it.
It has a blacked-out blade and black G10 handles. It has a pop of blue around the pivot and some very minimal branding in white lettering.
Otherwise, it is all black.
Its tapered handle fits nicely in hand when the blade is deployed and the back flipper turns into a finger guard when the knife is open.
Nice touch.
This knife has a 3.2-inch clip-point-style blade (RCB calls it a K-clip), a hidden lanyard hole and ambidextrous pocket clip.
It opens on a ceramic ball-bearing pivot that gives this knife a super smooth action. It can be opened with a back flipper or thumb studs.
I prefer the thumb studs but the back flipper is easy to use too.
Oh, and before I forget, this knife has a liner lock, which is a traditional touch that really is right in my comfort zone.
Here are some numbers – 4.3 inches closed, 7.5 inches open and weighs just 3.2 ounces.
It is sleek, functional and disappears in your pocket when carrying it.
The Tarakona comes in a choice of blue or orange accents around the pivot. Otherwise, the two versions are the same.
It is currently listed for $29.99 on the RoseCraft Blades website.
Now, on to the Tarcanis. This one is aptly named too. It really is a “bulldog” of a knife.
This one features a 3-inch drop-point blade, so it actually has a slightly shorter blade than the Tarakona.
But the blade seems beefier, giving this one the feel of a workhorse.
The Tarcanis has split G10 handles. The one I have comes in red and black with red thumb studs that really give this knife a nice accent of color.
The other choices that are available are black and white handles and purple and black.
This knife can be opened with a front flipper or ambidextrous thumb studs. I’m not super comfortable with front flippers. That is not a knock on this knife, just how I am personally.
The thumb studs, however, really rocket the blade open and work great.
This knife also has a reversible pocket clip and a hidden lanyard hole, for all the lanyard fans out there. And again, this one has a liner lock.
It is 4.2 inches closed, 7.2 inches open and weighs 4.6 ounces, giving it a more robust feel than the Tarakona.
This knife is also listed for $29.99 on the RoseCraft website.
Both are well-made knives that seem to punch above their weight class, considering their very reasonable price point.
Which one to buy?
It really depends on what you are looking for.
The Tarakona (“Dragon”) feels like an “office” knife that would be great for opening letters and lighter boxes, that sort of thing.
The Tarcanis (“Bulldog”) feels like a knife to carry around when putzing around in the backyard or garage. This one feels like a “work” knife.
Oh, and both came razor sharp right from the factory.
So back to my conclusion, which I stated at the top of this column – classy, understated with a pop of color and super functional.
A little bit about RoseCraft Blades: This is an American knife company based in Tennessee that has been around since 2021.
It likes to bill itself as a company that makes knives for people who love knives.
Their knives are manufactured overseas, mostly in China, but they do say they plan to build a U.S. manufacturing facility in the US in the near future – if that sort of thing matters to you.
Here are some handy links – to the RoseCraft Blades website, to the Tarakona and to the Tarcanis.
You can also find a good selection of RoseCraft knives at C. Risner Cutlery. Here is a link.
Just for transparency, RoseCraft sent me these knives to check out and review but with no limitation on what I can say or how I can test the products out.
Here are some YouTube channels on knives and EDC gear that I find fun and informative.
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