Artisan Cutlery has been pumping out collabs for a while now, but every so often one of them lands hard with people who actually cut things for a living. The Cleo, a compact button-lock folder designed with South African maker Johan Jordaan, is one of those. It takes a true super steel blade, wraps it in titanium or copper scales, and still stays small enough that nobody’s going to flag it as some huge tactical knife in a pocket clip. That combo of premium materials, real EDC size, and fidget-friendly lock is why it keeps showing up in reviews and gear write-ups instead of fading into the background with every other new release.
A compact blade with serious steel
On paper, the Cleo’s blade doesn’t look wild: about 2.5 inches of modified Wharncliffe or sheepsfoot profile. In hand, though, that shape and length make sense for the way people actually cut—opening bags, slicing cord, trimming tape, or working on game processing details instead of hacking logs. Artisan is using CPM-S90V here, which brings very high edge retention and corrosion resistance for its size class, backed by a thin flat grind that’s built to slice more than pry. You sharpen it a little less often, it stays keen longer through dirty cardboard or hide, and it feels more like a small scalpel than a toy. That’s exactly what gear nerds have been asking for in a “little” knife.
Button lock and thumb studs that actually work together
The other thing drawing attention is the lock and deployment. The Cleo runs a button lock with ceramic bearings and ambidextrous thumb studs, so you can flick it open cleanly and close it without getting your fingers in the blade path. A lot of button-lock knives live in the budget world and feel like they were tuned mainly for fidget value. Here, the tolerances and materials are better, and people are noticing that it doesn’t develop that sloppy side-to-side wiggle once it’s broken in. When you’re paying premium money for a compact folder, you want that “bank vault” lockup and predictable deployment instead of surprises, and the Cleo delivers that in a way that stands out from the crowd.
Titanium or copper handles that change how it carries
Another reason the Cleo keeps making headlines is the handle treatment. You can get it in lightweight titanium with a subtle diamond pattern or as a heavier copper-handled version that patinas over time. Both options ride slim in pocket thanks to the compact 3.39-inch handle length and tip-up clip, but they give two very different ownership experiences. The titanium version is more of a daily cutter you forget you’re carrying until you need it, while the copper trim feels like a little piece of gear art that slowly develops character. Either way, the scales and hardware are finished at a level that’s closer to small-batch customs than mass-market budget knives, which is why knife media has been all over it.
Why the Cleo matters in a crowded EDC market
The Cleo is getting serious attention because it hits a weirdly empty lane. Most premium folders chase big blades, wild grinds, or overbuilt “hard use” marketing. This one is unapologetically small, tuned for real everyday cuts, and finished with materials you’d expect on knives twice the price. For hunters and outdoors guys who still need a clean pocket knife for workdays, travel, or around camp, it’s the kind of piece you can carry in town without looking like you’re headed straight to the back forty. It shows that compact doesn’t have to mean compromised, and that’s why people who are burned out on clones and gimmicks are paying attention.
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