Puma: the Knife of the Year 2022 – With bog oak and carbon scales
The Knife of the Year 2022 from Puma comes with a 9.5 cm blade made of Balbach SuperClean Damascus. The stainless steel is hardened to 60 HRC. The overall design of the knife is based on the well-known skinmaster model. In addition to the blade, the bolsters are also made of Damascus steel. The difference is that the blade is deep etched, which provides a more beautiful image of the characteristic patterns. The customer has a choice of two versions for the handle scales of the knife, which is 209 millimeters long overall: the Knife of the Year 2022 comes with bog oak scales, but for those who like even more extravagant options, Puma also offers a variant with handles made of carbon with embedded copper filings.
Both models of the current Knife of the Year are strictly limited: Puma manufactures exactly 50 pieces of both. In addition to a fine wooden box and a sheath made of saddle leather, the customer naturally receives a certificate with the knives. According to the manufacturer, the Knife of the Year 2022 will be available for purchase in time for the middle of the year, i.e. in June 2022, and can already be pre-ordered from Puma (see link). The price for the noble collector's item is 1,995 euros.
Special edition: the Puma Defender Damasteel – Special series for 2022
Although conceptually and visually completely different, the special series of the Puma Defender shares a common feature with the Knife of the Year: the Defender Damasteel comes with a blade made of Balbach SuperClean Damascus too. It measures 16 centimeters, which makes for an overall length of 29 centimeters. In addition to the Damascus patterns, finely ornamented engravings on the butt and bolster also draw the eye of the beholder to this knife. The Puma Defender as such has been available on the market for a long time. It was designed in the 1990s by knifemaker Richard Hahn. Just like the Knife of the Year, this special edition of the Puma Defender will probably be available from June 2022 and can also be pre-ordered online. Here, too, two variants are available to the customer: The handle scales are optionally available in buffalo horn or in the "Elforyn Super Tusk" ivory substitute material. Both collector's models are limited to 50 pieces each and come with a wooden gift box, saddle leather sheath and a certificate for the price of 1,995 euros.
For hunting and outdoor: the Puma Roka and Puma Farkas
Two more knife novelties come from the international brand line Puma IP. You can see the similarities between the larger of the two models – the Farkas – and its little brother, the Roka, not only in their look but also in the choice of materials. Puma equips both with a blade made of 440C steel, hardened to 57-58 HRC. Grind is set high in each case for particularly good cutting performance. The lengths are also the same.
The large Farkas, for example, has a blade length of 90 mm (with a thickness of 4.5 mm), which makes for an overall length of 198 mm for the new knife. The bolsters are made of stainless steel and have a glossy finish, while the handle behind them, which sits on a flat tang, is available in four different variants: staghorn, wenge wood and in black and brown micarta. The buyer gets the Farkas with a leather belt sheath. According to the manufacturer, it should be already available in stores.
The Roka, on the other hand, is considerably narrower, but also comes with a blade length of 90 mm for an overall length of 198 mm. The blade is 3.5 millimeters thick. On the back of the knife is a ribbing, which gives the thumb more grip when applying pressure. This is safer and more comfortable, for example, when caring for hunted game. The Roka has no bolsters, while there are two different materials to choose from for the handle scales: Walnut or black G10. In keeping with its compact dimensions, Puma IP has designed the new Roka in particular as a "knife for all occasions". To match, the Roka also comes with a leather belt sheath. According to Puma, it will be available from the beginning of May 2022.
The names of the new knives come from the Hungarian language. Farkas means wolf; roka, on the other hand, fox. Puma IP decided on this naming because the designer of the two new knives passionately goes hunting in Hungary and his personal experiences with it visibly become a part of the new Puma knives.
For more information about the presented models and other knives can be found on the Puma website.
